Tag: rocky mountain music

NEWS NOTES and SPINS MAY 1 2015

Goat_Logo_color_on_whiteI’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.

Congratulations to new Spokebuzz bands:  American Blackout, The Burroughs, Chemistry Club, Grim & Darling, Red Fox Run and Slow Caves.  They join Eldren, Gasoline Lollipops, iZCALLi, Pandas & People, Qbala, and Wiredogs, who are all in the second year of the two year incubation program.  Grant Farm, Maxwell Hughes, Shatterproof, Wasteland Hop, Winchester Holiday and The Yawpers all completed their program and have graduated.

Check out the current #6 Colorado album title SpokesBuzz Vol 5

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CBS logoCongratulations 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.

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NEW MUSIC in APRIL

Cracker - Berkley to BakersfieldCracker 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.

John Common, Wendy Woo Band, Esme Patterson, The Railsplitters, Natalie Walker, The Raven and the Writing Desk, Michael Kirkpatrick, Ragged Union, and Clouds & Mountains all cracked the TOP 40 for the first time in April.

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.

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VIDEO PICKS OF THE MONTH

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

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JOIN ME THIS SUMMER AT:

Mish Logo JPGJune 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.

BluesJam_375June 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 Presents Hazel Miller, Chris Daniels & the Kings, Goatz!, and William’s Reserve on Aug 9 at the Mishawaka

THE COLORADO SOUND IS SUPPORTED BY

BluesJam_375

SpokesBuzz Fort Collins logo

colorado case logoMish Logo JPG

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TOP 40 Spins MARCH 2015

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

Hot Rize_When I'm Free(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.

Richie Furay - Hand in HandKAFM (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

chainstationKDUR (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

Hot Rize_When I'm FreeKGNU (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

Michael Kirkpatrick - Honey RiderKRFC (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

jeff austin simple truthKUNC (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

Plum - Behind Your ManOPEN 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

Natalie Walker - Strange BirdThe 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

NEWS NOTES & SPINS – FEBRUARY 1 2015

colorado case logoColorado 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 Fort Collins logoSpokesBUZZ, 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.

mishawakaThe 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.

NEWS & NOTES

2015 kicked off in grand fashion. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Poco, Firefall, and Stephen Stills’ Manassas were inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, and  Colorado Public Radio’s Open Air 1340 AM became Open Air 102.3FM.

30 titles added / 12 debuts charted … I think that’s a record for one month, but don’t quote me on that.  It’s a lot though.

KRFC (Fort Collins) announced the hiring of Charles Hale as new program director. Charles is a KCSU alumnus and in addition to serving on the board of directors he has been a KRFC programmer since 2013, hosting “The Ajax Diner Book Club” Monday nights at 8PM.

The Colorado Sound radio program began its 9th season; the ColoradoSound.com its 6th, and The Colorado Sound Live365 began its 3rd.  The Colorado Sound Live365 posted its best month since last June.  TheColoradoSound.com posted its best non-December month in history.

I became a member of the board of directors for SpokesBUZZ, a tremendous honor for me.

Offstage …Beyond the Music started off the new year with Colorado Music Hall of Fame executive director G. Brown – noted former Denver Post music  critic, KCUV radio personality, Colorado music historian and author of “Colorado Rocks: A Half Century of Music in Colorado” (Pruitt Publishing, Aug 2004).  A newly revised edition will be (according to G) published this spring to coincide with the grand opening of the new location of the HoF at the Trading Post at Red Rocks.    February’s featured guest is Wendy Woo and her husband Charles Snyder.

VIDEO PICKS OF THE MONTH

All I can say is THANK YOU to the “bootleggers” in the audience at the CMHOF inductions who had decent camera gear.  I heard that the official CMHoF video will be forthcoming soon – but for now, the first five videos are from Poco’s performance at the Hall of Fame induction.  Also included this month:  Young Ancients, Ryan Chrys & the Roughcuts, Danielle Ate the Sandwich, Mama Lenny & the Remedy, Eldren, American Blackout, The Sound and Color, Archive Nights.

