Three big stories came out this past week. Elephant Revival announced an “indefinite hiatus,” Chris Daniels made a public announcement that he’s the new executive director of the Colorado Music Hall of Fame and KRFC executive James Lopez resigned.
Elephant Revival posted that “The band has been dealing with some family matters that have led us to reassess and realize that, while we’ve all been putting so much energy into Elephant Revival, we need some time to reconnect with our loved ones and focus on personal growth.”
The entire statement from the band is posted on their FB page.
Chris Daniels was inducted into the CMHOF in 2013, and also served as executive director for Swallow Hill music before becoming a professor in the music industry studies program at UC Denver. He replaces former Denver Post music reporter and critic, and author of Colorado’s Rock Chronicles G. Brown. No reason has been given yet for the change in leadership at the CMHOF.
KRFC Fort Collins will be looking for a new executive director. James Lopez announced he’s stepping down after only six months on the job. KRFC Board Chair Kate Hawthorne-Jeracki is noted as saying that the board will be looking for someone who can get the station “to the next level with funding and things like that.”
What you’ll find below are new songs on the show this week … listen and let me know which ones you think I should keep in the Colorado Playlist, and which I should delete.
NOTE: In order to be included in the MMMM poll, the band/artist must have an embeddable file available on SoundCloud, BandCamp, Reverbnation or YouTube.
PLAYLIST S12 EP05
(D) = debut of lp, ep or single
(N) = new cut from previously debuted lp or ep
HOUR 1
Dave Diamond & The Higher Elevation “The Diamond Mine” (1967) Beast (Colorado) “Floating (Down by the River)” from “Beast” (1969) (D) Danielle Ate the Sandwich “Never Enough” from DATS 247 (2018) (2018)
Paper Bird “Sunday” from Paper Bird (2016) Drag the River “Wichita Skyline” from Drag The River (2013) (D) Instant Empire “I’m Alive” from 12×12 (2018)
The Railbenders “Lincoln’s” from The Medicine Show (2018) Devotchka “Transliterator” from A Mad & Faithful Telling (2008) Slim Cessna’s Auto Club “The Unballed Ballad of the New Folksinger” from Unentitled (2011) Trout Steak Revival “Spirit” from Spirit to the Sea (2017) Todd Adelman & The Country Mile “I’m Gonna Love You” from Time Will Tell (2017) Silver & Gold “Pictures” from Point A – Point A (2018) Peter Sommer “Duende” from Tremolo Canteen (2010)
The Astronauts “Little Ford Ragtop” from Competition Coupe/Astronauts Orbit Kampus (1997) The Moonrakers “I don’t believe” from Anthology (2007) (D) Kyle Hollingsworth “Stuff” from 50 (2018) Great American Taxi “Dr. Feelgood’s Traveling Medicine Show” from Dr. Feelgood’s Traveling Medicine Show (2017) Kan’nal “Myth Magic” from Myth Magic (2008) (D) Augustus “Demons” (2018)
Big Head Todd & The Monsters “mind” from New World Arisin’ (2017) Monocle Band “As Fast as I Can” from Monocle Band (2013) SHEL “When the Dragon Came Down” from SHEL (2012) (D) Leftover Salmon “Show Me Something Higher” from Something Higher! (2018) Grant Farm “Get in Line” from Kiss The Ground (2016) Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams “Guess Things Happen That Way” from Missing Link (2017) Bill Frisell “Baja” from Guitar In the Space Age (2014)
Birthdays are funny – aren’t they? Happy birthday to me. There’s a line I crossed – that line that says, “dude you’re old now.” They’re right you know — I don’t feel “old.” I know old people — like over 80 old. I’m not that. Long way to 80. Lots of music to do until then. Will I feel “old” when I turn 80? I’ll let you know when I get there. Until then, this is what I got … music … Colorado music.
I did sound for Lionel Young this weekend. He told me there’s a new album coming out late Feb/early March. There’s also a new Wendy Woo Band album due out about the same time, if memory serves. Also coming in two weeks, a conversation with Wendy and her husband Charles in their home on Offstage Beyond the Music.
Word on the street this weekend is that Eck’s Saloon in Denver (Lakewood) has shut down. Unconfirmed reports suggest they “couldn’t pay the bills.” There is speculation among some that the previous owners will take it over and reopen. Will see what I can find out Monday.
So, Open Air 1340 AM is set to move to 102.3 FM on Monday Jan 26 — this should be fun. Look out DENVER!
(EDIT) This move is not unprecedented. In 2005, KCUV / 1510 AM, Denver’s first and only attempt at an Americana format, moved onto 102.3 FM. The experiment lasted three years. Better luck to Open Air, a Colorado Public Radio (CPR) station. Also, Paris on the Platte closed.
I also spoke with John Magnie this weekend (Young Ancients/the Subdudes). He let me know the new Y/A album will be out late Feb/early March … to tease it here’s a new video.
