The Colorado Sound S8 EP07 FEB 2014

boninwf back stage nite 1 2012(Sunday, Feb 23, 11AM)  I’m slammed.  I have to get six projects done and out the door by the end of the week LOL.  Oy … shit happens, right?  So, let’s get straight to it.

Building an income from self-employment is a difficult task.  It’s vastly different than getting up and going to a job everyday because at least there (unless you’re on commission) you don’t have to worry about how you’re going to generate income.  Someone else is responsible for making sure there’s money in the bank to pay you.

As a musician we fret about work (no pun intended LOL).  We hate making cold calls to strangers asking for a gig.  We hate asking for money – all too often we don’t how much is reasonable to ask for, and all too often we settle even when we think the deal is not equitable nor reasonable.

It’s the same thing that keeps most people out of sales, and being self-employed.  It’s the hard part of the business that we wish we could do without.  I cannot recount those who have confided in me how much they hate that part of being a musician.   Twice this week a musician has said to me, “I want someone else to do that work for me.  I hate it.  I just want to play.”  The reality on the street is that for at least 95% of us it just doesn’t work that way.

The overwhelming percentage of those whose music we experience are doing this for the joy of it … of course, wishing we could do it as full time employment …which like most things in life gets more challenging the more people there are doing the thing we also want to do and make a living at.

The aspiration drives the effort we all put out, to do this thing we cannot live without; it is such an ingrained part of who we are as personalities.  Much love to those who are efforting to realize their dreams, whatever they are.

And thanks for supporting the working musicians and those who provide to them a place to play in our communities … it is truly and deeply appreciated.

VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK

I love pop.  Always have.  I love cotton candy and sticky sweet chewy bubble gum.  I love ALT-country AND hip-hop … jam-bands and rap-bands.  I dj’d professionally in clubs and at dances from 74-86 in Colorado, Connecticut, and North Dakota.  I still get a big smile when remembering rockin’ the tables with some Sugarhill Gang and Curtis Blow for the first time.  Diversions … H*Wood speaks to me…  “This ain’t no dance song, but get your dance on. Take the time to celebrate where you came from.”  Right on H*Wood. Peace.  

PLAYLIST S8 EP7 FEB 2014

String Cheese Incident “One Step Closer” from One Step Closer (2005)
Acoustic Junction “Goodbye World” from Strange Days (2000)
(D) Young Ancients “Nobody Loves You” from Young Ancients (2014)
Mollie O’Brien and Rich Moore “Sunday Street” from Love Runner (2014)
Mama Lenny and the Remedy “Loaded Gun” from Time (You’re Doing Fine) (2014)
My Body Sings Electric “Oceancrest” from Part 1: the Night Ends (2014)
(D) Eldren “We Just Want The World” [single] (2014) The Motet “Rich in People” from The Motet (2014)
Dubskin “Warrior Stomp” from Release from Fear (2011)
Monocle Band “Falling” from Monocle Band (2013)
The Jekylls “You’re Probably Right” from The Sweet Factory (2012)
Andy Rok & the Real Deal “Second Class Citizen” [single] (2014)
Ben Haugland “Lift” from The Point Of No Return (2012)
Jimmy Ibbotson “Saints and Sots” from More Than Mountains (2000)
C.W. McCall “Wolf Creek Pass” from Best of CW McCall (1997)
(D) Katie Herzig “Walk Through Walls” from Walk Through Walls (2014)

Whiskey Blanket “Blatto Nox” from From the Dead of Dark (2014)
(N) The Fray “Hurricane” from Helios (2014)
Kristina Murray “Rough Corners” from Unravelin’ (2014)
Matt Skinner Band “Ashes to Ashes” from Native Stranger (2013)
Rob Drabkin “Little Steps” from Little Steps EP (2013)
Devotchka “Curse Your Little Heart” from Curse Your Little Heart (2006)
(N) Dianne Reeves “I Want You” from Beautiful Life (2014)
Hazel Miller “Spider Web” from Coming To You Live…From KUVO (2011)
Adam Stern “Locked Up” from High Country Gentleman (2011)

Chris Daniels & The Kings 30th Anniversary Tour Kickoff – March 2014!

