Music buzz august 2013

MANAGING PUBLISHERS Keith Schneider Keith@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com Christopher Murphy CMurphy@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com MANAGING EDITOR Tim Wenger 303-725-9359 TWenger@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com WEBSITE EDITOR Tim Wenger TWenger@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com WEBMASTER SwamiSez Web Design Swami@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com SENIOR WRITERS Sal Christ, Jenn Cohen, Carin Dawn, Chris Daniels, Daniel Rondeau, Charlie Sullivan, Swami, Darnell Teague, Torch, Tim Wenger PHOTOGRAPHY Miles Chrisinger, Jenn Cohen INTERNSHIP Peter Munteanu ADVERTISING Lead Account Representative Chris Murphy - 720-429-8717 Account Representative Brett Finn - 719-217-9771 Finn@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com EVENT AND MAGAZINE MARKETING Chris Murphy 720-429-8717 CMurphy@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com WEB ADVERTISING Keith Schneider 303-870-7376 Keith@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com GENERAL INQUIRIES Info@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com SPONSORSHIPS / OTHER Please email us a written request proposal for all inquires to Editor@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com CMB Submissions and Advertising Policy Colorado Music Buzz welcomes submissions, advertisements and sponsorships from those connected to every musical genre and style, as well as the general public. Due to our publication’s community focus, article content and advertisements containing nudity, drug references, profane words/visuals, or sexually exploitative material will not be accepted. Please feel free to voice any concerns you may have and collaborate with us to adapt what you would like to present in a way that respects both our all-ages audience and your artistic integrity. We are here for the music, and we are here for you.

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Frontside Five came to life in a downtown Denver garage during the Summer of 2002 by a group of friends who shared a common idea. The idea was to create original, fast, powerful skate rock inspired by the things they loved and hated the most. The things they love; skate sessions, loud music, good friends, and cheap beer. The things they hate; anything that does not include the items listed in the previous sentence.

They have spent countless hours creating original art and dynamic music that represent this idea. Driven by their motivation to be heard, Frontside Five signed with Fivecore Records in 2005 and has been touring nationally ever since. facebook.com/frontside.ffive

Heart & Soul Radio formed in March of 2009 out of the ashes of the former bands, Animo® and DORK®. After years of surviving a “VH1’s Behind The Music” lifestyle, Brian Johannsen, Jimmy Blair and Schuyler Ankele have overcome all the odds and continue to be one of the most creative and prolific modern rock bands.

These rock n’ roll veterans have experienced drawn out band breakups, major label record deals falling through in the final hour, the tragic passing of band members, drug addiction, alcoholism, groupies, international touring and radio play, stadium shows in front of tens of thousands of people, and gaining one of the most intense and passionate fan bases in rock n’ roll. Through every up and down, trial and tribulation, one thing rang true: the music. heartandsoulradio.org

Synthetic Elements: A Long Road Traveled Synthetic Elements is a household name in Denver’s music scene, having been around for twelve years and toured the world. We rounded up SE’s Brett Carson and forced him to tell us some behindthescenes info on the rowdy and often comedic Denver ska-punkers.

CMB: Let’s hear about how the band got started, and what you originally hoped to accomplish by playing in a punk band.

SE: Bad weather is the reason for SE. Todd and Kyle were pretty damn good inline skaters during their younger years, and one day it was snowing and they couldn’t skate, so they picked up some of Todd’s dads guitars and started playing them. I was in a band before SE, but was replaced when I had to take a leave of absence because of a broken ankle. After a while my ankle was healed so Todd and Kyle called me up and said if I was bored, to come over and jam with them. I went over there, jammed one time and knew that I could play rock and roll music with these dudes. We all had a liking for ska music and my best friend Mike (Blecha) was a horn player, so we called him over to throw down some trumpet, and our first song “Dork” was written... Over the next couple years we went through a few different horn players that didn’t end up working out. We lost our longest member trombone player a few days before we were supposed to leave on tour with Aggrolites, so our tour manager at the time, Johnson, stepped up and learned the songs on trombone and from then on, it’s been the same 5 members of SE for the last decade.

I think that the only thing that we all wanted to achieve by playing music was to play music that people love all over the world and do it with our best friends. We never got into music to preach politics or any other opinions, we got into music in hopes that we could play about every day stuff that ANYONE can relate to. Music should be enjoyed by everyone, not just those that “agree” with what you’re saying, that’s just my opinion... We just wanted to see the world and didn’t have any other ideas on how to make that happen.

CMB: What is the craziest thing that ever happened at a show in Denver?

SE: I think that the craziest thing for me was when we were playing a show and for some reason we were all dressed up as lucho libre (spelling?) Mexican wrestlers and some guy in the front row kept of messing with Todd’s mic stand and he wouldn’t leave Todd alone. The guy hit Todd’s mic stand, busting him in the teeth.

Maybe Todd was a little too into character, but he (Todd) took off his guitar and swung that son of a bitch like a lumberjack swinging an axe and hit him with his guitar and Todd and Johnson proceeded to kick the shit out of him lucho libre style until security drug the guy away.......allegedly.

CMB: How do you feel Denver has fit in as a viable hotspot in the punk world, now and back when you first started?

SE: Denver has always had a significant footprint on the punk world. Punk Rock legends have been coming back again and again for decades and It’s because of both, the punk rock fans and venues being some of the best, if not the best in the nation. I think the fact that Denver has some of the best punk rock rooms in the nation has a lot to do with why punk rock has been so strong here. The venues have allowed punks to be punks and because of that, there is a very loyal punk rock scene here. I think it’s just getting better and better as the years pass.

The well-crafted and deftly executed songs that straddle the line between Smithereens and Social Distortion are the bread and butter for these guys, and one listen is all it takes to realize you’ve got a band that truly stands out amongst the herd. Oh, and there’s one more thing...this aint the boys’ first rodeo... going 10 years strong and gracing some of the most legendary bars and stages around the world, they’ve played with almost all their punk heroes (ALL, Social Distortion, TSOL,Adolescents,AgentOrange,TheQueers , X, The Blasters, Motorhead), and shared a tour bus with more contemporary heavy hitters, a la U.S. Bombs, The Bones, and Street Dogs. They’ve worked with the cream of the crop behind the scenes, as well. renodivorceband.com

The Gamits: Record, Tour, Repeat The Gamits have been all over the place through touring and spreading their music around the world, and front man Chris Fogal has also made a name for himself through his studio, Black in Bluhm. Here is what Fogal has to say about Denver’s punk community both past and present.

CMB: Let’s hear about how the band got started, and what you originally hoped to accomplish by playing in a punk band.

CF: It was a long time ago; 1995 pretty much when the Gamits started writing songs. We had a house out in Thornton and all we wanted to do was record our own stuff so we started building a studio called 8 Houses Down in the basement. That’s pretty much how we met all the other bands in the scene. Either playing shows with them or recording their bands in the basement. Good times. We didn’t really have big plans to accomplish anything other than making decent records and touring so that’s what we did and it worked out.

CMB: How do you feel Denver has fit in as a viable hotspot in the punk world, now and back when you first started?

CF: I’m not sure it’s ever been a “hot spot” but there have always been a handful of rad bands around here. I think the difference between the punk scene now and the punk scene then is simply that there are not many punk bands anymore and the amount of people into punk music has dwindled greatly over the years. Denver is a great town and because it is landlocked it is one of the only decent stops that touring bands can make between here and there so it has created opportunities for local bands to support and get to know bands from everywhere.

Online: thegamits.com

Online: syntheticelementsband.com

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With equal parts of Orange County punk rock, honky tonk country, and rockabilly swagger, Reno Divorce strikes a unique chord of their own with their brand of “Punk Rock’n’Roll”. The band’s longevity is proof positive that paying dues is the only way to the top.

August 2013 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Gone But Not Forgotten: THe Early Venues, And Others that are no longer with us

Wanker @ Roxys, 1988

Biscuit of BigBoys @ Taste of Denver, 1983. Photo credit Jeff Ross

“The scene back in the late 80’s was a bit segmented as you had hard core punk bands and several power punk (aka Green Day. Offspring) bands that we would run with.

Gigs were harder to come by as there weren’t many bars that would book punk shows. The Cricket on the Hill, Malfunction Junction and The Broadway come to mind. We did several warehouse shows that would be word of mouth and a lot of fLyering (pre Internet days). Those warehouses are now business in theCoorsFielddistrictandNationalWestern Stock yards,” - Nick Trombetta, WANKER

DOA- Joey Shithead, Larry Denning @ Taste of Denver 1983. photo credit Jeff Ross

15th St.Tavern was a throbbing heartbeat in Denver’s punk community for many years.

Johnny Cash may have been turned into Jerry Garcia, but Bender’s Tavern and the image of Johnny remain a fixture in the mind of Denver’s punk and rock scene.

August 2013 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

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ReverbNation Featured Artists of the Month give five independent artists who have not previously been featured in Colorado Music Buzz the opportunity to not only get their bio in the magazine, but also get their tracks on Music Buzz LIVE Radio (Wednesdays from 6-8 pm on callywoodradio.com) and get on our radar with what they have upcoming. Each month we select a varied group of musicians to showcase based on submissions through their ReverbNation profiles.

Behind Babylon Behind Babylon is an American band with a world view. The late great comedian George Carlin said “America is a country that has everything in the showroom window,but nothing in the stockroom.” Hence the band name Behind Babylon.

The band was officially formed in Denver,Colorado late 2011.One of those instances where Dan Swesey (Bass) knew Dave Garlow (Vocals and Guitar),Dave Garlow knew Jimmy Roeper (Drums). One day,as it turned out we all wound up in the same studio and the rest is history.Together we view life as a lot of water under the bridge and a lot of other stuff too! We’ve all lived with the saints and we’ve all lived with the sinners.The only difference between the two is that the sinners tend to know the difference between the two better than the saints. Our collective experiences,perceptions,and expressions make up the songs we write.Still we know we are just passing through and that keeps us from taking ourselves too seriously.Behind Babylon will be releasing an EP in the fall of 2013, More information and show dates can be found on their website www.behindbabylon.com

Michael Morrow Hard rock countrified blues is the title of Michael Morrow’s debut solo album. It is also a great description of this amalgam of style. Born out of hard rock bands like Kiss,Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith, you can hear subtleties of different styles with his singles HAD ENOUGH and DIRTY LITTLE LOVE SONG. Having played throughout the Rocky Mountain region, his strong vocal timbre has a great intimate texture which is matched well with his big, red, Gretsch hollow body guitar. An instrument that has a clean, hard rock edge to it. Paired up with Jeff Sekera on the bass, his rock n roll blood brother for nearly 20 years as he puts it, they carry a certain swagger but more importantly, a sense of purpose in entertaining the crowd. The show is what breathes life into the air. Jeff Schable, newly added to the band at the beginning of the Summer provides not only a big beat behind the drums but 3 part harmonies. It’s hard to believe that it’s just three guys making all this music.

A few lyrical quotes to give you a feel: ‘Slippin into those high-heeled shoes, wore that dress she never wore for you’ - Had Enough ‘Love can be bittersweet and still survive’ - Dirty Little Love Song ‘Night has given in to the days never end, left here for dead with the snakes and crows’ - La Cruda The CD is available on iTunes, CDbaby, Spotify, Rhapsody and Muve Music

Lost Caravan You don’t know much, That’s plain to see, Otherwise you, you would know me.

