Tag: Denver music

The Colorado Sound S8|EP40

reed foehl lost in the west
Reed Foehl Coming to OSBTM

This has been a very interesting week.  News broke this week that Fort Collins Downtown Business Association executive director Michael Short will be stepping down at the end of the year.  While it’s not directly tied to music, this is an important development as thirteen year DBA vet, and assistant director Peggy Lyle, who handled virtually ALL music related activities, resigned in August over apparent managment differences.

The DBA, in conjunction with funding from the Bohemian Foundation, produces several music related events a year in Fort Collins, including Bohemian Nights at New West Fest, the Colorado Brewers Festival, Fortober Fest, and the Friday Night Old Town Concert Series.  The question that tops the charts is, what will become of these events if the board of the DBA decides to move the organization away from events and more towards promoting and marketing its downtown business constituency by other means?  Obviously only time will tell … but in the meantime another shakeup poses more interesting questions.

Bohemian Foundation Musician Liaison Director Liz Barnez has left her gig there to pursue some personal goals. In an email to me this week Liz writes, “Going to record some stuff with my percussionist Bryon in early November for duo demo… but play trio with Eric, or band add Marty. Going to finish my record with my producer in LA first part of the year. I am going to be touring again with Catie Curtis… so, hoping to be busy with that, and getting Mudhead Music back up and running. I do virtual tour management for bands artists. All advance including, flights, accommodations, tech advance, hospitality, etc. Then create a hard copy or digital book for the tour. It’s like having a tour manager only a lot cheaper. I did this for the subdudes for many years and some Nashville artists. Gonna open it up and try to get a few clients if you hear of a need. Website for Liz Barnez and Mudhead Music to go up in the next month.”

If you are in need, please contact Liz via Facebook.

More directly related to our local music scene was a conversation I was engaged in with a major Denver entertainment (not music) franchise.  You can read that story here.

Check out the NEWS AND NOTES excerpt from this week’s show below.

VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK 

I got an email this past week from Reed Foehl’s PR person asking me if I’d spotlight Reed’s newest video this week.  I had included it as part of the SEPTEMBER videos of the month, so it seemed unlikely that I’d bring it out again.  However, during the course of our email exchange, I thought to ask if Reed would care to be my November guest on OFFSTAGE …BEYOND THE MUSIC.  Reed’s legacy goes back to the late 80s when he was a founding member of ACOUSTIC JUNCTION – a band that achieved considerable success in Colorado in the 90s, and eventually was signed to both Mercury and Capricorn Records.  Since the new millennium he’s been busy on a solo career, producing five albums including the new one, “Lost in the West.”  Here’s a taste…

OFFSTAGE …BEYOND THE MUSIC

Check out the final installment of OSBTM with October’s featured guest Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, and soon to be Colorado Music Hall of Fame member Richie Furay.  If you’d like to download this segment, please do so by going to KUNC or Radio 94.9.  Otherwise, feel free to stream it here.  

PLAYLIST S8|EP40

NEWS & NOTES SEGMENT FROM THIS WEEK’S SHOW

(D) = debut of new lp, ep, or single
(N) = new cut from previously debuted lp or ep

HOUR 1

The Samples “The Birds of Paradise” from Here and Somewhere Else (1998)
Acoustic Junction “Penny For Your Thoughts” from Love It For What It Is (1993)
(N) Quemando “Revolution” from Paradise (2014)
Dianne Reeves “32 Flavors” from Beautiful Life (2014)
Rob Drabkin “Little Steps” from Little Steps EP (2013)
(D) Stella Luce “Rain” from Caldera (2014) The Lovely & Talented “Death of The Lover” from The New American Fable (2010)
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club “Cranston” from Blovdy Tenent Trvth Peace (2004)
Fox Street Allstars “Back to Memphis” from Welcome to the Mighty Pleasin’ (2011)
The Outfit “Station Wagon Apocalypse” from Station Wagon Apocalypse (2014)
Gipsy Moon “Flyin’ (feat. Enion Pelta-Tiller)” from Eventide (2013)
(D) Matt Skellenger “New Radio” from New Radio (2014)

HOUR 2

John Denver “Back Home Again” from Essential John Denver (2007)
Judy Collins “Someday Soon” from Who Knows Where The Time Goes (1988)
(D) Andy Palmer “Storm’s Not Coming” from Storm’s Not Coming (2014)
Jeff Finlin “Walking On Air” from My Moby Dick (2013)
Churchill “Change” from Change EP (2012)
(N) Kyle Hollingsworth “Ordinary” from Speed of Life (2014) String Cheese Incident “So Far From Home” from Song In My Head (2014)
Souther Hillman Furay Band “Fallin In Love” from The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band (1974)
Poco “Pickin’ Up the Pieces” from The Essential Poco (2005)
(N) Tennis “Needle and a Knife” from Ritual In Repeat (2014)
Adam Bodine Trio “Smells Like Teen Spirit” from Adam Bodine Trio Plays Nirvana (2013)

Caveat Emptor

I’ve really struggled with this post.  Afterall, I’m in the business of putting musicians on stage and on the air.  I talk to people who write checks to musicians.  Sometimes I’m surprised, but not often.  Generally I’m talking to people who “get it.”  There are usually differences in how much one entity is willing to pay, based on things like budgets that are determined higher up in the organization, or even perceived value, both of which are common.  But generally speaking, most buyers I deal with get it.  Not this week, however.  So, a caveat emptor admonition is in order – both for those who actually pay for talent, and for talent themselves.

