It was a long weekend. Saturday I was the stage manager for one of the stages at the Denver Day of Rock. After a blistering mid-afternoon set I got to hang with Brent Cowles and his band that included Joe Richmond (drums), Nate Meese (bass), and Trent Nelson (guitar) and chat about what’s up … turns out they’re heading out on the road with Nathaniel Rateliff and the Nightsweats for a seven day east coast run – with a new album dropping next week. ***BE LISTENING to next week’s show for another fresh track from the upcoming album***
The VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK by Grayson Erhard is nestled down below in the MMMM.
MONDAY MORNING MUSIC MEETING
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 on Soundcloud, BandCamp, Reverbnation or YouTube.
PLAYLIST S12 EP20
(D) = debut of lp, ep or single
(N) = new cut from previously debuted lp or ep
HOUR 1
Gerard “Hello Operator” from Hello Operator (1976) Firefall “You Are the Woman” from Firefall (1976) (D) Grayson Erhard “I Will” (2018)
The Lumineers “Angela” from Cleopatra (2016) Hello Dollface “Face it” from Warrior of Light (2016) (D) Alright Alright “The Liar” from The Nowhere Farm Sessions EP (2018)
The Host Club “Happiness” from Flash of Life (2018) Cary Morin “Here an Now” from Streamline (2013) FY5 “Nebraska” from FY5 (2015) (N) Adam Lopez “Peace of Mind” from Cinderella Sessions (2018)
Grant Farm “Fireflies” from Kiss The Ground (2016) Big Head Todd & The Monsters “Glow” from New World Arisin’ (2017) Paa Kow “The Way I Feel” from Cookpot (2017)
HOUR 2
The Christines “Babyface” from Living At the Bottom of the Sea (1996) (N) Black Box Audio “Change” from Don’t Let Go EP (2018)
OneRepublic “Wherever I Go” from Wherever I Go (2016) Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats “Trying so Hard Not to Know” from Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats (2015) (N) Andreas DeValera “Next to Me” from Andreas DeValera (2018)
Brent Cowles “Lift Me Up (Leave Me Here)” from Cold Times (2017) Poco “Regret” from All Fired Up (2013) Shel “On My Way” from SHEL (2012) (N) iZCALLI “Lightning Red” from IV (2018)
Big Gigantic “The Little things” from Brighter Future (2016) Florea “Mercy” from Florea (2018) GogoLab “Pill Mill” from Border Patrol (2013)
June 3– Avogadro’s Number (Fort Collins) June 9 – Laughing Goat (Boulder) June 12 – Chris K solo at Your Mom’s House (Denver)
I’m approached daily by musicians seeking answers to the mysteries of our industry. I’m proud to say we live in a state where information and resources are bountiful.
I attended four events in the past month that served no other purpose than to educate, develop, and promote all that is Colorado music, those who make it, and those who work on advancing it; the Denver Music Summit, FOCOMX, the Colorado Blues Society IBC finals, and the induction of six new bands into Spokesbuzz. Of course they’re not the only organizations or events designed for these purposes, but I was fortunate to attend events put on by all four.
Ultimately it is the fan, the audience, the listener, who is the deciding factor when it comes to how well we in the “business” are doing our jobs – and therefore it is important to have that perspective at the table when we’re talking about making music and getting it “out there.” Audience participation is appreciated. Please go visit those organizations online and find out what we have going on regionally.
Check out the current #6 Colorado album title SpokesBuzz Vol 5
—
Congratulations to Randall Dubis & Dan Treanor who will represent Colorado at the IBC in Memphis next winter in the solo/duo category and to Rex People’s and X-Factor who will represent in the band category. Good luck in Memphis next winter to all.
Cracker has been added and identified as (CC) for the purposes of tracking Colorado music. Band co-founder Johnny Hickman is a local guy and has been for many years now. In a conversation with his wife recently I learned that she used to listen to me on the air at 96.1 K-SKY in the late 80s when she was in high school. I totally cracked up.