So go the playful opening lines off the title track of the Lost Caravan’s debut EP, You Don’t Know Me. It’s a fitting message from a band who in just over a year, has gone from playing intimate café shows to being invited to perform at the Colorado State Fair, PrideFest Denver, Music in the Meadows, and multiple other events for audiences of thousands. And they’re nowhere near satisfied… Based out of the same Denver, CO neighborhoods that helped spawn The Lumineers and Churchill, lead singer Lindsay Meredith and her band, The Lost Caravan, are poised to put the Mile High City on the map yet again.

T.M.E T.M.E or Tampered Mindz Everywhere is a Hip Hop group from Denver, CO. T.M.E’s core includes, Big Beazy, ILL Silla, and Onit. T.M.E is also home to Colorado emcee, SaintJoe K.R.A.K, and producer/emcee, Flowz Colossul, from New Mexico.

The group was formed in 2009 and released thier first mixtape together late in 2009 titled, “Riding High Vol. 1”. T.M.E burst on the scene and instantly became known for their energetic performances, as well as their never stop work ethic. Since 2009 the group has performed in over 200 shows regionally, and have shared the stages with the likes of Too Short, Rahzel, Strange Music, Twista, Gudda Gudda, Three Six Mafia, and many others. Also, since their release of “Riding High Vol 1”, T.M.E has been involved is several other projects including, “Wreck Center Compilation”-2010, Flowz Colossul “C.O.L.O.S.S.U.L”, 2011, T.M.E & Burning Elements Presents “Strength Of My Word”-2011, SaintJoe’s “Mortuary Mixtape”-2012, Big Beazy’s “Quality Over Quantity”-2012, and ILL Silla’s “Through My Eyes (The Introduction Mixtape)”-2013.

T.M.E is constantly on the grind, and currently is working on their next project/album, “Tampered Mindz Everywhere” which is slated for release in late 2013/early 2014, as well as designing new merch, and remaining a constant advocate of the community and the people, participating in fundraising, toy drives, food drives, and other charities. Visit TME303.com.

Itchy-O A throbbing 32-piece band of masked chaos invites you to dissolve the performer/audience divide and melt into the bedlam, that is the disorienting power of Itchy-O. The itchy-O Marching Band (IOMB) is a Denver-based percussion-centered electronic marching band and the mobile arm of the experimental film/music troupe Itchy-O. Itchy-O brings a sophisticatedly savage sound and the sheer ecstasy of electronic instruments untethered and running free. With a driving drum corp complemented by an arsenal of special surround sound effects units including synthesizers, theremin, vocoders, and several other hand held electronic devices, the IOMB completely engulfs and immerses an audience from every angle in a pounding electric bog of music, ephemera and spectacle.

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August 2013 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Dave Preston – Come Alive

Rachel and the Kings – Tonic [LP] By the Swami Swami@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

By the Swami Swami@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

Dave Preston continues to fine tune his song writing skills.

With his new 4 song EP, Come Alive, Preston shows a penchant and understanding of what it takes to hit choruses quickly, have catchy chord changes, and write about relevant subject matter.

Rachel James, vocalist and pianist for Rachel and the Kings continues to graduate as a songwriter. On the bands first album Tonic, James shows off her skill set with a rousing opener appropriately titled “Tonic”, which is very reminiscent of bands like Paramore or Metric.

“Open Your Eyes” showcases Preston’s established vocal presence along with a very solid acoustic based structure that I found humming for some time after the listen. “Come Alive” is another well assembled track with a bit more tempo and drive ala local songwriter Matthew Moon. “Shine” and “Grace” both continue with the acoustic/songwriting arrangement that works well for his voice patterns.

The hit on album, “Fall Down” is catchy as hell. Using some influence from the likes of Adele and Muse, you can easily want to add this to your playlist for inspiration. Overall, the entire nine tracks eschews what James is all about: Soaring vocals, melody and punchy pop/rock attitude.

Exceptional engineering and production from Grammy award winner Clark Hagan, as well as input from Kenny Passarelli put the disc on the big league level. Spending time with Matt Morris on the road was a good thing as well and has become a very obvious and welcome influence.

Online: daveprestonmusic.com

Creating “The Kings” with guitarist Steven Beck, bassist Noah Matthews, violinist Ian Short, and Stefan Runstrom, (former drummer of Tickle Me Pink), seems to have been the right step for James, as the album really showcases her commanding voice and harmonious style.

A definite local addition to your library is mandatory with this release. You will thank me later for that bit of advice.

Luke SchmaltzHell Can Wait

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

Luke Schmaltz adds a new stamp to an already lengthy resume with his new solo album Hell Can Wait. Folky and harmonious, but never lacking the punk sentiment that has always prevailed through the many years of King Rat, Schmaltz delivers a solid ten songs about fucking fuck ups.

Lyrically, the album is entirely un-held back. Punk rockers are notorious for pigeonholing themselves against non-punk music, and Schmaltz has, through the solitude and sorrow that kick-started punk rock in the first place, stepped away from that nail in his coffin. The album bleeds unequivocally with raw emotion as if he has been holding it on the back burner for years until it finally boils over to expose a side of one of Denver’s most infamous rockers that we’ve always wanted to see. Three cheers for Schmaltz and our country’s broken hearts.

Online: lukeschmaltz.com Little FyodorPeace is Boring

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

AdrienneO is dropping a five song EP entitled Superchromatic. The album is a mellow take on indie rock with steady beats backing electronic leads. Lyrically, Adrienne Osborn drops strong vocals invoking dreaming and hopefulness that firmly complement the, for lack of a better term, somewhat tripped out and sporadically hippy-dippy rhythms and sounds. A solid combination of electric rock and pop.

The songs are honest and inviting, and Osborn wears her heart on her sleeve throughout the record.

Great mood setting music, or just good for chilling out.

TWenger@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

Dead End Drivers got on our radar a couple months ago through a ReverbNation submission, and the reasons why we selected them are made very apparent on the EP One Way Out. The five songs on the disc are not what you typically hear come out of our indie-rock savvy town, they have elements of folk, country and rock under constant display in their tunes.

Harmonious and full, the band relies heavily on double guitar to complete their sound, and do it well and with a touch of western swank.

Online: deadenddrivers.com

Beauty Beneath The Beast from WrathBliss, aka Timothy D. McAllen, is , first and foremost, the longest EP we have ever received. At 21 songs, and crossing emotional paths using an avant-garde approach, the singer-songwriter record is very mellow, at times coming across as something you might hear in a movie, during a sad and rainy scene featuring a heartbroken guy driving home alone in the dark.

The minimalistic use of instrumentation (focused mainly on piano), mixed with McAllen’s soft voice, create a sound that is soothing but also depressing, not at all afraid of diving into abyss to discuss the disheartening aspects of life. Heart break is a common theme on the album.

McAllen has, without a doubt, put a lot of thought and a true part of his soul into making this record, and the raw emotion expressed seems to serve as a voice that could not be used except through music.

Online: wrathbliss.com

by Tim Wenger

Little Fyodor is most likely a mad man- and any doubts held are dismissed by his album Peace is Boring. 14 tracks of crazy vocals, punk attitude, and musical stylings displaying everything from grunge to so-cal ska-rock to what appears to be show tunes, Little Fyodor lets the humor do the talking and it is not for the faint of heart.

With songs like “Everybody’s Sick” and “The Natural Progression of Life,” the tunes are simple and fun, irrelevantly pleasing and hopelessly distracting, and certainly unlike anything else I have heard before.

Fyodor amassed a strong collection of musicians to make guest appearances on the record, and the fact that he has been doing this for twenty years proves that it is NOT impossible to understand, if you just get out of your head for a half hour or so!

Online: littlefyodor.com

BLKHRTS- Death, Romance and the Color BLK

by Jonathan McNaughton & Darnell Teague DTeague@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

The eccentric, high-energy Denver based gothrap group BLKHRTS are set to release their latest mixtape “Death, Romance, and the Color BLK” on July 30th, 2013. The trio has been hard at work on this highly anticipated release, which is their first release since signing to ORG Records. The album’s gritty, yet upbeat sound accentuates the group perfectly.

On the track “Porties”, the BLKHRTS transform a popular song from Tyga, and turn it into a gloomy, but exhilarating masterpiece that only they can do.

Then album is a sneak peak at where the evolution of hip hop is heading and the BLKHRTS are the front runners.

Online: blkhrts.com

Online: adrienneo.com Dead End Drivers

by Tim Wenger

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

TWenger@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

Online: RachelandtheKings.com AdrienneOSuperchromatic

WrathblissBeauty Beneath The Beast

Sean RennerDays End

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

Sean Renner has released a follow up to last year’s Seven Days entitled Days End. Continuing on the path of slow indie and pop, the record features re-releases and different takes of the songs and is presented addictively and with a solid hook of harmonies and steady (albeit very mellow) beats.

The album immediately sets a slow but pleasant mood and maintains the status throughout, leaving the listener yearning for the next song and the next emotion. What Renner has done here is present a solid take on his own music, re-approaching as if to refresh what was already there and add a bit of spice in the bare spots.

Online: seanrenner.bandcamp.com

August 2013 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

El Amor

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

Denver’s El Amor had dropped a demo album, self describe as ‘rotten roll.’ Simplistic in the way of seventies punk, vocally exotic like good alternative and featuring solid, driving bass, the band presents a solid take on modern rock music.

The overall sound is what you might picture when thinking of garage rock. Dirty but brutally honest, unrefined yet vigilantly tight, El Amor strays from the indie rock dominance in the Mile High City and presents a fresh take not just for the south Broadway scene, but our music culture in general.

Online: facebook.com/elamormusic

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by Clint Boston photo credit Erica Stackhouse As an ex-Social Studies teacher, having a beer with a few former students might sound awkward, but what if—as a failed musician, music junkie and old punk rocker—I could feel “cool” again, and share a moment with Denver locals Potato Pirates as part of the Denver punk scene? That’s exactly what I had the opportunity to do, as this tight group of friends got ready for a show at the Gothic Theater, sharing the stage with the A-OKs, Be Like Max, the Last Slice, and the Repercussions.

Frank Sinatra,” jests Risch. The band laughs and jokes that Risch brings the tough guy image to the band. He started playing percussion in high school marching band and claims he is the “band nerd deluxe.” He wanted to play something other than the drums, and says it was an easy transition to the bagpipes because, “it’s all rhythm.” Capaldo-Smith explains that Risch ended up singing more than playing the bagpipes. “He sounds a lot tougher than he is.”

Behind the kit is Stackhouse. It takes a little to get him to jump into the conversation, but

and work on it, then bring it to the band. “We see it as a tool to vent; it is emotional.” Emrick declares. “Our songs are about life, work, everyday things. I write something down, then I take it to the band, and everybody builds on it. Andrew writes the bass line, Steve plays the drum piece; we all understand our capabilities, and we work together so it doesn’t sound like shit,” insists Risch.

Maybe it was the few beers we shared, but there was a certain irony as I was hanging out with punk rockers half my age when they started

Over the years, I have kept in touch with my former student, Scott Risch, who plays the bagpipes and shares lead vocals in the Potato Pirates. I have watched and listened as he and his friends have become the band to see if you want pure, one hundred percent, hardedged, stripped-down punk—the stuff I grew up with, like the Stooges, MC5 and the Dickies.