TOP 40 Spins January 2015

235 titles tracked
113 (48%) 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

(D) 1. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age (Okeh Records) Instrumental/rock/pop/country [18-Nov-14]
This wasn’t even close.  This is the first time I can recall where an instrumental record debuts atop the monthly spins chart, and it did it by a landslide in number of stations playing, and the total number of spins, and frequencies it’s heard on.  If you listen to public/community/NPR radio anywhere in the state, you hear this record.  It is the most accessible and pop based of all of Frisell’s recordings.

(2) 2. Leftover Salmon –High Country (LoS) Americana, bluegrass, rock [8-Nov-14]
(1) 3. Hot Rize – When I’m Free (Thirty Tigers)  Americana, bluegrass [6-Sep-14]
(4) 4. Ark Life– The Dream of You & Me (Greater Than Collective) Rock, folk-rock [28-Jun-14]
(D) 5. Various – SpokesBUZZ Compilation V: Band Together (SpokesBUZZ) Variety [20-Dec-14](18) 6. Dana Landry Trio – Memphis Skyline (Artist Alliance) Jazz/Instrumental [1-Oct-14]
(3) 7.  Tennis – Ritual in Repeat (Communion Records) Indie/New Alternative, pop [14-Aug-14]
(D) 8. Jeff Austin – The Simple Truth (Yep Roc) AAA, bluegrass, pop/rock [20-Dec-04]
(D) 9. Todd Adelman – Highways & Lowways (Porch Lantern Music) Americana, country-rock [8-Jan-15]
(9) 10.  The String Cheese Incident – Song in My Head (SCI Fidelity) AAA, rock, jamband [12-Apr-14]
(D) 11. Brother’s Keeper – Todd Meadows (8150 Records) AAA, rock [20-Dec-14]
(17) 12. Euforquestra – Fire (self) AAA, funk, reggae, jamband [22-Feb-14]
(24) 13. Strange Americans – That Kind of Luster (self) Rock [23-Aug-14]
(8) 14. Elephant Revival– These Changing Skies (Its Evolving Records) Folk [1-Aug-13]
(D) 15. Chris Daniels & the Kings – Funky To the Bone (self) Blues, r&b, funk [15-Jan-15]
(R) 16. Pandas & People – S/T (self) AAA, acoustic rock, pop [5-Jul-14]
(R) 17. Safe Boating is No Accident – Bonus Features (Hot Congress Records) Indie/New Alternative, pop [26-Feb-14]
(21) 17. The Longest Day of the Year – Carapace (self) Rock, alt-country-rock [18-Oct-14]
(R) 18. Born to Wander – S/T (self) Jazz, folk, vocal [1-Oct-14]
(D) 18. Land Lines – The Natural World (self) Indie/New Alternative, rock [31-Jan-15](23) 19. Snake Rattle Rattle Snake –Totem (self) Indie/New Alternative, rock [8-Nov-14]
(R) 20. Calder’s Revolvers – Sunday Morning (self) Rock, rhythm & blues, soul [13-Jun-14]
(13) 21. The Motet– The Motet (self) Urban Contemporary, funk [4-Jan-14]
(D) 22. Cary Morin – Tiny Town (self) Blues, acoustic/folk [31-Dec-14]
(R) 22. Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP (self) AAA, pop [1-Aug-13]
(5) 23. Reed Foehl – Lost in the West (NeverFoehl Records) Folk, singer-songwriter, pop [13-Sep-14]
(D) 24. Eef & the Blues Express – All Rivers Run to the Sea (Blue River Records) Blues [8-Jan-15]
(30) 25. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Living Asleep (self) Indie/New Alternative, pop/rock [19-Jul-14]
(22) 26. Fruition & Grant Farm – Meeting On the Mountain (Grant Central Records) Rock, jamband [1-Oct-14]
(11) 27. You, Me and Apollo – Sweet Honey (self) Indie/New Alternative, rock, rhythm & blues [26-Apr-14]
(R) 28. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters (self) Americana, bluegrass [1-Oct-13]
(14) 29. Esme Patterson – Woman to Woman (Greater Than Collective) Indie/New Alternative, folk [5-Apr-14]
(28) 30.  Kyle Hollingsworth – Speed of Life (SCI Fidelity) AAA, rock/pop [6-Sep-14]
(D) 30. The Sound and Color – S/T (self) Alternative, rock/pop [1-Jan-15]
(R) 31. Kate LeRoux – Phoenix (self) Country, pop [17-May-14]
(D) 31. Richard Dean – Accidental Human (self) Folk, singer-songwriter, country, rock [1-Jan-15]
(35) 31. Sofie Reed – Red Hen (self) Blues, folk, acoustic [20-Jun-14]
(D) 32. Ben Gallagher – Heart Shaped Rocks (self) Indie/New Alternative, rock, americana [1-Jan-15](D) 32. J. Miller Band – One More High, One More Low (self) Americana, bluegrass, country [1-Mar-14]
(33) 33. Ben Markley-Clint Ashlock Quintet – The Return (Dazzle Jazz) Jazz/Instrumental [22-Nov-14]