PLAYLIST S9 EP3
(D) = debut lp/ep or single
(N) = new cut from previously debuted lp/ep
Dusty Drapes & the Dusters “Talkin’ Boogie” from The Red Album (1981) C.W. McCall “Wolf Creek Pass” from Best Of C W Mccall (1997) (D) Ben Gallagher “Hungry Ghost” from Heart Shaped Rocks (2015) Zephyr “Don’t Come Back” from Heartbeat (1982) (N) Strange Americans “The Scene” from That Kind of Luster (2014) Such (Su Charles) “Open Book” from Trial and Error (2014) The Motet “Like We Own It” from The Motet (2014) (N) Maxwell Hughes “Pulled One Over” from SpokesBUZZ Vol V: Band Together (2015) (D) Danielle Ate the Sandwich “The Drawing Back of Curtains” from The Drawing Back of Curtains (2015) Whiskey Blanket “Pound Boom” from No Object (2010) Matt Skellenger “Momentum” from New Radio (2014)
Bob Lind “Colorado Line” from Colorado Line (1971) Nitty Gritty Dirt Band “Some of Shelly’s Blues” from Uncle Charlie (1970) (D) Todd Adelman “Right Before You Said Hello” from Highways & Lowways (2015) The Samples “Wild River” from Return to Earth (2001) (D) Chris Daniels & the Kings with Freddi Gowdy “Funky to the Bone” from Funky To the Bone (2015) OneRepublic “Love Runs Out” from Native (2013) Big Head Todd & The Monsters “Resignation Superman” from Beautiful World (1997) Jennifer Lane “I’m So Ready” from In A Magazine (2008) Kate LeRoux “It Doesn’t Matter At All” from Phoenix (2014) Dana Landry Trio “Frank’s Tune” from Memphis Skyline (2014)
You ever stop and think about how you perceive and personally define styles or genres of music? What does AAA mean? Americana? Rock? Pop? Can you articulate the difference between Rhythm & Blues and contemporary R&B? Neither can most people – even those we’d think might or should know …such as event talent buyers.
So, I’m on the phone this week – doing what I do – consulting on matters related to music in Colorado, and I get asked “how do you define singer-songwriter?” My immediate off the cuff answer was “everyone in music is a singer songwriter if they sing songs they write.” That’s true. If you sing songs you write you are in fact a singer-songwriter. But the definition goes well beyond that.
The question came about because the person I was consulting had gotten push back from event buyers for being a singer-songwriter. For many people in the scene – event buyers especially – the term brings a less than likable meaning – that of solo (or duo) act that sings soft wimpy ballady acoustic “folk” type songs – the type you hear in coffee shops and many brew pubs regionally today.
According to Allmusic.com, “…the term Singer/Songwriter refers to the legions of performers that followed Bob Dylan in the late 60s and early 70s. Most of the original singer/songwriters performed alone with an acoustic guitar or a piano but some had small groups for backing. Their lyrics were personal, although they were often veiled by layers of metaphors and obscure imagery. Singer/songwriters drew primarily from folk and country, although certain writers like Randy Newman and Carole King incorporated the song-craft of Tin Pan Alley pop. The main concern for any singer/songwriter was the song itself, not necessarily the performance.”
Examples of singer songwriters also include: Simon & Garfunkle, Billy Joel, Elton John, John Lennon, Van Morrison, and James Taylor from the 70’s and from the more contemporary listings, Elvis Costello, Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow, and Sara Bareilles to name a few.
This point is worth repeating; “The main concern for any singer/songwriter was the song itself, not necessarily the performance.”
So why does it matter? It is the performance issue that drives many buyers away from so called singer-songwriters. Many buyers don’t see the singer-songwriter as a performer – as an ENTERTAINER (despite the Billy Joels and Elton Johns, who few think of as singer-songwriters, but rather pop and/or rock acts).
I made a few calls to verify that my thinking was in line with realities on the ground. I wondered why “singer-songwriters” need not apply in most cases. The answer was “energy.” What I took from that was not “energy” but FAMILIARITY. Bring an Elton John or Bob Dylan tribute band to the party and you’re in. Bring in Bob Dylan performing solo songs on an acoustic guitar that no one has yet become familiar with and he’s out. Why? FAMILIARITY = ENERGY and ENERGY = FAMILIARITY.
It’s not that folks expect to hire cover bands …and tribute bands fall into a different role in the scene – accepted as something more than a cover band. It’s that folks who put on events desire music that the average attendee can “move along to” (read: “sing along to”) even if they’ve never heard the song before.
If you avoid using the term singer-songwriter, as an artist what do you say you do musically? Americana? What’s that? What’s different between pop and rock? Is country “country” if it doesn’t sound like what’s on commercial country radio – or is that even country to begin with and when is it “too country?” How bout the differences between Rhythm & Blues (R&B) in the classic context, and R&B in the contemporary context?
One event buyer/planner this week asked me to find them “Colorado sounding” acts. When pressed, I came away with an answer that what was meant was acts in the bluegrass, jam-grass, jamband, reggae. jamband oriented funk and hip-hop, and “Americana” (read: non Nashville sounding country) styles of music. At no time was I asked for singer-songwriter, folk, rock, pop, blues, soul, jazz, or country.
My best advice? Leave the genres to those who care (uh … hello?) and define based on comparatives, on “if you like so and so you’ll like _____________” … choose “__________ compliments so and so in a mix,” NOT “_________ sounds like so and so.”
And even if you are, don’t call yourself a singer-songwriter … most singer songwriters I know can do solo, duo, trio, quartet, or even orchestra shows – and are not simply a gal or guy with a guitar …or Bob Dylan without a band …a “folk” singer.
When we think of great Colorado singer-songwriters, here are a few I think are definitely worth mentioning …we do love singer-songwriters in Colorado. Turns out they’re among our most revered treasures.
It’s official — August is the worst month of the year in terms of blog readership. I thought maybe we broke the August curse this year, but no…. not even close. We barely eeked out an increase over last year, hitting 1199 unique page visits … a far bit off our record 2,227 in May, and at 39 unique visits a day we’re really off of the 53 a day average for the year. I attribute that to the fact that I spend less time writing in August and more time on stage – so look for increased blogging activity in the next few months to make up for it LOL.