The Potato Pirates are fanatical about the local punk community. Risch feels that people [in Denver] are almost spoiled in that there is always something happing, there are always shows. A person can find a show any night of the week, from a small underground concert to a bigger venue show. Capaldo-Smith is quick to add that it is a true community, stating, “You can go anywhere and see people you know.”

In a big guttural laugh, Risch associates the punk scene to the TV show, “Cheers,” stating, “Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.” This brings roars of laughter from the van. Emrick takes a serious note and talks about how the punk community supports each other. “It’s not a competition for shows. We go see each other play and support each other.”

Stackhouse responds, “Sometimes, it is not about the music but the community.”

I was lucky enough to sit down with the Potato Pirates, Vinny Capaldo-Smith (guitar/ lead vocals), Scott Risch (bagpipes/lead vocals), Matt Emrick (lead guitar/vocals), Steve Stackhouse (drums/vocals), and Andrew Williams (bass/vocals) —and ask them a few questions. We had a beer, relived youthful rebellion, and I learned a lot about the band and their place in the current Denver punk scene. I also saw how blessed the Mile High City is to have the Potato Pirates carrying on that DIY attitude.

This “do it yourself” attitude initially brought Capaldo-Smith and Emrick together back in high school. They met in class, and CapaldoSmith noticed Emrick was a fan of the same bands as he was. Says Capaldo-Smith, “We just hit it off.”

Capaldo-Smith is an original member; he is the Potato Pirates. He has played guitar since the band’s inception. The band seems happy to have him as the soft-spoken leader, with “front man looks,” and songwriting abilities. He shared how he always wanted to play guitar, and when he found Emrick, things started to click. “Hell, Matt and I even took guitar lessons at the same place without knowing it,” say Capaldo-Smith.

his drumming speaks volumes. Attending a cross-town high school, Stackhouse became a member of the Potato Pirates soon after he and Capaldo-Smith started meeting up at some of the same local punk shows. As one of the original members, he is an essential part of the band; he was instrumental in their marathon recording sessions to get the band’s first full-length recording done. If you come to a show, you will undoubtedly see a high-energy performance from Stackhouse.

reminiscing about the good old days.

Stackhouse chimes in about the Lion’s Lair, then Williams discusses how crazy the crowd got that night. The rest of the band comes to life as Risch talks about how he had to get workers permits to play some of the earlier shows because he was under age; he had to sing outside the Lion’s Lair with a wireless microphone. The band booms with laughter about that night, recalling how there was a party

Emrick fits right into the Potato Pirate image.

His musical background began with piano. As he recalls how his mom forced piano lessons on him, I hear his zealous, soft-spoken voice admit, “I’m glad she did.” Emrick played bass until he took a hiatus from the band to go to college. Shortly after his return, he took on the role of lead guitarist.

Williams is the old man of the band, and more than happy to share a story or two. Williams had a cousin who was a regular at the Potato Pirates shows and friends who were fans of the band. He was making shirts for the band, and was in the right place at the right time.

“Steve called me up asking if I would want to play bass for them. The rest is history.”

However, when Emrick returned from school, they found themselves with two bass players.

What could have been a struggle for any band instead became an opportunity to get the right people in the right place. Collectively, they navigated a lineup change. Pushing the band to get better came before any individual egos or infighting.

Emrick declares, “I knew Andrew would be a better bass player.” At that time during the interview, some complimentary back-and-forth dialogue ensued. Acknowledging their mutual admiration for one another, Capaldo-Smith quipped, “You should kiss now.”

The passion to hone their craft is how Risch became part of the band. “Doesn’t every good punk band need a bagpipe player?” the band jokes. And what if this bagpipe player could sing? “I guess you could call me a regular

When they are not playing a show, Stackhouse and Risch both work in their family’s business.

“It’s a job,” claims Risch, who manages Taco House, the family restaurant. Stackhouse is happy to help his family’s engraving service; it pays the bills. Williams owns his own business, screening shirts and signs for other local bands, “hustling for a dollar.” Emrick (an art major who had a knack for computers back in high school), works in the computer world doing coding. Capaldo-Smith is a tattoo artist; it allows him moments of Zen. “[Being in the band] lets us roll around the country doing what we want to do,” interjects Stackhouse. They are regular guys, working so they can do what they love: playing music, being a part of Denver’s Punk community.

So, I found out that this group of friends is a collection a varied personalities, expressing youthful rebellion. At their shows, I could hear their punk influences like Minor Threat, Suicide Machine and Choking Victim.

However, they’re not afraid to mix in a little ska, a little Irish jig, and a little hardcore. These varied influences, and their collective musical abilities, helped them create their own unique sound, a sound that makes them proud. It’s their collective passion for punk that makes it possible for them to write, perform, tour, and still be friends.

In the hopes of not sounding too much like a poseur, I spent some time doing some research before I showed up at the van Friday night. I found a quote about the Potato Pirates that stuck with me. Tom Murphy from Westword stated back in 2009 that this band is able to, “take various styles of music considered dead — or at least exhausted of ideas — and inject them with an infectious, youthful exuberance. Part ska, part punk, part whatever it is that this quintet has absorbed over the years, the resulting sound crackles with a wiry energy.” I have seen this energy first hand; I have watched them turn an entire venue into one giant mosh pit. This is an energy that is important to the band. Matt tells me that if he has a bad show, he feels like shit until he can play again to “make things right.” It’s clear this band feels a duty to the crowd to give the best show possible. When you see them, you will not be disappointed.

The Potato Pirates are playing the Marquis Theater on August 20, and sharing the stage with the Duane Peters Gunfight, (Peters is “The Master of Disaster” from the U.S. Bombs), Dime Runner and Piss and Vinegar.

All this inquiry into who they are brought up the question about who writes the songs for the Potato Pirates. This Denver punk band writes their songs in a pretty organic fashion, according to the guys. Capaldo-Smith shares how some of the bands he has worked with can just sit down and write songs. “I can’t do that,” he says. “Hell, we would have more songs, but I [have to] wait until something happens.” Both Capaldo-Smith and Risch share the song- writing duties, and rather than set out to write a song, they wait for it to come to them. [They] will take an idea

outside on the sidewalk and inside the bar. It’s clear these guys have fun doing what they do.

The band spends several minutes debating how long they have played together—is it five years?

I never got a definitive answer, and it doesn’t matter; it’s as if this group has played together forever. They know each other well and that intimacy solidifies their DIY group attitude. This sense of community extends beyond the band as we start to talk about what they do when they are not playing a show.

In addition, the Potato Pirates have recorded a song for a Rancid tribute album coming out on Hellcat Records and Smelvis Records. The band is thrilled to share vinyl with the Street Dogs, Left Alone, Death March, and the Phenomenauts. You can find the Potato Pirates’ two full-length albums on iTunes.

Online: potatopirates.com

This has been a fantastic year for progressive thrashers Allout Helter.

So far, it’s seen the release of their debut full-length for Dang!Records, Sinking, We Regress, to rave reviews and presented it in its tech-punk entirety to sweaty crowds at both the Westword and Underground Music Showcases. Upcoming shows with The Shell Corporation, The Goddamn Gallows, and a slot at the Riot Fest Denver pre-party alongside Authority Zero and Boldtype ensure that these Denver mainstays will keep you busy and in the pit throughout the rest of 2013.

The line-up that everyone currently knows as Straight Outta Luck has been together for 2 years. After a long hard road of trading people out and many practice space issues, the band began playing out 2 years after forming. Since then, they have been working hard playing shows with such acts as the Vibrators, Hudson Falcons, Richie Ramone, Agent Orange as well as countless local shows with strong support from the amazing fans of Denver at every show. Check out iTunes, Spotify or Slacker Radio to hear or purchase music!

online: facebook.com/allouthelter

online: facebook.com/straightouttaluck

Punk rock? Most would say that today, punk rock is hard to define.

Modern day hybrid genres and crossover styles have diluted what many have relied on to be safe and comfortable representations of ‘punk’. But punk rock was never meant to be safe. Whether facing the that keeps us all comfortable and safe. March with us, judge us, dance with us or label us, Boldtype will remain self reliant in the fight to deliver untainted truth. That’s punk enough for us.

1. “How the band got started and what we originally hoped to accomplish by playing in a punk band …”

King Rat was started upon the realization that I was never, ever going to fit into social norms and avoid devastating personal misery at the same time. I tried time and again to join existing bands and cram into the molds that they were trying to imitate and all I did was wind up hating myself. I tried to go to college and could not imagine lasting another 4 to 6 years listening to some book-head tell me about life. I had original songs playing in my head all the time, practically writing themselves. By starting a punk band I hoped to be able rope these cantankerous thought storms out of the ether and turn them into viable ways of communicating my mindset to others out there who might gain some insightful value from my efforts.

online: boldtypemusic.com

The A-OKs are celebrating five years of pummeling the Denver music scene with their mayhem-fueled, ska/punk madness. After two full length albums and countless chaotic live performances, the band only grows stronger and hungers for more. Influenced by the horn driven third-wave ska bands of the late 90s, The A-OKs add a dash of modern punk, alternative, metal, reggae, and even a little pop to their mix for a sound that makes you want to throw an elbow or two before dancing the night away. They have conquered three west coast tours, several outings to the midwest, and are celebrated across the country and recognized worldwide. Five years strong, The A-OKs shows no signs of stopping and have more than a few tricks up their sleeves online: reverbnation.com/theaoks

2. “What’s the craziest thing that ever happened at a show in Denver?”

The Westword 2013 Music Awards showcase was a comedic high point and a career low point all at the same time. First of all the punk showcase, for the last several years is held in the absolute worst possible location. The take the rowdiest, drunkest crowd of the entire pantheon of music categories and cram them all into a tiny bottleneck space where the distance from the “stage” to the bar is literally about 4 feet. People are beer-soaked sun-stroked mongoloids at this event every year by definition. By the time we played at 5:15 there were about 70 or 80 drooling slobs crammed into this tiny space waiting to yammer along with our anthems. Somehow, and it ONLY happened to us, during our 30 minute set the power went out a total of 6 (six) fucking times. Without fail it cut out right as we were careening into the first chorus of a song. The cool part was that everyone there kept singing along with us for the remainder of the chorus (most folks don’t effectively know all the verse lyrics). The uncool part was that we had rehearsed religiously for this gig with the intention of blasting out the most intense, bullshit-free set of our lives. Instead we just kind of stood there inept in front of a well-lubed audience. We won allright …the worst case of musical blue balls ever!

3. “How do you feel Denver fits in as a viable hotspot in the punk world, now and when you first started” Currently Denver’s place in the punk world is that it provides a much needed gigging point in a veritable wasteland of gig-less geography. Touring punk bands can rely on the city for a show where otherwise they would have another 8 hours of driving to do either to and/or from either direction. Aside from that there are now dozens and dozens of local punk bands putting out good music and getting international recognition. Reno Divorce, Potato Pirates and The Gamits are a few. When King Rat first started 18 years ago there were 3 or 4 other bands in town that considered themselves “punk”.

We were so geographically removed from the national scene that each band really had an original sound and identity. A few bands that come to mind are Babihed, Wanker, Backspackle and Superbuick. The downside was that there was no cohesiveness to the “scene”. To get booked at a club you had to sell yourself as just plain “rock” and you could count on sharing the stage with a bunch of hair farming glam-pop douchebags.