Also, I’ve added and tracked other artists who I’ve identified with a (CC) tag, namely Sara Cahoone, John Oates, Bill Frissel, Tia Fuller and others so I have no idea why it’s taken me so long to put Cracker in the mix. Cracker’s latest Berkeley To Bakersfield came out last fall. The band itself seems to be picking up some love among other local music supporters around the state … Cracker is making a few appearances locally this summer for you to keep your eyes open for.
I suspect that we’ll see Wendy Woo, the Railsplitters, and Ragged Union stick around on the charts the longest. Wendy is broadly known around the state, and does a great job of getting her work to interested djs. The Railsplitters and Ragged Union are bluegrass bands of note in the state, and there is no shortage of independent djs who do favor Colorado bluegrass and Americana releases.
11 videos wound up in the video playlist for May … from Dearling, Esme Patterson, Strange Americans, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Nightsweats, Leftover Salmon, Ivory Circle, Instant Empire, Sound of Ceres, Tennis, Megan Burtt, Todd Adelman
June 6 – For Locals x Locals Presented by The Colorado Sound and Scene Magazine featuring Cracker, Post Paradise, Branded Bandits, Red Fox Run, Shaley Scott Band and Winchester Holiday. A music festival to celebrate and honor local musicians and local music industry vendors. The goal of this festival is to create a space for our musical community to thrive. If you are a local musician, we would like to offer you free admission and a beer. If you’re a fan, please be honest and support your local music scene with your ticket purchase. Treat this as an opportunity to meet new musicians, find out about local music industry and catch up with old friends.
June 12 & 13 The Greeley Blues Jam in Greeley with Austin Young– featuring Michaela Rae and friends + Maynard Mills Blues Band + George Whitesell and His All Stars featuring Jill Watkins + The Frails – all female review featuring Erica Brown, MJ, G’Jai, Michaela Rae, Miss Audrey, Susan Phelan & national headliners Delbert McClinton, Elvin Bishop and more.
August 1 – 8th Annual Carbon Valley Music & Spirits Festival in Dacono. Lineup TBA. The region’s first Spirits Competition event, started four years ago now. Previous headliners have included Richie Furay, Lionel Young, Drew Emmitt (Leftover Salmon) and others.
August 9 – The Colorado Sound PresentsHazel Miller, Chris Daniels & the Kings, Goatz!, and William’s Reserve on Aug 9 at the Mishawaka
185 titles tracked
Titles tracked = released between Nov 1 2013 and April 27 2015
105 (57%) titles identified as played at least once in the reporting period
Stations/shows surveyed: 15
(CC) = Colorado Connection
(D) = album/ep/single debut on chart
(R) = re-enter
[date] = Date added to reporting list
(4) 1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free (Thirty Tigers) Bluegrass [Sept 15, 2014]
(2) 2. Chris Daniels & the Kings – Funky To the Bone (Moon Voyage) Blues/funk [Jan 15, 2015]
(3) 3. Jeff Austin– The Simple Truth (Yep Roc) Rock/AAA, bluegrass [Jan 2, 2015]