The Colorado Sound can now be heard every Sunday morning from 8AM-10AM on Radio 94.9 Colorado … www.radio949colorado.com. Radio 94.9 has committed to airing 1 Colorado track per hour of programming. That places this Clear Channel owned property right up on top of the heap with Open Air 1340 and KRFC (Fort Collins) in airing Colorado music.
STATION NEWS & NOTES
KBUT wrapped up another successful summer pledge drive on August 12th. With the support of our family of listeners near and far, KBUT met our goal of $42,000. KBUT is also in the midst of a capital campaign to cover expenses related to a new transmitter in Gunnison, CO. This 6,500 Watt transmitter (88.7 KGNI) will replace a low-powered translator that currently broadcasts at the same location. KBUT expects to be broadcasting from this more powerful and secure signal sometime in September. More information is available at http://www.kbut.org/powerup
KGNU has hired David Wilson as Station Manager. David is already working part-time training and starts full-time on September 17. Welcome David.
MUSIC NEWS & NOTES
I sent out a couple of new releases in August that feature two of the state’s wonderful female voices – Alysa Kraft from the Patti Fiasco, and Monica Whittington from the Monocle Band. I also received the new album from Gabrielle Louise – which by all standards should win best packaging of the year. I was also fortunate enough to work with a few of the best at this year’s Bohemian Nights at New West Fest … including SHEL, Rachel James (Rachel & the Kings), Hayley Helmericks (Snake Rattle Rattle Snake), Erica Brown, and Cassie Taylor – and equally, Jennifer Lane and Sophie Reed received standing ovations for their performances this year. So that got me to thinking… what are the top female fronted records right now?
1. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind
2. Paper Bird – Rooms
3. The Patti Fiasco – Small Town Lights 4. Finders & Youngberg – I Don’t Want Love You Won’t Give Until I Cry EP (Erin Youngberg is co-lead singer in band)
5. Bonnie & The Clydes – Wrong Side Up
6. SHEL – SHEL
7. Monocle Band – Monocle Band
8. Esme Patterson – All Princes, I
9. Ending People – Fill Your Lungs
10. The Whiskey Bottles – Grandville
Of course this takes NOTHING away from anyone else – we’re tremendously blessed to have had some of the best female singers, songwriters, and musicians in the country here in CO…
In other news – the Motet is in the studio with Colin Bricker at Mighty Fine Productions in Denver. Supercollider just wrapped up tracking with Colin. Leftover Salmon is working on a new album. String Cheese Incident is working on a new album. The new Richie Furay is closer to getting to us. There’s going to be a new Piedmont Brothers Band record that will feature the likes of Rick Roberts, Jock Bartley (Firefall) and Richie Furay… Sean Kelly of the Samples thinks the new record will be done right after the first of the year, and there’s a new album coming out from Chris Daniels featuring Freddie Gowdy of Freddi & Henchi fame… I’d look for that one maybe next spring, but Chris HAS been known to surprise, so we’ll see.
Former Denverite, and Denver native Rusty Young, who still rocks “Denver” as home on his Facebook page, has been inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame – and right on the plague it says “Rusty Young grew up playing steel guitar in country bands around Denver…” No doubt he’ll eventually wind up in the Colorado Music Hall of Fame as well. Rusty has also just released another Poco record, “All Fired Up,” although he’s the only member of the original gang that appears – making it a weak “Poco” release, but a pretty damned strong Rusty Young release.
VIDEO PICKS – AUGUST
This month’s PICK-7 includes jazz guitarist Matt Fuller, Danielle Ate the Sandwich, Colorado Springs hip-hop The ReMinders, the Raven & the Writing Desk, Andy Palmer, SHEL, and Sean Kennedy.
TOP 40 SPINS – AUGUST 2013
305 titles tracked in August
178 titles were reported as played at least once.
(CC) = Colorado Connection
(D) = album/ep debut on chart
(R) = reenter
[date] = Date added to reporting list
(1) 1. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman (Suitcase Town Music) Folk [Jun-13]
(2) 2. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World (8 Minutes 20 Seconds) EDM [Jul-13]
(3) 3. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind (Yellow Dog) Blues [May-13]
(D) 4. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies (Its Evolving Records) Folk [Aug-13]
(6) 5. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone (Telarc) Blues [Jan-13]
(39) 6. Patrick Dethlefs – Fall & Rise (self) Folk [Jun-12]
(5) 7. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk (self) Americana [Jul-13]
(9) 8. Paper Bird – Rooms (self) Indie/New Alternative [Feb-13]
(7) 9. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Maestro and the Elephant (self) Rock [Jan-13]
(R) 10. Chris Daniels – Better Days (self) Americana [Jul-12]
(18) 11. Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin (self) Bluegrass [Jun-13]
(14) 12. Jeff Brinkman – Strange (self) Rock [Dec-12]
(40) 13. Austin Young & No Difference – Blue As Can Be (Vizztone) Blues [Mar-13]
(D) 13. The Patti Fiasco – Small Town Lights (self) Rock [Jul-13]
(38) 14. Grant Sabin – Anthromusicology (Blank Tape) Rock [Jan-13]
(12) 15. Sera Cahoone (CC) – Deer Creek Canyon (Sub Pop) Folk [Nov-12]
(19) 16. O’Brien Party of 7 (CC) – Reincarnation, The Songs of Roger Miller (Howdy Skies Music) Americana [Jun-12]
(D) 17. Finders & Youngberg – I Don’t Want Love You Won’t Give Until I Cry EP (Swingfingers Records) Americana [Aug-13]
