Tag: folk

News, Notes & Spins – October 1, 2011

Can you believe it’s October already?  In all of about the next 60 days (from Oct 1) we’ll be asking what your favorite titles are from the past year … and I’ll post the year end charts; that of course at the end of the year – but to do that means a month of work in advance…. And a lot of reviewing for those who might be a bit behind in listening to what’s up in Colorado in 2011.  It will be interesting to see what titles our on-air programmers and others pick as their favorites / most played of 2011.

Plenty of radio news this month, including two NEW “radio” stations on the horizon, one AM based and one Internet based.  I got the chance to sit and talk to Mike Flanagan, the new program director for OpenAir 1340, set to launch Oct 31.  Mike’s planning a unique mix of contemporary music, buffered with in studio performances and interviews with both Colorado acts and acts performing in Colorado.  In-studio sessions coming up from the likes of Candy Claws and others are apparently already set up and ready to go.

I have to give a HUGE thumbs up to the CPR (Colorado Public Radio) performance/recording studio; it is truly a world class facility, geared to a very high standard of sound, recording capabilities, and contemporary aesthetics.

Also taking place – Former Indie 101.5 music director John “Whip” Wilbur and ex-Lipglosser Tyler Jacobson have teamed up to launch Post303Radio.com, featuring contemporary indie and alternative music not heard on most commercial stations, with a heavy dose of Colorado music mixed in.  Could Dave Herrera be willing to reprise his old local music show?  Hmmm….

In either case, we can expect to find more Colorado music of all varieties on the air in the near future along the Front Range and online.

Danielle Hastings has joined the KRFC staff as the new Fund Development Specialist. Danielle’s known in Fort Collins for her work with FoCoMA (Fort Collins Musicians Association) and Bohemian Nights at New West Fest. Danielle is a very passionate supporter of Colorado music and KRFC’s new more Colorado focused format.  Her primary responsibility this fall will be to develop the KRFC underwriting program and sponsorships and she will be playing a big role in creating more community connections and shaping the future of Development and fund raising at KRFC.

KGNU’s 33 1/3 birthday is coming up.  They’ll have a vinyl celebration on Monday 10/17, during their next membership drive, 10/12-10/22

KRCC presents a live broadcast of Garrison Keillor’s A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION Saturday, October 29 at the Colorado Springs World Arena.  Doors open at 2:45pm with showtime beginning promptly at 3:45pm

If you plan on trying to reach KDNK asst. music director Lynette O’Kane from now til Nov, you’re SOL LOL … she’s off on a five wk vaca in Morocco, Spain & France.  Hmmmm … I wonder how many times she’s been asked if there’s extra space in those travel trunks … ALSO at KDNK — news reporter Mat Katz has moved on to another job in New York. Ed Williams is on board.

Here’s the charts …

TOP 40 ALBUM SPINS – September 2011
(133 titles reported played / 317 titles tracked)
(LM) TM / [date added]
(D) = debut, first time on chart)
(R) = re-entered chart)