(8) 4. Ark Life– The Dream of You & Me (Greater Than Collective) Rock/AAA [June 28, 2014]
(R) 5. Reed Foehl – Lost In the West (NeverFoehl Records) Pop/singer-songwriter [Sept 13, 2014]
(7) 6. Various– SpokesBUZZ Compilation V (SpokesBUZZ) Various [Dec 20, 2014]
(28) 7. Big Head Todd & the Monsters –Black Beehive (Shout! Factory) Rock/blues-rock [Jan 25, 2014]
(R) 8. Plum – Behind Your Man [single] (self) Rock [Feb 1, 2015]
(D) 9. John Common – The River Is Moving [single] (Immersive) Rock [April 1, 2015]
(D) 9. Wendy Woo Band – Tipping Point (Woo Music) Pop/Adult Contemporary [April 13, 2015]
(D) 10. Esme Patterson – What Do You Call A Woman EP (Greater Than Collective) Indie/New Alternative [April
1, 2015]
(18) 10. Todd Adelman – Highways & Lowways (Porch Lantern Music) Americana/alt-country-rock [Jan 8, 2015]
(D) 11. The Railsplitters – The Faster It Goes (self) Bluegrass (April 20, 2015)
(1) 12. Bill Frisell–Guitar In the Space Age (Okeh Records) Jazz/Instrumental [Nov 18, 2014] (CC)
(6) 13. Richie Furay – Hand In Hand (ENT ONE Music) Americana/country-rock [March 1, 2015]
(R) 14.You Me & Apollo – Sweet Honey (self) Indie/New Alternative [April 26, 2014]
(30) 15. Trout Steak Revival – Brighter Every Day (self) Bluegrass [March 20. 2015]
(16) 16. The String Cheese Incident – Song in My Head (SCI Fidelity) Rock/AAA [April 14, 2014]
(D) 17. Natalie Walker – Strange Bird (Dorado Records) Pop/Adult Contemporary (April 1, 2015)
(15) 18. Tennis – Ritual in Repeat (Communion Records) Indie/New Alternative [Aug 14, 2014]
(R) 19. Musketeer Gripweed – Floods and Fires (self) Rock/jamband [March 29, 2014]
(R) 20. Calder’s Revovlers – Sunday Morning (self) Rock/rhythm & blues [June 13, 2014]
(R) 21. Euforquestra – Fire (self) Funk/reggae [Feb 22, 2014]
(22) 21. Taarka – Making Tracks Home (self) Folk [March 9, 2015]
(12) 22. Snake Rattle Rattle Snake –Totem (self) Indie/New Alternative [Nov 8, 2014]
(D) 23. Cracker – Berkeley To Bakersfield (SLG) Rock [Nov 8, 2014] (CC)
(R) 24. The River Arkansas – The River Arkansas (Blank Tape Records) Alt-country-rock [Feb 1, 2015]
(R) 25. Montropo – Follow Me (self) Pop/singer-songwriter (Nov 14, 2014]
(9) 26. Leftover Salmon–High Country (LoS) Rock/bluegrass [Nov 8, 2014]
(D) 27. The Raven and the Writing Desk – Some Get Started EP (self) Indie/new alternative [April 1, 2015]
(R) 28. The Motet – The Motet (self) Funk [Jan 4, 2014]
(D) 29. Michael Kirkpatrick – Honey Rider (self) Country/Folk [March 1, 2015]
(28) 30. Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP (self) Rock/AAA [Jan 1, 2014]
(29) 31. Safe Boating Is No Accident –Bonus Features (self) Indie/New Alternative [Feb 20, 2014]
(R) 31. Strange Americans – That Kind of Luster (self) Rock [Aug 23, 2014]
(27) 32. Young Ancients– Y/A (self) Americana [Feb 11, 2014]
(D) 33. Ragged Union– Hard Row to Hoe (Shining Castle Music) Bluegrass [March 21, 2015]
(19) 34. Blake Brown & American Dust Choir –“3” (self) Rock/AAA [Aug 13, 2014]
(13) 35. John Statz – Tulsa (self) Americana/country-folk [March 1, 2015]
(D) 36. Clouds & Mountains– Slumber (self) Folk [Feb 1, 2015]
