Artist review: In the Whale -- Satan, Be Gone!

In the Whale -- Satan, Be Gone! [EP]
By Jeanie Straub
Colorado Music Buzz

Greeley-based Indie band In the Whale was formed in 2009 in Greeley, which means they haven’t had a whole lot of time to get to where they are now, and let’s just say they are somewhere on their way to somewhere even bigger. They had a CD release party in September at the Atlas Theatre in Greeley. Their sound is super unique, and on Facebook they note that they draw inspiration from bands such as The Gay Blades, Meat Puppets, Local H, Black Keys, Rage Against the Machine, and the White Stripes. (A side note, speaking of Facebook, is that their single “Facebook Stalking You” is super fun.) In the Whale was really a side project that took off and has self-released two previous EPs, Songs About You and Crush. They have almost a psychedelic undertone at times that I love, and the six tracks here don’t sound like every other indie / alternative / folk rock band’s songs being played on KTCL, etc.

Band members: Nate Valdez (guitar, vocals, mouth harp); Eric Riley (drums, vocals, toy piano)

http://www.myspace.com/songsinthewhale
http://www.sonicbids.com/inthewhale

Artist review: Jon Wirtz -- Sea Level [LP]

Pianist Jon Wirtz with Angie Stevens, right, and Susan Phelan, Angie's bassist.

Jon Wirtz -- Sea Level [LP]

By Jeanie Straub
Colorado Music Buzz

You may know Denver-based Jon Wirtz, forever notable on the Colorado scene since he arrived in May 2003, from his work with local standouts such as Angie Stevens and John Common, but the man has actually performed for millions of people on the national stage, having worked with Grammy-winning producer Malcolm Burn at several junctures and having performed with artists such as Liquid Soul, Shawn Colvin, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers (he toured the U.S. and Mexico with them), Gin Blossoms, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Robbie Krieger, Melissa Etheridge, Matt Morris, Charlie Sexton and “even” (that’s his publicist speaking) Justin Timberlake. That and Wirtz shared the stage with Morris on “The Late Show with David Letterman” and has appeared on CBS Early Morning Show’s “2nd Cup Cafe,” “Ellen” and “Lopez Tonight.” I tell you all this not just because his publicist at the Vinefield Agency took the time to write it up so nicely but because after all that buildup as a sideman, Sea Level is one amazing solo debut with which to follow it all. The LP is a display of Wirtz’s original compositions as well as his interpretations of “a few choice covers.” His publicist notes that over the past few years Wirtz has been hard at work studying under Grammy-nominated pianist/composer Art Lande, and this must have been a very good thing for Wirtz, because his passion and energy and spirit as an artist shine through every track. Every track feels something like perfection or heaven or both. On his myspace page, Wirtz ends his lengthy list of influences, which, btw, runs the gamut from B.B. King to Weezer, that he is also influenced by “anyone willing to take risks for their art, those who are always truly themselves.” That’s telling because his debut CD flawlessly showcases Wirtz coming into his own. His publicist calls Wirtz an “emerging jazz pianist,” and his CD absolutely embodies such a magnificent, defining coming out as a solo artist of note.
Genres: Jazz/Progressive/Nu bop

Recorded and mixed by John Macy at Macy Sound Studios, Denver

http://www.reverbnation.com/jonwirtzmusic

Quote of the day from my favorite music blogger, Bob Lefsetz

"We don't want you to be an icon. We want you to be a beacon. And those are two very different identities. One is two-dimensional, blinding us with its light. The other is positively three-dimensional, illuminating the way ahead, illustrating life in a way we both know and don't. Isn't that the essence of the best songs? We both know them, but don't?" -- Bob Lefsetz

If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1

Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/

http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz

Parker Library's Live Local Music Series ...

These are the bands we've had over the years and the attendance for each. Click on the image to get a bigger size that you can actually read ...

Artist review: Whiskey Blanket

Hip Hop-Shoegaze: Whiskey Blanket -- Credible Forces [LP]
By Jeanie Straub
Colorado Music Buzz

The most expedient way to gain my love and adoration is by producing highly listenable auditory art infused with heavy politics, and that’s exactly what you get with Whiskey Blanket’s Credible Forces, a 2007 Hip-Hop-type release soon to be followed by the Boulder trio’s third full-length release, No Object, due out in early December. (Add a touch of Shoegaze and Powerpop to Hip-Hop to get “Hip-Hop-type.”) Whiskey Blanket, white guys who have been making music together since the summer of 2003, is Steakhouse (producer, emcee, “turntablist”), Funny Biz (emcee, “beatboxist,” cellist), and Sloppy Joe (emcee, violinist). Their website has a secondary “biography” attributed to Rolling Stone magazine: “Their astoundingly mind-blowing creations of aural excellence continue to shape the future of sound while simultaneously redefining the music of the past.” It is supposed to be a joke, but you do get creative excellence in these 16 tracks, especially if you like Rap lyrics -- lyrics atop sumptuous orchestral maneuvers with serious, butt-kicking beat -- that tackle corporate rule, labor, the state of public education, White Jesus and other choice matters that push Hip-Hop squarely past “bitches” and texting into the realm of meaning. Raps Biz: “I’m trying to bring a message to all of my songs. If you don’t hear that then you’re hearing it wrong.” Nah. We hear you correctly. Loud and clear, Brother Biz.