(R) 18. Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Eyes on the Prize (self) Blues [Feb-13]
(R) 19. Bonnie & The Clydes – Wrong Side Up (self) Americana [Jul-12]
(R) 20. The Yawpers – Capon Crusade (self) Rock [Sep-12]
(13) 21. SHEL – SHEL (Moraine Records / Mad King Records) Folk [Aug-12]
(16) 22. Josh Dillard – The Bright Light of Shipwreck (self) Indie/New Alternative [Jun-13]
(37) 23. a. Tom Collins – Stick & Poke (Greater Than Collective) Indie/New Alternative [Apr-13]
(20) 24. The Changing Colors – Joan & the King (Blank Tape) Folk [Apr-13]
(R) 25. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round (self) Bluegrass [Jan-13]
(D) 25. Monocle Band – Monocle Band (self) Americana [Aug-13]
(D) 25. Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP (self) Rock [Aug-13]
(R) 26. Esme Patterson – All Princes, I (Greater Than Collective) Indie/New Alternative [Sep-12]
(29) 26. Jeff Scroggins & Colorado – Western Branches (self) Bluegrass [May-13]
(27) 27. Strange Americans – A Royal Battle (self) Rock [Jun-12]
(R) 28. You, Me and Apollo – S/T [EP] (self) Indie/New Alternative [Dec-12]
(8) 29. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony (Cicero Recordings) Indie/New Alternative [Nov-12]
(R) 30. Ending People – Fill Your Lungs (Cash Cow Productions) Indie/New Alternative [Aug-12]
(24) 30. Jon Wirtz – Tourist (self) Jazz [Jan-13]
(23) 30. Mike Clark & the Sugar Sounds – Round and Round (Blank Tape) Indie/New Alternative [Jan-13]
(R) 31. The Whiskey Bottles – Grandville (self) Americana [Jun-13]
(R) 32. Trout Steak Revival – Flight (self) Bluegrass [Nov-12]
(R) 32. Zach Heckendorf – The Cool Down (self) POP [Jun-12]
FELL OUT OF TOP 40 AUGUST
4. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
10. Elephant Revival – It’s Alive
11. 3 Twins – De Nada
15. Wendy Woo Band – Live
17. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king}
21. Thom Chacon – Thom Chacon
22. The Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow
25. Andy Palmer – Hazard of the Die
26. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker
30. Hezekiah Goode – Two Billion Acres of Salt
31. The ReMinders – Born Champions
32. Chimney Choir – (compass)
33. Colfax Speed Queen – Satisfaction Intended
35. Joe Sampson – Kill Our Friends
36. The Swayback – Double Four Time
ADDED AUGUST 2013
Bad Weather California – Back Seats
Birds of A Feather – A Million Miles Away
Bobby Walker – Feelin’ Good
Candy Claws – Ceres & Calypso In The Deep Time
Covenhaven – Covenhaven
Damon Wood – Sirens & Pipers
Deadwood Saints – Hometown Blues
Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
Finders & Youngberg – I Don’t Want Love You Won’t Give Until I Cry EP
Flashbulb Fires – Unseen Things [single]
Gabrielle Louise – The Bird in My Chest
Holly Lovell – The Illusions EP
Joe Johnson – New West Sound
Katey Laurel – Periscope
Kinetix – Never Too Late
Leftover Salmon – Thornpipe [single]
Maxwell Hughes – Only in Dreams
Molina Speaks – Greatest Rapper Never Heard
Monocle Band – Monocle Band
Moors & McCumber – Against the Grain
Navy – Spirit Groove
Poco (CC) – All Fired Up
Princess Music – Odobenidae
Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP
The 14ers – Get Some EP
The Belle Jar – Union Station
The Drunken Hearts – Live for Today
The Lonelyhearts – Years in the Great Interior
The Outfit – Tough Kids
The Still Tide – Tinder
Thee Dang Dangs – For the People
STATION BY STATION
[X] = number of “current” titles reported as played in reporting period. This is so you’ll not only see what the top five records getting the most spins are at any station, but also how many “current year” releases are getting played.
KAFM (Grand Junction) [24]
1. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
2. Fox Steet Allstars – Tough Talk
3. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk
4. Arthur Lee Land – Cracked Open
5. Chris Thompson & Coral Creek String Band – Forty Years
KBUT (Crested Butte) [14]
1. Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin
1. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World
2. Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Eyes on the Prize
2. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round
2. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
KDNK (Carbondale) [40]
Cary Morin – Streamline
Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk
Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP
KDUR (Durango) [11]
1. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World
2. The Whiskey Bottles – Grandville
3. Hezekiah Goode – Two Billion Acres of Salt
3. Sour Boy Bitter Girl – The Days After the Fire
3. Thom Chacon – Thom Chacon
KGNU (Boulder) [20]
1. Paper Bird – Rooms
2. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World
3. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round
4. Chimney Choir – (compass)
5. Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin
KRCC (Colorado Springs) [16]
1. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World
2. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
3. Austin Young & No Difference – Blue As Can Be
4. Grant Sabin – Anthromusicology
5. Changing Colors – Joan & the King
KRFC (Fort Collins) [>100]
1. The Patti Fiasco – Small Town Lights
2. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
3. Cary Morin – Streamline
4. Cassie Taylor – Out Of My Mind
4. Escape Goats – On The Lam
KUNC (Greeley) [12]
1. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
2. Patrick Dethlefs – Fall & Rise
3. Sera Cahoone (CC) – Deer Creek Canyon
4. O’Brien Party of 7 (CC) – Reincarnation, The Songs of Roger Miller
4. Zach Heckendorf – The Cool Down
KUVO (Denver) [14]
