Colorado Music Buzz Magazine June 2014

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 Kyle Christy, Chris Daniels, Angela Kerr Leah Parker, Norm Provizer, The Swami Charlie Sullivan, Tim Wenger, Tim Wintemute PHOTOGRAPHY Jordan Altergott, Miles Chrisinger, Jenn Cohen Ted Davis, Alex Geller, Sean Marquantte Ray Tollison

ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES Angela Kerr - 720-849-9697 AKerr@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com Amanda Hedgpeth - 417-622-8866 DMiller@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com Eric Frank - 762-470-2759 EFrank@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com EVENT AND MAGAZINE MARKETING Chris Murphy 720-429-8717 CMurphy@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com WEB ADVERTISING Keith Schneider 303-870-7376 Keith@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com LEGAL Stephen Replin - 303-322-7919 SReplin@ReplinRhoades.com INTERNSHIP Maddie Norton Ryan Hughes Abby Kaeser

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.

Colorado Music Buzz Magazine, LLC P.O. Box 2739, Littleton, CO 80161 Colorado Music Buzz Magazine is published monthly by Colorado Music Buzz Magazine LLC (Publisher) and distributed to over 650 locations throughout greater Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and surrounding areas.

Reproduction in any manner in whole or in part without express written consent of the Publisher is strictly prohibited. Views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher or its staff. Colorado Music Buzz Magazine LLC does not limit or discriminate based on ethnicity, gender, age, disability status, spiritual beliefs, familial status, or national origin, and does not accept editorial content or advertisements that do.

Radio Rebel Offers New Approach to Digital Music Distribution

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Pause for a moment and think about the ideal situation for distributing your music to the masses. What would you want that platform to look like, and to feature? At the top of the list, most likely, would be 100% of all proceeds. Up there as well you might also list streaming of songs and a way to connect personally with the people who buy your tunes.

Radio Rebel, founded by recent Denver transplant Stan Price, is on a mission to do those things and more through an online free-to-sell platform where musicians keep all revenue from their gross sales. Though the site has been active and populating for two years, the business model and full services will be launched at the conclusion of an indie-go-go campaign on June 18.

The site will offer artists a place to stream and sell their music, promote their shows and other news, and interact directly with what Price hopes will be a constantly growing fan base.

Time will tell if Price’s platform will be fiscally successful, but for the growing number of artists getting involved, it is purely a win-win situation.

“I got into radio in 2010 as a hobby because a friend introduced me to it by giving me a shout out online,” says Price, who had attempted to launch three business prior but had not considered radio. That friend, who was a dj at startrekradio.net, showed Price the basics of

setting up an internet station. “I started doing it for fun, as a hobby, because it was something technical that I could figure out.”

able to take all of these independent artists that I’m bringing in and put together a distribution platform.”

Originally hosting nineties top forty, his personal genre of preference, Price learned the basics of web-based broadcasting and programming through his own experimentation.

Then thinking that making some money with an internet station might be a good idea, he began brainstorming different formats and modes of operation. “I decided that one thing I’ll be able to do is go independent radio and (have) a home for musicians on my station, and have a unique sound,” says Price.

“I started figuring out where I could go.”

For the past two years, Price has been building up a media network with his radio station, gathering music from around the globe. He is currently working on an online streaming catalog and music video network. Following the re-launch of the site this summer, RadioRebel. net will provide artists the platform to sell their music online for free, keeping all proceeds, as well a place for fans to stream songs in their entirety prior to purchase.

Price had no connections in the vast world of music.

In an effort to find artists to spin on his station, he began frequenting musician’s message boards and other interactive websites like Reddit and Craigslist offering the artists free internet radio airplay. “They came to me in droves, it was a hit,” says Price. “I started building up a little catalog of musicians.”

The next step was finding a way to really stand out from other websites providing similar services. “I started thinking, ‘Who are the people who really shape the music industry and have a huge impact,’” Price says. “People who sell music. They are at the very top, they direct the music industry. Not just people who sell music, but people who distribute it. I started formulating a business plan on how I would be

frequently overshadowed by the very human attraction to the familiar. We like the familiar. In fact, our brains constantly look for patterns of familiarity. Because the familiar is the comfort food that attracts the attention of ours brains, creative music that searches for the new, rather than delivering the predictable, faces, in a very real sense, an uphill battle.

Why Jazz Matters: Track 3

by Norman Provizer

editor@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Fifty-five years ago, jazz critic Whitney Balliett published his first book of essays on the music under the title The Sound of Surprise. That simple phrase captured the essence of jazz in a way that continues to resonate five-and-a-half decades later.

After all, at the heart of jazz, there is the art of improvisation; and the core of improvisation is the ability to surprise.

Unfortunately, the rewards of surprise are

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In his book The Power of Habit, New York Times reporter Charles Duhigg provides a fascinating illustration of this from the world of popular music. The story revolves around the song “Hey Ya!” by Outkast. The record label thought this song was going to be big, an idea reinforced by a research firm based in Spain that has a program to analyze tunes to see if they had the elements of being a hit. According to the data from Hit Song Science (that had predicted the unexpected success of Norah Jones’s “Come Away with Me”), “Hey Ya!” was going to climb the charts in 2003.

That prediction, however, hit a snag. When a top-40 radio station in Philadelphia put the song in rotation, listeners started switching channels as soon as they heard “Hey Ya!” The same thing happened across the country. Listeners hated the tune that sounded so unfamiliar and switched stations when it came on.

Price is in the process of finializing the website with business partner and development guru Stan Ince. “I met (Ince) about ten months ago,” says Price.

“He heard about Radio Rebel and the free-to-sell platform that I was trying to build and he was like ‘I believe in this, I want to be a part of it, I’m a developler.’” Ince has since taken over the building of the website, under Price’s direction, a huge facelift for the site’s presentation. “I can go in there and make simple things, but he goes in and makes masterpieces. He programmed it.”

“It’s a place where music listeners and music creators can go and start a dialogue with each other,” says Price. “The main point of it is that artists can go on there, upload their music, set a cost, and 100% of the funds are sent directly to the artist’s account.” According to Price, his site is the only site in the world that is entirely free-

So, what to do? The answer that emerged was connected to the idea that some songs are “sticky” – by providing what you expect to hear they keep you listening. For example, male listeners who frequently expressed a dislike for songs by Celine Dion wouldn’t click off a station when one of her songs was on. Many listeners may have thought they disliked Dion, but her songs were familiar – they were sticky – and they stayed tuned in.

With this in mind, stations began sandwiching “Hey Ya!” in between sticky songs from Christina Aguilera, Maroon 5, Justin Timberlake and such. Before creating that sandwich, almost 27 percent of listeners to the Philly station changed stations when the Outkast song came on. Within two months after putting it in between the sticky tunes, the station switching was down to under 6 percent of the audience and the tune climbed up the charts. What had been seen as so unfamiliar became familiar.

Listening to it became a new habit.

I’m not at all sure what this might mean for jazz, “the sound of surprise,” but I do wonder what the response would be if a jazz track by Rahsaan Roland Kirk on flute was sandwiched between a song by Jethro Tull with Ian Anderson on flute

June 2014 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

to-sell. “We have no fees, we take zero percent of your cut, and you get unlimited downloads and streaming, if that’s what you want to give to your audience.”

Radio Rebel, as a for-profit business, plans on feeding its own mouth, too. In-house advertising will be one form of revenue. Bands can purchase ads to be displayed on the site to promote an album, a crowd-funding campaign, or show. Additional income will be generated through what Price calls “premium accounts.” These paid accounts, which artists can choose to purchase, will offer faster upload and download speeds. Prices for the premium accounts will be as low as $5 per month. “I’m estimating that we get 5% of our users to pay,” says Price. Users who choose not to purchase a premium account will still have access to all of the sites features and services.

His site does not ask for exclusivity, however.

Price recognizes the value of other sites such as iTunes and Amazon. “We actually encourage any band that signs up with us, go sign up with all of the other ones too,” he says. “At iTunes, they have their own loyal fan base that only buys music from iTunes. Be at all of them.

There are two different types of customersthere is customers that go to where they want to go, and then there is the customer that you can direct them where to go. Even though we are competing with these other services, it’s a symbiotic relationship and we all complement each other because the more music that we are selling online, the more power we are giving to the musician, the more the market will change.”

Online: radiorebel.net

and one by Genesis with Peter Gabriel on flute.

You may never had heard of Kirk, but Jethro Tull’s Anderson certainly did and included one of Kirk’s tunes, “Serenade to a Cuckoo,” on the group’s first album.

During June, you can check out a range of jazz sounds at the 28th edition of City Park Jazz in City Park that runs through early August. The free music is every Sunday at 6 p.m. Singer Hazel Miller kicks it off on the first Sunday in June, followed by the Lynn Baker Quartet, Ritmo Jazz Latino, a Freddy Rodriguez tribute, Gumbo Le Funque, singer SuCh, the Dave Watts Ensemble, the Dexter Payne Quintet, Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band and Chris Daniels and the Kings. At the Jazz Aspen Snowmass June Festival, there’s Trombone Shorty (June 19), Diane Krall (June 20), Steve Winwood (June 21) and Tony Bennett (June 28). At Dazzle, there are two superb trumpet players on stage with their groups on June 13-14 (Dave Douglas whose quintet has Denver-raised Rudy Royston on drums) and June 21-22 (Ambrose Akinmusire).

There’s also the duo of guitarist Charlie Hunter and drummer Scott Amendola at Dazzle on June 15. Think of giving yourself a surprise.

WoolEye, Mr. and Soul Sister, Chris LaFata Band, Kenny Lee Young, Adrienne O., The Dead End Drivers, Lost Caravan, and Jason Vigil.

Preneur of the Month BuzzPreneur of the Month of June: Bill Freud - Freud Media Productions

by Angela Kerr and Leah Parker

akerr@coloradomusicbuzz.com cfi@msudenver.edu

So how does a former IT guy find happiness?

The answer is starting his own video biz.

Yes, Bill Freud from Freud Media Productions has found his niche in using his technical skills to step up his video game.

When referencing his new life pursuit Bill states, “I am in a new pond that is both wide and deep.” We all know that is true…everyone is looking for a good company to collaborate with to produce videos as YouTube has become a prominent social media outlet for messaging.

