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Colorado Playlist – BEST OF 2016 PT2

I wish I could name everything I get to play on my show as a BEST OF. I mean that. In the TEN years now that I’ve been doing this show, I am still blown away by the greatness of the music that comes from our state.

Let me first of all thank Dani Grant and the folks at the Mishawaka Amphitheater, and the folks at Oskar Blues Fooderies for supporting this show in 2016. I would not be able to do this if not for them and YOUR financial support.

I also want to thank everyone at 105.5FM, KJAC aka 105.5 The Colorado Sound for welcoming me as part of the family, and taking on my old show name. Host stations now include KJAC (Northern Front Range), KRFC (Northern Colorado), KDNK (Carbondale/Glenwood Springs), KOTO (Telluride), KSUT (Ignacio/Durango/Pagosa Springs), KZYR (Vail), KCMJ (Colorado Springs) and KLZR (Westcliff)

I started this show, and starting booking and promoting bands here, because I got tied of people saying “how come Colorado (Denver) can’t be like ______ (name your favorite ahem – Seattle – etc)” I mean, really. And even to this day members of my own family don’t know that certain high profile national level bands are from here. I have a lot of work to do still … so expect me on the air for another TEN years — AT LEAST!

Picking the BEST OF is not an especially easy task. I spend several hours a week just listening to music I receive to play on the show. I scan radio playlists from around the state. I scan charts including national and instate – like the Roots Music Report Colorado charts. I look to see who’s doing what, nationally, regionally and locally. I listen to my colleagues and peers in the “industry” here in Colorado. And I listen to the fans of the music.

My true hope is that you’ll discover a new band/artist to fall in love with and claim as a favorite yourself.

Here’s what got played in the BEST OF 2016 show.

The Best of 2016 PLAYLIST

HOUR 1

Rob Drabkin “Someday” [single] (2016)
Coral Creek “Way Back” from Coral Creek (2015)
The Drunken Hearts “Want You Back” from Love & Thirst (2016)
SHEL “You Could Be My Baby” from Just Crazy Enough (2016)
Magic Music “Gandy Dancer” from Magic Music (2016)
Elephant Revival “Petals” from Petals (2016)
OneRepublic “Kids” from Oh My My (2016)
SuCh (Su Charles) “You (Icytat Vocal Mix)” [single] (2016)
Bonnie and The Clydes “Shiny and New” from Dear Somebody (2016)
Big Gigantic “The Little things” from Brighter Future (2016)
Space Orphan “Superphonic” from Shut Up About The Sun (2016)

HOUR 2

The Motet “The Truth” from Totem (2016)
Wheelchair Sports Camp “Mary Had a Little Band” from No Big Deal (2013)
The Fray “Singing Low” from Through the Years: The Best of the Fray (2016)
Lumineers “Ophelia” from Cleopatra (2016)
Other Worlds “Sandfly” from Weather Patterns (2016)
Eros and the Eschaton “Rxx” from Weight of Matter (2016)
Grant Farm “Get in Line” from Kiss The Ground (2016)
FaceMan “Father Time” from Wild and Hunting (2016)
Brent Cowles “Cold Times” from Cold Times (2016)
Paper Bird “To the Light” from Paper Bird (2016)
Big Head Blues Club “Hidden Charms” from Way Down Inside (Songs Of Willie Dixon) (2016)
Ryan A. Fourt “Air Gun (Daisy’s Revenge)” from Big Slick (2016)

TRUSTED EAR SCENE REPORT

Thanks to my friend, and former Westword music editor Dave Herrera for launching TheTrustedEar.com and contributing news and information about the scene to us each week.

THE TOP 3 BEST OF …

After anguishing over leaving stuff out that I really liked, and thought deserved being noticed, I decided to present the TOP 3 releases in each category. Enjoy. Links go to playable media: YouTube in most cases.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE 2016

This one went back and forth feverishly between Bonnie & the Clydes and The Drunken Hearts, and the final tally made it a finish by single digits … so basically, they were pretty nearly tied when I shut down the poll … All in all, thanks to their fans we enjoyed the most robust People’s Choice Poll in years. Click on links to get to band website.

