Happy Spring. As I sit and write today we’re expecting record setting temps along the Front Range. And as I sit and review the adds and spins for the month it appears we’ve had a record setting month. The Lumineers self-titled debut on Dualtone Records was added by more stations (commercial and non-comm) than I’ve seen the past couple of years, aside from much more well established and nationally popular acts like DeVotchKa, landing the debut far in front of the pack in scoring. I fully expect that The Lumineers release will rise up quickly on the national CMJ charts that measure non-comm and college radio, where the new Tennis release, Young & Old, has held onto TOP 3 positions the past couple of weeks.
I’m often asked how many Colorado albums a year are produced and distributed to radio. Going back through the past couple of years worth of charts, it appears I’ve tracked about 340 or so album titles during any given 12-14 month period, of which approximately 45-50% receive any measurable airplay monthly. I estimate there are over 500 records a year coming from Colorado bands today, whether produced here or elsewhere.
I do have to point out that there are some severely underrepresented styles of music on the list of releases, including most forms of Loud Music (metal, punk, etc), hip-hop/rap, and pop-country. It’s not that the music isn’t being recorded, nor is it that we lack that music in our live music scene. Quite frankly these are highly popular styles that just don’t seem to grab the attention of the independent djs and programmers that make up the bulk of those who appear on air at the community and public radio stations I cull the spin data from.
I highly recommend paying attention to Westword and HeyReverb, as both those media outlets do an excellent job of exposing all of us to those styles we may not hear on the airwaves around the state. And yes, I too wish for greater inclusion of all styles of music in radio and at the numerous music festivals regionally. It is a common topic of conversation among those of us engaged in music festivals and radio around the state.
Re live music … I came across an article in Westword this past couple of weeks that’s worth mentioning … WESTAF introduces Independent Music on Tour, a grant program for local musicians.
Re radio news … KDNK (Carbondale) has a new Underwriter Director: Jen Roeser …and KBUT (Crested Butte) is starting a new segment titled “Artistically Speaking” that will highlight cultural and art events from Gunnison to Crested Butte. The segment is brought to KBUT by the Arts Alliance, and will air M, W, and F at 10 AM.
Speaking of radio — I’ve added a new feature this month. Following the station by station breakdown, I’ve provided a Genre/Program Format breakdown that encompasses the major genres and/or radio program formats i.e.
Americana
Blues
Bluegrass
Folk
Funk/Hip Hop/Urban Contemporary
Indie/New-Alternative
Jazz
Pop/Adult Contemporary
Rock/Adult Alternative.
TOP 40 MOST SPUN TITLES – March 2012
(336 titles tracked / 164 titles reported as played)
(LM) TM / [date added]
(D) = debut, first time on chart
(R) = re-entered chart
(D) 1. The Lumineers – The Lumineers (Dualtone) Folk-rock [Mar-12}
(13) 2. Katie Glassman – Snapshot (self) Country-jazz [Feb-12]
