(Sunday, Feb 16, 2014) “You have to be great.” That line has been on loop in my mind since the middle of the week, when I met with Dani Grant from SpokesBuzz and the Mishawaka Amphitheater for lunch, and to discuss her organizations’ support of The Colorado Sound, and The Colorado Sound’s support of some upcoming events at the Mish.
“You have to be great.” Typically, in a normal week, I listen to 3 or 4 new album/ep releases or roughly 30 t0 40 cuts. Of course, those are not all full cut listens – most are 8-second rides – needle drops – looking for that OMG moment when I have to listen more intently to a single track – in the hopes I break a future hit (we djs are always looking to break a hit).
On top of producing the show, I am also on a few event committees. This week I had two sessions where as a member of a committee we evaluated submissions for a couple of upcoming summer festivals. In all, almost 200 acts will be scheduled for five event-days, from over 500 submissions (either a committee recommendation or actual online submission).
“You have to be great.” What does that mean exactly? Buyers look for it. DJs look for it. Fans look for it. “Man, I gotta great deal!” “Man, I saw a great show!” “Man, I booked a great band!” “Man, you gotta hear this great song I found!”
Today’s “radio” is truly anything video related. YouTube is the single most dominant source of new music discovery in the world. Today, more and more, buyers rely on video instead of strictly audio as a way of auditioning acts for an event. Video doesn’t lie. The presentation put forth speaks for itself – especially when the video is from a live performance (and especially from a “smart phone” video). Video quality + audio quality + visual quality + performance quality all now matter in “you have to be great.”
VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK
Katie Herzig is a Fort Collins native, a graduate of both Rocky Mountain High, and Colorado State University. While she was in college she fronted the very popular folk-rock act Newcomer’s Home. Katie went solo, moved to Nashville, and along with Pretty Lights stands as one of the two most successful artists to emerge from Fort Collins. She’s got a brand new album set to drop in April – and in the meantime, she just released this new video from her last album.
PLAYLIST S8 EP06
Earth, Wind & Fire “Reasons” from That’s the Way of the World (1975) Lannie Garrett “Pickin’ Up After You” from Comes Love (1995) Jesse Furay Lynch “I Wish It Would Rain” [single] (2014) Mosey West “Hurricane Eyes” from Bermuda (2014) Big Head Todd & The Monsters “Josephina” from Black Beehive (2014) (N) Bad Brad & the Fat Cats “Other Side” from Take A Walk With Me (2014)Churchill “The War Within” from War Within EP (2013) (D) Mountain Standard Time “Canyon Road” from Sunny (2013) (D) Swim Through Frequencies “Other Languages” from Rhythm of Complacency (2013)(D) Glitta Kings “Carving In the Stone” from Girls in High Heels Shouldn’t Dance On Glass Tables (2014) The Motet “Closed Mouth Don’t Get Fed” from The Motet (2014) Selasee Atiase “One Day” from African Gate (2010) Al Hood & Dave Hanson “Just A Little Taste” from Just A Litte Taste: Al Hood Plays The Writing Of Dave Hanson (2008) Newcomers Home “Hold On” from In the Hour (2004) Katie Herzig “Wish You Well” from Apple Tree (2008) The Fray “Love Don’t Die” [single] (2013) OneRepublic “Feel Again” from Native (2013) (D) The Samples “The Whole World Can Sing” from America (2014)(D) Dianne Reeves “Dreams” from Beautiful Life (2014) The ReMinders “Africa On My Mind” from Born Champions (2012) (D) Kinetix “One Life to Live” from One Life (2014) String Cheese Incident “Can’t Wait Another Day” [single] (2012) Matt Skinner Band “I’ll Keep Loving” from Native Stranger Pt I – Fandango (2013) Patti Fiasco “Nobody’s Girl” from The Patti Fiasco (2011) Danny Shafer “I Am” from Wherever You Are (2013) GogoLab “Honey Trap” from Border Patrol (2013)
WOW … it’s Feb 5 and I am easily ten days behind schedule on everything. That’s not good when you’re self employed LOL. Hi guys … so, January was an explosive month – what with the weather, a family (I would say reunion, but we’ve never had a full family get-together before) Super Bowl party complete with new smart-tv … and grand-kids and grampa (new spelling courtesy of grand-kids) coming down with the “flu” (whatever that means today). It was a pretty solid month musically speaking, as evidenced by the chart action below. I don’t have much else to share really – I am accepting underwriting/advertising support, so if you or your business is statewide and would like to get some exposure around the state, hit me up. Equally if you’re in an act that would like your record serviced to media and talent buyers around the state. That’s it … next month there should be plenty more news from around the state .. til then… welcome to the show 🙂
