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2000 Articles

by Tim Van Schmidt

Top Ten Concerts 2000

Despite missing this year’s biggest blockbuster tour, by Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band, the year 2000 was busy and exciting for this fan. Besides allowing me to accomplish a long time goal- photographing the Who- the wide diversity of acts that came through the area also made for lively listening.

On top of the list was a classic art rocker who has not forgotten how to produce a show full of visual, aural and emotional treats. Roger Waters’ “In the Flesh” tour set a high standard for concert production and delivered a very satisfying and even inspirational show in the process.

Here are my top ten concerts for 2000:

1. Roger Waters: July 3, Fiddler’s Green.

It was a delicious moment when Roger Waters
launched into the pre-“Dark Side of the Moon” Pink Floyd classic “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” in Denver. Here was one of the masters of art-based rock reviving the swirling, heady sound that made Floyd a cult favorite long before they became chart-topping stars. Waters also presented other Floyd material, including “The Wall” and, of course, huge chunks of “Dark Side of the Moon.” Thanks to the efforts of a crack 10-piece band, excellent sound and mesmerizing lighting effects, he recreated his former band’s sound with power and style.

But most poignant were Waters’ solo songs. The final tune of the concert was a new song titled “Each Small Candle,” a piece revealing both the horror and the hope of human affairs. While giving the crowd what they came for- some old-time Floyd glory- Waters also left behind some messages to ponder.

2. Van’s Warped Tour: July 9, Adams County Fairgrounds.

Searing upper nineties heat made
it a challenge to take advantage of the diverse line-up for this year’s Warped Tour. Two big things, however, made the effort worth while. The first was the opportunity to see Green Day compress their pop punk intensity into a single 30-minute set, ending their energetic romp by setting the drum kit on fire. The second was the rapid-fire production that kept bands like Anti-Flag, the Lunachicks, MXPX, and the Mighty, Mighty Bosstones in constant rotation.

3. The Who: August 24, Pepsi Center.

The irony of one of the Who’s most political songs,
“Won’t Get Fooled Again,” was once again poignant in an election year as the band returned for a reunion tour that reveled in the past. The song also remains as one of the Who’s biggest payoff numbers and had the crowd in Denver on its feet. The Who’s set aimed to please, including favorites from every phase of the band’s career, and was presented to fans that guitarist Pete Townshend talked to in between tunes as old friends. “Who Are You” was another rocking highlight.

4. Joan Osborne: September 19, Aggie Theater.

Sexy, passionate and just a little devilish, Joan
Osborne returned to touring after four years and came to town to make the Aggie sizzle. Osborne’s band was well-synched, the song arrangements were dramatic and creative, and the singer maintained a confident and personable stage presence. From the raspy “Right Hand Man” to the irresistible rhythms of “Spider Web,” Osborne offered an electrifying set.

5. Tom Tom Club: October 19, Fox Theatre.

It wasn’t clear who was more pleased by the Tom
Tom Club’s return to the concert stage after a long hiatus- the fans or the band. Thanks to the good-natured funk of past hits such as “Genius of Love” and “Wordy Rappinghood” and new material, the crowd gladly turned the Fox into a hip-shaking dance party. The 7-piece band seemed to be having just as much fun, jumping and bumping their way through a set that could have lasted all night.

6. Up in Smoke Tour: August 20, Fiddler’s Green.

Properly irreverent and in control of plenty
of rhythm and attitude, hip hop stars Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Eminem took turns stalking the stage in Denver, rapping and posturing their way through tales of street bravado for the Up in Smoke Tour. This was alternative music’s most successful tour of the summer season and there was plenty to look at on the stage- huge video screens, a gigantic laughing skull, full-sized cars and more. Set into a concert atmosphere, the controversial nature of the artists’ music was softened, leaving heavy beats and crowd-rousing antics to propel the party.

7. Joe Satriani: April 19, Fillmore Auditorium.

The guitar-lovers favorite “alien,” Joe Satriani,
brought his guitar and an undulating battery of lights to Denver to prove that guitar rock remains in capable hands. While Satriani included several slower, melodic tunes, the crowd’s fist-pumping during the faster tunes told the story of what the fans had come for.

8. Ringo Starr: June 28, Red Rocks.

Red Rocks was hardly half full for the return of Ringo
Starr’s All Star Band. But the group, including Starr, bassist Jack Bruce, guitarist Dave Edmunds and guitarist/keyboardist Eric Carmen, still managed to muster some musical intensity. That included reaching psychedelic frenzy with the Cream song “White Room” and pop rock glory with Free’s tune “All Right Now.” Starr’s signature song, “With A Little Help From My Friends,” still stood as a friendly reminder of the glory days of peace and love.

9. Linden Street Live: August 18-19, NewWest Fest.

One of America’s most distinctive blues
stylists, Robert Cray, was the headlining performer for this year’s Linden Street Live production during the NewWest Fest. Cray’s passionate vocals and stinging guitar leads were a perfect complement for a warm, summer night. Also playing the stage over three days of music was Nina Storey, the Derek Trucks Band, the Radiators and more. This was most certainly the best music value in town all year.

10. Tony Levin: June 6, Starlight.

With other Peter Gabriel sidemen in tow, super bassist Tony
Levin brought his own music to town for a rare nightclub appearance that featured original world music as well as covers of King Crimson and Gabriel material. Starting and ending the show in the same way- by playing drums while walking through the audience- Levin and band broke down the barriers between performer and fans and offered a music that explored the boundaries of both melody and rhythm

Blue Man Group: While the above list covers regional events, perhaps the most exhilarating musical entertainment I experienced this year was seeing the Blue Man Group both in New York City and in Las Vegas. Combining performance art and brain-teasing humor with driving electric rock propelled by heavy percussion, the Blue Man Group has succeeded in creating a riveting and delightful show. Whether in a 300-seat theater, as in New York, or in a 1200-seat auditorium, at the Luxor hotel in Las Vegas, the effect is the same- awe. On my wish list are trips to Boston and Chicago to see the Blue Man Group’s productions in each of those cities. It’s that good. Happy New Year!

Afterword – Concert reviews

There’s a point during his lightning-speed performance where super-guitarist Joe Satriani lifts his head up from his instrument, looks at the audience and nods to whatever steamroller rhythm his touring band is serving up. At that point, Satriani is a divided man- he is the hot chops player at the same time as just another person caught up in the reverie of rock ‘n’ roll. While his fingers keep blazing on the fretboard, his head is right there with the rest of the crowd, moving to the irresistible beat.

At the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver on April 20, Satriani had plenty of opportunity to let his rock do its magic on both his enthusiastic audience and on himself. With two full sets timing in at about three hours of music, there was an abundance of rock ‘n’ roll abandon- mind-boggling guitar leads swirling on top of manic song arrangements and all enhanced by an onslaught of colored lights.

Satriani basically offers two modes of music. The first, of course, is the edge-of-your-seat ride that takes off when his three-piece band locks into a groove and then soars when Satriani sets the fretboards on fire. At the Fillmore, songs such as “Borg Sex” from the new “Engines of Creation” album underscored that this is where the self-described “resident alien” finds the most expression. But Satriani also pulls back to play another kind of music- slower paced and fully melodic. Songs such as “Lovely” offer a much-needed counterpoint to the fast stuff, if for no other reason than to let the audience catch its breath.

The fast stuff, however, is what keeps the fans coming back for more. At the Fillmore, the fists pumping in the air at the end of each pyrotechnic guitar workout told the story.

Steve Kimock: The Starlight in Fort Collins was sold out for an April 29 concert by guitarist Steve Kimock. Thanks to his association with former members of the Grateful Dead- including being lead guitarist of Phil Lesh’s band- Kimock has inherited an enthusiastic audience that would probably travel anywhere to get another fix of that Dead-related vibe. Indeed, when Kimock asked the crowd how many people had been to other shows on the tour, some fifty hands shot up into the air.

On stage at the Starlight, Kimock headed up a four-piece band that included keyboardist Pete Sears- also a Dead/San Francisco associate. What the group offered was a good, hefty slice of instrumental jamming that had a lot to do with musical exploration and very little to do with rock ‘n’ roll posturing. In fact, there were no vocals, just intricate interplay between the instruments.

That’s when the music at the Starlight was at its best- when all four musicians were hunched over their instruments, playing with a very focused intensity. The pieces would sometimes start with nothing- just some tuning or noodling around- but end up in an inspiring flourish. Structured like jazz, but including rock, blues and country flavorings, each song took a long, extended journey, then returned to the beginning, only to set off again in another direction.

John Entwhistle

In one of John Entwhistle’s whimsical new art prints, there’s a visual reference to a little bit of music history. The print is titled “Generations” and it features Entwhistle’s drawings of his bandmates in the Who as they appeared in four different decades as performers.

Original Who drummer, the late Keith Moon, is portrayed as a wild young rebel of the 1960’s. Guitarist Pete Townshend is drawn as the dramatic rock and roller of the 1970’s. Vocalist Roger Daltrey is shown as a strong, proud singer in the 1980’s. Entwhistle pictures himself as a mature gentleman of the 1990’s.

The music history comes in because in the drawing, Entwhistle’s bass stretches far out in front of Daltrey and Townshend.

“In a couple of the early TV shows that we did as the Who, they would put us so close together that my bass head would get in front of Roger’s face. It’s kind of an in-joke,” Entwhistle said in a phone interview from his London home.

The visual joke in “Generations” is just another reflection of Entwhistle’s attraction to humor. His other artwork demonstrates this as well- from the maniacal look in Moon’s eye in another drawing to the size of Townshend’s nose in still another.

The humor, however, was in his artwork long before the Who was even formed.

“I can thank my old art teacher for making me want to draw like this,” Entwhistle said. “He came up with the most boring things you could think of as assignments, like do a painting of a desert. So I would paint the desert with cactus in it and everything and then put a phone box right in the middle of it.”

Entwhistle’s artwork- which also includes portraits of Who members as their ancestors, portraits of other rock stars such as Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix, as well as a series of drawings poking fun at tourists- has become popular collectible art, exclusively handled by the Walnut Street Gallery in Fort Collins.

Who fans became aware of Entwhistle’s drawings when he designed and drew the cover for the band’s 1975 album release, “The Who By Numbers.” The cartoon style Entwhistle adopted for the project was directly related to the original title of the album.

“It was originally titled ‘The Who Cartoons’ and we were going to use a picture of us riding in a car,” Entwhistle remembered. “But the music was so depressing that we realized that if someone were listening to it while in the car, they might drive into a wall or something. So we went with a different concept.”

To conincide with the current Who tour, the Walnut Street Gallery has arranged for several Entwhistle art shows in cities such as Washington D.C., Palm Beach, Atlanta and New York City.

In Denver, Entwhistle will be showing his art for one night only- at the Oxford Hotel on Wednesday, August 23. The Who- featuring Entwhistle, Townshend and Daltrey along with drummer Zak Starkey and keyboardist John “Rabbit” Bundrick- will be performing at the Pepsi Center in Denver

Fillmore

If you’re thinking about catching an upcoming show at the new Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, go ahead and give yourself an extra treat. That is, try to be one of the first people through the door and see the venue before it fills up with partying concert-goers.

Coming through the front door- having the wide open expanse of the wood flooring stretch out in front of you with warm purple chandeliers beckoning from above- makes for an impressive moment. That moment won’t last for long, as crowds of music fans stream in quickly, but it’s worth the effort. For just a few seconds, the Fillmore stands alone in its fresh newness, its classy uniqueness- like a big ballroom from a different time- as a welcome addition to Denver’s burgeoning concert scene.

Of course, there’s plenty to be impressed with at the Fillmore even after it’s filled with people. There’s the custom sound system and the state of the art lighting. There’s a major exhibit of rock and roll photos and memorabilia. There’s enough capacity- 3700- to attract an upper tier of popular acts that you would have a hard time seeing in a smaller nightclub environment.

That includes the recent pairing of the Long Beach Dub All-Stars and G. Love and Special Sauce. It also includes a string of sell-out shows with Maceo Parker and the Funky Meters, Ben Harper and Phil Lesh.

The success the Fillmore is currently enjoying has a lot to do with the right combination of music and venue. But it also seems to have to do with having the right attitude. The Denver Fillmore carries on some of the personal touches established by famed promoter Bill Graham at the original Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. These stretch from the pile of bright red apples just inside the front door that bears the sign “have one or two…” to security guards by the front of the stage who aren’t wearing uniforms. The staff is helpful and friendly, the venue solicits locally produced concert posters and, on occasion, they even give out coffee and doughnuts to fans waiting in line for tickets.

The Fillmore’s more humane approach to running a concert hall also seems to keep their workers happy. Everyone from General Manager Greg Howard to an unidentitfied bartender to a security guard by the stage had the same thing to say about working at the Fillmore- “I love this job.”

What’s not to love? At the G. Love show, for instance, the energy was high and the crowd was grooving in a big mass of bodies. Some tempers flaired- there was a fight out in the crowd- and some squished fans had to be extracted from the mob and given space and water. But it seemed like most of the thousands of other music lovers were having a good time.

Of course, just the name of the Fillmore carries with it a certain amount of music history, thanks to the links of the contemporary operations in Denver and San Francisco to the classic Fillmore venues in San Francisco and New York back in the late 1960’s. The Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, however, carries even more historical weight thanks to the building’s long use as the Mammoth Events Center. As a concert venue, Mammoth hosted plenty of music before being transformed into the Fillmore. The current venue pays homage to those years with exciting photographs of performances by bands such as Jethro Tull, the Grateful Dead, the Rolling Stones and the Who.

But a great music scene really has very little to do with history. What it has to do with is people having fun. During G. Love, the crowd at the Fillmore was grooving fully to his funky but cool Philadelphia sound. During the Long Beach Dub All-Stars, the audience reaction rode the range between swaying to a chunky reggae beat and moshing to a revved up punk song. That’s not history, that’s the surging, howling, hip-shaking present.

Yes, maybe it was ironic that during his set, G. Love featured a version of a classic 1960’s song- Donovan’s “Season of the Witch.” But then again, the Long Beach Dub All-Stars went out on a limb to explore a wide diversity of contemporary music- from reggae and ska to punk and hip hop.

The Fillmore Auditorium isn’t just another big room for music in Denver, it’s a full experience. From that first glance of the empty venue ready for business- elegant and inviting- to the electricity of bands raging on stage, the Fillmore fulfills all expectations.

Battle of the Bands

If there was one thing that united all the bands who participated in the Scene’s 7th annual Battle of the Bands- at the Starlight on November 20- it was the passion to play. But beyond that, the ten groups who competed came from a variety of Front Range locations, each had a different idea about how to dominate the stage and they vied for fame and prizes by playing a wide diversity of music.

The number one winner of the Battle of the Bands was Fort Collins 7-piece group Twelve Cents for Marvin, who dominated the stage with a dynamic, upbeat sound and a deliciously manic performance. While the horn section sprayed the room with bursts of blasting harmonies, the electric guitar sizzled on top, the rhythm section maintained a rock-solid bottom and the vocals pushed the whole thing into overdrive. The band provided precision arrangements of a music that mixed together equal parts funk, ska and revved-up soul while jumping, sliding and shaking their booties all over the stage. Their set kept the intensity level on high with an impressive number of things going on at once. For their effort, Twelve Cents For Marvin won a $250 cash prize and an opening slot for a national act at the Odgen Theater in Denver.

Another Fort Collins band, the Freeze, took second place honors with a hip hop funk that featured a unique and highly effective vocal style. According to Scene publisher Michael Mockler, who acted as the evening’s MC, the Freeze was the youngest band competing, made up of area high schoolers. In their original music, funky, backbeat drum work counterpointed big, thick bass lines while one or more voices rapped on top of it all, turning a steady flow of words into incredible sounding rhythms. When the words started rolling, the band members became inspired and any question about age or experience disappeared like smoke. The Freeze walked away with a $50 cash prize and an upcoming gig at the Starlight.

The number three group of the night, Real Eyes, was also from Fort Collins and they took the opportunity of having the final band slot of the night to serve up a powerful and dynamic hard rock. Real Eyes maintained a riveting stage presence while playing dramatic, highly electric original music reaching for a tough, hard ecstasy. Real Eyes won $25 cash and a gig at the Starlight.

Coming in fourth place was Loveland band Pressbox, playing a powerful pop punk music. Thick, chunky guitar work, dramatic arrangements and a gregarious rapport with the audience won the group gift certificates to the Finest and CD Warehouse record stores and a free band ad in the Scene. Heavy Cheyenne rockers T.R.U.T.H took fifth place with a hard, intense metal. Precision timing and an animated stage presence underscored the band’s dark, screaming vocals. Pressbox won a free band ad in the Scene.

Also performing at the Battle of the Bands- and coming in only a handful of points from each other and the frontrunners- were Switchback, from Loveland; Plow, from Greeley; Beau and the Sweethearts, from Fort Collins; One Inch tall, from Westminster; and Leary, from Wichita, Kansas. Each group presented a little something different, from the driving hard rock of Switchback to the freeform experimental rock of Leary; from the quirky art rock of Beau and the Sweethearts to the “extraterrestrial” punk of Plow to the adrenaline-soaked mosh music of One Inch Tall.

The Battle of the Bands- all nine hours of it- was judged by representatives of the Scene, Rock N’ Robin’s, CD Warehouse, the Finest and the Starlight. This was the same group of volunteers that sifted through more than thirty entries for this year’s event. Judging was based on a point system covering style, originality, instrumentation and more. It was a tough job, considering how much talent graced the Starlight’s stage. But then what that means is that the local music scene is very healthy indeed. The drum kit for the entire event was provided by Colorado Drum and Percussion and sound was provided by the Starlight. Thanks to all who participated- including the fans who enthusiastically supported each act. See you next year!

The Walkabout Journey of Paul Taylor

When storyteller, musician and traveler Paul Taylor was a young man growing up in the south of Australia, he had no intention of becoming an artist. He lived in the suburbs of Adelaide and graduated at the age of 21 with a degree in social work. Taylor got a job working in Darwin, in the tropical northern part of Australia, which became, for him, a “life-changing event.”

“The job got me into contact with aboriginal people and introduced me to the music of the didjeridoo. It also was an introduction to a totally different view of the world and the arts. I was never the same again,” Taylor remembered in a recent phone interview from his home in Laramie.

Taylor discovered that the aboriginal philosophy of life looked at painting, singing and storytelling not as art, but as a part of everyday life. While this made a deep impact on Taylor, it wasn’t until he traveled to England- on a “classic Australian” journey to retrace his roots- that he realized he no longer wanted to be a social worker. Instead, he toured England, Scotland and Wales as a circus clown. He also began training as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, which served him well when he returned to Australia to work as an actor in regional theaters.

Then, another life-changing event occurred. Taylor was hired to take actor Bobby Bridger- a relative of famed mountain man Jim Bridger- on a tour of the Australian outback. Bridger was performing a one-man mountain man show and in the process of the tour, Bridger and Taylor became friends. Bridger invited Taylor to come back with him to the United States to join his performing troupe and in 1990, that’s exactly what Taylor did. To his surprise, he was received with open arms, especially when showcasing the didjeridoo.

“I thought I’d landed on Mars,” Taylor said. “Everyone was interested in my culture.”

That included NPR, who gave Taylor a 45-minute spot to represent his country in stories. That performance became his first recording, titled “Matilda and the Dream Time.” One half of the album featured stories from the aboriginal tradition of stories called the “dream time.” The other half was devoted to “bush ballads,” or, as Americans would label them, cowboy poetry. He not only recorded them, but he was also performing them. He went back to Australia and when he came back in 1992, he obtained a work visa and began his long journey of traveling around America, celebrating Australian culture.

Taylor made his home base in Laramie, which he found to be very similar to Australia’s outback. In the process of his travels elsewhere, Taylor made plenty of new friends- including the cadre of musicians in Fort Collins that would deeply affect his recorded work. Especially through KIVA recording studio operator Russ Hopkins, Taylor found kindred spirits who understood the true meaning of “playing” music.

The result is Taylor’s debut CD release, “Walkabout.” The album features compositions based around live recordings from several Fort Collins performances dubbed the “Neo-Beatnik Happenings.” These events, held at various times over the last three years at Avogadro’s Number and Bar Bazzar, brought Taylor together with local musicians in a spontaneous combustion of creativity. Taylor and the musicians- including such talents as Pamela Robinson, Steve Amedee, Lloyd Drust, two fingers, Marc Sabatella and many more- became a make-shift orchestra to back local poets who volunteered to read.

“With the Happenings, we tried to create a genuine play situation and it became a strong basis for the album,” Taylor said.

But more, “Walkabout” also features music Taylor and Hopkins recorded on trips to the Navajo reservation, where jamming on didjeridoo, horse trailers and glass bottles turned into stunning tracks on the album. Hopkins and local guitarist and composer Jerry Palmer took this material and recordings from the Happenings and helped Taylor create an album full of surprising, playful and even magical sounds. The music strikes a powerful “human chord” while being undeniably danceable.

To celebrate the release of the album, Taylor has scheduled a “Walkabout Happening” for January 15 at Avogadro’s. The event will feature a performance by Taylor, spoken words group TVS & two fingers and another free-for-all jam between select musicians and local poets.

Meanwhile, Taylor has already been working on the next artistic step on his amazing personal journey- commissioned pieces for didjeridoo and orchestra.

Clockworked

In a world stuffed with radio formats, sales charts, big time videos and long lists of hits and misses, it’s easy to forget what playing music is all about. Fortunately, there are bands out there like Colorado pop rockers Clockworked that remind us that above all the business and hype there are more important things- like good melodies and direct emotions. These are the things that make it all worth while.

Fine melodies and emotional honesty are only part of the package on Clockworked’s debut album release on Hapi Skratch Records, “It’s Raining Again.” Also add in a full band sound that carefully balances acoustic and electric instruments, swells to dramatic climaxes while leaving room for pensive, introspective moments and brings an infectious and positive energy to the serious subjects in the songs. If you’re wondering how Clockworked’s music compares to others, think REM or Toad the Wet Sprocket. These comparisons, however, only begin to explain the music of Clockworked, which they self-describe as “pop rock folk with a twinge of happy melancholy.”

On “It’s Raining Again,” the opening track, “Fine,” immediately reveals Clockworked’s skillful balance between the group’s personal songwriting style and band arrangements that rock. As vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Bud Hunt muses about the aftermath of a relationship- ironically calling everything “fine”- the rest of Clockworked adds the musical flair that not only underscores the song’s emotional content, but pushes it into a higher level of intensity. Track four, “In My Head,” begins with a bass and drums riff that provides the solid underpinnings for a song that wonders out loud about personal direction. All the while the band’s backing arrangement rises and falls dramatically with the movements in the lyrics.

The music on “It’s Raining Again” doesn’t stay in any one place for long. Track two, “Coffee Stains,” moves back and forth between introspective thoughts and full band rocking. Track five, “Yesterday’s Gone,” starts with the easy strum of an acoustic guitar, then builds slowly. This time, however, the dramatic shift occurs in layers of vocal harmonies while the instruments hold back enough to let the voices soar. There are other surprises as well- ranging from the beautiful restraint of track seven, “That’s How the Rhythm Goes (Ballerina),” to track nine, a quirky “hidden” piece of instrumental work that literally “oings” and “boings” its way to track ten, “Unusual,” a creeping, grungy rock tune. By the time you get to track 13, “Etc.”, it comes as no surprise that Clockworked can apply such diverse sounds of a didgeridoo, mandolin and tin whistle to a piece full of wistful emotions.

Along the way, it becomes obvious that Clockworked is a band that’s together for all the right reasons. There are no commercial posturings here- the moods of the songs dictate the arrangements and the band achieves a unique sound as a result. The fact that all the members of the band are involved in the songwriting process indicates just how tight the band has become in a short time.

Clockworked was formed in 1998 in Fort Collins, Colorado. The musicians- all students at Colorado State University- discovered that they were musical kindred spirits when they began working on their first song as a group- “Coffee Stains.” By January 1999, Clockworked had produced enough original material to book the Lory Student Center Theater at CSU for recording sessions that not only documented the band’s first songs, but also inspired on-the-spot composition of several new ones. These sessions, plus work in drummer Paul Maurer’s home studio, produced the tracks that became ”It’s Raining Again.”

Meanwhile, Clockworked put themselves out in front of the public by playing regional gigs. On stage, the group approaches their music in much the same way that they do in the studio- as a collaboration- but when playing live, the collaboration includes the audience. Through their passionate music and between-song antics, Clockworked reaches out to their fans and strives to interact with them. Combining these live chops with the process of recording, mixing and mastering their first album, the group found a growing strength and a greater resolve that this was a band that was going to stay together.

Besides Hunt and Maurer- who also served as the producer for “It’s Raining Again”- Clockworked also features bassist Adam Brinkman, guitarist Tim Cravens and guitarist/vocalist Brian Davis. The group maintains its own website and, with the release of their first album, they are working hard now to expand their touring territory.

But more, this ambitious quintet has found that they have already made their dreams of being in a successful band a reality. This success, however, isn’t based on sales charts or commercial standards, but rather on how much the music expresses what they mean. On this score, Clockworked has already succeeded.

Twelve Cents for Marvin

Put six musicians on stage, get them to play a percolating, high energy music, surround them with happy, sweaty dancers and you’ve got Fort Collins showband Twelve Cents for Marvin. This is a group that has been named the best band in the northern Colorado region and have earned the title by playing a music that throws a variety of genres down on the dance floor and lets them cook.

What looks easy- and most certainly fun- on stage comes from a lot of hard work as a group. This means that yes, there are songwriters in the band, but when a bandmember brings a new piece to rehearsal, it becomes a group project. Everyone- including Tom Werge on lead vocals, trumpet and trombone, Steve Bromby on trumpet, flugelhorn and vocals, John Bosley on tenor saxophone and vocals, Sammy Tagget on guitar, Hilary Freeman on bass and flute and Gabriel Guy on hand percussion- adds their own edge. That’s why the music of Twelve Cents for Marvin has a little bit of everything- from ska and Latin music to raging rock- and a lot of pumped up energy.

That’s the stuff that inspired Colorado State University students to name Twelve Cents for Marvin the best local band in 1999. They were voted number two by CSU students just the year before, certainly a triumph for a group that was originally formed in 1996 in the campus dorms. The band named themselves after meeting a colorful street character named Marvin, a panhandler asking for the sum of twelve cents, and have since become award-winners- garnering first place in Scene Magazine’s 1999 Battle of the Bands- and a night club favorite in the Fort Collins music scene and beyond.

Twelve Cents for Marvin is not only a great live band, but they are also recording artists. Their debut CD, “Yellow Raincoat,” is based on the same upbeat grooves they serve up on stage, a full horn section providing a swinging counterpoint to the rhythm tracks, while dual lead vocals glide easily on top. Recorded at the University of Northern Colorado recording studio, the album was produced by Greg Heinbacker and Twelve Cents for Marvin and includes twelve tracks, showcasing the band’s precision arrangements and energetic pacing. The one main exception is the title song, “Yellow Raincoat.” With soulful, introspective vocals, the acoustic-based song indicates that Twelve Cents for Marvin is just as successful at creating pensive emotions as stirring up excitement.

Since recording “Yellow Raincoat,” the group has continued to develop what has become their own style. That includes taking their body-shaking grooves and letting them roll for as long as it feels good. They take their cue from other jamming Colorado bands- such as Leftover Salmon- while adding a new-found sense of funk to their already diverse sound. Twelve Cents for Marvin is looking forward to going back into the studio for their second album project, tentatively scheduled for release in Fall 2000. Until then they are putting miles on their new band van, touring in an ever-widening circuit that spans the Front Range- including such prestigious venues as the Aggie Theater in Fort Collins and the Bluebird Theater in Denver- and into the famous Colorado ski areas.

Steven Wiseman

Fort Collins guitarist Steven Wiseman has the most unique back-up band in the region, if not the world. Instead of using other musicians on his original recordings, Wiseman uses sounds that he has collected in natural settings. That means that Wiseman’s gentle, mellow guitar compositions are augmented by “musicians” such as elk, birds, coyotes and mountain streams, not bassists, drummers or keyboardists.

Wiseman’s recent independent CD release is titled “Welcome to Rocky Mountain National Park,” and the sounds of thunderstorms, waterfalls and squirrels create a calming and soothing atmosphere for his melodic guitar work.

“I spent a year and a half in Rocky Mountain National Park trying to record the natural sounds of the area. That includes waterfalls, a variety of birds and the headwaters of the Big Thompson River,” Wiseman said. “What I’m finding out is that it is very hard to capture the sounds of a meadowlark, or the movement of water in its natural setting.”

The problem in recording natural sounds comes from manmade sounds, not the natural source. Wiseman uses 18-inch microphones and high tech equipment that can record “a lot better than people can hear.” The result is that along with rustling grass and bugling elk, Wiseman also picks up an unwanted wash of noises.

“Even though Rocky Mountain National Park is a no fly zone, you can still hear planes in the air. You can also hear motorcycles and cars and radios playing loud in some campsite. People don’t realize what effect they’re having on the environment. I can be in one location and hear someone playing rap music two to three miles away,” Wiseman said.

As a result of his music and his keen interest in environmental issues, Wiseman has been booked to play a weekly series of concerts in Rocky Mountain National Park this summer. He’ll be performing as well as giving talks on noise pollution in selected campgrounds, at the Fall River Visitor Center and at the Park Headquarters. The locations of the events will change from week to week and announcements will be made about each concert 3-7 days in advance.

You can’t argue with success. Last year, Wiseman played four concerts in Rocky Mountain National Park, some of which were so crowded that people had to be turned away. Since then, Wiseman has received phone calls from Florida, Indiana and Connecticut asking about dates for this summer. He has also received e-mails from as far away as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Bolivia.

What Wiseman is hoping that concertgoers return home with is a new perspective on their own environment.

“The perception of Colorado is that it is a strong, clean, pure and preserved environment,” Wiseman said. “I want them to go back and see the impact we have on our environment- that there isn’t much open space left. I want them to think a little differently about seeing some garbage on the ground or hearing some boom box adding to the noise pollution.”

Even though the animals and natural features that Wiseman records don’t charge a fee for their sounds, they are earning royalties nonetheless. Wiseman is giving a portion of the proceeds from CD sales back to the park system. That makes him not only a featured performer but also a patron of special programs just like his.

“A lot of the programs in the park system are underfunded, or not funded at all. That’s why I’m donating one half of the proceeds back,” Wiseman said.

Of course, “Welcome to Rocky Mountain National Park,” is not Wiseman’s first project involving the combination of music and natural sounds. Wiseman has also recorded the “music” of the Poudre River and released it on a CD titled “Rhythm of the River.” He has also worked with the natural sounds of Hawaii for an upcoming CD release as well as recorded wolves in Yellowstone National Park. His future plans include recording glaciers in Alaska and he has been invited to record sounds in the Cascade Mountains and in the Appalachian Mountains.

Wiseman’s first performance in Rocky Mountain National Park will be on Thursday, June 22 at the Moraine Park Amphitheater. The concert is free and begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. Parking is limited so carpooling is suggested. To find out about future concerts, call the Park Headquarters or Visitor Center, or call Wiseman directly at 970-215-8113.

Pat Hartman

There is a particularly special day in every author’s life. That’s the day when a package finally comes in the mail with a fresh, new copy of the book the writer has labored so hard to script and get published.

That day came recently for Fort Collins author Pat Hartman. But the copy of her nonfiction work about living in Venice, California did not come from a traditional publisher. Instead, it came from the new breed of electronic publishers that have come to the table thanks to the wave of digital technology that has turned the world- including the juggernaut of the book publishing industry- upside down.

The book’s title is “Call Someplace Paradise” and it’s being published through X Libris, an “on demand” publisher that takes electronic files of the author’s work, pairs them with the right graphics and then offers the book through the internet to a worldwide audience.

The key here isn’t in flooding the nation’s bookstore shelves with pre-printed copies but in getting the reading public to seek out the book through the internet and to order a copy. No orders, no books. No books, no waste. But still, the book never goes “out of print.”

“With traditional publishers, the author generally has no choice about anything. It’s all in the hands of ‘experts,’” Hartman said recently. “With electronic publishing, you control everything. The downside is that you are also responsible for everything too.”

Hartman is very familiar with “do it yourself” publishing. For years, she was the editor, mail clerk and chief bottle washer for her own arts magazine, Salon: A Journal of Aesthetics. Salon was a self-styled publication, pasted up by hand and reproduced at a local copy shop for a national audience of writers, critics and art lovers.

Working with X Libris, however, is a horse of a different color in terms of independent publishing.

“This is not exactly indie publishing. It’s not doing it from scratch. They offer help with the technology part,” Hartman said. “They also publish a picture of the book cover and descriptions of the book, apply for a Library of Congress number, give it a bar code and place it with online booksellers.”

“Call Someplace Paradise” is an 80,000 word homage to the unusual people and things that characterize the city of Venice- a place Hartman describes as a “power center of creative energy.” She lived there from 1978-1984 and her book is drawn directly from the journals she kept during those times.

As a longtime writer, of course, Hartman had every intention of publishing “Call Someplace Paradise” through the traditional publishing houses. However, the task of getting a publisher to even consider the project became daunting to say the least.

“I took time off from real jobs and wrote about a half a million words,” said Hartman. “Then I wrote another half a million words to editors, agents and anyone I have met in the literary world who might be able to help me get the book published.”

The results of her promotion efforts to traditional publishers were unsatisfying. That’s when Hartman discovered X Libris and decided to remain an independent writer. For “an amazingly little amount of money,” she not only can hold her finished book in her hand, but it also remains her own product.

“The author owns all rights to the material. They don’t own any piece of you. They just produce it for you. They are there just to serve you and do what you want,” Hartman said.

Another advantage of on demand publishing is that the book doesn’t end up in the scrap heap if it doesn’t sell right away.

“With a big publisher, a book is available for about a year. There’s this short window of opportunity and then the remainders are sold off at discounts or they’re just pulped. They don’t pay to keep them around,” Hartman said.

Currently, “Call Someplace Paradise,” which features one of Hartman’s original paintings of a Venice street scene on the cover, is available online from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble Booksellers and Borders.

Carolyn’s Mother: Electric Guts and Glory

On their recent CD release on ARC WELD Records, “Joy,” Denver alt rock band Carolyn’s Mother displays both guts and glory. They have guts because they don’t mind mixing rough-edged, full-bodied guitar work with a highly emotional and melodic music. The glory is in what the music finally achieves- an artful and impassioned sound.

The musical influences on Carolyn’s Mother are clear- the Cure, the Smiths, Modern English, and Simple Minds. In particular, vocalist Rhett Lee’s distinctive, expressive voice underscores just how much the group reveres the British pop rock tradition while the music combines challenging electric arrangements with highly personal, even intimate lyrics. Lee’s vocal work soars over layers of guitar and rhythm in original tunes that build dramatically.

Unlike some of the above-mentioned pop bands, however, the music of Carolyn’s Mother does not rely on a swelling wash of keyboards to make the arrangements sound full. That’s where the guitar genius of Drew Hodgson comes in. Like U2’s the Edge, Hodgson has the responsibility of supporting a strong singer while filling the tracks with a thick, wide fiery tone. Meanwhile, drummer John Rector and bassist Colin T. Burke keep the bottom nailed down.

“Joy” follows up the group’s previous CD release, “Thirty Pieces of Silver,” with a fresh balance between passion and art, electricity and emotions.

The roots of Carolyn’s Mother go back to a band members formed in 1994 as students at the Colorado School of Art. The Floor was a short-lived band, but laid the essential foundation that became the present unit when the group decided to reform. A random moment of tabloid television inspired the name Carolyn’s Mother, who went on to create an original sound that would sell thousands of independently released CDs and put the band in opening slots for acts such as Peter Murphey, Jewel, Widespread Panic, Ani DiFranco and the Nixons.

This is the stuff that has turned Carolyn’s Mother into one of the most popular bands on the Front Range- filling venues wherever they play. But more, the band has also been hard at work creating a touring circuit out of state that includes cities stretching from Tempe to Lincoln to Chicago. In Fort Collins, Carolyn’s Mother has been playing venues such as the Aggie Theater. Watch for upcoming dates as well as another new album due out in the spring, tentatively titled “It’s All Gone Horribly Pear Shaped.”

Neil Haverstick Other Worlds

If you’re a science fiction fan, you probably know about the excitement of possibilities. After all, science fiction is based on flights of imagination that ask about what could be in this vast universe.

To understand the “what could be” of music, turn to Denver guitarist and composer Neil Haverstick. Haverstick is a music activist who has guided a keen interest in alternative sounds into outer space. His music is just like science fiction- taking existing materials and mutating them into something new, even alien.

Haverstick is known as a leading figure in a small, but courageous music movement exploring the possibilities of not only 12 tone music- the traditional western musical mode- but also music based on 19 and 34 tones. Haverstick, along with other musicians/instrument-makers such as John Starrett, have been composing and performing music on custom instruments in an effort to challenge the ear and the mind.

On his 1997 CD release, “Acoustic Stick,” Haverstick offered 6 brain-bending tracks played on odd acoustic instruments. On his brand new CD release, “Other Worlds,” Haverstick goes electric- playing a 34 tone Telecaster, among other things- and reaches much further out into space. With only 4 tracks, all timing out over ten minutes each, the music is allowed plenty of time to grow and develop.

Long, droning movements are balanced by weird, overlapping guitar lines sending the listener into unfamiliar territory. The album itself is “a tribute to Outer Space” and delivers with deep, perhaps even disturbing intensity. This music would be great for a road trip to Mars or a cruise to the outer rings of Saturn- or at least as a soundtrack to a science fiction movie where the landscape is strange and time stands still. For more information: stick@uswest.net.

Marla Stone- Colorado Music Showcase

The control room at KPAW-FM, (known as 107.9, the Bear,) is probably like just about any other radio control room in the country. CDs are scattered all around, concert announcements are taped to the wall, and the sound mixing board sprouts wires that snake off to headphones and microphones. The computer screen reveals just how much of the commercial and music programming is done in advance and the ever-present clock above it all defines what it’s all about- filling time with music and messages.