Freud Media Productions is the umbrella company for two arenas: First a non-commercial, community s e r v i c e opportunity e n t i t l e d Far More Colorado where he is an award winning Producer of what Bill calls “oral history.”

In this forum he interviews those in Colorado who are making a difference. Bill produces in conjunction with Denver Open Media, a public access television studio that provides equipment and educates community members in developing their own original, local programming. In December 2013, Bill won the Top-Rated Denver Open Media (DOM) Show Independent Voice Award for his show Heartfelt Christmas. Bill explained that, “The DOM studios and broadcast facilities allow community programming to reach a larger

audience. My philosophy toward my work is to be as prolific as I can, putting content out there and not holding it too tightly; we’re looking to increase viewership.”

Bill’s commercial venture Far More Band Videos, LLC is both income producing and his passion that stems from his relationship with a saxophone which he played for over 10 years as well as the fact that his brother has been a lifelong concert clarinetist. Music and art being a large part of his life, he enjoys being connected to these industries. In producing music video Bill shared, “I like the fact that someone brings the music and then we collaborate on the direction of a video production.” Far More Band Videos offers “professional, affordable video recording services so that bands can make the videos they need and want.”

Bill’s recent endeavor as a sponsor for the OWN IT Music Mastermind series, a collaborative and well sponsored m o n t h l y networking event hosted

by Metropolitan State University’s CREATE MSU Denver, puts him smack in the middle of the music and art scene.

Far More Band Video’s joins the sponsorship team to bring videography as well as potential broadcasting.

For more information about Far More Band Videos, visit farmorebandvideos.com.

CA: We recorded ‘Living Asleep’ in a little town outside of El Paso, TX at ‘Sonic Ranch,’ which is a studio about a mile north of the Mexico border, a hidden oasis of creativity and tranquility. I don’t think any of us wanted to leave.

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Fierce Bad Rabbit may have moved from Fort Collins to Boston, but Colorado is still in their roots- the band will be hitting CO in support of their new EP Living Asleep this summer. CMB caught up with front man Chris Anderson about the new record, Boston, and the band’s upcoming plans.

CREATE MSU’s OWN IT Music Mastermind #4: Networking and Building Relationships—June 10, 2014

by Angela Kerr and Leah Parker

akerr@coloradomusicbuzz.com cfi@msudenver.edu

Sold out crowds have become the standard for the mastermind series, the last boasting standing room only.

Kevin Shipley, President of Music Munch Management and Tom Sailor of Winterset Concert Events had a provocative conversation about what talent buyers for large festivals do and what they focus on when looking for talent to fit their client’s needs. Kevin also shared how significant networking was to be considered for future opportunities. Additionally, he provided a hand out to the participants on determining demographics, planning, venue strategy, branding and marketing.

The Who’s Who in attendance included: Guitar Center, Colorado Case Company, MonUmental Moments, Five Rings Financial, Literati Records, and Aureus Audio.

Representatives from local performing bands included: Driftin’ Suns, Ando Gro, Kind Dub, ATP, Two Girls with Guitars, WryWood,

CMB: Where did you record the new EP, and how was the process?

Fierce Bad Rabbit Talks Moving to Boston, New Record

On June 10, 2014, we will feature “Networking and Building Relationships,” anticipating the power trio of Sarah Slaton, manager/artist development at Vinefield Agency, Anthony Casale, venue manager of AEG Live (Gothic, Ogden, Bluebird), and Tim Wenger, senior editor from Colorado Music Buzz Magazine.

I’d say the process started out uncertain; we’d been spending a lot of time apart and we all just met up in the El Paso airport and landed in this amazing studio. We had kind of an idea on what we were going to record, but a lot of it was passed back and forth via emails, iPhone recordings, and just sketches of what we thought could be a song. It turned out we had eight.

CMB: Chris, how is Boston as far as a home base for musicians?

CA: Everyone has been super nice and the community seems to be very collaborative. I have become friends with a great band out here called ‘Air Traffic Controller.’ We actually met at SXSW in 2013, but then I realized they lived in Boston and we became friends.

CMB: With members from around the country, what are some of the biggest obstacles the band is facing right now? Has getting out of FoCo helped the expansion of the band?

CA: Life happens and bands adapt around that. I’d say it has shaped our music creatively in a different way; I think it has made us more focused in ways and it has made other things harder, like just keeping up on every little thing day to day. But, we’ve been hitting it really hard for five years and it feels great to be releasing an album like this one because it felt like it just came

June 2014 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

There was so much to talk about in May’s Own It Music Mastermind that Dave Curtis from Dave Does Designs and Vices I Admire will pick up on the topic of “An Artist’s View of Branding and Marketing.” On Tuesday, July 8, 2014, expect Dave to share personal experience in designing communication and art for musicians and give pointers on how you can “Do it yourself” as well as how to seek professionals who can help you brand and market your band. The unplugged set guest artist is to be announced.

The July 8 networking event will feature a live performance from Dead End Drivers.

The Mastermind sessions are held at Metropolitan State University of Denver’s CREATE MSU Denver Showroom at 890 Auraria Parkway, Suite 120, Denver, and is broken into two segments.

7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – Videotaped Panel Discussion and Audience Interaction; Registration Required (CREATEmsudenver.com) If you are unable to participate in the panel discussion, join us for the after-party networking at IPie. 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – Networking Session at IPie in the Tivoli Student Union; Open to the Public The panel discussion is nearly full, so make sure to register for the Mastermind series at createmsudenver.com.

The Own It Music Mastermind series is sponsored by CREATE MSU Denver, Colorado Music Buzz Media, Guitar Center, Drum City Guitarland, IPie, Professional VP, Far More Band Videos, and Passion Fruit Networking Group. out of us, and that’s never happened that naturally for us.

CMB: What are the plans for the rest of the summer?

CA: We’ve got some Colorado dates, but we are going to all enjoy taking the summer a little low-key. Once the album is released, we will decide on what we want to do after that.

CMB: Is there a set date for the EP release?

CA: It’s coming out in late August.

CMB: Where can we grab the EP once it’s out?

CA: iTunes or Spotify would be the best bet, or stream it on our website.

Online: fiercebad.com

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Filthy T- Fragile

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

Filthy T is back with a vengeance. The hip-hop rock outfit has dropped the hardest hitting album of the year to date out of Denver.

Driven by punk attitude, the band raps about all things honest and relevant and backs it up with engaging harmonic backups and rock-driven instrumentation. They take rap-metal, remove the lameness, and replace it with a much more upbeat punk rock and modern hip hop fury that makes their sound appealing across genre lines.

“Since The Day” is the strongest song on the record. True, I’m a sucker for strong guitar work, but this track features more than just guitar- female vocals, for one, in addition to audio proof that Filthy T actually has talent.

“Don’t Forget” is along the same lines, minus the added female charm.

It is hard to label these guys- they take the best elements of rap and alt rock and smash them together like the eighties and nineties are happening all over again, and the end result is a breathtakingly awesome fresh style that makes you want to party like it’s 1999.

Online: facebook.com/filthyt Paa Kow- Ask

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

Something different is often so refreshing, it is hard to put into words. Such was my reaction at hearing Paa Kow’s new record Ask. Simply put, this guys can drum. Like no one I’ve ever heard. Add on top of it an eclectic mix of West-African music (Paa Kow is a native of Ghana) and island flavor and the album is nearly impossible not to like, no matter your musical preference.

Danceable and ambient, the album maintains a steady upbeat manor throughout. Hints of jazz and reggae are tossed in by way of well-placed horn lines. The record is a solid listen from start to finish, even without understanding a word he says.

Online: paakowmusic.com

CURRENT CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGNS These artists need your support to get their music here!

Cruxvae- Through Hell- Until The End

by Tim Wintemute

TWintemute@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

The Denver music scene is being taken over by Latin Metal and Cruxvae is one of these bands that are defining what Denver Metal should sound like.

Cruxvae is heavily influenced by classic metal bands, such as Iron Maiden, Sepultura, Judas Priest and Metallica; and also traditional Latin music from South America. Fans of Children of Bodom, Arch Enemy, Machine Head and Lamb of God will enjoy Cruxvae’s latest release, Through Hell-Until the End, is a true metal album filled with fast riffs, melodic guitar solos and hostile vocals.

The album, Through Hell-Until the End is an extension of Cruxvae’s high energy live shows that have become legendary within the local metal scene. Throughout the album, Cruxvae redefines Latin Metal while still paying tribute to the bands that influenced them. Each track on Through Hell-Until the End, is unique, yet the band remains loyal to their metal sound. The album also features guest appearances by two female vocalists, Diana Blanco and Sandy Morales, and also features appearances by Orlando Cardenaz of Verdugo and Scott Butler of Thousand oxen Fury.

Cruxvae’s Through Hell-Until the End, is currently available online through Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, CDbaby.com and also at Cruxvae.com.

Spies!- Watercolor Love

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

Spies! have been hard at work in the studio, and the result of their efforts is solid. The new ep, Watercolor Love, blasts from the mellow intro into a full-on charge at modern rock. The band brings back the classic sounds of nineties alternative and throw in their own unique guitar licks to top it off. Hard-driving power chords, grunge-esque vocals and a danceable feel make the record an enjoyable listen from the first play.

What stands out the most about the record is the raw, undeniable sense of pure rock.

No EDM, no modern trendy hipster antics, just straight up solid alternative rock. “Side Work” is perhaps the strongest song on the record, a very radio-friendly track with squealing lead guitar that could be played anywhere from Open Air CPR to KTCL. Online: facebook.com/drunkspies

Television Generation is raising funds for a new recordhttps://www.indiegogo.com/projects/television-generation-ep#home/share Radio Rebel is raising funds to launch their new music streaming platformhttps://www.indiegogo.com/projects/radio-rebel-a-social-music-marketplace-formusicians Swinging Noose Productions is raising money to open a new venue in North Denverhttps://www.indiegogo.com/projects/kick-the-doors-in-at-the-new-snp-venue

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AdrienneO

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

AdrienneO provides a fresh take on pop music. In a city that is rapidly becoming over-saturated with musicians, AdrienneO’s new EP Lines is a breath of fresh air. The track “Take It One Day” stands out as the song that showcases Adrienne Osborne’s vocals in the strongest light.

“Me and The Sky” is a song that takes after its name, or maybe vice versa- serving as the album’s epic ballad, this track has hints of EDM, pop and, following the mood-setting intro, even rock.