ADDED TO TRACKING JANUARY 2015

Archive Nights – 3P-Scribo EP (Rock)
Ashley Raines and the New West Revue – After the Bruising (Americana)
Audi Y Zentimiento – Simplemente Audi (World)
Augustus – The Common Collapse EP (Americana)
Avourneen – Beloved (World)
Ben Gallagher – Heart Shaped Rocks (Rock)
Champagne Charlie – Devil Bone Crazy EP (Rock)
Chella Negro & the Charm – Chella & the Charm (Indie/New Alternative)
Chemistry Club – Copia 1 – The Electric Hush EP (Rock)
Chris Daniels & the Kings – Funky To the Bone (Funk/Soul)
Danielle Ate the Sandwich – The Drawing Back of Curtains (Folk)
Eef & the Blues Express – All Rivers Run to the Sea (Blues)
Equally Challenged – EQC2 (Rock)
Grayson County Burn Ban – three chords (Rock)
Jeff Austin – The Simple Truth (Americana)
Land Lines – The Natural World (Indie/New Alternative)
Lunde Station – Anouther Country (Americana)
Nathaniel Rateliff – Closer EP (Folk)
Pete Kartsounes – Unwind (Rock)
Porlolo – Everything, Barely EP (Indie/New Alternative)
Richard Dean – Accidental Human (Folk)
Selasee & the Fafa Family – Time for Peace (World)
Shady Elders – The Night Air EP (Indie/New Alternative)
Stereo Twins – Good News (Indie/New Alternative)
Susie Fitzgerald – Restless (Americana)
The Sound and Color – The Sound and Color (Rock)
The Windermeres – Anthem Of The Recession Generation (Rock)
Todd Adelman – Highways & Lowways (Americana)
Wild High – SDREAMS (Rock)
Wild Wombat – Return 2 Wildstyle (Hip Hop)

STATION BY STATION

[XX] = number of reported current year (Aug 2013-Jan 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

bill frisell_guitar in the space ageKAFM (Grand Junction) [15]
1. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
2. Paa Kow – Ask
3. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
4. The Williams Brothers Band – Live at the Mesa Theater
5. Reed Foehl – Lost in the West

Hot Rize_When I'm FreeKDUR (Durango) [10]
1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
2. Leftover Salmon – High Country
3. The String Cheese Incident – Song in My Head
4. Born to Wander – S/T
4. Brother’s Keeper – Todd Meadows

Hot Rize_When I'm FreeKGNU (Boulder) [16]
1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
2. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
3. Eef & the Blues Express – All Rivers Run to the Sea
3. Leftover Salmon – High Country
3. Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Love Runner

bill frisell_guitar in the space ageKRCC (Colorado Springs) [10]
1. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
2. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me
3. Tennis – Ritual in Repeat
4. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
5. Dana Landry Trio – Memphis Skyline

cary morin tiny townKRFC (Fort Collins) [80+]
1. Cary Morin – Tiny Town
2. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
3. Todd Adelman – Highways & Lowways
3. Various – SpokesBUZZ Compilation V
4. Hot Rize – When I’m Free

leftover salmon_high countryKSUT (Ignacio) [10]
1. Leftover Salmon – High Country
2. Jeff Austin – The Simple Truth
3. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters
3. The String Cheese Incident – Song in My Head
4. Brother’s Keeper – Todd Meadows