But on closer investigation, there’s much more to this little room than first meets the eye. Many of the CDs strewn throughout the room bear names that are not nearly as familiar as musicians such as Tom Petty, Bob Seeger or the Rolling Stones- like Mazard and Brakeman Junction. The band pictures pinned on the wall have the same effect- instead of Bonnie Raitt or Melissa Etheridge, the photos are of groups such as Runaway Truck Ramp, the Eclectic Cats and Bretheren Fast.

This particular control room is ground zero for one of the most unique radio shows on the air on the Front Range. That is, the Colorado Music Showcase, a one hour program scheduled for Sunday nights from 9-10 p.m.. Founded and facilitated by DJ Marla Stone, the Colorado Music Showcase focuses on local and regional music and insures that what is going out over the air during this time slot is unique. Chances are that you aren’t going to be able to hear this selection of music anywhere else.

Despite the fact that Stone is one of the Bear’s most prominent DJs throughout the week, she lives for this one hour on Sundays. This means continually soliciting material, listening to everything she receives and even selling the ads that keep the Colorado Music Showcase on the air.

“I put in a lot of time on the show because I think it matters,” Stone says in between spinning discs, scanning band promotional material and running commercials.

The Colorado Music Showcase has been running on the Bear for just a little under a year. The show’s roots stretch back to Stone’s experiences as a DJ in Florida.

“In Florida, I was working for this huge monster station that was willing to do something unheard of- which was to put local music into regular rotation. The ratings went through the roof,” Stone says. “When I got here, I discovered that there was ten times the talent. It’s just that nobody seemed to know about it.”

When Stone approached her employers at the Bear about creating a local music show, the answer was pretty straight forward- to have the show, you have to sell the show. A quick five phones calls later, Stone had the show sold to advertisers such as the Aggie Theater and Hapi Skratch Records and the Colorado Music Showcase was born.

This has put Stone into the thick of the regional music scene. Thanks to an open-minded attitude, this gives local musicmakers the rare chance to be heard on the radio no matter what genre of music they play.

“I just play the music- that’s what I’m here to do,” Stone says. “My job is not to make any judgements about the music. The only thing I do is make sure that it can be on the air.”

Stone’s passion for Colorado music becomes obvious as she fills each week’s time slot with music by artists such as Dave Beegle, Jimmy Cacciatore, Fatt Cat Freddie and Crypto Star. She mixes the pumped up funk of Sho’ Nuff with the jazz of Marc Sabatella. The power punk of All airs right next to the hard rock of Rexway.

But playing the music on the radio is not the end of support Stone is trying to drum up for regional musicians. She takes it one step further and encourages listeners to go out and spend their entertainment dollars on local music. She not only identifies what music she is playing during the show, but she also tells her audience where they can purchase their CDs and where they can see the musicians perform.

“If punk isn’t your thing, then go listen to some gospel music. The important thing is to get out of your house and go support these musicians,” says Stone. “Don’t tape this stuff off the radio, but go out and buy it.”

The pace is a little frantic in the control room of the Bear when Stone is in the middle of the Colorado Music Showcase. After all, this is live radio and Stone is doing her best to plug ten or more Colorado artists into a single hour. This perhaps is what leads to the only complaint about the Colorado Music Showcase that comes to mind- one hour just isn’t enough.

Area musicians are encouraged to send CDs and biography material to Stone at: 107.9, the Bear, 1612 LaPorte Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80521. You will be heard.

CD Review – Lloyd Drust “Watchin’ the World Go By”

When listening to Fort Collins singer songwriter Lloyd Drust’s new release, “Watchin’ the World Go By,” you may find yourself leaning forward, trying to listen closer. For the most part, the arrangements on the 11-track album are spare and subdued, leaving only Drust’s voice and lyrics with the job of telling the very human stories that weave through his songs.

What Drust reveals in his songs is a world full of heartbreaks and disappointments, as well as hope. From the former beauty queen passed out drunk in a bar to the dreamer who wants to be the man in the moon, vivid characters are the subjects of Drust’s tales, which are told with a straight forward, but sympathetic honesty. The hope comes from Drust’s belief that “things will get worse, but they may get better,” which is reflected in his songs by the stubborn survival most of the characters assume, even in dire times.

“Watchin’ the World Go By” started with a batch of 25 songs that he recorded after the release of his first album, “Junkman.” But quantity did not mean quality for Drust, especially when looking for a cohesive sound. After a year’s hiatus, Drust returned to working on the album and new songs started flowing. He combined three pieces from his first effort with “a couple more” and then ended up writing the rest while working on the production. What he accomplished is a combination of songs that hang together as a whole and create a vivid, stark human landscape.

CD Review – Twelve Cents for Marvin “King of the Ring”

What do you look for in a party record? What I look for is something that has a lot of moods as well as songs long enough to establish a flow. While I like variety, I pretty much like things to be upbeat as far as rhythms are concerned. And it doesn’t hurt if the music makes fellow partiers ask “Who’s this?”

I have discovered that very same party record- with all those qualifications- in Twelve Cents for Marvin’s brand new CD release on Ingy Records, “King of the Ring.” The band’s name probably sounds familiar because this Fort Collins-based group has become a popular attraction on the regional nightclub scene. Twelve Cents for Marvin- complete with horn section- is certainly energetic on stage and that has won the band awards and inspired students at CSU to name them Best Local Band.

Twelve Cents for Marvin is just as energetic on “King of the Ring.” A lot of the music on the record is based on ska, which means the tempo stays light and bouncy. Even when the seven-piece showband brings things down to a lower groove, it isn’t long before it gets cranked back up again. Throughout the album, the group explores plenty of different moods, but they’re savvy enough to know that the rhythm needs to keep the heart pumping.

With obvious improvement in the areas of arrangement, performance and sound quality over their debut release, “Yellow Raincoat,” “King of the Ring” also shows a maturity in terms of presentation. There is a definite and deliberate flow to the succession of songs on the album. There are vocals and chunks of layered horn work, as well as sections that allow soloists to shine. Twelve Cents for Marvin has learned not only how to establish a groove, but also how to work it.

That’s what will make the heads turn at the party, wondering what’s on the box. Even better is the fact that this is a homegrown band. MTV drones and radio potatoes will have to dig deep to even guess which band it is. Don’t leave them guessing for too long, however, because “King of the Ring” is plenty good enough to share.

Christine Stevens: The Drum Woman

When you think about it, it should come as no surprise that drumming continues to be a vital personal expression. After all, your own heart is beating like a drum right inside you. That primal rhythm is where it starts. Where it goes from there, however, is up to the imagination.

That kind of thought is currently bringing people all over the country together in what is called a “drum circle.” These gatherings attract people from all walks of life and while some have specific themes- like a men’s drum circle, or a women’s drum circle- they all are aimed at bringing people together and allowing them to be personally creative at the same time.

Longtime Fort Collins drum circle facilitator Christine Stevens has seen time and time again the powerful effect community drumming has. That includes going beyond preconceived ideas about what it’s like to play a drum in the first place.

“The stereotype is that the drum is a loud, hitting thing, that it is jarring and somehow uncomfortable. But the biggest comment I get after a session is that people feel relaxed, they feel connected,” Stevens said recently.

Stevens has been leading the Fort Collins Women’s Drum Circle for the last three years. During that time, she has seen plenty of development in a group that ranges in ages from three years old to seventy.

“There has been a lot of musical improvement. We have been playing more confidently together and there have been more creative ideas,” Stevens said. “This is a place for women who have wanted to play drums all their lives to get together in an environment that feels safe and supportive.”

According to Stevens, women were the first drummers and her work with the women’s drum circle builds on an “ancient historical pallet.”

With a Masters degree in social work and as a Board certified Music Therapist, Stevens has also created UpBeat Drum Circles, a business designed to bring the discovery and excitement of drum circles into the workplace and at special events. Her scrapbook is bulging with programs and pictures from events she has presided at- like Take Back the Night and the NewWestFest- as well as letters praising her work from organizations such as Up With People and the Girl Scouts of America.

Stevens is particularly excited about her work with young women. For example, she lead a drumming session during last year’s special program, “Journey: A Young Women’s Conference,” held at CSU, and the results were impressive.

“There were 300 girls and just the number alone was amazing. But once we got going, they got caught up in a kind of musical contagiousness. Not only was it great getting so many people to play together, it was musically awesome,” Stevens said.

An energetic and ambitious person, Stevens is also working with representatives of the Mountain Prairie Girl Scouts Council on a plan to create a drumming patch- and maybe even get a drummer onto a cookie box. What she hopes to accomplish, however, is not just to create a new program, but to have a positive effect on young women’s lives.

“If girls can experience some freedom and creativity through drumming, I hope that it can resonate in their lives in other ways,” Stevens said.

Offering general programs in corporate development, diversity training, team building and health and wellness, Stevens’ UpBeat Drum Circles aims at “making the invisible…visible” through a process where hidden resources are discovered. In turn, Stevens’ work also works toward “making the visible…invisible” by breaking down corporate hierarchies as well as racial and ethnic differences with instruments that “give everyone a voice.”

“Drums somehow overcome all the things that stop people from making music. We may turn away, but the primal beat just keeps on calling,” Stevens said.

Stevens will be participating in the second annual Journey: A Young Women’s Conference in Greeley on February 17. She will also be involved in the Fort Collins conference set for April 7 at CSU. Meanwhile, Stevens will be teaming up with Colorado Drum and Percussion for a four week series of public drum circle sessions starting on February 8. These sessions will include some instruction as well as participation in “musical spirit.” For information, call Stevens at 416-8974 or check her website at www.ubdrumcircles.com.

Eve’s Drop

I’ve seen the future of progressive rock in northern Colorado and its name is Eve’s Drop. A recent showcase performance at Avogadro’s Number during local music celebration Musicfest 2000 revealed a deep, dark and expressive music that gathered emotion and attitude with a blast of electricity. Between lead singer Kristi Stice’s charismatic presence and guitarist Mike Lopez’s swirling, searing leads, their set was a strong message that prog rock is not only alive, but in good hands.

Eve’s Drop’s debut album, “The Specter” on Hapi Skratch Records, does everything their live set did, but even more thanks to great production work. The album was produced by Lopez and regional super-guitarist Dave Beegle and features guest musicians such as Mike Olson on bass and Taylor Mesple on accordion. Center stage here, however, is Eve’s Drop’s tough rock. It’s no mistake that Eve’s Drop’s original tunes are complimented by Berlin and Concrete Blonde covers- these songs are a natural fit.

Lopez, of course, has been working in the progressive rock vein for several years, including his work with bands such as Nil and Reconcile. Eve’s Drop continues this direction with style. For information, call Hapi Skratch at 613-8879 or at www.hapiskratch.com.

Eve’s Drop

Music didn’t appear in guitarist Mike Lopez’s life until his senior year in high school. At that time, it gave him something more than what he was finding in other directions.

“When I was in high school and into the college years, I was bright, but I never really applied myself to anything,” Lopez remembers. “But what I found in music was a new way to speak; a whole new vocabulary. It was something to really latch onto and I haven’t quit since.”

Since then, the Fort Collins guitarist has worked in several different contexts in the area. First there was the “jive rock” band Nil. Next came Sacred Latin. After that, Lopez created a studio album, titled “Reconcile,” featuring top regional players as well as a wide range of pop-oriented sounds.

Lopez’s current project is the rock band Eve’s Drop. Lopez has turned influences such as Concrete Blonde, Berlin and the Cowboy Junkies into a whole new musical direction.

“The ‘Reconcile’ project was more about hiring musicians and covering different musical styles. But it was something that I couldn’t support live,” Lopez said. ”After that, I became interested in creating more of an identity, a consistent sound. That’s when I decided to go the female singer route.”

Lopez began writing songs and approached area singer Kristi Stice to start the long evolution of Eve’s Drop. Last January, the band celebrated the release of their first CD, titled “The Specter.” The project took two years to complete and yielded eight tracks of dark, fully emotional rock.

“The Specter” balances two powerful musical elements. One is the alluring quality of Stice’s vocal work. The other is Lopez’s swirling, snarling guitar leads. The album, released on the Hapi Skratch Records label, was co-produced by Dave Beegle and gave Lopez the chance to expand his own studio experience.

“Dave can take a lot of credit for the sound of the recordings. He brought a strong ear as far as what to put into the mix to round out the tracks,” Lopez said. “My arranging and production skills really matured on this project. It took two years, but every time we went into the studio, it went really fast.”

It should come as no surprise, considering the direct influences on the project, that “The Specter” not only features original songs, but also a pair of covers by Berlin and Concrete Blonde.

More than a recording unit, however, Eve’s Drop is also a performing group and has played gigs at regional venues such as the Soiled Dove, Mishawaka, Avogadro’s Number and at the Brew Fest.

According to Lopez, the band’s style challenges the musical status quo.

“We don’t really fit in, which is good, I think,” he said. “There are a lot of good musicians out there, but few are willing to take risks by going outside of what’s going on around them. I hear a lot of ska, punk and adult acoustic music, but not much of what we play.”

Eve’s Drop, also featuring Jerry Bosquet on drums and Tyffany Sarrafian on bass, will be performing at Avogadro’s Number on Saturday.

Colorado Music Column – Mark Sloniker

The jazz music scene on Wednesday nights at the Crown Pub is archetypal of jazz music scenes in just about any city in the world. That is, a jamming jazz band playing for a small but diverse crowd of listeners in a close, intimate environment.

The music is a seamless blend of tunes by composers such as Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk. The players are both seasoned veterans and music students who each wait their turn to test their musical skills as part of a band while coming up with some tasty improvised licks as soloists. And it’s all happening in a tucked away basement venue that seems perfect for the music.

“Jazz belongs in a cellar,” said keyboardist Mark Sloniker, one of the leading players at the weekly jazz event. “This is the size of club where jazz gets made.”

Along with saxophonist Jim Franzen, Sloniker has created a “fertile environment” for jazz at the Crown Pub. That environment is good for both the players and the audience, who Sloniker believes shares in the creation of the music as well.

“This music never gets played the same way twice so it’s like the audience is making the music up, too. It’s like we’re all on a team together,” Sloniker said.

At the Crown Pub, the team not only includes Sloniker and Franzen, but also other musicians such as Denver drummer Mark Raynes and Fort Collins bassist Jason Hollar. It also includes guest musicians, sometimes including music students who Sloniker characterizes as “playing way too dangerously for people that young.” Just as the music attracts players of varying ages, it also attracts an audience that spans generations.

“Jazz is so cool because it reaches young people, old people and in between people,” Sloniker said. “I love this music.”

Jazz music is scheduled at the Crown Pub on Wednesdays in a smoke-free environment. Sloniker also performs at Jay’s Bistro every Thursday through Saturday and at Juan’s Cantina in Loveland on Tuesdays.

Pfeuffer and Solomon: As leader of bands including acoustic trio Migration, and full-sized acoustic-based rock band Windfall, Fort Collins singer-songwriter Randy Pfeuffer has carved out a solid reputation as an impassioned local musician. Pfeuffer’s latest collaboration with guitarist Jesse Solomon has resulted in a 10-song CD release titled “Where Do We Go From Here” that collects together some of Pfeuffer’s best songs.

Central to the music on the album is Pfeuffer’s distinctive vocals and the earnestness of the songs. With a deep sincerity, Pfeuffer turns over the complexities of relationships while his voice makes the words soar. Here, the emotion that Pfeuffer instills in the music becomes as important as the words themselves. This is all underscored by Solomon’s expressive guitar work and contributions by guest artists such as Canebrake Run drummer Norris Jones and keyboardist Randy Miotke. Pfeuffer and Solomon will be celebrating the release of “Where Do We Go From Here” at Linden’s on Tuesday. Information: 482-9291.

Colorado Music Report – Clockworked

Fine melodies and emotional honesty are only part of the package on Fort Collins pop rock band Clockworked’s debut album release on Hapi Skratch Records, “It’s Raining Again.” Also add in a full band sound that carefully balances acoustic and electric instruments, swells to dramatic climaxes and brings an infectious and positive energy to the serious subjects in the songs.

Clockworked was formed in 1998 in Fort Collins when the musicians- all students at Colorado State University- discovered that they were kindred spirits as they began working on their first song as a group- “Coffee Stains.” By January 1999, Clockworked had produced enough original material to book the Lory Student Center Theater at CSU for recording sessions that not only documented the band’s first songs, but also inspired on-the-spot composition of several new ones. These sessions, plus work in drummer Paul Maurer’s home studio, produced the tracks that became ”It’s Raining Again.”

Besides Hunt and Maurer- who also served as the producer for “It’s Raining Again”- Clockworked also features bassist Adam Brinkman, guitarist Tim Cravens and guitarist/vocalist Brian Davis.

Colorado Music Report – Jim Schulte

All you really need to know about Fort Collins keyboardist Jim Schulte is in the music on his debut solo CD, “When I Dream.” That’s where this ambitious artist reveals all that is important to him, including full melodies, delicate arrangements and compositions that go far beyond the reach of words. Schulte’s music touches the heart and lifts the spirit in a triumph of instrumental mastery.

How Schulte got to this point is secondary. His introduction to music came at age thirteen when the young Chicago native learned to play the accordion. He not only learned the instrument, but he also competed with it and won both the Illinois State Championship as well as the National Championship. In college, Schulte switched to piano, but rather than become a music teacher, Schulte started performing in bands. This began a long, twenty-year period of playing rock and blues in various groups and “kind of toying” with music.

Then something important happened. Schulte found that keyboard technology had developed to a point where whole new worlds of music were open to players who were willing to indulge their imagination. Emulating artists such as Yanni, Jim Brickman and Acoustic Alchemy, he set to work writing his own music, which had nothing to do with smoky night clubs or the constrictions of mainstream music trends. Thanks to the encouragement of other local artists in his current hometown of Fort Collins, Colorado, Schulte then set his sights on recording the tracks that would become “When I Dream.”

The results are clear. The music on “When I Dream” unfolds with grace, passion and drama. From rolling, swelling solo piano to the inspired sound of rich orchestration, the album features a wide range of emotions and moods. Recorded by Russ Hopkins at KIVA studios, Schulte’s compositions range from introspective and intimate to powerful and bold, proof that with the right tools, anything is possible. Schulte calls it “heart and soul music” and he delivers with a sensitive, creative touch.

Here, the music is the most important part of the story. Finding his musical voice in the wonders of contemporary technology has created “a little slice of heaven” for Schulte and “When I Dream” is just the beginning. Work has already begun on a new set of piano compositions. Meanwhile, “When I Dream” introduces a new composer and recording artist with style. To contact Schulte: e-mail JRS3601@aol.com.

Colorado Chords: The Innocence

The Innocence is a Fort Collins pop folk group that sings songs about the lives that we all lead, that is if we’re honest with ourselves.

On their recent CD release, “Stone Flowers,” the Innocence serves up original songs that start right there- honesty. That is, the honesty that is not afraid to admit confusion and question along with joy and passion. For the Innocence, these things come out of the things closest at hand- personal relationships, family, going to work and living in a landscape of constant change.

What underscores the relevancy of the Innocence’s tunes is the give and take of the lead vocal work. Husband and wife musical team Billy and Kathleen Jones take turns singing the songs, giving each a personal signature while forming an atmosphere where each voice- and each viewpoint- is given the opportunity to be heard. What is revealed is plenty about the individuals and the therapeutic power that comes from allowing what simmers underneath the surface to be expressed.

On “Stone Flowers,” the Innocence frame this lyrical honesty with a creative folk-based sound that is not shy of stepping into both rock and pop territories. Electric guitar leads and driving percussion make the music groove while the Jones’ vocal harmonies keep things grounded. The Innocence also features Mark Foerster on bass and Martin Poole on percussion with James Woodward on lead guitar. “Stone Flowers” was recorded by Russ Hopkins at KIVA Recording. For information about the Innocence, call 970-223-2450.

Colorado Chords: Carole and Teresa Lundgren

When the Lundgrens play their violins together, there’s a point where you forget that these two are very young musicians. Carole Lundgren is just sixteen years old and her younger sister, Teresa, isn’t even a teenager yet- she’s twelve. But when the duo break into an energetic tune on their instruments, their ages fall away and music takes over.

The music is a mix that includes old time, bluegrass and Celtic classics that the Lundgrens have learned from books, tapes and sheet music. But the Lundgrens take these familiar-sounding melodies- like “Bonaparte’s Retreat” and “The Orange Blossom Special”- and give them fresh life thanks to a skilled and spirited musical synchronicity.

At a recent appearance at Avogadro’s Number in Fort Collins, the Lundgrens, from Windsor, entertained with a lively performance that had an audience of all ages clapping along to the songs and applauding enthusiastically for each number. This crowd reaction is not unusual at a Lundgrens concert, creating memorable events such as the duo’s appearance at Lucky Joe’s for St Patrick’s Day in 1999.

The Lundgrens have been playing violin together for eight years. After gaining experience through public performances, the pair recently went into Fort Collins recording studio KIVA to record their first album.

The result is a CD titled “Random Acts of Fiddling,” an energetic collection of instrumental tunes covering a variety of music including not only folk and bluegrass, but also Scottish airs, Irish jigs and ragtime. The Lundgrens’ violin duets are accompanied by guitar and mountain dulcimer played by Fort Collins musician Steve Eulberg. Eulberg also served as producer for the album.

Between successful performances and a great sounding record, the Lundgrens have already achieved plenty. Carole also practices and performs with Poudre High School orchestra groups and the Rocky Mountain Youth Orchestra. She is also a substitute player for the Cheyenne Symphony, which provides a whole different challenge for this ambitious musician.

For information on “Random Acts of Fiddling,” call Owl Mountain Music at 970-472-1352.

Colorado Music Report – Steve Eulberg

As a performer, arranger and recording artist- and as an ordained Lutheran pastor- Fort Collins multi-instrumentalist Steve Eulberg uses music to encourage people to open up and grow. From recording and performing traditional sacred songs to arranging contemporary church liturgy, Eulberg focuses on how music becomes a positive influence in people’s lives.

Eulberg pursues this goal by being both the music director of the Lutheran Campus Ministry at Colorado State University and as an active musician. Eulberg often plays public gigs in the area, showcasing his talents on instruments including the mountain dulcimer, the hammered dulcimer, guitar and percussion. He also travels regionally, playing at youth events and helping direct other church music programs.

His passion for music has also taken him to the annual Walnut Valley Flatpicking Festival and National Championships held in Winfield, Kansas. Besides getting to the finals for the hammered dulcimer competition this year and winning second place in the 1998 mountain dulcimer competition, he has also become part of a nation-wide network of musicians who relish the sound of the dulcimer.

Eulberg has been releasing his own independent recordings since 1985. These include several tape compilations of music and his 1998 CD collection of vocal songs, “Holy Mountain.” His most recent CD release is a 16-track instrumental album titled “Hark, the Glad Sound!” which transforms familiar sacred melodies such as “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” into a warm, rich tapestry of sound.

Eulberg’s other recent projects have included acting as producer and session player for an upcoming album release by Windsor teenage fiddling duo Carole and Teresea Lungren. The album is titled “Random Acts of Fiddling” and features instrumental workings of tunes such as “Bonaparte’s Retreat” and “Orange Blossom Special.” Also, Eulberg has been working on a performance project with the Rainbow Chorus that will feature his work on the hammered dulcimer, the mountain dulcimer and the didjeridoo.

Northern Hotel

The Northern Hotel has been sold.

Perhaps recent arrivals to the Fort Collins area might not consider this news as much more than another real estate footnote- especially in these boom town times. But to longtime city residents, the “done deal” is nearly as shocking as the turn of the millennium itself. The transfer of ownership of the Northern- promoted for a long time as “the symbol of Fort Collins”- and its change in purpose in the near future means the passing of an era

Nobody knows that better than former Northern owner Bill Starke. On and off, for the nearly 28 years, Starke has tried every creative trick in the book to keep the stately, old building active and vital. That includes encouraging everything from popular Mexican restaurants to fledgling newspapers- like the Scene.

“I’m just a small fixture in the scope of things,” Starke says modestly. “The people who work here, and many other people, have made things happen.”

Still, Starke has seen a long history of small businesses, artists and musicians pass through the doors of the Northern. He can stand in the middle of the hotel’s longtime nightclub, the Bar Bazaar, and remember the highlights of countless performances by national-level touring artists, such as folk legend Odetta, and by local musicians such as the Bazaar’s most popular band currently, Peek Freenz. Starke can pass by the doors of the offices on the second floor- just up the wide, luxurious stairs- and recall who rented and what they did.

Starke can also tell the story about the devastating fire started by a resident smoking in bed; about the time the fire department shut the building down due to what he calls “quasi-safety” regulations; and about the time they discovered the great stained glass dome that had been covered up by a second ceiling for 37 years in the hotel dining room.

But more than just recent history, Starke is also a reservoir of stories from the more distant past.

“There was a train station just a block away from the building and porters would bring their carts over to move the luggage,” Starke says. “I’ve been told by some oldtimers that many of the big time bands of the 20’s and 30’s played here. It was a major stop for the bands because they could stay at the hotel, play at CSU and entertain here at night.”

Construction began on the Northern Hotel in 1904 and over the years such famous figures as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Olivia de Haviland, John Wayne, William Jennings Bryant, Arther Godfrey and Vincent Price either dined or stayed at the Northern. Also, during World War Two, soldiers were quartered in the Northern while taking officer training- 300 of them at a time. The Northern was also the site for countless marriages and receptions.

“This was the ‘pearl of northern Colorado,’” says Starke. “But after the motels started coming in and cultural changes happened, it began to get run down.”

Starke first became owner of the Northern in 1972 because he “felt this was a highly redeemable building.” But since then, he has come to understand that many other people in the area have also felt a certain ownership of the building as well.

“Over the last 27 plus years, there have been a huge amount of people who have asked me ‘What are you doing to my hotel?’ There has definitely been a sense of community ownership here,” Starke says. “A thousand different people have a thousand different ideas about what should be done here.”

Some of the public’s ideas about the Northern, however, have not always been positive. Starke maintains that despite generally “well-meaning authorities,” some public officials in particular have appeared to be on “a mission to destroy the building” over the years.

Starke’s mission has been to keep the Northern active by not only renting to various small businesses, such as clothing and cellular phone stores, but also turning it into a kind of cultural arts haven.

“We knew we had to get life back into the building and we thought that artists, crafts people and musicians could give the Northern a cultural push and energy,” Starke says.

The Bar Bazaar, for example, was originally conceived of as a place for “little shops and tradesmen” to set up each day- like a bazaar. The bazaar part never materialized, but the space became a nightclub local musicians could count on to provide a place to play- either as part of a featured band or as a participant in regular open stages for songwriters.

As a result of his support for the arts, the Northern has been the site of innumerable open mics, poetry readings, art exhibits and publication parties. The Scene had its first office in the Northern when the paper began publication in 1990 and celebrated the first issue with a concert by the Liz Barnez Band right in the heart of the common area of the building.

Of course, it also hasn’t hurt the Northern’s reputation in recent years to be the home of Gonzalo’s Restaurant, a popular eatery serving Mexican cuisine. Good, hearty food offered in the relaxed atmosphere of the Northern’s dining room- complete with the famous stained-glass dome- has been a strong draw for area residents.

The Northern has been purchased by a nonprofit organization called Funding Partners, who have joined together with the National Development Council to buy the building. The purchase has also been aided by historical grants. Plans for the future of the facility include subsidized senior housing, providing 47 units of affordable apartments for residents aged 55 and older.

The non-profit status of the purchasers gives rise to a little of Starke’s dry humor, who maintains “I have been a non-profit for nearly 30 years. I just didn’t have the 501-C3 to go along with it.”

Renovation plans- which could take up to two years to complete- include maintaining “any redeeming qualities” of the building. However, there is no doubt that the character of the Northern will change. For Starke, that means some bitter-sweet emotions, though he is willing to overlook those for the sake of the building.

“If this new plan restores and solidifies the building for another 25 years, that’s not a bad thing in the long run,” he says.

For his personal future, Starke has already bought a church building in Eaton and has plans to turn it into an art gallery. But for the community, the memories of the Northern Hotel’s past will linger long after Starke has muscled his furniture and belongings down from the fourth floor of the Northern and out the door.

Before the new era begins, though, there will be one more grand opportunity for Fort Collins area residents to party at the Northern. That is a final New Year’s Eve bash, featuring Peek Freenz in the Bar Bazaar, and an open house all around the facility. Current friends of the Northern and the ghosts of friends from time gone by can gather for this one last blow-out celebration, swapping stories of the past and maybe making a few more before the hotel begins its next transformation.

Dave Beegle

To some, the guitar is just a collection of wood and wires. To a musician like Dave Beegle, however, the guitar is breath and blood and mind. That can be the only explanation for the tremendous output of this talented instrumentalist, composer and producer. If you’re lucky enough to be listening to the 1998 special edition CD compilation of Beegle’s recorded work- “The some-what Definitive” featuring tracks by the Artifact Symphony, the Beegle-Olson-Quist Trio, Fourth Estate and Blinddog Smokin’- then the extent of his musical creativity will be clear. If you aren’t so lucky, then prepare to do some digging in order to become acquainted with “one of the most renowned underground guitarists of our time” (Great Guitar Sites on the Web.)

The place to start is with seminal Colorado progressive rock band Fourth Estate. As a trio, Fourth Estate has challenged and expanded the boundaries of instrumental rock ‘n’ roll with two albums of groundbreaking recordings and countless jaw-dropping performances. As the group’s frontman, Beegle has proven to be a virtuoso electric guitar player, spraying a thousand notes over thick layers of bass and drums to create an exciting and inspiring music. It’s inspiring because it has turned the heads of hundreds of young guitarists attending performances all the way from Denver to Chicago and back. It’s exciting because this is world-class art. From the familiar sounds of blues-rock to the exotic complexities of Bulgarian folk influences, Fourth Estate’s music travels far and wide, all the while maintaining a high standard of musicianship and performance savvy.

But Fourth Estate is only just the beginning for Beegle’s boundless musical ambitions. Beegle has also played extensively with multi-talented vocalist Beth Quist and bassist Michael Olson in the Beegle-Olson-Quist Trio. He has also recorded with progressive techno/art band, the Artifact Symphony, and down and dirty blues rockers Blinddog Smokin’. You can also hear Beegle’s guitar work on CD projects by singer-songwriters Jonathan Tiersten and Keith Rosenhagen and new pop-rock units such as Reconcile, Martha’s Wake and the Indica Gypsies. Add in Beegle’s live work as a solo acoustic artist as well as with classic rock group the Jurrasicasters, the Guitar Rangers and the Black Sabbath cover band War Pigs, and you’re beginning to see the depth and breadth of this active artist’s experience.

It should come as no surprise that Beegle uses his extensive musical knowledge in other ways as well. He is also a guitar teacher as well as an active record producer. Besides producing albums for many of the artists already mentioned, Beegle has also worked on the other side of the recording console with manic rock band Liquid Playground, singer-songwriter Ty Whisenhunt and Christian acoustic artist Danny Oertli..

Still, the guitar remains Beegle’s first love. That’s why he was tapped to be the demonstrator for the revolutionary new guitar invention- the Transperformance Automatic Tuning Guitar. Featuring the innovative Digital Tuning System, a device that allows a guitarist to access thousands of tunings at the touch of a finger, this futuristic instrument has garnered praise from such luminaries as Jimmy Page, Graham Nash and Eddie Van Halen. Beegle, however, was the first player to record with the Automatic Tuning Guitar (on Fourth Estate’s 1992 release, “Finesse and Fury”) and he has been playing it on stage for more than seven years. This puts Beegle right on the cutting edge of the international contemporary guitar community.

Most recently, Beegle released “A Year Closer,” a solo acoustic album featuring his flamenco guitar stylings. The album is not only a superb work of musicianship- with top notch production values- but it has also inspired Beegle’s new band project, the Dave Beegle Acoustic Band. Also featuring percussionist Erik Meyer, bassist Mike Olsen and guitarist Aaron Lee, the group performs original music and the occasional cover- like “3rd Stone From the Sun” by Jimi Hendrix.

Beegle’s career as a producer also continues with a dizzying number of projects in the works, ranging from pop alternative bands to a solo piano album of hymns. In the planning stages is another acoustic album- or maybe two- a full-length Artifact Symphony CD and a new Fourth Estate project.

The Dave Beegle Acoustic Band has been holding down a regular Thursday night gig at the Vault in Fort Collins. They are also booked for a date at the Cactus Grille in Loveland on November 17. Beegle is also looking forward to a special holiday show, with Perpetual Motion, Taylor Mesple and Keith Rosenhagen at the Rialto Theater on December 1. Also watch for Beegle with the Jurassicasters at the Country Cork on December 8.

University Center for the Arts

It was a bright and sunny day for the arts in Fort Collins when Colorado State University President Albert C. Yates stepped up to the microphone on the lawn in front of the old Fort Collins High School building. Yates was there for a press conference to announce the substantial progress that has been made on the University Center for the Arts, which will be housed in a school building that was described as a “piece of our culture.”

“We want to fill these halls with music again,” Yates told a crowd of donors, arts patrons, press and University officials.

Thanks to crisp, clear Colorado weather, and perhaps a proud afterglow following CSU’s decisive football victory over Brigham Young University the night before, the event took on an upbeat atmosphere. Green and gold balloons bobbed playfully in the breeze as Yates and other speakers offered passionate words about the place of the arts in the community and the tremendous support that the University Center for the Arts has already attracted.

“We are investing in human potential,” Yates said. “The arts are the cornerstone of human expression.”

The University Center for the Arts will feature a 500-seat concert hall, a 300-seat theatre, a 300-seat recital hall and a blackbox theatre. It will house C.S.U.’s music, theatre and dance programs as well as a visual arts gallery, dance studios, recital and rehearsal space, a natural history collection, offices, classrooms and laboratories. Yates took this public opportunity to report that C.S.U. has already raised $5.7 million toward their $7 million goal in a $28 million project.

C.S.U. purchased the former high school building in September 1997 for $4.1 million through funds appropriated by the Colorado General Assembly. The Assembly has also committed $18.6 million in capital construction funds for the project. Built in 1923, the building received a local historic landmark designation from the City of Fort Collins Landmark Preservation Commission in 1994. With the stately brick and column architecture of the old high school in the background, representatives of major donors joined Yates in expressing their excitement over the project.

“The University Center for the Arts represents a lasting commitment to the arts because that is what inspires the human spirit,” said David Wood of the Griffin Foundation.

The Griffin Foundation has contributed the “centerpiece gift” of $2 million to the University Center for the Arts campaign. Both the Stryker Short Foundation and the Serimus Foundation have contributed $1 million. Other major donors include the Monfort Family Foundation, the Adolph Coors Foundation, the Boettcher Foundation and the Gates Family Foundation.

Yates called the contributions an “extraordinarily strong testament” to support for the arts in the Fort Collins community. It also reflects the general success that C.S.U. has been enjoying as a top state institution.

“We’re doing great. We’re doing better every year,” Yates declared. “We enroll more Colorado residents than any other institution in the state…The secret is out. People know who we are and they’re coming.”

The University Center for the Arts is scheduled to be completed in four phases, ranging from design to renovation to new construction. The final target date for completion of the project is fall 2006.

Your imaginary Friend – CD Review

Recently during a special guest appearance at Avogadro’s Number, the guitarist/social commentator/musical wildman Your imaginary Friend took the stage to reveal a riveting- and almost scary- talent. That is the ability to plug in, step up to the mic and let loose with a barrage of words and lightning fast guitar riffs that does no less than stop you in your tracks. That’s because Your imaginary Friend is both musically gifted and undeniably weird.

It’s okay that I call Your imaginary Friend weird- I’m not just being an arrogant music critic. Your imaginary Friend knows he’s weird and in fact is encouraging others to come on board. That’s why he has named his debut CD release “Spread the Weird.” In the space of ten tracks- recorded in Fort Collins at KIVA- Your imaginary Friend takes you for the same kind of ride that he takes you on live. On the album, however, you can hear every nuance of this unique musician’s art.

First, there’s the guitar playing. Your imaginary Friend best identifies it as “ragtime flavored fancy fingerpickin’ acoustic jazzy mountain music 6-string guitar,” however, that’s barely an adequate number of words. Rolling from moment to moment, the music goes everywhere an acoustic guitar can go- folk, classical, ragtime, country, you name it. In the process, he makes the instrument seem to transcend itself- when Your imaginary Friend finally digs in to produce a dramatic flourish, it’s hard to believe there are only six guitar strings involved.

Balancing the guitar work are the vocals. Now this is where the weird part comes in. In a stream of consciousness style, Your imaginary Friend, wryly turns language and ideas on their ear, challenging the status quo of such sacred cows as religion while weaving together a sense of his weird philosophy of life. I say “sense” because if you think you can define Your imaginary Friend’s weirdness, you’ve probably missed the point. To underscore the weirdness in the words, Your imaginary Friend allows his voice to travel all over the map- from soft spoken to manically inspired.

This is where we return to the image of Your imaginary Friend on stage. To complement the weirdness that is so clear on “Spread the Weird,” his stage presence is equally strange. As the guitar progressions roll and the words come flooding out- maybe song lyrics or maybe some spontaneous combustion of reaction to what else is happening around him- Your imaginary Friend becomes a being possessed by the frenetic energy of the music. His hair flies around, his eyes pop out, his vocal chords strain and you’re sure that you are witnessing true sanity breakdown. This, however, is all in keeping with the artist steadfastly remaining open to “the weird.” Maybe a normal musician wouldn’t let loose so completely, but then Your imaginary Friend is anything but normal. That’s a good thing in a world full of cookie cutter everythings.

To better understand- if you really have to- pick up a copy of “Spread the Weird.” Or better yet, check out Your imaginary Friend live at Avogadro’s Number on August 5.

Your imaginary Friend

Have you ever gotten a glimpse of “the weird?” Boulder guitarist/vocalist Your imaginary Friend has and that’s what fuels his energetic and unusual performances.

“The weird” is hard to describe and according to Your imaginary Friend, it doesn’t come very often.

“If there’s an openness, the weirdness starts to happen,” he said. “It doesn’t happen all the time. It’s rare to get a glimpse of the weird. It’s a feeling of flow and of the moment.”

