News Notes and Spins – SEPTEMBER 1 2013

chris boni vip 2013It’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 Coloradowww.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.

rusty youngFormer 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 FullerDanielle 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

gregory alan isakov_Weatherman(1) 1. Gregory Alan IsakovThe Weatherman (Suitcase Town Music) Folk [Jun-13]
(2) 2. Pretty LightsA Color Map of the World (8 Minutes 20 Seconds) EDM [Jul-13]
(3) 3. Cassie TaylorOut of My Mind (Yellow Dog) Blues [May-13]
(D) 4. Elephant RevivalThese Changing Skies (Its Evolving Records) Folk [Aug-13]
(6) 5. Otis TaylorMy World Is Gone (Telarc) Blues [Jan-13]
(39) 6. Patrick DethlefsFall & Rise (self) Folk [Jun-12]
(5) 7. Halden Wofford & the Hi*BeamsRocky Mountain Honky Tonk (self) Americana [Jul-13]
(9) 8. Paper BirdRooms (self) Indie/New Alternative [Feb-13]
(7) 9. Fierce Bad RabbitMaestro and the Elephant (self) Rock [Jan-13]
(R) 10. Chris DanielsBetter Days (self) Americana [Jul-12]
(18) 11. Head for the HillsBlue Ruin (self) Bluegrass [Jun-13]
(14) 12. Jeff BrinkmanStrange (self) Rock [Dec-12]
(40) 13. Austin Young & No DifferenceBlue As Can Be (Vizztone) Blues [Mar-13]
(D) 13. The Patti FiascoSmall Town Lights (self) Rock [Jul-13]
(38) 14. Grant SabinAnthromusicology (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 & YoungbergI Don’t Want Love You Won’t Give Until I Cry EP (Swingfingers Records) Americana [Aug-13]
(R) 18. Bad Brad & the Fat CatsEyes on the Prize (self) Blues [Feb-13]
(R) 19. Bonnie & The ClydesWrong Side Up (self) Americana [Jul-12]
(R) 20. The YawpersCapon Crusade (self) Rock [Sep-12]
(13) 21. SHELSHEL (Moraine Records / Mad King Records) Folk [Aug-12]
(16) 22. Josh DillardThe Bright Light of Shipwreck (self) Indie/New Alternative [Jun-13]
(37) 23. a. Tom CollinsStick & Poke (Greater Than Collective) Indie/New Alternative [Apr-13]
(20) 24. The Changing ColorsJoan & the King (Blank Tape) Folk [Apr-13]
(R) 25. Blue Canyon BoysNext Go Round (self) Bluegrass [Jan-13]
(D) 25. Monocle BandMonocle Band (self) Americana [Aug-13]
(D) 25. Rob DrabkinLittle Steps EP (self) Rock [Aug-13]
(R) 26. Esme PattersonAll Princes, I (Greater Than Collective) Indie/New Alternative [Sep-12]
(29) 26. Jeff Scroggins & ColoradoWestern Branches (self) Bluegrass [May-13]
(27) 27. Strange AmericansA Royal Battle (self) Rock [Jun-12]
(R) 28. You, Me and ApolloS/T [EP] (self) Indie/New Alternative [Dec-12]
(8) 29. DeVotchKaLive 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 WirtzTourist (self) Jazz [Jan-13]
(23) 30. Mike Clark & the Sugar SoundsRound and Round (Blank Tape) Indie/New Alternative [Jan-13]
(R) 31. The Whiskey BottlesGrandville (self) Americana [Jun-13]
(R) 32. Trout Steak Revival Flight (self) Bluegrass [Nov-12]
(R) 32. Zach HeckendorfThe 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.

gregory alan isakov_WeathermanKAFM (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

head for the hills blue ruinKBUT (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

cary morin streamlinedKDNK (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

pretty lights_color map of the sunKDUR (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

paper bird_roomsKGNU (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

pretty lights_color map of the sunKRCC (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

patti fiasco_small town lightsKRFC (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

Monocle BandKRZA (Alamosa) [11]
1. Monocle Band – Monocle Band
2. Chimney Choir – (compass)
2. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk
2. Trout Steak Revival – Flight
2. WhiteWater Ramble – Roots & Groove

gregory alan isakov_WeathermanKUNC (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

tom gershwin_sweet pastimesKUVO (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

finders and youngberg_I don't wantKVNF (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

gregory alan isakov_WeathermanOPEN 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

patti fiasco_small town lightsThe 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

Halden_rocky-mountain-honky-tonkAmericana / 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

cassie taylor, out of my mindBlues / 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

gregory alan isakov_WeathermanFolk / 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

paper bird_roomsIndie / 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]

jon wirtz touristJazz / 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

rob drabkin_little stepsPop / 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

fierce bad rabbit_the maestroRock / 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

pretty lights_color map of the sunUrban 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

The Colorado Sound – S7 EP31 Aug/Sept 2013

chris at ob hmls sunday june 16 2013Because I’m working on the News Notes & Spins column I really don’t have time to devote to this week’s PLAYLIST post.  That said, I did just get in the new release from Gabrielle Louise.  It’s one of the most stunning looking releases I’ve seen in years.  One of the most talked about new projects to emerge this month comes from Joel Van Horne (formerly of Carbon Choir) in the role of Covenhoven, both a place (a cabin in WY) and the man.  This video from the debut due out SEPT 24.