(19) 3. Coles Whalen – I Wrote this for You (self) Country-pop crossover [Feb-12]
(2) 4. Otis Taylor – Contraband (Telarc) Blues [Feb-12]
(4) 5. Tennis – Young & Old (Fat Possum) Indie/pop [Feb-12]
(1) 6. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Live at Hodi’s (self) Alt-country [Jan-12]
(3) 7. Longest Day of the Year – Turn Into the Ground (self) Alt-country-rock [Nov-11]
(17) 8. Bad Weather California – Sunkissed (Family Tree) indie/alternative [Feb-12]
(D) 9. Catch Bees – Newman’s Open Choir (On Joyful Wings) indie/alternative [Feb-12]
(25) 10. Finnders & Youngberg – FY5 (self) Bluegrass/country-folk [Apr-11]
(D) 11. Broken Tongues – Crooked Skyline (self) Hip-Hop [Feb-12]
(D) 11. The Swayback – Double Four Time (self) rock/alternative [Feb-12]
(D) 12. Churchill – The Change (Wire Bird) indie/alternative [Feb-12]
(6) 13. Harry Tuft & Friends – Treasures Untold (Manasses Records) Folk [Nov-11]
(12) 14. Lionel Young Band – On Our Way to Memphis (self) Blues [Aug-11]
(5) 15. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Live and Learn (self) indie/alternative [Nov-11]
(R) 16. Carmen Sandim Sextet – Brand New (Dazzle Recordings) Jazz [Feb-11]
(R) 17. The Patti Fiasco – The Patti Fiasco (self) country-rock [Jul-11]
(R) 18. Mosey West – Vaca Money (self) Rock [Sep-11]
(R) 19. Paper Bird – Carry On (Long Spoon) Folk [Jul-11]
(D) 20. Eric Gunnison – Trios (Synergy Music) Jazz [Feb-12]
(27) 21. John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light – Beautiful Empty (Free School) adult alternative [Apr-11]
(R) 22. Beats Noir! – Beats Noir! (self) Hip-Hop/rock [Aug-11]
(D) 22. Overcasters – Curses/Prayers (self) Rock [Mar-12]
(6) 23. Katya Chorover – Big Big Love (Cat and Moon Records) Country-folk [Oct-11]
(D) 24. Chimney Choir – (ladder) (self) folk-rock [Mar-12]
(20) 25. Turn 4 – What You Do About It (Fuck All Y’all Records) alternative country rock [Nov-11]
(D) 26. Ronnie Shellist – Trust Is Gone (self) Blues [Mar-12]
(10) 27. The Haunted Windchimes – Live at the Western Jubilee (Blank Tape) Folk [May-11]
(28) 28. Fox Street Allstars – Welcome to the Mighty Pleasin’ (self) Rock/roots/r&b [Jan-11]
(R) 29. Big Head Todd and the Monsters – Big Head Blues Club: 100 Years of Robert Johnson (Ryko) Blues [Jan-11]
(7) 30. Great American Taxi – Paradise Lost (self) Rock/roots rock [Oct-11]
(18) 30. Spring Creek – Hold On Me (self) Bluegrass [Jul-11]
(R) 31. Bonnie and The Clydes – Bonnie And The Clydes (self) Country/classic [Feb-11]
(10) 31. Varlet – The Drifter (self) indie/alternative [Dec-11]
(D) 32. Mr. Anonymous – Champion Sound (self) Rock/reggae [Mar-12]
(D) 32. Rebel Tongue – Movin’ On (self) Hip-Hop [Mar-12]
(R) 32. The Hickman-Dalton Gang – The Hickman-Dalton Gang Vol II (self) alternative country rock [Jun-11]
(13) 32. The Yawpers – Savage Blue (Adventure Records) Rock/roots [Jan-12]
(R) 33. El Toro De La Muerte – Danger These Days (self) Rock [Aug-11]
(D) 33. J. Miller Band – The Road to ELVado (self) country-folk [Mar-12]
(15) 33. Juno What?! – Shameless (self) Funk/disco [Jan-11]
DROPPED OUT OF TOP 40
8. Devotchka – 100 Lovers
9. FaceMan – Feeding Time
11. Hindershot – Curse Us All
14. SHEL – When the Dragon Came Down
16. Ian Cooke – Fortitude
19. Places – No More Wasted Days
21. Petals of Spain – Late Night Visitor
22. Rose Hill Drive – Americana