Video Picks of the Month
TOP 40 SPINS – January 2014
1. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies (Its Evolving Records) Folk [August 1, 2013]
2. Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Love Runner (Remington Road Records) Americana [December 21, 2013]
3. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman (Suitcase Town Music) Folk [June 22, 2013]
4. Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Black Beehive (Shout! Factory) Rock [January 25, 2014]
5. Honey Don’t – Heart Like A Wheel (self) Americana [November 1, 2013]
6. Tennis – Small Sound (Communion Records) Indie/New Alternative pop [November 1, 2013]
7. Mosey West – Bermuda (self) Rock [November 2, 2013]
8. Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP (self) AAA [August 1, 2013]
9. Changing Colors – Joan & the King (Blank Tape) Folk [April 27, 2013]
10. Josh Dillard – The Bright Light of Shipwreck (self) Folk [June 1, 2013]
11. Various – SpokesBUZZ Compilation IV (SpokesBUZZ) Rock/various [December 14, 2013]
12. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters (self) Americana [October 1, 2013]
13. Joe Johnson – New West Sound (Blank Tape) Americana/country-folk [August 1, 2013]
14. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony (Cicero Recordings) Indie/New Alternative [November 1, 2012]
15. Austin Young & No Difference – Blue As Can Be (Vizztone) Blues [March 23, 2013]
16. Monocle Band – Monocle Band (self) Folk/folk-rock [September 1, 2013]
17. Nathaniel Rateliff – Falling Faster Than You Can Run (Mod y Vi Records) Folk [September 1, 2013]
18. Drag The River – Drag the River (Xtra Mile Records) Rock [October 1, 2013]
19. Motet – The Motet (self) Urban Contemporary/funk [January 4, 2014]
19. The Wild After – Lesson Learned EP (self) Rock [January 4, 2014]
20. Soul School – Chapter One (self) Urban Contemporary/soul [November 30, 2013]
20. The Patti Fiasco – Small Town Lights (self) Rock [July 23, 2013]
21. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World (8 Minutes 20 Seconds) Urban Contemporary/EDM [July 2, 2013]
22. Trout Steak Revival – Flight (self) Bluegrass [November 22, 2012]
23. Finnders & Youngberg – I Don’t Want Love You Won’t Give Until I Cry (Swingfingers Records) Bluegrass [August 1, 2013]
24. Mike Clark & the Sugar Sounds – Round and Round (Blank Tape) Indie/New Alternative [January 19, 2013]
25. Mama Lenny & the Remedy – Time (You’re Doing Fine) (self) Blues/rhythm and blues [December 7, 2013]
26. 3 Twins – De Nada (Sleeping Elephant Music) Americana/N’Orleans funk [June 20, 2013]
27. Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin (self) Bluegrass [June 1, 2013]
28. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone (Telarc) Blues [January 20, 2013]
29. Matt Skinner Band – Native Stranger (Tapedero Productions) Americana/country [November 9, 2013]
30. Jeff Brinkman Band – Strange (self) Rock/AAA [December 1, 2012]
31. Grant Sabin – Anthromusicology (Blank Tape) Rock/blues-rock [January 10, 2013]
31. Megan Burtt & Friends – In Good Company: Vol I: The Colorado Sessions (N/A) POP/various [November 1, 2013]
32. Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams – Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk (self) Americana/alt-country-rock [July 7, 2013]
33. Katey Laurel – Periscope (self) POP/adult contemporary [August 1, 2013]
34. Chimney Choir – (compass) (self) Folk/indie [June 1, 2013]
35. Arthur Lee Land – Cracked Open (self) Rock/AAA [November 1, 2012]
35. Katie Glassman & Snapshot – Dream A Little Dream (self) Americana/western swing [November 30, 2013]
35. Land Lines – Land Lines (self) Indie/New Alternative [November 24, 2012]
ADDED DEC ’13/JAN ’14
Aspen Hourglass – S/T [EP]
Bad Brad & the Fat Cats – Take A Walk With Me
Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Black Beehive
Brad Fitch – Columbine Blue
David Wiatrolik – Dave and The Gin Mill Gipsies
Fierce Bad Rabbit – Do You Want Me Now? [single]
Five Iron Frenzy – Engine of a Million Plots
Jane Thatcher Band – Hunter’s Lonlieness Fool [EP]
John Runnels – Echoes
Katie Glassman & Snapshot – Dream A Little Dream
Knocean – S/T
Lissa Hanner – My Colorado
Madam Sin – Madam Sin
Mama Lenny & the Remedy – Time (You’re Doing Fine)
Medic – Wake Me Up [single]
Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Love Runner
The Motet – The Motet
The Samples – America
Shatterproof – Discord Harmony