1. Tom Gershwin – Sweet Pastimes
2. John Gunther’s Safari Trio – Surrender
3. Brad Goode – Chicago Red
4. Curtis Fuller – Down Home
5. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind
KVNF (Paonia)[10]
1. Finders & Youngberg – I Don’t Want Love You Won’t Give Until I Cry
2. Paper Bird – Rooms
3. Elephant Revival – It’s Alive EP
4. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk
5. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Maestro and the Elephant
OPEN AIR 1340 (Denver) [57]
1. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
2. a. Tom Collins – Stick & Poke
3. Esme Patterson – All Princes, I
4. Paper Bird – Rooms
5. The Outfit – Tough Kids
The Colorado Sound [48]
1. The Patti Fiasco – Small Town Lights
2. Chris Daniels – Better Days
2. The Yawpers – Capon Crusade
3. Fierce Bad Rabbit – The Maestro and the Elephant
4. Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP
GENRE/PROGRAM FORMAT
Americana / Alt-country / Bluegrass
1. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk
2. Chris Daniels – Better Days
3. Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin
4. Finders & Youngberg – I Don’t Want Love You Won’t Give Until I Cry
5. Bonnie & The Clydes – Wrong Side Up
Blues / Rhythm & Blues
1. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind
2. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone
3. Austin Young & No Difference – Blue As Can Be
4. Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Eyes on the Prize
5. Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band f/Erica Brown – Tangled Road Again
Folk / folk-rock / singer-songwriter
1. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
2. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
3. Patrick Dethlefs – Fall & Rise
4. Sera Cahoone (CC) – Deer Creek Canyon
5. O’Brien Party of 7 (CC) – Reincarnation, The Songs of Roger Miller
Indie / New Alternative
1. Paper Bird – Rooms
2. Josh Dillard – The Bright Light of Shipwreck
3. a. Tom Collins – Stick & Poke
4. Esme Patterson – All Princes, I
5. You, Me and Apollo – S/T [EP]
Jazz / Instrumental
1. Jon Wirtz – Tourist
2. Manuel Lopez Trio – Searching Out
3. Tia Fuller (CC) – Angelic Warrior
4. Tom Gershwin – Sweet Pastimes
5. Brad Goode – Chicago Red
Pop / Adult Contemporary / Crossover
1. Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP
2. Zach Heckendorf – The Cool Down
3. The 14ers – Get Some
4. Wendy Woo Band – Live
5. Katey Laurel – Periscope
Rock / AAA / ALT / AOR
1. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Maestro and the Elephant
2. Jeff Brinkman – Strange
3. The Patti Fiasco – Small Town Lights
4. Grant Sabin – Anthromusicology
5. The Yawpers – Capon Crusade
Urban Contemporary / EDM / Hip Hop / Soul
1. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World
2. Beats Noir! – Where the Sun Goes Down
3. Selina Albright – Brighter
4. Molina Speaks – Greatest Rapper Never Heard
4. The ReMinders – Born Champions
So, keeping it simple, there are 300 titles on the tracking sheet. Q1 titles spun = 234. Here’s the TOP 100. Next quarterly report comes out in July.
1. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony
2. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
3. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Maestro and the Elephant
4. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone
5. Elephant Revival – It’s Alive EP
6. Jeff Brinkman Band – Strange
7. Beautiful Loser Society – The Desperate Promenade
8. The Yawpers – Capon Crusade
9. Esme Patterson – All Princes, I
10. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker
11. A Boy and His Kite – A Boy and His Kite
12. You, Me and Apollo – S/T [EP]
13. Wire Faces – King Cataract
14. Jon Wirtz – Tourist
15. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round
16. Chris Daniels – Better Days
17. Sera Cahoone (CC) – Deer Creek Canyon
18. Beats Noir! – Where the Sun Goes Down
19. Flobots – The Circle In the Square
20. Churchill – The Change EP
21. Bonnie & The Clydes – Wrong Side Up
22. The Gromet – Barren
23. The Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow
24. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king}
25. Grant Farm – The Grant Farm
26. Land Lines – Land Lines
27. Grant Sabin – Anthromusicology
28. Manuel Lopez Trio – Searching Out
29. SHEL – SHEL
30. Raincheck – Raincheck
31. Mike Clark & the Sugar Sounds – Round and Round
32. O’Brien Party of 7 (CC) – Reincarnation, The Songs of Roger Miller
33. Joshua Novak – Ephemeron
34. Darryl Purpose – Next Time Around
35. Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Eyes on the Prize
36. Mosey West – Merica
37. Strange Americans – A Royal Battle
38. Kristi Stice – Under the Willow
39. Rachel & the Kings – Tonic
40. 4H Royalty – Where UFOs Go To Die
40. Trout Steak Revival – Flight
41. Carmelita’s Lovers – Ghosts of Our Former Selves
42. A Shoreline Dream – “333”
43. The Epilogues – Cinematics
44. Paper Bird – Rooms
45. The Swayback – Double Four Time
46. Mama Lenny & the Remedy – Punches and Hugs
47. Instant Empire – Keep UP!
48. Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP
49. Brad Goode – Chicago Red
49. Poet’s Row – Poet’s Row
50. Catch Bees – Narratives from a Factory Town
51. Achille Lauro – Flight or Flight
52. Patrick Dethlefs – Fall & Rise
53. Sofie Reed – Simplicity Chased Trouble Away
54. Euforquestra – Let Us In
55. Bad Weather California – Sunkissed
55. Tia Fuller (CC) – Angelic Warrior
56. The Centennial – Nervous System
56. WhiteWater Ramble – Roots & Groove
57. 3 Twins Broadband – Cry at the Movies / How Couldya Not [single]
57. Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band f/Erica Brown – Tangled Road