In Your imaginary Friend’s music, the weird manifests itself in several ways. The first is his uncanny ability to play the acoustic guitar with stop-on-a-dime precision. He calls his blend of a cornucopia of guitar styles “ragtime flavored fancy fingerpickin’ acoustic jazzy mountain music” because no single genre can keep up with Your imaginary Friend’s instrumental dexterity.

A second way the weird becomes part of Your imaginary Friend’s music is through his original lyrics. In a stream-of-consciousness style, he weaves together off-the-wall word play with a flood of philosophical, even political ideas that, naturally, challenge the accepted order of things.

The swirling lyrics and the frenzy of his guitar work are joined together by a frenetic performance style that in itself questions the boundaries of art. Stepping up to the microphone and back, releasing operatic accents, then talk-singing in a near-normal tone- there’s really no telling how Your imaginary Friend will approach the flow of the music- or the weird- at any given moment.

“I love to give people some unexpected things at a performance,” he said. “I’m trying to give space to that. It’s not totally predictable. It’s not safe. It’s a little bit dangerous.”

Your imaginary Friend was classically trained as a youth. In high school he took guitar lessons and in the Music Department at CSU, Your imaginary Friend studied music theory and learned to love the work of classical composers such as Debussy.

“That got me grounded, gave me a base,” said Your imaginary Friend “It gave me the rudiments of a language that I could use to communicate with other musicians- and with myself.”

It also introduced him to the discipline it would take to achieve the kind of musical exactness required to venture into the weird.

“I’ll sit down and practice for hours to get a finger pattern just right. I want the music to have a certain tightness,” he said.

Your imaginary Friend has not only worked on perfecting his stage show, but he has also become a recording artist. His debut CD release is titled “Spread the Weird” and was recorded at KIVA Recording in Fort Collins.

The album is a big chunk of Your imaginary Friend’s unique take on music. In the space of ten tracks, the guitar parts, the vocals and the lyrics travel all over the musical landscape.

“It’s totally a challenge to get the weird across in the studio because it’s so structured,” Your imaginary Friend said.

Structure, however, seems to offer a musician like Your imaginary Friend just the opportunity he needs to visit his “inner weirddom.” That’s clear in how his structured musical training has given him the tools to create a music that reads a wide variety of acoustic stylings with apparent ease.

Structure was also a part of the meditation practices Your imaginary Friend learned on a recent journey to an ashram in India.

“It’s paradoxical that I have felt the most free when I’ve been the most constrained,” he said.

For Your imaginary Friend, the weird is just as real as other commonly accepted ideas as political leaders. That’s why he has dedicated “Spread the Weird” to Emperor Norton I.

“Norton was a guy living in San Francisco in the late 1800’s” Your imaginary friend explained. “He just declared that he was Emperor of the United States and started carrying his own script. The crazy part is that stores and restaurants started accepting it.”

“The question it brings up is who is to say that the Emperor was no more real than the President. What is real? Who are you?”

Your imaginary Friend is currently working to build a regional following and will be performing at Avogadro’s Number on Saturday.

Pepsi Center

What does it take to be “friendly” to 22,000 people? Whatever it is, the new Pepsi Center in Denver has turned every stone to find out. The result is not only a new concert/sports/events facility capable of servicing a variety of high-attendance needs, but one whose state-of-the-art frills make it one of the nation’s top “super arenas.”

The Pepsi Center is a dream come true for both sports and entertainment, especially considering the condition of the Pepsi Center’s outdated predecessor as Denver’s major indoor arena, McNichols Arena.

“This is so much more player and performer friendly,” Pepsi Center Director of Public Relations Brian Kitts said recently on a personal tour of the arena.

For sports teams, the Pepsi Center has insured that all team needs- and comforts- are met. The Nuggets and the Avalanche both have their own locker rooms, as well as an auxiliary locker room. Visiting teams have the same. The Nuggets have facilities for pre-game activities as well as their own private practice court along with access to a player’s lounge complete with pool and video games. They also have specially built showers with nine foot tall shower heads. The Avalanche have their own sauna and medical facilities. Everything doubles for performers.

For patrons, the Pepsi Center is also meant to be “people-friendly” with its appealing design. From the careful color coordination inside the facility to the handsome green glass and red brick architecture outside, the Pepsi Center is a good-looking building that mixes style with utility. Easy access off of Speer Blvd. makes the approach to the arena easy and efficient and parking is plentiful. Twelve ticket booths help take the strain off of patrons buying seats on event nights. Though the venue seats 18,000 people for hockey games, 19,000 for basketball games and up to 22,000 for concert performances, a vertical design helps the arena remain as intimate as possible. The scoreboard can be lowered into place and features state-of-the-art video gear that produces images Kitts called “as clear as your TV at home.”

The Pepsi Center also offers a wide variety of suite options for patrons looking for services such as a wet bar, video feeds, touch-screen ordering and in-seat internet access. It also houses several premium restaurants, lots of meeting rooms, babysitting services, and a full production studio. For all levels of patrons there are both traditional and specialty concessions throughout the hallways, where displays, artwork and video screens help inform and entertain.

The arena is also a business center, housing the executive offices of both the Avalanche and the Nuggets, as well as the US West Business Center. All of these commercial ventures add up to survival for the Pepsi Center, since the operation is funded by private money.

“There isn’t an inch in this building that isn’t named after someone,” Kitts said.

That makes the Pepsi Center a busy place. But then that’s fitting considering the facility was built right in the middle of a major business renaissance of downtown Denver- particularly in the area of sports and entertainment. The Pepsi Center is only three quarters of a mile away from Coors Field and one mile away from the new Broncos stadium. The Pepsi Center shares parking with the newly renovated Elitch’s and the Denver Aquarium is also nearby. It is within a short walk from the shops and restaurants of Larimer Square, close to other downtown facilities and right next door to a major college campus.

“They say that timing is everything and, in our case, and for Denver in general, things have been pretty perfect,” Kitts said.

The Pepsi Center has already hosted a number of memorable events since opening in October 1999 with a concert by Celine Dion- like performances by Neil Diamond, the Backstreet Boys and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. The Pepsi Center has, in fact, already celebrated its one millionth patron- on february 5. Of course, there’s plenty more coming up. That includes sold-out concerts by Tina Turner, Kiss and Bruce Springsteen. The Pepsi Center will also be hosting a State Farm Insurance convention, a basketball and hockey tournament, several large car shows and the traveling Cirque du Soleil.

The Pizza Tapes – CD Review

I couldn’t resist reviewing this new release on Acoustic Disc Records- mostly because of the story behind the recordings. And I’m not just talking about the musical weight behind a meeting between three talented musicians.

While mandolinist David Grisman and guitarist Tony Rice were recording their landmark acoustic album, “Tone Poems,” in 1993, they spent a couple of nights recording with Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia. Then some pizza delivery guy snatched a tape of session mixes from Garcia’s kitchen and the material was widely bootlegged. The new Acoustic Disc release, “The Pizza Tapes,” gets an “official” version of the recordings out there, with excellent sound quality- and some perspective on the musicians.

The best thing about “The Pizza Tapes” is the chatter between the three in between their versions of traditional and contemporary material. The way they talk and laugh reveals a heightened sense of what turned out to be a one-time-thing.

The actual music produced by Grisman, Rice and Garcia is pretty tentative, however. At it’s best- like their arrangement of the traditional tune “Little Sadie”- the musicians find a good, crisp groove together. There are also flashes of really brilliant instrumental work- like in Gershwin’s “Summertime” and Miles Davis’ “So What.” But every track also has some faltering moment, which indicates how little preparation probably went into each take. And, to be honest, the vocals are a little hard on the ears at points.

But this has the allure of forbidden material- after all, it probably wouldn’t have been released if the pizza guy hadn’t help make it famous. The album will have plenty of value for fans and collectors- particularly for those glimpses into the personalities involved. The studio talk is given track numbers, which are labeled as “appetizers” and the disc itself is printed like a pizza.

Clark Bennett – Live music for 1/7/00

For Fort Collins drummer Clark Bennett, the key to jazz is the ability to change the music at will. Unfortunately, not all jazz gigs are created equally as far as opportunities for improvisation are concerned. That’s why Bennett is thankful for the regular trio gigs he plays at Elliot’s, where musical change is not only accepted, it’s preferred.

“We’re fortunate because Elliot’s encourages a lot of spontaneity. You can really play and experiment there. In fact, they want that,” Bennett said.

The musical freedom Bennett feels during his Elliot’s dates with pianist Ben Haugland and various bassists is directly reflective of the best of what attracts this longtime player to music in the first place. In this case, it is a combination of improvisation, communication with other like-minded musicians and a venue that attracts just the right kind of audience.

“The vibe of the club and the people listening to the music can definitely shape the direction an evening can go,” Bennett said.

At Elliot’s, Bennett and Haugland start with the music of musicians such as Wayne Shorter, Miles Davis and Freddie Hubbard and craft a fresh fusion sound around it. This also includes re-arranging original music Haugland writes for his other band, Pimp or Die, turning spoken word hip hop tunes into freeflowing jazz.

Bennett’s musical background, however, did not start with jazz- or even drums for that matter. As a youngster, he endured two years of violin lessons and ended up playing “a shiny curved piece of metal called a saxophone” in the school band. He bought his first drum kit when his saxophone was stolen out of the school band room.

“For me, it was an immediate spiritual moment,” Bennett remembered. “It also made sense. With the other instruments, I had to stop and think and really work at playing them. But with the drums, the music just seemed to flow out.”

From there, Bennett went about fulfilling his dreams of playing in rock bands in the Missoula, Montana area. The music ranged from Southern rock to heavy metal and jazz only entered the picture when a group of musicians from the University of Montana called Bennett to fill in for their regular drummer for a jazz gig.

“I had never even touched jazz, but when they called, I told them I was all over it,” Bennett said. “By the end I had a splitting headache because I was definitely playing out of my league. I don’t know what happened at that gig but the group ended up asking me to become their regular drummer.”

Bennett moved with his wife to Fort Collins where he once again played rock with the band Slick Machine. It wasn’t long however, before he became involved with jazz again and has played numerous jazz gigs at places such as Paris on the Poudre and the Pickle Barrel. At Elliot’s, Bennett is also featured with guitarist Bard Hoff. For Bennett, jazz continues to provide both satisfaction and inspiration.

“It is truly what I am looking for in music as far as an emotional avenue of expression,” he said.

Victor Barnes – Live music for 1/21

Some bands are the product of egos and personal aspirations. Others, like Fort Collins bluegrass fusion group Victor Barnes, are the product of circumstance.

The circumstance in this case is a healthy open mic scene that members of Victor Barnes are involved with. On Tuesdays, bandmembers host an open mic at Woody’s. On Thursdays, the event occurs at Rasta Pasta. On Saturdays, they also organize a session at Al’s Canyon Grill. In each case, musicians of all kinds line up to play- and add to the experience of a band that is getting ambitious in their own right.

It started about a year ago at Woody’s with songwriting partners and guitarists Ken Minkes and Cactus May acting as hosts for their first open mic nights. The sessions were just as important to the hosts as for the other musicians they served.

“It’s one kind of experience playing your music at home. It’s entirely different when you are out playing for people. The open mic nights have been valuable for getting experience with performances,” May said.

The open mic events not only offer experience at playing live, it also affords a lot of practice setting up equipment for a variety of musical acts, adding to the duo’s technical resume. But more important has been the connection Minkes and May have made with other local musicians.

“There are a lot of really good musicians here and the open mics got us into contact with some of them. There’s a lot more out there,” May said.

The open mic sessions have been directly responsible for attracting musicians to the still-evolving line-up of Victor Barnes. That includes mandolinist Nathan “Sonny Boy” Sitzman, who joined the band through his experiences with May and Minkes at the open mics. Victor Barnes also features Beth Mosko on violin, Zach Littlefield on congas and percussion, Chris Loftus on bass and Todd May on drums, most of whom also joined after becoming acquainted at the events.

What these musicians have come together over is a fresh and lively fusion of bluegrass music with country, rock, jazz, world music and other influences. The music is as loose and diverse as the group’s open mic sessions while approaching a progressive acoustic “new-grass” style.

“We’re mostly working on an acoustic sound because we want to see what the instruments can do rather than see what technology can do,” Minkes said.

Victor Barnes’ set list puts originals right next to a mix of material ranging from Motown songs to “older country” music by songwriters such as Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard. But no matter what the origin of the song, Victor Barnes approaches it with the same upbeat and positive energy. The intensity of the group’s performances is particularly underscored by Mosko’s expressive and dramatic solo work.

As a band, Victor Barnes has been playing local venues such as Roberto’s, Lucky Joe’s and Avogadro’s Number. The group will be playing tonight at Woody’s and are scheduled for a date at Rasta Pasta on February 11. Meanwhile band members will be continuing to host their regular open mic nights at Woody’s, Rasta Pasta and Al’s Canyon Grill.

Maggie Simpson – Live music for 1/28

Singer-songwriter and teacher Maggie Simpson believes in the creative spirit. That’s why her workshops focus on getting participants to open up. Often, they find out there is more inside themselves than they thought was possible.

“There isn’t a wrong way to express yourself, because it’s you,” Simpson said recently by phone from her home in Laramie, Wyoming. “A lot of times the biggest thing that is getting in the way is ourselves, so I look for techniques that help us get out of our own way.”

Simpson teaches workshops in both performance and expressive dance. She credits her own intensive training in these areas with transforming herself from being a very shy musician who would “sing in this really little voice” to a performer “willing to be joyous.” It has also given her the reputation to become a regular teacher at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Song School, where she instructs alongside other artists such as Patty Larkin, David Wilcox and Peter Himmelman.

“I am so grateful to be able to do this kind of work,” Simpson said. “I am always learning things about what makes people afraid of performing. It’s an extremely rich experience.”

Originally coming from a background in theater, voice and speech, Simpson has found success through music, first as part of Boulder acoustic music duo Chris and Maggie, and now as a solo act. In Chris and Maggie, Simpson shared the stage with others performers such as Doc Watson, Warren Zevon, Bela Fleck and Dan Fogelberg. As a solo artist, she recently released her first solo CD project, “OK Café.” Simpson is also a music activist, playing her own gigs, hosting a monthly open mike and organizing acoustic music showcase events called the Acoustic Carnival.

“The Acoustic Carnival began because I kept bringing different people to Laramie. The shows were a real gas and the reception was wonderful. But I wanted to make it something more than just here,” Simpson said.

The Acoustic Carnival, featuring Simpson along with other like-minded performers from different areas, has already traveled beyond Laramie to Fort Collins, Nederland and Casper. The event returns to Avogadro’s Number on Saturday and combines the talents of Simpson, Liz Barnez and Julie Hoest. Simpson will also be teaching a performance workshop at Mountain Music on Sunday.

Meadowlark Jivin’: There are two kinds of grooves in the music of Fort Collins band Meadowlark Jivin’. The most obvious groove comes from the pulse-pounding funk and soul that drives the group’s original songs. The second groove comes from poetry by vocalist and bandleader Brian Hull that fills each song with a cool, hip vision of the world. Hull’s words bump along with the syncopated rhythm of the musical arrangements like another instrument and the results are a highly infectious sound.

On an advanced copy of their current CD project, Meadowlark Jivin’ reveals that they can create the same funky stuff in the studio as they do in various northern Colorado music venues. From the fast-paced, kinetic energy of opening track “Sweettooth” to the soulful blues of the last track, “Low Down Funky Groove,” the group digs in and lets the rhythms fly, lead guitar lines trading back and forth with bursts of horn work. The album is still in production and will be released soon. Meanwhile, see Meadowlark Jivin’ at the County Cork today. Call 226-1212 for information.

Irish Concerts – Live music for 2/4

Irish music fans should take note of several concert dates coming up in the area.

First of all, Irish traditional group Altan will be performing at the Boulder Theater on Sunday. Touring in support of their ninth album release, “Runaway Sunday,” the band features fiddler Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh. Mhaonaigh founded Altan, named after a lake near Gweedore, Ireland, with her late husband Frankie Kennedy. Since Kennedy’s death in 1994, Mhaonaigh has continued to push Altan to the forefront of contemporary Irish acoustic music, while also preserving the Donegal style of fiddling. For concert information, call 303-786-7030.

Next, the “Irish music dream-team,” Lunasa, will be making their Colorado concert debut at the Boulder Theater on Sunday, February 27. Named after an ancient Celtic harvest festival, Lunasa features bassist Trevor Hutchinson, from the Waterboys; All-Ireland fiddle champ Sean Smyth; flutist Kevin Crawford, from the acclaimed traditional group Moving Cloud; guitarist Donogh Hennessy, formerly of the Sharon Shannon Band and Uilleann piper Cillian Vallely, brother to Niall Vallely of Nomos. The group’s first, self-produced album became an instant best-seller in Ireland and they have since taken their music to major festivals and venues throughout Europe, Japan, the United States and Australia.

Lunasa made their worldwide Green Linnet Records debut in 1999, with the release of their second album “Otherworld.” Inspired by the work of the Bothy Band and likened to the instrumental experimentation of Nashville musicians such as Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer, Lunasa explores the boundaries of Irish traditional music by touching on jazz and other improvisational music while interweaving the sounds of wind and string instruments.

Also coming soon will be a special concert appearance by Irish composer, producer and pianist Phil Coulter. Coulter’s producing and songwriting credits include international awards as well as numerous gold and platinum records. Coulter’s tune “My Boy” was also the only song by a non-American composer to serve as a hit for Elvis Presley. In recent years, Coulter has collaborated with flutist James Galway to release two best-selling albums and appeared on Van Morrison’s contribution to the hit benefit album, “Across the Bridge of Hope.”

Coulter will be kicking off a 15-city tour at the Auditorium Theatre in Denver on Friday, March 3. He will be presenting “A Millennium of Irish Music” as well as introducing singer Aoife, featured vocalist on Coulter’s last three albums. For concert information, call 303-777-0502.

Jewish music: The Swallow Hill Music Association and the Atheneus Humanities Foundation will be presenting an evening of Jewish music on Saturday in Denver. Featured will be Denver singer-songwriter Saul Rosenthal, performing contemporary Jewish folk music, and Hal Aqua and Los Lantzmun. Aqua is a Denver musician and educator and Los Lantzmun is a 7-piece Jewish world-beat ensemble that “combines the musical and cultural streams of Jewish history.”

Today, Swallow Hill will presenting folk trio Dakota Blonde, performing songs that combine folk, bluegrass and country with “a little Celtic twinge.” Dakota Blonde’s latest release is titled “Something Simple,” and includes interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk songs as well as original material and guest appearances by musicians such as John Magnie and Ed Contreras. For information on both events, call 303-777-1003.

String Cheese Incident – Live music for 2/11/00

For Colorado jam band the String Cheese Incident, each show is meant to be something special. That’s why they call their concerts “incidents” rather than just another night on the road. The effort is part of the band’s policy to turn each event into “a full musical experience.”

“We’re trying to achieve a cohesiveness between our music and the crowd,” String Cheese keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth said recently by phone. “We want people to walk away with the feeling of being refreshed and rejuvenated. We want them to feel that they’ve been given something and that they have participated in something as well.”

To create special “incidents,” the String Cheese Incident puts some emphasis on who they are sharing the stage with- like playing a show recently at the House of Blues in Los Angeles with Victor Wooten, or booking an upcoming gig with Los Lobos at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver. But more, the String Cheese Incident also works at making each of their own sets unique by willfully changing their own songs.

The evidence is clear on their newest independent album release, “Carnival ’99,” a two-disc collection of live recordings from the band’s 1999 touring schedule. Besides offering a diverse music mix that ranges from jazz to bluegrass to rock, the album showcases the String Cheese Incident’s instrumental communication as a band through long, playful jams.

“This is an album that we’re all proud of,” Hollingsworth said. “The original tunes are taken to new places. Our improvisation has grown. Our listening to each other has grown.”

As far as the improvisation in their music goes, the String Cheese Incident has had the opportunity to learn from the best. During the summer of 1999, the String Cheese Incident not only played as a feature band during the Summer Sessions tour along with groups such as moe. and Galactic, members of the band also served as back-up musicians for former Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh. Lesh not only gave the group seventy songs to learn, but he also encouraged them to “let the music lead.”

“The band learned a lot from Phil, like being free with the music, letting anything happen,” Hollingsworth said. “He would tell us that sometimes we were thinking too much and that we should let the music happen.”

As far as dealing with the business of being an active, popular touring band, the String Cheese Incident isn’t afraid of also experimenting with other things- like doing their own booking, administrating their own ticket sales and releasing their own records.

“We have a lot of things on our plate right now and we’re trying a lot of new innovative music business ideas,” said Hollingsworth. “Over the years, we’ve watched a lot of our friends get burned and right now, we’re not looking for a big signing bonus. It’s a little scary being out on a limb like this.”

String Cheese Incident will be hosting a two-day “incident” at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver on Friday, February 18 and Saturday, February 19. Los Lobos opens on the 18th and Spearhead opens on the 19th. String Cheese will also be appearing at Dobson Arena in Vail on February 21 with the funky Meters. Call 303-694-1234 for information on the Vail show.

CSNY2K – Live music for 2/18

There were several reasons why a generation of rock listeners turned to the music of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young for inspiration in the early 1970’s.

First, the four musicians that formed the group- David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young- represented depth and experience as former members of several 1960’s bands and as individual songwriters and performers. For a brief time, they pooled their considerable musical resources in a unique atmosphere of co-operation and support. Together, they crafted trademark vocal harmonies that soared, and maintained just the right balance between folk sensitivity and an electric rock edge to create a sound that was readily identifiable while spotlighting each member’s talents.

But more than just a joyful noise, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young were also the bearers of some poignant messages about the turbulent political and social times. Many of their songs were direct reflections of generation gap tension and solidarity for the American anti-war movement sparked by the Viet Nam conflict.

On their recent reunion album on Reprise Records, “Looking Forward,” the messages remain intact. Each songwriter contributes material that continues to ask questions about our world, ranging from David Crosby’s anthem to social activism, “Stand and Be Counted” to Neil Young’s gentle ballad about aging, “Looking Forward.” The vocal harmonies, of course, remain a feature part of nearly every track and the rock edge is also still there, thanks to the dueling lead guitar work between Young, Stills and Crosby.

What this means is that the essential core of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s music remains the same, even though it is now far removed from the times that originally inspired it. The urgency of the presentation may be a little mellower, but tracks such as Stills’ opening tune, “Faith In Me,” still reveal a vitality and strength while Graham Nash’s “Heartland” continues to reflect the dreams of a generation.

To follow up on the release of “Looking Forward,” Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young are currently on tour together for the first time since 1974. The tour opened in Kansas City in January and stops at the Pepsi Center in Denver on Wednesday.

Ghostface Killah: With the release of their 1993 debut album, “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers.)”, the Wu-Tang Clan ignited the rap world with their “California g-funk” sound. A best-selling hit without the benefit of radio airplay, the album also introduced a dynasty of rappers that would continue to record both group and solo projects.

Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah has just released his second Razor Sharp/Epic records album, “Supreme Clientele.” Produced with outside help from talents such as the Beatnuts’ Ju-Ju, several of Ghostface Killah’s Wu-Tang bandmates make cameo appearances throughout the album, including GZA, Method Man, Masta Killah and RZA. Ghostface Killah is currently touring with Cappadonna and Inspector Deck and will be performing at the Aggie Theater on Monday. Call 407-1322 for information.

Bluegrass: The Mid-Winter Bluegrass Festival celebrates its fifteenth anniversary today through Sunday at the Northglenn Holiday Inn. This year’s festival features Mac Wiseman, known as one of the outstanding singers in bluegrass. Wiseman has recorded with such notables as Bill Monroe and Lester Flatt. Call 482-0863 for information.

Jez Lowe – Live music for 2/25

The bleak, rugged life of the coal mining communities in the north of England is the frequent subject of the songs of Jez Lowe. Lowe was born in Durham, England, and raised in the coal-mining village of Easington, where his father was a miner.

Lowe, however, did not follow many of his friends into the mines. Instead, he became known as a seminal figure in the English traditional music scene. As a solo artist, as a duo partner with Ged Foley and as a bandleader with the Bad Pennies, Lowe has carved out a reputation that has other musicians singing his praises. That includes master songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson, who calls Lowe “the best songwriter to come out of England in a long time.”

But more, recording acts such as the Dubliners, Gordon Bok, Fairport Convention and the Tannahill Weavers have covered Lowe’s material. In fact, his song “Back in Durham” has been recorded by fourteen different artists.

The most recent release by Lowe and the Bad Pennies is “The Parish Notices” on Green Linnet Records. The songs reveal Lowe’s skill at balancing dark portraits of industrial life with a wry humor. A sparseness in the band arrangements aid in underscoring the lyrics, providing ample opportunities for Lowe’s acerbic wit to come through.

But Lowe does not joke about everything. The song “Spitting Cousins” confronts family jealousy and hatred with an unflinching directness through the story of an Australian émigré’s return to his father’s hometown. The reunion is far from warm as the father accuses the traveler of leaving “like a rat to the shore.”

Lowe is scheduled for a rare solo appearance at Swallow Hill in Denver today.

Greg Trooper: Swallow Hill will also be hosting Nashville singer-songwriter Greg Trooper on Saturday. Trooper is known for a unique synthesis of country, Celtic, American folk music and roots rock- a style that he has developed by criss-crossing the country in search of a musical home.

Trooper grew up in Red Bank, New Jersey and received his first musical inspirations in the folk clubs of Greenwich Village and at upstate New York bluegrass festivals. He then moved to Austin, Texas to hone his songwriting craft. But Trooper ended up moving back to New York City, where he established a reputation as an exuberant performer, touring extensively with musicians such as Joe Ely and Roseanne Cash

Trooper’s original songs have also attracted attention and respect from his peers. Artists such as Steve Earle, Vince Gill and Billy Bragg have covered his songs. His third album, “Noises in the Hallway,” was produced by E Street Band member Garry Tallent.

In 1995, Trooper moved to Nashville where he recorded his latest album release, “Popular Demons,” on Koch Records. The album was produced by Buddy Miller and reveals “dark secrets of adult wisdom.”

Front Range singer-songwriter Kevin Dooley will be opening for Trooper on Saturday. Call 303-777-1003 for information.

The Lundgrens – Live music for 3/3

“Lots of the music is just light and fun and easy,” Teresa said by phone recently from the Lundgren home in Windsor. “I really like the Celtic style.”

At a recent appearance at Avogadro’s Number, the Lundgrens entertained with a lively performance that had an audience of all ages clapping along to the songs and applauding enthusiastically for each number. This crowd reaction is not unusual at a Lundgrens concert, creating memorable events such as the duo’s appearance at Lucky Joe’s for St Patrick’s Day in 1999.

“All the people were clapping and singing and shouting. It was really fun,” said Carole.

“It was a whole new experience,” Teresa said. “It was kind of fun hearing the recordings, but it was tiring doing it over and over again. It was good though. There were lots of times when I thought I was playing well, but I shuddered when I heard the recording.”

“It’s really hard music,” Carole said. “I have performed with them twice and I will be able to play for the rest of the season. They are really, really good. It’s a whole different level.”

The Lundgrens will be celebrating the release of “Random Acts of Fiddling” with a special concert performance tonight at Avogadro’s Number. They are also scheduled for a number of other area appearances including at Lucky Joe’s on March 11 and 17. Call 493-2213 for information. The Lundgrens will also be performing at Barnes & Noble on March 24. Call 225-3777 for information.

Stacey Earle – Live music for 3/10

There’s a place in the music of singer-songwriter Stacey Earle where folk and country sounds meet. On her debut CD release, “Simple Gearle,” the arrangements come from folk sensibilities, matching acoustic instruments and very little else with Earle’s clear, distinctive voice. The songs, however, have all the trappings of contemporary country songwriting, complete with clever wordplay and an attitude that spells emotional survival no matter how sad the story gets.

This marriage of folk and country, however, should come as no surprise coming from an artist who has established herself in the thick of the country music industry. After moving to Nashville, Earle signed on as a staff songwriter for Ten Ten Publishing as well as became the host of a popular weekly songwriter’s night. Added to this is the fact that Earle cut her musical teeth singing and touring with her brother Steve Earle- known as a progressive country rock talent. Stacey appeared on Steve’s album, “The Hard Way,” and joined his touring band as a singer and guitarist.

All of that exposure to the country music industry has paid off in Earle’s songwriting style. “Simple Gearle,” released on Earle’s own Gearle Records label, is full of the skillful use of catch phrases that has always marked country music. Songs such as “Losers Weep” and “Cried My Heart Out” take familiar phrases and apply them to Earle’s stories of personal relationships. But more than a rehash of cliches, Earle’s writing gives the words her own spin, revealing an artist able to turn the mundane into a fresh expression.

What gives Earle’s music a folk feel is the earthy and straight-forward way she has recorded her songs. The production values on the album are not the least bit glossy or dependent on studio tricks that might take the listener’s attention away from the songs. The album remains intimate and personal and like the best of folk music, Earle’s voice is the most important element to the recordings.

The folk sound is particularly highlighted by the tight vocal harmonies provided by Earle’s husband Mark Stuart- once again relying on the human voice for maximum impact.

This is all presented in a fashion that takes Earle’s music back to a time when a collection of songs depended on inspiration rather than industry trickery in order to succeed. This is underscored by the format of the album itself. The song listings are divided into two sections- Side A and Side B- just like the old vinyl records. The CD begins with the sound of a record needle dropping down and rolling through some pops and scratches before the first track begins. The sound appears again at the start of “Side B” and conjures up the image of a living room somewhere far beyond the march of technology. In that living room, it’s just you and Earle’s music, passing the time together.

Earle and Stuart are currently on tour together to promote both “Simple Gearle” and Stuart’s latest release, “Songs From a Corner Stage,” also on Gearle Records. They will be performing at the Soiled Dove in Denver on Wednesday. Call 303-786-7030 for ticket information. They will also be at the Sunset Night Club on Thursday.

Hot dates: American-born Irish fiddler Eileen Ivers will be appearing with her “world-music” band- as well as Colorado champion Irish dancers- at the Boulder Theater on Sunday. Call 303-786-7030 for information. Irish singer-songwriter Luka Bloom is scheduled to perform at the Soiled Dove on Tuesday, along with opening act Celeste Krenz. Call 303-830-TIXS for information.

Lalla Rookh – Live music for 3/17

One way to label the music of Fort Collins acoustic music quintet Lalla Rookh is, perhaps, “kiltic.” That refers to the distinctive folk dress of Scotland the three men of Lalla Rookh wear when the band is performing on stage. It also takes a humorous turn from the more widely used term “Celtic”- a musical label that has become a broad reference to the musical traditions of England, Ireland and Scotland.

The kilts the male performers wear are perhaps the strongest Scottish element in Lalla Rookh’s music, but there is plenty of traditional English, and especially, Irish music in the mix.

“About sixty to seventy-five per cent of our music is Irish,” Lalla Rookh guitarist Charley Gannon said recently. “Originally when we started, we were more interested in the music of English bands like Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span. But now we are heading more toward the Irish side, playing jigs and reels, then throwing in a few vocals. That’s more of where Irish music goes.”

That’s also where an important part of Lalla Rookh’s music comes in- humor. Besides songs of romance and nostalgia, Lalla Rookh’s set list also includes songs that tell some pretty fantastic stories. Many of these tales are of Irish origin.

“The Irish songs have a lot of storytelling in them. Most of them are either about love or they are tragically funny,” Gannon said.

Lalla Rookh is set to celebrate the release of its second CD, “Do You Want Kilts With That,” with a special two-night run at Linden’s, starting tonight. The album follows up on the band’s 1998 release, “Book One- Tales and Traditions,” with thirteen tracks that balance precision instrumental arrangements with vocal songs that take a lighter look at marriage and relationships, all told with a wide, cock-eyed grin.

The album was not a project the band took lightly, however. Thanks to work with co-producer Jerry Palmer, Lalla Rookh has managed to not only create an album with entertaining material, but also one that sounds good.

“We’ve been working on the album for a year,” Gannon said. “This time around we learned a lot more about production, about mixing and the more technical side of recording.”

Production elements- such as the crowd noise and party sounds in the background of the track “Blood Wedding”- only serve to underscore the fact that Lalla Rookh has found a comfortable groove together as a musical unit. That’s a basic requirement for the music the group chooses to play.

“You have to be pretty tight to play this stuff. You have to get the feeling of it, the bounce of the music and the emotion,” Gannon said. “It’s fun for us to play together. There’s a good chemistry and something happens on stage where everything just meshes.”

Since releasing their first album, Lalla Rookh, which features Gannon, Mary Whalen on bodhran, Paul Honeycutt on mandolin, Jim Abraham on bass and Kay Williams on violin, has kept itself busy playing gigs at various venues in the Front Range region. They have also appeared at prestigious regional “kiltic” music events such as the Denver Irish Festival and the Scottish Highlands Festival in Estes Park. The group is aiming at expanding their touring range out of the local region in the near future.

Gran Torino – Live music for 3/24

Gran Torino is an ambitious band that is most definitely on the move. The nine-piece Knoxville, Tennessee group is constantly on the road, taking their blasting, melodic fusion of rock and rhythm and blues to audiences all over the country.

It’s no wonder that at times, they might be a little confused about exactly where they are geographically at any given moment. For example, when lead singer Chris Ford called for a brief interview about the band, he could only identify his location as “a pay phone somewhere in Illinois.”

But when the group takes the stage, there is no confusion about where they are. Between boasting a full horn section and making a music that takes healthy inspiration especially from classic 1960’s soul music, the members of Gran Torino are always in the right place when they are playing together.

“This is really a musician’s dream, playing every night. On top of that, we’re playing our own music,” Ford said. “You also learn a lot about yourself being out here, like how much stamina you have and about your will to play. You get to learn about your weaknesses and what needs to improve, as well as how to write better music.”

Gran Torino’s latest album release is “Two” on the Twenty 6.2 Music label. The album is a feast of intersecting instrumental lines, woven tightly together to support songs based on uplifting melodies. The band’s upbeat sound and their skill at churning out precision stop-on-a-dime performances comes from a solid group effort.

“One of the reasons we seem to get along so well is that we share the songwriting responsibilities. We let every man do his own part,” Ford said.

The members of Gran Torino have not only trained themselves as professional musicians working a full schedule on the road, but they also have the academic credentials to back it up. The members of Gran Torino originally came together as a group of students attending the University of Tennessee, many of whom were attending on music scholarships.

But rather than stay with the rigors of an academic program, Gran Torino members chose the rigors of the road instead.

“School and music and the road and music seem to be two different ways of learning about music. They’re both great in their own ways, but for us, the road held a lot of untapped resources for learning that we couldn’t get in school,” Ford said.

Wherever they go, Gran Torino has found that these are good times for large horn bands thanks to generally receptive audiences.

“There was a time that if you didn’t play guitar, bass and drums, you couldn’t get on the radio,” Ford said. “Nowadays, the kids will listen to anything.”

Gran Torino is currently headed for Colorado for the first time, with a string of dates in places such as Steamboat Springs, Breckenridge, Crested Butte, Vail, Fort Collins and Boulder.

Alice Di Micele – Live music for 3/31

Singer-songwriter Alice Di Micele doesn’t get to live a normal life. That is, her life on the road as a musician means traveling many miles and many hours from her home in Oregon.

However, Di Micele is grateful for the life she leads- not because it carries with it a lifestyle that is hard on family and relationships, but because it allows her to share an important human “gift.”

“This music seems to have a life of its own,” Di Micele said recently by phone from a tour stop in Bakersfield, CA. “Being able to reach people with music, actually getting it to the place it needs to go, is a gift and a responsibility.”

Di Micele has been pursuing her “gift” as a professional for more than twelve years. However, she has been singing and writing songs- especially for herself- since she can remember. For her, music is as natural a part of her life as breathing and may even transcend her own conscious efforts.

“Rather than call myself a songwriter, I am more of a ‘song-catcher.’ I feel like the essence of the songs are on the wind and they come through me rather than from me,” Di Micele said.

Di Micele, who will be performing at Avogadro’s Number on April 9, released her first independent album, “Make a Change,” in 1988 and has since released six more collections of songs. That includes her most recent recording, “Alice Live,” on her Alice Otter Music label.

“Alice Live” brings listeners into the intimate world of Di Micele’s “groove-folk acoustic soul” music. Her performance style balances rhythmic guitar parts with fully expressive vocals that reveal soul, blues and jazz influences. It also portrays the connection Di Micele makes with her audiences, encouraging them to learn the choruses of her songs and to join her in group singing that replaces her early love of being in a multi-voice choir.

That connection with the audience is the part of her “non-normal” life that gives her the most inspiration.

“The most powerful thing I experience is the feedback I get from folks who tell me that my music helped change their lives, or that it touched their lives just when it was needed,” Di Micele said. “Every time I perform, someone always comes up to say thank you because I sang something that was just right for them. It’s a kind of synchronicity that happens again and again.”

Congos: Thanks to a record company dispute over money, the debut album by reggae band the Congos lay shelved for twenty years. When the record, titled “Heart of the Congos,” finally was released, the group’s “strictly conscious” harmonies and lyrics were met with critical and fan acclaim. Since then the band has released several more recordings and starred in “Image of Africa,” a full-length film also featuring Toots and the Maytals.

The Congos’ sound is anchored solidly in the vocal work of a trio of singers including Cedric Mytons, Watty Burnetts and Lindburgh Preps Lewis. Mytons, a former vocalist for the English Beat and General Public, turned down the opportunity to front the Fine Young Cannibals to continue his work with the Congos. The group’s most recent release on the VP Records label is “Reggae Revival” and the band will be making their first appearance at the Aggie Theater on Saturday. Call 407-1322 for information.

Zakir Hussain – Live music for 4/7

There’s a special double treat coming up for world music fans.

The first part of the treat is a Boulder tour stop for international tabla maestro Zakir Hussain’s touring ensemble, the Masters of Percussion. Featuring Hussain, along with five other accomplished Indian percussionists, the Masters of Percussion bring with them a wealth of classical and world music experience that promises a concert full of technical flourish and exotic subtleties.

Although classically trained in India, Hussain is known as an architect of contemporary world music thanks to many multi-cultural collaborations. These have included the famous acoustic-based jazz-folk fusion band Shakti with guitarist John McLaughlin. More recently, Hussain has been a performer, composer and co-producer of Planet Drum, an international percussion ensemble also featuring Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart.