PLAYLIST S7 EP31 Aug/Sept 2013

Joe Walsh “Here We Go” from Barnstorm (1972)
Firefall “It Doesn’t Matter” from Firefall (1976)
A Boy and His Kite “Good Men” from A Boy and His Kite (2012)
The ReMinders “Africa On My Mind” from Born Champions (2012)
Rob Drabkin “Little Steps” from Little Steps EP (2013)
Molina Speaks “Fam Biz (feat DJ Icewater)” from Greatest Rapper Never Heard (2013)
Cassie Taylor “Out of My Mind” from Out Of My Mind (2013)
Petals of Spain “Shine” from Soul Canon (2013)
The Motet “The Lesson” from Play (2000)
(D) Covenhoven “These Teeth” from Covenhoven (2013)
The Haunted Windchimes “Wanderin’ Heart” from Out With The Crow (2012)
Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams “Betty Boop” from Midnight Rodeo (2006)
Adam Stern “Alchemical Rooms” from Twang Shui (2009)
Poco “Call It Love” from Legacy (1989)
(D) Poco “Regret” from All Fired Up (2013)
Earth, Wind & Fire “Pure Gold” from Illumination (2009)
Selina Albright “Brighter” from Brighter (2013)
(N) The Patti Fiasco “Elvis” from Small Town Lights (2013)
(D) The 14ers “Get Some” from Get Some (2013)
The Samples “Warm & Sunny” from Black & White (2004)
Winger “Deal with the Devil” from Karma (2009)
The Knew “What’s Hip (Long Walk)” from What’s Hip (Long Walk) (2013)
(D) Navy “Something Good” from Spirit Groove (2013)Hello Kavita “Sunday (It’s A Chrome Tide)” from To A Loved One (2009)
Bill Frisell “Sub-Conscious Lee” from History, Mystery (2008)

The Colorado Sound – S7 EP30 Aug 2013

chris at ob hmls sunday june 16 2013Got <10 mins?  Back in “the day” we used to do airchecks – both as a way of critique and for possible job openings.  In those days it was less about the music and more about the show – how well the dj did, since the music was largely someone else’s ultimate responsibility and what we really wanted to focus on was the way the dj presented things.

As I was driving around reminiscing on that subject a few days ago it occurred to me to do that for you this week – give you an aircheck of sorts, but one more focused on the music than on what I might have to say – though I included some of that for glue and continuity.  I hope it’s enough to encourage you to listen to the weekly broadcasts aired around the state.  

If you haven’t heard yet, you can now hear the Colorado Sound every Sunday morning at 10AM on Radio 94.9 Colorado.

VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK 

Courtesy of SHEL, you turned heads with one of the stellar appearances at the 9th Annual Bohemian Nights at New West Fest.

PLAYLIST S7 EP30 AUG 2013

Hillbilly Hellcats “Dead Man’s Party” from Westword ’96 Music Awards Shocase (1996)
Sherri Jackson “Simple Pleasures” from Catalyst (2000)
(N) Joe Johnson “White Port Wine” from New West Sound (2013)
Elephant Revival “Birds and Stars” from These Changing Skies (2013)
(D) Kinetix “Never too Late” from Never too Late (2013)(N) Patti Fiasco “Oil” from Small Town Lights (2013)
(D) Flashbulb Fires “Unseen Things” [single] (2013)Take to the Oars “Morning Coffee” from The Bow & the Stern (2013)
Don’ts and Be Carefuls “The Still Favorites” from Sun Hits (2011)
Honkytonk Homeslice “Burnin’ Down” from Just Passin’ Thru (2012)
(D) Finders And Youngberg “Lonely Too Long” from I Don’t Want Love You Won’t Give Until I Cry (2013)
(N) Aakash Mittal Quartet “Jeeiu’s Jeeiu” from Oceans (featuring Ron Miles) (2013)
Sweet Water Well “Zoeology” from Watermelon (1996)
Acoustic Junction “Strange Days” from Strange Days (2000)
(D) Katey Laurel “Hurricane” from Periscope (2013)
(D) Damon Wood’s Harmonious Junk “The Phoenix” from Sirens and Pipers (2013)
(D) Five Iron Frenzy “It Was A Cold and Stormy Night” [single] (2011)(D) Leftover Salmon “Thornpipe” [single] (2013)
(N) Monocle Band “Falling” from Monocle Band (2013)
(D) Bobby Walker “Rollin’ Me Back Home” from Feelin’ Good (2013)
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club “Thy Will Be Done” from Unentitled (2011)
Andy Monley “Kites” from Triplight (2006)
Rob Drabkin “Down to Fate” from Little Steps EP (2013)
AdrienneO “Innocence” from Superchromatic (2013)
Ben Markley “5-20” from Second Introduction (2009)