Hot Rize_When I'm FreeKUNC (Greeley) [12]
1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
2. Jeff Austin – The Simple Truth
3. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me
4. Brother’s Keeper – Todd Meadows
4. John Oates – Good Road to Follow

land lines the natural worldOPEN AIR CPR (Denver) [30]
1. Land Lines – The Natural World
2. Snake Rattle Rattle Snake – Totem
3. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me
4. Esme Patterson – Woman to Woman
5. Strange Americans – That Kind of Luster

bill frisell_guitar in the space ageTHE COLORADO SOUND [32]
1. Bill Frisell – Guitar In the Space Age
2. Chris Daniels & the Kings – Funky to the Bone
2. Dana Landry Trio – Memphis Skyline
2. Todd Adelman – Highways & Lowways
3. Various – SpokesBUZZ Compilation V

The Colorado Sound 2014

Here ya go …you can listen to the TOP 20 recap of the year while you’re reading.  I also broke it down into 5 song segments below if you’re prefer that.  

Goat_Logo_color_on_whiteI had a hellova year.  I hope you did too.  Courtesy of KUNC, the Colorado Sound is now on an additional 20 FM frequencies around the state, bringing the total up to 45 hours a week of programming across 33 frequencies.  Check out the stations and times page so you know where to tune in on when you’re up skiing.

Thanks to both KUNC and Radio 94.9 Colorado I had the incredible pleasure this year to sit down and have chats with Chris Daniels, Dave Glasser, Eddie Turner, Richie Furay, and Reed Foehl for the new podcast series Offstage …Beyond the Music.  Coming up the week of Jan 3-9 to start off the new year, Colorado Music Hall of Fame executive director G Brown will be my guest – talking about the Colorado Music Hall of Fame and his books.

colorado rocksG holds the franchise on Colorado music history.  The former Denver Post music journalist is the author of “Colorado Rocks: A Half-Century of Music In Colorado,” and “Telluride Bluegrass Festival – The First Forty telluride-bg-fest-40-book-1_1024x1024Years.”  His life work, when it’s done, will be his history of Red Rocks.  “Colorado Rocks” has been updated for a re-release when the Colorado Music Hall of Fame opens up at the Trading Post at Red Rocks in 2015.

Speaking of …congratulations to the Colorado Music Hall of Fame class of 2014:  the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Manassas, Poco, Firefall, Richie Furay, and Steve Martin who will all be inducted on Jan 9, 2015 at the Paramount in Denver.

I started this blog to celebrate Colorado music and the stations that support it.  I can’t say enough about the incredible network of stations I track each month.  The number of stations airing Colorado music today in any measure is unprecedented.  The volume of Colorado music aired each month is pretty mind-blowing.  On average, of some 300 titles I track each month, about 45-46% get aired at least once in a month, by at least one station.

When you look below at the STATION BY STATION breakout, one station stands out by the number of titles aired ..not only for the year, but month in and month out, consistently over the past two to three years now.  When KRFC music director Scott Foley sent out the station’s most played titles for 2014, 60% were Colorado titles.  I have been a part of many discussions throughout the years where someone has said that radio should play “local music.”  KRFC is living up to the dream.

One of the greatest joys for me in 2014 was emceeing the 10th Annual Bohemian Nights at New West Fest, and fronting for the likes of Big Head Todd & the Monsters, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Richie Furay, who I also got to host at the 8th Annual Carbon Valley Music & Spirits Festival to go with the Samples.  All in all, it was one of my most satisfying concert seasons.  Thanks especially to my friends at CHUN (Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods) in Denver for the 10 years I represented them at the annual People’s Fair, and to the Fort Collins Downtown Business Association for the opportunity to host their stages in 2014.

As the year wound down I also received an incredible invitation to join the board of directors for SpokesBUZZ.  I am very excited for the opportunity to help so many great acts work towards realizing their own dreams in this crazy music thing we do…

Support Provided By

I owe a huge thank you to some very special people without whom this show, and the accompanying Live365 station, and Offstage …Beyond the Music would not be here today.  First, thanks to Steve Law DDS and Denver area musician, for his contribution last winter that kept The Colorado Sound Live365 on the air for the few months I needed some funding.