Soul School – Chapter One
Sound|Studies – Smoke and Mirrors [single]
Swim Through Frequencies – Rhythm of Complacency
Various – SpokesBUZZ Compilation IV
Vinnie Maniscalco – TaKillYa [single]
Walker Shellist – Readyset
The Wild After – Lesson Learned EP
STATION BY STATION
KAFM (Grand Junction) [21]
1. Honey Don’t – Heart Like a Wheel
2. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
3. Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band f/Erica Brown – Tangled Road Again
4. Monocle Band – Monocle Band
5. Kristina Murray – Unravelin’
KBUT (Crested Butte) [14]
1. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World
2. Head for the Hills – Blue Ruin
2. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters
3. Chimney Choir – (compass)
3. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
KDNK (Carbondale) [27]
1. Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Black Beehive
1. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony
1. Honey Don’t – Heart Like A Wheel
1. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World
2. Aakash Mittal Quartet – Ocean
KDUR (Durango) [n/a]
1. The Railsplitters – S/T
2. Thee Dang Dangs – For the People
3. Mosy West – Bermuda
4. The Hollyfelds – Title Stealers
5. Confluence – I Haven’t Really Been Living
KGNU (Boulder) [22]
1. Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Love Runner
2. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
3. 3 Twins – De Nada
4. Blue Canyon Boys – Next Go Round
5. Finnders & Youngberg – I Don’t Want Love You Won’t Give Until I Cry
KRCC(Colorado Springs) [14]
1. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
2. Austin Young & No Difference – Blue As Can Be
2. Changing Colors – Joan & the King
2. Joe Johnson – New West Sound
2. Josh Dillard – The Bright Light of Shipwreck
KRFC (Fort Collins) [>100]
1. Mollie O’Brien and Rich Moore – Love Runner
2. Mama Lenny and the Remedy – Time (You’re Doing Fine)
2. Various artists – Spokesbuzz Volume 4
3. Megan Burtt & Friends – In Good Company
4. Big Head Todd & The Monsters – Black Beehive
KRZA (Alamosa) [10]
1. Finnders & Youngberg – I Don’t Want Love You Won’t Give Until I Cry
1. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters
2. Cassie Taylor – Out of My Mind
2. Dr. Izzy Band – Blind and Blues Bound
2. Gabrielle Louise – The Bird in My Chest
KSUT (Ignacio) [10]
1. Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Black Beehive
1. Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Love Runner
2. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
2. Lawn Chair Kings – Zombies Wake!
2. Yonder Mountain String Band – EP13
KUNC(Greeley) [12]
1. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
1. Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Love Runner
2. Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Black Beehive
3. Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP
4. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
KVNF(Paonia) [15]
1. Honey Don’t – Heart Like A Wheel
2. Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Black Beehive
3. Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Love Runner
4. Paper Bird – Rooms
4. Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP
OPEN AIR 1340 (Denver) [14]
1. Nathaniel Ratefliff – Falling Faster Than You Can Run
2. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
3. Chimney Choir – (compass)
3. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
4. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony
The Colorado Sound[42]
1. Motet – The Motet
1. The Wild After – Lesson Learned EP
2. Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Love Runner
3. Drag The River – Drag the River
3. Mosey West – Bermuda
GENRE/PROGRAM FORMAT
Americana / Alt-country / Bluegrass
1. Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Love Runner
2. Honey Don’t – Heart Like A Wheel
3. The Railsplitters – The Railsplitters
4. Joe Johnson – New West Sound
5. Trout Steak Revival – Flight
Blues / Rhythm & Blues
1. Austin Young & No Difference – Blue As Can Be
2. Mama Lenny & the Remedy – Time (You’re Doing Fine)
3. Otis Taylor – My World Is Gone
4. Walker Shellist – Readyset
5. Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band f/Erica Brown – Tangled Road Again
Folk / folk-rock / singer-songwriter
1. Elephant Revival – These Changing Skies
2. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman
3. Changing Colors – Joan & the King
3. Josh Dillard – The Bright Light of Shipwreck
4. Monocle Band – Monocle Band
Indie / New Alternative
1. Tennis – Small Sound
2. DeVotchKa – Live with the Colorado Symphony
3. Mike Clark & the Sugar Sounds – Round and Round