58. A Mouthful of Thunder – Slow Burn
59. The Knew – Man Monster
60. Boa & the Constrictors – Married to the Blues
60. gogoLab – Border Patrol
61. Chris Thompson & Coral Creek String Band – Forty Years
62. Dennis Wanebo – Running On Gravity
62. Eye and the Arrow – If By Fire
63. Tin Horn Prayer – Grapple the Rails
64. Lisa Bell – The Italian Project
64. Tyler Ward – Hello. Love. Heartache.
65. Zach Heckendorf – The Cool Down
66. Abi Robins – Such A Mess
67. Carbon Choir – Sakhalin
68. Science Partner – Rocky Mountain News
69. Polarity – King of Hearts
70. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Live at Hodi’s
71. West Water Outlaws – Real Killer
72. Esther Sparks & the Whiskey Remedy – Back to Life [single]
73. Ending People – Fill Your Lungs
73. Fred Hess BIG BAND – Speak
73. Glowing House – Days Run Out
73. Joe Sampson – Kill Our Friends
73. The Jekylls – The Sweet Factory
74. String Cheese Incident – Can’t Wait Another Day [single]
75. Mango fan Django – Indigo Dreams
76. I’m With Her – Songs We Said Goodbye To
77. Meniskus – Stowaway
78. Fox Steet Allstars – Tough Talk
79. Jeremy Dion – Golden Some Days
79. Jesse Manley – A Path Through the Dark
79. John William Davis – Dead Simple, Vol. 1: You Talk Funny
79. P-Nuckle – The System
80. Robert Cline, Jr. – All the Right Reasons
81. Tennis – Young & Old
82. Calder’s Revolvers – Steady By Your Side
82. Instant Empire – Heavy Hollow
83. Otis Taylor – Otis Taylor’s Contraband
84. Amazing Twin – Grown Alone
In reflection – what is the power of a recording – video and/or audio – that it makes its way to the uppermost partitions of the temple of our soul, our heart, our mind, our singing voice in the quiet space of our car or standing in the throng of a concert crowd? How do we assign such luminance to a single record, that it shines above all others in our collection? (btw, I have a friend who is about to say “we’ve fallen into the Chris abyss.”) What is it that makes a record our favorite of the year?
A full disclaimer is in order – during the course of 2012, I assisted several Colorado artists and bands in getting their recording to djs around the state – which I am paid to do. In the past twelve months I’ve sent out records on behalf of: Three Twins Broadband, Bonnie & the Clydes, Chris Daniels, Chris Thompson & the Coral Creek String Band, Jeff Brinkman, Katie Glassman, Kathryn Mostow, Susannah Thompson, and Sofie Reed, all of whom put out excellent records in 2012 – some of which did very well at radio and/or with the critics and fans who participated in our poll.
In the decades I’ve been involved with music and radio here in Colorado the question has too often been asked, why can’t Denver (Colorado) be recognized as a major player in the national music scene?
My hope is that shows like The Colorado Sound (heard on a number of stations) and stations like KRFC (Fort Collins) and CPR’s OpenAir 1340 have helped to shift that perception and helped to elevate the righteous claim to fame our brothers, sisters, sons and daughters deserve today. Colorado has become big talk the past decade – deservedly so.
OpenAir 1340 and KRFC deserve special notice in elevating our awareness of Colorado music – each with its own flavor, but both of which have shifted the focus of their airtime to what’s going on here in this state. KRFC’s TOP 5 most spun album/ep titles were from here … and overall, 80% of their TOP 10 were Colorado releases. Much love to all the folks at both places who have placed such importance on our local scene — I can’t name a place off the top of my head anywhere in the country that has achieved that in a major metro market area.
Congratulations to the latest round of inductees into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame: the Astronauts, Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids, KIMN AM, Barry Fey, and Harry Tuft … all very well deserving … next up in that category are inductees due this year – Chris Daniels, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
So, what’s my favorite? Well, my favorite albums of the year won’t be known to anyone except my wife and maybe one or two very close confidants. Equally I’ve allowed anonymity for the several djs, music journalists, and members of the industry who participated in voting in the POLL I sent out this past month.
The only BEST OF selections I sought no outside influence with is BEST VIDEOs of 2012 — these choices are strictly mine. My #1 pick for video of the year came to me late, like as I was typing out this column. It comes from one of my best friends, and a client-musician who I am very happy to endorse, promote, and work on behalf of.
Chris Daniels and I got to be friends about the time he released “Spark,” an album I thought at the time truly was a career defining release. His subsequent treatment for leukemia, and the inspiration that arose within him to write and perform the songs on his newest album “Better Days,” means for me that the current record is far and away his life’s career affirming record. The video for “Sister Delores” was more than enough emotionally, on the eve of this report, to make it my VIDEO PICK of 2012. God bless you my friend – I truly do respect, love, and honor you for your contributions these past many decades. Thank you for inspiring me…. and for being my friend.
And with that … have a SUPER FANTASTIC year of music in Colorado in 2013 … much love to you and thank you for your support in 2012.