Hussain began his performing career at the age of twelve and has since toured internationally and received various awards such as the 1999 National Heritage Fellowship Award and a Grammy for his part in Planet Drum. Hussain is also a composer and wrote the opening music for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Appearing with Hussain will be ghatam, or “clay pot,” player T.H. “Vikku” Vinayakram. Vinayakram was also a member of Shakti and Planet Drum and is the author of several books on percussion. The Masters of Percussion also includes Hussain’s brother Fazal Qureshi on tabla, Bhavani Shankar on pakhawaj, Taufiq Qureshi on various percussion and Rajaram on folk drums.

However, there’s more. The second part of this concert treat is that the Masters of Percussion will be joined on this tour by violinist Shankar. Music fans may be familiar with Shankar’s work with such world music activists as Peter Gabriel. He was also bandmates with Hussain and Vinayakram in Shakti and has worked with such diverse music figures as Frank Zappa, Phil Collins, Bruce Springsteen and Sting.

Shankar has also worked on numerous film soundtracks, including music for “Jennifer 8,” “Jacob’s Ladder,” “Robin Hood” and “The Last Temptation of Christ.”

For this upcoming special concert, Hussain and the Masters of Percussion will first present a traditional repertoire of North Indian drumming in solo and duet formats. A trio will also experiment with drumming improvisation. Then Shakar will join the group to explore Indian raga, or “melodic,” music. This “must-see” world music show is scheduled for Friday, April 14 at the Boulder Theater.

John Renbourn: From his days as a founding member of the English traditional fusion band Pentangle to a distinguished solo career, John Renborne has earned a reputation as a “guitarist’s guitarist.” A lot of that has to do with Renborne’s development of a “folk-baroque” playing style that brings together Celtic music with jazz, blues, ragtime, classical, Middle Eastern and pre-Renaissance music.

In another “double treat” concert, Renborne will be performing with Algerian-born French guitarist Pierre Bensusan at Swallow Hill in Denver on Thursday. Bensusan is considered a master of “dadgad” guitar, a popular open tuning for fingerstylists. The concert is scheduled for 7:30 pm. Call 303-777-1003 for further information.

Forum Radio – for Sat. 4/8

Two very different music events are happening in Fort Collins tonight.

The first is on the classical side. Lang Lang is a sixteen year old pianist who has performed with the Moscow Philharmonic, the Boston Chamber Orchestra and the National Symphony of China. Lang Lang will be performing on Saturday at the Lincoln Center as part of the Lincoln Center Classical Music Series, being presented in association with the CSU Department of Music, the Fort Collins Symphony and the Front Range Chamber Players.

The second is on the pop music side- with a bang. Tonight, local record label and artist help-mate Happi Skratch Records will be celebrating their fifth anniversary with a blow-out local music event featuring great local showbands such as Twelve Cents for Marvin and Crypto Star. Also appearing will be Wyoming blues busters Blinddog Smokin’ who will be joined on stage by special guest guitarists Dave Beegle and Jesse Solomon. The event is at the Aggie Theater and promises to be a first-rate showcase.

Theater fans will want to note that the OpenStage Theatre and Company’s production of George Bernard Shaw’s play “Misalliance” opens today. “Misalliance” is a comedy of social satire that runs on the weekends in the Lincoln Center Mini-Theatre through May 6. Other plays currently running in town include the Bas Bleu Theatre Company’s production of Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” running on Fridays and Saturdays through April 29.

On Sunday, April 9, Oregon singer-songwriter Alice Di Micele will be joining Laramie music activist Maggie Simpson for another round of Simpson’s special acoustic music showcases, the Acoustic Carnival. Di Micele brings a rich, deep voice and a love of nature to the event at Avogadro’s Number.

Also on Sunday, the Rainbow Chorus will be debuting a new work titled “Beginnings.” This is a suite of choral material arranged with instruments such as mountain dulcimer and didjeridoo. It’s written by Fort Collins multi-instrumentalist Steve Eulberg. Eulberg will be performing along with the Rainbow Chorus and special guest musician Paul Taylor on Sunday at the Lincoln Center. “Beginnings” will also be performed in Colorado Springs in May and in Denver in July.

Next Thursday, folk-rock fans will want to check out a rare concert by Fort Collins band the Innocence. Last year, the group released their debut CD, titled “Stone Flowers.” The album collects together tunes that showcase the voices of husband and wife musical team Kathleen and Billy Jones, along with musical contributions by percussionist Martin Poole and bassist Mark Foerster. The band only plays occasional concerts making their appearance at the Bas Bleu Theatre on Thursday a special occasion.

Joe Satriani – Live music for 4/14

Guitarist Joe Satriani loves it all.

That is, he loves every step of the process of making his music- from the first kernels of composition to putting his swirling guitar work in front of a crowd.

“I find every part exciting- from the initial writing to making a demo to getting into the studio to record the tracks. I love seeing something come from nowhere. Another part of it is in the completion of the circle by getting the music out to an audience. I love all of those stages,” Satriani said recently by phone.

For his most recent album release on Epic Records, “Engines of Creation,” Satriani purposely challenged himself to come up with a new guitar playing style by doing what may seem like a crazy idea for a master guitarist. Satriani put his guitar down and brought out a keyboard unit he had bought several years before for one of his tours. The keyboard, not his guitar, became the main instrument he used to compose the new music.

The result is an album of mind-boggling melodic figures emerging from driving rhythm tracks.

“I see aptitude on musical instruments as a matter of resistance. For example, I can play the keyboard, but not like a pianist might. It was the same with trying to be a drummer. For me, the guitar offered the least resistance,” Satriani said.

“Still, to write the music for this album, I left the guitar unplugged. I allowed technology to bridge the gap between my creativity and resistance by using programs that are able to correct things like timing problems. In this way, I was able to write away from my own style.”

Satriani fans don’t need to be nervous that the famed instrumentalist- whose classic album “Surfing With the Alien” has sold more than two million copies worldwide- will be putting his guitar away for good. After writing the music for “Engines of Creation,” he took the keyboard-inspired sounds and then went through the process of transferring the ideas into guitar parts. Satriani and producer Eric Caudieux left some of the keyboard parts in the mix, but plenty of the guitarist’s famous hot licks were added.

In the process, Satriani may have found an upper limit to just how fast he could play. The opening track is titled “Devil’s Slide,” a piece that is meant to mimic the descent of an out-of-control snowboarder.

“In the solo section, the guitar plays so fast- it’s like the feeling of going too fast on a snowboard. In rehearsals for the tour, I keep telling the band not to play it any faster because I just can’t do it. I may have finally written a song that is at the limit of the speed my fingers can go,” he said.

Since the music on “Engines of Creation” was completely programmed and performed by Satriani and Caudieux, that means that a whole other process of discovery came about when Satriani set about transferring the music from the album into tunes for his performing band’s live set list.

“It’s been a challenge reinventing the songs for the stage. The record is just not like a band, so it has given me the chance to hear the new songs in a new context, going from a highly techno approach to ultra rock ‘n’ roll. It’s been just good fun,” Satriani said.

Radio – 4/15-4/21

The Colorado Council on the Arts, Fort Fund, and the CSU Occupational Therapy Department are sponsoring a special collaborative dance production of the story of “Zorro” presented by the Dance Express at the Lory Student Center Theater tonight. Joining the Dance Express for this re-telling of the tale of a flamboyant hero in the early days of California settlement will be dancers from Grupo Folklorico Flor Antigua and Triceea Bienvenidas Aire Flamenco as well as members of the Fort Collins Fencing Club. Call 493-5942 for show information.

The Larimer Chorale, under the direction of James Brink, will be hosting a special event at the Lincoln Center called “Make a Joyful Noise…A Celebration of Choral Music” on Sunday, April 16. The concert will feature choirs from Poudre, Rocky Mountain and Fort Collins high schools performing
selections of contest music. The choirs will also be joining the Larimer Chorale for a performance of Faure’s “Requiem” along with members of the three high school chamber orchestras. Added to this, the Larimer Chorale will be presenting Samuel Barber’s “Prayers of Kierkegaard,” featuring professional soloists Maureen Sorensson and Jay F. Regan. Showtime is 7:30 pm. Brink will be giving a 30 minute pre-concert lecture highlighting the composers and the historical contexts of the pieces beginning at 6:30 pm.

“do it” is a traveling art exhibition conceived and curated by Hans-Ulrich Obrist. It’ss also an “exhibition of interpretation” featuring art works produced by university and community artists according to given instructions. The twist is that when the exhibition closes, the art will revert to its original component materials, or be “unmade.” “do it” runs through April 28 at the Hatton Gallery on the C.S.U. campus. Call 491-1989 for information.

Theater fans will probably know “Violet” as an uplifting musical that tells the story of a young woman from America’s bluegrass country who is injured as a child. The main character gets more than she bargains for on her journey through the South en route to a famous faith healer.

Based on a short story, “The Ugliest Pilgrim” by Doris Betts, “Violet” won the 1997 New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical as well as the Richard Rogers Musical Production Award for best new work and the Obie Award for best score. The regional premiere for “Violet” is taking place at the
Arvada Center for the Arts. The Arvada Center production, directed by Rod A. Lansberry, will be running through May 7. Call 303-431-3939 for information.

Other stage productions currently running include George Bernard Shaw’s “Misalliance,” being presented by the OpenStage Theatre and Company at the Lincoln Center Mini-Theater through May 6. The Bas Bleu Theatre Company will be presenting Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” through April 29.

Dan Bern – Live music for 4/21

Singer-songwriter Dan Bern’s latest album, “Fifty Eggs” on Work Records, is not for all audiences. There’s some raw, tough language and plenty of confrontive attitude in songs that will challenge casual listeners.

But if you’re challenged, then Bern has accomplished his goal. Through the very attitude that makes his music an intense listening experience, Bern, performing at Swallow Hill in Denver today, also reveals a passion for life that will not settle for anything less than total concentration.

From hard, biting social satire to personally revealing ballads, Bern consistently applies himself to an ideal of emotional and physical honesty. That’s no more clear on “Fifty Eggs” than on the second track, “One Thing Real,” where the search for true honesty becomes a constant process of sorting through everything from popular culture and religion to the experience of being an American singer-songwriter.

Throughout the album, Bern’s songs are laced with plenty of references to the culture churning around us. Figures as diverse as Cassius Clay, Charles Darwin, Jackie Robinson, Woody Guthrie and John Lennon all become part of the sorting process and are keys to understanding Bern’s view of the world.

Bern’s vision on “Fifty Eggs” comes at a rapid and unrelenting pace making for a wild ride indeed. His songwriting style and delivery is more than just a stream of consciousness- it’s a flood. Much like Bob Dylan’s early work, Bern is looking at the big picture and it requires an open mind.

It should come as no surprise that “Fifty Eggs” was produced by Ani DiFranco- the contemporary queen of confrontation. DiFranco and Bern are kindred spirits in this highly energetic and cerebral brand of acoustic-based rock. But despite DiFranco’s influence as producer- which yields creative arrangements packing a powerful punch- Bern’s caustic and aggressive style spins oddly on its own axis.

More Swallow Hill: As always, Swallow Hill has plenty more coming up. This includes an April 22 concert by legendary folk guitarist Artie Traum.

Acoustic Guitar magazine called Traum an instrumentalist whose work “defines the vitality and sophistication of American acoustic music.” He and his brother, Happy Traum, started out in the vibrant New York City music scene in the 1950’s. After a pair of acclaimed albums together, Artie went on to establish a reputation as a collaborator with other artists- in bands such as the True Endeavor Jug Band and the Danny Kalb Quartet- as well as a teacher, making seven instructional recordings and videos.

Traum’s latest release on Narada Records is titled “Meetings with Remarkable Friends.” The album features Traum with a host of acoustic players including Levon Helm, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson of the Band, David Grisman, John Sebastian, Sam Bush and Bela Fleck. Traum will joined at Swallow Hill by Denver folk luminaries Mag Hayden, Harry Tuft, Ron Jones and Ernie Martinez.

Also coming soon to Swallow Hill will be progressive bluegrass band Front Range on May 5. On May 6, Swallow Hill hosts concerts with singer-songwriter Sara Hickman and guitarist Stephen Bennett. Hickman is a Houston native who draws on folk and country blues influences. Bennett is a former National Flatpicking Champion who will not only be performing but also giving a guitar workshop for intermediate and advanced level players. For information on all Swallow Hill shows and events, call 303-777-1003.

Radio- 4/22-4/28

You can tell just how ambitious a band is by their music. In the case of jamming jazz ensemble Fat Mama, it’s apparent that the band is ambitious indeed.

On their independently released debut CD, “Mamatus,” the members of Fat Mama throw everything they have into their music- including a swirling mix of influences and a long list of instruments that range from horns and electronics to didjeridoo. The result is a hot, driven sound.

Fat Mama was formed in 1996 in Boulder and has since carved out a reputation as jazz innovators not only in the Rocky Mountain region, but also in the midwest and on the east coast. The group has opened for acts as diverse as Groove Collective, Morcheeba, John Zorn and Galactic. Their performances have inspired plenty of praise from publications such as the Village Voice, who called Fat Mama “quite possibly the most exciting young jazz band in the country.”

After a long seven months of touring in the east, Fat Mama is scheduled to return to Colorado for a string of regional dates. These include a show tonight at the Starlight in Fort Collins. The band is currently at work on their first live album, which is expected to be released in the fall.

Classical music fans, listen up. With a general focus on the universe of chamber music and a dedication to performing the music of women composers, the Galaxy Ensemble brings together a wealth of musical heritage and regional talent in one organization. The group is the only member of the American Federation of Musicians and Chamber Music America in northern Colorado and features Karen Yonovitz on flute, Debra Ellet and Stacy Lesartre on violins, Juliet White-Smith on viola and Judith Glyde and Lisa Eakins on cellos.

The Galaxy Ensemble will be presenting a program titled “Three Centuries of Salon Music” at the Rialto Theater in Loveland tonight. The concert will include works by Franz Schubert and Amy Beach, continuing the group’s policy to include a piece by a woman composer in each program. Concert time is 8 p.m. and a portion of ticket sales will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Call 962-2120 for information.

In “The Highlands of Scotland,” filmmaker Tom Sterling takes a fresh look at some of the most recognizable tourist sites in Scotland, as well as some places not often seen by visitors. Sterling’s film visits the capitol city of Edinburgh, castles and whiskey distilleries as well as displays the natural beauty of Loch Ness and magnificent mountain scenery.

“The Highlands of Scotland” also captures wildlife as well as the remains of Roman Emperor Hadrian’s great wall, that stretched 73 miles from the Irish Sea to the North Sea. The film continues the Passport Travelogue Film Series at the Lincoln Center on Tuesday, April 25. Showtimes are at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m. Call 221-6730 for information.

That’s only part of what’s happening in our region this week. I’ll be back next week with more entertainment news.

House of Large Sizes – Live Music for 4/28

What exactly is “Iowa attitude?” Turn to Iowa punk band House of Large Sizes to find out.

Not only is this power trio one of the most enduring bands on the punk touring circuit, they are also activists in their home state’s music scene. Last fall, the group hosted an all-Iowa band tour called Idiots Out Wandering Around. The tour gave a boost to the notion that Iowa has an energetic network of groups. It also gave House of Large Sizes the opportunity to record live in some of their favorite venues.

The recording has resulted in the band’s latest album release on the W.A.R.? label, “Idiots Out Wandering Around.” Over the course of 22 tracks, House of Large Sizes makes perhaps the best statement possible about Iowa attitude. That is, a tough, pile-driving music, full of electricity and the band’s trademark songwriting style featuring precise start-stop rhythms.

Another important part of House of Large Sizes’ sound is the vocal interplay between guitarist Dave Deibler, bassist Barb Schilf and drummer Brent Hanson. The voices taunt and nip at the words with a swaggering confidence. Underneath it all is Deibler’s edgy guitar work, creating an in-your-face wall of sound.

It’s appropriate that this record is live seeing as how that is where House of Large Sizes has accomplished the most as a band- on stage. “Idiots Out Wandering Around” is a hefty slice of their powerful, yet kind of wacky punk style. The album includes three previously unreleased songs and melds the rest together with the reckless ease of 13-year touring veterans.

Steve Kimock: When Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh took the stage at Red Rocks during last summer’s Summer Sessions concert, he was surrounded by a crowd of younger musicians. These included members of bands such as moe. and the String Cheese Incident, who helped Lesh recreate the jamming style of the Dead.

Propelling it all on lead guitar was Steve Kimock, a musician who has worked with Lesh in other contexts- including the Dead reunion effort, the Other Ones. Kimock’s polished tone and swirling leads not only echoed Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia’s distinctive sound, but also created some magic of its own.

Kimock, also a member of the San Fransisco Bay Area band, Zero, is currently out on tour with his own band and will be in the area for a string of nightclub dates. This includes a stop at the Starlight on Saturday. Playing with Kimock will be keyboardist Pete Sears, who recently appeared in the area with Hot Tuna. Call 484-4974 for information about the Starlight show. Kimock and band will also be playing at the Ogden Theater in Denver tonight. For information on that show, call 303-825-4849.

Cris Williamson: In the mid-1970’s, a new musical movement called “women’s music” was born thanks to the tireless work of performers such as Holly Near, Margie Adams, Meg Christian and Cris Williamson. Together, the musicians formed their own record label- comprised solely of women- and released landmark albums such as Williamson’s classic “The Changer and the Changed.”

Since then, Williamson has continued to record and tour. Her most recent release is “Radio Quiet,” recorded with her 18 year musical partner Tret Fure. Williamson will be performing solo at the Mercury Café in Denver on Saturday. Call 303-786-7030 for information.

Forum Radio – for 4/29

When Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh took the stage at Red Rocks during last summer’s Summer Sessions concert, he was surrounded by a crowd of younger musicians. These included members of bands such as moe. and the String Cheese Incident, who helped Lesh recreate the jamming style of the Dead.

On April 7, the first WordJazz event occurred at the Rocky Mountain Coffee Connection and it attracted readers of all ages- from a group of eager kids with wild word ideas to seniors with plenty of stories to tell. There was poetry, storytelling, personal confessions and humorous word-play. It was a successful gathering of talent, sharing in a warm, friendly environment.

WordJazz was so successful that it was worth doing again. That’s exactly what’s happening on Friday, May 5. WordJazz returns to the Rocky Mountain Coffee Connection for another evening of who knows what. Organizers will be inviting a few spotlight readers, but then the rest of the night belongs to whoever shows up to read. Here’s a tip, though- if you want to read, arrive early to sign up because the list fills up quickly. The event starts at 8 p.m. and everybody pays a $1 cover charge to help with expenses. Call 493-1445 to read or volunteer to help. Please bring original work appropriate for general audiences only.

Impressionism was an artistic movement that, at one time, rocked and shocked the art world. Not only did it challenge the traditions of art- which held that painting should be as representative of real life as possible- but it also offered new freedom to artists to paint from their emotions about a subject, or their “impressions.”

That artistic freedom is still being carried on by contemporary artists such as Jeanne Mackenzie. Her landscape paintings are more than just snapshots of Colorado/prairie natural scenes, they are also careful strokes of color that suggest a mood as well as a place. Mackenzie will be opening her show, “Colorado Light,” on May 4 at the Jean Wilson Gallery at 233 Linden Street. This exhibition of “landscape impressions” runs through May 28. Call 407-1809 for information.

Coming up at CSU at the Hatton Gallery on May 5 will be the MFA Thesis Exhibition, featuring work in a variety of media by Master of Fine Arts candidates.

Recommended – for 5/4 issue

Not only is Iowa punk band House of Large Sizes one of the most enduring bands on the underground touring circuit, they are also activists in their home state’s music scene. Last fall, this power trio hosted an all-Iowa band tour called Idiots Out Wandering Around. The tour gave a boost to the notion that Iowa has an energetic network of groups.

It also gave House of Large Sizes the opportunity to record live in some of their favorite venues. The recording has resulted in the band’s latest album release on the W.A.R.? label, “Idiots Out Wandering Around.” Over the course of 22 tracks, House of Large Sizes makes a tough, pile-driving music, full of electricity and the group’s trademark songwriting style featuring precise start-stop rhythms.

It’s appropriate that this record is live seeing as how that is where House of Large Sizes has accomplished the most as a band- on stage. “Idiots Out Wandering Around” is a hefty slice of their powerful, yet kind of wacky punk style, honed by 13 years of touring. House of Large Sizes will be returning to the Starlight on Thursday, May 11. Call 484-4974 for information.

Art: Impressionism was an artistic movement that, at one time, rocked and shocked the art world. Not only did it challenge the traditions of art- which held that painting should be as representative of real life as possible- but it also offered new freedom to artists to paint from their emotions about a subject- their “impressions.”

That artistic freedom is still being carried on by contemporary artists such as Jeanne Mackenzie. Her landscape paintings are more than snapshots of Colorado/prairie natural scenes, they are also careful strokes of color that suggest a mood as well as a place. Mackenzie will be opening her show, “Colorado Light,” on May 4 at the Jean Wilson Gallery, 233 Linden Street. This exhibition of “landscape impressions” runs through May 28. Call 407-1809 for information.

Coming up at CSU at the Hatton Gallery on May 5 will be the MFA Thesis Exhibition, featuring work in a variety of media by Master of Fine Arts candidates.

Spoken Word: On April 7, the first WordJazz event occurred at the Rocky Mountain Coffee Connection and it attracted readers of all ages- from a group of eager kids with wild word ideas to wizened seniors with plenty of stories to tell. There was poetry, storytelling, personal confessions and humorous word-play. It was a successful gathering of talent, sharing in a warm, friendly environment.

WordJazz was so successful that it was worth doing again. That’s exactly what is happening on Friday, May 5. WordJazz returns to the Rocky Mountain Coffee Connection for another evening of who knows what. Organizers will be inviting a few spotlight readers, but then the rest of the night belongs to whoever shows up to read. Here’s a tip, though- if you want to read, arrive early to sign up because the list fills up quickly. The event starts at 8 p.m. and everybody pays a $1 cover charge to help with expenses. Call 493-1445 to read or volunteer to help. Original work appropriate for general audiences only.

Ballet: “Coppelia” is a light comedy ballet that tells the story of a toymaker named Dr. Coppelius, who creates a life-like enchanted doll. A young peasant named Franz mistakes the doll for a real person and the results are rousing and humorous action.

The Canyon Concert Ballet will be presenting Act II of this 130-year-old ballet in the finale of their 21st season on May 6 at the Lincoln Center. Featured dancers will be Canyon Concert Ballet’s Ixchel Whitcher as Coppelia and guest artist Hesen Weiren, in the role of Franz. Weiren has performed lead roles in Japan, Hong Kong and Cleveland and studied dance at the Beijing Dance Academy.

The troupe will also be presenting choreography to Mozart’s Piano Concerto #21, created by Artistic Director Robert Sher-Machherndl. The intent is to combine the musical talent of Mozart with the lines and form of the female body. There will be two shows- 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Pop: The Foothills Pop Band will be presenting “My Fair Lady in Concert” at the Lincoln Center Mini-Theater on Sunday, May 7. Local singers will be joining the band for this special matinee performance. The show starts at 2 p.m.

Kids: The Lincoln Center SuperSeries for Kids closes on May 11 and 12 with a performance by the Super Scientific Circus. Created by former Big Apple Circus clown John Lepiarz, the group mixes circus tricks with science for learning fun. Lepiarz is also a variety artist and has appeared on ABC and HBO circus specials.

Lepiarz is assisted by internationally acclaimed mime artist Trent Arterberry. Together the pair use boomerangs, bubbles, beach balls and bullwhips to teach the audience about friction, inertia, centrifugal force, aerodynamics and more. There will be two performances on each day. Call 221-6730 for information.

Bernie Worrell – Live music for 5/5/00

If credentials were all a musician needed to have to get by, then master keyboardist Bernie Worrell is set for life. The list of musicians that he has recorded and performed with is staggering: the Talking Heads, the Rolling Stones, the Pretenders, Maceo Parker, Yoko Ono, Dave Stewart, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Heavy D, De La Soul and many more

Of course, you don’t rack up those kinds of credits without some major talent behind it. Worrell showed his talent very early on- he began playing at age three, performed his first concert at age four and wrote his first concerto at age eight. He was classically trained at the New England Conservatory of Music.

Worrell’s early professional career, however, was spent being a co-founder, co-writer, co-producer and musical director for the original Parliment-Funkadelic band. For his participation in that project, Worrell was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

From Parliament-Funkadelic, however, the list of Worrell’s accomplishments gets real long, real fast. Besides the artists already mentioned, Worrell has added his keyboard wizardry to the work of musicians such as Bootsy Collins, Sly and Robbie, the O’Jays, Afrika Bambaataa, Herb Alpert, Pharaoh Sanders, Salt ‘n’ Pepa and Digital Underground. Worrell also helped Paul Shaffer launch his new television band for David Letterman’s move to CBS in 1993.

Obviously, the secret to Worrell’s spectacular career is to just keep moving. Currently Worrell is touring with his own band, the WOO Warriors. The group released a live album in 1998. Coming up, Worrell is slated to work in the studio on a new album project by George Clinton.

Front Range: Don’t let the cover of bluegrass band Front Range’s new Sugar Hill Records release, “Silent Ground,” fool you. Even though the title is etched into a tombstone, that doesn’t mean this is a somber album. In fact, Front Range’s music is a celebration of voices and acoustic instruments.

Add to this the variety of styles that Front Range mixes together on “Silent Ground.” From soulful gospel and traditional bluegrass sounds to country blues and a taste of a light Western swing, Front Range keeps things lively. Besides playing originals by guitarist and producer Bob Amos and by banjo player Ron Lynam, Front Range also includes versions of Robert Johnson’s “Love In Vain” and traditionals such as “My Lord, What A Mourning.”

Despite the wide range of the songs themselves, what remains particularly consistent is the high quality of the vocal work. Mandolinist Mike Lantz and bassist Bob Dick join Amos and Lynam in creating some delicious four-part harmonies.

Of course, you can’t deny the instrumental skills of the band, either. All you need to do is punch up track six, “Dust Devil,” for a good taste of each band member’s nimble mastery of banjo, guitar, mandolin and bass.

Front Range is named after the Colorado Front Range region where the quartet was formed. The group is no longer based in Colorado, but will be returning to the area to celebrate the release of “Silent Ground.” Front Range will be performing at the Swallow Hill Music Hall in Denver today. Call 303-777-1003 for information.

Forum Radio – for 5/6

It also gave House of Large Sizes the opportunity to record live in some of their favorite venues. The recording has resulted in the band’s latest album release on the W.A.R.? label, appropriately named “Idiots Out Wandering Around.” Over the course of 22 tracks, House of Large Sizes makes a tough, pile-driving music, full of electricity and the group’s trademark songwriting style featuring precise start-stop rhythms.

It’s also appropriate that this record is live seeing as how that’s where House of Large Sizes has accomplished the most as a band- on stage. “Idiots Out Wandering Around” is a hefty slice of their powerful, yet kind of wacky punk style, honed by 13 years of touring. House of Large Sizes will be returning to the Starlight on Thursday, May 11. Call 484-4974 for information.

Other live music coming to the area includes the Diamond Dupree band, playing tonight at the County Cork. Next Friday, May 12, the County Cork hosts the Marvelous Marmots.

“Coppelia” is a light comic ballet that tells the story of a toymaker named Dr. Coppelius, who creates a life-like enchanted doll. A young peasant named Franz mistakes the doll for a real person and the results are rousing and humorous action.

The Canyon Concert Ballet will be presenting Act II of this 130-year-old ballet in the finale of their 21st season today at the Lincoln Center. The troupe will also be presenting choreography to Mozart’s Piano Concerto #21. The intent is to combine the musical talent of Mozart with the lines and form of the female body. There will be two shows at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

On Sunday, May 7 the Foothills Pop Band will be presenting “My Fair Lady in Concert” at the Lincoln Center Mini-Theater. Local singers will be joining the band for this special matinee performance starting at 2 p.m.

The Lincoln Center SuperSeries for Kids closes on May 11 and 12 with performances by the Super Scientific Circus. Created by former Big Apple Circus clown John Lepiarz, the group mixes circus tricks with science for learning fun. Lepiarz is also a variety artist and has appeared on ABC and HBO circus specials.

On stage, Lepiarz is assisted by internationally acclaimed mime artist Trent Arterberry. Together the pair use boomerangs, bubbles, beach balls and bullwhips to teach the audience about friction, inertia, centrifugal force, aerodynamics and more. There will be two performances on each day. Call 221-6730 for information.

Rollins Band – Live music for 5/12

It didn’t take long for rocker Henry Rollins to recognize a good thing. That’s why he offered his help to a Los Angeles hard rock band called Mother Superior after hearing only a handful of tracks from the band’s first album. Mother Superior responded by asking Rollins to produce their next album, titled “Deep.”

But more, Rollins’ job as producer resulted in a whole new version of the Rollins Band- featuring the members of Mother Superior- and a new chapter in one of the most colorful music careers of the last 20 years.

To understand, go back to 1981. Rollins was only 20 years old and he took the stage as the new lead singer for the seminal punk band Black Flag. Rollins added a new ferocity to the band’s music and he became a leading figure in the underground hardcore punk scene.

But Rollins was not just a vocalist. He was also a writer and during his years in Black Flag, he began writing poetry and journals that he self-published through the network of hardcore punk record stores. Rollins and Black Flag also recorded some of his spoken word material and the singer did solo concerts of his rambling opinions and stories.

When Black Flag broke up, Rollins continued on with his own band, the Rollins Band, and represented the punk scene in the first Lollapalooza tour in 1991. Since then, Rollins has been touring and recording as a solo spoken word act as well as with different versions of the Rollins Band.

This brings us to the current band lineup that includes Jim Wilson on guitar, Marcus Blake on bass and Jason Mackenroth on drums. Together, Rollins and Mother Superior wrote new songs and recorded their current Dreamworks Records release, “Get Some Go Again.” The album was produced by Rollins and features guest artists such as MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer and Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham.

To promote the new album, the new Rollins Band is currently on tour. After 10 dates in the Midwest and on the East Coast, the band traveled to Austrailia and New Zealand. They are now back in the States and will be performing at the Ogden Theater in Denver today.

Hot dates: The Swallow Hill Music Association will be presenting their annual “Roots of the Blues” Festival today and on Saturday at the Swallow Hill Music Hall in Denver. Tonight’s line-up includes Denver blues artists Vicki Taylor and the Johnny Long Trio supporting the venerable bluesman Robert Jr. Lockwood. Lockwood is the Grammy-nominated stepson of Robert Johnson and can claim to be the only person ever to learn guitar from the blues legend.

On Saturday, Swallow Hill presents the David Booker Trio, Ben Stevens and Odetta. Odetta- celebrating her fiftieth anniversary in showbusiness- recently released her first studio recording in 14 years on M.C Records, titled “Blues Everywhere I Go.” For information on both shows, call 303-777-1003.

The Galaxy Ensemble makes it a policy to include works by women composers in each program and their upcoming concert at the Rialto Theater in Loveland on Monday will feature a piece by Amy Beach. Call 962-2120 for information. Fort Collins musicians “Mean” John Shaffer, Russ “Blind Lemon” Hopkins and Wrangler Jim will be performing a free show at Avogadro’s Number on Thursday.

Switchback – Live music for 5/19

If attitude were all there was to rock ‘n’ roll, then Loveland-based band Switchback would be in the top tier of rockers.

Gathered together in their downtown Loveland practice space, the members of the band- as well as crew members- mixed a gregarious sense of humor with passion and enthusiasm in a full band interview. To say that the musicians enjoy what they are doing- recording and playing a wide range of gigs- would be an understatement.

Fortunately, there’s more to Switchback than just attitude. The band also makes a dramatic rock that swings easily between influences as diverse as folk and heavy metal. The group, together since July 1997, is hard to pigeonhole thanks to a “twist of backgrounds.”

“We just call it ‘Switchback style,’” said singer, guitarist and composer Shawn Wright.

On their album, titled “Thunder Road,” Switchback reveals both a sense of power and sensitivity. The sensitivity comes from Wright’s lyrics, which balance a talent for storytelling with pure emotional release. The power comes from the band’s tough, rock arrangements. In particular, lead guitarist Tom Woolrich keeps things hot with edgy and inspired performances.

The CD was recorded and co-produced by Russ Hopkins at KIVA Recording in Fort Collins.

Live, the band takes the stage with a confidence that comes only from experience. Switchback has certainly kept itself busy, playing venues throughout the region including Diamonds, Archers, the Top Hat, the Windjammer, the Bar Bazaar and more. They have played 46 weekends in the last year and attracted a loyal core following.

In a concert setting, Switchback plays all originals. In a nightclub setting, the group also covers other artists ranging from George Strait to Ministry.

Switchback, also featuring Daniel “Lil’ D” McGee on harmonica, David Work on bass and Eric Cox on drums and percussion, is currently at work on their second CD. They are also laying plans for a two to three day music festival- to be called the Yak Fest- featuring other area bands. This is in keeping with the group’s notion that there is plenty of talent in the region and that it is in everybody’s best interests to help promote each other.

“The better the music is here, the more attention we can attract from the industry,” Woolrich said. “We can make that happen if we all work together.”

All of this fuels the band’s resolve to keep rocking.

“We’re not just here, we’re here to stay,” Wright said.

Switchback is scheduled to play Archer’s today and on Saturday. Other upcoming gigs include the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life on June 16 and an opening slot for the Three Twins at the Rialto Theater in Loveland on July 8.

Radio 5/27

Just as the summer concert season has already cranked up in famous Front Range venues such as Red Rocks and Fiddler’s Green, the local outdoor concert season has also arrived. That means, of course, the start of the “Downtown Live” events in Old Town Square. The free Thursday night concert series begins on June 8 with the Rio Grande All-Stars, playing reggae, rock and blues. Following will be Chupacabra, playing world beat music, salsa, funk and reggae on June 15.

Other acts booked this year include the Atoll, Cabaret Diosa, the Indulgers, Opie Gone Mad, the Hazel Miller Band, Chris Daniels and the Kings, Liz Barnez, the Bluegrass Patriots and Kenny Cordova. All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. on the Old Town Square Stage.

Also, the Mishawaka Amphitheatre is already hosting live music up in the Poudre Canyon. Mishawaka isn’t just another concert venue, but a fine Colorado canyon experience. The bandstand is set right against the river and often the music mixes with nature in a satisfying synchronicity. Tonight, Hot Tuna guitarist Jorma Kaukonen will be performing at Mishawaka. Versatile Wyoming singer-songwriter Michael DeGreve will be appearing on Sunday, June 4, followed by Firefall on June 10 and Motet on June 11.

In the spring of 1999, guitarist Steven Wiseman released his sixth CD, titled “Welcome to Rocky Mountain National Park.” The album combined mellow, melodic solo guitar work with nature sounds recorded by Wiseman in the park. The recordings aimed at creating an “audio postcard” for both visitors and Colorado residents of one of the state’s most visited natural areas.

Wiseman is an environmentalist who specializes in the recording of nature and wildlife sounds. His previous albums have included sounds recorded along the Poudre River and in Hawaii. The release of his latest CD has lead to a series of live performances in Rocky Mountain National Park this summer. Starting in June, Wiseman will be performing free weekly concerts of his original music in the national park area, as well as giving environmental talks about noise pollution and the importance of open space. For more information about the concert series or about Wiseman’s music, call 226-6770 or 215-8113.

The sixth and last course of the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra’s “Gourmet Season” will be tonight at the Lincoln Center. The program will include music by Mozart and Samuel Barber. Guest violinist Benjamin Bowman will be featured on the Barber piece- Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 14. Bowman held the First Prize in the Canadian Music Competition for three consecutive years and was awarded the Young Canadian Musician’s Award for 1999.

Stephen Sondheim’s romantic musical, “A Little Night Music,” is based on the 1955 Ingmar Bergman film, “Smiles of a Summer Night.” It follows the story of a middle-aged gentleman married to a beautiful and very young wife. When an old flame comes to town, it makes him question what love is
The score for “A Little Night Music” is by Sondheim and the book is by Hugh Wheeler. The pair won the 1973 Tony Award for Best New Musical. The OpenStage Theatre production of “A Little Night Music” opens on May 27 and runs through June 24 at the Lincoln Center Mini-Theater.

That’s only part of what’s happening in our region this week. I’ll be back next week with more entertainment news.

Sleater-Kinney- Live music for 6/2/00

There’s a big reason why punk music came into being. That reason has to do with the major cultural and business explosion that contemporary music has gone through in the last 40 years.

As music became bigger and bigger as a commercial institution, it became more and more necessary for young artists in particular to break the mold. Punk was invented by musicians and fans who were tired of being crowded into arenas for concerts, sick of the arrogant greed of major record companies and unimpressed with the inflated egos of performers.

Punk brought rock back into the hands of musicians who liked to make loud, raw and emotionally honest music without concern for record company standards or the constraints of radio programming. Still, even without the advantages of corporate money behind them, some punk bands have been able to rise above the rest and attract attention outside the punk underground.

This is the case with Sleater-Kinney, a female power trio originally from Olympia, WA. The three women, guitarists Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker and drummer Janet Weiss, have carved out a reputation as one of the most promising acts in punk music- both on stage and on record. In an article in a recent issue of Esquire magazine, famed music journalist and author Greil Marcus called Sleater-Kinney “a band that has been the best in the country since it began.”

Sleater-Kinney’s latest album release on the Kill Rock Stars label is “All Hands on the Bad One.” The sound is unpolished and furious, fueled by the immediacy of Tucker’s vocals. The lyrics approach everything- from professionalism to “rock ‘n’ roll fun”- with a refreshing honesty. Like they say in the song “Male Model,” “we’re here to join the conversation and we’re here to raise the stakes.”

Most riveting on “All Hands on the Bad One,” however, is the band’s appeal to listeners to take control of their own lives. In the song “#1 Must-Have,” they describe a world that swings cynically between the marketing of girlpower and “concerts where women are raped.” In response, Sleater-Kinney offers the perspective that “Culture is what we make it…Now is the time to invent.”