Whygyp- Forgive Us

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

Whygyp has dropped the followup to 2012’s I Need $, entitled Please Forgive Us. The fifteen tracks are a symbol to define hip hop in the Mile High City- raw, honest, and progressive.

While Whygyp brings an old-school sound with is raps, reminiscent of the revolutionary and genre-defining hip hop of the nineties, the beats on the album are something refreshingly fresh.

Kenny Lee Young

Whygyp covers the full gauntlet of life’s topics in his writing, with guests and symbiotic instrumentation providing a solid backdrop.

The focus of the tracks never leaves the wordsbrutally honest, at times harsh, and always full of emotion. The hip hop scene (like some other scenes) around here is often overplayed and full of imitators, but today we received a fresh (and much appreciated) break. At the end of the day, Whygyp is the best rapper in Denver, and it’s about time the scene had the pleasure of hearing something new.

TWenger@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

Online: http://elevationsicknessltd. bandcamp.com/album/whygyp-please-forgiveus

The band is undeniably talented, and through a few listens of this EP it is easy to notice that it’s not just Osborne’s voice that is getting them attention- the solid musical arrangements and catchy, radio-friendly pop sensibilities make for a 360 of solid presentation.

Online: facebook.com/adrienneoband

by Tim Wenger

Kenny Lee Young has brought Kit Sawyer on ship, turning his increasingly popular acoustic solo sets into a melodic duo complete with solid guitar leads, added vocal harmonization, and another pretty face to look at. The two have recently dropped new tracks. Sawyer’s lead guitar work is a strong compliment to Lee Young’s wide vocal range, creating a sound reminiscent of some of Rob Thomas’ solo work. Although their overall vibe is more upbeat than Jack Johnson, the rhythm guitar lines often bring Johnson’s style to mind as well.

The music crosses boundaries- appropriate for background in a bar or as the main focus of attention, Lee Young and Sawyer have a sound work sticking to.

Online: facebook.com/kennyleeyoung And The Black Feathers

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

In the words of Literati Records’ founder Mark Pruisner, And The Black Feathers are unique. Plenty of bands claim that in their Facebook bio, but these guys put the music where the mouth is on their new record.

Showcasing the dark side of Denver’s alt-indie scene, the tracks are danceable and dirty.

If you are familiar with The Photo Atlas and The White Stripes, And The Black Feathers is their bastard child, cut loose with solid influences and obscure melody, with a fitting harmonies as the cherry on top.

Online: andtheblackfeathers.com

June 2014 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Mike Ring & The Connection- To Your Sisters & Brothers

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ ColoradoMusicBuzz. com

Mike Ring & The Connection is one of the names currently trending out of Greeley, and their new ep To Your Sisters & Brothers speaks as to why. The album contains five tracks of upbeat, heel-kicking pop rock. Locally, I would compare them to Foxfield Four- Ring’s high vocal range drives the sound and directs the instrumentation.

“He Held Me” is the strongest track on the disc. Uptempo and very danceable, the song is radio-friendly and features firm guitar work, both acoustic and electric, but still allows Ring’s lyricism to shine through and set the mood.

Overall the record hits hard and begs to be heard.

Online: facebook.com/mikeringband

night while vibing in the studio he was able to meet local musician Cutty Ranks who was just passing through Nanook. That chance meeting resulted in an instant collaboration between the two on a track called “Rebel for Life.”

ReverbNation Featured Artists of the Month give independent acts that have not previously been featured in Colorado Music Buzz the opportunity to get on our radar, get their bio in the magazine, and get their tracks played on Music Buzz LIVE Radio on Wednesday evenings.

The artists are selected through submissions made via their ReverbNation pages.

Madam Sin Madam Sin is a Denver, CO. based band that combines rock, jazz, blues & soul elements into a unique sound which can only be described as 100% wicked.

Long time collaborators Sean Bresloff (drums) & Jon Rise (guitars) have laid down the foundation of this sound, with Shannon Fine (vocals), Brandon Stewart (horns), Sarah Mount (horns) & Ben Horton (bass) this 6 piece unit is a throwback to the Vaudeville days of soulful and accomplished musicians that collectively create beautiful & complex music that is simply beautiful to the ear.

Online: reverbnation.com/madamsin Spicy Pickle Jazz Band The beat goes only because it transcends generations. It’s instinctual.

We’re just built to swing, that’s all. This is not lost on Denver, Colorado’s Joe Smith and The Spicy Pickles. The Pickles know their musical history and they know how to dance. Prewar blues, Swing and Traditional New Orleans Jazz, it’s all preserved in the tasty brine that Joe Smith and The Spicy Pickles bring when they set their musical table. Joe Smith and The Spicy Pickles are led by trumpet player, Joe Smith. They’re much more than a dance band, The Pickles are preservationists who are helping keep the spirit of a uniquely American form of music alive.

Online: reverbnation.com/spicypicklejazzband Liver Down The River Formed in 2012 on the campus of Fort Lewis College. Liver Down the River combines the influences of bluegrass, Irish, and jam band music in original compositions and songs. Striving to create music that inspires through expanding on traditional techniques via extended improvisational jamming. Unsigned they have released one album “Solace In the Mountains” available on Sound Cloud and set to be released for major distribution this summer. Liver also plans for their first tour Winter 2014.

Online: reverbnation.com/liverdowntheriver

Patrick and Gwen McCarroll, the café is a true hangout for the musician and the music fan alike.

Java Jam Cafe Providing Service to Community in Englewood

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

The city of Englewood has a new home for live acoustic music. Java Jam Café, a coffee house and wine bar located directly across from the Swedish Medical Center’s drop off circle and next door to The Copper Pot, opened its doors late last year to provide not only a gathering place for the hospital residents, employees, and guests, but a true service to the local music community. Owned by

The McCarroll’s opened for business on December 21, and feature everything from jazz to rock five to six days a week.

They have also hosted “electronic nights” that cater to the younger EDM crowd. “People have really welcomed it, they’ve embraced it,” says Patrick, who is booked through the summer and is currently beginning to fill fall dates.

The café has everything a small venue needs, packed into the tight space. A stage and small mixing board are available. The décor touches the heart of both the musician and the music fan, featuring a large framed photo of Red Rocks Amphitheatre (“were we have always dreamed of playing,” Patrick says) all the way down to a small ceiling-bound guitar that is strummed each time the side door opens by a pick on the door’s top.

Nanook Enterprises Offers Exchange Program, Brings Musicians to Jamaica

by Tim Wintemute

TWintemute@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

For local musicians, the Colorado music scene can be a little overwhelming. The constant demand to create new music while touring, recording, working your day job, weather delays and playing regular local gigs. Local music fans can also find themselves overwhelmed and need to take a musical vacation… to Jamaica.

Nanook Enterprises of Kingston, Jamaica is looking to attract music lovers from Colorado who want to rediscover their love of music.

Joan Nanook Webley loves music and Jamaica. After earning her law degree and traveling the world a bit, Joan decided to start Nanook Enterprises. The tight knit musical community of Kingston has turned Nanook into a local music hotspot. Nanook is more than a hangout for local and international musicians in Kingston, Jamaica and Nanook have recently become known for attracting international artists looking to become inspired and connecting them to the local music scene.

In one case, members of an Australian band came to stay for three weeks. They extended that trip twice and recently moved there for a three month stay to record new material.

Nanook’s exchange program has also played a key role in connecting visiting musicians from around the world with Jamaican artists.

Naa’man from France stayed with Nanook, along with his manager, producer and camera man while recording an album locally. Nanook assisted him and his team to film a music video in the legendary Trenchtown community. One “We’ve been talking about doing a venue and coffee house for years,” says Patrick. “We sat down about nine years ago and we each drew a diagram of what we wanted to do, separately.

We put them together and it was almost identical to what we wanted.”

The building at 500 E. Hampden Ave, directly across from Swedish Medical Center, came up for sale and the McCarrol’s jumped on the opportunity. “We saw the hospital, we saw the potential for helping people with music, and we made an offer on (the space),” says Patrick.

A full calendar of events, specials, and Sunday morning brunch jam is available at the café’s Facebook page. The café sells beer and wine in addition to home-baked goods and coffee.

The Café features an eclectic lineup of events, from a monthly jazz night to a monthly hospital staff appreciation night and a weekly open mic on Thursdays, with live music almost every evening (many days feature two separate shows with different performers). It is not uncommon for hospital patients to take refuge in the café, often spending entire afternoons.

An informal song circle takes place the first Wednesday of the month, which is open to the public. Musicians interested in booking should attend an open mic night as a sort of ‘audition,’ and leave contact information with Patrick.

June 2014 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

The reggae band DubKor has made a connection in Denver thanks to the help of Nanook and their ties to Colorado. After gaining that local connection, the band was able to release and distribute their album Rastaman Riding to fans in Denver. Their Colorado connection inspired the band to connect with musicians locally and to eventually make Colorado their second home.

By day Nanook serves as a working space with a full café plus office spaces with administrative services for artists. By night, Nanook opens a large networking space that hosts cultural events, meetings, and parties. Nanook also has an onsite recording studio and hostel for traveling artists looking to record and unwind, plus Nanook has an outdoor stage that hosts regular live jam sessions, poetry readings and other music shows.

Nanook’s mission is to help Caribbean people make a living from their creativity, and to enable the world to connect with Caribbean creators and culture. Webley believes that “by promoting greater respect for our culture, there will be a return to our core values and the creation of numerous opportunities for increased economic returns. More Jamaicans will be able to enjoy a better standard of living.” Webley says “Nanook is all about facilitating our clients and making it easier for them to take their projects and potential further. We focus on creating events and activities that provide opportunities for development, networking, and international exchanges. We provide for one-stop-shop style access to entertainment and cultural goods and services from independent creators. We’ve developed a relaxed but effective approach to bringing about real connections, and we’re providing real solutions.”

If you feel you are in need to rediscover your love of music or want to experience Jamaica, contact Webley though Facebook- faebook. com/nanookonline or via email joan@ nanookonline.com.

“My plan is to have music every day,” Patrick says. “We want to be known as a go-to place for acoustic music. Now with the jazz, it’s taking off. You’d be surprised- we’ve had a four piece combo in here and the sound is amazing.” The café offers outdoor seating for those wishing to relax with a book or work on some writing, with the live music still audible when it is taking place.