4. Land Lines – Land Lines
5. Paper Bird – Rooms
Jazz / Instrumental
1. Maxwell Hughes – Only in Dreams
2. Jon Wirtz – Tourist
3. David Wiatrolik – Dave and The Gin Mill Gipsies
4. Josh Quinlan Quartet – Open Space
5. Square Peg – Searching
Pop / Adult Contemporary / Crossover
1. Megan Burtt & Friends – In Good Company: Vol I: The Colorado Sessions
2. Katey Laurel – Periscope
3. Andy Hackbarth – Treadmill Horses EP
4. Justin Roth – Rise [single]
5. Katie Herzig – Secret Road As Heard On TV, Volume 1 [comp]
Rock / AAA / ALT / AOR
1. Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Black Beehive
2. Mosey West – Bermuda
3. Rob Drabkin – Little Steps EP
4. Various – SpokesBUZZ Compilation IV
5. Drag The River – Drag the River
Urban Contemporary / EDM / Hip Hop / Soul
1. Motet – The Motet
2. Soul School – Chapter One
3. Pretty Lights – A Color Map of the World
4. Bop Skizzum – Say Something [single]
5. Whiskey Blanket – From the Dead of Dark
I had a great day Friday. It was the annual JeffCo Jamboree, put on by Venture West. I know I’m about to leave someone out, but the room really did show a great representation of entertainment talent, along with quite a few (over 60) of the region’s top talent buyers/event producers. In attendance: Chris Daniels, Megan Burtt, Wendy Woo, Katie Glassman, Katey Laurel, the Indulgers, Cowboy Dave, Cowboy Brad Fitch, the ultimate cowboy – Bill Barwick, Ryan Chrys, Andy Hackbarth, Dr. Izzy Band, and easily another five dozen acts from around the area …in what has become an annual kick off to the new year for those of us in the “business” of putting on spring, summer, and fall shows (either as buyers or entertainers). Everyone is excited to get the year going, and at least one regional buyer remarked to me on my FB page that they met several new acts they’re going to look into for the upcoming festival season.
Speaking of which, since not everyone can attend such an event, I now offer a buyer service package as well as the media package I’ve offered the past six years now. Hit me up for more info at thecoloradosound@gmail.com
The brand new Big Head Todd & the Monsters record “Black Beehive,” hit my desk this week. I have to say that I really am excited for this one. Even though the single, “Josephina,” has been available on YouTube since Oct, it’s a super solid track that really ought to be a core current on many commercial and non-commercial AAA (adult album alternative) stations around the state (KBCO, KUNC, Radio 94.9FM, KRFC, etc). I’d expect this to be one of the top three most spun albums of the year.
VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK
I’ve found myself intrigued by this video.
PLAYLIST S8|EP04 JAN 2014
Poco “Call It Love” from Legacy (1989) Firefall “Livin’ Ain’t Livin’” from Firefall (1976) The Motet “123” from The Motet (2014) String Cheese Incident “Tinder Box” from Untying the Not (2003) Mosey West “Old Stone” from Bermuda (2014) Katie Glassman “Liza Jane” from Dream A Little Dream (2014) Long Road Home “Headed Back to Dixieland” from Headed Back to Dixieland (2013) Otis Taylor “Feel Like Lightning” from Below the Fold (2005) Fox Street Allstars “Baby Don’t Fight It” from Welcome to the Mighty Pleasin’ (2011) Dianne Reeves “What A Little Moonlight Can Do” from A Little Moonlight (2003) After Midnight Jazz Band “Hit That Jive, Jack” from Hit That Jive, Jack (2012) Jon Wirtz “Watching the World Wake Up” from Tourist (2013) The Subdudes “Help Is On the Way” from The Subdudes (1989) Leftover Salmon “Cash On the Barrelhead” from Euphoria (1997) (D) Big Head Todd & The Monsters “Josephina” from Black Beehive (2014) The Samples “Warm & Summy” from Black & White (2004) The Wild After “Lesson Learned” from Lesson Learned EP (2014) Mollie O’Brien and Rich Moore “West Virginia, My Home” from Love Runner (2014) Head for The Hills “Never Does” from Blue Ruin (2013) Whiskey Blanket “Dinner with Ghouls” from From the Dead of Dark (2014) Selina Albright “Why Does Life” from Brighter (2013) Rob Roper “Me” from Misfit (2011) The Yawpers “Yakety Yak” from Good Songs Shitty Versions (2013) Kerry Pastine & the Crime Scene “Motor Vixen From Hell” from Motor Vixen From Hell (2014) Crowboy “Babylon” from Making Up For Lost Time (2008) Tia Fuller “So In Love With You” from Angelic Warrior (2012)
(Sunday, Feb 16, 2014) “You have to be great.” That line has been on loop in my mind since the middle of the week, when I met with Dani Grant from SpokesBuzz and the Mishawaka Amphitheater for lunch, and to discuss her organizations’ support of The Colorado Sound, and The Colorado Sound’s support of some upcoming events at the Mish.
Chris K's Colorado Playlist 