WhiskeyBlanket.com

MySpace.com/WhiskeyBlanket

Twitter.com/WhiskeyBlanket

Artist review: The Longest Day of the Year

The Longest Day of the Year -- The Longest Day of the Year [EP]
By Jeanie Straub
JStraub@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

The voice of Tom Waits was described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding as if it were “soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car." I’m left wondering: He means that in a good way, right? Because the lead singer of TLDOTY has an amazing voice -- very distinctive in the way that the voice of Tom Waits is: gruff, gravelly, a bit on the raspy side. You either love it immediately or it will grow on you quickly, but one thing for sure is that it is dramatic and strong and different. (Side note: The lead singer has been around the block in the local scene, so you may recognize his stage name of t.Mule.) As far as musical composition goes, TLDOTY appears to be onto something very cool with this EP, and it is very creative and fun and original at the same time that it recalls very traditional roots music. Manager Sean Lamborne explains why it works so well: “With influences drawn from the American roots music tradition, TLDOTY cooks together their vast experience in folk and country, indie-rock, and Canjun/zydeco.” He goes on to say that the band employs “unconventional arrangements on traditional country, roots, folk, and rock song structures to bring you their brand of fiery outlaw Americana.” Whatever it is, the blend put out by TLDOTY is in your veins working its magic with the first track of this five-track CD that covers, lyrically, “strong and strange storytelling”: sitting in the dark with the radio on, wishing you had your own car, when you have no one and nowhere to go; the time you were being hauled to jail and wondered whether you would be able to make bail; drinking bourbon after you burned the farm down. Stuff like that. And fabulous lines like this: “A hanging rope and a telescope / and all the kids are smoking dope.” Your love for TLDOTY will carry you until the last moment of track five.

Band members: t.Mule (guitar/harmonica/vocals/banjo); Brian McCosky (lead guitar/keyboard/vocals); Dan O’Donnell (bass/vocals); and Darin Graber (drums/banjo).

Sounds like: A more Americana version of Tom Waits

www.reverbnation.com/thelongestdayoftheyear

Artist review: Ben Minnotte

Ben Minnotte -- Minn-Knot [LP]

By Jeanie Straub
Colorado Music Buzz

You won’t believe what you are hearing: The music of Denver singer/songwriter Ben Minnotte is absolutely angelic. He’s got the voice of a sexier Lou Reed atop fine guitar work and other instrumentation of the Folk-Rock-meets-experimental variety. His brand of Experimental is reminiscent of Leonard Cohen; it’s got keen insight, the work here is meaningful, downright artful. Minnotte himself plays acoustic and electric guitars, steel guitars, keyboard, the mandolin, banjo, bass, even some drums and other percussion, and he’s an overall brilliant instrumentalist. (Note that Zack Morris plays drums on all but a couple tracks.) Influenced by artists such as Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, and Kate Bush, Minnotte has a sound that is retro yet very much alive in the present and is both forward thinking and forward moving. It is joy-playful yet steel-solid, muscle-y complex, and August-easy. (Extra credit for sustaining my interest with his lyrics, a copy of which you can get by emailing him – nice to offer that connection to fans.) If you’ve never heard of him, know that he’s actually been a fixture in the Denver music scene for a decade, but spent Sept. 26 to Dec. 18 of last year working on his “studio artist” profile, which is good for you and me because this 14-track album is as good as it gets.

Sounds like: Lou Reed, Leonard Cohen
MySpace.com/BenMinnotteMusic

Next up: Josh Queen at 1pm 10/30

Links for Jeanie and Juliette's CAL presentation on Live Music in Libraries ...

If you attended our presentation, "Rattle and Hum: Starting, Marketing, Delivering and Evaluating Live Music Programs in Public Library Settings," here are some useful links for folks in public libraries wanting to deliver live music programs ...

Write home to let us know how crazy-great it went!

Juliette León Bartsch
bartschj@boulderlibrary.org
Jeanie Straub
jstraub@dclibraries.org

Our PowerPoint presentation ...

http://tinyurl.com/jeanieandjuliettesPPT

Document links(also available on the CAL website):

• BPL new performer packet: http://tinyurl.com/BPLnewperformerpacket

• BPL press info sheet: http://tinyurl.com/BPLpresskitinfosheet

• Parker musician info sheet: http://tinyurl.com/musician-info-sheet