22. The Don’ts and Be Carefuls – Sun Hits
23. Justin Roth – Now You Know
24. John Oates – Mississippi Mile
26. Achille Lauro – Flight or Flight
26. Rorey Carroll – Roadside Lullabies
27. Georgann Low – Les Progres De L’Amour (Seasons Of Love)
27. Wasteland Hop – Mother Acre
28. Rene Marie – Voice Of My Beautiful Country
29. Andy Palmer – Sometime Around
29. Kim Jones – Lucky Girl
29. You Me and Apollo – Cards with Cheats
MARCH ADDS
Andy Thorn – Fire In The Sky
Ben Markley – Shadow Valley
Bike Theft – EP
C.P. Carrington – The Valley
Chimney Choir – (ladder)
Euforquestra – Let Us In
Fresh Jefferson – Soulhawke
Gold Metal Sleeper – S/T
Hearts in Space – Already Gone
J. Miller Band – The Road to Elvado
Jaden Carlson – Tell Me What You See
John Oates Band – The Bluesville Sessions
Le Divorce – The Sting and The Light
Mr. Anonymous – Champion Sound
Overcasters – Curses/Prayers
Rebel Tongue – Movin’ On
Ronnie Shellist – Trust Is Gone
StaG – Rifle Meeker
Steve Kovalheck | Ben Markley | Marty Kenney | Chris Smith – Raincheck
Taylor Scott & Another Kind Of Magick – Back To Beale Live
The Blender Cats – Just Like This
The Canopy – Catch the Breeze
The Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow
The Jekylls – The Sweet Factory
The Lumineers – The Lumineers
The Morning Clouds – Wasted Youth Blues
The Pretty Sure – Subtle Sabotage
Tim Yunker and the Sound Junkies – Microphones Don’t Lie
Wheelchair Sports Camp – Where We All Live
________________________________________________
STATION BY STATION
KAFM (Grand Junction)
1. Otis Taylor – Contraband
2. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
3. Driftwood Fire – How to Untangle a Heartache
4. Catch Bees – Newman’s Open Choir
4. Juno What?! – Shameless
KDNK (Carbondale)
* Bonnie and The Clydes – Bonnie And The Clydes
* Chimney Choir – (ladder)
* Halden Wofford & the HI Beams – Live at Hodi’s
* The Haunted Windchimes – Live at the Western Jubilee
* John Oates – Mississippi Mile
KGNU (Boulder)
1. Lionel Young Band – On Our Way to Memphis
1. Mr. Anonymous – Champion Sound
2. Great American Taxi – Paradise Lost
2. Otis Taylor – Contraband
2. Paper Bird – Carry On
KRCC (Colorado Springs)
1. A Shoreline Dream – Losing Them All To This Time
1. Tennis – Young & Old
2. Eric Shiveley – Crybaby
2. Otis Taylor – Contraband
3. The Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow
KRFC (Fort Collins)
1. Tennis – Young & Old
2. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
3. Euforquestra – Let Us In
4. Bad Weather California – Sunkissed
4. Coles Whalen – I Wrote This For You
KUNC (Greeley)
1. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
2. John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light – Beautiful Empty
2. SHEL – When the Dragon Came Down
2. Wendy Woo – Austerity
3. Harry Tuft & Friends – Treasures Untold
KUVO (Denver)
1. Eric Gunnison – Trios
2. Playground – Dreams Go Through My Mind
3. Josh Quinlin Quintet – Mountain Time Standards
4. Carmen Sandim Sextet – Brand New
5. Steve Kovalheck | Ben Markley | Marty Kenney | Chris Smith – Raincheck
KVNF (Paonia)
1. Halden Wofford & the Hi-Beams – Live at Hodi’s
2. Katie Glassman – Snapshot
3. Finnders & Youngberg – FY5
3. Otis Taylor – Contraband
3. Paper Bird – Carry On
Open Air 1340 (Denver)
* a. Tom Collins – OH NO!