March 1984 Chris Daniels & The Kings played their first three shows at the Blue Note, Little Bear and Herman’s Hideaway. To kick off their 30th year the Kings will repeat that trifecta with three shows at Nissi’s … The Little Bear … Herman’s Hideaway! 

March 1, 2014 – Nissi’s in Lafayette Colorado – show starts at 8pm

March 8, 2014 – The Little Bear, Evergreen – show starts at 9:15pm

March 21, 2014 – Herman’s Hideaway – show starts at 10:30pm

DENVER, CO (February 20, 2014) – Last year was a good year for Chris Daniels with a Grammy Award nomination for his songwriting and as a guest soloist with Al Jarreau in the Best Children’s Album Category for Jumpin’ Jazz Kids, and he was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in November with Judy Collins. But that was then and in 2014 Daniels and his band mates are celebrating their 30th Anniversary with a trifecta of shows in the towns where they began the journey. They also plan on a new release this summer with soul man Fred Gowdy!

“Our first gig was at the Blue Note in Boulder (now gone) and then we played at the Little Bear and then Allan (Roth) gave us a shot at Herman’s. I thought it would be great to kick off the spring and summer season of touring with shows in the three places that got us started.” – Chris Daniels

What was supposed to be a one-night-stand at the Blue Note in Boulder quickly led to the Little Bear offering the band a gig and then Herman’s followed up. Thirty (30) years later Chris and the Kings have racked up some serious mileage and achieved a remarkable list of accomplishments few bands from the area can match.

The list includes: 15 albums, 20 European tours, records that charted on the Triple A, AC and European charts, appearances on VH-1, Nashville Now, The Altitude Network, HD Net, Onhe Filter and French MTV and countless shows with artists that included BB King, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, The Neville Brothers. Along with various awards they’ve appeared at major festivals across Europe including Park Pop where the estimated attendance was 450,000 and almost 10 years as the closingFriday night headliner at the Telluride Festival.

“I think we’ve done more shows than the Rolling Stones! I sat down and estimated that we have averaged more than 100 shows per year, some years as many as 320 – for the past 30 years. That’s well over 4,000 shows – 12,000 sets. And we are still kicking ass and taking names!” – Chris Daniels

CD & The Kings are not sitting back. This year they are joined by veteran funk-master Fred Gowdy (The Freddi Henchi Band) for a new album due out this summer and Freddi will be touring with the band through the States and Europe all this year. “You are only as good as your next project” Daniels quipped, “And this next one is going to be so sweet with Freddi in the mix.”

Contact: Chris Daniels/ Sailfish Productions (720-837-4332) cwd444@aol.com or www.chrisdaniels.com

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ROCKY MOUNTAIN MUSIC NETWORK – NEW SERVICE

For 5 years now, I’ve serviced Colorado radio on behalf of over 50 artists and/or bands.  Part of that campaign suggests that the artist/band be working on securing shows throughout the state.  Over the past few years I’ve been hearing a steadily asked question:  Goat, who do I send to, to get shows?  So, this year I’ve added a new service.  I’ve built a new list of buyers around the state.  I’ve avoided the obvious bar/venue buyers – as musicians we’re used to dealing with that segment.  However, as things have changed, today it seems that the more popular venues are the events put on almost daily from May to October in cities and towns all over the state.  It may be the city or town that puts on the event, or a local business association or chamber of commerce or some other municipal organization.  So I’ve introduced a new buyer service package for acts seeking some help getting introduced to markets around the state .. Timing is critical.  Over 90% of all buying decisions are made by April each year.  So if you want in for consideration to this year’s events, get hold of me.

Sending out now:  
Monocle Band
Tallgrass
Dr Izzy Band
Jeremy Dion
Mark’s Midnight Carnival
and more … 

For more information, pls email me directly at chriskmusic@gmail.com