Plan-B Rejects hail from the city streets of Denver and have been making their brand of energetic, angst ridden punk rock since the spring of 2011. They draw influences from 80’s hardcore, 90’s skate punk, street punk, and melodic hardcore. Punk rock like its meant to be played: fast, aggressive, and full of angst. Check us out at our reverbnation page, facebook and of course at one of our kick-ass shows. online: facebook.com/planbrejects

Originally hailing from the small farming and factory town of Fort Morgan, Co., the band consists of Todd McMullan – lead vocals and electric guitars, Kyle Hernandez – backup vocals and bass, Brett Carson – drums, Johnson (just Johnson) - trombone and percussion, and Mike Blecha – backup vocals, keyboard, acoustic guitar and trumpet (and anything else). With an immediate music scene that was dominated by two styles – country and hip-hop, the only method of survival for the band was to take things on their own terms. online: syntheticelementsband.com

They have been a band since October, 2011. They recorded their first demo EP entitled “Boogie Nights” with Brandon Carlisle (Teenage Bottlerocket). In July, 2012 Head Injuries went on a two week long tour across the west coast to support their first demos and they plan to be doing an album support tour in 2013. In October, 2012 Head Injuries went into Chris Fogel’s (The Gamits) studio “Black In Bluhm” in Denver, CO to record their debut album (Self Titled) and it was released on January 25th, 2013. online: facebook.com/headinjuries�

Bill Stevenson and The Blasting Room Speak About Punk Scene Then and Now

by Jenn Cohen

JCohen@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

From the Descendents to the Wiredogs, what’s changed?

Who’s on the Blasting Room’s radar, and what do they think it takes to succeed today?

When people talk about Colorado’s punk scene, I almost immediately think of the Blasting Room in Fort Collins. Reason being, Bill Stevenson (drummer for the Descendents, ALL, and FLAG), is one of the founders of the reputable recording studio, and the Descendents and Black Flag have left an influential footprint on the punk scene both locally and nationally.

We know music is easily strapped to labels: jazz, country, hip-hop, rock, punk, the list goes on.

Since this month’s issue is primarily focused on punk, we talked with Stevenson and producer Andrew Berlin (Blasting Room), a couple of guys who are “in it” every day. Stevenson and Berlin see firsthand the different genres of music, and the shifting attitudes of bands. And while there have been plenty of changes over the years; the influence of punk from then to now is, in many ways, timeless.

Currently touring with the Descendents, as well as maintaining a presence in the studio, Stevenson has been an influential member of the punk movement since the ’70s.

“There have been a lot of miles traveled since then, by everybody, and many years have passed,” says Stevenson. “It’s hard to quantify how things are now, compared to how they used to be. I know that there’s a constant line of comparison between what people call the ‘old punk’ and the ‘new punk,’ but I don’t look at it that way.

I see it all as a big continuum of a very long river flowing; bands contribute to it, and they take out from it, and they ride along the flow of it. Just as we’ve influenced things, we’ve also been influenced by things, and I think that the punk scene is that way. It’s always a two-way street in and out, constantly evolving, and I don’t feel like there are years or eras or decades where it was like, ‘punk is dead.’ I just try and keep an open mind and let the independent artists do whatever they can do, and try and enjoy it.”

Adds Berlin, “When I first started at the studio, I remember doing more ‘album splits;’ the first being Bill the Welder and Teenage Bottlerocket. Kinda smart to share the cost of setup, not to mention everyone had a fun time. I recall there being more attention given to a defined rhythmic pattern/cadence that the whole band was aware of.”

Thoughts about the pop-punk vs. punk labels these days?

“It’s always been my opinion that those [labels] were more useful for, say, people trying to market or sell music,” says Stevenson. “But when you actually put a guitar on, or get behind a drum set, or put pen to paper, nobody really thinks like that. In the early ’90s, there was kind of a “more acceptable” version of punk rock that got on the radio a lot. There were tons of little kids at the mall that were really happy that that happened, and then there were some curmudgeonly older punk rockers that felt like that phenomenon was kind of a disservice or a dishonor to punk rock. But the fact that Blink-182 got on the radio doesn’t change how I feel about my Minor Threat single. It’s all music, right? I just don’t think in those little boxes—they’re notes, and rhythms. I think it was Louis Armstrong who said, ‘There are only two kinds of music, good music and bad music. If you can tap your foot to it, that’s good music.’

The point being, if it makes you feel something, then you feel something; who cares what it’s called: pop-punk, indie,

24

hardcore, emo, jazz, you know?”

And what does it take in this day and age to stand out? Was it harder before social media to get your music out there?

“Every decade [of musicians] has a different idea of what sounds are familiar,” says Berlin. “I think the auto-tuning and instrument editing that has been heard regularly for the past 15 years has created a thread of musicians and listeners who value this consistency in sound. The punk bands that stand out to me are able to balance an OCD adherence to playing well, with an intuitive connection to the push and pull in emotion, and how that translates in a performance.”

“Is it harder now than it was when we were trying to get established? I can’t tell,” says Stevenson. “Some would have you believe that it’s easier because of [social] networking, and just the access to info is so complete, but some may say it’s harder.

When I was 13, you got a bike for Christmas. Now, you get a guitar. It’s like everybody— EVERYBODY—has a band, so I guess it’s both easier and harder. But to push that to the side for a second, it comes down to practicing. Basically, not to put the pernicious influence of a competitive element into all of this, but at the same time, if you’re trying to be established, you have to be better than the other bands. One of many ways to be better than other bands is to practice more; that is what the Descendents did—we just used to practice incessantly; although, that’s not a solution, but it’s one of several things that, when you put them all together, can be part of a solution.

“I suppose in the Internet age, it’s almost just as critical for bands to have to be concerned with how they look while playing, as opposed to just how well they’re playing. We didn’t really have that. We could be ugly, and it was okay, because nobody could just go online where somebody had a camera one foot from my nose hairs. So I think appearance has, unfortunately, become a factor.

“And, of course, nothing beats a great song. This is where I suppose the accumulated experience at the studio that I have, has led me to the conclusion that there are not nearly as many worthwhile songs out there, as there are bands playing in garages somewhere. So, you can practice ‘til you’re blue in the face, but if your songs aren’t any good, then that’s really wasted energy. For a band to get noticed, they have to find someway to find a voice that is their own voice, that is a unique voice, and that has not been heard before a million times; and the lyrics have to be worth listening to, and I don’t mean they have to be politically correct or intellectually deep, I mean, they could be “I Like Food” or whatever, but there has to be something about them that draws people to them, and so it goes with the DNA of chord progressions and also the melody. These things are what really affect people. We can’t all be great songwriters, we can’t all be great players, and we can’t all look handsome like whatever the movie star of the moment is.

“So if the complexity of all these different intangibilities line up, and a band happens to do well, I would think they should consider themselves very fortunate, because it’s tough.”

As a big milestone has just passed for Stevenson, I asked what three songs he would reference to sum up the last few years—personal anthems, if you will. His answer: ““Waiting for Superman” the Iron and Wine version. Those lyrics are such that I wish I’d written them. When I was sick that was my song. Milo (Aukerman) wrote a song right after my brain surgery called “Comeback Kid,” about me and my recovery, so I’d definitely throw that one in there, and the one I’ve listened to more than any other song in the last three years, “Without Love” by Propaghandi.”

Catching Up with Tyler Stanfield

TS: Not a lot of people know this, but I actually came out with my first album “This Place” before I was asked to join LP. Things were going well for us at the time so I kind of put my solo stuff on the back burner. It has been great to get back to writing and performing my stuff again. It is much easier to get things done with a solo career, but nothing compares to a full band show. I have been very lucky with the opportunities that have been presented to me, so I have put together a band with some great musicians and I’m excited to get back up on the big stages again. The Taste of Colorado will be our first show and I couldn’t be happier.

by Tim Wenger

CMB: What is some good advice that has been given to you?

Tyler Stanfield has been making quite a name for himself as a solo artist following a stint with Lost Point, not only in Denver but down south as well. Colorado Music Buzz caught up with him and got the word on what’s hot in his world and how he goes about his song writing.

TS: Stay true to yourself, and your music.

And also never make bacon naked.

TWenger@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

CMB: How do you keep up the energy at a solo show without anyone else up there with you?

TS: There is a raw beauty to a song broken down to its bare bones. It’s a different kind of energy you create at an acoustic performance.

So I try and interact with the crowd and engage them as much as possible.

CMB: Seems like you spend a lot of time traveling by yourself. What do you do to pass the time? Are you generally flying or driving?

TS: I do travel a lot, flying mainly. I enjoy it. It allows me to see things differently. Lately the easiest place for me to write is in the air. I just put on the Bose noise cancellation headphones to drown out the crying baby a couple rows back, have a whiskey ginger and focus on the music.

CMB: Do you find it is easier or more stressful to progress a musical career now as a solo artist, or during your time with Lost Point?

CMB: What is your opinion on Avril Lavigne?

TS: She found something that worked for her and went with it.

CMB: What are you channeling these days when writing material?

TS: Life gives us so much to write about.

Everything from the knife that was so delicately placed in your back, to the intense love you have with someone that you would do anything for. I feel the best songs are the ones that come out naturally and you don’t have to force.

CMB: What type of songs seem to get the best reaction from the crowd during a solo set?

TS: People like when you are honest on stage.

If you are performing with all you have they can feel that. I like to do a lot of instrumentals on the guitar too. They seem to like that.

CMB: Where can we find your music and tour dates online?

TS: Reverbnation.com/tylerstanfieldmusic Online: facebook.com/tylerstanfieldmusic

Wednesdays on The SoapBoxx Radio.

SoapBoxx Radio Presents New Perspective

by Darnell Teague & Jonathan McNaughton

DTeague@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Danielle Johnson, radio personality/video jockey, writer, and public relations specialist, is better known as D. Jay Da Queen. Johnson is originally from Denver. She pursued her education at Arizona State University with a focus on Psychology and Mass Communications. D. Jay is currently finding new ways to shed light on current issues in the world through interviews with different leaders in the community, as well as individuals who have interesting perspectives. Explore the terrains of media through internet radio Mondays and

August 2013 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

The station is internet radio at its best. Like their page and be up to date on all the latest in celebrity gossip, current events and social awareness. As a leader in internet radio, The Soapboxx Radio is a blend of talk radio and music. They play a large range of genres, contact the station for more information on how to get your music on air. Highlights of the The SoapBoxx Moment segment gives listeners and fans a chance to say what is really on their mind. A pre-recorded segment of submitted footage, listeners go off about some of the issues that mean the most to them.

The Featured Artist segment is dedicated to new and current artists of all genres to showcase their latest songs and/or videos.

The SoapBoxx Interviews gives the listener a chance to listen to the latest news as D. Jay Da Queen talks with leaders in the community as well as individuals who are involved in all areas of life.

Be sure to tune in Monday and Wednesday at thesoapboxxradio.com

Petals of Spain: Our Local Bodhisattva

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Denver’s beloved jazzified indie rock posters Petals of Spain are dropping another record, their second of the year, on August 30 at the Bluebird Theatre. This record will be a full length record, containing the EP that they released in February as well five new songs. The songs were recorded at So and So Studios here in Denver.