DROPPED OUT OF TOP 40 IN APRIL
5. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters
10. Brothers Keeper – Todd Meadows
14. Rose Quartz – Axis of Love [EP]
17. John Oates – Good Road to Follow
20. Cary Morin – Tiny Town
21. Jayme Stone – Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project
23. Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Love Runner
24. Dana Landry Quartet – Standard Elevation
25. Moors and McCumber – Pandemonium
26. Esme Patterson – Woman to Woman
29. Danielle Ate the Sandwich – The Drawing Back of Curtains
31. Analog Son – Stomp and Shout!
32. Richard Dean – Accidental Human
33. SHEL – The Lab Sessions
33. Toad In the Hole – Wallflower
34. Land Lines – The Natural World
35. Grant Farm – Plowin’ Time
35. In The Whale – Nate & Eric
36. H2 Big Band – It Could Happen
ADDED TO TRACKING APRIL 2015
Chuck Pyle – Cover Stories Cracker – Berkeley To Bakersfield
Dearling – Landslide [single]
Elin Palmer – Elin and Friends
Elise Wunder – In the Darkness of My Light
Esme Patterson – What Do You Call A Woman EP
Fox St. – Ain’t Easy [single]
Inner Oceans – 8 Cousins / Everything’s Alright [single]
Instant Empire – Lamplight Lost
Ivory Circle – Isoceles
John Common – The River Is Moving [single]
Kenny Knight – Crossroads
The Knew – Schmew
Medic – If I Could Stay [single]
Motion Trap – Palebluedot
Natalie Walker – Strange Bird
The Navigators – All About the Ride
Racing On the Sun – Self Destruct [single]
The Railsplitters – The Faster It Goes
The Raven and the Writing Desk – Some Get Started EP
Steve Kovalcheck Trio – Stomping Ground
Tim Ostdiek – Temporary Home EP
Wendy Woo Band – Tipping Point
STATION BY STATION
[XX] = number of reported current year (Nov 2013-April 2015) titles
Stations monitored for spins = KAFM, KBUT, KDUR, KGNU, KOTO, KRCC, KRFC, KRZA, KSJD, KSUT, KUNC, KVNF, OPENAIR 1340, Radio 94.9 Colorado, The Colorado Sound radio show and The Colorado Sound LIVE365. Stations with minimum 10 “currents” featured in breakout.
KAFM (Grand Junction) [13]
1. Richie Furay – Hand In Hand
2. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
2. Dana Landry Quartet – Standard Elevation
3. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
3. Slopeside – One Lane Town
KDUR (Durango) [12]
1. Chain Station – Dancin With the Law
1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
1. Leftover Salmon – High Country
2. Montropo – Follow Me
3. Chris Daniels & the Kings – Funky to the Bone
KGNU (Boulder) [10]
1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
2. Chris Daniels & the Kings – Funky to the Bone
3. Snake Rattle Rattle Snake – Totem
4. Taarka – Making Tracks Home
5. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me
KRFC (Fort Collins) [75]
1. Michael Kirkpatrick – Honey Rider
2. Cary Morin – Tiny Town
3. Trout Steak Revival – Brighter Every Day
4. Taarka – Making Tracks Home
5. Deadwood Saints – 6th Street and Trinity
KUNC (Greeley) [15]
1. Jeff Austin – The Simple Truth
2. Chris Daniels & the Kings – Funky to the Bone
3. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
4. Reed Foehl – Lost In the West
4. Various – SpokesBUZZ Compilation V
OPEN AIR 102.3 (Denver) [25]
1. Plum – Behind Your Man [single]
2. Snake Rattle Rattle Snake – Totem
3. Inner Oceans – 8 Cousins / Everything’s Alright [single]
4. John Common – The River Is Moving [single]
5. Land Lines – The Natural World
The Colorado Sound [38]
1. Natalie Walker – Strange Bird
2. Esme Patterson – What Do You Call A Woman EP
2. John Common – The River Is Moving [single]
2. Plum – Behind Your Man [single]
2. The Railsplitters – The Faster It Goes
Colorado Case Company a Fort Collins based, Colorado family owned business specializing in insulated soft cases, gig bags, case covers and rigid cases for most instruments, including hard to fit instruments.
SpokesBUZZ, a Colorado non-profit with a mission to develop the professionalism of artists, promote and connect progressive cultural destinations, amplify music scenes, and grow local economies. See event calendar for Spokesbuzz band shows.
The historic Mishawaka Amphitheatre, Northern Colorado’s Musical Playground, and seriously one of the most badass music venues in the state.