* Bad Weather California – Sunkissed
* Catch Bees – Newman’s Open Choir
* Hindershot – Curse Us All
* Paper Bird – Carry On
The Colorado Sound
1. Katie Glassman – Snapshot
2. Coles Whalen – I Wrote this for You
3. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
3. The Swayback – Double Four Time
4. Churchill – The Change
—————————————————————————————–
BY GENRE/PROGRAM FORMAT
Americana/Alt.country/Alt.country-rock
1. Katie Glassman – Snapshot
2. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Live at Hodi’s
3. Longest Day of the Year – Turn Into the Ground
4. The Patti Fiasco – The Patti Fiasco
5. Katya Chorover – Big Big Love
Blues
1. Otis Taylor – Contraband
2. Lionel Young Band – On Our Way to Memphis
3. Ronnie Shellist – Trust Is Gone
4. Big Head Todd and the Monsters – Big Head Blues Club: 100 Years of Robert Johnson
5. Papa Juke – Out Of The Blues
Bluegrass
1. Finnders & Youngberg – FY5
2. Spring Creek – Hold On Me
3. Dave Richey & Ruined Nation – No Peace of Mind
3. Trout Steak Revival – Trout Steak Revival
4. Clarke Wright – Fiddleride
Folk/singer-songwriter/folk-rock
1. Harry Tuft & Friends – Treasures Untold
2. Paper Bird – Carry On
3. The Haunted Windchimes – Live at the Western Jubilee
4. Justin Roth – Now You Know
5. SHEL – When the Dragon Came Down
Funk/Hip-Hop/Urban Contemporary
1. Broken Tongues – Crooked Skyline
2. Beats Noir! – Beats Noir!
3. Rebel Tongue – Movin’ On
4. Juno What?! – Shameless
5. Juno What?! – Late Night Live
Indie/New-Alternative
1. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
2. Tennis – Young & Old
3. Bad Weather California – Sunkissed
3. Catch Bees – Newman’s Open Choir
4. Churchill – The Change
Jazz
1. Carmen Sandim Sextet – Brand New
2. Eric Gunnison – Trios
3. Josh Quinlin Quintet – Mountain Time Standards
4. After Midnight – Hit the Jive Jack
4. Greg Garrison – Low Lonesome
POP / adult contemporary
1. Coles Whalen – I Wrote this for You
2. John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light – Beautiful Empty
3. Charlotte Sass – Lighter Things
4. Petals of Spain – Late Night Visitor
Rock / adult alternative
1. The Swayback – Double Four Time
2. Mosey West – Vaca Money
3. Overcasters – Curses/Prayers
4. Fox Street Allstars – Welcome to the Mighty Pleasin’
5. Varlet – The Drifter
If you can’t get excited about a new Leftover Salmon record, you’re just not not a true Colorado music lover. So, HELL YEAH I’m excited to get Aquatic Hitchhiker. Vince Herman messaged me this week … record’s on the way. I’m stoked. It’s the first new album of all original tunes in like 8 years! Hope to have it in time for EP16 next week. Here’s a taste of what we can expect on the new album, courtesy of eTown. If you can’t tell I’m excited, you don’t this old goat too well 😉 
Megan Redmond – Dreamland — a tasty bit of crossover pop country/americana from this young lady who is playing damn near every festival event of the summer from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins in 2012. Not since Katie Moffatt in the early 70s has there been, to the best of my knowledge, a top female pop country artist break out of Colorado. Her 6 song debut ep is full of songs she wrote or co-wrote, and was produced in Nashville with some top session players. The first single, “Falling,” was placed on industry news leader ALLACCESS.COM’s “Cool New Country” highlight list… then landed on Clear Channel Media’s show on hot new country propelling “Falling” onto the Top 100 Country charts on both Mediabase and Nielsen BDS. 
Rebel Tongue – Movin On … several years ago now I got hipped to U.S. Pipe – a band that featured lead MC Azma Holiday. That band broke up. Azma and some of the members of the Pipe moved on – to REBEL TONGUE. I knew Azma as a rapper – NOW I know him as a soulful singer and rapper with a group of funk masters backing him up. Give me a band with a wickedly tight and groovin rhythm section, a couple of horns, and a front guy who OWNS an audience and I’m a sucka for love like this anytime. Here’s the official teaser they came up with. 
Mosey West – Merica — Hmmmm …. over the past two years this band, originally called Merica before changing their name to Mosey West, has reaped more praise and more accomplishments here locally than just about any band I can name outside of those who have gained national attention — i.e. The Lumineers or Tennis. Expect even greater praise and accomplishments in 2012. I expect this record is going to be listed on many critics lists as a “best of 2012.” 
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Finnders and Youngberg “Nebraska” from FY5 (2011)
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Chris K's Colorado Playlist 