The band is currently on a domestic tour and will also be traveling to Japan, Europe and Australia.

Todd Rundgren: Keyboardist Todd Rungren has always been associated with the cutting edge of technology. He created the first interactive television concert, opened a multi-million dollar video studio and invented the first color graphics tablet for computers.

Rundgren has also been known for his progressive music. From stylish singer-songwriter material to inspired fusion music, Rundgren has more than 34 albums to his credit. Rundgren started with a group called the Nazz, established himself as a solo act and then created the band Utopia, which helped define and challenge progressive rock in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

Rundgren will be performing on Tuesday at the Fox Theater in Boulder. He is touring in a “power trio” format, playing along with Kasim Sultan on bass and Trey Sabatelli on drums. Sultan is a Rundgren associate from the Utopia years. Sabatelli has played with the Tubes and the Jefferson Starship. The set list includes Utopia material, early songs and selections from Rundgren’s upcoming release on Artemis Records, “One Long Year.” Call 303-443-3399 for show information.

Radio 6/3

Paula Vogel’s Pulitzer Prize winning play “How I Learned to Drive” portrays a sensitive and intelligent girl being taught to drive a car by a loving uncle. Stifled by the expectations of her working class family, the girl takes refuge in her uncle’s affection, but also must confront questions about life and love. The steering wheel of the car becomes a symbol for taking her life into her own hands.

The Bas Bleu Theatre Company’s production of “How I learned to Drive” is currently playing on Fridays and Saturdays through June 24.

You can’t argue with credentials like bassist Tony Levin’s. Most famous for his longtime work with Peter Gabriel and King Crimson, Levin’s other credits include artists such as John Lennon, Paul Simon, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson and Al Di Meola. Also include Alice Cooper, Dire Straits, Art Garfunkel, Richard Harris, and Kenny Loggins. That’s just the short list. The full list reads like a who’s who of folk, jazz, world music and progressive rock.

But Levin also makes his own music. His latest Narada Records release is titled “Waters of Eden” and delicately fuses world music influences with classical and jazz for a warm, melodic and imaginative sound. Levin is currently touring and will be making a rare appearance in Fort Collins at the Starlight on Saturday, June 10.

Other great live music coming to the area includes a date with the Cure at Fiddler’s Green in Denver on Monday, June 5. Progressive rock keyboardist Todd Rundgren, will be performing in a “power trio” format at the Fox Theater in Boulder on June 6. Bluegrass fusion master Tony Furtado will be at the Aggie Theater on June 8

The Fort Collins Public Library’s Summer Reading Program 2000 is much more than storytime readings. Beginning on June 12 and running through July 28, the program includes performances, demonstrations and plays as well as storytelling in a celebration of words and learning.

The events occur at the Main Library and at the Harmony Library, as well as at the Barton Early Childhood Center Library. Programs also are scheduled for the LINC Libraries. These are school library media centers that are open on Tuesday and Thursday mornings thanks to funding by an anonymous donor. The participating facilities are Bauder, Beattie, Cache La Poudre, Irish, Kruse, Linton, O’Dea and Shepardson elementary schools.

The diversity of the program is as widespread as the schools. Regularly scheduled storytimes explore subjects such as sled dogs, Celtic bagpipes, legends of Latin America, bats, bees and birds. In addition, there are puppet shows, singing and dancing, plays and presentations on Chinese self-defense, world games and community vehicles such as fire engines and busses.

Also, kids can check out educational games, toys and puppets at Barton Elementary. Groups of children are welcome. For full information, call the Main Library at 221-6680, the Harmony Library at 204-8404 or Barton Early Childhood Center Library at 490-3202.

Tony Levin – Live music for 6/9

Bassist Tony Levin is playing a concert with progressive rocker Peter Gabriel in Paris and then the power goes out. What happens? The drummer keeps playing and much to Levin’s chagrin, Gabriel insists that each member of the band go out to the front of the stage to dance. For him, there is a “big gap” between playing the instrument that he has taken a lifetime to master and dancing “like a fool.”

This is just one anecdote from the long music career of one of the world’s most sought-after bass players. For him, often it’s the disasters on stage that are the most memorable- and even enjoyable.

“When you’re out playing the same show night after night, you almost look forward to those wild card surprises,” Levin said by phone. ”In a small enough place, the audience can join in the surprise and it can be a good thing. That’s something that gets lost in big arena shows.”

Levin has most certainly been on the big stage- with artists such as Gabriel and progressive rock band King Crimson. He has also recorded with a long list of some of our era’s most successful musicians, including John Lennon, Cher, the Indigo Girls, Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, Carly Simon, Yes and many more. Levin is also a photographer and author and has published work chronicling his years on stage and as a top session player.

Currently, however, Levin is out on the road playing small venues in support of his new Narada Records release, “Waters of Eden.” Scheduled for a rare appearance in Fort Collins at the Starlight on Saturday, Levin brings with him not only a mix of world, pop and classical instrumental music, but also a gregarious, positive attitude.

“This is a treat for us,” Levin said.

Also a treat is Levin’s original music. “Waters of Eden,” co-produced by Levin and Artie Traum, combines deep world music rhythms and instrumentation with flights of pop and classical melodies.

Opening track “Bone & Flesh,” for example, melds together an exotic mix of strings and dramatic, up-front drumming. The title song, “Waters of Eden,” then follows with a calmer, more delicate and introspective piece that demonstrates the broadly emotional content of Levin’s bass work. “Gecko Walk” is propelled by a funky, shuffling rhythm while “Belle” feels intimate and personal.

“Waters of Eden” is an album of not only richly textured music, but also a richly textured sound. While many of the tracks were produced digitally- often recorded in each of the musician’s home studios- Levin labored to produce an “analog sound.”

“Once the working tracks were done on computer, I took them from house to house, studio to studio to record each part. The trick is to have very good quality on those first tracks,” Levin said. “However, I did not want the technology to make it too pristine because oftentimes, music recorded on a harddrive has a more sterile sound.”

Touring with Levin are two old Peter Gabriel bandmates, keyboardist Larry Fast and drummer Jerry Marotta. The set list will include not only selections from “Waters of Eden”- with more extended and aggressive stage arrangements- but also some Peter Gabriel and King Crimson material.

Jack Gabriel – Live music for 6/16

Fort Collins singer-songwriter Jack Gabriel approaches his music in the same way as he approaches his religion- with joy.

Gabriel is the rabbi for Congregation Har Shalom and is associated with the “Jewish Renewal” movement. As one of 100 Jewish Renewal rabbis worldwide, Gabriel encourages “celebrating Jewish life” particularly through music. His interpretations of sacred texts and folk songs are full of an upbeat spirit.

Gabriel is also a recording artist and a bandleader. His most recent album release is titled “Living Tree,” on his own Nisa Records label. The CD coolly mixes a variety of world music sounds with a positive, life-affirming attitude.

“I am looking for a sense of mystery in my music,” Gabriel said. “So I kind of borrow from reggae, borrow from Eastern European klezmer music and borrow some from Latin music to try to make something all my own.”

Gabriel has coined a new term to describe his musical direction- “klezreg.” For him, the music of Eastern Europe and the Caribbean are close in intent if not geography.

“Reggae and klezmer music overlap because they are both reproducing the heart beat. Music that comes from the heart beat just naturally makes you move,” he said.

Gabriel’s musical approach and his message of being open to celebration particularly comes together in the final track on the CD, “Up With Joy.” While setting up an irresistible dance groove, Gabriel also underscores his meaning with both English and Hebrew lyrics. He suggests that when it comes time to “serve your inner spirit, serve it up with joy.”

To record the music on “Living Tree,” Gabriel tapped a full roster of area musical talent including reed player Pamela Robinson, keyboardist Mark Sloniker and drummer Oscar De Zoto. The musicians also play in Gabriel’s stage band and will be performing with him at the Holistic Arts Fair set for Saturday in City Park. Gabriel is scheduled to perform at noon. Other acts include Steve Eulberg, Michael Riversong, Andrew Holbrook and more.

Judith Edelman: Bluegrass isn’t what it used to be, thanks to groups like the Judith Edelman Band. Edelman gained touring experience with the Colorado-based bluegrass band Ryestraw and has since gone on to front her own group and to mix bluegrass instrumental virtuosity with touches of blues, jazz, Celtic, pop and folk influences. Folk journal Dirty Linen called her music “brilliantly dark neo-bluegrass.”

Playing with Edelman on stage is two-time Winfield banjo and mandolin champion Matt Flinner, fiddler Brian Wicklund and former Sugarbeat and Loose Ties bassist Ben Winship. Edelman’s latest CD release is “Only Sun,” on Compass Records, which also features guest appearances by musicians such as Darol Anger and Clive Gregson.

Edelman and band will be performing with the Burns Sisters at Swallow Hill in Denver today. Call 303-777-1003 for information. Edelman will also be playing at Avogadro’s Number on Saturday. Call 493-5555 for information.

Jack Gabriel

When you talk with Fort Collins singer-songwriter Jack Gabriel about his former music career, he gets a gleam in his eye. He tells stories about performing at a private party for record executive Clive Davis. He jammed with the members of Bob Marley’s band in Jamaica- while Marley was outside playing soccer with a herd of kids. Gabriel also interviewed music personalities such as Les Paul, who gave him a tour of his private guitar collection including instruments given as gifts by figures such as Jimi Hendrix.

The pictures Gabriel lays out in front of him to help illustrate the past are full of wild clothes and lots of hair.

“These are the things that a young man does,” Gabriel said.

Born in a displaced persons camp in Italy following World War II, Gabriel moved to the United States when he was two and a half years old. His given name was Jack Schechtman and he spent the next years growing up in the Harlem and South Bronx areas of New York City. He became the “mascot” for a street gang and performed and recorded with a doo wop vocal group named Beau and the Arrows.

The folk music boom of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s then inspired Gabriel to become a singer-songwriter. In fact, it was the legendary political folk musician Phil Ochs who first encouraged him to write his own music.

“I went to see Phil Ochs play in a club in Greenwich Village and during the break I ran into him smoking a cigarette out on Bleeker Street,” Gabriel remembers. “I went up to him and told him that I always wanted to write a song. He said, ‘Well, why don’t you go home and write one?’ So I did.”

Ten years later, Gabriel met Ochs backstage at a concert in Chicago. He told Ochs the story and thanked him for his comment. Gabriel also provided the singer with an extra guitar pick when Ochs came up short just moments before his performance. That moment helped “close the circle” for Gabriel as a professional musician.

A small record label in Toronto was trying to market Gabriel as a “Donovan with strings” when he was discovered by an executive from Columbia Records while opening a gig for Livingston Taylor. After playing his music for Columbia’s head honcho at the time- Clive Davis- Gabriel found himself with a five-record contract. His first release was titled “Jack Himself From Soup to Nuts,” he wrote theme music for a Canadian television show- beating out Joni Mitchell for the job- and became part of the eclectic Toronto folk-rock scene.

Gabriel also spent time in Jamaica where he met Bob Marley, played guitar on a hillside with Donovan and found the Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards adding harmony vocals to his music while playing in a small nightclub.

“Jamaica wasn’t hierarchical as far as the musicians were concerned. It was a place where people went to escape and you were simply just who you were,” Gabriel recalled.

Gabriel fronted the first reggae band in Canada and recorded under a new name- Jack Tobi. His new last name was inspired by Gabriel’s experiences with the Rasta culture in Jamaica. Tobi was short for “To be I,” a reference to being true to oneself.

But the life on the road got tiring and Gabriel looked for ways of being involved with music without so much traveling. He became a radio broadcaster known as “the Dean of the Obscure” and began producing in the studio, working with artists such as Jane Siberry, Chick Corea and Bruce Cockburn. He won a Juno Award (the Canadian Grammy) in 1982 for producing and arranging the best children’s record of the year.

However, the start of a new Jewish community in Woodstock, New York would take Gabriel into a whole new career. He was asked to participate in Woodstock because organizers were looking for somebody “hip” to become the lay leader. His experience there and further study in the Jewish religion lead to his move to Fort Collins to become the rabbi for Congregation Har Shalom. He took a new last name- Gabriel- when he married his wife Cindy in 1990.

“Now it’s maybe not about being the biggest singer. Maybe now it’s about helping someone through their mother’s death, or about babies being born, or people changing jobs,” Gabriel said. “What I’m doing now is perhaps what an older person does.”

But more than a respected spiritual leader, Gabriel also remains a musician- writing songs, working as a recording artist as well as a performer. His brand new independent CD release is titled “Living Tree,” an album that mixes a positive attitude with a fusion of reggae and klezmer music he calls “klezreg.”

“Living Tree,” which also features a long list of Fort Collins area musical talent- including keyboardist Mark Sloniker, percussionist Gregory Long, bassist Jason Hollar and vocalist Colleen Crosson- is currently available at the Finest Records and at ABCD’s.

Ed Gerhard – Live music for 6/20/00

The biggest surprise on New England guitarist Ed Gerhard’s latest CD release, “The Live Album,” on Virtue Records, is the applause. Yes, as the title suggests, the album was recorded live, so you would expect applause. And yes, Gerhard’s instrumental playing is both pleasingly atmospheric and gently emotional, certainly deserving of applause.

But that’s what makes the applause so out of place- Gerhard’s playing. What I mean is that from the jaunty rhythm of fingerstyle guitar to the syrupy sound of his slide guitar playing, Gerhard seems to be able to suspend time and take the listener away to a special place with a variety of moods. The applause serves as a tie to reality- not the most welcome thing when you’re floating off on the clouds of musical imagination.

The applause, however, indicates Gerhard’s success at communicating his musical vision. That vision includes writing songs that a critic from the Boston Globe said “only a guitar can sing.”

Gerhard began playing guitar at age 14 after seeing classical guitar master Andres Segovia perform on television. The music of John Fahey later inspired Gerhard to experiment with tunings, which has become an important part of his signature sound.

His debut album release, “Night Birds,” was introduced in 1987. Shortly after the album’s release, Gerhard was included on Windham Hill Records’ instrumental compilation, “Guitar Sampler (Vol. 1.)” Subsequent album releases have been met with critical acclaim and his music has also been included on two compilations released by Narada Records- “Guitar Fingerstyle: A Narada Collection” and “Masters of the Acoustic Guitar.”

Gerhard has carved out his own niche in the music world by recording and touring extensively in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan. He has also recorded with other artists such as Arlo Guthrie and Bill Morrissey. As a result, he has been recognized in perhaps one of the most flattering ways a guitarist can think of- in 1997, Breedlove Guitars debuted the Ed Gerhard Signature Model guitar.

More than a performer, however, Gerhard also shares his knowledge of the guitar with others. His compositions have been published by Mel Bay and Hal Leonard as well as featured in several guitar magazines. He is also featured on an instructional video by Homespun Tapes titled “All-Star Guitar Night” as well as on “A Fingerstyle Summit” along with Martin Simpson and Adrian Legg.

Music comes first, however, and “The Live Album”- his sixth release- is an excellent introduction to Gerhard’s talents. Whether playing 6-string, 12-string, slide guitar or acoustic lap steel the result is the same- an intimate and personal music. Gerhard considers the release as his “own private bootleg,” taking the opportunity to revisit older material, as well as include unreleased songs. The album also features Gerhard’s first recording with a “mandotar”- a cross between a guitar and a mandolin.

Gerhard will be performing on Saturday at the Rialto Theater in Loveland. The guitarist will also be presenting a fingerstyle guitar workshop at Osprey Guitars on Sunday. Gerhard’s workshops cover topics such as arranging and composing, developing tone and getting the most out of the student’s current instructional method. The workshop is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. and space is limited. Call 490-2334 for workshop information.

Siucra – Live music for 6/30

For Boulder acoustic trio Siucra, playing a music that is so deeply rooted in tradition as Irish folk is not so much limited by the tradition, but offers a special challenge to musicians to make their creative mark.

“Things don’t get so far away from the tune in Irish music,” Siucra guitarist and songwriter Matthew Heaton said by phone. “For me that makes it more exciting because when someone is able to do something different, it makes a big impact.”

Siucra is making an impact, first of all by just being a trio. Featuring Heaton, Heaton’s wife Shannon on flute and whistle and Beth Leachman on lead vocals and bohdran, Siucra makes up for its compact size with creative musicianship.

“As a trio, we can’t get as big a sound as other bands. The typical group usually has five players and they can produce a fair bit of sound. In the trio format, we have to work a little harder to fill in space,” Heaton said.

Since forming just a little over a year ago, Siucra’s extra work has paid off with positive press, plenty of regional gigs and a debut CD release that reveals the band’s personal sound and infectious energy.

The CD is titled “A Place I Know,” on their own ESL Records label, and includes a mixture of traditional and original material. There is only a fine line between the two, indicating that the band has taken Irish music traditions to heart while searching for their own voice.

“The three of us make no bones about being Americans. We’ve certainly all listened to and played rock music and we’re not out to sound like we’re from Ireland. We are trying to make music that is respectful of the tradition but has some of our own personality in it as well,” Heaton said.

Balancing tradition and original work, however, does not make Siucra a fusion band. They are not attempting to play Irish music with, say, a reggae rhythm or a funk groove. They are not “musical tourists” either, offering listeners a travelogue of songs from the Irish tradition.

Instead, Siucra strives for a music that is rich in tradition while implying other influences.

“Things creep in, but they appear more as accents, hinting at it rather than being so obvious,” Heaton said.

The roots of Siucra- named after the Irish word for “sugar”- go back to when Shannon and Matthew Heaton met and began playing music together in Chicago. The pair moved to Boulder for “the mountains and fine weather” and ended up meeting Leachman at a party they were hired to play.

The band initially worked with additional players, but settled on a trio format. Their experience in recording “A Place I Know,” an album made with very few overdubs, helped the musicians grow together as a group.

“We recorded all in the same room,” Heaton said. “That meant that if someone screwed up, we had to go back and do it over again. We learned a lot about playing together that way. It puts the music under a real steady microscope. We also learned a lot about working with each other as people.”

When Siucra takes the stage, like at Avogadro’s Number tonight, the group offers a little something for both longtime and new fans of Irish acoustic music.

“If people who hear us don’t know anything about Irish music, we hope we can spark their interest to maybe find out a little more about it. If the people know about Irish music already, we hope we can offer them something they can dig a little more deeply into,” Heaton said.

Besides a “proverbial growing mailing list,” Siucra- pronounced “shoo-kruh”- also has a website. Find out more about the group at www.siucra.net.

Mickey Hart – Live music for 7/7

Drummer Mickey Hart certainly knows something about the “group mind.” After all, he was in the Grateful Dead, a band that cast new directions for what a rock group could accomplish when all the players participated equally in making the music progressive.

Currently Hart is heading up a new band- the Mickey Hart Band- which, for him, has already achieved a “group mind” or “bandness.”

“There’s a point where it’s not just separate players, but it becomes bigger than that,” Hart said recently by phone from San Francisco. “If it’s just music, then it can be pretty pedestrian. That’s where most things start. But then you can take it to the next level, which is more spiritual and deep. I’ve already felt that with this group. This is the best band I’ve played with in many years.”

Hart’s new group features former Grateful Dead keyboardist Vince Welnick, as well as a roster of Bay Area and international musicians. That includes Cuban vocalist Bobi Cespedes and Cuban percussionist Humberto Hernandez. Also playing with Hart is bassist Rahsaan Fredericks, guitarist Barney Doyle and drummer Rick Schlosser, an outstanding session musician who has recorded with the likes of Rod Stewart, Van Morrison, James Taylor and Dolly Parton.

For Hart, the group is like a “new love affair.”

“When you play too long with the same people, the edge is usually gone. With the new band, the edge is always there,” he said.

The songs that the Mickey Hart Band perform are a mixture of reborn older tunes and new compositions. That includes Dead songs often associated with Hart, such as “Iko Iko” and “Fire on the Mountain,” as well as a “new gumbo” mixing rock and roll with Afro-Cuban flavors.

Some of the unique sounds on stage, however, are due to a special instrument, not a musician. The instrument is called the Random Access Musical Universe, or RAMU, which is an electronic device that stores and emits sound samples.

“It’s a sound droid, a robot. It has a memory unit and pads to access it. The sounds can be arranged to any scale. It’s an adventure in new sound every night, like a crossword puzzle,” Hart said.

The Mickey Hart Band will be performing tonight at the Aggie Theater. They are also scheduled for the LoDo Festival in downtown Denver on Saturday. Later in the season, Hart will be joining with former Dead guitarist Bob Weir in a new version of the post-Dead band the Other Ones, along with keyboardist Bruce Hornsby and guitarist Steve Kimock. The Other Ones will be at Fiddler’s Green in Denver on August 29 with supporting act Ziggy Marley.

In other news, Hart’s extensive percussion collection is currently on display at the San Francisco International Airport, giving travelers a “bird’s eye view of the great world of percussion.” Hart’s collection will be on exhibit at the airport through January, 2001.

In review: Former Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters is currently setting a high standard for touring concert productions for the summer of 2000. At Fiddler’s Green in Denver on July 3, Waters brought fans a show that looked great, sounded great and left an emotional resonance that will be hard for any other tours out on the road to match.

First of all, luscious lighting and a variety of projected visual effects kept the stage constantly changing in mood and atmosphere. Second, Waters treated the full house to the sound of a quadraphonic system that not only included the people up in the lawn areas, but also catered to them. The entire arena was engulfed in sound effects like helicopters, big rig trucks, maniacal laughing and more, as well as crystal clear music mixes.

But the real payoff was in the musical power Waters’ 10-person band was able to achieve. Yes, there was plenty of Pink Floyd material that included huge chunks of the “Dark Side of the Moon” as well as obscure pieces such as “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun.” But more poignant was Waters’ solo material. The final song of the concert was titled “Each Small Candle,” a piece revealing both the horror and the hope of human affairs. While giving the crowd what they came for- some old-time Pink Floyd glory- Waters also left behind some messages that turned entertainment into inspiration. This is what musicians of any generation should be striving to achieve.

Paula Cole – Live music for 7/14

There are more than just simmering vocals and supple grooves to the music on Paula Cole’s latest Warner Brothers Records release, “Amen.” There is also positive intent.

“It was really important for me to make an uplifting record, especially now with the coming of the millennium,” Cole says in the promotion material for the album. “I think people are feeling a lot of conflicting emotions and contemplating their mortality a little more than ever before. With that in mind, I wanted to make a positive contribution through music- an album that fills people with hope and makes them want to dance around the living room.”

The hope in Cole’s music is clearly evident in the lyrics. For example, the song “Suwannee Jo” declares that there is “nothing more important than following your soul.” The title song, “Amen,” finds hope and purpose even in the falling leaves of autumn: “And when I cascade to the ground I will not be done. I will mingle with the earth and give life to the roots again.”

The part that makes you “want to dance around the living room” has a lot to do with Cole’s soul-based musical influences including Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Marvin Gaye and Bob Marley.

“I wanted to honor those people with this record, hoping it would appeal to people of all colors and maybe bring us all a little closer,” Cole says.

But more than saluting the grooves of the past, “Amen” also is up-to-date with hip hop influences thanks to contributions by Gang Starr’s DJ Premier. Premier scratches on both the title song as well as on the tune “Rhythm of Life,” a song that features Cole alternating between rapping and singing.

Other contemporary touches include some back-up singing by Tionne “T-boz” Watkins of TLC on the album’s centerpiece, “Be Somebody.”

That Cole should be so bold with new directions for her music on “Amen” comes as no surprise. Her second album, “This Fire,” established Cole as an innovative and ambitious artist. The record garnered her a remarkable seven Grammy nominations, including one for Producer of the Year. She was honored for her effort with a Grammy win for Best New Artist.

“This Fire” also sold more than two million copies and yielded two hit singles- “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” and “I Don’t Want to Wait,” which became the theme song for the popular television program “Dawson’s Creek.”

Cole graduated from the Berklee College of Music, where she studied jazz singing and was a member of the gospel choir. She was then invited by progressive rocker Peter Gabriel to perform on his 1992-93 world tour, which was followed up by the release of her first album, “Harbinger,” on Imago records. Warner Brothers signed Cole, re-released “Harbinger,” and paved the way for the success of “This Fire.”

Cole considers “Amen” her chance to use her popularity to a positive end.

“There’s a responsibility that comes with success and I don’t want to be wasteful with that platform. As corny as it sounds, I want to help the world a little. I want to do some good,” she says.

Cole is currently on tour with her bandmates, Jay Bellerose on drums and Kevin Barry on guitars, and will be performing at the Aggie Theater tonight.

Swallow Hill: There’s a good reason why Colorado musicians line up to play for free during the Swallow Hill Music Association’s annual Folkathon event. As a non-profit organization, Swallow Hill produces more than 100 concerts a year, maintains the state’s largest music school as well as an in-house recording studio and a lending library. In short, Swallow Hill is the single most powerful resource for supporting acoustic-based music in the region.

The Folkathon is a chance for musicians to give back to Swallow Hill- and to participate in one of the main events of year for folk musicians.

This year’s Folkathon is scheduled for Saturday and features live music on five different stages. Acts donating their talents this year include Dakota Blonde, Jubilant Bridge, Vicki Taylor, Wendy Woo, the Winstons and many more. Also featured will be workshops, jam sessions, dance demonstrations, information tables on other Colorado folk organizations, as well as plenty of food and beverages.

To start things off right, though, Swallow Hill will be hosting a special kick-off concert tonight. The show will be celebrating Woody Guthrie’s birthday with performances by Dakota Blonde and Al and Emily Cantrell. For information about both Friday and Saturday events, call 303-777-1003.

In review- Warped Tour: You had to be a hardcore fan to survive the blistering sun at the Adams County Fairgrounds on July 9 for this year’s installment of the Van’s Warped Tour. Those thousands who did, however, were treated to an inspiring barrage of punk and punk-influenced music that proved that the genre is far from in decline.

On the main stages- one placed right next to the other to insure a constantly revolving roster of bands- the action was fast and furious. Tough, take-no-prisoner bands such as Good Riddance and Snapcase mixed with the more pop-oriented flavors of Green Day and MXPX. There were plenty of highlights- including a stage crowded with fans for the finale of the Mighty, Mighty Bosstones set. There were also a few “lowlights,” specifically the Lunachicks’ uncontrolled vulgarity.

But the event had much more than just star-power going on. Smaller stages were strewn throughout the event grounds, featuring excellent bands such as Anti-Flag, as well as information booths, skateboarding demonstrations, food and more. A man was shot from a huge cannon and the carnival atmosphere was enhanced by an audience sporting a wide variety of piercings, tattoos and hairstyles.

Perhaps the crowning moment of the day came at the end of Green Day’s set when drummer Tre Cool threw his drums into a pile on the stage, squirted lighter fluid over the parts and lit them on fire. Talk about hot stuff.

Robert Bradley – Live music for 7/21

That the Detroit-based band Robert Bradley’s Blackwater Surprise even exists is a surprise in itself.

Bradley is an Alabama-born guitarist and vocalist who has been blind since birth. While busking in a park in Detroit, the other members of what was to become Robert Bradley’s Blackwater Surprise heard Bradley singing through the open window of their recording studio. The musicians were impressed with what they heard and invited him to jam.

Bradley initially declined their invitation, but six months later, he called back and the recordings they made became the basis for the band’s first album release, “Robert Bradley’s Blackwater Surprise.” The album created a flurry of excitement in the national media, which was also a surprise to the group.

The band’s video for the song “Once Upon a Time” earned heavy rotation on MTV, national magazines such as People and the New Yorker added critical acclaim and the group’s music was featured in the Harrison Ford/Brad Pitt film “The Devil’s Own.” The band also toured extensively, including dates with groups such as the Dave Matthews Band, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Sonic Youth and Maceo Parker.

In 1999, Robert Bradley’s Blackwater Surprise released their second RCA Records album, “Time to Discover.” The album not only features the group’s earthy mix of blues and rock, but also a guest appearance by fellow Detroit musician Kid Rock.

While the music on “Time to Discover” easily crosses over the boundaries of several musical boundaries, including funk and even hip hop, the main ingredient is the soulful expression in Bradley’s voice. Ably supported by bassist Andrew Nehra, guitarist Michael Nehra, drummer Jeff Fowlkes and keyboardist Tim Diaz, Bradley’s smoky, weathered vocals intimate a lifetime of experience that can only be described as rootsy and authentic.

It’s no surprise, of course, that Robert Bradley’s Blackwater Surprise is back on tour and will be appearing at the Fox Theater in Boulder on Saturday.

Ratdog: According to bassist Rob Wasserman, former Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir has boiled down the purpose of the band Ratdog to a simple sentence: “If we’re not having fun, we’re not doing our jobs.”

Ratdog is an extension of the collaboration between Wasserman and Weir that began after a friend sent Weir a copy of Wasserman’s album “Duets.” The pair got together and jammed, played out for a benefit for a film festival and found that the music they made together clicked. They have been playing off and on together ever since.

“It started as a fun thing. That’s pretty much the basis for it. We get up, have some fun with the music and people like it,” Wasserman said from his office in the San Francisco Bay Area.

“Fun,” however, doesn’t mean the group doesn’t work hard. In fact, Wasserman characterizes Weir as a perfectionist.

“Even though he was in the Grateful Dead, Bobby is spontaneous sometimes and sometimes not. He wants to know a song inside out before he plays it,” Wasserman said.

“He’s a really good songwriter. He likes to take his time and it’s not something that happens quickly. He gets into every little aspect, especially the words. He likes to hone everything.”

Since Ratdog began with the collaboration between Weir and Wasserman, the band line-up has constantly evolved. The group, which is set for a two night stand at the Aggie Theater starting tonight, also includes drummer Jay Lane, pianist Jeff Chimenti, guitarist Mark Karan and the most recent addition to the band, saxophonist Kenny Brooks.

Together, Ratdog has carved out a reputation as an exciting live band, though the excitement can be found more in the music than in their stage presence.

“We don’t jump up and down, we play up and down,” Wasserman said. “We’re not into the visual aspect. We’re a listening band.”

Ratdog has also become a recording unit. The group’s first album is already in the can, waiting for release this fall. The album, as yet untitled, includes nine original tunes and one standard and was co-produced by Mike McGinn.

Meanwhile, Wasserman has also been working on his own recording project. The album is titled “Space Island,” coming out on Atlantic Records, and was produced by Dave Aron, famous for his work with artists such as Snoop Dog and Sublime.

“The music is groove-oriented, using drum loops and percussion, but it is also very melodic. It is equally as melodic as rhythmic,” Wasserman said.

To celebrate the album’s release, which also features guest appearances by artists such as DJ Jam and Sultan Khan, Wasserman will be going on tour for the first time as a solo act.

“This will be my first epic experience as a band leader,” he said. “I don’t know what I’ll say. Maybe I’ll tell bad jokes. But I get to pick the tunes. I’m really excited about this.”

Eliza Gilkyson – Live music for 7/28

Some time ago, a reader asked me what I meant by the term “production” when I was writing about a recording artist’s music.

When I write about production, I am referring to all the components that make up a recording- including each individual instrument track and how all of the tracks are mixed together to create a record’s final sound. Often a good song can be affected significantly by how the backing parts are recorded and arranged- possibly turning it into a great song.

The producer on a recording project is responsible for bringing all the elements of the recording process together. This means having an intimate knowledge of both the music and the recording studio. The producer spearheads the effort to record each instrument or voice in turn and then threads all the pieces together to create a listenable piece of art.

Thanks to advances in technology- making digital recording equipment readily available- more and more of the recording and production chores are being handled by the artists themselves. To be sure, there are plenty of musicians hiring professional producers to work on their projects, but just as many artists are also enjoying the challenge and satisfaction of doing it themselves.

Sometimes, that’s a bad thing. Many self-styled producers- especially on a local or regional level- end up with projects that tend to underscore their inexperience in the studio and behind the mixing board.

In the hands of an artist like singer-songwriter Eliza Gilkyson, however, the “do it yourself” effort is a good thing. The evidence is on her recent album release on her own Realiza Records label, “Misfits.” The album is a richly textured production that indicates a creative, even inspired, knowledge of musicmaking- from the original songs to the instrumental arrangements to the use of the studio.

“Misfits” was recorded over a six year period in several locations, but the artistic vision feels unified. That is, a strong sense of musical flavoring that turns Gilkyson’s folk rock base into something unique. From the exotic eastern spice of the opening track, “The Hollywood Years,” to the tropical feel of the song “Beautiful Dreamer,” world music influences are clear. So are the shades of gospel music that help color songs such as “Mama’s Little Baby.”

Musical influences from her current homebase in Austin, Texas also come through loud and clear. “Love’s Shadow” is a bonafide rocker with upfront electric guitar and solid drum work. The acoustic instrumental “Nuestra Senora del Rio” reveals an authentic Tex-Mex sound.

All of these elements are fused together with Gilkyson’s songwriting that reflects a lot of the classic folk sounds of artists such as Bob Dylan and the Byrds.

What very well could be an incongruous collection of musical directions becomes successful thanks to Gilkyson’s excellent production efforts. Layers of beautiful harmony vocals are applied at just the right moments. Unusual combinations of instruments such as national steel guitar and harp are blended seamlessly to achieve a shimmering new sound.

On the song “Last Big Thrill,” funky acoustic parts are balanced equally by funky electric parts in an example of great studio mixing.

That Gilkyson should be so adept at producing her own music should come as no surprise. Gilkyson has been around the music business all her life. She is the daughter of songwriter Terry Gilkyson, who wrote tunes such as “Greenfields” and “Marianne,” and sister to Tony Gilkyson, formerly of X. She grew up in Los Angeles, established her initial music career in New Mexico, and toured with Swiss harpist Andreas Vollenweider in the early 1990’s.

“Misfits” features a host of guest artists that include her brother Tony on guitar as well as other former members of X, drummer D.J. Bonebrake and vocalist John Doe. Also appearing are veteran musicians Matt and Mark Andes, who played in bands such as Spirit, Heart and Jo Jo Gunne, as well as fiddler Laurie Lewis.

However strong the backing band is, however, the emphasis remains on Gilkyson’s voice and on the words, which reveal a stubborn will to carry on despite the effects of having experienced perhaps a little too much of life’s darker side.

Finally, this is what labels Gilkyson as a savvy producer. No matter how many textures you can apply in the studio, no matter how many instruments you arrange, if the lyrics and vocal expressions of the main voice are buried, the true spirit of the music is lost. Gilkyson not only avoids this situation, but does so in an artful way. As a result, “Misfits” is a gem of an independent production.

Gilkyson is currently on tour and will be appearing tonight at Avogadro’s Number

Eminem – Live music for 8/11

Controversy is no stranger to the world of hip hop music. In fact, you could say that hip hop thrives on it.

This is certainly the case with the work of rapper Eminem, who is currently enjoying the same rapid rise to success that has typified the careers of many of the genre’s most prominent artists.

The controversy has to do with the outspoken star’s irreverent attitude towards just about everything. But more than just attitude, Eninem has the words to back it up. This is at the same time what makes him an artist of note and one of dubious quality.

For example, on Eminem’s most recent CD release on Aftermath/Interscope Records, “The Marshall Mathers LP,” it only takes a few seconds into the first track before Eminem has already taken his first shot at offense. Not only does he challenge the listener- through the voice of a radio announcer- with frank disregard, but he does so with sexually explicit instructions. He also makes it plain that if you bought the record, you’re already complying.

From there, “The Marshall Mathers LP” stomps on anything that moves- from movie and pop stars and homosexuals to hip hop fans and even his own mother. There isn’t a sacred cow left standing when Eminem is through rapping.

The strangest part of Eminem’s world is that his own fans seem to take the majority of the heat. Through straight talk as well as fictionalized representations, Eminem depicts his fans as lonely, desperate and ultimately despicable human beings who don’t seem to have anything better to do than to be listening to him. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.

Despite the rapper’s scorn, however, he also emulates the trash-talking culture that sired him. He sees his brand of foul-mouthed honesty as directly linked to the real people of the world, the ones who are sitting around their living rooms, partying together and saying exactly what they want to say without social restraints.

What are they talking about? Having down and dirty sex with stars like Jennifer Lopez. Being the toughest criminal in the neighborhood. Running your mouth off without politically correct considerations. These are the things that most people don’t feel right saying when they’re in public. Eminem revels in the fact that he can say it all while being very, very public.

Despite the excessively offensive nature of Eminem’s rapping, it becomes clear that this is art and not reality. In fact, “The Marshall Mathers LP” is structured like a piece of theater, or a television program. In between the songs that take on various voices and attitudes, there are skits and vocal segues that help tie the production together into a unified whole.

The album tells about the life and times of a rapper named Slim Shady, a character grappling with the advantages and pitfalls of sudden success. While perhaps very close to Eminem’s true life story, the excess turns his experiences into fiction. In a twisted way, it even gets funny- if you don’t mind wading through the muck.

“The Marshall Mathers LP” not only continues hip hop’s taste for the controversial, it also continues the genre’s penchant for sharing the spotlight. Hip hop pioneer Dr. Dre, for example, serves not only as executive producer, but also produces the lion’s share of the album, as well as adds some vocals. Other stars also make appearances such as Snoop Dogg.

Nearly every piece on the album has a guest vocalist and so many voices give the record a party atmosphere indeed. Thanks to so much outside input, the clever use of production tricks to weave the pieces together and the outrageous bravado of the words, “The Marshall Mathers LP” rises above the constant buzz of cussing and the blur of misplaced anger. It might even join Dre’s “The Chronic” or Dogg’s “Doggystyle” as a classic of the genre.

Eminem’s music is certainly not for everyone and that seems to be the point. If it was for everyone, then there would be no reason to skewer other pop stars or sneer at industry awards and critics. If everyone liked it, this rapper would not have anything new to add. If Eminem were mainstream, he wouldn’t be insulting misguided fans, but giving them a big kiss on the rear.

It’s clear that Eminem doesn’t mind offending if the offense somehow breaks down some barriers.

Eminem is currently touring on the biggest hip hop bill in years- performing at Fiddler’s Green on Sunday, August 20. Also performing will be Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg.

You Call That Art? – Live music for 8/18

There’s a reason why Fort Collins progressive rock band You Call That Art? is on the fast track in the regional club scene. It has to do with performance savvy and a good ear for a memorable tune.