Thanks to my friend Chuck Grewe, who once shared the stage with me in a band in the 90s, and his brother Bill.  They own Colorado Case Company.  And a very special thank you to Dani Grant and her husband Matt Hoven, owners of the Mishawaka Amphitheatre and Chippers Lanes, respectively.  Dani is also the founder and driving force behind SpokesBUZZ.  To each of my incredible friends – thank you.

colorado case logoColorado 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 Fort Collins logoSpokesBUZZ, 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.

mishawakaThe 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.

BEST RE-ISSUE(s) 2014

zephyr, box set 2014 Before I can even get to the charts I have to acknowledge two records I got my hands on this year that are at the TOP of my THANK YOU list for the year:  Zephyr/The Deluxe Edition “box set” that includes both the original 1969 Zephyr album remastered + select live cuts, rehearsals and more

…and as a gift from both Eddie Turner, and subsequently a remastered version from David Givens, I got two copies Zephyr, Heartbeatof Zephyr/Heartbeat that came out originally in 1982, and was stuffed into basements when bandleader Candy Givens died in 1984.

Eddie gifted me with original vinyl that I had cleaned up and digitized by Kevin Clock at Colorado Sound Studios.  Kevin was the engineer on the record originally.  Thanks to David for an advance of a newly remastered version that he suggested may be reissued in 2015.

I believe David has plans to reissue the entire Zephyr collection, including what many think of as the best album from Zephyr, “Sunset Ride.”  Personally, I put “Heartbeat” at the top of the list, but to each his own: both albums have considerable charm, shaped less by Candy’s stylistic changes than the two guitarists who shaped the music Candy sang over, Jock Bartley (Firefall) on “Sunset Ride,” and Eddie Turner on “Heartbeat.”  “Sunset Ride” is decidedly jazzier, while “Heartbeat” has a bit more of the new-wave sound that was emanating from the early 80s.

One great band – three great guitarists – Tommy Bolin, Jock Bartley, Eddie Turner.   No doubt slated for future induction into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame.

 TOP 20 FAN FAVORITE TITLES 2014

The one thing about fan favorite polls is that an act’s fans really want you to pay attention to what they like – so they rally around their “candidate.”  Sometimes, bands don’t know these polls are even taking place, and at other times they don’t care about polls so they don’t tell their fans.  Regardless of all of that, these bands’ fans came out and threw down to see their favorite win the Fan Favorite prize of 2014.  This year fans voted for 85 unique titles.  Here are the top 20.

1. Matt Skinner Band – Native Stranger (country)
2. Kristina Murray – Unravelin’ (country)
3. Dave Perron – Foot to the Pedal (folk)
3. Slopeside – One Land Town (acoustic-rock)
4. Gumbo le Funque – Funky Way (blues, funk)
5. Knocean – Knocean (reggae)
6. Deadwood Saints – 6th and Trinity (rock, alt-country-rock)
7. Bonnie & the Clydes – Music for the People: Part I EP (country)
7. Katie Glassman & Snapshot – Dream A Little Dream (country)
7. Mama Lenny & the Remedy – Time (You’re Doing Fine) (rhythm & blues)
8. Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Black Beehive (rock/blues)
8. Fierce Bad Rabbit – Living Asleep (rock/pop)
8. Reed Foehl – Lost in the West (rock/singer-songwriter)
9. AdrienneO – Lines EP (rock/alternative)
9. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me (rock/folk-rock)
9. Euforquestra – Fire (funk/reggae)
9. Hot Rize – When I’m Free (bluegrass)
9. J. Miller – One More High, One More Low (country-folk)
9. The Fray – Helios (rock/pop)
9. You, Me and Apollo – Sweet Honey (rock/blues)
9. Young Ancients – S/T (Americana/blues)

THE TOP 50 2014

I made some changes to how I did the TOP 50 most aired titles this year.  Instead of only listing records that came out between Nov 1 2013 and Oct 31 2014, I went back and ran the numbers for titles that were entered into tracking from May 2013 to Oct 31 2014.