“This is the year we’re going to put out three,” says Nic Hammerberg, founding member and, in addition to Hunter Hall, the group’s main songwriter . “We have tons of material, we just haven’t put out stuff before.”

The band is going through a self-described “evolutionary stage,” and this upcoming record will reflect that. This album will not be just another collection of desperately satirical but eerily catchy love tunes. The guys in the band are, for lack of a better term, a bit ‘trippy’ when it comes to their music. Channeling everything from altered states of mind to lights in sky, Petals of Spain are coining a new definition of the term ‘original music.’

“I was under the impression that we were going into an age of enlightenment,” says Hammerberg. I think we are still going in that direction. I don’t think everyone is enlightened, per say. But with the way communication is, how fast technology is advancing, I think we are definitely going in that direction. (The record) pokes fun at that.” “(It talks about) coming to terms with the dichotomy of (enlightenment) not being there,” says Hall, also a founding member of the band. “It’s based on more imagination than the previous album. I feel like the songs I wrote on the album maybe have more personality than before. It’s almost like there is a little more theatre in it.”

Despite the emotional idiom displayed in the band’s new music, Hall and Hammerberg admit that they aren’t yet at the peak emotional state. “I think I’m more of a Bodhisattva than an enlightened being,” says Hammerberg. “Which is one who seeks to enlighten others. That is more a position of my being on this earth.

It doesn’t mean that I can’t reach enlightenment, but it’s not really about that, it’s about helping other people reach it.”

As far as how we all can attain enlightenment when the record isn’t quite enough? “I think that we can do that by just living, dealing with the things as they come,” says Hammerberg. “It’s not going to be all good, it’s not going to be all love. There’s a duality in everything, and I think it is experiencing that and embracing that.”

“I think music is kind of like that perfect moment, it’s so romanticized,” says Hall. “You can try to catch yourself trying to feel that way all the time, you know, really good and really energetic, like everything has a purpose and everything has a meaning. Not to be too idealistic, but when we play music, that’s a lot of times how I feel.”

Dealing with the processes of enlightenment can also mean dealing with anxiety, especially in a world

dominated by social media and a constant focus of attention on the here and now.

“The inspiration for some of my writing is the paranoia of the technological age,” says Hall. “It’s made things so much easier to communicate, but at the same time I think it’s kind of taken away from human communication in a way. People aren’t as comfortable just sitting around a table anymore just sitting around and talking. The world has become passive aggressive in certain ways.

People don’t appreciate the information they have as much because it’s so easy.”

The use of substances such as alcohol, marijuana, and other ways to alter the state of mind have historically played, sometimes and with certain artists more prominently than others, a role in songwriting.

Hammerberg and Hall talked about their personal opinions on the subject.

“Sometimes it can bring out a new perspective on the song,” says Hall. “I don’t want to write music when I’m smoking weed all the time, but at the same time I think that it can give me a different perspective. If you’re using it for a creative source, you have to respect it and try to use it for that rather than for recreation. It’s our goal to speak to those realms but also speak to the very sober reality of being alive.”

“I think it is absolutely inspirational,” says Hammerberg.

“It’s a way to just separate your consciousness. It can take you to a realm unlike anything you would experience in your lifetime.”

Petals of Spain is becoming known in the Denver music community for their pants-to-the-floor live performance, and with all of the sentiment and heart the band puts into their music, it comes as no surprise. There are good shows and bad shows, large crowds and small crowds, but the guys maintain that it is a band’s job as an entertainer to set the mood for any performance.

“Some of my favorite shows just go by in a blur,” says Hammerberg. “Like, ‘Wow, that was so awesome, did that just happen?’. We are on stage connecting with people, and they are out there connecting with us, and then it’s just over.

“It depends on the energy of the band and it depends on the energy of the audience,” says Hall. “If things are going right, it should feel like a nostalgic celebration.

Like this joyful experience that reminds you of your childhood in many ways, because I think the greatest experiences we have, have some kind of déjà vu or nostalgia to the past.”

We are trying to implement more and more theatrical elements into our show,” says Hall. “Telling the audience a story, and literally taking them through a narrative. It’s not just a collection of songs. Every set list we have, we try to go, ‘OK here is the through line of this story.’”

Petals of Spain hope to expand their horizons far outside of the Mile High City in the future. Their consistent hard work and constant presence in the Denver music scene over the last few years serve as a strong base to make that happen, and as they continue to release recorded music and hone their live performance, the band will stop at nothing short of musical enlightenment not only for their growing fan base, but also for themselves.

Between The Covers: Anyone Got a Mint?

by Torch

Torch@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

It was another free concert in the park on a Thursday evening, a typical City of *** gig.

People start to unfurl their blankets and pop open their lawn chairs as they make instant living rooms on the grass. Fried chicken and cupcakes are shared between those who really planned for the evening, while others make way to the hot dog stands and snow cones.

The stage is temporary and the band makes it through a bit of a rough sound check with the new guy from the sound company. Next to the stage is a table covered with cd’s, t-shirts, and necklaces I make by hand. I am the merch girl.

Now this is a great place to watch people and a hard place to avoid them so interaction is key. It never fails to surprise me how entitled people get with the band at a “FREE” concert.

For example, one woman came up to me at the table to request songs for the band to play. Her breath was dripping with the stench of three day old garlic and plaque as she shouted in my face, “Can you ask them to play that one song, you know the one with the magic carpet! I can’t remember who plays it, and maybe something

by Credence!” She yelled some other stuff I didn’t catch, as I was so aghast by her breath and jumped back in horror. Now there are several ways do deal with this type of behavior but first all I could think was, (Eat a breath mint for the love of Christ! This is a band, NOT a jukebox! Go home and dig out your 8 tracks!

AND if by somechance the band was taking requests, learn the song titles or artists names as they are not here to divine your muddled thoughts!)

What I did say was, “Well you can ask them when they go on break.” Passing the lovely woman with the breath that would turn a windmill in an old Dutch painting, onto the lead singer. (grin) She was not pleased that I didn’t leave the merch, march over to the band, and break into the current song to make her request. She huffed away, wilting the trees, and waited for the break, which to my dismay they didn’t take one. She was back for more sharing of her verbal stench, “They’re not taking a break!” she barked. I told her to write her (oh so important) requests on a sheet of paper and lay it at the leader’s feet on stage so he could see it between songs. She fussed like a three year old and asked ME for a pen and paper. (Lady, what do I look like? Office Effing Depot!) “No, I am sorry but I don’t have either,” a lie but I just wanted her to go away and stop opening her dental decayed pie hole my way.

I watched her stomp back to her lawn chair, hands on hips spatting her drama on her date.

She plopped down and glared at me for the rest of the show.

“Eventually, I think we’d all like it to be a spiritual experience, changing that idea of a show,” says Hammerberg.

Now I never said what I was thinking as I’ve learned to keep my mouth shut with psychos and drunks. *** Very important skill in the music industry***

Online: pofsmusic.com

Oh but it wasn’t over yet. I watched as a guy

August 2013 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

stood clutching a beer in one hand and a monitor in the other. He had a bony frame and stringy hair, which he kept whipping around, poised like a dashboard dog off stage right. He was head banging to every song, a strange thing to see to songs like “Beautiful World” and a reggae infused version of “Clocks”. I figured he hadn’t had his meds in a very long time; time that he was sure was moving too slowly as he kept trying to get the band to play faster with his fist pumping. FYI- don’t’ do this people it is annoying to the band and all those around you. Step away from the stage you sad little Guitar Hero wanna be! Ah I digress.

He however wasn’t the worst distraction; it came in the form of a bulging Betty on beer, a LOT of beer. She stood, in her triple extra large pink t-shirt, directly in front of the lead singer yelling “Chicago!!! Play some CHICAGO!!!” This did not go unnoticed and the band, who didn’t know any songs by the band Chicago, however they very kindly played Sweet Home Chicago for blubbering Betty. She was pissed and proceeded to yell “No! Play some Chicago!!”

When her demands went unmet she stood fixed before the band, snarling like a menacing mammoth. Her poor sap of a date was dancing with his beloved beer and occasionally she would go over and smack him on the arm and yell something predictable at him, trying to get him to stop having fun. Again her orders went into the wind and she bloomed red and returned to her post of discontent, facing the band.

People, this is a FREE concert NOT your personal i-pod, the band and the people around you don’t owe you a thing. Relax!

Y o u ’ r e supposed to be jovial, not pitching a fit for not getting your way, freaky control freaks! Ut oh, my turn again only it was big boy Bob and he wants a t-shirt. Yelling over the band, “You got this in a double or triple X?” “No, I only have large and extra large.” He furrowed his brow and I held up the XL showing him the size, which was too small for him, but easily too big for a normal sized human being. “Do you have anything in a double or triple X?” “No, I am sorry sir but this is the biggest size I carry, would you like a CD instead?” I was thinking, “Hang it up on the wall as your skinny shirt, play the CD and you would have a whole weight loss program.” I actually felt sorry for the guy, but with merch you learn quickly you can’t please everyone, wrong size, wrong CD, song being played is not recorded as it is a cover, and no matter how low you price things people still want to bargain. Big Bob didn’t want a CD instead he told me off for not having more sizes, blurted out a few expletives and thumped away.

Okay my feelings of remorse were gone; have a nice day.  The thing that keeps me smiling from the merch booth is the people who showed up instead of watching TV, the people who are dancing with their friends, or teaching their toddlers to dance little feet on top of big. The guys in the band taking solos and having a blast getting the crowd dancing and not letting them go. I love to watch them all; every shape and style coming together celebrating the songs that mark this summer, a picnic, green grass under bare feet, and blue stained lips from slushy icy treats.

25

The Bunny Gang Speak About New Record, Band Life

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

The Bunny Gang have, albeit not yet a long one, but still a storied, history. Forming in Denver in 2012 following time in Los Angeles, California under the moniker Nathan Maxwell and The Original Bunny Gang, the group is working diligently to establish themselves as a prominent name in Denver’s scene and a respected name throughout the world.

Front man Nathan Maxwell is well known in the punk world as the bassist of renowned Celtic punkers Flogging Molly. The Bunny Gang was started originally as his side project involving his father Maxwell and bassist Michael Peralta, and has grown over the last few years into its own name and reputation as The Bunny Gang with help from lead guitarist Nat Nelson following their move to Denver.

my first thought was, ‘That’s what I know, so let’s take The Bunny Gang on tour, let’s keep touring and touring’. I’m glad we did because we had to get our chops up and become a band that I’m proud of now. Now we are that band.

Now the focus is, we’re a Denver band, let’s show Denver that we’re here. Let’s really focus on Denver.”

Nathan feels that the group was not ready to show itself to our fair city before the extensive touring and be the ‘local celebrities’ that they want to become. Through their treavels, recording, and becoming the family that is The Bunny Gang, they are now proud of who they are and are ready to strap themselves in and become a high-flying part of the ever-expanding bubble that is the mile high music scene.

As such, the band’s history is very family

The group has recorded a much anticipated fulllength record that has turned into an ongoing process, but should be out by early next year.

Originally, the record was originally supposed to be already released, but the band wanted to make sure everything was just the way it should be before dropping it into the public’s hands. “It will definitely be out by 2043,” Nathan says laughing. “It’ll be out by, at the latest, early 2014. The album is done. We are finalizing the album artwork and the layout, and want to make sure the album is in the exact right home for it to be in.”