“What fuels You Call That Art? is the songs,” said the band’s lead vocalist Sven Severin. “We really like being performers. We like jumping up and down and doing crazy things. But we can do all this performance stuff and still deliver songs.”

The tunefulness of the band’s original writing is clear on their CD single “Pinwheel (have you ever seen a girl?)” The melody rides high on top of full-bodied, chunky guitar riffs. Thanks to its peppy sound, the song was attracted regional airplay on KTCL, KCSU and KPAW.

Despite the pop rock appeal of You Call That Art? originals, however, the group is being careful not to get stuck in any one niche.

“Anything really strong can become a weakness if you’re not careful,” You Call That Art? guitarist and vocalist John Furste said. “Instead of just playing a funky song, then another funky song, we’re trying to create a whole palette of music.”

As a live act, You Call That Art? has been making rapid progress. They have not only played in Fort Collins venues such as Lindens and the Starlight, but they have also been making strong inroads in both Denver and Boulder. The band’s fresh approach inspired S. Rawles, manager of Herman’s Hideaway in Denver to say “This band has more stage presence and musical appeal than the last 200 bands I’ve seen.”

Seeking more than praise, however, You Call That Art? wants to also create a positive bond with their audience.

“We don’t want consumers. Our music isn’t based around selling products,” Severin said. “We want to connect with people. We want them to get what we’re doing and give them who we really are. We’re looking for that level of relationship.”

You Call That Art? also features Matt Lightner on bass and Ben Winters on drums. The group will be extending the Old Town Square concert series with a free, all ages show on Thursday, August 24. Showtime is 6:30 p.m. They’ll also be performing at Cricket on the Hill in Denver on August 25.

NewWestFest: If you haven’t heard already, this year’s NewWestFest features some great live music on the Linden Street Live stage. That includes a show tonight with the Robert Cray Band and Colorado-based performer Nina Storey. On Saturday, a wide diversity of music comes to Linden Street, beginning with Teddy Morgan and the Pistolas, then continuing with the Congos, the Derek Trucks Band and the Radiators. On Sunday, see regional country bands Drag the River and Woodie Procell and the Snowy River Band. Best of all is the ticket price- free.

In review- Blue Man Group: A recent trip to New York City yielded the opportunity to experience the mind-bending world of the Blue Man Group, a performance art ensemble that combines driving rhythms, equal doses of comedy and wry social commentary with great live special effects.

At the Astor Place Theatre, where they have been performing regularly since 1991, their performance was an all-out assault on the senses and the mind. Beginning with humorous personal statements about members of the audience flashing on a computerized word strip, the nearly two hour performance traveled to unusual and unexpected places. The performers used everything from mouthfuls of Captain Crunch cereal and sculptures made out of marshmallows to drums splattered with paint and innumerable rolls of recycled crepe paper to create one amazing effect after another.

Flashing lights, a three-person rock band, video screens and a stage setting that included most of the theater space all came into play to insure an exhilarating, energizing and thoroughly inspiring experience. More than a performance, however, the Blue Man Group also includes audience members in bizarre and unpredictable moments.

Like Stomp, the Blue Man Group has expanded beyond the original performers to include other troupe members performing in different cities. Currently, Blue Man group can be seen not only in New York, but also in Boston, Chicago and at the Luxor in Las Vegas. Do not hesitate to make plans to see them. A wild ride is guaranteed.

Reggae – Live music for 8/20

Despite the international popularity of reggae music as an exotic party music, groups like the eight-member Boston band John Brown’s Body are here to remind us that reggae most definitely has a serious, even religious side. On their Shanachie Records debut album, “Among Them,” John Brown’s Body’s music is not only full of intoxicating reggae rhythms and thick horn phrases, but it is also full of praise for God, righteousness and the sanctity of life. Even the band’s name is a socially conscious reference- to the white Harper’s Ferry raider and abolitionist who took up arms to fight for freedom for slaves.

The album’s title song, “Among Them,” encourages listeners to “move away from earthliness” and the song “Thank You Oh Lord” suggests that even in the face of hard times, people should “let God’s love reign.” “This Is Not the End” is an anti-apocalyptic anthem that aims at raising consciousness beyond MTV and shopping malls without fear of the consequences. “Singers and Players” assures that there will always be individuals willing to celebrate life and “give thanks and praise for your daily piece of bread” and “Live & Let Live” points out that “all of us in our hearts…have a gift so divine.” Throughout the album, the positive messages are so plentiful that John Brown’s Body succeeds in re-energizing the inspirational qualities of reggae music.

Fortunately, John Brown’s Body also has a strong handle on the roots reggae sound, layering bursts of horns over a strong backbeat groove. All the while, lead singer, rhythm guitarist and bandleader Kevin Kinsella delivers the band’s lyrical messages with a lilting, slippery vocal style. Together, John Brown’s Body produces a music that helps refocus reggae on the elements that originally made it a unique expression.

John Brown’s Body will be one of the featured band’s for this weekend’s two-day Reggae on the Rocks event scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at Red Rocks. The band will also be opening for reggae legend Burning Spear at the Aggie Theater on August 27.

Hot dates: Entertainment starts today at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo with country music star Joey McIntyre. Other upcoming shows include a date with the Moody Blues on August 24, Willie Nelson on August 25, Chicago on August 26 and a special “Rock Never Stops” show featuring Ted Nugent, Slaughter, Night Ranger and Quiet Riot on August 27. Also playing at the fair will be Creedence Clearwater Revisited, the Bellamy Brothers, Glen Campbell, Def Leppard and Chris LeDoux. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, or call 800-444-FAIR.

Of course, don’t forget the free music scheduled for Linden Street today and on Saturday during the NewWestFest. Tonight, beginning at 6 pm, the Linden Street Live stage features bluesman Lonnie Brooks, then pop and R & B headliner Roberta Flack. On Saturday, American roots music master Clarence Gatemouth Brown kicks things off at 1 pm, followed by performances by the Young Dubliners and the Dirty Dozen.

Also starting today is the 9th annual Folks Festival in Lyons. Trapezoid, Mollie O’Brien, Bill Miller, Janis Ian and John Prine are on stage tonight, Saturday’s line-up includes Vance Gilbert, Magpie, Greg Brown and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Sunday features Peter Himmelman, Jonatha Brooke and Marc Cohn. For information, call 800-624-2422.

Big Wu – Live music for 9/17

Back in their home territory- the Minneapolis area- rock band the Big Wu don’t just have fans, they have “family.” The kinship in the group’s audience there is not only recognized, but also encouraged by the band who hosts its own “Family Reunion” events in Minnesota.

The Big Wu established itself at home by holding down a solid two and a half years worth of weekly gigs at the same Minneapolis nightclub. From there the band has been working on expanding its “family” base by touring nationally- playing theaters and clubs as well as festivals- and signing a record deal with independent label Phoenix Rising.

The band’s debut album on Phoenix Rising, “Tracking Buffalo Through the Bathtub,” clues in a national listening audience on what Minnesota “family members” have known since the Big Wu was founded in 1996. The music is upbeat and energetic, easily taking off into instrumental jam sections from the group’s melodic, harmony-rich original songs. It’s satisfying stuff thanks to skilled musicianship and risk-taking arrangements.

Clearly the Grateful Dead’s music is an important influence on the Big Wu, and the group fuses rock, folk, bluegrass and jazz sounds in much the same way. From there, however, other influences become apparent, ranging from savvy pop tunesmithing to revved up metal guitar. This makes for plenty of surprises throughout the course of “Tracking Buffalo Through the Bathtub.”

The Big Wu is currently on its way to tour the west coast for the first time and will be stopping in Fort Collins at the Starlight on Saturday.

International music: The Swallow Hill Music Association has a busy week of international music coming to Denver. For example, Swedish acoustic music masters Frifot will be performing at Swallow Hill tonight. This trio created a flurry of excitement at the recent Folk Alliance Conference in Albuquerque and they have since released a collection of their most powerful Swedish recordings, titled “SummerSong,” on the ECM label.

On Saturday, Swallow Hill hosts Japanese koto player Yoko Hiraoka along with Russian music trio Red Square. Hiraoka is the founder of the Koto Music Institute of Colorado and teaches at the University of Colorado and the Naropa Institute. Red Square features former conductor of the Russian Folk Orchestra, balalaika player Constantin Svirchevski, as well as balalaika contrabass player Vitaly Sirotenko and accordionist Vadim Ustimov. Also on Saturday, Swallow Hill hosts one of America’s most colorful musical figures, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, along with singer-songwriter Fred Eaglesmith.

Finally, Scottish music legends, the Tannahill Weavers, will be performing at Swallow Hill on Thursday. Still going strong deep into their third decade as a touring band, the Tannahill Weavers recently released their fourteenth album, “Epona,” on Green Linnet Records. For show information on all Swallow Hill events, call 303-777-1003.

Microstock: Denver guitarist and musical adventurer Neil Haverstick is the host for the annual event celebrating microtonal music called “Microstock.” This year’s concert, scheduled for Saturday at the Cameron Church in Denver, will not only feature Haverstick and other microtonal musicians such as John Starrett, but also Chinese pipa virtuoso Gao Hong. Info: 303-477-3268.

Cantrells – Live music for 9/22

Acoustic music duo Al and Emily Cantrel have a split musical personality. One part of that personality comes from Emily’s southern roots. The other part comes from the majesty of the Rocky Mountains and living in the western United States.

As a native of Tennessee, Emily’s original songs have naturally picked up a bluegrass/country flavor, which is reflected in the easy-going mix of acoustic guitar and fiddle in the Cantrells’ music. The influence of the Rocky Mountains, where the couple lives for part of the year, expresses itself in words.

“There are a lot of traditional sounds in our music,” Emily said recently by phone. “But a lot of the images in the songs come from the mountains and shooting stars in the night sky rather than cabins or life back in Tennessee or Kentucky.”

The combination of folk instrumentation and western inspired lyrics has helped the Cantrells develop a unique style. Especially on their most recent release on Sombrero Records, “Dancing With the Miller’s Daughter,” it’s hard to tag their music with any particular label- like bluegrass, country, folk or even Celtic. Instead, the songs achieve a hybrid sound of their own.

In the process of developing their music over the years, the Cantrells have earned the respect of their peers. Guest artists such as Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas and Tim O’Brien have recorded with the pair. They have become popular attractions on the festival circuit and have appeared on numerous local, regional and national radio programs including National Public Radio’s “Mountain Stage.” They were also chosen by Robert Redford to appear playing old-time fiddle tunes in the feature film, “A River Runs Through It.”

Despite the attention, however, Al and Emily are an inseparable musical pair.

“When we were recording ‘Dancing With the Miller’s Daughter,’ there we were in the studio looking at each other through the glass. We were face to face, playing live together,” Al said. “At the heart of every album and everything we do, at the root is Emily and I playing.”

The Cantrels are currently in pre-production on a new album project, scheduled for release by the end of the year. They will be performing on Saturday at Avo’s.

In review- Mambazo: There seemed to be two Ladysmith Black Mambazos on stage at the Lincoln Center on September 14- the older one and the younger one. There were clear age differences between the members of the South African vocal group and a lot of the show made fun of the generation gap. The older singers in the ten-man group were more sedate and dignified while the younger members were jiving and goofing around throughout most of the performance.

While the humor seemed to delight the audience, it also distracted from the power of Mambazo’s music and messages of freedom. It’s hard to get a sense of South African pride when a portion of the group is giggling and openly disrupting the performance. Leader Joseph Shabalala attempted to make the restlessness of the younger members a part of the show- by being the stern elder putting the youngsters back in line- but those attempts seemed unnatural and wore thin quickly.

Still, when the group could find a common ground in the music, Mambazo’s real magic was apparent. That is, fully vibrant vocal harmonies- strong on deep, resonant bass- working through exotic, lilting melody lines. Mambazo is also adept at creating effective rhythm lines with mouth and body percussion, a skill that at one point inspired the audience to clap along to its primal power.

Dance was an important part of Mambazo’s presentation, particularly the high-kicking Zulu style. Here again, the generation gap became part of the show. The younger troupe members were intent on “township jive,” while Shabalala struggled to keep the focus on the folk dance form. The conflict may be realistic, but unnecessary when music like Mambazo’s can easily cross age boundaries with its sweet sound and irresistible rhythmic qualities. The fact that the music can inspire all kinds of dancing should be cause for celebration, not conflict.

Update: Blue Man Group- After enjoying the Blue Man Group so much in New York City this
summer, it was hard to resist seeing the production again in Las Vegas recently. So I didn’t. In Las Vegas, Blue Man Group is currently playing in a 1200 seat theater at the Luxor hotel- certainly an otherworldly atmosphere for an otherworldly performance group. Since the venue is four times larger than the one in New York, some of the intensity of the intimate environment was lost. However, the show in Las Vegas made up for it with bigger special effects thanks to a wider, more spacious stage.

While much of the show in Las Vegas featured many of the same bits as in New York, there were several different pieces that indicated that Blue Man Group customizes their show to the venue. In Las Vegas, the show included a huge desert landscape outlined in neon that provided a playground for illuminated stick figures jumping around and playing instruments called “air poles.” Also in Las Vegas, the group brought out their “backpack tubulums”- percussion instruments made from arrangements of PVC pipes and strapped on the performers’ backs.

Most awesome, however, was the “drum wall”- a two-story construction with seven percussion stations. While wild electric music blared from the band nook on the side of the stage, intense drumming from the “wall” made the whole venue rock. Great lighting, cool stage settings and twice as many backing musicians added to the excitement.

One World Music Festival – Live music for 10/6

The One World Music Festival is a grassroots event not only because it is free of any kind of corporate sponsorships. It can also be called “grassroots” because it has attracted the support of fans and bands alike, even in dire times.

The festival debuted in Telluride in 1992. Because of “different crazy circumstances,” it has since moved to numerous other locations including the Snowmass Ski Area outside Aspen, Taos, New Mexico, Lake Travis, near Austin, Texas, Ridgeway and Crested Butte.

Due to booking and site problems at a One World event produced in Lake Havasu, Arizona in March, however, the organization is in trouble. Six figure losses have created a do or die situation for producer Jud Schwartz, who is bringing the One World Music Festival to the Boulder Reservoir on Saturday and Sunday. The event is being billed as a benefit for the festival itself and Schwartz has not only enlisted the help of some powerful musical friends, but also the efforts of a volunteer army of fans and staff.

“Boulder is where most of the fans who come to the festival live. It’s been our biggest base of support,” Schwartz said by phone. “We have had great support. We probably have more people handing out flyers and putting up posters than any other music event in history.”

Over the years, the One World Music Festival has established a tradition of bringing together an eclectic mix of artists. In Boulder, that will continue with both classic reggae and the jamming experimentation of a whole new generation of bands. Headlining on Saturday will be reggae legend Bunny Wailer, the last surviving member of the seminal Jamaican group the Wailers. Also on Saturday’s bill will be Ky-mani Marley, Andrew Tosh and Djate.

The festival schedule for Sunday will include Spearhead, Mix Master Mike (from the Beastie Boys,) Sucker, Billy Nershi and Liza, as well as a special One World All Star Jam featuring members of Galactic and surprise special guests. According to Schwartz, all of the artists are playing for free or for minimal expense to help keep the festival alive. Volunteers are also needed to help run the festival site. Call 303-245-8060 for information or to volunteer.

Greg Brown: Iowa singer-songwriter Greg Brown has become one of America’s folk music treasures thanks to several reasons. One is that Brown is a great songwriter. He’s a writer with philosophical leanings as well as wry humor and his original ballads easily combine his down-home roots with a modern sense of physical and mental wanderlust. As a result, his songs have been covered by a wide range of artists including Carlos Santana, Shawn Colvin and Willie Nelson.

Another reason is that Brown’s between-song monologues are often as telling as the songs themselves. As a warm and personable performer, humor is his forte along with a relaxed, offbeat stage presence. Added to this is his deep, bluesy baritone voice, one that Brown uses to both growl and croon.

Brown’s most recent release, “Covenant,” is his 15th recording for Red House Records. Also in the works is a Greg Brown tribute album featuring all female artists, including Lucinda Williams, Iris Dement, Ani DiFranco and Suzzy Roche. After 30 years of performing, Brown is rumored to be taking a break from the road in 2001. Now is the best time to catch one of the most revered contemporary acoustic musicians. Brown will be performing at the Teikyo Loretto Heights Theater in Denver tonight. Call 303-777-1003 for Denver show information. He will also be appearing at the Sunset Events Center on Saturday, October 7. Tickets are available at Finest Records. Call 493-3080 for Fort Collins information.

Ian Moore: With his debut album on Koch Records, “and all the colors,” Austin, Texas guitarist Ian Moore enters into a new period of creativity in a career that has already seen plenty. Moore’s 1992 self-titled release yielded three top twenty Modern Rock hits and landed him opening slots on tours with the Rolling Stones, ZZ Top and Bob Dylan. Following was Moore’s excellent release, “Modernday Folklore” and a cameo appearance in Billy Bob Thornton’s film “Slingblade,” joining Dwight Yoakum and Vic Chestnut as a member of an unruly backyard band.

Freed from his contract to Capricorn Records, he released “Ian Moore’s Got the Green Grass,” an album filled with covers of songs by the Beatles, Jimmy Cliff and Bob Dylan, on his own label in 1997. Now on the Koch label, Moore returns to his own songwriting with force and style. “and all the colors” features original tunes with diverse moods as well as a rich mixture of Moore’s trademark electric guitar playing with layers of other instruments including violin, bazuki and sitar. The album was produced by Joe Chicarelli, of American Music Club fame, and Mark Addison. Moore will be performing at the Soiled Dove in Denver on Tuesday. Call 303-299-0100 for information.

Czech music: Bluegrass from the Czech Republic? Just like in the Olympics, you never know where some new talent will come from. In this case, some of acoustic music’s most progressive sounds are coming from Europe thanks to the trailblazing work of Czech musicians such as Radim Zenkl and the band Druha Trava. Zenkl is recognized as a master of the mandolin and as an artist willing to explore all genres including classical, flamenco, jazz, new age and his own invention, “happy grass.” Druha Trava is the most-awarded and internationally acclaimed bluegrass band in their home country.

Zenkl and Druha Trava will be performing together on Saturday at Swallow Hill in Denver. Call 303-777-1003. Zenkl will be returning to Avogadro’s Number for an 8 p.m. concert on Sunday. Call 493-5555 for information.

Melissa Ferrick – Live music for 8/25

Welcome to the world of singer-songwriter Melissa Ferrick’s feelings. That’s what is revealed in close, personal details on her latest album release on the Boulder-based What Are Records? label, “Freedom”- intense, passionate and undisguised feelings.

Ferrick’s original songs- recorded in a spare, acoustic music format- muse over the politics of sex and relationships. On “Freedom,” words of honesty are underscored by Ferrick’s expressive vocal style to create more of a private conversation than a pop song. Like those of other women artists such as Ani Difranco and Alanis Morissette, Ferrick’s lyrics are more dependent on meaning and expression than for their sound or even rhythmic quality. This gives each tune a personal, stream-of-consciousness flavor.

“Freedom” continues the momentum Ferrick created with her previous album, “Everything I Need.” In 1999, the record outsold all other releases at the Lilith Fair in Boston, earned her the Best Folk Rock Band award at the Boston Music Awards and prompted the Gay and Lesbian American Music Association to nominate “Everything I Need” as Record of the Year. The title song, “Everything I Need” was included on a compilation CD of Boston female artists, “The Respond Project,” which was awarded Album of the Year honors by Billboard Magazine.

To record “Freedom,” Ferrick stuck to a small budget and performed and produced the entire album with friend and bassist Marika Tjelios. The process took about a month of intensive work and the results are about as close up and intimate as you can get. That is Ferrick’s strong point and she knows it. In the song “Win ‘em Over,” she concludes that honesty is the best policy as she tells herself that “you win ‘em over when you sing your truth.”

To celebrate the release of “Freedom,” Ferrick will be making her first appearance in Colorado on Sunday at Tulagi’s in Boulder.

Hot dates: Tonight, familiar voices from the past will be performing a “2000 Flashback Concert” at the Larimer County Fairgrounds. That includes the voice of Chuck Negron, one of the three lead singers of pop rock hitmakers Three Dog Night. Negron went from successful artist to down and out drug addict and is now back to building his musical career with former Three Dog Night members Floyd Sneed and Jimmy Greenspoon.

Joining Negron will be War, the band that encouraged racial understanding through songs such as “Why Can’t We Be Friends” and “The World is a Ghetto.” Thanks to other hits, including “Cisco Kid” and “Slippin’ Into Darkness,” War amassed enormous album sales, turning out twelve multi-platinum, platinum and gold records. In conjunction with the Loveland Corn Roast Festival, War and Negron will be performing at the Fairgrounds at 7 p.m.

Also on Friday, Compay Segundo, from the Buena Vista Social Club, will be performing at Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder. On Saturday, the Upland Breakdown 2000 will feature Micael Hurley, Drag the River, Stop & Listen Boys, Spot and Grandpa’s Ghost at the Centennial Café in Centennial, Wyoming. Call 307-742-2410 for information.

In review- Dr. Dre: Despite all the tough gangster posturing, hip hop is a music of celebration and partying if you use the Up In Smoke tour as a barometer. The show brought together some of the most familiar names in the genre, headed up by prolific producer and recording artist Dr. Dre, and stormed across the country this summer as the first large-scale hip hop tour of its kind. Its success could be measured in massive ticket sales and an equal number of happy, roaring, arm-waving fans.

At Fiddler’s Green in Denver, the last stop on the tour, the show began with sets by pop-oriented rappers such as T.Q. and Warren G. Then the heat was kicked up to high in one jump when the controversial performer Eminem took the stage. Though his stage name was spelled out in huge letters, his show blurred the lines between the several personas Eminem maintains including his alias as a rapper, Slim Shady, and his real name Marshall Mathers. All the while, he stalked the stage with wild-eyed intensity, crowd-rousing antics overshadowing the inflammatory nature of his words.

Eminem came back on stage as a guest later in the evening, but his appearance couldn’t outshine the tag team efforts of two of hip hop’s most famous characters- Dre and Snoop Dogg. Their set began with a ten-minute video fantasy starring Dre and Snoop as men of leisure as well as avenging heroes. From there, they took the stage filled with lights, video screens, a huge laughing skull, mock-up buildings and large marijuana leaves and didn’t leave until Denver made “some noise.”

Despite the fact that hip hop has produced staggering record sales, the genre has not produced a live showcase that has been able to reach the mainstream- until now. The Up In Smoke tour has finally broken through the boundaries of arena touring and should be a sign of more to come.

David Grisman – Live music for 9/8

With this year’s release of “The Pizza Tapes,” Grisman’s label Acoustic Disc gets an “official” version of the recordings out there, with excellent sound quality and some perspective on the musicians. The best thing about “The Pizza Tapes” is the chatter between the three in between their versions of traditional and contemporary material. The way they talk and laugh reveals a heightened sense of what turned out to be a one-time thing.

The music produced by Grisman, Rice and Garcia finds some good, crisp grooves and there are flashes of brilliant instrumental work. There are also faltering moments that show just how little preparation went into the sessions. This gives it the allure of forbidden material because it probably wouldn’t ever have been released if the pizza guy hadn’t made it famous.

Another new release on Acoustic Disc is “Tone Poems III.” This album explores the world of slide and “resophonic” instruments, featuring Grisman as well as dobroist Mike Auldridge and National guitar wizard Bob Brozman. Playing 50 different instruments over the course of 21 tunes, the trio run the musical gamut from Hawaiian, blues, ragtime and swing to early country and bluegrass.

Meanwhile, the David Grisman Quintet- playing a smooth, progressive mixture of bluegrass, jazz and world music- is on tour. They will be starting a three night stand at the Mishawaka Amphitheatre tonight.

JLGeez: Singing songs that range from traditional to contemporary to international, the JLGeez is a ten-person a cappella group under the direction of Jana Thomas. Thomas was one of the creators of the Rainbow Chorus, serving as artistic director for five years. The JLGeez was formed in 1998 for the purpose of supporting the human rights ordinance on the local ballot that year. Since then the ensemble made up of both male and female voices continue to perform “for the pure joy of singing.” The JLGeez will be performing at the Rialto Theater in Loveland on Saturday. Call 970-962-2120 for information.

Ladysmith: The inspiration for the music of South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo first came to leader Joseph Shabalala in a dream. The dream not only revealed to him the otherworldly vocal harmonies he would create with his group, but it also suggested some of the other singers he should band together to make this music- including two brothers and two cousins.

The name of the group- Ladysmith Black Mambazo- came about because the ensemble won every singing competition they entered. “Ladysmith” is the group’s hometown. “Black” refers to black oxen, considered to be the strongest animal on the family farm. The Zulu word “Mambazo” refers to an ax, symbolic of the group’s ability to “chop down” the competition.

A radio broadcast in 1970 brought about their first record contract. Since then, Ladysmith Black Mambazo have become international recording and touring artists. Their sound inspired a large part of Paul Simon’s “Graceland” album and their tireless work at preserving traditional South African vocal music found them singing at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies honoring Nelson Mandela and F.W. deKlerk.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is currently on a world tour that will take them to North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. They will be performing at the Lincoln Center on Thursday.

Pete Wernick: Pete Wernick’s Live Five began as an experiment. After 12 years with internationally acclaimed bluegrass band Hot Rize, Wernick, aka “Dr. Banjo,” assembled a new group with the intention of combining bluegrass with traditional jazz elements. The ensemble was originally formed to record several cuts for Wernick’s Sugar Hill album, “On A Roll,” but then grew into a performing band. Since then, the Live Five has entertained audiences at festivals across the country. Their Sugar Hill release, “I Tell You What!” reached the top 40 of the Americana charts and they have been heard on NPR’s All Things Considered program, as well as E-Town.

Wernick and the Live Five, also featuring George Weber on vibes, Bill Pontarelli on clarinet, Kris Ditson on drums and Roger Johns on bass, will be performing a free, all ages show at the Castle Rock Arts Center on Saturday. Call 303-668-4597 for information. They will also be appearing at the Planet Salmon Fest in Lyons on Sunday- along with Leftover Salmon, Derek Trucks, Maceo Parker and more. Call 719-520-9090 for information. The Live Five will be also be opening for Runaway Truck Ramp at the Aggie Theater on Friday, September 15. Call 407-1322 for information.

David Grisman – Live music for 9/10/99

Last week’s column was devoted to the “new acoustic” music movement of the 1990’s. But as far as mandolin guru David Grisman is concerned, there’s even more to the story than his groundbreaking instrumental work with the David Grisman Quintet.

Grisman is also a leading force in the preservation of “old acoustic” music as well. In fact, to further the cause, Grisman founded the Acoustic Disc record label, releasing both progressive new sounds and collections of traditional music.

An excellent example of Acoustic Disc’s efforts to keep traditional songs vital is the 1999 release, “Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza.” The album is presented as “a complete and perfect compendium of bluegrass mandolin artistry” and features performances by contemporary mandolin masters such as album is otherwise pure mandolin. Grisman, Sam Bush, Ricky Skaggs and Frank Wakefield. Although Del McCoury appears on guitar, this album is otherwise pure mandolin.

Throughout the two CDs making up “Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza,” a rich selection of traditional tunes such as “Wayfaring Stranger,” “Cattle in the Cane” and “Cumberland Gap” mix with vintage originals by players such as Buck White, Bobby Osborne and Jesse McReynolds. There’s also a healthy dose- 9 out of 34 tracks- of work by the late Bill Monroe, whose songs such as “Blue Moon of Kentucky” and “Roanoke” may as well be considered traditional material.

Monroe’s influence as the progenitor of the bluegrass sound and as a seminal mandolin stylist is so strong that the album is even dedicated to his memory.

With flair, this all-star gathering of mandolinists manages to define a new contemporary standard for the music as well as demonstrates the dedication its players have to keeping traditions alive. Grisman and Acoustic Disc are certainly doing their part by releasing “Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza” as well as other discs of vintage recordings.

Meanwhile, Grisman continues to record and perform with his own quintet, playing a relaxed fusion of jazz, bluegrass and world music sounds he calls “dawg” music. The David Grisman Quintet will be playing today and on Saturday at Mishawaka.

Clockworked: Acoustic-based Fort Collins rock band Clockworked is celebrating the release of their debut Hapi Skratch Records release, “It’s Raining Again,” at Avogadro’s Number on Saturday. On “It’s Raining Again,” the band’s music is often touched off by the light, energetic strum of an acoustic guitar, but from there, soaring melodies and full band arrangements take the original songs into pop rock territory. Recorded in Fort Collins, in part at the Lory Theater, the album was produced by drummer Paul Maurer.

Also featuring bassist Adam Brinkman, electric guitarist Tim Cravens, acoustic guitarist Brian Davis, vocalist Bud Hunt, Clockworked has succeeded in making an original music that is both emotional and adventurous, perhaps best described as a cross between R.E.M. and the Dave Matthews Band. “It’s Raining Again” will be available locally at the Finest Records, ADCDs and Cold Cuts. All ages are admitted for the CD release party at Avo’s. Information: 493-5555.

John Mayall – Live music for 9/15

Blues is primarily known as an American music form. However, some of the most fervent contributors to blues have been British musicians. Inspiring a whole generation of English rock stars- including Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, the Rolling Stones, and Eric Burdon- blues became highly regarded and remains influential.

Perhaps the most important name in British blues, however, is John Mayall. Particularly as a longtime bandleader, Mayall has turned the blues into an eventful and creative career. He has applied the blues to rock, jazz fusion, pop and progressive folk directions to come up with some exciting hybrids. Mayall’s bands, known over the decades as the Bluesbreakers, have also been known to launch the careers of many notable musicians, including Clapton himself.

Mayall’s most recent release on Purple Pyramid Records is “Padlock on the Blues.” Besides featuring longtime Bluesbreakers band members Joe Yuele on drums, Buddy Whittington on guitar and John Paulus on bass, the album also features guest appearances by John Lee Hooker, as well as Mayall alumnus guitarist Coco Montoya. The music shows that age and experience do not hinder the blues, but only help. The band creates comfortable blues grooves to go along with Mayall’s unabashed personal style of blues storytelling.

Another alumnus of Mayall’s Bluesbreakers is guitarist Peter Green. Green not only played with Mayall, but also became a founding member of Fleetwood Mac, writing such early Mac standards as “Rattlesnake Shake,” “Black Magic Woman” and “Oh Well.” After recording several excellent solo albums, including “In the Skies,” Green took a long hiatus from music. He returned in 1996 with a new band, the Peter Green Splinter Group.

The core of the Splinter Group, that originally included drummer Cozy Powell, is Green and guitarist Nigel Watson. The pair have seen the group through several line-up changes and have recorded several band albums. Green and Watson also recorded two albums of songs written by Robert Johnson. The first record, “The Robert Johnson Songbook,” was given a WC Handy Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1998 for “Comeback Album of the Year.” The second album, “HotFoot Powder,” featured guest appearances by blues notables such as Buddy Guy and Otis Rush.

The latest Peter Green Splinter Group album is titled “Destiny Road” and the group currently features Green and Watson along with keyboardist Roger Cotton, drummer Larry Tolfree and bassist Pete Stroud.

Both Green and Mayall, together for their first tour in 30 years, will be performing at the Boulder Theater on Wednesday.

Twelve Cents: On their second full-length album release, “King of the Ring,” energetic Fort Collins band Twelve Cents for Marvin reveals why ska-influenced music remains popular. Thanks to upbeat rhythms and a light-hearted attitude, a lot of the music on the album is positive, friendly and makes time pass quickly and easily to a dancehall beat.

Ska isn’t the only flavor served up by the band, however. The song “Everyday Change,” explores a deep, simmering groove, leaving room for some jamming. The tune “Factory” is more funk-based while a little light jazz supports the goofy spoken word story told on the last track, “Tears and Agony.” But ska is what makes this group- complete with a full horn section- tick.

Twelve Cents for Marvin was formed in 1996 by dorm-dwellers at CSU. The group released its first album, “Yellow Raincoat,” in 1998 and has become a favorite regional nightclub attraction. In 1999, Twelve Cents for Marvin was voted best local band by CSU students and they were awarded first place in Scene Magazine’s Battle of the Bands. They’ll be celebrating the release of “King of the Ring” at the Aggie Theater on Saturday. Opening will be Clockworked. Call 407-1322 for information.

John Smith: Wisconsin-based singer-songwriter John Smith is not only a solo artist, but he also frequently collaborates with other performers such as Willie Porter and LJ Booth. Smith has won awards at the Kerrville, New Folk, Napa Valley, Telluride, Rocky Mountain Folks and Falcon Ridge folk festivals. His latest album release is titled “To the Four Directions.” Smith will be collaborating with Fort Collins vocalist Colleen Crosson for his show tonight at Avogadro’s Number. Opening the concert will be Fort Collins singer-songwriter Kevin Jones. Showtime will be 7:30 p.m. Call 493-3080 for information.

Collective Soul – Live Music for 9/24

It’s only been a little more than five years since Georgia pop rock band Collective Soul released their debut Atlantic Records album “Hints, Allegations and Things Left Unsaid.” When the album came out in 1994, members of the group were still working at recording studios and pharmacies, taking university classes and dealing with spates of unemployment.

Since then, however, the group has had little time to do anything else but play music. “Hints” put Collective Soul on the stage at the 1994 Woodstock festival and prompted rockers Aerosmith to include the band on its arena tour that year. Two more albums followed and the group garnered top industry awards, like Billboard magazine’s “Album Rock Song of the Year” in 1995 for their song “December,” sold more than seven million records worldwide and amassed eight number one rock radio hits. The band also appeared on national television shows such as the Late Show and the Tonight Show and toured with the likes of Van Halen and as headliners.

Collective Soul’s new Atlantic release, “Dosage,” adds plenty to Collective Soul’s already impressive catalog. The album sports three new singles- “Heavy,” “Run” and “No More, No Less’- and a powerful, artful sound. There’s a lot of electric guitars and plenty of soaring melodies underscored by crisp, challenging production work.

What is most irresistible about Collective Soul’s music is its ability to straddle the gap between the traditional pop song format and rocking hard. On “Dosage,” songs such as opening track “Tremble for My Beloved” and “Generate” approach the edge of control with an upfront barrage of rocking guitars, while keeping anchored to attractive melodies and lush layers of vocal harmonies. There are some slower tunes- such as the tender ballad “Needs” and the delicately rendered waltz-time track “Not the One”- but Collective Soul succeeds most when the amplifiers are cranked up and the vocals open up and fly.

“Dosage” was produced by Collective Soul vocalist, guitarist and chief songwriter Ed Roland and mixed by Tom Lord-Alge, achieving a new high standard for pop rock. Each instrument is cleanly balanced with the vocals, while not shying away from bold use of sound effects and imaginative mixing maneuvers.

After playing a featured spot at the recent Woodstock music festival, Collective Soul embarked on their current tour to support “Dosage.” The band performs at the Paramount Theater in Denver on Wednesday.

Cliff Eberhardt: Listening to the music on Cliff Eberhardt’s latest release on Red House Records gives you some idea about how it was recorded. The spare acoustic quality of the arrangements and the emotional nature of Eberhardt’s vocals and songs produce an intimate, living room feel to the production. Sure enough, part of the album was recorded in violinist Carol Sharer’s living room. Other parts were recorded in Eberhardt’s home and in keyboardist Seth Farber and harmony vocalist Liz Queler’s bed room.

That Eberhardt should have the ability to make his music so personal should be no surprise. He grew up on folk music and has been a prominent figure in the contemporary singer-songwriter scene, touring with the likes of Patty Larkin and John Gorka and attracting national press calling his music “as welcome as iced tea in August.” Other artists- such as Richie Havens and Shawn Colvin- have recorded Eberhardt’s songs and he has become known as a songwriter’s songwriter. Currently on the road to promote “Borders,” Eberhardt will be performing at Avogadro’s Number on Thursday. Info: 493-5555.

Meadowlark Jivin – Live music for 9/29

Put on the new CD release by hot Fort Collins club band Meadowlark Jivin’ and you’re going to get the same thing that you do when you see the band live- a spicy, funky sound with irresistible rhythms, start-stop precision arrangements and a cool, hip attitude. That the music on the CD comes so close to the band’s live sound is no mistake.

“Essentially the core of the band- the guitar, drums and bass- were recorded in a live setting. Then we came back and laid down the horn parts later because it’s nearly impossible to get a clean horn sound live,” said Meadowlark Jivin’ guitarist, vocalist and composer Brian Hull.

The new album, titled “Have you ever seen…Meadowlark Jivin!” was recorded at the UNC Recording Studios in Greeley and at Hollar Studios in Fort Collins. The CD features 11 tracks of the band’s upbeat fusion of jazz, funk and rock. While Hull’s stylish talk-singing weaves throughout all of the pieces, each of the instrumentalists also get a chance to shine.

“We’re pretty conscious that we have some pretty talented musicians in the band. If we didn’t feature everybody, then we wouldn’t be showing our full potential,” Hull said.

Besides Hull, the members of Meadowlark Jivin’ also include bassist Jim Abraham, lead guitarist Quentin Young, drummer Audree Dillard, trumpeter Kirk Knuffke and saxophonist Tony Exum. Many of these musicians are familiar for their work with other area bands including Ezra’s Poundcake, Lalla Rookh and Walter Jenkins. The experience they gain in other groups is an essential building block for the music of Meadowlark Jivin’.

“We have to give credit for the development of the band to a lot of local musicians- like Walter Jenkins, Pamela Robinson and Hugh Ragin- in the sense that we get to play with them and learn what they do,” Hull said. “We are definitely a product of our environment.”

Ragin, Robinson and Jenkins all make guest appearances on “Have you ever seen…” Also appearing is Denver trombonist Nelson Hines and percussionist Mark Anderson, formerly of Lazy Bones and the Mkono Drummers. Hines and Anderson, as well as Jenkins, will be joining Meadowlark Jivin’ on stage when they celebrate the release of their CD at Linden’s on Thursday.