#5-1 

1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free (Thirty Tigers) Bluegrass [Sept 6, 2014]
2. Euforquestra – Fire (self) Funk/reggae [Feb 22, 2014]
3.  Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Black Beehive (Shout! Factory) Rock/blues [Jan 25, 2014]
4.  The String Cheese Incident – Song in My Head (SCI Fidelity) Rock/jamband [April 12, 2014]
5. The Motet – The Motet (self) Funk [Jan 4, 2014]

#10-6 6. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies (Its Evolving Records) Folk [Aug 1, 2013]
7. Nathaniel Rateliff  – Falling Faster Than You Can Run (Mod y Vi Records) Folk [Sept 1, 2013]
8. Gregory Alan Isakov  – The Weatherman (Suitcase Town Music) Folk [June 22, 2013]
9. Tennis  – Ritual in Repeat (Communion Records) Pop/Indie [Aug 14, 2014]
10. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World (8 Minutes 20 Seconds) EDM [July 2, 2013]

#15-11 11. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me (Greater Than Collective) Rock/folk [June 28, 2014]
12. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters (self) Bluegrass [Oct 1, 2013]
13. Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Love Runner (Remington Road Records) Folk/americana [Dec 21, 2013]
14. You, Me and Apollo – Sweet Honey (self) Rock, blues, alternative [April 26, 2014]
15. Honey Don’t – Heart Like A Wheel (self) Country/americana [Nov 1, 2013]

#20-16 16. Kyle Hollingsworth – Speed of Life (SCI Fidelity) Rock/pop [Sept 6, 2014]
17. Reed Foehl – Lost in the West (NeverFoehl Records) Folk/singer-songwriter [Sept 13, 2014]
18. Musketeer Gripweed – Floods and Fires (self) Rock/blues [March 29, 2014]
19.  A Shoreline Dream – The Silent Sunrise (self) Rock/alternative [Sept 6, 2014]
20.  Young Ancients – Y/A (self) Americana [Feby 22, 2014]

21. Katie Glassman & Snapshot – Dream A Little Dream (self) Americana/western swing [Nov 30, 2013]
22. Mosey West – Bermuda (self) Rock/alt-country-rock [Nov 2, 2013]
23. 3 Twins – De Nada (Sleeping Elephant Music) Americana [June 20, 2013]
24.  Chimney Choir – (compass) (self) Folk/alternative folk-rock [June 1, 2013]
25. Monocle Band – S/T (self) Folk/pop [Sept 1, 2013]
26. Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP (self) Rock/pop/AAA [Aug 1, 2013]
27. Finnders & Youngberg – I Don’t Want Love You Won’t Give Until I Cry (Swingfingers Records) Americana/bluegrass [Aug 1, 2013]
28. Various – SpokesBUZZ Vol. IV: Band Together (SpokesBUZZ) Various [Dec 14, 2013]
29. Esme Patterson – Woman to Woman (Greater Than Collective) Indie/New Alternative [April 5, 2014]
30. The Patti Fiasco – Small Town Lights (self) Rock/country-rock [July 23, 2013]
31. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk (self) Americana/alt-country-rock [July 7, 2013]
32. Tallgrass – Better Than Medicine (self) Rock/Americana [March 1, 2014]
33. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind (Yellow Dog) Blues/rhythm and blues [May 18, 2013]
34. Josh Dillard – The Bright Light of Shipwreck (self) Folk/folk-rock [June 1, 2013]
35. Katie Herzig – Walk Through Walls (Marion-Lorraine) Pop/adult contemporary [April 26, 2014]
36. Dragondeer – Don’t That Feel Good EP (self) Rock [March 14, 2014]
37. Grant Farm – Plowin’ Time (self) Rock/country-rock [May 10, 2014]
38. Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin (self) Bluegrass [June 1, 2013]
39. Dianne Reeves – Beautiful Life (Concord) Urban Contemporary/jazz/soul [Feb 11, 2014]
40. Drag The River – Drag the River (Xtra Mile Records) Rock/alt-country-rock [Oct 1, 2013]
41. Jeff Scroggins & Colorado – Western Branches (self) Americana/bluegrass [June 1, 2013]
42. The Wild After – Lesson Learned EP (self) Rock/pop [Jan 4, 2014]
43. John Oates – Good Road to Follow (PS Records) Pop/AAA/Americana [Sept 13, 2014]
44. Matt Skinner Band – Native Stranger (Tapedero Productions) Ameicana/country [Nov 9, 2013]
45. Mama Lenny & the Remedy – Time (You’re Doing Fine) (self) Blues/rhythm and blues [Dec 7, 2013]
46. Megan Burtt – In Good Company: Vol I: The Colorado Sessions (self) Various [Nov 1, 2013]
47. Joe Johnson – New West Sound (Blank Tape) Americana/country-folk [Aug 1, 2013]
48. Yonder Mountain String Band – EP13 (Frog Pad) Americana/bluegrass [Sept 1, 2013]
49. Kristina Murray – Unravelin’ (self) Americana/country [Nov 2, 2013]
50. Five Iron Frenzy – Engine of A Million Plots (self) Rock/alternative [March 1, 2014]