People visiting hospital patients are also finding solace within walking distance thanks to the café. “It’s just so great for those of us who are sitting in those hospital rooms all day long,” says Angela Kerr, whose son is in currently under care in the hospital. “Once the patients are able to get passes, and they can come here, it’s such an exhilarating experience for them. You can’t imagine how much it means.”

“The visitors come in and tell us their progress, and finally when they get out, they come here,” says Patrick. “My vision of the place is what it is- it’s not a bar where music is an after-thought.

Music is the focus, that’s why we’re here. It’s a place to go see music and be part of it.”

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Roo and The Howl Drom Debut Full Length

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

This Ain’t No Cowtown Vol. 6 Out Now, Benefitting 7th Circle Music Collective This Ain’t No Cowtown, a Coloradobased compilation series put together by John Baxter of ZetaKayeHouse, released their sixth volume on May 20. With proceeds slated to benefit 7th Circle Music Collective (an all-ages DIY music venue located at 2935 W. 7th Ave), the comp features over 40 tracks from local musicians, comedians, and spoken work artists.

Online: thisaintnocowtown.bandcamp.com

Roo and The Howl, the brainchild of musician Bekah Wagner, dropped their debut full length album, ME/WE, on May 20, and are promoting with the release of the first single entitled “Swim.” The band also performed at SXSW in Austin, TX for the first time back in March. The release follows their 2012 EP release. Colorado Music Buzz spoke with Wagner to get the scoop on the release and the band’s summer plans.

“We recorded it in January,” said Wagner. “We recorded in four days, pretty much all live as a band.” The album will be printed on vinyl for physical purchase at shows, and will also be available through the major online retailers, with links at the band’s website.

There will be plenty of opportunities to purchase the record in person in the coming months.

“We’re playing Denver a lot this summer, and doing another Midwest tour in August,” said Wagner. “We’re not doing an official release show but we are doing listening parties.” Catch them live June 14 at Mercury Café and again July 1 at Larimer Lounge.

Online: rooandthehowl.com

Mayor Hancock Welcomes New Outdoor Music Venue to Denver On July 1 and 2, 2014, Levitt Pavilion Denver will be celebrated with two events.

The first, on July 1, will be a ticketed VIP event attended by Mayor Michael B. Hancock featuring Denver acts Alpha Schoolmarm Orchestra and Ark Life. The second event, on July 2 will be a free concert open to the public featuring the Levitt National TouringAct,Playing For Change. Both events begin at 5pm and end at 8:30pm. For More information about both events and to purchase VIP tickets visit: http://levittdenver.org/events.

About Levitt Pavilion Denver Since 2012, a visionary group of local advocates has been on a mission to build a state-of-the-art amphitheater in Ruby Hill Park. This one-of–a-kind economic revitalization project is a unique partnership between the City and County of Denver and the national non-profit Levitt Pavilions.

Lola Black- “Nothing Lasts Forever”

The Ballroom Thieves- “Brother”

CMB: Tell us about the process of making the video.

BT: We’ve been fortunate enough to make friends with the great folks over at Audiotree, and they happened to have rented this incredible mansion outside of Austin during SXSW this year. They asked us if we wanted to come by to hang out, and then the prospect of shooting a quick video was introduced. We love those guys (and girls) so we couldn’t say no. They had several cameras going, and we ran the tune a few times to get multiple angles. Then we hung out by the pool and ate homemade guacamole. If you haven’t checked out Audiotree’s product, go to audiotree.tv right now. We’ll wait with the rest of the interview while you do that.

CD: Our good buddies Mike Cook and Tyson Preyer from Negative4 Productions did all the work actually.

They came out to the Borracho Bash/ CD release for the new record at the Summit and got all the footage from that show. They honestly are so good at what the do we didn’t even notice the cameras half the time. They are also working on a documentary about the new record so really they are the ones that made the magic happen on this!

CMB: What plans?

are

your

summer

CD: Play as many shows as we can to promote the new album!!!

CMB: Where can we find your music online?

CD: Music can be found online anywhere you purchase your music.

I-tunes, Amazon, Rhapsody and all that fun stuff. We also have our own I heart radio station and are on Spotify as well.

14

CMB: Tell us about the process of making the video.

CMB: What are your summer plans?

BT: We’re spending all of June in the studio in Boston, working on our first full-length release. That’ll be a good time for us because we’re rarely home for any extended amount of time. We’re also psyched to finally get some of these new songs recorded, and our producer, Dan Cardinal, is an exceptional human, so we’re excited to be locked in an enclosed space with him for 8-10 hours every day. After that we hit the road for some festival dates in July and August. We’re looking forward to a good, if busy summer!

CMB: Where can we find your music online?

BT: You can find it at our website (ballroomthieves.com), or virtually any other place that sells or distributes music. We’re on iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon, Rhapsody, and I’m pretty sure you can now download it illegally as well. Do what you will with that information.

SEE BOTH VIDEOS AT COLORADOMUSICBUZZ.COM June 2014 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

who would go on to win last year’s competition.

by Tim Wenger photo: Sean Marquantte

A suburban karate studio, filled with animated kids and seemingly in a different world from the city streets and dark, crowded clubs that play host to so much of Denver’s rising hip hop scene is not the type of place I generally spend my Saturday mornings. But on Memorial Day weekend that is where I find myself. Sitting in the back room, drinking coffee from my canteen as I sit on a martial arts mat chatting with Chris Ezell, proud father of a nearly black belt daughter and, as it stands, the winner of Colorado Music Buzz’ Bandwagon 5 competition at the Reserve Casino Hotel in Central City.

Although an unusual situation, it feels appropriate following the whirlwind experiences that inundated Bandwagon 5 and the busy night of the finals, where six of Colorado’s top independent acts battled it out for $10,000, the cover of Colorado Music Buzz magazine, recording time from The Spot Studios, and a nice cd duplication package from Eyedea Worx. The competition saw everything, from the professionalism demonstrated by the acts in the finals all the way down to no-call noshows in the preliminary rounds. From solitary early round bus rides up to a snowy Central City in February, to casino staff panicked because an eager-to-party crew of bus riders blatantly ignored the no smoking signs onboard their bus from Denver.

Additionally, the epic night of the finals saw Ezell, who came away victorious in one of the closest final rounds the five year old competition has seen, propose to his girlfriend on stage (although off mic). For the record, she said yes, and the duo now has a comfortable sum of cash to put towards the occasion if they so choose.

His fiancée, her family and friends provided a lot of the support Ezell needed to win in the fan-driven competition, and the proposal turned out to be a bit of icing on the cake in terms of a way to thank them for getting him through the three grueling rounds. “I got engaged that night,” says Ezell. “I finished my last song, and started off by acknowledging everybody that was in the competition, because there was a lot of talent. And then I said thank you to everybody who came up to support, a lot of which were my family and friends, her family and friends. It was overwhelming, how much support we had.” He thanked a couple people specifically, his producer Kid Earth and his photographer Nicole Jacobs. “After I said thank you to them, (Kid Earth) very cleverly handed me the ring. I said thank you to her, then put the microphone down and proposed to her. “ It was what could be called a privately public proposal.

“I did it quietly, I wanted it to still be personal.”

Ezell, his new fiancée and their crew spent the night in the hotel at the Reserve, celebrating the win as well as Ezell’s birthday, which was two days later. “We had a couple drinks and hung out with everybody and enjoyed it,” Ezell says, although it hadn’t all sunk in yet. “It took me a few days before I realized what happened that night.”

The night was a roller coaster, much like Ezell’s development as an artist. He has been on and off with songwriting ever since high school and has worked both solo and as part of a group.

He performed in last year’s Bandwagon 4 with fellow Denver talent Rolphy as EZ and Rolphy, making it to round two before being knocked out. “I’ve been into music since I was little,” says Ezell. “(Age) five or six is when I first picked up a guitar. It wasn’t until I was ten or so that I was first exposed to hip hop.” Ezell’s first rhymes were written with a friend up the street while listening to Snoop Dogg, with his high school years bringing the first experiences with free styling in front of others.

Ezell moved to Gunnison to attend school at Western State College after finishing high school and continued to work on music in his free time. “My second year of college I decided to get into a rap battle that my college did,” Ezell explains. “I won that, and that’s when I started writing a little more seriously.” He recorded some songs at a local radio station’s studio, his first real go at recording his work. Life happened, however, and forced Ezell to put his writing on hold temporarily.

“I stopped writing for a few years until after my daughter was born,” Ezell says. “Once her mother and I split up I wrote a song, and that reintroduced me to music again.” The song eventually became Ezell’s first music video.

“Then I took another break for a short period of time. And then I hooked up with a couple other local artists and started writing with them, performed with them for about a year.”

After that faded out, Ezell agan fell off the gigging scene, until the woman who is now his fiancée expressed interest in seeing him perform. “I decided then that I’d sign up for the Bandwagon again,” Ezell says, having been knocked out of Bandwagon 4 while performing with Rolphy by Fort Collins based rapper Qbala,

Ezell brought four new songs to the competition this year, in addition to previous material.

He also dropped his previous moniker, EZ, in favor of using his full name, since he is working solo now and his songs are an extension of himself. “I decided no gimmicks, no nothing, I’m just going to be me now,” says Ezell. “I decided to go with my name and write more personal music because I’m not really in to the club and party scene.

I like to tell real life stories and talk about what I’m in to, maybe somebody can relate to it and be inspired by it.”

Coming out on top is an ultimate high, but a multi-round battle of the bands like Bandwagon 5 is a lot of work and can be an emotional roller coaster. Ezell definitely experienced some low points during the four months of involvement. “Barely squeaking by that first round,” he says. “Honestly, I probably should have pushed it a little harder. When I first jumped in it, I was just doing it so that (my fiancée) could see me perform. After that first round, we both got really excited.”

Another challenge, though, was hearing the reactions from fans of some of the other artists in the competition. “I think the lowest point was probably some of the things I heard after winning,” he says. That’s part of what happens, if something goes well for you you’re going to hear some negative things. I’ve heard some stuff about me that I didn’t know. It doesn’t bother me. I had a lot of people that showed up, the other artists had a lot of people that showed up. It could have gone any way, I’m lucky I had enough votes to get there. I got a lot of respect for everybody that was on the stage that night.

Jack and Jill, fantastic. Everybody was super talented. I lost last year in the second round. I’m not gonna say nothing bad.”