Bonnie & the Clydes – Dear Somebody

The Drunken Hearts – Love & Thirst

Faceman – Wild and Hunting

ALBUM/EP OF THE YEAR

The Lumineers – Cleopatra I didn’t like The Lumineers’ Cleopatra when it dropped. In fact, it took me several months of listening to it, and playing it on my show and at 105.5, before I “got it.” It is a stunning album of really well written folk-rock songs, that stands up well to anything from any prior era. It went #1 on the Billboard charts.

OneRepublic – Oh My My Call me a pop music junkie, but when it’s a good as OneRepublic’s Oh My My, I can never overdose. Easily one of the best collections of addicting pop/rock in recent memory. (edit jan 4) In particular I can’t seem to get enough of A.I. with Peter Gabriel.

Big Head Blues Club – Way Down Inside Todd Park Mohr and company, appearing as Big Head Blues Club, rip up the music of Willie Dixon, preserving not only the legacy of the original, but imbuing it with solid craftsmanship from some of our best in the Centennial state. (edit jan 4) Along the way they enlist the aid of Denver’s Erica Brown and a handful of blues legends.

SONG OF THE YEAR

SuCh (Su Charles) – You (Icytat Vocal Mix): No song this year has had as much of an impact on me as “You.” SuCh and Icytat won the 2016 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) for this version of the song. If you want to catch her live, she’ll be appearing at Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox in Denver on Fri Feb 3. She is also getting ready to go into the studio to record a new album in 2017.

The Lumineers – Ophelia: When I first heard this song last winter I thought I was hearing a dropped track from the band’s debut. It grew on me. It’s also one of Colorado’s highest charting songs historically, peaking at #1.

Rob Drabkin – Someday: I’ve been a fan of Rob’s since meeting him at open stages in Denver over a decade ago. “Someday” is the song we’ve all been waiting for. It also appears to be his most popular single so far, reaching over 500,000 plays on Spotify.

Colorado Playlist S10 EP45 DEC 2016

I don’t often get a chance to go out for an entire day to see a batch of new up and coming bands – unless I’m working the event. Sunday I spent the day at Hodi’s Half Note in Fort Collins to see friends, and to immerse myself in seven hours of music from 10 bands, only three of which I knew anything about.

The event was the annual Scene Magazine “Fresh Talent Showcase,” a judged event that awarded the winner time in a recording studio, along with a pro grade photo shoot, a pro level consulting session with Yellowbright, and a slot on the Scene Magazine stage at the 2017 Arise Festival in Loveland next August.

Write Minded took home the top prize, but all of the bands brought game … Congrats to everyone who participated.

Colorado Music History – Warren Zevon and Boulder

Trusted Ear Scene Report with Dave Herrera

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

The Colorado Playlist is funded by the contributions of individual donations, and business sponsorship. Occasionally, a sponsorship opportunity comes up.

Now seeking sponsorship of the “In Colorado Music History” segment of the show. “In Colorado Music History” airs at the top of each hour of the show. A segment is also featured each week here.

Entering its 11th year, Chris K’s Colorado Playlist is heard on KJAC (Northern Front Range and Steamboat Springs), KRFC (NoCO), KCMJ (Colorado Springs), KDNK (Carbondale, Aspen, Glenwood Springs, Idaho Springs), KZYR (Vail, Edwards), KOTO (Telluride,Hudson), KSUT (Durango, Pagosa Springs) and KLZR (Westcliffe)

For more sponsorship information, contact me at chriskmusic@gmail.com or call me at (720) 381-6455.

VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK:

besides writing and performing original music both as the leader of the Patti Fiasco, and as part of the country-folk duo Whipporwill, Alysia Kraft is not above giving us her own personal interpretations of other songwriters’ songs.

MONDAY MORNING MUSIC MEETING

I conceived of this idea as a way for you to discover some of the new music I played on the show, and to give you the chance to let me know which of the tracks you like, and think I should keep in rotation. I get a lot of feedback from fans about what’s liked .. and what isn’t.

In order to be included in the MMMM poll, the band/artist must have an embeddable file available on SoundCloud, BandCamp (my favorite), Reverbnation or YouTube.

It’s not a competition. It’s just a gauge of how well you like the songs I added this week.