With the upcoming release of the record and the time between now and then, the band’s focus is to dive as deep into the local music scene as possible. The group has toured multiple countries, been asked to contribute to compilations and perform at a handful of festivals, and feel that it is time to grow their roots in the Mile High City and settle into what they call home. “I’ve been traveling the nation and some other countries for a while now, and

oriented. Nathan and bassist Michael Peralta have known each other and been playing together for years, and the formation of the band with Nathan’s father on drums meant that the group started with a tight relationship that has only grown tighter through the sharing of musical talent.

“For me, this represents where my head’s at at the moment with music,” says Nathan. “The home. He has been a solo artist since 2011 when he dropped the mixtape “The Valley of the Beast”. During the past 2 years he has signed with Shameless MGMT and dropped his first solo EP, called “I’m Just Happy To Be Here”. Huey is currently working with The Abnorm and iR-Neko on an untitled full-length album due to be released later this year. He has opened for Nappy Roots, Masta Ace, DJ Abilities, Sadistik, The Flobots and Andre Nickatina. This summer Huey will be opening local support for the Kansas City Guerillafest which features Slick Rick, Spice 1, PMD, MC Eiht and GLC. He also recently completed his third Midwest tour which included shows in three states. He plans to continue making great music and pursuing his dream with plans to tour the East Coast and West Coast in 2013-2014.

Denver Sees New HipHop Management Co.

by Darnell Teague & Johnathan McNaughton DTeague@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Shameless Mgmt. LLC.And their collective of various local talents (Huey P. Nuisance, Ir-Neko, Ghost816, The Abnorm,) and other KC affiliations are making stepping stones in every city they travel on the road to success. Still new to the music game, Shameless Mgmt. LLC looks to make the Brand a mainstay in Colorado and Kansas City, Missouri.

Huey P. Nuisance calls Midtown Kansas City his

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iR neKo was born and raised in the mecca of jazz entertainment in Kansas City, MO. Music has always been an important part of Neko’s life. He might even say that music was his first love. With his obvious passion for his music, it is easy to believe that music will be his last. Neko is more than just a rapper. He is an artist who displays every aspect of his craft through his music. As life continues to inspire him, Neko is developing into an artist whose music and story are so intriguing. It is both simple and complex.

That formula, alone, makes us want to continue to listen to this artist in anticipation of what is next.

Read more of this article at ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Bunny Gang plays honest, authentic music and we wear our heart on our sleeve. We have our influences, and through those influences we create our sound. It’s like roots music, it’s authentic to who we are.”

The creation of their debut full length has been a long process, culminating in the four members being wound ever more tightly together, ready to present themselves to the world as they feel they should be perceived.

“It’s been challenging,” says Maxwell, the group’s drummer, who has been with the group since its’ early days. “In drawing this out, we’ve all become a bit wiser. Truly we have become more confident in what The Bunny Gang is. We’ve realized that we’ve got something special here. The band is attracting a lot of cool people.”

Maxwell likes the tag of ‘Conscious Rebel Music.’ A huge part of the band’s roots are in the punk rock ethos, but the guys are family men and are not the nihilistic teenagers leading a life of anarchistic destruction that they may have once been. “We have this root,” says Nathan. “We got on stage with a punk element, but we still have a consciousness of what’s important. We’re not singing about beer and partying, we’re singing about more important issues. The rebel part IS the punk influence, but the conscious part is taking it to a higher level. There are a lot of people out there that are outgrowing that desperate youth and want bands that have something to say. Everywhere people are waking up. People are waking up to truths, to hard truths, and I believe that in general the umbrella is consciousness. People are becoming critical.”

“I’m not someone that wants to be dead at 25 anymore,” says Nathan. “I’m someone that wants to live. I’ve got so much to live for. It’s about seeing the forest for the trees and taking the long way.”

Sweet Jean Media Services is the Answer

by Brett Finn

Finn@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Sweet Jean Media Services is a multipurpose, multifaceted, multimedia company.Theyspecialize in full scale corporate event production, music business consulting, and voice over talent.

Sweet Jean Media take pride in delivering exceptional customer service and professionalism in each division of the company.

CMB: So what is your background?

SJM: We have always been actively working in music and theater production. While studying percussion at Berklee College of Music, I performed in various bands and have toured extensively with outstanding musicians both at home and abroad. Sweet Jean Media Services, was started with over 30 years combined experience working with local and national entertainers. We have experience at the agent’s desk while working to maintain band dynamics. All aspects of performance and technical production, from logistics to concert hall settlements are where we shine.

CMB: What is the music division of Sweet Jean Media

August 2013 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

The long way for these guys is playing shows, recording, and sticking their message firmly in the ears of each and every listener. “You go everywhere,” says Nathan. “Every single place you can go, you go there. If it sticks and people resonate, then you go back. Who knows where the places that love The Bunny Gang will be.”

To date, Japan has been a place that they have done well, as well as Germany, but they hope to increase that base to become a worldwide audience. “It’s still so new, it’s hard to say.

We’ve had some great shows here and there, we’ve had some great shows in Denver.”

Obviously, Flogging Molly is a big name and often when people think of Nathan, that is what they think of. While it may serve to help the band as far as recognition, they strive to be perceived as a separate entity. “It’s a double edged sword,” says Nathan. “There’s those out there that love Flogging Molly, and there’s those out there that hate Flogging Molly. The double-edged sword is that those who love Flogging Molly might expect The Bunny Gang to sound more like Flogging Molly, or more like a hardcore punk band if they know my background. But it’s not that at all. It’s hardcore punk in the meaning and the message, but not sonically. On the flip side, I think there are people who would really love our music, but they hear Flogging Molly and the go ‘Ah I don’t like (them), so I’m not going to like The Bunny Gang.’ They’re different, but it’s the same spirit going through it. I think real music fans will get that. You can’t please everyone, and I have no interest in trying.”

The band’s identity is growing stronger with every show, and they have no plans to slow down anytime soon. They want to continue growing, continue changing, and continue to represent their ideals through their music.

“Hopefully, though life, you evolve,” says Nathan. “You learn, you become wiser.” For The Bunny Gang, their progression will continue to coincide with the lives of the four members that make up the family and the views they wish to express to the world. services about?

SJM: When we go to see bands, we are constantly observing small things they could change to increase their appeal and get to the next level. I have been on various panels for band competitions and have seen a need for bands to get some helpful tips to improve their stage show and career.

CMB: How can you help me?

SJM: We offer music performance coaching. You make the music . . . we can offer input on how to keep the momentum moving forward.

Whether you’re an established band looking for a critique before the demo or a solo artist interested in increasing awareness and distribution, we can help. Sometimes all you need is some inspiration to head you in a new direction, give us a call. Last minute coaching for a battle of the bands competition, why not ask a past judge for some feedback?

Looking for backline or technical production? Our Corporate Event Division provides expert technical and production needs for any size venue that will fit your budget. Looking for something different? Our Voice Over Division can provide talent for recorded or live production.

Want to provide narration for a classical concert? We can help. Please feel free to call and set up an appointment with one of our qualified staff. 303 709 9962

The Manager’s Corner

by Chris Daniels

CDaniels@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

I’ve managed my own band since the 1980s and despite the amazing change in technology, success in the music business is built around some tried and true elements: great music & performance, really hard work and timing (often mistaken for luck). The book I wrote for my UCD class on artist management is called “DIY: You’re Not in it Alone” and that is exactly what you need to understand. Most artists who are recording and performing, bluegrass to DJ & EDM to rock and Hip Hop, are still trying to make ‘some’ money on the sale of those recordings. And that brings up some questions as we hit the midpoint of summer touring and band merch sales v.s. downloads and streams.

First, the obvious: No matter what the genera, sale of recorded music via brick & mortar or internet outlets for young or DIY artists is often times a measure of a few thousand, and more likely hundreds of dollars per year. And there are some staggeringly powerful studies that support the current trend of the ‘value’ of recorded music to be getting close to zero. A few quick set of numbers for your review: The ‘new kid’ on the streaming block (iTunes Radio) is currently offering independent labels $.0013 per stream.

Spotify, the ‘daddy of em’ all’ pays roughly $.0033 per stream. Pandora is fighting to have the rate it pays lowered (they are doing this by acquiring a radio station in South Dakota in order to qualify for the rate terrestrial radio gets) … but to give you an example of where they are now… Ellen Shipley, one of two songwriters of the hit “HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH,” received a check for $39 from Pandora for 3.1 million streams! In 2013 digital downloads (like Amazon or iTunes) have fallen by 2.3% for the first time since people started legally downloading… and that is a huge drop compared to the average 7% to

15% growth (or much more) digital downloads have had since their debut. Even good selling artists with great fan followings are swamped in endless sheets of 1-cent Spotify and 64-cent iTunes statements from their aggregator’s (like CD Baby). In my talks with folks involved with artists like Pomplamoose, String Cheese, Leftover Salmon and others who sell well … the checks are not large, thousands and not hundreds of thousands as in the heyday of the CD. My last album (I use the term generically) came out last summer and while I truly appreciate the monthly checks from CD Baby, BMI and SoundExchange – I make more money on my music from a months worth of summer gigs than I do selling recorded music. All these numbers are only part of the story that includes the debate over the effect of digital piracy, the ‘death of the album” and even good news like the rise in sales of vinyl in the past few years.

There is an excellent article by Sasha Frere-Jones in the July New Yorker covering all of this.

For DIY artists, summer touring merch falls into 2 basic categories (a) soft goods like t-shirts, stickers and hoodies etc. and (b) hard goods – CDs and vinyl. And as I talk with my fellow band mates traveling the circuit I am hearing the same thing over and over. This summer the sale of CDs is really dropping off at shows. Even if somebody LOVED and I mean really LOVED your show, they seem to be happier going to iTunes and downloading music directly into their computer, iPod and the like. And if they are streaming it – you get 1/3 of a cent or roughly 4-cents for my 12 song album. Fans seem to be saying it is easier than taking home a CD that they have to rip. But they WANT your music THEN … right after the show … it’s what we call an ‘impulse buy.’ They loved it and they want to own it NOW … and their busy life is going to get in the way of them remembering to download it later. So as a millennial artist what are you supposed to do? You want to turn this new interested person into a ‘super fan’ who comes to every gig and buys all your music and tells We often mistake fear for something much simpler… the unknown. For example, we don’t know the consequences of revealing who we are on a stage before friends and strangers. We question ourselves at the core of who we are because frankly, the unknown thoughts others might have regarding who we are frighten us, and we conclude that those thoughts somehow reflect and determine our worth.

Vocal Talk

by Carin Dawn

editor@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Fear. It is the distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc. – whether the threat is real or imagined.

Most of us try to avoid fear because we are uncomfortable with the emotions that accompany it and often we don’t understand it. Sometimes our experience of fear is unwarranted and at other times the genius design of “fight or flight” kicks in and recommends flight for the better.

If we examine our lives we can look back at times when we have allowed fear, and it’s instinct to flee, to make decisions for us that we now see were either foolish or based more on being unfamiliar with a situation. I’m sure that we would all agree that in those moments we would like to go back and make different choices and yet the truth is, we can’t, it is our past. Still, we allow that regret to continue to rule our present and future decisions, because we end up doubting ourselves.