Without naming names to keep from burning bridges and to keep the possibility of future communication open, I had the incredible pleasure of discussing a six to nine show concert series with a major Denver entertainment (not music) franchise this week.  Both the initial phone conversation and the subsequent personal meeting were positive and the only thing lying in the path to making the deal happen was a budget meeting.

The layout was this:  90 minute show – one set – no opener – production provided.  Expected walk-by “audience” 3000, ages 1yr old to 90.  Family event.  Big / no – huge money organization.  Added value includes in house promotion and visual exposure to several THOUSANDS of on the ground “attendees.”  As in the kind of promotion that is usually far outside the value that 99+% of local bands could afford even if they wanted to.   So, deep pocket organization, with some big upside to any band that gets a slot.

The initial numbers were reasonable – enough budget to put on a show similar to what you’d find on any Thursday or Friday night Old Town Square show in Fort Collins that I’m involved with.  Let’s say the initial number was fair and reasonable, based on my professional experiences.  Then the budget meeting happened.  That’s when the surprise factor kicked in and I began the struggle to get here today.

It looked like this:  “It was nice meeting you yesterday and discussing possible options for the [proposed] Concert Series.  At this point in time, we feel as though we will not be able to move forward with working with you because of our budgetary restraints.  We are looking to book bands that will either play free with our added value perks or up to [$X00.00] to help with costs…”

To be clear, [$X00.00] is a reasonable amount in this case.  I’ve got no problem there.  Playing for “free with our added value perks” is not reasonable – EVER.   There is absolutely no reason to believe that the added value “perks” will benefit any of the bands that play this series, financially, or in future performance opportunities, or in sustained direct fans who will continue to contribute to the bands’ revenue streams.

Yes, a solid band with a good variety of merch can potentially sell several hundred dollars worth of cds and other items.  But certainly not enough in my professional opinion to clear PROFIT equal to or greater than the [$X00.00] “final offer” at the table.

Here was my response:  “Here’s something to take back to management.  Musicians are a professional class today.  If none of the [organization’s] staff works for “exposure” why should a musician?  No answer required.”

There are a myriad of opportunities for people to perform for free.  Open stage events, charity events, block parties etc … are all great ways for building skill, and having fun making music.  I encourage any and all who wish to make music to do so – however and whenever they can.  There is no greater joy to me than seeing people having fun making music here in Colorado.

There is a stage, however, where professionalism takes place.  A stage on which money enters the picture.  How much money is determined by the buyer and seller, and either may walk away if the deal doesn’t feel right.  But on the professional stage, that money value should NEVER be “FREE with our added value perks.”

Caveat Emptor

goat

The Colorado Sound S8|EP39 2014

Chris K profile pic Oct 2014It’s really hard to write and watch the Broncos … lol.  Okay.  They won.  So, we lost a station.  Seems KFVR, The Fever, in Pueblo is gone.  That’s it …they just disappeared.  Time to lobby Colorado Springs to get the show on in SoCO.  Would love it if KRCC picked up the show.  Congrats to my friend, Greta Cornett, who passed a few dozen worthy candidates to become the new marketing director at the Fox and Boulder theaters.  For those who don’t know Greta – she was the founder of the Fort Collins Musician Association (FOCOMA), the talent buyer at Road34 for a few years, and a member of three of NoCO’s top bands over the past decade, Mama Lenny & the Remedy, the 3 Twins Broadband, and 12 Cents for Marvin.  She most recently married Dayton Hicks, the bassist for the fabulous Fierce Bad Rabbit.

A few new music shares this week from Strange Americans, Lion Drome, and Paa Kow.  If you’re a fan of the Epilogues, the Lion Drome cut features Chris Heckman on vocals.  Lion Drome is former thrash/shed guitarist Mike Lopez from Loveland, produced by legendary NoCO guitarist and record producer Dave Beegle… turning up the 90s alt-rock/U2 vibe.

VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK

No new videos came to my attention the past couple of weeks, so I tweaked The Colorado Sound TV.  Check out the playlist … hope you’ll view a few videos.

PLAYLIST S8|EP39 2014

HOUR 1

Leftover Salmon “Lines Around Your Eyes” from The Nashville Sessions (1999)
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club “Limon” from Slim Cessna’s Auto Club (1995)
(N) Strange Americans “Aggro” from That Kind of Luster (2014) Grant Sabin “Letter To An Old Mirror” from Anthromusicology (2013)
(N) Kyle Hollingsworth “Beautiful People” from Speed of Life (2014)
(N) Nina Storey “Strangely Optimistic” from Think Twice (2013)
SHEL “Freckles” from SHEL (2012)
(N) Lion Drome “The Nite Is On (feat. Chris Heckman)” from Curve of the Earth (2014) Leash of Foxes “It Sounds Like This” from It Sounds Like This (2014)
Railbenders “Drive Away” from Like A Wheel (2009)
Bonnie and The Clydes “Song for You” from Music For People (2014)
Analog Son “The Game” from Analog Son (2014)

HOUR 2

Dan Fogelberg “Full Circle” from Full Circle (2003)
Firefall “Winds of Change” from Elan (1978)
Big Head Todd & The Monsters “Josephina” from Black Beehive (2014)
John Oates “Stone Cold Love” from Good Road to Follow (2014)
OneRepublic “Counting Stars” from Native (2013)
(D) Quemando “City Nights” from Paradise (2014)
(N) Paa Kow “Fakye Me” from Ask (2014) Richie Furay “I Still Have Dreams” from I Still Have Dreams (1979)
Poco “C’Mon” from Deliverin’ (1971)
Mike Clark & the Sugar Sounds “Summer Girls” from Round and Round (2013)
Peter Sommer “Looks Like This” from Tremolo Canteen (2010)