(3) 1. Spring Creek – Hold On Me (self) Bluegrass [Jul-11]
(2) 2. Finnders & Youngberg – FY5 (self) Bluegrass [Apr-11]
(D) 3. Driftwood Fire – How To Untangle A Heartache (self) Folk [Aug-11]
(17) 4. The Haunted Windchimes – Live at the Western Jubilee (Blank Tape) Americana [May-11]
(D) 5. Bare Bones – Bare Bones (self) Rock/Folk [Sep-11]
(D) 6. Cary Morin – Sing It Louder (Music Maker) Blues [Aug-11]
(R) 6. Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams – Sinners & Saints (self) Americana/alternative country-rock [Aug-10]
(21) 7. The Patti Fiasco – The Patti Fiasco (self) Rock/alternative country-rock [Jul-11]
(20) 8. Jim Stranahan – Free For All (Capri Records) Jazz [Apr-11]
(R) 8. Brad Goode – Tight Like This (Delmark) Jazz [Sep-10]
(7) 8. Jami Lunde – Big Black Birds (self) Americana/folk-rock [Jun-11]
(D) 8. The Raven and the Writing Desk – Bonedale (self) Rock/adult alternative [Sep-11]
(R) 8. The Whiskey Bottles – Ain’t No Crime (self) Americana/alternative country-rock [Apr-11]
(D) 9. El Toro De La Muerte – Dancer These Days (self) Rock [Aug-11]
(D) 10. Petals of Spain – Late Night Visitor (self) Funk/R&B/Soul [Sep-11]
(8) 11. Cassie Taylor – Blue (Hypertension) Blues/R&B/Rock [Aug-11]
(D) 12. 3 Twins Broadband – 3 Twins Broadband (Cook Music Group) Americana [Aug-11]
(R) 13. Adam Bodine Trio – Up ‘N Hear (self) Jazz [Jul-11]
(24) 14. Lionel Young Band – On Our Way to Memphis (self) Blues [Aug-11]
(24) 15. Big Head Todd and the Monsters – Big Head Blues Club: 100 Years of Robert Johnson (Ryko) Blues [Jan-11]
(24) 15. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Spools of Thread (self) Rock/alternative/indie [Sep-10]
(4) 15. John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light – Beautiful Empty (Free School) Rock/adult alternative [re-entry Apr-11]
(24) 16. Musketeer Gripweed – Dyin’ Day (self) Rock/blues-rock [Sep-10]
(R) 16. The Hickman-Dalton Gang – The Hickman-Dalton Gang Vol II (self) Americana/alternative country-rock [Jun-11]
(D) 17. Andy Palmer – Sometime Around (self) Rock/adult alternative [Sep-11]
(D) 17. SHEL – When the Dragon Came Down (Moraine Music Group) Folk/Pop [Sep-11]
(12) 17. Wendy Woo Band – Austerity (Woomusic) Rock/adult contemporary pop [Jun-11]
(4) 17. Zach Heckendorf – The Cool Down (self) Rock/acoustic pop rock [Jul-11]
(1) 18. Devotchka – 100 Lovers (Anti-) Rock/adult alternative [Dec-10]
(R) 18. Katey Laurel – From Here (Roaring Twenties Records) Americana/folk-rock [Jan-11]
(R) 18. My Body Sings Electric – Step Into the Light (self) Rock/modern alternative [Jan-11]
(D) 18. Petals of Spain – Lady Luck (single) (self) Funk/R&B/Soul [Sep-11]
(D) 19. Snake Rattle Rattle Snake – Sineater (Greater Than Collective) Rock/indie-alternative [Sep-11]
(R) 19. Whiskey Blanket – No Object (self) Hip-Hop/adult-progressive [Dec-10]
(R) 20. Jeff Brinkman – To the Bones (Devonshire Records) Rock/adult alternative [Jul-10]
(R) 20. Jim McTurnan & The Kids That Killed The Man – Joie De Vivre (self) Pop/indie-alternative [May-11]
(5) 20. Paper Bird – Carry On (Long Spoon) Americana/folk [Jul-11]
(D) 20. Roniit – Roniit (self) Pop/dark-electro [Sep-11]
(11) 20. The Dirty Lookers – Audio Voyeur (self) Rock/garage [Aug-11]
(R) 21. Kevin Dooley – Moonlight Highway (self) Americana/country-folk [Jun-11]

Fell Out of Top 40 – September
(6) Gabrielle Louise – Mirror the Branches
(8) Elephant Revival – Break in the Clouds
(8) H2 Big Band – You’re It!
(9) Kim Jones – Lucky Girl
(10). The Holler! – Gratitude
(11) Pat Murphy – The Paul Howard Project
(12) Dotsero – Storyhouse
(13) Justin Roth – Now You Know
(14) Carmen Sandim Sextet – Brand New
(15) Fox Street Allstars – Welcome to the Mighty Pleasin’
(16) Rose Hill Drive – Americana
(17) Fingers of the Sun – Fingers of the Sun
(18) Danielle Ate the Sandwich – Two Bedroom Apartment
(18) Gary Bragg – High Plains Storm
(18) White Water Ramble – All Night Drive
(19) Big Head Todd and the Monsters – Rocksteady
(19) Houses – Winter
(19) John Oates – Mississippi Mile
(19) the Still City – Brittle Bones
(20) Grant Gordy – Grant Gordy
(21) The Chain Gang of 1974 – Wayward Fire
(22) Nathaniel Rateliff – In Memory of Loss
(23) Stray Grass – Written in the Stars
(24) John-Alex Mason – Jook Joint Thunderclap
(24) Jonny Barber & the Living Deads – Jonny Barber & the Living Deads