TOP 5 STATION BY STATION 2014

String Cheese Incident_Song In My HeadKAFM (Grand Junction) [65]
1. The String Cheese Incident – Song in my Head
2. Euforquestra – Fire
3. Big Head Todd & The Monsters – Black Beehive
4. The Williams Brothers Band – Live At The Mesa Theater
5. The Motet – The Motet

RailsplittersKBUT (Crested Butte) [30]
1. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters
2. String Cheese Incident – Song In My Head
3. Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin
4. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
5. WhiteWater Ramble – Roots & Groove

euforquestra, fireKDUR (Durango) [45]
1. Euforquestra – Fire
2. The Motet – The Motet
3. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters
4. String Cheese Incident – Song In My Head
5. Jeff Scroggins & Colorado – Western Branches

RailsplittersKGNU (Boulder) [70]
1. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters
2. Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Love Runner
3. Nathaniel Rateliff – Falling Faster Than You Can Run
4. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the Sun
5. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman

pretty lights_color map of the sunKRCC (Colorado Springs) [30]
1. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World
2. Euforquestra – Fire
3. Tennis – Ritual in Repeat
4. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
5. A Shoreline Dream – The Silent Sunrise

Young AncientsKRFC (Fort Collins) [250]
1. Young Ancients – Y/A
2. Euforquestra – Fire
3. Various Artists – Spokesbuzz Vol. 4
4. Mama Lenny & the Remedy – Time (You’re Doing Fine)
5. You Me & Apollo – Sweet Honey

RailsplittersKRZA (Alamosa) [20]
1. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters
2. You, Me and Apollo – Sweet Honey
3. Finnders & Youngberg – I Don’t Want Love You Won’t Give Until I Cry
3. Gabrielle Louise – The Bird in My Chest
4. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind

String Cheese Incident_Song In My HeadKSUT (Ignacio) [25]
1. String Cheese Incident – Song In My Head
2. The Motet – The Motet
3. Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Black Beehive
4. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters
5. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies

BHTM Black BeehiveKUNC (Greeley) [25]
1. Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Black Beehive
2. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
2. Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Love Runner
3. Nathaniel Rateliff – Falling Faster Than You Can Run
4. 3 Twins – De Nada

Hot Rize_When I'm FreeKVNF (Paonia) [40]
1. Hot Rize – When I’m Free
2. Katie Glassman & Snapshot – Dream A Little Dream
3. Euforquestra – Fire
4. String Cheese Incident – Song In My Head
5. Nathaniel Rateliff – Falling Faster Than You Can Run

Gregory Alan Isakov_the weathermanOPEN AIR 1340 (Denver) [85]
1. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
2. Esme Patterson – Woman to Woman
3. Nathaniel Rateliff – Falling Faster Than You Can Run
4. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
5. Ark Life – The Dream of You and Me

wild afterTHE COLORADO SOUND [175]
1. The Wild After – Lesson Learned EP
2. String Cheese Incident – Song In My Head
3. The Motet – The Motet
4. Musketeer Gripweed – Floods and Fires
5. Dianne Reeves – Beautiful Life

AN HOUR OF MY FAVORITE VIDEOS

I don’t know about you but I don’t have the time to really sit and watch a lot of music videos.  They really are destination viewing.  Here’s about an hour’s worth that I’ve assembled from throughout the year that I particularly like.  They’re not in any real order, except how I felt like mixing them as a set.

Included in the set:  Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Head for the Hills, Gregory Alan Isakov, SHEL, Taarka, Young Ancients, Ark Life, Strange Americans, My Body Sings Electric, Katie Herzig, Rob Drabkin, and Hot Rize.