Please visit my friends’ sites. They keep this thing going. Much appreciated.
PS … January Offstage Beyond the Music guest is G Brown, executive director of the Colorado Music Hall of Fame.
VIDEO PICKS DECEMBER
TOP 40 Spins December 2014
242 titles tracked
114 (47%) titles identified as played at least once in the reporting period
Stations/shows surveyed: 15
(CC) = Colorado Connection
(D) = album/ep/single debut on chart
(R) = re-enter
[date] = Date added to reporting list
(1) 1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free (Thirty Tigers) Bluegrass [Sept 6, 2014]
(4) 2. Ark Life– The Dream of You & Me (Greater Than Collective) Rock/AAA [June 28, 2014]
(17) 3. Euforquestra – Fire (self) Rock/funk [Feb 22, 2014] (D) 4. Bill Frisell– Guitar In the Space Age (Okeh Records) Instrumental [18-Nov-14]
(6) 5. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman(Suitcase Town Music) Folk/singer-songwriter [June 22, 2013]
(3) 6. Tennis – Ritual in Repeat (Communion Records) Indie/New Alternative [Aug 14, 2014]
(2) 7. Leftover Salmon– High Country (LoS) Americana/jamband [Nov 8, 2014]
(9) 8. Nathaniel Ratefliff – Falling Faster Than You Can Run (Mod y Vi Records) Folk [Sept 1, 2013]
(9) 9. The String Cheese Incident – Song in My Head(SCI Fidelity) Rock/AAA [April 12, 2014]
(16) 10. A Shoreline Dream – The Silent Sunrise (self) Rock/alternative [Sept 6, 2014
(5) 11. Reed Foehl – Lost in the West (NeverFoehl Records) Folk/singer-songwriter [Sept 13, 2014]
(7) 12. Big Head Todd & the Monsters –Black Beehive (Shout! Factory) Rock/AAA [Jan 25, 2014]
(8) 13. Elephant Revival– These Changing Skies (Its Evolving Records) Folk [Aug 1, 2013]
(10) 14. Young Ancients – Y/A (self) Americana [Feb 22, 2014]
(R) 15. Calder’s Revolvers – Sunday Morning (self) Rock [13-Jun-14]
(11) 16. You Me & Apollo – Sweet Honey (self) Indie/alternative [April 26, 2014]
(12) 17. Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore–Love Runner (Remington Road Records) Folk [Dec 21, 2013] (D) 18. Jeff Austin – The Simple Truth (Yep Roc) Rock/AAA [20-Dec-04]
(R) 19. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk (self) Americana/alt-country-rock [7-Jul-13]
(R) 20. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters (self) Bluegrass [1-Oct-13]
(R) 21. Katey Laurel – Periscope (self) POP/adult contemporary [1-Aug-13]
(R) 22. Honey Don’t – Heart Like A Wheel (self) Americana [1-Nov-13]
(13) 23. The Motet– The Motet (self) Urban Contemporary/funk [Jan 4, 2014]
(22) 24. Fruition & Grant Farm – Meeting On the Mountain (Grant Central Records) Rock/jamband [Oct 1, 2014]
(15) 25. Musketeer Gripweed – Floods and Fires(self) Rock/jamband [March 29, 2014]
(34) 26. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World (8 Minutes 20 Seconds) Urban Contemporary/EDM [July 2, 2013]
(28) 17. Kyle Hollingsworth – Speed of Life (SCI Fidelity) Rock [Sept 6, 2014]
(21) 28. The Longest Day of the Year – Carapace (self) Rock/AAA [Nov 1, 2014]
(24) 29. Strange Americans – That Kind of Luster (self) Rock [Aug 23, 2014]
(R) 30. Matt Skellenger – New Radio (self) Jazz/Instrumental [18-Oct-14]
(14) 31. Esme Patterson – Woman to Woman (Greater Than Collective) Indie/New Alternative [April 5, 2014]
(33) 32. Chain Station – Dancin’ With the Law (self) Bluegrass [March 14, 2014] (D) 33. Various – SpokesBUZZ Compilation V (SpokesBUZZ) variety [20-Dec-14]
(23) 34. Snake Rattle Rattle Snake – Totem (self) Indie/New Alternative [Nov 8, 2014]
(R) 35. Slopeside– One Land Town (self) Rock [5-Jul-14]
(22) 36. Chimney Choir – (compass) (self) Folk [June 1, 2013]
(R) 36. Mosey West – Bermuda (self) Rock/alt-country-rock [2-Nov-13]