The studio time from The Spot Studios will be used to record a full length album. “I’m hoping anywhere between twelve and sixteen tracks I’ll put out,” Ezell says. He will use the cd duplication package from Eyedea Worx to print the album. “I really need to put one out, I’ve been talking about it for years.” Having a kid and stuff makes it a little difficult to put a lot of time into something like that, (my daughter) always comes first.”

As far as the songs that will be on the record, they are all deeply personal. “I like writing songs with real life emotions,” Ezell says. “I like to tell stories. I would say that my style is unique in a sense that it’s kind of like hip hop and rap, it’s conscious and catchy. I like to fuse the two together, but I like the meaning behind everything to carry a lot of emotion. I want it to be something that can be remembered afterward.”

A positive attitude is huge in the music world, and Ezell has got that down pat. He looks forward to what lies ahead of him as an artist and hopes to collaborate with other Colorado talent. “I’m definitely interested in working with lots of different artists in Colorado,” says Ezell.

“I think that we kinda need to work together. It’s so subjective, everybody’s got a different talent and a different fan base. The only way we are all gonna get heard is to work together.”

Online: facebook.com/3e.entertainment

The Lyric: Kristina Murray’s “Half Empty”

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Kristina Murray submitted her song “Half Empty” for The Lyric, and we were taken aback by the eloquently poised and introspective lyrics. They left us wanting to know more about what she was channeling when writing the song, and get the story on her music background while we’re at it as well. Here is the story, straight from the horse’s mouth.

CMB: Give us the lowdown on the lyrics.

Is this a heartbreak song? Also, was it written while you were on the road?

KM: The song is one of the more autobiographical songs I’ve written, but it’s vague and covered up enough that you likely wouldn’t know it was personal unless I told you…and I guess I’m tellin you now! It could, to the outside ear, really just sound like a mirage of images. I mention my dog and her tuxedo-like fur coat (“Little girl’s got her Sunday suit on”), the van my boyfriend and I used to drive (“Townes”), and the guitar I used to play (“Ol’ Boy’s broke, got a short work crack”), in addition to describing myself a little bit (“Mama’s got the sweet tea”; “she got her daddy’s taste for a Louisiana life, cold sweatin beer, loose Friday night;” “spend all my money ‘fore I even get a dime.” ) People might think that “Louisiana” is a reference to the state, but I’m actually from Georgia, and that line references the hot sauce that my dad always put on his coleslaw.

I wouldn’t say ‘Half Empty’ is so much a “heartbreak” song as it is a “that’s just the way shit is” song. I started writing it when I was on vacation a couple years ago in South Carolina; the original page is all windblown and smells like the beach still. I finished the song after a gig I had in Boulder: we got off stage at our set break and a person Draggin’ my gear in and outta Townes Comin up short tryin to sell my sound Little girl’s got her Sunday suit on now Daddy’s boots long done hit the town, hit the town Two tone Chevy, bring ‘er round back That ol’ boy’s broke, got a short work crack Rock n roll playin on the radio Mama got the sweet tea down to her soul, to her soul Chorus: And the only time you kiss me Is when the bottle’s half empty At the time of this writing You said, “the whole world’s out to get me.”

She got her daddy’s taste for a Louisiana life Cold sweatin beer, loose Friday night Pulling two damn triggers, at one damn time Spend all my money ‘fore I even get a dime, get a dime You get your peace, I don’t get my dissent It sure sounds like you be given me shit Rock n roll playin on the radio Runnin on fumes got nowhere to go, nowhere to go

in the crowd came up and said, “You sound really great, but you should [fix this, fix that, etc, etc.].” And I thought …“Everyone’s a fucking critic!”…and then that became an original lyric, which I later took out before recording.

I added, instead, “That ain’t country music” because we often get people that complain that I lean to heavy on rock music, or rock n rollers that think I am “too country.” That line also mocks the ongoing—and somewhat hilariously ridiculous—feud within the greater Americana music umbrella of “is that REAL country music?”

CMB: What else do people need to know about the song itself?

KM: The song has some of my favorite slide guitar work and harmony vocals of the whole record. It was partially inspired by the song ‘Jemima Surrender’.

CMB: What does the songwriting process look like for you? How do you get motivated, and what are you channeling when you write?

KM: There doesn’t seem to be a specific method that works; a lot of stuff doesn’t work, like sitting down with a blank page and pen. I carry a small notebook with me and, often, a line or lyric idea will pop in my head, or someone will say something and put it in a way that is just so…and I’ll jot it down and come back to it, hopefully get some creative spark from it. I definitely look at songwriting as a muscle, the more I practice and get out those really terrible songs, the better the final, filtered product is. Usually words and lyrics come first, then music and melody. I’ve had a bit of luck with cowriting and hope to do more of it in the future. As far as channeling anything?

I think I just try to speak in my songs in a way that is honest and true to myself or how people I love, admire, and write about speak or would speak.

CMB: Is there an overall message to your music?

KM: No “overall” message; people can take what they will from it. Songwriters are just conduits for the song: songs are meant to be interpreted and taken as they will from the listening public. I think if you listen to the album in full or come see a show, you’d hear a general thread that weaves through my music and the covers I choose and play. It’s definitely Americana music: country with an obvious rock influence and vice versa.

CMB: Where can we find your music online?

KM: Kristinamurray.com has all the links to where you can listen to and purchase my recently release debut album, Unravelin’. I’m on iTunes, CDBaby, Amazon, and Bandcamp.

You can find me on social media, too: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram!

King Rat on Their Highs, Lows, and Staying True After 20 Years

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

In today’s world of shortened attention spans and all-angle attacks on the central nervous system, keeping a band going for twenty years is a commendable feat. Even more so, perhaps, when the group is a punk rock band known for chaotic tours, wild live performances and politically incorrect (but very socially conscious) lyrics. This month, Denver punkers King Rat will learn what that milestone feels like and they will be celebrating their birthday with beers, cheers, and probably even a few jeers thrown in for good taste.

A whirlwind of a weekend-long party is how King Rat plans to throw down, with shenanigans taking place at 3 Kings Tavern June 27th & 28th. Featuring live performances from a timetraveling gamut of Colorado’s nefarious punk rock scene, the entire event will be recorded for a live album to be released in the fall. Wreck Like Me, a Fort Collins punk outfit who carried the Colorado scene’s torch during their heyday in the late nineties and were supported by Bill Stevenson (Descendents, ALL, Blasting Room), will be reuniting for the event and kicking off the party on Friday night before King Rat takes the stage.

“The first night, we’re going to play two sets,” says bassist Mike Makkay. “We’re going to pick the best dozen or so tracks off a 30 song set.” Songs that turn out overly sloppy, or otherwise disenfranchised from the flawless precision of live-performance mastery that King Rat has become known for over the course of two decades will end up on the cutting room floor. “Probably the ones right in the middle (will be chosen), once we’re relaxed but not too hammered yet, because the shots will be flowing.” Rev. Jim Norris of 3 Kings Tavern will be handling the release of the live record.

The release, set to be pressed on vinyl, will a double-sided release with the sets from Friday night on side one and the guest performers from Saturday night on side two. “There’s twelve Denver bands EACH doing short sets,” says Makkay. “One of the songs in their set will be an old King Rat song.” The band hopes to have 12 inch vinyl records available in October.

King Rat also plans to drop their new album the weekend of the party, having it available for fans who attend.

Norris had the idea for the weekend, and approached King Rat front man Luke Schmaltz. “I saw Jim the first week of January of this year and he asked me, ‘This is 20 years for King Rat isn’t it?’” says Schmaltz.

“I said ‘Yeah, it is.’ He goes ‘Can I put together an event? Just give me the green light to run with it, you don’t have to do anything except show up and play.’”

The current lineup in King Rat has been

June 2014 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

together for over ten years and is happy for the reason to celebrate. “There was a pattern where every time we’d put out a record, we’d lose a member,” says Schmaltz. “It was always inconsistent. Here’s the record you sell someone, they look at the back of the record where there’s a photo of the band, and then they look at the band. . .”

Their album Duck Tape & Dreams, released in 2006, was the first record with the current lineup. “What’s ironic about that is that there’s no band photo on that one.”

Although the current lineup has been together for quite a while, the guys still remember the feeling of many of the band’s “firsts, including some extravagant tour recollections. “Mike’s first tour was pretty epic,” says Schmaltz. “He went from being a homebody married dude to being a dude in a notorious punk rock band that was blazing a trail. He hadn’t really ever been out on the road, we were really into overindulging on a nightly basis but he put us all to shame.”

Over the years, King Rat has opened for legendary punk bands such as Rancid and Bad Religion. “Rancid was cool, it turns out that they requested us as an opener,” says Schmaltz.

“They also turned out to be the way you want your heroes to be when you meet them,” says guitarist Anthony Delilli. “They were like, ‘Drink what you want, eat what you want,’ and (left) a free bag of merch on the table when we finished sound check.” Delilli, it what has turned into a tradition, was stoked to get a permanent memorial of the evening stamped on his body, a permanent memoir he has done many times over the years. He now has a pretty solid collection of logos on one of his legs. “Every time we play with one of my heroes I get (their logo) tattooed over my King Rat tattoo.”

Delilli also has a now-humorous memory from his first tour with King Rat. “I joined the band to go on the tour,” he says. “Pockets (drummer Doug Hopper) wasn’t in the band yet, but we were touring with his band that he was in at the time. I was 23 years old and I was like, ‘What the fuck did I get myself into!’ One show in Indiana, we were probably twenty minutes late because of traffic and the promoter pulled the show on us. All of a sudden I see Luke get right in this guy’s face, like ‘What the fuck man do you know what it’s like to tour? I outta kick your ass right now!’ and I was like, damn I don’t know if I can keep up with these guys, but twelve years later, it’s the best time of my life, that’s for sure.”

Through all of the humor, partying and fun times, however, King Rat has also been through some trenches.

Personal struggles and relationships are an issue for just about every gigging musician putting massive amounts of time into their craft, but when you spend two decades working at something while still trying to maintain your life outside of it, low points are inevitable.

“Pockets took a job that was taking him out of town,” says Schmaltz. “He basically had to step out of the band and it was kind of agreed that when he was finished with his apprenticeship in Utah he would come back.” The band recruited a drummer from fellow Denver SEE “KING RAT” ON PAGE 29

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beats etc. for weeks, months and even years until the right circumstances bring it all forward.