Added – September
Andy Palmer – Sometime Around
Andy Thorn – Fire In the Sky
Bare Bones – Bare Bones
Big Jim Adam & John Stilwagen – Tippy’s Barn
Breathe Carolina – Hell Is What You Make It
Ian Cooke – Fortitude
Mosey West – Vaca Money
Papa Juke – Out of the Blues
Pikes – Pikes
Popcult – Popcult EP
Dawson James – Plaid Shirt Livin’
Dubskin – Release from Fear
Eric Shiveley – Crybaby (single)
Honey Gitters – Poor Gitters’ Almanack
Lizzie Huffman – Pretty Old Soul
Mark’s Midnight Carnival – Mark’s Midnight Carnival
Melissa Axel – love * humanity * metamorphosis
Petals of Spain – Late Night Visitor
Petals of Spain – Lady Luck (single)
Roniit – Roniit
Saints – Dark Country (single)
SHEL – When the Dragon Came Down
Snake Rattle Rattle Snake – Sineater
The Don’ts and Be Carefuls – Sun Hits
The Raven and the Writing Desk – Bonedale
Tommy & the Tangerines – Main Squeeze

REPORTING STATIONS
No Report this month = KGNU (Boulder), KBUT (Crested Butte), KCSU (Fort Collins)

KAFM (Grand Junction)
1. Driftwood Fire – How To Untangle A Heartache
1. The Whiskey Bottles – Ain’t No Crime
2. Elephant Revival – Break in the Clouds
3. Finnders & Youngberg – FY5
4. Big Head Todd and the Monsters – Big Head Blues Club: 100 Years of Robert Johnson

KDNK (Carbondale)
1. Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams – Sinners & Saints
2. Beth Quist – New Moon
2. John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light – Beautiful Empty
2. Spring Creek – Hold On Me
3. Andy Palmer – Sometime Around

KRCC (Colorado Springs)
1. The Chain Gang of 1974 – Wayward Fire
2. El Toro De La Muerte – Dancer These Days
2. Tennis – Cape Dory
3. Grant Sabin – The Homesick EP
3. Jami Lunde – Big Black Birds

KRFC (Fort Collins)
1. The Patti Fiasco – The Patti Fiasco
2. Cary Morin – Sing It Louder
3. Musketeer Gripweed – Dyin’ Day
4. Devotchka – 100 Lovers
4. John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light – Beautiful Empty

KUNC (Greeley)
1. Wendy Woo Band – Austerity
1. Zach Heckendorf – The Cool Down
2. Driftwood Fire – How To Untangle A Heartache
3. Justin Roth – Now You Know
4. SHEL – When the Dragon Came Down

KUVO (Denver)
1. Judy Wexler – Under A Painted Sky
2. Jim Stranahan – Free For All
3. Adam Bodine Trio – Up ‘N Hear
3. Andrew Vogt – Cats Afoot
3. Brad Goode – Tight Like This

KVNF (Paonia)
1. Paper Bird – Carry On
1. Spring Creek – Hold On Me
2. Finnders & Youngberg – FY5
3. The Haunted Windchimes – Live at the Western Jubilee
4. Big Head Todd and the Monsters – Big Head Blues Club: 100 Years of Robert Johnson

The Colorado Sound
1. Lionel Young Band – On Our Way to Memphis
2. The Haunted Windchimes – Live at the Western Jubilee
3. Bare Bones – Bare Bones
3. Driftwood Fire – How to Untangle a Heartache
4. Jami Lunde – Big Black Birds

MISC. (includes specialty shows on The Mountain, KTCL & Radio 1190)
1. The Don’ts and Be Carefuls – Sun Hits
2. Popcult – Popcult EP
2. Snake Rattle Rattle Snake – Sineater
3. Bare Bones – Bare Bones
3. Bop Skizzum – Beauty Queen

Please consider donating to the cause.  DONATE HERE
Much love and appreciation — goat

MMMM – Monday August 17, 2010

Okay, I have to admit I have been incredibly busy this summer.  I’ve got home remodeling to complete before mid-September, festivals to produce and/or be a part of as emcee (People’s Fair, Carbon Valley Summer Festival, Bohemian Nights) or as a performer (Carbon Valley Summer Festival)… my show to produce weekly … records to listen to … sound gigs to do …. I really needed a day or two or three to just simply relax and listen to music that not only doesn’t shake, rattle, and roll but just sounds somehow refreshing to the soul.  I need that on occasion.  Today (Sunday) is one of those days.  Sun tea anyone?