PLAYLIST S10 EP45

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

HOUR 1

SHEL “Sleigh Ride” from Winter Fairyland (2016)
(D) Dave Beegle “River of Peace” from River of Peace (2017)

Hazel Miller Band “Time After time” from Coming To You Live…From KUVO (2011)
Mollie O’Brien and Rich Moore with Brigid & Lucy Moore “Trouble” from Daughters (2016)
Otis Taylor “Love and Hesitation” from Definition Of A Circle (2006)
(D) Riley Ann “Bloodhounds” (2017)

Rossonian “Ra” (2013)
Shovels & Rope “I Know” from Little Seeds (2016)
The Fray “Love Don’t Die” from Helios (2014)
Motet “The Truth” from Totem (2016)
Analog Son “Shady Nights” from Stomp and Shout (2015)

HOUR 2

(D) Katey Laurel “Old Man Winter” from This Is Christmas (2016)

(D) Petals of Spain “Daydream” from Daydream (2017)

Jill Sobule “Too Cool to Fall In Love” from Things Here Are Different (1990)
String Cheese Incident “Sweet Spot” from SCI Sound Lab, Vol. 1 (2016)
(N) My Blue Sky “Wherever The Wind Blows” from My Blue Sky (2017)

Kerry Pastine & the Crime Scene “The Other Side” from The Other Side (2015)
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club “The Unballed Ballad of the New Folksinger” from Unentitled (2011)
Patti Fiasco “Elvis” from Small Town Lights (2013)
Treehouse Sanctum “Pilot & Crew” (2015)
Elephant Revival “Petals” from Petals (2016)
Arthur Lee Land “Cracked Open” from Cracked Open (2013)
Space Orphan “Coffee Green” from Shut Up About The Sun (2016)

Oskar Blues Fooderies! Sponsor of “IN COLORADO MUSIC HISTORY,” the segment that runs at the top of each hour of the show. Oskar Blues Fooderies includes the Original Brew and Pubin Lyons, and Homemade Liquids and Solids,CHUBurger,andCyclehops Bike Cantina in Longmont, Hotbox Roasters coffee, and coming soon to Denver (under construction in RiNo and LoDo).

The Mishawaka Amphitheatre is celebrating its 100th Anniversary. Check out there website for specials, shows and more.

CHECK OUT the website for info on the FALL SERIES happening NOW!

NEW YEARS’ EVE SHOW ANNOUNCED = Shakedown Street

GOATZ! News and Shows

DEC 17 – CYCLHOPS BIKE CANTINA 7:30 NO COVER
JAN 20 – Chris K’s b-day party at Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids and Solids 8:30PM-11PM
Jan 27 – GOATZ! w/ Bonnie & the Clydes at Avogadro’s Number in Fort Collins 8PM-11:30PM

Bumper Stickers are available. Message me if you want one. Available for donation + $1.00 postage.

T-Shirts are Available – Message me if you want one. $15 includes shipping. Please specify size. I only accept PayPal and personal checks at this time.

Colorado Playlist S10 EP39 OCT 2016

A couple of quick updates. KSUT (Ignacio/Durango) is moving the show to 7PM on Saturday nights, beginning Nov 5, but will only be airing Hour 1 of the show. You can now catch the show on 88.9FM in Steamboat Springs every Sunday morning at 10AM (Hour 1) and at 1oPM (HR 1 + 2). No word yet if our friends in Vail will be receiving the show.

We’re pretty much at the end of the 2016 new release year. Anything that comes out beginning this week is going to be listed as a 2017 release. New shares this week from Chimney Choir, Sam Glover, piKziL, Chole Tang and Nadalands. All in all an exceptional week for new music.

Coming next week I’ll have the new singles from the Taylor Scott band, Brent Cowles, Drunken Hearts and no doubt more.

One new release I’m anxious to share with you is “Speak” from Katherine Home. It’s a folk / singer-songwriter record of the highest quality, produced by Jamie Mefford (Gregory Alan Isakov and Nathaniel Rateliff). Katherine utilized a unique concept called the SeedCD to get the music into our hands – although, unfortunately, you can’t play a SeedCD in your car cd player.

TRUSTED EAR SCENE REPORT

IN COLORADO MUSIC HISTORY

VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK

MONDAY MORNING MUSIC MEETING

In order to be included in the MMMM poll, the band/artist must have an embeddable file available on SoundCloud, BandCamp (my favorite), Reverbnation or YouTube.

It’s not a competition. It’s just a gauge of how well you like the songs I added this week.