The sources may be a break up with a lover or a long road trip…it doesn’t matter. The point I want to drive home is that every songwriter I’ve ever met has a process and when they respect that, develop it and nurture it they produce their best work.

The Manager’s Corner

by Chris Daniels

CDaniels@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Even though I’ve managed my own band for 30 years, I’m in the Colorado Music Hall of Fame and I’ve produced more than 20 albums, the business of music is changing at light-speed.

It takes working harder than ever to break through all the noise. Success is still built on some tried and true elements: great music & performance, really hard work and the luck of timing. The book I wrote for my classes at CU Denver on artist management is called DIY: You’re Not in it Alone. In the 21st Century you are ultimately responsible for your career, but there is a lot of help out there you can tap into.

Joni Mitchell sang, “…stoking the star maker machinery behind the popular song.” That probably said it better than any other phrase.

Not all careers are based on the strength of the songwriting in the project. Bonnie Raitt, Michael Buble, Britney Spears and a whole host of others have ridden to stardom on the songwriting of others. But for each it was the strength of the tunes they covered that propelled their careers.

The Swedish born Max Martin was the power behind a number of Back Street Boys hits and the iconic “Oops I Did It Again.”

And yes, there are any number of artists, from the Grateful Dead to Pretty Lights to Phish, who’s “top 10 chart hits” can be counted on one hand or are nonexistent. They have had huge careers without that elusive radio hit but their success WAS driven by the power of their music. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis built an independent following and then found that one song that was a ‘break out hit’ - this year they won two Grammys for “Thrift Shop.”

So, what can a manager (or a DIY artist who is self-managed) do to promote the best quality work and the greatest quantity of usable songs? There are several rules or practices that songwriting courses and songwriting books tend to promote. I break them down into four specific guidelines that seem to work for me, and songwriters I know and respect. They are (1) know and respect your process (2) unplug from interruptions (3) store and catalogue ideas (4) never stop studying the craft.

First, every songwriter or EDM track producer or film/TV score writer I’ve ever met has a ‘personal process’ that works best for their maximum output of the best material. Some, like John Hiatt, Russell Smith, Tommy Wiggins and others seem to write everyday of the week.

They are constantly working on lyrics, chords, ideas and concepts. Others like Bill Payne (Little Feat), David Bromberg and many more collect ideas, lyric snippets, guitar riffs, drum

Second, I would guess that there are some who can stay in the middle of their multi-tasking life and write, but I haven’t met them yet. The successful songwriter needs a place where the cellphone can’t reach them, the kids and spouse are gone and there will be no interruptions for a period of at least an hour or more. Some have a ‘man cave’ studio, others a cabin in the hills or just a bedroom door and garage band loops. I don’t care where it is or how you make it happen, unplug in the way that nurtures your writing. Do it as often as you can … even if the idea is shit when you listen to it later … there may be one part of the lick or lyric or groove that you end up using in another tune later.

Third, capture the ideas and store them. That sounds easy and like a no-brainer but I can honestly say that I have forgotten more good ideas than I have actual completed songs registered with my PRO. And some of those were really good ideas if I could only remember what the heck they were. Your cellphone, your garage band, your Pro Tools rig on your tablet, your pencil and bar napkin – whatever is your fastest and best method of capturing ALL your ideas …finished and unfinished… are your most powerful gift to your development as a songwriter. This is your ‘bank’ where ideas that may seem stupid will come out two years later as the exact right lyric or lick that is needed.

Some people have to produce those tracks in full, others get them down as basic scratch tracks. My goal, whenever I write something is to capture at least some kind of minimal performance of the song so I can listen to it back later and develop it further. I encourage you to find a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) or program that you can use without having to spend a ton of time programming. Whether it is Ableton or Digital Performer, Garage Band, or Pro Tools … make it so the technology is secondary to your creative process. Once you have that system, make sure that you find ways to save and catalogue the ideas. It can be a file folder on your desktop, SoundCloud or your hard drive. Back it up. Remember what Todd Rundgren said, (or is purported to have said) “digital data doesn’t exist at all unless it exists in at least three places!”

Last but not least, study the craft. Whether you take a poetry class, a beats writing seminar or you just learn how tunes are put together.

Taking apart favorite tunes that are great … learn the mechanics of great song writing. Some of this is silly and funny. I strongly recommend you watch the Axes of Awesome’s YouTube song on the 4-chords that make up about 90% of our current hit songs. BUT DO MORE! YouTube is an amazing tool for studying song craft. Over the past three weeks I have spent time learning the exact guitar riffs for songs as varied as James Taylor’s “Secret of Life” and the banjo parts for John Hartford’s “Gentle On My Mind.” I’ve also found videos for new Prince songs, great explanations of how to expand my loop writing and a few more gems that are kicking my butt when it comes to songwriting.

Even if you set out to write an exact copy of a great tune … you are going to sound different.

So anything you can do to shake up your world is crucial to your craft. Learn how others constructed their hit songs and staring your own.

Drum City Guitarland Product Review: Past Reborn

goal was to achieve and old world look and sound being sought after by so many artists today,” says Paul Francis, Zildjian Director of Research and Development.

editor@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Drum City Guitarland has every size in stock today. We had one customer drive four hours the day they released April 14th to purchase their Dark, Rich, and Complex Kerope’s. You can see and hear a great demonstration of this

by Paul Francis at http://www.drumforum.org/ index.php?/topic/93737-new-zildjian-k-keropeline/. Nothing is better than seeing and hearing some in person though. Stop in at Drum City Guitarland today.

by Kyle Christy

As drummers we’re always looking for that sound! Finding a cymbal has to be one of the most complex/tedious adventures for a drummer. Avedis Zildjian has brought a sound back in the metals we hit that are reminiscent of the 50’s and 60’s sounds but, with a relevant modern music tonality. “KEROPE SERIES” Kerope is named in honor of Kerope Zildijain, a man that presided over one of the most storied periods in the Zildjian history. This line has a dark, rich and complex style. With sizes consisting of 14” and 15” Hats, 18” and 19” crash/rides, 20”and 22” rides. Zildjian had the help of Zach Danzinger, a New York based drummer. The goal in mind was to creat a new line that would capture the authentic feel, look, and sound of the K Zildjian cymbal line.

Known for their rich, dark tones and olde world appearance. Zildjian went to the vault to draw inspiration from the Past’s very best crafted cymbals. “We carefully studied every nuance of decades-old cymbals. Their bells, profiles, hammering, lathing, tapers, and weights. Our

Musician 101 – Round 11 – College Radio? 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.

How to get your music on college radio.

Getting your music on college radio is paramount, especially for the indie/touring band. First off, whether it’s a radio station run by one student or a faculty run station, be sure they are a station that reports to CMJ (CMJ. com). Promoters watch with keen eyes the CMJ’s popular Top 200 College Radio chart, which is published weekly. These Top 200 charts are compiled each week from all of the individual reporting stations’ Top 30 charts. If you’re going to promote your record nationally at college radio, focusing on the stations that report to CMJ! Getting radio play is the next tricky area.

Simply said, it’s your music that will get you airplay. It’s got to be good and radio-worthy

June 2014 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

(typically under 4 minutes and hooky as hell).

The real trick is how to get the music director to consider you. Many artists who push the college radio circuit use services such as Team Clarmont (teamclarmont.com) or Tinderbox (search it). These type of organizations already have the relationships with the directors of the CMJ reporting stations and can properly and professionally solicit you.

So once you’ve identified a station’s music director, how do you get your track into rotation?

The first step – figure out when you’re going to release your record to radio. Typically stations new release day is almost always Tuesdays.

Mail physical CDs and one-sheets to the stations about two weeks in advance of the add date. This way the station has time to review and go over position of your music.

When your add date comes around, you, your promoter or label can start tracking the record’s progress to find out how much it’s being spun, and whether stations are adding it or not. Remember that stations can spin in different rotations (they like it a little or lot!), so the amount of play may vary station to station.

It’s still a discretionary piece…hopefully the director seriously likes your music.

Remember, you need to hit up quite a few CMJ stations to even consider charting on the top 200. Following up with the music director won’t hurt either- they are extremely busy and receive many submissions, so make sure they see yours. You can do it – just keep in mind that you must have a worthy song in the first place!

Got a question or a topic to cover? Hit me up Swami@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

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VapeWize Steps Into Music Scene, Sponsors Driftin’ Suns editor@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Moses Jones, Livin’ The Dream

to hear,” says Jones. “I want people to hear his music and I want them to hear my music, I don’t want to die with my music still in me.”

CSullivan@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Jones has surrounded himself with some great musicians and has already taken the solo act public.

by Charlie Sullivan

Moses Jones (multi-instrumentalist, writer, lyricist), front man of the new Moses Jones Band, The Moses Jones Quartet, and The Mix Masters, is also goin’ solo. All things said he loves working with the twelve piece cover act, the quartet, and the mix band but he also needs to follow his dream. Jones has been busy in the studio and on May 23rd released his solo debut Legendary. He’ll be kicking down the doors at local venues with his R&B, soul, and jazz/funk.

The man aspires to play his music and after listening to what he laid down he nailed it.

“I have a great backing band,” says Jones.

“They know how to put it out there and they feel the music like I do.” The Moses Jones Band is a fun act to see but now Jones wants you to hear his music. He wants to bring back that old school R&B/soul/funk sound with a contemporary twist. “ Nobody does love songs anymore,” states Jones. “We need more music like that, music that makes you feel good, lifts you up.”

One of the pieces featured on the album was written by Jones’ dad. The name of the song is “Walk This Road Alone”, a catchy upbeat delta blues piece that swings. Jones needs to troll his Dad’s treasure chest and pull a few more of these gems out, what a great song.

“My dad was a musician and he kicked his ass that he never put his music out there for people

“The CD release shows at the Walnut Room were great,” says Jones. “It’s hard for people to just sit still when we start jamming, my music moves you.”

Jones loves performing, something he picked up from his Dad. In the process he’s developed work ethic that keeps him tied up in the studio rehearsing and performing locally with one of his three active bands and now a solo career.

Jones solo music takes you back to a different time, its light feel good music; nothing dark here. You can’t help but put on your groove when his band starts playing. The band lights it up, heats up, the horns kick in, and Jones is smilin’ from ear to ear. He loves it, he’s in his realm!!