Selasee and the Fafa Family – African Gate
Genre/Style: World, African, Reggae
Sampled Track: African Gate
Website: http://www.selasee.com
Bio from website: Born and raised in West Africa, Selasee’s pursuit of music eventually led him to Boulder, Colorado, where he currently lives.  Selasee’s music is a unique blend of Reggae, West African Highlife and American Pop music.
Notes: I only recently became aware of Selasee’s music.  This record was enough to convince me to check out his previous release called “Run.”  Most reggae bands rarely ever fully embrace the style or immerse themselves in it authentically.  That’s why those whose soul is tied to the message and the “nation” win out every time … This album is highly recommended if what you’re looking for is the authenticity that lies beneath the pop trappings of most who try to play African and reggae styles.

John McVey – Unpredictable
Genre/Style: Adult Contemporary, singer-songwriter
Sampled Track:  Unpredictable
Website: http://www.johnmcvey.com
Notes: In today’s world, you just don’t take ten years off between doing records and hope that anyone who heard that “one” will remember you ten years later.  John did just that … took ten years between albums.  The result?  Amazing.  And it’s not that John didn’t have chops to begin with.  He’s an accomplished producer/engineer at Coupe Studios in Boulder who stays so busy that this record actually took two years to record.  The care, professionalism, and attention to detail shows in every imaginable way.  This record is truly as good as it gets …

After Midnight Jazz Band – Midnight in Madison
Genre/Style: jazz, big band, vocal, trad, blues, americana
Sampled Track: Hallelujah I Love Her So
Website: http://www.aftermidnightjazzband.com/
Recommended if You Like (RIYL): Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Lyle Lovett and His Big Band
Notes: I grew up in a house filled with the music of Benny Goodman (The King of Swing), Lionel Hampton, Pete Fountain, and other Swing Era greats.  I am tremendously happy that bands like After Midnight not only keep the style alive, but do with the care and skill they do.  This record represents the best of four sets of music the band did live in Madison, Wisconsin, in 2008.  It is a joyously good listen!

Gabrielle Louise – Mirror the Branches
Genre/Style: Folk
Sampled Track: I’ll Turn Myself in on Monday
Website: http://www.gabriellelouise.com
RIYL: Joni Mitchell, Patty Griffin
Notes: There’s a gypsy in Gabrielle’s soul.  I knew that BEFORE reading this on her website, “The daughter of two gypsy musicians, Gabrielle inherited the genetic predisposition to wanderlust and song.”  On this, her fifth independently released album, Gabrielle follows further out across the trail she’s been traveling the past four years since the release of Journey.  One of the most striking songs on the record is “Strange Summer Snow,” and I do dare to say that it is the equal to some of the best folk songs in anyone’s catalog.  This isn’t simply singer-songwriter fare … Gabrielle, over the course of a few short years, has really and truly become a major force as a folk artist – not just singing love songs, but singing about the heart and soul in ways that MOST singer songwriters can only hope to achieve in their dreams.

Eric Forsyth – (the thin of thick things)
Genre/Style: Folk
Sampled Track: Flannel Shirts and Boat Shoes
Website: http://www.ericforsythmusic.com/
Notes: A solid performance and maturing songwriting are the highlights of this sophomore record from this California transplant who was, “Born of a jazzer father and very accomplished professional organist for a mother, “Er-Bear” Forsyth was homegrown in Northern California in the shadow of his late great grandmother’s baby grand Steinway.”    A multi-instrumentalist, Eric wrote, produced, and recorded this effort with the skillful mandolin work of Dave Willis.  Focus tracks include “Flannel Shirts and Boat Shoes” and “Happenstance.”

Dan Craig Band – Alchemy
Genre/Style: Folk, singer-songwriter
Sampled Track: Enough
Website: http://www.dcraigmusic.com/
Notes: Recommended if you like Josh Ritter and Damien Rice.  Dan Craig’s music has recently been featured on the hit show “One Tree Hill” and has shared the stage with many artists including Gregory Alan Isakov, Mike Doughty (Soul Coughing), Ari Hest and Katie Herzig in the past year.  Recommended tracks include: “Alchemy,” “Solid Ground,” and “Enough.”  There are few voices as self-assured as Dan’s … and fewer still the songwriters whose arrangements are as fresh as those on this record.  It’s solid… and he’s got a new one apparently in the can for a Christmas 2010 release … dude stays busy that’s for sure.