GOAT’s TOP VIDEO PICKS of 2012
from: Chris Daniels, Danielle Ate the Sandwich, the Epilogues, Churchill, Xiren, Flobots, SHEL, and OneRepublic
TOP 40 ALBUMS/EPS
TOP 40 OVERALL – 2012 A ONE HOUR sampling of the TOP 20
1. The Lumineers – The Lumineers (Dualtone) Americana [1 -Mar-12]
2. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king} (Youngest Daughter Records) Folk [1-May-12]
3. Bad Weather California – Sunkissed (Family Tree) Indie/New Alternative [1-Feb-12]
4. Chris Daniels – Better Days (self) Country/Folk [1-Jul-12]
5. The Yawpers – Capon Crusade (self) Rock [1-Sep-12]
6. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Live at Hodi’s (self) Country/Rock [1-Jan-12]
7. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker (LoS Records) Rock/Country [1-Apr-12]
8. Longest Day of the Year – Turn Into the Ground (self) Rock/alt-country [1-Nov-11]
9. Tennis – Young & Old (Fat Possum) Indie/New Alternative [1-Feb-12]
10. Otis Taylor – Otis Taylor’s Contraband (Telarc) Blues [1-Jan-12]
11. The Swayback – Double Four Time (self) Rock [1-Mar-12]
12. Mosey West – Merica (self) Rock [1-Apr-12]
13. The Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow (Blank Tape) Folk [1-Apr-12]
14. Strange Americans – A Royal Battle (self) Rock [1-Jun-12]
15. Grant Farm – The Grant Farm (self) Country/Rock [1-Mar-12]
16. The Knew – Man Monster (self) Rock [1-Jun-12]
17. O’Brien Party of 7 (CC) – Reincarnation, The Songs of Roger Miller (Howdy Skies Music) Folk [1-Jun-12]
18. Churchill – The Change EP (A&M/Octone) Rock [1-Mar-12]
19. Bonnie & The Clydes – Wrong Side Up (self) Country/Folk [1-Jul-12]
20. Achille Lauro – Flight or Flight (Hot Congress Records) Indie/New Alternative [1-Mar-12]
21. Katie Glassman – Snapshot (self) Country/jazz [1-Jan-12]
22. Patrick Dethlefs – Fall & Rise (self) Folk [1-Jun-12]
23. Esme Patterson – All Princes, I (Greater Than Collective) Indie/New Alternative [1-Sep-12]
24. Robert Cline, Jr. – All the Right Reasons (Mockingbird Records) Country/Folk [1-May-12]
25. Sofie Reed – Simplicity Chased Trouble Away (self) Blues/Folk [1-Aug-12]
26. Bop Skizzum – Coloradical (self) Funk/Soul/R&B [1-Sep-12]
27. FaceMan – Feeding Time (self) Rock [1-Feb-12]
28. Musketeer Gripweed – Straight Razor Revival (self) Rock [1-Apr-12]
29. Coles Whalen – I Wrote this for You (self) Pop/country crossover [1-Feb-12]
30. The Jekylls – The Sweet Factory (self) Americana/rock [1-Mar-12]
31. Chris Thompson & Coral Creek String Band – Forty Years (self) Country/Folk [1-Sep-12]
32. Flobots – The Circle In the Square (Shanachie Records) Hip-hop [1-Aug-12]
33. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Live and Learn EP (self) Rock/Pop [1-Nov-11]
34. Jeff Brinkman – Strange (self) Rock/Pop/Singer-songwriter [1-Dec-12] *
35. Mama Lenny & the Remedy – Punches and Hugs (self) Blues/rhythm and blues [1-Apr-12]
36. SHEL – SHEL (Moraine Records / Mad King Records) Folk [1-Aug-12]
37. Arliss Nancy – Simple Machines (Suburban Home) Rock [1-May-12]
38. The Congress – Whatever You Want (self) Rock [1-Apr-12]
39. Glowing House – Days Run Out (self) Indie/New Alternative [1-Jun-12]
40. The Epilogues – Cinematics (Greater Than Collective) Rock [1-Oct-12]
TOP 20 PEOPLES’ CHOICE
30 contributors ranked their TOP 20 in order. A #1 vote garnered 20 pts… a #20 vote garnered 1 pt. 167 titles received at least 1 pt.
1. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
2. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king}
3. The Yawpers – Capon Crusade
4. Chris Daniels – Better Days
5. Bad Weather California – Sunkissed
6. Longest Day of the Year – Turn Into the Ground
7. Strange Americans – A Royal Battle
8. Bonnie & The Clydes – Wrong Side Up
9. Mosey West – Merica
10. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Live at Hodi’s
11. The Knew – Man Monster
12. Patrick Dethlefs – Fall & Rise
13. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker
14. FaceMan – Feeding Time
15. Esme Patterson – All Princes, I
16. Glowing House – Days Run Out
17. Otis Taylor – Otis Taylor’s Contraband
18. Robert Cline, Jr. – All the Right Reasons
19. Anthony Ruptak – Red Mark
20. Oakhurst – Barrel [EP]
TOP 20 Radio Spins 2012
I went back and reviewed the TOP 40 radio charts for the 12 months Dec 2011 through November 2012. A #1 chart position garnered as many points as there were 2012 releases charted in that month; a song that was #1 in a month in which 30 titles counted received 30 pts etc. 110 titles received spin points based on their TOP 40 chart position in any given month of 2012.
1. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
2. Tennis – Young & Old
3. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker
4. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Live at Hodi’s
5. Bad Weather California – Sunkissed
6. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king}
7. The Swayback – Double Four Time
8. Otis Taylor – Otis Taylor’s Contraband
9. Chris Daniels – Better Days
10. The Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow
11. Grant Farm – The Grant Farm
12. Katie Glassman – Snapshot
13. Longest Day of the Year – Turn Into the Ground
14. O’Brien Party of 7 (CC) – Reincarnation, The Songs of Roger Miller
15. Churchill – The Change EP
16. Achille Lauro – Flight or Flight
16. Mosey West – Merica
17. Sofie Reed – Simplicity Chased Trouble Away
18. The Yawpers – Capon Crusade
19. Coles Whalen – I Wrote this for You
19. The Jekylls – The Sweet Factory
BY GENRE/FORMAT
Americana/Alt.country/Alt.country-rock
1. The Lumineers – The Lumineers
2. Chris Daniels – Better Days
3. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Live at Hodi’s
4. Leftover Salmon – Aquatic Hitchhiker
5. Longest Day of the Year – Turn Into the Ground
Blues/Rhythm & Blues
1. Otis Taylor – Otis Taylor’s Contraband
2. Sofie Reed – Simplicity Chased Trouble Away
3. Mama Lenny & the Remedy – Punches and Hugs
4. John Oates Band (CC) – The Bluesville Sessions
5. Ronnie Shellist – Trust Is Gone
Dance/Funk/Hip-Hop/Urban Contemporary
1. Bop Skizzum – Coloradical
2. Flobots – The Circle In the Square
3. Broken Tongues – Crooked Skyline
4. Air Dubai – Day Escape
5. Beats Noir! – Where the Sun Goes Down
Folk/folk-rock/singer-songwriter
1. Danielle Ate The Sandwich – {like a king}
2. The Haunted Windchimes – Out with the Crow
3. O’Brien Party of 7 (CC) – Reincarnation, The Songs of Roger Miller
4. Patrick Dethlefs – Fall & Rise
5. SHEL – SHEL
Indie/New Alternative
1. Bad Weather California – Sunkissed
2. Tennis – Young & Old
3. Achille Lauro – Flight or Flight
4. Esme Patterson – All Princes, I
5. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Live and Learn
Jazz
1. Tia Fuller (CC) – Angelic Warrior
2. Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra – Sharks & Manatees
3. Raincheck – Raincheck
4. Eric Gunnison – Trios
5. Julie Monley Quartet – Straight Up Jazz
POP/CROSSOVER/ADULT CONTEMPORARY
1. Coles Whalen – I Wrote this for You
2. Places – No More Wasted Days
3. Zach Heckendorf – The Cool Down
4. Katie Herzig (CC) – The Waking Sleep
5. The Fray – Scars and Stories
ROCK/AAA/AOR/ALT
1. The Yawpers – Capon Crusade
2. The Swayback – Double Four Time
3. Mosey West – Merica
4. Strange Americans – A Royal Battle
5. The Knew – Man Monster
Thanksgiving week … lots to be thankful for … a new grand daughter, Emily Irene (yes, I’m that damned old LOL) …a reasonably healthy family …some amazing friends (that means you) …and a library of the greatest songs I can find from here in Colorado. This week’s short playlist comes via Spotify because there were not enough on YouTube… so you need Spotify. Have a great week and don’t forget – the next News Notes & Spins comes up next weekend.
India.Arie “Talk to Her” from Voyage to India (2002) Olivia Rudeen “Almost June” from Olivia Rudeen (2012) Monroe Monroe “The Salesmen” from Interiors (2013) The Congress “Hundred Miles” from Whatever You Want (2012) Kinetix “Can’t Undo” from Let Me In (2010) Rob Roper “The Man in the Movies” from The Other Side of Nowhere (2013) I’m With Her “Hang Among the Stars” from Songs We Said Goodbye To (2012) Sofie Reed “Why You So Negative” from Simplicity Chased Trouble Away (2012) David Williams & Deco Django “It’s A Sin to Tell A Lie” from Django Jazz (2007) After Midnight Jazz Band “Hit That Jive, Jack” from Hit That Jive, Jack (2012) Honkytonk Homeslice “Burnin’ Down” from Just Passin’ Thru (2012) Dan Fogelberg “Full Circle” from Full Circle (2003) Patti Fiasco “Nobody’s Girl” from The Patti Fiasco (2011) Aakash Mittal Quartet “The Calm Within the People” from Thumbs Up (2013) Corey Harris “Eh La Bas” from Greens From the Garden (1999) Dianne Reeves “Today Will Be A Good Day” from When You Know (2008) Jeff Brinkman “Kiss” from Strange (2012) SHEL “On My Way” from SHEL (2012) Danielle Ate the Sandwich “Faith In a Man” from Like A King (2012) Tyler Ward “The Way We Are” from Hello. Love. Heartbreak (2012) Flobots “The Circle In the Square” from The Circle in the Square (2012) Epilogues “The Shadow King” from Cinematics (2012) The Fray “The Fighter” from Scars and Stories (2012) Grant Sabin “Devil of Mercy” from Anthromusicology (2013) Strange Americans “Engine” from A Royal Battle (2012) Katie Glassman “Honey Pie” from Snapshot (2012) Brad Goode “Reverse the Charges” from Tight Like This (2010)
Birthdays are funny – aren’t they? Happy birthday to me. There’s a line I crossed – that line that says, “dude you’re old now.” They’re right you know — I don’t feel “old.” I know old people — like over 80 old. I’m not that. Long way to 80. Lots of music to do until then. Will I feel “old” when I turn 80? I’ll let you know when I get there. Until then, this is what I got … music … Colorado music.
In reflection – what is the power of a recording – video and/or audio – that it makes its way to the uppermost partitions of the temple of our soul, our heart, our mind, our singing voice in the quiet space of our car or standing in the throng of a concert crowd? How do we assign such luminance to a single record, that it shines above all others in our collection? (btw, I have a friend who is about to say “we’ve fallen into the Chris abyss.”) What is it that makes a record our favorite of the year?
Americana/Alt.country/Alt.country-rock
Blues/Rhythm & Blues
Dance/Funk/Hip-Hop/Urban Contemporary
Folk/folk-rock/singer-songwriter
Indie/New Alternative
Jazz
POP/CROSSOVER/ADULT CONTEMPORARY
ROCK/AAA/AOR/ALT