Sitting in with Jones the one thing I’m clear on is if the msics not good, if it’s not rehearsed and polished, it’s not going to hit the streets. The listeners get priority there’s no garbage here.

The man is truly livin’ his dream, performing regularly, and sharing it all. Check out his web page for upcoming shows.

VapeWize was started out of passion from Shaune and Sarah Walter because Personal Vaporizers finally allowed them to kick the butt. On the evening of January 15, 2014, they bought their first Vape Pens their combustible cigarettes became a thing of the past and they never looked back.

Shaune was studying for his Phar.D. was very interested in the molecules that were in the E-liquid. After many conversations with Biology and Chemistry professors, Shaune to determine vaping to be an excellent alternative to traditional cigarettes and decided to share Sarah’s dream of opening a Vape Shop.

So what sets VapeWize apart from the competition?

VapeWize slogan is “Make the Switch”. Their Make the Switch Program rewards customers who switch to vaping from combustible cigarettes. Three milestones are recognized; 3 months, 6 months and a year after someone pledges.

Exemplary customer service is a trademark for VapeWize. Originating from owners who care about their customers, VapeWize believes customer service is a defining factor that sets them apart from their competition. With roots in customer service and passion for their customers, VapeWize values include Educate First and Sell Second mixed with honesty and integrity. With an industry in its infancy and growing exponentially, VapeWize makes sure everyone is comfortable and fully understands

“Don’t tell us the sky is the limit when there are footsteps on the moon.

Online: mosesjones.net

Lyric House is a boutique music publishing & licensing company focused in song placement, sync licensing, artist development and royalty administration. For more information or to submit material, please feel free to contact us at Info@LyricHouseco.com. Listed here are the company’s placements during the month of May.

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June 2014 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

their products before they walk out the door – and this includes authentic hardware priced competitively.

Both Sarah and Shaune are experienced in the service industry. VapeWize therefore acknowledges the hardships people can endure in a job where they rely on tips as their main form of income.

Therefore VapeWize offers a 10% discount on hardware for tipped employees.

This discount excludes MODS and MOD accessories.

VapeWize realizes that working an industry that relies primarily on tips can be very challenging and this is another way for VapeWize to help those in industry. A paystub showing you are a tipped employee gets you the discount.

As with most Vape Shops, VapeWize has a frequent E-liquid buyer program. They offer their boutique of flavors for taste testing as well as offer an in shop test of their personally built hardware so people can make an informed decision about their purchase.

VapeWize would like to grow with the community and will strive to offer only the best experiences and the best products possible. Effective May 2014, VapeWize is an official sponsor for The Driftin’ Suns. As a celebration of the Sponsorship, VapeWize is offering referrals from the Driftin’ Suns a free Black Label ELiquid. Bring your concert ticket, handbill, flyer or this ad into VapeWize as proof of referral!

VapeWize 10815 W. Jewell Ave ● Lakewood, CO 80232 ● 303-350-7077 ● www.vapewize. net -Acura uses Kye Kye’s “Broke” in their new Web ad.

-Verizon Fios uses Fire In The Hamptons’ “Only Words” in their national TV campaign.

-Mastercard uses Austin Plaines “Your Love” in their national golf campaign.

-MTV’s Awkward will feature Fire In The Hamptons’ “Humanimal” in Episode 409.

-VH1’s Hit The Floor will feature Rhema Soul’s “Punch You In The Face” in an on camera dance routine. Airs August 4th.

-The Season 3 premier of Black Ink Crew on VH1 will feature “Dr. Jekyll” by Pries.

-The Reel’s song “Don’t Fall” will be featured in the French/Canadian movie Mommy.

-“Never Stop” by “GUNFNGR” will be featuring in the upcoming indie horror movie Prom Ride.

John Lindsay From Hard Rock Cafe Denver

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

John Lindsay is a man of many talents.

When it comes to the music business, he has pretty much done it all, from working at Warner Brothers Records to being a session musician. His current gig as Senior Sales and Marketing Director at the Hard Rock Café in Denver has given him the opportunity to help the company bring their image back to live music and has given Denver bands another solid venue to play, right in the heart of the city.

His words here not only demonstrate that hard work pays off, but that there is still some good and humble people running the show, eager for the next great up and coming band to cross their path. Colorado Music Buzz spoke with this music biz veteran about his time in the industry.

CMB: Let’s start at the beginning.

How did you get into music?

JL: I’ve been really fortunate to know all my life what I’ve wanted to do. From a really young age I knew that all I wanted to do was play or be around music. Throughout my life, music has always been the center point, whether it was studying music, playing music, working for a label, teaching, promoting, booking bands and artists or what I do now at Hard Rock.

CMB: Give us the story of you as a musician.

JL: I started playing drums in grade school. My cousin was a big KISS fan and I remember hearing KISS Alive and Peter Criss’s drum solo on “100,000 Years.” Then I saw them on TV and said “I want to do that.” My parents supported me and got me drum lessons with a great teacher, starting with a little practice pad, working on my rudiments, etc. and then gradually got a drum kit piece by piece. In 8th grade we moved to Texas where the high school music program was insane. All of a sudden I was thrown into this crazy scene with a 500+ marching band, multiple stage/ jazz bands, concert bands and outside “KING RAT” FROM PAGE 28 band Dr. Neptune to fill in, but the groove was not up to par. “I was feeling like, you know, it just isn’t the same without Pockets. So, maybe we’ll play a little bit with this dude, but I’d almost rather just sit it out.”

Pockets returned shortly, however, after realizing that the job opportunity wasn’t what he wanted. “He decided to step away from that opportunity, which to us was bittersweet because he didn’t get to have that career, but at the same time we got to resume our career,” says Schmaltz.

“It wasn’t anything to do with (the fill in drummer), he was great, but Pockets was the last one of us to join the band and when he joined, it brought such a new life, it was a perfect fit all the way around,” says Delilli.

Once Pockets returned, the band got back into its rhythm, unbeknownst to Schmaltz’ personal struggle that would lie ahead.

In what proved to be the biggest obstacle King Rat has had to overcome, Schmaltz split from his wife seven years ago. “I got divorced

groups. I met up with an amazing teacher and I was off to the races. He turned me on to so much music and challenged me. That’s when I first heard “Moving Pictures” by Rush and my whole world changed. I became a huge fan of Rush and “progressive rock ” and would spend hours every day playing Rush, Asia, ELP, The Police, Yes, Genesis and others. I even had a Rush cover band I played with in high school!

After high school I had every intention of moving to LA and “making it big.” I was accepted to the Musicians Institute, visited the school and was ready to pack my bags and go. My parents, seeing how naïve and young I was, asked me to give it a year closer to home at a junior college before heading west. I’m so glad they convinced me as I would have been eaten alive at such a young age in LA! Instead, after a year at a junior college, I got a music scholarship to East Texas State and was able to spend 4 years studying with Dr. Robert Houston. He kicked my ass and was no nonsense! He was head of the music department, then dean, then vice president of the university. I was his only student towards the end and either I came prepared to my lessons or he would just leave and tell me not to waste his time. I learned so much from him, not only how to play but how to be a professional. I got my degree and then was accepted to Berklee College of Music in Boston. I went in as a strong rock player, but had limited jazz/Latin chops. That first year was brutal as all I wanted to do was rock out, but instead was playing in jazz trios and studying composition! But, after I had that first year under my belt, I was able to study with some great teachers, hone my skills and play with some amazing

musicians. After Berklee, I moved to Dallas and was a regular session guy playing everything from rock, to country, to smooth jazz to big bands. I moved to Colorado 17 years ago and continued to do session work, playing festivals, clubs…even the Broadmoor as well as teaching privately. My current project is the band Mythica, a great Celtic Fusion band, when we’re all in the same place at the same time!

in 2007,” says Schmaltz. “That just about destroyed all of us. The three of these guys basically got me through that. I didn’t have a support group here as far as family goes. My brother and sister were both getting divorced that year too, so they were absolutely no help.

The three of these dudes pretty much propped me up and helped me through it and I finally got my head out of my ass after six, seven, eight months of being a complete piece of shit.

That was a really rough one for us, but we got through that.”

it comes to getting gigs. “Nowadays, it’s a bit easier, just because of the whole sheer sticking around factor. We just never went away, and that’s what gets us gigs now.”

“That was probably the most trying, emotionally,” says Delilli.

Punk rock, like the four guys in King Rat, has also been through its ups and downs, and has evolved into an entirely different creature over the last twenty years. The guys have been through many waves, outlasted a number of bad trends, and according to them, have come out all the better for it. “Punk rock has kind of been going downhill ever since the nineties,” says Makkay. For bands that have stuck around and weathered the storm, however, the hard work and longevity are starting to pay off when

CMB: I heard you were on tour with Rush? I bet that was crazy.

JL: It was such a thrill. Atlantic Records is under the W a r n e r Music Group umbrella.

In 2003, while I was an Artist Development Rep. for WMG, the Atlantic rep. was unable to support the band’s shows when they passed through the Rocky Mountain region. I offered to cover the shows for them and they said sure. I was SO nervous. Having been a fan for years, having the opportunity to work with the band from behind the scenes was something I never could have imagined. Their tour liason Shelley Knott (who sadly passed away in 2007) welcomed me with open arms. She knew I was a fan and yet never treated me like one. The biggest thrill for me was meeting Neil Peart at Red Rocks.

He was so gracious, attentive and thoughtful with his time, and we never talked drums. Instead we talked about books, motorcycling, various trails in Colorado, etc. At that show, Shelley let me stand on stage left and watch the concert. To be a few feet away from your childhood heroes, while 9,450 fans watch them was the experience of a lifetime. I was fortunate enough to be able to work with them on several of their tours after that and keep in touch.

There are so many other great stories

King Rat has remained an underground band throughout their career, never falling into the mainstream blitz of pop-punk bands or other fads that have taken over the radio. Touring and DIY promotion are what made the band their reputation. “There’s the name recognition, which doesn’t make it hard to get gigs even out of town,” adds Schmaltz. “Even in town, we have the luxury to pick and choose. The other thing is that punk rock has really been eclipsed by what is mainstream right now. It’s a really specialized taste. It’s a super niche market to where if you say ‘punk rock,’ it’s (now) not going to be pop-punk or top 40. If we are still a punk band after twenty years, (people know) they aren’t going to get shoegazer, woe-is-me pop punk. They’re going to get the kind of punk it takes to survive.”