In review: On a recent live music binge, I was able to attend three concerts in two days. The best was Joan Osborne at the Aggie Theater on September 19. Osborne and band served up a tough, up front rock that sizzled under the direction of a riveting and sensual performer. Balancing the material between scorching rockers and simmering ballads, Osborne showed a terrific confidence in both the songs and her stage presence. Whether introducing tracks from her latest release, “Righteous Love,” or working through the cream of her “Relish” album, she put her whole presence into the performance, writhing to the vocal lines and bumping her hips to the solid beats that dominated the music.

Highlights of Osborne’s set included the exotic and spicy sounds of “St Theresa” and the showstopping rhythm of “Spider Web.” Osborne admitted to the audience that she was glad to be back on the road after four years. Anyone who got to see the Aggie show- the only concert on her current tour that did not sell out- will probably agree that she has returned with style.

Vocalist Mike Love kept calling the Beach Boys matinee show at the Lincoln Center on September 20 their “breakfast show.” Even though the stage crew hadn’t gotten up early enough- they spent a lot of the show scurrying around behind the equipment- it was not too early for the Beach Boys’ classic good times sound to stir up the crowd. This was the only concert of the five-show run that wasn’t sold out, but the venue was filled with cheers anyway.

To analyze the concert from a critical standpoint would be to miss the point of the contemporary version of the Beach Boys. This is no longer an artistic unit, but rather a performing group stoking up the good memories that only a top selling group like the Beach Boys can. Original member Love and longtime bandmate Bruce Johnston added authenticity to the group, but the important thing wasn’t who but what- were the trademark layers of vocal harmonies on target and did the show feature familiar hit songs? Yes, the Beach Boys delivered plenty and had the crowd leaving the Lincoln Center- in the broad afternoon daylight- with bright smiles.

John Mayall and Peter Green teamed up to present a full program of classic British blues on the evening of September 20 at the Boulder Theater. Mayall and the current version of his band, the Bluesbreakers, were up first. Mayall has a talent for finding great guitarists and he is currently touring with Buddy Whittington, whose thick, Southern rock style guitar work provided a powerful counterpoint to Mayall’s high, reedy vocals. Mayall is not just a historic figure in British blues, but also remains a contemporary artist. During their set, Mayall and the Bluesbreakers featured numerous tracks off of their latest album release, “Padlock on the Blues.” The group also played a jamming version, complete with mouth percussion, of Mayall’s most famous song, “Room to Move.”

Green’s Splinter Group then came on stage with a powerhouse approach to the blues. That is, with five instruments, the band produced a thick, full sound. While Green is the marquee name for the group, this former member of the Bluesbreakers and co-founder of Fleetwood Mac added more texture than flourish. The real rock in the group is guitarist and vocalist Nigel Watson, who applied both power and passion to the band’s original blues.

Better than the Splinter Group’s electric blues, however, was their brief acoustic set. Watson and Green settled into some chairs and pulled out a handful of Robert Johnson chestnuts that they played with a focused intensity.

Lloyd Drust – Live music for 10/13

“The words and the melody are the main part I wanted to get across in the songs,” Drust said recently. “I wanted all of the songs to stand on their own and that’s why I backed off on the accompanying parts. I just wanted everything else to be subtle highlighting.”

“Watchin’ the World Go By” has been in the works for “quite a while.” It started with a batch of 25 songs that he recorded after the release of his first album, “Junkman.” But quantity did not mean quality for Drust, especially when he was looking for a cohesive sound.

“There just wasn’t an album there,” he said. “It was just a bunch of songs and it didn’t have an album feel. So I decided to take some time off from the project. By the time I got back to it, a year had already passed by.”

When Drust returned to working on the album, new songs started flowing. Drust combined three pieces from his first effort with “a couple more” and then ended up writing the rest while working on the production. What he accomplished is what he was looking for- a combination of songs that hang together as a whole.

“The songs fit together well, not necessarily because of their content, but more because of the feeling,” Drust said.

“Watchin’ the World Go By” was recorded by Russ Hopkins, at KIVA Recording in Fort Collins. Special guest artists include Jerry Palmer, Pamela Robinson, David Elton Harris and Mark Rosoff. Drust will be celebrating the release of the album with a concert at Avogadro’s Number tonight. The show will feature songs from the new album, tracks from his first release, “Junkman,” as well as other new material. Drust has also constructed several unique backdrops for the concert and will decorate the stage with a wilderness camp setting complete with a campfire and a few surprises. Admission is free and all ages are welcome.

Karen Savoca: Also coming to Avo’s will be New York acoustic duo Karen Savoca and Pete Heitzman. Savoca, a composer and percussionist, and Heitzman, a guitarist, have toured extensively with Greg Brown and have appeared on Prairie Home Companion. They were named Musician Magazine’s Best Unsigned Band in 1995 and their mix of soul, R & B and world rhythms have earned the label “funky folk.” Savoca’s latest release on Alcove Records is titled “Here We Go.” Heitzman and Savoca will be at Avo’s on Sunday, October 15. Call 493-3080 for information. They will also be performing in the Tuft Theater at Swallow Hill in Denver on October 14. Call 303-777-1003 for information.

In review- Bunny Wailer: Thanks to cold, cloudy weather, the opening day of the One World Music Festival in Boulder on October 7 drew only a scant crowd of die-hard fans. What they needed, however, was what they got from one of reggae music’s most revered figures- Bunny Wailer. Dressed in colorful robes and sashes, Wailer took the stage with a flourish and energy that pushed away the cold and replaced it with rocking rhythms and positive vibrations.

Along with three singers and his 9-piece “Reggaestra,” Wailer kept his set in constant motion, moving easily between his own classics, including “Blackheart Man,” songs by former bandmates Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, as well as some new music. In a quasi-recreation of the original Wailers, Marley’s son Ky-mani, and Tosh’s son Andrew each joined Wailer on stage to pay tribute to their fathers’ music. Center stage here, however, was Wailer, who kept moving from side to side, promoting Rastafarian philosophy and inciting enthusiastic crowd response each time he asked “How you feeling out there?”

Material from Wailer’s latest album release included the new song “Rockstone.” No matter what song the group was playing, however, the authentic punch of the horn section and the precision movement from tune to tune underscored the joyful and inspirational nature of the music. Under thick, gray skies, it was a blessing indeed.

Hooverphonic – Live music for 10/20

The distinct advantage that a band like Hooverphonic has over others is that the sky is the limit. Within a framework of an assortment of long, hypnotizing grooves, Hooverphonic is able to indulge in plenty of musical exploration. That means dabbling in a wide variety of sounds, ranging from smooth pop to grungy rock to a progressive music with a neo-classical twist.

The chief programmer and songwriter for Hooverphonic is bassist and keyboard player Alex Callier. Callier founded the band along with guitarist Raymond Geerts and former bandmate Frank Duchene. Besides creating a challenging mix of electronics, found sound and other instruments, the group has also featured several female vocalists who have given Hooverphonic just the right touch of gloss to make it a unique band indeed.

The latest version of the group includes vocalist Geike Arnaert. Hooverphonic’s new CD release on Epic Records is “The Magnificent Tree,” an album that follows up on their first two releases with cool style and intelligent imagination.

On “The Magnificent Tree,” the music often centers on the rhythm tracks. What goes on top are lush, atmospheric arrangements that are keenly balanced between Arnaert’s passionate vocal interpretations and layers of instrumental work. From there, Hooverphonic strikes off into several different directions. The song “Waves,” for example, explores a slow, soothing pop sound, calling to mind the seamless production work of the Cocteau Twins. In contrast, “Jacky Cane” features grungy electric guitar lines and a simple rock beat.

Most interesting, however, are tracks like “Frosted Flake Wood” that mix traditional classical instruments such as cello with vocals heavy with effects to create a modern art song full of humor and mystery. Of course, found sound still makes it into the mix. The first track, “Autoharp” combines music with a voice from an instructional recording introducing an autoharp teacher named Doctor Walter Doo-Dah.

Together, all of these elements produce a music that is both physically sensual and mentally stimulating. As a result of the exotic nature of Hooverphonic’s sound, the band’s music has not only attracted fans, but has also become popular with film directors looking for unique soundtrack music. Hooverphonic tracks have recently appeared in movies such as “Stealing Beauty,” “The Real Blonde” and both “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and its sequel.

Hooverphonic, who has previously toured with the likes of Fiona Apple and Massive Attack, will be opening for B.T. at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver on Friday, October 27.

Sucker: Both the music and the message are what makes Boulder-based band Sucker stand out from the pack. The music is an energetic combination of hardcore punk with funk, reggae and rap. The message is an attempt to show that just because the music is tough and loud that doesn’t mean the words can’t be positive.

On their debut CD release, “Get On Board,” the music can change flavor several times in a song. Since the tempo is mostly fast, that means the members of Sucker need to be precise in order to pull it off. The song “Mystic Life,” for instance, moves easily between a funky hip hop flavored rock and a mellower reggae groove. Sucker makes the transitions with a swaggering confidence that indicates that this band is not willing to settle for any kind of weakness.

The message Sucker is trying to get across is both political and social. They “want to let people know that music is a tool for decompressing” as well as an outlet for ideas. The song “Protest” doesn’t pull any punches in terms of fighting the “real war” against society’s ills and personal fears. Instead of using anger, however, Sucker is looking to effect change through the “positive vibe” that becomes evident through the lyrics.

Sucker has been successfully touring throughout the West and the Midwest, performing with bands such as Primus, Fishbone, Spearhead and Pennywise. They will be at the Aggie Theater tonight along with Jive.

Hot dates: Tonight, folk icon and storyteller Arlo Guthrie will be at the Boulder Theater. Guthrie’s thirty-year career has stretched from being a hippie counter-culture figure to recording award-winning children’s albums. He has also appeared in several television series, founded a not-for-profit foundation for education and continues to tour as a solo artist as well as appears with symphony orchestras throughout the country. In Boulder, Guthrie will be joined on stage by his son Abe and daughter Sarah playing keyboards and adding backing vocals. Call 303-786-7030 for information. Also tonight, singer-songwriter Erica Wheeler, winner of the 1995 songwriter competition at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, will be at Swallow Hill in Denver.

On Saturday, Irish fiddler Natalie MacMaster, who has won numerous industry awards and performed with the likes of Carlos Santana and the Chieftains, will be performing at the Paramount Theatre in Denver. Celebrating her new Razor and Tie Records release, “The Green World,” singer-songwriter Dar Williams will be at the Boulder Theater on Sunday. Winner of Best Female Singer-Songwriter at the 2000 Boston Music Awards Melissa Ferrick will be at Tulagi’s in Boulder on Thursday.

Fat Mama – Live music for 10/27

There’s no question that something different is going on when you put on Fat Mama’s latest CD release on the Phoenix Presents label, “Loadstar.” Introduced by electronic bleeps, dark, deep horn figures and a swirl of found sound, the first track moves into a wide-swinging groove that picks up speed while offering plenty of room for the instrumentalists to jam.

This isn’t just the regular noodle-around kind of jamming that you might expect from a generation of bands following in the wake of groups such as Phish and Widespread Panic. Instead, this is an atmospheric, spacey type of jam that challenges the ear while keeping a strong grip on the beat. The electronic sounds stand next to the more organic blast of the horns to create a unique musical experience.

“Loadstar” is just another chapter in the development of a band that has been relentless in their search for musical experimentation. Fat Mama was formed in Boulder and originally was known for their upbeat blend of funk and jazz. About two years ago, the group pulled up stakes and moved to the East Coast where they were greeted with a whole new gig circuit and new musical possibilities.

Since then, Fat Mama has matured into a progressive jazz band- sometimes not unlike Miles Davis’ electric ventures- and has proven to be unafraid of launching out into outer space. “Loadstar” is full of seamless changes, allowing each instrument the opportunity to open up and play. All the while the groove remains steady enough to offer cohesion. The results are rich and heady.

For their creative efforts, Fat Mama has been called a leader of the “Third Generation Jambands” by Spin magazine. Entertainment Weekly named the group as one of today’s “tastiest budding bands” and Fat Mama was voted winners of the “Best New Groove” award at the 2000 Jammy Awards.

“Loadstar,” named after the original boot-up command for the first household computers, was recorded live in a studio setting at New York City’s Theater 99. Fat Mama is returning to Colorado to celebrate the release of their new record with a string of performances which begins with a date at the Starlight on Wednesday. They will also be at the Fox Theater in Boulder on Thursday, the Gothic Theater in Denver on Friday, November 3 and at Border’s Books and Music in Greeley on Sunday, November 5.

Runaway Truck Ramp: Nederland “newgrass” band Runaway Truck Ramp has just released their second album, titled “Chateau Fever.” Like other Colorado bands such as the String Cheese Incident and Leftover Salmon, Runaway Truck Ramp has taken bluegrass-inspired music into new directions. Combining eight varieties of guitars, mandolin, fiddle and drums with three lead vocals and four songwriters, the band’s music is rooted in the traditions of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachia, but adds “the power and grandeur of the Rockies.” The group, however, focuses on “solid songwriting and instrumental prowess” rather than the never-ending jam. “Chateau Fever” features guest appearances by Sally Van Meter and Pete Wernick and was recorded over eight months at Hog Studio in Nederland. Runaway Truck Ramp will be at the Aggie Theater on Saturday.

In review- Tom Tom Club: If there was anyone in the audience at the Fox Theater in for the return of the Tom Tom Club that didn’t have a good time, they certainly missed a great opportunity. Even though it has been nearly 20 years since the Tom Tom Club’s first album, their irresistible combination of funk and pop sounds remained fresh, vibrant and fun.

The Tom Tom Club introduced new material from their latest CD release, “The Good, The Bad and the Funky,” and the 7-person band included plenty of fresh faces- including vocalists Mystic Bowie and Victoria Clamp. Still at the heart of the band, however, is the husband-wife duo Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, formerly of the Talking Heads and masterminds of a unique sound mixing powerful instrumental grooves with light, airy vocals.

On stage at the Fox, the Tom Tom Club seemed delighted to be playing. At times, the whole band joined in with the audience in jumping and writhing to the beat. New tunes such as “Happiness Can’t Buy Money” and the Lee Perry song “Soul Fire” stood easily beside Tom Tom Club hits such as “Wordy Rappinghood” and “Genius of Love.” While the band did indulge in the more atmospheric grooves of “Man With Four-Way Hips,” the order of the night was mostly upbeat and positive.

By the time the Tom Tom Club encored with a medley of “96 Tears” and “Take Me to the River,” even the people still sitting in their chairs were dancing and the mood in the room could be described simply as “happy.” A reprise of “Genius of Love” followed, keeping the party going for just a few precious minutes more. Opening was Boulder band Bobby Milk who offered a sloppy, tedious and uninspired set. Fortunately the Tom Tom Club blew that away without a second thought.

Los Hombres Calientes – Live music for 10/29

When jazz fusion group Los Hombres Calientes debuted their band in a small club in New Orleans in 1998, they were surprised by the crowd’s reaction. Instead of the usual cool reception the players expected from a jazz audience, they got a crowd willing to get involved in the music. While the audience witnessed the birth of a fresh and challenging new recording and touring unit, they were also shouting, playing along on percussion instruments and dancing.

Los Hombres Calientes is based on the trio of trumpet player Irvin Mayfield, percussionist Bill Summers and drummer Jason Marsalis. The music they play starts with a modern jazz approach- working on a musical theme, then improvising on the top of it- but by the time Afro-Cuban, Latin and African rhythms get mixed in, the result becomes something more than just jazz.

What the group calls the music is “caliente,” or hot, fullfilling the dream shared by Mayfield and Summers that started the group in the first place. That was to become a Latin jazz ensemble from New Orleans with a unique and distinctive sound.

Critical acclaim greeted the group when they debuted in February and within a month, Los Hombres Calientes had moved up to gigs at the House of Blues in New Orleans and had a signed record deal. Their first album release on Basin Street Records was “Los Hombres Calientes: Irvin Mayfield, Bill Summers, Jason Marsalis,” which was named album of the year by Jazzusa.com and was the best-selling record of both the 1998 and 1999 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festivals.

That jazz fans should have high expectations for Los Hombres Caliente should come as no surprise. While Mayfield is a relative newcomer to the jazz scene, Summers has a long and impressive resume, including work with Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters, Quincy Jones and his own funk band, Summers’ Heat. Marsalis is the youngest son of the New Orleans “first family” of jazz that also includes Wynton and Branford Marsalis.

In addition to Mayfield, Summers and Marsalis, Los Hombres Calientes also features Victor Atkins on piano, Edwin Livingston on bass and Yvette Summers on percussion and vocals.

Los Hombres Calientes have just recently released “Vol. 2, Los Hombres Calientes” and have added funk and even strings- thanks to a guest appearance of the Louisiana String Quartet- to their sound. To celebrate the album’s release, the group is playing only a limited number of gigs, including a date today at the Aggie Theater.

Rosalie Sorrell: In her hit song, “Ford Econoline,” singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith describes a gutsy, strong woman who is “…the salt of the earth…with a voice like wine.” The woman in the song is really master storyteller and quintessential folksinger Rosalie Sorrells.

Sorrells literally took to the road to become a folksinger after raising five kids and ending a marriage. She has since become known as a counter-culture figure willing to speak her mind about such subjects as the attempts of commercial radio and the music industry “to homogenize women and ethnicity.” Sorrells will be at Swallow Hill in Denver on Saturday. Tickets are $13. For further information, call 303-777-1003. Swallow Hill will also be presenting songwriter and national yodeling champion Bill Staines today.

Ozric Tentacles – Live music for 11/10

The mystery of United Kingdom psychedelic groove band Ozric Tentacles continues on their second U.S. release on Phoenix Rising Records, “The Hidden Step.” The mystery on the album has to do with founding guitarist Ed Wynne’s interest in Egyptology. The mystery of the band has to do with its worldwide success achieved through musicianship, not pop posturing.

“The Hidden Step” reflects Wynne’s obsession with Egyptology with music that consciously seeks a “mystic, Far Eastern vibe.” Wynne’s grandmother was a psychic who claimed to recall a previous incarnation in ancient Egypt and who passed down both her interest and some artifacts to her grandson. The music on the album builds on North African flavored music Wynne composed for British television. While swirling between electronic trance, guitar virtuosity and spacey ambiance, the album thematically explores archaeological discoveries made within the Great Pyramid.

Just like the pyramids, Ozric Tentacles has also become a source of awe and wonder. In the 17 years the band has been together, they have forged an enviable reputation based on groundbreaking recordings and enigmatic live performances. Considering there are no words or frontman egos to get in the way, the group has sold an amazing number of records- over a million copies of 19 releases- and created an impressive grassroots following that sells out theaters from Europe to the United States. On stage, Ozric Tentacles replaces hit song promotion with pure instrumental exploration.

Formed in the early 1980’s, Ozric Tentacles has survived several line-up changes while developing a successful cottage industry out of their own studio, record label, tour bus and dedicated fan base. The band earned top ten status in the U.K. with their 1993 album, “Jurassic Shift.” The current version of Ozric Tentacles features Wynne, flute player John Egan, bassist Zia Geelani, keyboardist Seaweed and drummer Rad.

Ozric Tentacles will be making a rare appearance in Fort Collins on Saturday at the Aggie Theater. This is a must-see concert opportunity for anyone interested in progressive rock. They will also be performing on Sunday at the Fox Theater in Boulder.

Benefit: The Three Twins are a natural choice as headliners for an upcoming benefit, called “A Date with an Angel,” for Caring Hearts. Featuring former members of the subdudes, the Three Twins have been hosting regular community dance party events with their cool mix of gospel, blues, Cajun, folk and country music. The group has released a CD, titled “Trinkets,” and their close harmony vocals have become as much a part of their trademark sound as their highly danceable music.

The event is scheduled for Saturday at the Mulberry Inn. Show time is at 8 p.m. and tickets are only $8. Caring Hearts is a volunteer-based program that provides respite care, companionship and practical assistance to individuals and families in Larimer County. Organizers for the benefit are hoping to help fund the program as well as to attract new volunteer workers.

Habib Koite: African singer-songwriter Habib Koite will be bringing his soulful rhythmic music to the Boulder Theater on Monday. Koite’s compositional skills and velvety warm voice blend Malian music with western influences to create a unique afro-blues sound. Performing with Koite will be Oumou Sanagare, a renowned women’s rights champion in Africa and member of the West African Hall of Fame.

A descendent of the Khassonke griots- the minstrel historians of West Africa- Koite includes this cultural influence in his music by using indigenous instruments like the talking drum and the djembe. His latest album release, “Ma Ya,” spent three months in the number one spot on Europe’s World Music charts and his songs deal with societal issues ranging from racism to friendship. Call 303-786-7030 for information.

Hot dates: The Jacques Thibaud String Trio pays homage with its name to the great French violinist Jacques Thibaud, who devoted his career to the development of chamber music. The contemporary group has been greeted by critical acclaim partially because they perform their repertoire by memory. They will be continuing the Lincoln Center Classical Music Series tonight.

Also tonight, the Burns Sisters will be promoting their new album on Rounder Records, “Out of the Blue,” at Swallow Hill and experimental musician Chris Cutler will be performing at the Cameron Church in Denver.

Carol Frazier – Live music for 11/3

Cool jazz, brassy swing, smooth pop and slippery blues. These are the moods that move through the music of Fort Collins vocalist and songwriter Carol Frazier. The evidence is on a challenging, wide-ranging solo album, titled “Life’s A Ride,” and in the years of experience behind this ambitious and multi-talented artist.

“Life’s A Ride,” Frazier’s debut CD release produced and co-written by Taylor Mesple, reveals a lot about a Colorado native who has dedicated her life to the performing arts. From soulful acoustic introspection to broad showpiece band numbers, “Life’s A Ride” takes the listener on a musical journey. It’s all based on jazz somehow, but Frazier also reaches out to touch the beauty of the ballad as well as the funky bump of the back-beat torchburner. The subjects of the songs are just as diverse: love, loss, stress, playfulness, spirituality, question and living life in general.

“Making this album was real rewarding, real life-changing,” Frazier said recently. “It’s been a life goal for me since I was two. I came out singing, dancing and performing- that’s just part of who I am. Now all those things are wrapped up in something that I can hand to people. It makes it more tangible.”

Frazier’s career in entertainment has moved back and forth between seeking out expert training and seeking out audiences of all kinds. Throughout her years in Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming, she has studied voice, dance, acting and modeling. Her ambitions have led her to work in film, television and off-Broadway theatre. Frazier has also learned to play both the piano and the viola. She has studied and performed everything from classical to country music. Her current love is for a seamless mixture of pop and jazz and she has been playing venues all over the northern Colorado region with a jazz trio.

“I just love the chord progressions and changes in jazz. It’s exciting because it’s not always the same thing over and over again. There’s room to experiment and play. It also allows the freedom to explore a wide range of feelings,” Frazier said.

As part of the fertile Colorado music scene, Frazier has come into contact with the full roster of talented musicians who helped turn “Life’s A Ride” into a recording triumph. These include producer, keyboardist and bandleader Taylor Mesple, who not only headed up the album’s production, but also co-wrote and arranged the music for Frazier’s finely crafted lyrics. Other Colorado musicians on the album include bassist Michael Olsen, guitarist Dave Beegle, sax master Nelson Rangell, and percussionist Steve Amedee, a former member of the band the subdudes, who helped co-write two pieces on the album and performed a vocal duet with Frazier.

But more than just developing a career in entertainment, Frazier has always strived to connect with her audience on an emotional level. That goes for performances in the close confines of a tiny club to shows on the big stage, entertaining music lovers of all ages.

“I love giving the audience an experience,” Frazier said. “That’s why I like jazz, because you can take people somewhere with it.”

Frazier will be celebrating the release of “Life’s A Ride” at the Aggie Theater on Saturday. Joining Frazier on stage will be Mesple and Beegle, along with other regional musicians including Eric Gunnison, Darrin Rahn, Jason Hollar, Ron Cottingham and Larry Thompson. The performance will be presented in a concert setting, with seating and tables. Beegle will open with a set of acoustic guitar music. After Frazier’s formal set, the musicians will be letting loose with a late night jam session.

Hairplane: The Fort Collins music scene has a new addition with rock-funk-country quartet Hairplane. The band was originally formed in Beloit, WI in the fall of 1998. There, the band broke into the local scene, sharing bills with acts such as Natty Nation, Monk and Das Efx. After a successful mini-tour in Colorado, however, the band pulled up stakes and moved to Fort Collins in July 2000. On the group’s four-song demo tape, their musical blend remains upbeat and energetic while taking the time to turn grooves into incendiary jamming, mostly thanks to the work of guitarist Andy Kromarek. Hairplane will be opening for Ekoostik Hookah tonight at the Starlight.

Experimental: For those seeking the wild and challenging in music, Denver’s main event of experimental music is scheduled for tonight. That is, the 6th annual Microstock Festival. The festival features Denver guitarist Neil Haverstick, whose work with 19 and 32-tone instruments has made him one of the leading experimental musicians in the country. As a recording artist and as a performer, Haverstick has created music that is strange to the ear and warps the boundaries of western-style music. This year’s festival will also include Yoko Hiraoka on koto, Chris Mohr on keyboards, Barb Halladay on vocals, Harry Grainger on electric sax, John Starret on bass and Ernie Crews on percussion. The event will be at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.

More progressive music coming up includes a rare appearance in Denver by Chris Cutler, known for his work with Henry Cow, Pere Ubu and Fred Frith. Cutler will be performing at the Cameron Church on November 10 along with Thomas Dimuzio and Janet Feder. Call 303-759-1797 for information about both shows.

Steven Wiseman – Live music for 11/17

Fort Collins guitarist Steven Wiseman has been playing with a most unique back-up band. Instead of using other musicians on his original recordings, Wiseman often uses sounds that he has collected in natural settings, augmenting his gentle, mellow guitar compositions with the “music” of elk, birds, coyotes and mountain streams.

For example, on his recent independent CD release, “Welcome to Rocky Mountain National Park,” the sounds of thunderstorms, waterfalls and squirrels create a calming and soothing atmosphere for Wiseman’s melodic guitar work.

As a result of his music and his keen interest in environmental issues, Wiseman was booked to play a weekly series of concerts in Rocky Mountain National Park this summer. He performed as well as gave talks on noise pollution in selected campgrounds, at the Visitor Center and at the Park Headquarters. Wiseman donated a portion of his CD sales back to the Environmental Educational program at the park.

Of course, “Welcome to Rocky Mountain National Park,” is not Wiseman’s first project involving the combination of music and natural sounds. Wiseman has also recorded the “music” of the Poudre River and released it on a CD titled “Rhythm of the River.” He has also worked with the natural sounds of Hawaii for a CD release as well as recorded wolves in Yellowstone National Park.

Not all of Wiseman’s projects, however, use environmental sounds in the production. His newest CD, his ninth, is titled “Christmas in the Rockies” and features 19 tracks of “everybody’s Christmas favorites.” That includes both sacred and secular songs ranging from “Silent Night” and “The First Noel” to “Winter Wonderland” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.”

Wiseman has booked both the Lincoln Center and the Rialto Theater in Loveland for a pair of holiday shows that will feature not only his original music, but also the music of others. Wiseman will be joined on stage by local musicians such as vocalist Deborah Peterson, who sang on four tracks on “Christmas in the Rockies.” Also appearing will be singer-songwriter Greg Simons, who recorded his debut CD, “Blue,” at Wiseman’s private studio.

Wiseman is scheduled to perform at the Lincoln Center on Sunday, November 26 and at the Rialto on Saturday, December 2. The concerts are being produced to help raise awareness and funds for Partners of Larimer County, a regional child-mentoring program. Wiseman will also be performing a radio concert on 91.9 KUWR-FM out of Laramie on November 21 at 11:30 a.m. For more information, call 215-8113 or visit Wiseman’s website at www.stevenwiseman.com.

In review- Shakti: Revered jazz guitarist John McLaughlin brought the current version of his Indian folk music/jazz fusion group Shakti to the Paramount Theater in Denver on November 14. It has been more than 20 years since McLaughlin toured and recorded with Shakti and audience members showed their appreciation for a music form that stressed virtuoso musicianship with loud cheers and standing ovations.

At the root of the contemporary grouping, of course, are McLaughlin and percussionist Zakir Hussain, both members of the original band. Replacing violinist Shankar was electric mandolinist U. Shrinivas. Percussionist V. Selvaganesh, who McLaughlin introduced as “the second generation of Shakti,” stood in for his father, T.H. Viku Vinayakram. While the new group lacked the power, precision and passion of the previous version of Shakti, there was still plenty of instrumental action to make the evening inspiring.

Most inspiring was Hussain’s blinding-fast tabla playing. As one of the top percussionists in the world, Hussain handled his instruments with a dramatic flair that could rise from a quick flutter of his fingertips to hard, resounding flat-handed slapping that both drove and accented each long, instrumental piece. McLaughlin, on the other hand, seemed almost reserved, only occasionally breaking into solos that consciously straddled the divide between modern jazz and Indian musical traditions. Shrinivas took McLaughlin’s lead and added limited soloing while Selvaganesh provided a strong counterpoint for Hussain’s irrepressible virtuosity.

Most of the concert was structured to politely allow each player to showcase their talents without becoming enmeshed in more complicated ensemble work. By the end, however, the four musicians finally synched in together to produce a rousing moment of the original Shakti’s spirit. After a precious few minutes of round-robin soloing that showed that the musicians not only had the chops, but also the ear to make Shakti more than just an echo of the past, the audience exploded with shouts and applause. A standing ovation failed to produce an encore, but indicated that another Shakti tour would most certainly be welcome

Brooks Williams – Live music for 11/24

There’s a world of music at the fingertips of guitarist Brooks Williams. On his most recent album release, “Little Lion,” Williams does some musical traveling, including songs inspired by places as diverse as Brazil and Appalachia. His traveling, however, not only crosses borders, but also genres, mixing blues and jazz with folk and classical music styles.

Although Williams is also known as a successful songwriter and vocalist, “Little Lion” is an instrumental album, showcasing Williams’ guitar talents. These include moving from style to style while maintaining confident control of the rhythm and discovering room in the melodies for personal expression.

The album opens with “O Leaozinho,” a light, rhythmic tune by Brazilian songwriter Caetano Veloso. While Williams includes more Brazilian music later in the album, “Asa Branca” by forro accordionist Luiz Gonzaga, he also explores a traditional Appalachian folk-hymn, a familiar Beethoven melody as well as a folk tune by Hot Tuna’s Jorma Kaukonen.

In the album liner notes, Williams credits the music of West African guitarists and kora players with inspiring the music for “Lizard Logic.” A cassette recording of Ethiopian musicians influenced Williams’ “Meesa Kaibash” and “Magpie” benefited from the lilt of the Irish accents of some musician friends. Thrown into the mix are some Delta blues and some syrupy slide work on a Hawaiian kona slide guitar.

While the music and the inspiration on “Little Lion” may be diverse, Williams consistently applies the same musical values to each piece. First, Williams makes sure the rhythmic quality of each composition is locked down. Whether working on an exotic Brazilian samba, a driving blues or energetic jazz, Williams keeps the rhythm pattern churning strong with clear confidence. Once established, the rhythm then supports Williams’ creative solo work based on the melodies.

This is where Williams finds the best opportunity for personal expression. His lead guitar work is full of playfulness and upbeat energy. His touch seems light, but always on the mark. The way he approaches each melody is cool and well-informed, allowing him to add spontaneous invention to the notes.

Between the solid rhythm and Williams’ willingness to explore new ways of presenting melodies, he creates a purposeful musical atmosphere. The result is an album that succeeds in speaking in a dramatic and emotional way without ever saying a word. In a world full of voices, that can be a refreshing thing indeed.

“Little Lion” is Williams’ tenth album release in fourteen years. A native of Statesboro, Georgia, Williams has attracted a large grassroots audience thanks to constant touring in North America, Ireland and Great Britain. Last July, Silent Planet records released “Dead Sea Café,” a CD compilation of tracks from Williams’ now out of print Green Linnet releases. Williams added three re-recorded older tunes as well as a bonus live track.

Williams will be performing at Swallow Hill in Denver tonight. Other upcoming concerts at Swallow Hill include a date with “folk goddess” Rosalie Sorrels on Friday, December 8. On December 9, Skyelark and Bedlam Abbey perform Renaissance and Celtic music.

Hot dates: Reggae fans will want to take note. One of reggae’s most successful vocalists, Michael Rose, will be performing at the Aggie Theater on Saturday. Along with one of the genre’s best rhythm sections, featuring Sly Dunbar on drums and Robbie Shakespeare on bass, Rose helped propel Black Uhuru into the international spotlight in the late 1970’s with singles such as “Penitentiary” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” There’s more reggae at the Aggie tonight with the Reggae Cowboys. Call 407-1322 for information.

Also coming up is a date with Sammy Hagar at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver tonight. On Saturday, bluesman Johnny Winter will be at the Fox Theater in Boulder. Fort Collins guitarist Steven Wiseman hosts a benefit concert for Partners of Larimer County at the Lincoln Center on Sunday. BB Mak will be at the Fillmore on Monday.

Ian Tyson – Live music for 11/26

At a concert last year at the Union Colony Civic Center in Greeley, famed Canadian songwriter Ian Tyson gave an appreciative audience a full taste of the country-flavored folk music that has won him multiple awards and solid respect. Smooth, rich vocal harmonies added just the right touch of warmth to original songs describing “ranch culture” with an even passion and sincerity.

Some of the songs Tyson performed with his band were familiar- like “Navajo Rug,” “Eighteen Inches of Rain” and “Someday Soon”- and some were not. What was more important, however, was that Tyson’s music conjured up the beauty of a wilderness sunset and a mild breeze filled with the scent of sagebrush.

Tyson first achieved international stardom during the folk music boom of the 1960’s as half of the singing duo Ian and Sylvia. Since then, however, he has become known as a leader in the revival of traditional western music.

Over the years, Tyson’s music has often been recognized for its warm, unique quality. He has not only received dozens of Canadian music industry awards, but he has also been inducted into the Juno Hall Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Honour and is the recipient of the Order of Canada. Western Horseman magazine declared that “Tyson is hands-down the premier writer and performer of music of and about the people of the West.”

This year, Tyson has a new album release, “Lost Herd” on Vanguard/Stony Plain. Its centerpiece is the song “La Primera,” a ballad written from the point of view of one of the first sixteen horses brought to America in 1493. Also featured is Tyson’s version of the song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” long a favorite song from Tyson’s live set.

Tyson will be performing in Denver at the Teikyo Loretto Heights Theater on Saturday at 8 p.m. Special guest will be autoharpist Bryan Bowers. The concert is being produced by the Swallow Hill Music Association and patrons are being asked to bring a non-perishable food donation for the Food Bank of the Rockies.

More cowboys: Colorado singer-songwriter Chuck Pyle has become known as the “Zen Cowboy” thanks to his easy-going folk music and the down-to-earth philosophy he shares with his audiences. Pyle is scheduled to perform today at Unity of Fort Collins at 7:30 p.m. Call 482-1620 for information. Also, popular songwriter Michael Martin Murphey will be bringing his “Cowboy Christmas Ball,” featuring traditional and contemporary cowboy Christmas music, to the Lincoln Center on Saturday, December 4. The production recreates original events held in Texas in the 1880’s and Murphey will be playing two shows at 6:30 and 9:00 p.m. Call 221-6730 for information.

Steve Murray: At the heart of the original music of area songwriter Steve Murray is just that- heart. His rich, full-bodied voice expressively underscores the sincere nature of his songs. That was the case on Murray’s first CD release, “Relative Trouble,” and it continues to be the case on his just-completed second album, “Battles of Tomorrow.” An advanced preview copy reveals that Murray retains all the robust qualities of his previous work- a strong voice applied to a personal sense of storytelling- but now with an added confidence and depth. Murray will be featuring songs from the soon-to-be-released album at Lucky Joe’s today and on Saturday. For information, call 493-2213.

Dave Beegle – Live music for 12/1

Fourth Estate fans will want to take note. Although the progressive rock band featuring Loveland guitarist Dave Beegle has been on hiatus, a new CD release on Hapi Skratch Records, “Dustbuster Demo’s,” will offer a thick, fresh slice of the band’s sound. That is, big on bold, up front electric guitar, supported by strong, non-stop rock bass and drums.

From the heavy, dramatic blast of “War of the Worlds” to the soaring melody of “Someday,” these previously unreleased tracks show the depth and range of a band that pioneered progressive instrumental rock in the region and beyond. “Dustbuster Demo’s” also includes fun stuff like cover work-ups of Jethro Tull’s “Locomotive Breath” and Focus’ “Hocus Pocus.”

While “Dustbuster Demo’s,” which is scheduled for release in January, 2001, showcases Beegle’s electric guitar work, he is also an accomplished acoustic guitarist. His most recent solo CD release is an acoustic-based album titled “A Year Closer.” Besides playing solo shows, he has also been playing regular gigs in the area with the Dave Beegle Acoustic Band, also including percussionist Erik Meyer, bassist Michael Olson and guitarist Aaron Lee.

The Dave Beegle Band will be playing a special holiday concert at the Rialto Theater in Loveland tonight. The show will also include Perpetual Motion, Taylor Mesple and Keith Rosenhagen.

Correction: In last week’s column, I reported that guitarist Brooks Williams was scheduled to perform at Swallow Hill in Denver on Friday, November 24. Williams is actually set to play at Swallow Hill tonight. The singer-songwriter and guitarist´s latest CD release is titled “Little Lion,”an instrumental album that surveys a wide variety of world music with both clarity and passion. Call 303-777-1003 for information.

Tip the Milkman: At the recent Scene Magazine Battle of the Bands event at Linden´s, Fort Collins quartet Tip the Milkman took second place with a fresh and energetic pop punk music. Mixing ferocious pacing with precision arrangements, the group´s performance was full of dynamic musical changes. Added in were tuneful melody lines supported by layers of harmonies and vocal counterpoints. Not only that, but it looked like the members of the band were having good old-fashioned fun. Besides offering humorous lyrics, all three of the guitarists would occasionally jump in the air simultaneously during dramatic points in the songs. With youth definitely on their side, Tip the Milkman made a strong impression indeed. Tip the Milkman will be opening for Brakeman Junction at the Aggie Theater tonight. Call 407-1322 for information.