I see this often in my students, with my friends and in myself. Whether you are a musician, doctor, entrepreneur, or teacher, in the pursuit of dreams we experience fear. It is why we cower and hide from the things that bring the most light and life into our being.

We want others to approve of our decision and our dreams. We want to be liked. We want others to see us perfectly in our pursuits, so we get caught up in the cycle of fear and doubt and we end up missing out on what we truly desire in this life. We cling to this perfect image that WE have conjured up for ourselves. Not what others deem perfect, but we, in our failures, mistakes, and life experience with a dysfunctional history - think is the image of “Perfect”.

So what is your image of perfect? Do you hold that same standard of perfection to your family and friends?

Do you really think the person sitting or standing next to you would describe “perfect” the same way you do?

I think it’s time to take a hard look at what we desire and allow others and ourselves the permission to be imperfect. Because in truth – nobody is perfect. Perfection only means that you are most like the thing you are trying to copy. Don’t be a copy. Be yourself. Be perfect at being you. Being “You” means that you will make mistakes, have failures, find success, try over and over, and most of the time, just partially get it right. And in the middle of being imperfect you will find that others see perfection.

Next time you begin to experience that distressing emotion, in regards to your dreams and goals, sit down with it, journal about it, mediate on it or even write a song about it. Most importantly, familiarize yourself with it, and trust your gut. That fear might end up being your best friend.

a hundred of their friends about this great new band they found.

I tell young musicians to produce a very limited number of CDs and then there are basically 2 alternative ways to go. (1) offer the sale of USBs loaded with your music (2) download cards. Both have advantages AND disadvantages. USBs can be loaded with either an individual album or a number of albums and/or videos and special features like album and poster art and liner-note booklet pdfs. You can also make them refillable so that as you record new music they can come to your booth and get all kinds of special tracks … like demos of new songs etc. It’s a very cool way to go but the drawbacks are that some fail when they get to the buyer’s home computer and there is a pretty large startup cost involved plus the maintaining time for reloading fans USBs when they want to get new stuff on their drive at gigs. Download cards are really easy and you have very little expense or start up cost (about 60 cents per card and less if you buy in bigger quantity).

They come from your aggregator like CD Baby or TuneCore or The Orchard and they all have pretty much the same program. You can get 100 cards for roughly $50 to $60 … you can sell them for whatever price you like … you don’t have to worry about them melting in the sun … you can include them in vinyl packaging so a fan can buy an album AND get the download card for free … and you can have the album art on the card. The disadvantage is that the user has to go to the site, like CD Baby, enter in the code and ‘set up an account’ … and some people hate doing that. How many other artists are on CD Baby that you will want to get ??? Hmmm good question. But that said, it’s a pretty simple and very flexible new avenue for revenue.

Last but MOST IMPORTANT: pricing and quantity. I advise other artists to keep their CDs at $10 unless it is a special limited edition package. Download cards can be set at $5 and it’s a pretty good incentive to

Musician 101 – Practice Your Ass Off by the Swami

Swami@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com Back in the 90’s when I had a developmental deal with Sony, I was privileged to have several great mentors. Then the labels still had A/R departments and would look for talented artists to sign and then “train” to be a pro. For me, I was lucky enough to have such encounters. Here in this monthly column I will share with you not only the things I learned from “the big boys” but really from the school of hard knocks and the other school of figuring out what not to do.

Each month I will pick a different topic that I think truly makes the difference between amateur and professional.

# 2: Michael Jordan wasn’t born with his basketball skills…

Spending time with the likes of Barry Fey (RIP), Chuck Morris and other notable local music stalwarts, one thing was always in common with them on what separated the amateurs from the pros…Being as good as you can at what you do.

If you are in a band, you not only owe it to yourself to practice your instrument or voice as much as possible, but to your band mates, your fans and your future. NO ONE ever became amazing at what they do out of the womb. Whether you are a prodigy or not (ok, maybe Matt Bellamy from Muse is an exception), everyone that is incredible at what they do worked extremely hard and continue to do so to be as great as they are.

August 2013 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

buy them but I think it is also totally OK to ask $10 especially if your album has more than 10 tracks.

Plus you can “package’ things – a $15 t-shirt and a $10 download card for $20. As far as quantity, I teach my students a ‘break even’ formula but you can do the math pretty easily. Right now in an average audience of fans and new people you can figure on roughly 5% to 10% will be moved enough by your performance to buy something. You can do the math but if you have a concert outside with 1500 people you will get between 50 and 100 people interested.

So look at your tour schedule, look at the venue or festival capacity and do the math and don’t order too much…it’s a bit of a science but you can get pretty good at it very fast.

Last but not least, I have not talked about ‘giving your recordings away’ or about vinyl. The reasons are simple for both. Giving out your music for free tells people that you are desperate to get the music in their hands. It’s like a teenager trying to get laid… the desperation devalues the salability. If you decide to do that … I understand…many starting artists do this to try and create fans and download cards are a cheap way to do it. But I think that if you cared enough to take the time to record your music then you should at least follow the Amanda Palmer model and ask what your perspective fan would ‘LIKE’ to pay for it…hey it worked for Radiohead. As far as vinyl, the fan who is buying vinyl is a true music lover and if you have the backing via tour support, label support or just fan support to make that happen, it’s a really lucrative medium for store owners like Paul at Twist & Shout and a number of artists. Folks that buy vinyl love music and they have chosen to add you to their record ‘collection’ and that is pretty frickin wonderful. But that takes a level of commitment that is not for this article. I hope this helps you start framing a strategy for sale of recorded music …stay tuned … this part of the artist’s world is changing fast!

Practicing doesn’t mean getting on stage on a Wednesday new talent night. It means applying yourself to your craft. Education is a must. You play guitar? Watch video lessons, read books, study your peers and icons! Learn how to play their songs!

I remember interviewing the Boulder based band Rose Hill Drive a few years back and asked them, “how many days/nights a week do you guys practice?” – Their reply: “6 sometimes 7.” No wonder they toured with The Who. You can separate yourself from the menusha of musicians by becoming great at what you do. Not only as an individual, but more importantly as a band. Raise the bar with your band mates.

Push each other. Demand it.

I ask new bands 3 questions: One – How long have you been together…Two – How many times do you practice each week…Three – What are your goals. It will pretty much tell me 90% of what the band is about.

Band A: “We been together 6 months, practice once a week, and really aren’t sure yet what are goals are.”

Success rate: 5% Band B: “We been together a year and half, practice 3-4 times a week and want to dominate the world.”

Success rate: 75+% Don’t’ be band A and embarrass yourself on stage.

Like Chuck Morris said at a music conference – “Three words of advice: PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!”

31

Adam Ranes of Casselman’s Bar & Venue

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Casselman’s Bar and Venue is located in the heart of one of the Mile High City’s fastest growing neighborhoods, and has become one of the fastest growing venues by becoming a home not only for bands to perform, but for special events and a stiff drink. Colorado Music Buzz caught up with the man and the legend down there, Adam Ranes, to get the lowdown on how he got this all going for our community and why you might just want to head on down to no-do this weekend and catch some of the action.

CMB: First things first. Let’s hear about how you got into the music scene here in Denver, and how did the idea for Casselman’s come to fruition?

AR: Casselman’s happened by accident…funny thing. I have zero background in music or entertainment. I was a commercial real estate developer in a former life before Casselman’s.

When the real estate market collapsed in October 2008, my former pool hall tenant went bust and left us with the space. I was forced into the bar business as there were no active tenant prospects in the worst economy since the great depression. My development career evaporated overnight and at the same time my brother was coming out of his line of work, so the opportunity presented itself by default. I originally built the space out for my former tenant and I always thought the space had so much character and lent itself as an alternative use venue in a new and emerging growth area of downtown Denver known as NoDo (North Downtown). So with a little bit of day dreaming, a vision, the space in hand, an existing liquor license and two ambitious brothers, Casselman’s was born.

CMB: What role do you think Casselman’s plays in the music scene here, and why do you feel it is so important?

AR: To me, Casselman’s is very communal place…...Casselman’s is place for the fans, the artist, my staff and the community……each one having a huge party that contributes to the ever changing and natural progression of the music scene. Trends, ideas, culture and a general movements change so fast. Casselman’s is a place dedicated to them and their movement!

Without all of them, Casselman’s would not exist.

CMB: Anything that you are doing that isn’t being done at the million other venues around town? It seems like you guys are carving a pretty good niche down there. . .

AR: Casselman’s is about innovating and accentuating all of the elements that make shows great….the venue, the music, the talent, the production and other elements all combined into a formula to make the best possible experience for the fan….the WOW factor! The fan-base is our niche! Instead of just turning and burning shows and taking numbers where the talent is the limiting factor to the overall excitement of any given show, we build off of that to really highlight the talent and their ability and the over show experience with well built production, side-show entertainment, live artist, awesome staff and the venue itself to make a memorable experience and long-lasting impressions for the fan…….fans want to remember the good times that had a show and we create that formula to achieve that!

best producers (I call them producers and not DJ’s) have the ability to take control of a crowd and make the entire crowd move in sync for hours. For example, Michael Menert from Pretty Lights Music created an energy that hasn’t compare to anything else I’ve seen…..on the other side of the spectrum….artists like Barrington Levy and Hieroglyphics have captured the energy of crowds and really taken them to a whole other level….in essence, it is the quality of the talent and their entertainment ability that matters and impresses me. You know quality when you see it…it’s the difference between McDonalds and Whole Foods.

CMB: What takes a live performance to the next level, making it great and not just another band playing another show?

AR: Professionalism and Production, Production, Production!! Amateurs practice until they get it right….Professionals practice until they can’t get it wrong. When you have true professionals on stage that are musically gifted or that have the ability to entertain…..they kill it all of the time!

Just ask the fans and their demand of an artist will show you who is great and who is second best. Second best is just that, second best!

CMB: What’s playing in your car right now?

AR: I live across the street and my Lamborfeeties don’t have a system…

CMB: What are your goals in the music scene? Is there anything you haven’t accomplished that you want to?

AR: My goal is to have Casselman’s throw shows and parties that people talk about for months after….bringing in top talent and accentuating on that for the overall fan experience. I want to do an exclusive, one-of-a-kind, intimate special event with Pretty Lights at Casselman’s……then I will be satisfied. That would be dope!

CMB: Where do you eat after a show?

AR: Pork Chop Dinner!! – Pete’s Kitchen…..I take the whole crew out after long nights….it’s some serious pig.

CMB: What trends are dominating Denver music right now?

AR: Event-based shows for sure!!……not just shows themselves..…anyone can go to any show….and there are 100 shows in any given week in Denver. People want the overall experience, the party, the excitement, and the talent…..it’s the perfect formula and we cook it up the best!

CMB: Any shout outs?

AR: Casselman’s fans, supporters, all of my peeps & promoters that have supported for years and affiliates are on the top of the list for sure…….My staff and Art (He steals all my Black Label out of my liquor room…)

Online: casselmans.com

CMB: What bands/artists have really impressed you lately?