“Back in the day, there was maybe two or three bands that were punk bands in Denver,” Schmaltz says. “We played with metal bands,

June 2014 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

of working with them, but all I can say is that the band, crew and everyone at SRO are all class acts and nothing short of amazing.

CMB: Tell us about your experiences with Warner Bros. Records.

JL: It was the greatest job ever.

Period. When you dream about what it would be like to be “in the business,” and then are actually lucky enough to be one of the few to get in the door, it’s not supposed to be everything you imagined! But it was. This is going back 13 years ago, before the digital revolution, when record stores were still vital, people bought cd’s and bands did a ton of promo to support their new releases. I was fortunate enough to meet and work with some of the biggest bands in the world, spend time with them, travel and hang out and help support their music anyway I could. At that time, we’re talking about bands and artists that had yet to “break” like Linkin Park, Michael Buble, Josh Groban, My Chemical Romance, Halestorm, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Porcupine Tree, James Blunt and others as well as established artists like Metallica, Green Day, Goo Goo Dolls, Alanis…the list goes on and on. It was a truly magical time with coworkers that felt like family.

CMB: And finally, how did you get started with Hard Rock, and what exactly do you do there?

JL: As the music industry crumbled from the digital age, which they were completely un-prepared for, I saw all my friends and co-workers get laid off and WMG get smaller and smaller every year. Once all the big record stores closed, everything from Tower Records down, the writing was on the wall. I was laid off and completely devastated. I LOVED what I did and to lose it was almost too much to bare.

READ MORE AT COLORADOMUSICBUZZ. COM jam bands, butt rock bands. It kind of built character to not succumb to the pressure of what mainstream is going on, but just to stick with what I want to do, which is to play oldschool punk rock. Sticking to that was cool because after so many years, they may still not like you, but they’ll respect you for it.”

King Rat is still doing what they love after twenty years, through trial, error, and judgement.

“There’s the growing pains,” says Makkay. “We are doing it right now, we were doing it wrong for a long time.”

King Rat has no plans of stopping any time soon. Find out more about their new record, upcoming shows, and general mishappenings by searching for King Rat on Facebook “The fact of the matter is, with this band, why we’re doing it so well and get along so well is that we generally love what we do,” says Delilli. “We love doing it with each other, and we’re basically in the band that we want to hear. Every band can’t say that. We are putting out music that we think is kick ass.”

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Art of War Project Winner of the 2014 Governor’s Creative Leadership Award

By Curt Bean

great because using art is like talking about it without the abrasiveness of actually talking about it. I worked with groups for 6 months then approached the 7-week PTSD clinic with my art program, the Art of War Project (AOW).

I joined the army at the ripe age of 17, having had no clue what I was getting myself into. I felt the call to serve and do my part. I went straight from high school to boot camp to my first tour in Iraq. Iraq was a wake up call. I was given more responsibility at 18 than people are given their entire lives. In my second tour, I led a small sniper team, which was even more of a wake up call. At age 20, I wasn’t allowed to legally drink, but was planning and executing high risk missions in active areas. We had a rough deployment but I made it home safe and prepared separating from the military. I was excited to no longer be tied down to one place and have the freedom to explore my true potential.

The AOW is dedicated to give veterans positive creative outlets to deal with their PTSD. It is not about the art created, but about the process.

The process of making art gives veterans a chance to work through their PTSD, creating works that they can be proud of. Not only that, during the class they are connecting with the other veterans and talking to complete strangers more than they do with their own families. They are creating support systems that they can call on when their PTSD is affecting them.

I was in denial about my post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and didn’t realize how much it affected me until it came to a breaking point. I wanted to be a firefighter but realized that I couldn’t perform daily routines without incident. I needed to seek help.

The AOW was successful, but I only reached the veterans in the PTSD clinic. I wanted to reach all veterans in the Denver area without them having to go through the 7-week program first. While walking in my neighborhood I stumbled across the Hope Tank, a charitable boutique that gives back a portion of every sale to a different charity.

I entered a PTSD inpatient program at the Denver VA Hospital in November 2012 and graduated January 2013; I felt compelled to give back. Art was a big part of my life but I didn’t realize how integral it was to dealing with my PTSD until after I finished the program. I went to PTSD groups and offered them to use art as a tool to heal. Giving veterans the opportunity to work through their PTSD is

Today AOW is going strong at the 7-week PTSD clinic and Hope Tank. Other classes are in the works in Denver and all over the country, including Kentucky, New York, Georgia, and Florida. I’m starting to receive sponsors to help with art supplies. And, AOW T-shirts and hats have spread across the country raising awareness about the necessity for art being a part of the healing process for veterans with PTSD. Art is not a cure for PTSD, it is merely a tool to help with the daily struggles. Veterans still need to seek other treatments, but the goal is to have them do less medicating, both through the VA and self-medication. PTSD affected me for a long time before I came to terms with the realty of it. If I had dealt with it

sooner, I would have been able to have moved on and enjoyed my life more. Veterans need support; if it wasn’t for Denver’s community, I never would have been able to start AOW. I don’t want my story to be about pity, I may have not known what I was getting myself into.

But I knew I had to do my part. And my part has always been serving my country, community, and fellow man. I deal with my PTSD gladly because it means that others do not. I have good days and bad, but the bad days are made easier knowing that I am now strong enough to deal with them. Empowering other veterans to do the same is the goal of AOW. For more information visit artofwarproject.com.

I still struggled daily with my PTSD symptoms but I now had a positive outlet to give back to the veterans that gave so much.

Erika, the owner of Hope Tank, was open to hosting Art of War Project. We started classes immediately, but it was hard to get veterans downtown when a large part of PTSD is avoidance. I met with every veteran organization I could to get the word out.

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June 2014 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com | CREATEmsudenver.com

ARTrepreneur of the Month

By Leah Parker cfi@msudenver.edu

Hope Tank is located at 64 Broadway, Denver, CO.

Erika E. Righter is the owner of Hope Tank, a Denver charitable boutique which donates a portion of every item sold to a charitable organization or social cause.

Erika is a social worker, social entrepreneur, and our ARTrepreneur of the Month.

CREATE:

Are

you

an

artist?

Erika: I use the term artist loosely. I sewed silly bibs and embroidered aprons with fun designs until I had my daughter. Now that I have help at the shop I hope to start making things again.

CREATE: What is Hope Tank and what inspired you to start it?

Erika: Hope Tank is a charitable boutique. I talked about this idea for several years then was fortunate to win a scholarship to South

By Southwest Interactive. I met people from all over the world; people who were busy trying new ideas rather than talking about it.

They encouraged me to see my idea through. I went back to Colorado and narrowed down my ideas, but fell back into working for an agency.

I proposed different ideas to my superiors but would get the stock non-profit responses, like “This is how we’ve always done it.� I was so frustrated. I got married September 2011 and found out I was pregnant in December.

I found out my agency was closing down in January 2012, and we were all losing our jobs. My husband then got laid off so we decided that things couldn’t any get crazier.

We signed a lease in January 2012 on Santa Fe, and I opened on the First Friday of February 2012. I started with 10 artists, and now, 2 years later, I have 134 vendors.

Everything I sell supports various charities and causes, or is made by socially or environmentally responsible companies. If it is handmade, the artist chooses the charity that the 10% donation goes to. I also have ‘cause lines,’ where the philanthropic component is built into the product. For example, Mitscoots Socks are made by homeless individuals. For every pair I sell, they give me a pair to donate in Denver. For anything else in the shop, I donate a portion of the sale to a local non-profit.

looking for a therapeutic environment, but still wanted that sense of community with people who could relate to many common experiences. I figured that people would feel comfortable coming to a place that had absolutely nothing ‘military’ or ‘therapeutic’ about it, yet was warm and open to everyone.

What has grown out of this collaboration is a supportive community of veterans and active duty members, men and women of all ages who have served in different conflicts and from different military branches. Many veterans are resistant to accessing services that they earned, so we also have information available to them so that they can pursue those on their own terms.

We have also given Curt the opportunity to do his Art of War class but with a different crowd.

I have also had some really talented artists come out of this Vet Night, which is awesome!

Erika: We have started a wonderful collaboration with Access Gallery, which serves youth with disabilities and provides art education. They have been providing social entrepreneurship classes to the youth who are making submissions to become Hope Tank artists. They will have the opportunity to have their work in a retail setting. We are also promoting their corporate art program, and encouraging other businesses to commission these incredibly talented artists to make a piece that reflects their mission.

CREATE: What advice would you give to artists who would like to become Hope Tank artists?

What mistakes do you often see in the submission process?

Erika: Read all the instructions to submit work. Be sure that you have enough inventory to keep up if your work sells really well. Don’t have your work in every shop in Denver. Once people see your stuff all over the city, it starts to lose its appeal.

CREATE: Any upcoming events planned for Hope Tank?

CREATE: Tell me about your involvement with Curt Bean (winner of the 2014 Governor’s Creative Leadership Award) and the Art of War Project.

Erika: Curt originally came into the shop to talk about his artwork. The more we spoke, the more evident it became that we were supposed to be working together on other projects. I come from a family with a great deal of military service.

I had experience with people my age who had served, and I’ve seen a lot of problems that were not being addressed in the community.

Using some of my experience working in the non-profit world, I proposed doing a Veteran’s Night at Hope Tank. The idea was to engage veterans like Curt, who were not necessarily

CREATE: Any recent successes of Hope Tank or Hope Tank artists?

Erika: We will offer art classes in the spring, including ones for kids, more fundraisers and more fun events like our Loom-A-Thon Against Cancer. We have an event planned with MaxFund for July 2014, and there will be pets up for adoption, face painting, and much more. And yes, the long-term plan is to open more locations, which I am asked about every single day. I’m looking for interested investors and partners.

Art of War Project classes are the first Friday of every month and hosted by Hope Tank.

For more information about Hope Tank, visit www.HopeTank.org.

July 19-20, 2014 10AM-5PM

Sat. Night: 4pm-9pm | Buchanan Field, Evergreen CO

www.evergreenarts.org

$2 festival entry, children free | $20 Palette of Brews tickets online, $25 tickets at the door $5 donation for saturday nite live

featuring 20 of Colorado’s finest

with Joe bye and the Kamikazi Klonez

303.674.0056 | www.evergreenarts.org

June 2014 | ColoradoMusicBuzz.com | CREATEmsudenver.com

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