(R) 37. Matt Skinner Band – Native Stranger (Tapedero Productions) Americana/country [9-Nov-13]
(R) 38. Monocle Band – Monocle Band (self) Folk/folk-rock [1-Sep-13]
(30) 39. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Living Asleep (self) Rock/AAA [July 19, 2014]
DROPPED OUT OF TOP 40 / DECEMBER
18. Dana Landry Trio – Memphis Skyline
19. John Oates – Good Road to Follow
20. Katie Herzig – Walk Through Walls
25. Ark Life – Very Fine Friends (single)
26. Drag The River – Drag the River
27. Josh Dillard – The Bright Light of Shipwreck
29. Chimney Choir – Motion (single)
31. Moors & McCumber – Against the Grain
32. 3 Twins – De Nada
33. Ben Markley-Clint Ashlock Quintet – The Return
34. Drew Schofield – 150 Million (-1) EP
35. Lauren Brombert – Love’s Carousel (single)
35. Sofie Reed – Red Hen
ADDED TO TRACKING / DECEMBER
Andy Babb and the Big Beautiful Band – Strange Existence
Brothers Keeper – Todd Meadows
Cary Morin – Tiny Town
Jeff Austin – The Simple Truth
Potcheen – Take No Prisoners
Various – SpokesBUZZ Compilation V
STATION BY STATION
[XX] = number of reported current year (2013-2015) titles
Stations monitored for spins = KAFM, KBUT, KDUR, KGNU, KOTO, KRCC, KRFC, KRZA, KSJD, KSUT, KUNC, KVNF, OPENAIR 1340, The Colorado Sound radio show and The Colorado Sound LIVE365
KAFM (Grand Junction) [24]
1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
2. David Starr – Alive Again
3. Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Black Beehive
3. Quemando – Paradise
3. The John Weeks Band – The John Weeks Band
KDUR (Durango) [10]
1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
2. Chain Station – Dancin’ With the Law
3. Born to Wander – S/T
4. J. Miller – One More High, One More Low
5. Big Gigantic – The Night Is Young
KGNU (Boulder) [22]
1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
2. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
3. Esme Patterson – Woman to Woman
3. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
3. Nathaniel Rateliff – Falling Faster Than You Can Run
KRCC (Colorado Springs) [10]
1. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
2. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me
2. Tennis – Ritual in Repeat
3. A Shoreline Dream – The Silent Sunrise
4. Eurforquestra – Fire
KRFC (Fort Collins) [145]
1. Leftover Salmon – High Country
1. The Longest Day of the Year – Carapace
1. You, Me and Apollo – Sweet Honey
2. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
3. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
KUNC (Greeley) [13]
1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
2. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
3. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me
3. Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Black Beehive
3. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk
KVNF (Paonia) [10]
1. Leftover Salmon – High Country
2. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
3. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
3. Fruition & Grant Farm – Meeting On the Mountain
3. Honey Don’t – Heart Like A Wheel
OPEN AIR 1340 (Denver) [30]
1. Esme Patterson – Woman to Woman
1. Snake Rattle Rattle Snake – Totem
2. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me
3. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – Look It Here/Trying So Hard Not To Know
3. You, Me and Apollo – Sweet Honey
THE COLORADO SOUND [42]
1. Eurforquestra – Fire
1. Jeff Austin – The Simple Truth
2. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me
2. Calder’s Revolvers – Sunday Morning
2. Katey Laurel – Periscope