Monday Morning Music Meeting (MMMM goood!)

Okay, so it’s Monday morning, March 8. I’m having my coffee and wondering what new feature to add to this here new site… Since Tuesday is the traditional reporting day to the trades, I thought maybe a Monday morning music meeting would be cool. A place to write about new releases that came in during the past week – and that maybe got tested over the weekend. Whatcha think? I can launch it on Monday and those of you who are music directors around the state can post your comments as you see fit during the week? What new Colorado music did you add to your libraries? What releases are impressing your djs? Let’s talk….

New in the RMMN offices this past week.

Tommy Metz aka iuengliss – The Blossom Frontier
Genre/Style: electronica/dance, pop
Website: You’ve got two choices here. You can go to http://tommymetz.com/ and download the entire new album for free, or go to http://www.myspace.com/tommymetz for information and to hear the trax he’s posted there.

Molina Soleil & Aju w/ DJ Icewater – Soulaju
Genre/Style: hip-hop, neo-soul
Website: http://www.myspace.com/soulaju
Notes: Impressive act heavy on multiculturalism (Aju speaks 5 languages). They have an impressive touring schedule that includes stops throughout Colorado, Wyoming, Missouri, Oregon, California to name a few. According to their website: Molina Soleil & Aju are set to release “Soulaju” on March 23rd, 2010. It features the production of DJ Icewater, who has toured internationally with the Pharcyde and Shing02, and has recently mixed albums for artists like Lyrics Born and Jern Eye.

Romano Paoletti – Story of a Lifetime
Genre/Style: Americana, country, folk
Website: http://romanosmusic.com/
Notes: produced by Eric Thorin (Drew Emmitt Band). Features Eric Thorin, Sally Van Meter, Caleb Roberts, Eben Grace, Todd Moore, John McVey and Mollie O’brien and others. His grandfather, “Ragtime” Bob Darch, was the only living inductee of the Ragtime Hall of Fame. Romano’s mother, Norma Jean, was always a singer and was signed by Smokey Robinson of Motown Records.  He spent a lifetime with both of these people learning his craft.  It shows in his performances on the record.

David Williams & The Wildgrass Band featuring Kristina Murray – The Crazy Kind
Genre/Style: Americana, country, folk, bluegrass
Website: The best place I’ve found to sample tracks is at the CD Baby page for this album – cdbaby.com/cd/dwilliamswkmurray or hit http://myspace.com/davidwilliamssongs
Notes: The album features performances by Rockygrass mandolin winner Jordan Ramsey, Rockygrass banjo winner Chris Elliott, national fiddle champion (Weiser, ID) Katie Glassman and renowned Colorado bassist Duane Webster.
From website: David is  the 2009 EMMY AWARD WINNER IN COMPOSITION AND WRITING. Influenced by everything from gypsy jazz to folk, delta blues, swing, rockabilly, bluegrass & folk. As a singer-songwriter, David’s known for his way with words and melodies, which conjure up the American musical landscape.  His songs touch on everything from the difficulties of love to the people and places along old Route 66, or a carnival from his childhood, or swing tunes reminiscent of Tin-Pan-Alley—in a wide range of CDs released over the last 30 years.

As musician, David has recorded and performed with Greg Brown, Dave Moore and others; and he studied and performed with the great Jethro Burns, of Homer and Jethro fame.  He has played at many of the large folk music festivals in North America, such as Vancouver and Winnipeg, where he has been recognized as both a songwriter and instrumentalist.

Recently, he has written a new musical/play about Django Reinhardt.  His group DECO DJANGO specializes in this infectious music from the 1930s.

David has also published a number of books with Alfred A. Knopf and Ghost Road Press, as well as short stories and poems. He holds a Ph.D. in English, and he has been a writer in residence at a number of colleges and universities in the US.  A working cartoonist, his work appears around the world through Carlton Cards and Soultrader of London.

He is an ALA and NAPPA award-winning albums for children and is currently the songwriter for the new PBS children’s show The Big Green Rabbit.  As DIRTY LINEN says, no one else writes kids songs like DW.

The Crazy Kind is not a kid’s music record.  David Williams is most definitely one of Colorado’s most literary country-folk artists.

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