AR: The electronic music movement has really impressed me because it is so dynamic and the

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August 2013 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Aug 5 Glen Martin + The Wandering @ Lost Lake Lounge Aug 6 Davey Suicide w/ The Bunny The Bear, The Defiled & Carmel Carmela @ Marquis Theater Grizzly Bear w/ Regal Degal @ The Ogden Theatre Plain White T’s w/ The Wind & The Wave @ Summit Music Hall Smith Westerns w/ Wampire @ The Bluebird Theater Wheeler Brothers w/ The Federalists @ HiDive San Cisco @The Gothic Theatre, Englewood CO Aug 7 Fierce Bad Rabbit w/ Odd Owl & Fiction is Fun @ Hi-Dive iluminado w/ Icarus The Owl, Keith Moody, Facial, Bishop & Revival @ Seventh Circle Music Collective The Dangerous Summer w/ Tommy & The High Pilots, Rare Monk, Breaking Laces & Bleach Blonde @ Marquis Theatre Alex Goot w/ Sam Tsui, King the Kid & Taking Canyon @ Bluebird Theater Tommy & The High Pilots @ Marquis Theatre Darrow Chemical Company w/ Captain Blood, Side Effects & Even Death May Die @ Seventh Circle Music Collective Aside Oceans @Lost Lake Aug 8 Inoculate w/ Inelements & Anaya @ Marquis Theatre Allout Helter w/ The Shell Corporation, Black Dots & Self-Proclaimed Narcissist @ Seventh Circle Music Collective

100 Shots Album Release Party @ Marquis Theatre

Nu:Tone and Logistics performing as NU: LOGIC @ Casselmans Bar & Venue

Motion Trap w/ Miscomunicado @ Moon Room at Summit Music Hall

Oberhofer @ Hi-Dive

Sideffect w/ Scalafrea, Inexerfy, The Deceived & Mentally Murdered @ The Gothic Theatre

American Battle Live: Bands TBA @ Casselmans Bar & Venue

Souls of Mischief @ Casselmans Bar & Venue

Douglas & The Furs @ Moon Room at Summit Music Hall

Princess Music Album Release w/ The Odobenidae Chamber Orchestra, Stelth Ulvang & Distant Correspondent @ Bluebird Theater

Kurt Vile & The Violators w/ Sonny and The Sunsets @ Bluebird Theater

Truth & Salvage Co. w/ Wes Sheffield @ Larimer Lounge

Aug 16

Wes Luna w/ Serious Moonlight, Lizzie Huffman & Skyless @ Hi-Dive Aug 10

James and the Devil w/ Digg, Ashen Embers, Zagriculture & Taylor Summer @ Herman’s Hideaway

The Dillinger Escape Plan w/ Animals as Leaders, Periphery, Norma Jean, Cattle Decapitation, The Ocean, Revocation & AEON @ The Ogden Theatre

Psychedelic Light and Sound Festival (18+) @ Larimer Lounge

Disciples w/ Lion SoulJahs, Sol Authority & Inna Di Red @ Herman’s Hideaway

Trapdoor Social w/ Syke 96 & SR3 @ Marquis Theatre

Jaspar Lepak & Janell Loes @ The Loft Music Venue & Theatre

Living Victim w/ Bottom Bracket, The Rotten Blue Menace & Good Sign @ Seventh Circle Music Collective

All Saints Day Album Release Show w/ The Wabash Cannonballs @ Moon Room at Summit Music Hall

Nemesys w/ Princess, Clara Finn & Ashfield @ Herman’s Hideaway

Combichrist w/ Nitro/Noise & Kontrolled Demolition @ Casselmans Bar & Venue

Saints Of Valory w/ My Body Sings Electric & Monroe Monroe @ Bluebird Theater

Eldren w/ The Yawpers, The Foot & Pull The Alarm @ Bluebird Theater

Summa w/ Bad Maps & Hermits @ Lion’s Lair

Jayke Orvis & The Broken Band @ Lion’s Lair

Aug 11

You Me & Apollo w/ Tumbleweed Wanderers (18+) @ Larimer Lounge

Leann Rhimes – Rocky Mountain Music Festival @ Clement Park Backyard BBQ Feat: Wuki w/ Candy Cobra, CC/NN & Lust @ Larimer Lounge

Aug 12

Cait Black w/ Robert Richmond @ Seventh Circle Music Collective

Tattooed Strings @ Eck’s Saloon

Kill Syndicate Tour Kickoff Show w/ L.O.D., Burn Down Valor, Exercation & Subsonic Fallout @ Marquis Theatre

Ragdoll w/ Stone Circle & Emerald City @ Lion’s Lair

Driftin’ Suns @ Lucky Strike Denver

Bad Weather California @ Hi-Dive

Hot Apostles CD Release of “GO” w/The Cutthroat Drifters, The Patient Zeros and Dead Pay Rent @ The HiDive

The Polyphonic Spree @ Bluebird Theater

Aug 9

Jaspar Lepak & Janell Woes @ Leon Gallery

Snake Island + Hollow Talk + dust:orbiter @ Lost Lake Lounge

Broken Couches w/ Beauty Queen, Television Generation, Big Thirsty Girl, Circles And Squares @ Herman’s Hideaway

Man Mantis doing his “audio drome” @ Lost Lake Lounge

Aug 15

Drowners @ Hi-Dive To The Wind @ Marquis Theatre Aug 14 Arise Music Festival @ Sunrise Ranch Chimaria w/ Threat Signal & The Browning @ Marquis Theatre Grizz w/ Winter Woods, Sugar Organ, VozEleven, Glitta Kings & Birdz Of A Featha @ Herman’s Hideaway

Fletcher w/ Wire Faces & Confluence @ HiDive Aug 17

Empire Americana Festival: Ryan Chrys and the Rough Cuts, Brent Loveday, Amanda Capper with Kim Ohara, Bonnie and The Clydes & Andy Palmer @ Milton Park and Battlefield Capitol Hill Music Festival : The Railbenders / Places / Take To The Oars / Birch Street / Vices I Admire / Dead Orchids / Attic Attack / Head Injuries / War Over Water / We Were Cosmonauts / Lionized / Why We Fight / Rebel Tongue / Red Fox Run / B. Sue / SF1 / Drop Switch / The Dead End Drivers / Steele & Colfax and Too Late For Tomorrow @ Stoney’s Bar and Grill, 1111 Lincoln St Denver Last Supper, Pain Machine, Darkness Within, The Dub Project @ Union Station

Leftmore Album Release Show @ Marquis Theatre El Amor w/ Hangman’s Hymnal, Oliver Bravado, Peaceful Peaches & Skull Full of Blues @ Herman’s Hideaway Leon Russell w/ Amanda Shaw @ The Gothic Theatre

Aug 22

Aug 30

Jesse Dayton w/ The Hickman-Dalton Gang @ Marquis Theatre

Ian Mahan-Neef w/ Ashtree, Maywren, Tim James @ Marquis Theatre

Something Call Nothing w/ The Apparatus & Fire Nuns @ Lion’s Lair

Petals Of Spain (16+) @ The Bluebird Theater

The Lonely Wild @ Larimer Lounge

Petals of Spain w/ Rachel and the Kings, Megan Burtt & The Cure for Love, The Lindsey Saunders Band @ Bluebird Theater

Ransom Reunion Show w/ Horse, Frank, Hollow & The Dawn Chose Orion @ Casselmans Bar & Venue

Aug 23

The Broadway EP Release w/ Cabraconda, Anchorage & Saving Verona @ Moon Room at Summit Music Hall

Akbar Sami w/ DJ Ashish B. & Murda Dance Studio @ Casselmans Bar & Venue

Aug 31

Heart and Soul Radio w/ Starcar Sunday, White Flag Raised & The Brixton Guns @ The Gothic Theatre

Wilson w/ The Greenery & American Fangs @ Marquis Theatre

Riverboat Gamblers w/ Blacklist Royals @ Moon Room at Summit Music Hall

Selah Sue w/ Bushwalla @ Bluebird Theater

Straight Outta Luck w/ American Dischord & Dogs of Prague @ Lion’s Lair

Sep 1

Andrew Stockdale (Of Wolfmother) @ Bluebird Theater Charles Bradley (18+) @ Larimer Lounge Five Iron Frenzy w/ Yellow Second & Nathan and Stephen @ The Ogden Theatre Kinetics and One Love w/ Myke Charles, Rolphy & Turner Jackson @ Hi-Dive

Whirr w/ Nothing @ Marquis Theatre

Tab Benoit @ The Gothic Theatre

O’Brother w/ Native & Daylight @ Hi-Dive

Goodie Mob: Ceelo Green, Big Gipp, Khujo & T-Mo @ The Ogden Theatre

The Goddamn Gallows w/ Calamity Cubes, Allout Helter & L.B.R.OT. @ Bluebird Theater

Sep 2

Snake Rattler Rattler Snake BBQ Feat: Bud Bronson & The Good Timers, Shady Elders & Pale Sun @ Larimer Lounge

Willie and the Po’ Boys @ Lakewood Grill

The Love Language @ Hi-Dive

Aug 24

Sep 3

Spare Parts Battle of the Bands @ The Gothic Theatre

Inoculate @ Herman’s Hideaway

Mac Lethal @ Marquis Theatre

The Protomen @ Moon Room at Summit Music Hall

Sick Puppies @ The Gothic Theatre

Aug 18

Living With Lions w/ Last Call, Stickup Kid & Landlocked @ Marquis Theatre Jaspar Lepak and Janell Loes @ The Laughing Goat Aug 19 Mustard w/ Rubedo, Cloud Catcher & The Risin’ Sun @ Herman’s Hideaway

The Gamits w/ Wiredogs (formerly The Hate), Head Injuries & Swing Hero @ Marquis Theatre Dead Floyd w/ Green River Vibe @ Bluebird Theater Seether w/ 10 Years, Eye Empire & Supermachine @ The Ogden Theatre

Geographer w/ GRMLN @ Larimer Lounge Sep 4 Jason Isbell w/ T. Hardy Morris @ Bluebird Theater Sep 5 Lisa Marie Presley @ Bluebird Theater

Rubedo w/ The Risin’ Sun, Cloud Catcher, Mustard & Dreadnought @ Herman’s Hideaway

Suspects w/ The Cattle Axe & The Work @ Lion’s Lair

Vibe Squad w/ Russ Liquid & Freddy Todd @ Casselmans Bar & Venue

My Bloody Valentine @ The Ogden Theatre

Reggie Watts @ The Gothic Theatre

Sep 6

Kopecky Family Band w/ Said The Whale & Roo & The Howl @ Larimer Lounge

Aug 25

The English Beat @ The Gothic Theatre

The Epilogues BBQ @ Larimer Lounge

Space in Time Record Release/Tour Kickoff w/ Native Daughters & Git Some @ Hi-Dive

Aug 20 FATALITY w/ BattleSpawn, Pile of Priests & Gommarah @ Moon Room at Summit Music Hall Serena Ryder w/ Lee DeWyze @ Bluebird Theater Stone Throw w/ Peanut Butter Wolf, DamFunk, Stepkids & Myron & E @ Casselmans Bar & Venue Little Comets w/ Inner Oceans @ Larimer Lounge Aug 21 Baroness w/ Royal Thunder @ Bluebird Theater

Aug 26 Castle @ Marquis Theatre Aug 27

Sep 14th

Portobello Road @ Higher Ground Music Festival

Ones to Watch Presents: Redlight King w/ Icon for Hire & Big B @ Marquis Theatre Broncho w/ Mozes and the Firstborn @ Larimer Lounge Aug 28 Poolside @ Larimer Lounge Aug 29 Matt Pond @ Marquis Theatre

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