In review- Michael Rose: With a five-piece band and two back-up singers surrounding him, reggae vocalist Michael Rose treated the crowd at the Aggie Theater on November 25 to a fully powerfully, first class show. With his dreadlocks twisted around his head and wearing sunglasses throughout the entire evening, Rose and band played a deeply evocative reggae that was strong on off-beat rhythms as well as atmospheric instrumental work. The singers added just the right vocal punch to the lyrics while Rose´s trademark singing style glided along on top it all.

Thanks to his influential tenure in the band Black Uhuru, Rose can legitimately claim a place among musicians such as Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and Burning Spear as one of the most distinctive vocalists in reggae. At the Aggie, Rose was not only in fine shape vocally, letting his pitch and tone slide playfully around the words, but he also seemed to be in great physical shape, dancing throughout most of the two-hour concert. This was also the case for the male and female singers who not only supported Rose with strong, confident vocal parts, but also with constant physical motion. It was hard to resist dancing as a member of the audience when the people on stage were rocking so hard.

Rose´s band proved to be a crack unit counterpointing crisp, decisive beats with reverberating guitar and keyboard fills. From an instrumental opening that jumped from groove to groove with ease to a set list that mixed Black Uhuru songs with Rose solo songs, the group was capable of digging into a rhythm and then shift gears into another one at the blink of an eye.

So it went, from the opening medley that covered “Guess Who´s Coming to Dinner”and “Abortion” through new tunes such as “Try the Weed” to an encore of “General Penitentiary,” this was one long “funky, reggae party.” Rose’s version of the song “Solidarity” was particularly inspiring in a way only reggae can- it was uplifting and positive, political and had a great beat.

Hot Tuna – Live music for 12/3

It doesn’t matter whether Hot Tuna’s sound is electric or acoustic, it still comes from the same place- the blues.

In fact, the influence of the blues goes back long before there ever was a Hot Tuna; back to when the core of the group- guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and bassist Jack Casady- were high school students living in the Washington, D.C. area. Besides forming a friendship based on the desire to play music, the two also bonded over the blues they discovered in Casady’s older brother’s record collection.

Kaukonen’s passion for the blues was further enhanced when he attended Antioch College in New York and explored the work of artists such as the Reverend Gary Davis and acoustic duo Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee with friends such as future bluesman John Hammond.

When Kaukonen was reunited with Casady, after transferring to the University of Santa Clara in California, both musicians got caught up in a thriving folk music scene that included such notable musicians as Janis Joplin and Jerry Garcia. Soon, folk music gave way to the burgeoning psychedelic rock scene as Casady and Kaukonen joined Paul Kantner and Marty Balin in forming the Jefferson Airplane.

Even though the Jefferson Airplane was at the forefront of progressive music at the time, Kaukonen and Casady could not help but continue to follow their main attraction to the blues. The pair began playing out as Hot Tuna, released their first acoustic-based album in 1970- featuring a low-key, but simmering blues music- and laid the creative groundwork that would serve them for decades afterward. Casady and Kaukonen left the Airplane in 1972 to pursue the Hot Tuna project full time and never looked back.

By this time, electric violinist Papa John Creach had joined Hot Tuna and the band became a raging electric unit. Fueled by the popularity of their album “Burgers,” featuring the hit song “Keep On Truckin’,” Hot Tuna became a headlining act. The music had become loud and wild- Creach’s violin soaring over the top of a thick wall of guitar- but somewhere underneath it all was the strong pulse of the blues. Creach left the band in 1973, but not before helping Hot Tuna cement their reputation as artists willing to go in any direction- acoustic or electric- as long as the music maintained its primal roots.

Hot Tuna originally disbanded in 1978, but after a long hiatus, Kaukonen and Casady reformed the group, began playing as an acoustic duo, and released a series of acoustic-based albums in 1992 and 1993. The music had come full circle back to the group’s original acoustic blues sound.

Along the way, however, the pair joined with New York guitarist and songwriter Michael Falzarano and they began an electric unit that also attracted drummer Harvey Sorgen, who had previously worked with artists such as Ahmad Jamal, NRBQ and Bill Frizell. The most recent member to be added to the Hot Tuna electric band is keyboardist Pete Sears, a former member of the Jefferson Starship. Sears helped complete the newest version of band that has once again become a popular concert attraction, touring as a feature act along with Ratdog, Bruce Hornsby and Los Lobos in the Further Festival and as headliners.

The Hot Tuna electric band will be appearing today at the Gothic Theater in Denver, at the Fox Theater in Boulder on Saturday and at the Aggie Theater on Sunday.

Kevin Jones/Lloyd Drust – Live music for 12/8

It takes more than just good musicianship to make a music scene not only thrive, but also survive. It also takes elements of friendship, familiarity and support. At least that’s what has helped a segment of the Fort Collins music scene- specifically acoustic-based music- to continue to develop over recent years.

To illustrate the point, four Fort Collins musicians, Lloyd Drust, Kevin Jones, Russ Hopkins and Jerry Palmer, will be performing together at Avogadro’s Number on Thursday. While all four have established local music careers of their own, they have also become well acquainted with each other thanks to playing numerous gigs together, as well as extensive recording.

“We’ve all worked on each other’s music. With that familiarity, we can really get into some neat spontaneous jamming,” Drust said. “Since I’ve gotten to know the other’s songs, I now not only have stories about my songs, but I also have stories about Kevin’s songs and Russ’ songs. It’s easy to play together and enjoyable, though we still haven’t played so much that we can’t find new things in the music.”

Drust is a singer-songwriter who recently released a new album of songs titled “Watchin’ the World Go By.” Hopkins is the owner of KIVA Recording and has not only been instrumental in helping launch dozens of regional album releases, but he has also become known for his original mix of folk and blues music styles. Palmer is a passionate and skilled guitarist who has also recorded his own work as well as served as co-producer and session man for other projects.

Jones has had more than just a little taste of the spotlight. Besides recording his original tunes with area musicians such as John Magnie and Liz Barnez, he has also opened local shows for musicians such as John Stewart, John Prine, Lyle Lovett and Gregson and Collister. These experiences have helped him gain perspective on his own music career as well as those of national-level musicians, but do not replace the camaraderie of playing with friends.

“It inspires me. It gets me out. Playing with guys like Russ and Lloyd makes me work harder on my own music. With them, I end up doing ten times what I would be doing on my own,” Jones said.

Another important element to keeping a music scene healthy is having the right venues to play in. That’s where a place like Avo’s comes in.

“For folk and acoustic-based music, as well as some of the more off-the-wall stuff, Avo’s is the place. I like playing there a lot,” Jones said.

Thursday’s show will not only feature some of the city’s best acoustic musicians, but it will also feature a special “camp fire” setting. Drust indicated that it will be “like the four of us are going camping together and we’re sitting around the camp fire, playing music.”

Besides music, Drust has also been dabbling in visual art and his work will be featured in a show with artist Mike McGraw today and on Saturday. Using primarily bone, stone and wood for materials, Drust creates one-of-a-kind three-dimensional art pieces. The show will be open to the public at American International Karate/Kung Fu at 702 S. College from 5:30 to 9 p.m. today and on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Rosalie Sorrels: As a singer-songwriter, poet and storyteller, Idaho performer Rosalie Sorrels has become a living legend. That’s why Sorrels is the central figure in one of Nanci Griffith’s best-known songs, “Ford Econoline.”

But Sorrels has earned her reputation. Over the course of her career, she has released 22 recordings and 3 books. She has also been honored with the Kate Wolf Memorial Award, the Idaho Governor’s Award for excellence in the arts, the President’s Award for Western Life and Letters from Boise State University, and the 1999 National Storytelling Association’s Circle of Excellence Award. Sorrels is also a member of the board of directors of the Newport Folk Festival and serves on the New York City Folk Festival advisory board.

Most recently, Sorrels released an album of songs by another folk legend- Malvina Reynolds. The album is titled “No Closing Chord” and was produced by celebrated guitarist Nina Gerber and features Bonnie Raitt, Barbara Higbie and other special guests. To celebrate, Sorrels is once again on tour and will be performing at Swallow Hill tonight. For information, call 303-777-1003.

Hot dates: Progressive jazzman Roy Ayers will be performing at the Gothic Theater tonight. On Saturday, Keb Mo and John Hiatt will be at the Fox Theatre in Boulder, Joe Jackson brings his Night and Day II Tour to the Paramount Theater in Denver and Cabaret Diosa will be at the Aggie. Liz Barnez plays at Avo’s on Sunday, Shawn Mullins will be at the Gothic on Wednesday and the Congos play the Aggie on Thursday.

Twelve Cents for Marvin – Live music for 12/10

In the liner notes of the recent CD release, “Yellow Raincoat,” by seven-piece Fort Collins showband Twelve Cents for Marvin, the story of how the band got its name is explained. In full narrative detail, the tale is unraveled about a group of friends meeting a character on the streets of Denver named Marvin. Marvin insisted he needed the sum of twelve cents and his plight- a source of conversation later in the evening- became the band’s namesake.

The final words of the liner notes encourage listeners to “let him know he’s not forgotten” if they ever meet Marvin. For their part, the members of Twelve Cents for Marvin remember him by presenting a music mix that spans a diversity of genres including rock, funk, ska and Latin.

On stage, however, Twelve Cents for Marvin remains dynamic and inspiring. For example, at the Starlight for Scene Magazine’s recent Battle of the Bands event, the band kept the intensity level on high with both fast-paced, precisely executed music as well as a riveting stage presence. While the music rocked, the band members were jumping and sliding all around the stage. For its energetic efforts, the band was awarded first place in the contest.

Twelve Cents for Marvin has also recently been voted best local band by C.S.U. students. If he could only know, Marvin probably would be proud. Twelve Cents for Marvin returns to the Starlight today.

Jai Uttal: Known as a pioneer in the world music movement, vocalist and sarod player Jai Uttal took an early passion for Indian music and turned it into a successful music career. He has gone from being a student of respected figures of traditional Indian music, such as Ali Akbar Khan, to being an innovative recording artist, performer and producer.

From his 1991 album release, “Footprints,” featuring Don Cherry, to subsequent releases with critically acclaimed band Pagan Love Orchestra, Uttal solidified his reputation as a world music visionary thanks to his exceptional vocal capabilities and exotic instrumentation. But more, Uttal also produced popularly received albums by Khan, combining his brilliant playing with western orchestration.

Uttal’s most recent album release, “Shiva Station,” was produced by Bill Laswell and combines traditional devotional chants from the Himalayas and the Bengal region of India. Utall will be making his first concert appearance in the area at the Boulder Public Library on Saturday, along with bansuri flute player Steve Gorn, tabla player Ty Burhoe and vocalist Tina Malia. Call 303-786-7030 for information.

Blue Meanies – Live music for 12/15

In the new promotion material for Chicago-based band the Blue Meanies, it states that the group “continues to push musical boundaries…by mellowing out.” I’m not sure which record that publicist was listening to, but the copy of the Blue Meanies’ latest release on MCA Records, “The Post Wave,” that I listened to is anything but mellow.

Okay, so a couple of the tunes on the 13-track album calm down enough to meditate on an odd situation in a hotel room or to allow for a melodic trumpet solo. The rest of the album, however, is aggressive both musically and lyrically. It’s mostly a manic workout, full of raw energy.

Musically, “The Post Wave” leans heavily on anything loud and fast. That means twisting together big heavy metal chords, precision ska horn arrangements, lead vocals right out of the punk rock textbooks and full-on rock intensity. It all comes together on “The Post Wave” with the song “Camaro Man,” an over-the-edge blast of rock and roll electricity.

Much more than power, however, the Blue Meanies also offer a hardhitting lyrical challenge to their listeners. “The Post Wave” is full of social, political and cultural commentary. From questioning the pitfalls of the rock and roll lifestyle on the opening track, “Lay It Out,” to taking a defiant stand against government control in “Big Brother’s Watching,” the Blue Meanies consistently use their words to make an intellectual impact. Alcoholism, crime, employment and chemical-tainted food are all fair game for their songs. This is all underscored by vocalist Billy Spunke’s strident delivery, which adds extra urgency to lyrics that are already confronting diverse situations.

“The Post Wave” was produced by Phil Nicolo, known for his work with other acts including Urge Overkill and Cypress Hill. The album is the Blue Meanies major label debut, although they have already put in nearly a decade of touring and promoting their six independent releases. The Blue Meanies will be performing at the Starlight on Saturday. Call 484-4974 for information.

3 Twins: Classic Catering at the Mulberry Inn will be hosting a special 3 Twins dance party on Saturday. A free drink is being offered in exchange for the donation of a toy. Donations will be distributed by the Open Door Mission, which aids indigent and homeless families and individuals with a number of services including the “Fresh Start program.” The dance party is set to begin at 8 p.m. The 3 Twins, featuring former members of the subdudes, will also be performing at a pre-New Year’s Eve party at the Mulberry Inn on Friday, December 29.

Jack Gabriel: Congregation Har Shalom Rabbi Jack Gabriel and his band Living Tree will be performing original and traditional songs to celebrate the music and spirit of Hanukkuh at the Lincoln Center Canyon West Room on Sunday. Rabbi Gabriel is a singer, composer and guitarist who has shared stages with musicians as diverse as John Prine, Leon Redbone, Patti Smith and Tom Waits. Joining Rabbi Gabriel will be several of the regional musicians who appeared on his seventh album release, “Living Tree,” including Mark Sloniker and Pamela Robinson. Call 223-5191 for information.

Hot dates: Funky and progressive instrumental band Point One will be at Diamond Billiards and Pub tonight. Also tonight, Mind Go Flip will be at the Starlight and Blister 66 will be at the Ogden Theatre in Denver. On Saturday, legendary jazz keyboardist Jimmy Smith brings his trio to the Gothic Theater in Denver. Michelle Shocked and Sonny Landreth appear at the Boulder Theater on Sunday for a taping of E-Town and jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan plays at the Fox Theatre in Boulder on Thursday and at the Bluebird Theater in Denver on Friday, December 22.

January Concert Preview

Cantrells: Acoustic music duo Al and Emily Cantrell have a split musical personality. One part of that personality comes from Emily’s southern roots. The other part comes from the majesty of the Rocky Mountains and living in the western United States.

The Cantrells will be opening for former presidential candidate and folk music icon U. Utah Phillips at Swallow Hill in Denver on Friday, January 12.

Big Wu: Back in their home territory- the Minneapolis area- rock band the Big Wu don’t just have fans, they have “family.” The kinship in the group’s audience there is not only recognized, but also encouraged by the band who hosts its own “Family Reunion” events in Minnesota.

More: Charlie Hunter will be at the Fox Theater on January 10 and at the Gothic Theater in Denver on January 9. The Dixie Dregs will be at the Ogden Theater in Denver on January 12. The Chieftains will be at the Paramount Theatre in Denver on January 15. James Brown will be funking up Magness Arena on January 17. Keb Mo is at the Fillmore Auditorium on January 20 and Chris Smither will be at Swallow Hill on January 27.

Harmony Road – Live music for 12/22

The Fort Collins music scene isn’t anything like the Los Angeles music scene. That’s a good thing according to core members of Fort Collins band Harmony Road.

“The problem is that everybody wants to make it in the music business, so they go (to Los Angeles,) the good and the bad,” said Harmony Road vocalist, guitarist and percussionist Jeri Nichols-Park. “The musicianship here is far better.”

Nichols-Park and her husband, vocalist and guitarist Paul Park, originally met in Fort Collins- at a music venue on Harmony Road- and performed frequently in the area as an acoustic-based duo called Whitebird. The pair left Colorado and moved to Los Angeles to pursue their dreams of music stardom. What they found was an intense competitiveness and “too many layers of garbage on top.”

“There’s nothing you can do out there that you can’t do here,” Park said.

Other members of Harmony Road have also had their taste of the music business bigtime. Guitarist Bob Webb has toured, wrote and recorded with artists such as Joe Walsh, Joe Vitale, Jay Ferguson, Stephen Stills and Chrissie Hynde. While performing with Barnstorm and the James Gang, Webb opened for Boston, Kiss, the Rolling Stones and the Doobie Brothers.

Drummer Rory White has worked in groups that have performed with bands like Slaughter, Ted Nugent, Huey Lewis and the News and more. However, a gig in Rawlins, Wyoming led him to a three and a half month stint playing drums for Eddie Money, an experience that allowed him the opportunity to size up playing on a bigger scale.

“No matter who you are, when you get to that level of musicianship, there isn’t much of a difference between players. The biggest difference is that those people have worked really hard to get there. In that situation you learn just how close you really are, but don’t know it,” White said.

White agrees with his bandmates that there is plenty of talent right here in Fort Collins and that the community should take notice.

“There are not only a lot of musicians here, there are a lot of exceptional musicians,” he said. “People really need to open their eyes to this. There’s music seven days a week here. That’s a thing that a lot of communities just don’t have.”

Also performing in Harmony Road is bassist Roger Myers, formerly of the regional band Timeless. Harmony Road performs covers of music by bands such as Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles and the Little River Band as well as original material. They’re set to perform at Archer’s tonight and on Saturday.

Hot dates: Bluegrass fusion master Tony Furtado will be performing at the Aggie Theater on Friday, December 29 with reedman Paul McCandless. Also on the 29th, the 3 Twins will be hosting another dance party at the Mulberry Inn and superstar jazz group Los Hombres Calientes will be at the Gothic Theater in Denver. On Saturday, December 30, Fort Collins guitarist Jerry Palmer will be at the Rocky Mountain Coffee Connection and Furtado will be at the Gothic.

There’s plenty of New Year’s Eve music action coming up in the region. In Fort Collins, blues guitarist Creighton Holley will be at Linden’s, Drag the River is at the Starlight and Runaway Truck Ramp will be at the Aggie. In Denver, Big Head Todd and the Monsters are scheduled for the Fillmore Auditorium, Leftover Salmon will be at the Paramount Theatre, and 16 Horsepower will be at the Gothic. Sam Bush plays New Year’s Eve at the Boulder Theater this year.

Recommended – February ’00

Have you got the mid-winter blues? The cure is just a few miles down I-25 when the annual Mid-Winter Bluegrass Festival gets into full swing February 18-20. Organized by Fort Collins bluegrass musician Ken Seaman, of the Bluegrass Patriots, this is the festival’s fifteenth year and will feature performances by stars such as Mac Wiseman, Front Range and the McLains as well as events such as the Great Rocky Mountain Band Scramble and instrumental and vocal workshops.

Wiseman is known as one of the outstanding singers in bluegrass and has recorded with such notables as Bill Monroe and Lester Flatt. Front Range has been one of the most popular bands in the history of the festival and the McLains features Raymond, Michael and Jenifer McLain from one of America’s most prominent musical families, the McLain Family Band. Other performers this year include three-time Grammy Nominees Eddie and Martha Adcock, old-time traditional group the Dowden Sisters, the Rarely Herd, Midnight Flight, the Chugwater Philharmonic String Quartet and many others.

New this year to the Mid-Winter Bluegrass Festival are events called the Rocky Mountain Rendezvouz which will feature a condensed version of the festival with short sets by many of the featured bands. It all happens at the Northglenn Holiday Inn and Holidome, located at I-25 and 120th Ave. in Denver. Call 482-0863 for information, or visit the Mid-Winter Bluegrass festival page at www.bluegrasspatriots.com.

Kids: The 2000 Lincoln Center SuperSeries (for Kids) kicks off on February 3 and 4 with folk singer Tom Chapin. Chapin’s recordings have been recognized with awards from the American Library Association, the New York Music Awards and Parents Magazine. Also in February will be Fred Garbo’s Inflatable Theater. This two-person show features physical comedy, dance, juggling and inflatable inventions including giant costumes, blow up furniture and “the inflatable man meets the inflatable woman.” Starring Fred Garbo and Daielma Santos from Brazil, the Inflatable Theater is scheduled for February 24 and 25. Call 221-6730 for information.

Theater: Author A. R. Gurney’s two-person play “Love Letters” is a celebration of the bonds of true friendship. Starring Fort Collins actors Morris and Frances Burns, the production chronicles the lives of a man and woman who have kept their friendship alive over forty years through exchanging letters. A popular “couples” piece since its premiere ten years ago, “Love Letters” is scheduled for the Bas Bleu Theatre, located at 216 Pine Street, on February 13 and February 25. For information, call 498-8949. Other upcoming theater events include OpenStage Theatre & Company’s production of William Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors,” opening on February 26 at the Lincoln Center Mini-Theater. Also coming up at the Lincoln Center is Blake Edward’s hit musical “Victor, Victoria,” scheduled for February 14.

Art: The Critic & Artist Residency Series at CSU features a public lecture by environmental artists Helen Mayer Harrison and Newton Harrison on February 8 at the Lory Student Center Theatre. The lecture, titled “The Serpentine Lattice,” is part of their residency at CSU, which runs through March 3. The Series also presents independent cultural critic and author Eleanor Heartney in a public lecture on February 22. Also at the Student Center Theatre, Heartney will present “Blood, Sex, and Blasphemy: the Catholic Imagination in Contemporary Art.” Both events occur at 7 p.m.

Film: Life in Bali, the best known of Indonesia’s islands, revolves around the village and the temple, where rituals are a daily occurrence. Despite being the number one tourist destination in the area, the Balinese culture has been neither destroyed nor revived by tourism. Find out more when award-winning filmmaker Buddy Hatton presents his latest work, “Bali and the Spice Islands,” for the Passport Travelogue Film Series at the Lincoln Center on February 17. There will be two showings- at 2:00 and 7:30 p.m.

Classical music: The Zephyr Chamber Trio demonstrates a wide diversity as chamber musicians and soloists with a repertoire that stretches from Bach to Martinu. Resulting from a collaboration between flutist Jeanne Galway and pianist Samuel Sanders at the Cape & Islands Chamber Music Festival in 1996, and featuring cellist Kathe Jarka, the Zephyr Chamber Trio has won critical acclaim in concert venues across the globe. The group will be continuing the Lincoln Center Classical Music Series, which is presented in association with the CSU Department of Music, the Fort Collins Symphony and the Front Range Chamber Players. Other classical music events include the Fort Collins Symphony with special guest Liam Teague, playing steel pan, on February 12 at the Lincoln Center. The Front Range Chamber Players present a program including Stravinsky and music written by Fort Collins pianist Doug Lowe on February 6 in the Lincoln Center Mini-Theater.

Dance: As part of its “American Graham” tour to over thirty cities nationwide, the Martha Graham Dance Company will be presenting the American classic, “Appalachian Spring,” as well as the new “Gershwin Graham” collaboration with Tony Award-winning Broadway choreographer Susan Stroman. The company is one of the oldest and most esteemed dance groups in the country and continues to perform works from the vast Graham repertoire and new ones “created in homage to, and in the spirit of, Martha Graham.” The Martha Graham Dance Company continues the Lincoln Center Dance Series on Thursday, March 2.

Recommended – April 00

The Innocence is a Fort Collins pop folk group that sings songs about the lives that we all lead, that is if we’re honest with ourselves.

On “Stone Flowers,” the Innocence frame this lyrical honesty with a creative folk-based sound that is not shy of stepping into both rock and pop territories. Electric guitar leads and driving percussion make the music groove while the Jones’ vocal harmonies keep things grounded. Also featuring Mark Foerster on bass and Martin Poole on percussion, the Innocence will be performing songs from “Stone Flowers” at the Bas Bleu Theatre at 216 Pine Street on Thursday, April 13. Showtime is at 7:30 pm and tickets are $5.

Gospel: Featuring the legendary vocalist Clarence Fountain, the Blind Boys of Alabama have adopted the style of gospel singing called “jubilee.” It’s a fervent performance style that often inspires audience participation and the Blind Boys of Alabama have been sharing this uplifting brand of music for more than sixty years. Their gospel hits have included “Oh Lord, Stand By Me,” “I Can See Everybody’s Mother But I Can’t See Mine” and a version of Bob Dylan’s “I Believe In You” and the group has received three Grammy nominations over the years. The Blind Boys of Alabama will be performing at the Lincoln Center for the Anything Goes Series on April 14.

WordJazz: The Rocky Mountain Coffee Connection will be the host venue for a unique series of events celebrating the spoken word. “WordJazz” is a live performance series which will feature authors of poetry, fiction, non-fiction and other forms of writing in an open-mic atmosphere. The shows are being organized by members of the Coffee Connection’s Grounds for Harmony program and continues the venue’s award-winning efforts at bringing the arts to the community. Writers who are interested in more information about WordJazz are invited to call organizers Sandy or John Tracey at 493-1445. The first WordJazz session is scheduled for Friday, April 7, from 8-10 pm at the Rocky Mountain Coffee Connection. A second event is set for May 5.

Choral music: Fort Collins musician Steve Eulberg has been commissioned to write a suite of music for an upcoming performance by the Rainbow Chorus at the Lincoln Center on April 9. Eulberg will be adding the sounds of hammered dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, percussion, penny whistle and didjeridoo to the choral work of the Rainbow Chorus to create “Beginnings,” a grouping of pieces that celebrate life and human understanding. “Beginnings” will debut at the Lincoln Center, though the Rainbow Chorus is already scheduled to perform the suite again in Colorado Springs in May and in Denver in July, as well as record the work. Wyoming musician Paul Taylor will be playing the didjeridoo as a guest musician for the April 9 performance. Showtime is 7 pm.

Alice Di Micele: Oregon singer-songwriter Alice Di Micele dedicates her most recent album to Julia Butterfly Hill, the eco-activist who spent more than a year living in a redwood tree to protest logging destruction. Hill is an inspiration to Di Micele because “it takes ordinary people to do extraordinary things.” In fact, Di Micele has been so inspired, that she has also participated in benefit concerts for Hill and the redwood cause that have featured Di Micele along with artists such as Mickey Hart and Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, Joan Baez and Bonnie Raitt.

Di Micele has been following her own muse for more than twelve years as an independent artist. She has released seven albums on her own Alice Otter Music label and has appeared on many more, including compilations on EarthBeat! Records. Di Micele’s most recent album is “Alice Live,” an intimate look into Di Micele’s impassioned music, balancing rhythmic guitar work with deep, soulful vocals.

Di Micele will be performing in the Acoustic Carnival event scheduled for Avogadro’s Number on April 9. The Acoustic Carnival, a regional showcase of acoustic music, will also feature Maggie Simpson and Sterling Waters. Call 493-5555 for information.

Recommended – for 5/18

I feel like I’m sixteen again. What that means is that I already have three sets of summer concert tickets in my drawer already- just like the way I started out the summer of 1972.

My early choices for must-see concerts for the summer of 2000 were clear: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band- this year featuring Cream bassist Jack Bruce- at Red Rocks on June 28; Roger Waters, Pink Floyd bassist and successful solo artist, at Fiddler’s Green on July 3; and the Vans Warped Tour featuring NOFX, Green Day, the Mighty, Mighty Bosstones, T.S.O.L. and many others at the Adams County Fairgrounds on July 9.

But there are plenty more shows on the calendar and tickets are already on sale. At Red Rocks, look for dates with Jackson Browne and Bruce Hornsby on June 13; the String Cheese Incident with special guest star Bunny Wailer on June 30; the Allman Brothers Band on July 3; Blues Traveler on July 4; No Doubt with Lit on July 15; and Britney Spears on July 26. At Fiddler’s Green, concerts include KTCL’s Big Adventure with 311, Incubus and Apollo 440 on June 3; the Cure on June 5; Steely Dan on June 21; Blink 182 on June 29; and Poison, Cinderella, Dokken and Slaughter on August 17.

Summer shows at Mile High Stadium include NSYNC on June 20 and the Dave Matthews Band along with Ben Harper on July 25. The annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival is set for June 15-18 and features performances by Bela Fleck, Bruce Hornsby, David Grisman, Peter Rowan and many more. Also don’t forget the annual LoDo festival, scheduled for July 7-8, featuring an all-star line-up including the Meters, Mojo Nixon, Los Lobos, Mickey Hart, Marcia Ball, Wilson Pickett and Alejandro Escovedo.

Country music fans should take note of several dates including the Greeley Independence Stampede featuring concerts by Dwight Yoakum on June 23, Brooks and Dunn on June 24 and Chris LeDoux on July 4. The Country Jam USA is set for June 22-25 in Grand Junction and also stars Chris LeDoux and Brooks and Dunn, as well as Sawyer Brown, Chely Wright and Sammy Kershaw. Up in Cheyenne, watch for shows with the Judds on July 21, Randy Travis on July 23, Tanya Tucker on July 24 and Clint Black on July 29.

Other outstanding concerts coming to the area this summer includes Ray Charles at the Paramount Theater in Denver on June 13. Trumpeter Hugh Masekela will be performing at the Fox Theater in Boulder on June 30 and Diana Ross and the Supremes are scheduled for the Pepsi Center in Denver on June 21. Now is the time to make plans for great summer listening!

Classical music: The sixth and last course of the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra’s “Gourmet Season” will be on May 27 at the Lincoln Center. The program will include music by Mozart, Samuel Barber and jean Sibelius. Guest violinist Benjamin Bowman will be featured on the Barber piece- Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 14. Bowman held the First Prize in the Canadian Music Competition for three consecutive years and was awarded the Young Canadian Musician’s Award for 1999.

Opera: The Fort Collins Library Opera Video Series will feature Verdi’s “Otello” on Saturday, May 20. Based on Shakespeare’s play, “Otello” is a passionate love story as well as a tale of murder and betrayal. The videos are shown for free at the Ben Delatour Room of the Main Library. Seating is on a first-come- first-serve basis and the program is suggested for viewers over the age of 12. Showtime is 12:30 p.m.

Theater: Stephen Sondheim’s romantic musical, “A Little Night Music,” is based on the 1955 Ingmar Bergman film, “Smiles of a Summer Night.” It follows the story of a middle-aged gentleman married to a beautiful and very young wife. When an old flame comes to town, it makes him question what love is.

The score for “A Little Night Music” is by Sondheim and the book is by Hugh Wheeler. The pair won the 1973 Tony Award for Best New Musical. The OpenStage Theatre production of “A Little Night Music” opens on May 27 and runs through June 24. Call 221-6730 for information.

Summer reading: The Fort Collins Public Library’s Summer Reading Program 2000 is much more than storytime readings. Beginning on June 12 and running through July 28, the program includes performances, demonstrations and plays as well as storytelling in a celebration of words and learning.

The events occur at the Main Library and at the Harmony Library, as well as at the Barton Early Childhood Center Library. Programs also are scheduled for the LINC- Library Information Networking a Community- Libraries. These are school library media centers that are open on Tuesday and Thursday mornings thanks to funding by an anonymous donor. The participating facilities are Bauder, Beattie, Cache La Poudre, Irish, Kruse, Linton, O’Dea and Shepardson elementary schools.

Recommended- 6/1

Just as the summer concert season has already cranked up in famous Front Range venues such as Red Rocks and Fiddler’s Green, the local outdoor concert season has also arrived.

That means, of course, the start of the “Downtown Live” events in Old Town Square. The free Thursday night concert series begins on June 8 with the Rio Grande All-Stars, playing reggae, rock and blues. Following will be Chupacabra, playing world beat music, salsa, funk and reggae on June 15. Other acts booked this year include the Atoll, Cabaret Diosa, the Indulgers, Opie Gone Mad, the Hazel Miller Band, Chris Daniels and the Kings, Liz Barnez, the Bluegrass Patriots and Kenny Cordova.

All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. on the Old Town Square Stage. The series is being presented by AT & T and is sponsored by Pepsi, the Avery Building, the PVH Foundation, Brayton Inn, Old Town Square, Old Chicago, Linden’s, Lucky Joe’s, Employment Solutions, CooperSmith’s, Dellenbach Motors and Suite 152.

Other local outdoor venues include the Mishawaka Amphitheatre, which is already hosting another season of live music up in the Poudre Canyon.

Mishawaka isn’t just another concert venue, but a fine Colorado canyon experience. The bandstand is set right against the river and often the music mixes with nature in a satisfying synchronicity. Versatile Wyoming singer-songwriter Michael DeGreve will be performing at Mishawaka on Sunday, June 4, followed by Firefall on June 10 and Motet on June 11. Also watch for dates with Lewis and Floorwax’s Groove Hawgs, Blinddog Smokin’, Leftover Salmon, Terrence Simien and much more. Call 482-4420 for information.

NewWestFest: The entertainment line-up for this year’s NewWestFest is far from settled yet, however, one act is booked with a sealed contract. That is, one of America’s most popular blues guitarists- Robert Cray. Cray is scheduled to play a free street concert in downtown Fort Collins on Friday, August 18. Of course, there will be plenty of other entertainment and maybe even a third day of live performances on the Linden Street stage, where Cray will be headlining. Stay tuned for further developments.

Steven Wiseman: In the spring of 1999, guitarist Steven Wiseman released his sixth CD, titled “Welcome to Rocky Mountain National Park.” The album combined mellow, melodic solo guitar work with nature sounds recorded by Wiseman in the park. The recordings are aimed at creating an “audio postcard” for both visitors and Colorado residents of one of the state’s most visited natural areas.

Tony Levin: You can’t argue with credentials like bassist Tony Levin’s. Most famous for his longtime work with Peter Gabriel and King Crimson, Levin’s other credits include artists such as John Lennon, Paul Simon, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson and Al Di Meola. Also include Alice Cooper, Dire Straits, Art Garfunkel, Richard Harris, and Kenny Loggins. That’s just the short list. The full list reads like a who’s who of folk, jazz, world music and progressive rock.

More music: Other great live music coming to the area includes a date with the Cure at Fiddler’s Green in Denver on Monday, June 5. Progressive rock keyboardist Todd Rundgren, will be performing in a “power trio” format at the Fox Theater in Boulder on June 6. Bluegrass fusion master Tony Furtado will be at the Aggie Theater on June 8

Theater: Paula Vogel’s Pulitzer Prize winning play “How I Learned to Drive” portrays a sensitive and intelligent girl being taught to drive a car by a loving uncle. Stifled by the expectations of her working class family, the girl takes refuge in her uncle’s affection, but also must confront questions about life and love. The steering wheel of the car becomes a symbol for taking her life into her own hands.

The Bas Bleu Theatre Company’s production of “How I learned to Drive” is currently playing on Fridays and Saturdays through June 24. Call 498-8949 for information.

Recommended- for 6/15 issue

An all day music line-up is only part of what’s in store for patrons of the City Park Holistic Arts Fair set for Saturday, June 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at City Park. Besides music, there will be plenty of activities plus food, product and informational booths. That means eating food from vendors such as Starry Night Coffee and the Food Co-op, trying hair wraps and palm reading, shopping for wearable art and herbal products and catching up on the latest meditation techniques and preventative health care developments.

Entertainment at the Holistic Arts Fair begins at 9 a.m. with an invitation for everyone to participate in the Dances of Universal Peace. Then musicians such as Steve Eulberg, Michael Riversong, Sarah Melby, Andrew Holbrook and more are scheduled to perform throughout the day. Rabbi Jack Gabriel is scheduled to perform music from his new CD release, “Living Tree,” at noon.

The City Park Holistic Arts Fair is a benefit for the Hour of Peace 2000 and is sponsored by A Foundation for Basics, a non-profit corporation. Other sponsors include the Healing Path Community Magazine, Sunset Markets Unlimited and KUNC. For more information, call 498-4073.

Don Blas: At age 25, Denver MC/producer Don Blas already claims 15 years of writing and producing experience. But what Blas, also known as Abdul Halim Aswaad Ali, has mostly saved for the concert stage and studio work for others is now coming out on a CD of his own. Blas’ debut album, on his own Mob Style Records label, is “Capo Di Tutti Capi” and will introduce music fans to his own style of “hardcore melodic hip hop flavor.”

Music comes to Blas naturally- his father was an early singer for the band Earth, Wind and Fire- and he has appeared on the same concert bills with artists such as De La Soul, GZA/Genius, Method Man and Redman. The first single from the album is “Thought They Knew,” featuring guest artist Dready Krueger of the Wu Tang Clan. Blas will be performing at the Aggie Theater on Friday, June 23, along with Del the Funky Homosapien and Blackalicious. Call 407-1322 for information.

Guitar man: Award-winning guitarist Ed Gerhard began playing his instrument at age 14 after seeing classical guitar master Andres Segovia perform on television. Since then, Gerhard has become known as a virtuoso in his own right thanks to critically acclaimed albums and extensive touring in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan.

Gerhard has not only released six albums of his own, he has also appeared on compilations of guitar music from Windham Hill Records and Narada Records. In honor of his accomplishments, Breedlove Guitars also created a special instrument design called the “Ed Gerhard Signature Model.”

To celebrate his latest album release, his own “bootleg” release titled “The Live One,” Gerhard is currently on tour and will be performing on Saturday, June 24 at the Rialto Theater in Loveland. He will also be presenting a fingerstyle guitar workshop at Osprey Guitars in Fort Collins on Sunday, June 25. For concert information, call 962-2120. For workshop information, call 490-2334.

Dinner theater: You can transport yourself back in time to hear the popular music of the 1950’s and 1960’s thanks to the Carousel Dinner Theatre’s new production of “The Taffetas.” The show is a tribute to songs such as “Mr. Sandman,” “Sincerely,” “You Belong to Me” and “Puppy Love,” set in the context of a television program called “Spotlight on Music.” Performing the songs are four “pretty, perky princesses of pop,” including area actresses Tracy Dawdy, Stacy Lynn Dumas, Susan Marie Morehouse and Melissa Wallner.

“The Taffetas” is directed by Oregon-based director Dan Murphy, with musical direction by Loveland’s Peter Muller. The production opens on June 16 and runs through August 27. Performances are on Thursday and Saturday evenings, on Sunday afternoons and on June 16 and 23. Ticket prices include dinner, show and tax and special group rates are available. For information, call 225-2555. Coming up at the Carousel in September, “Singin’ in the Rain.”

Art: The Lincoln Center is currently hosting three exhibitions of art in a variety of media. These include paintings, metal and porcelain sculptures and quilt art.

In the Lobby Gallery, the paintings of Denver artist Ron Trujillo and the painted wood panels of Florida artist Ray Burggraf are on display. Trujillo portrays plants and flowers as “abstractions of form, color and light.” Burggraf’s landscapes suggest that the images of nature change with the viewer’s point of view and with the shifting of time, weather and terrain.

The Intimate Gallery hosts an exhibit entitled “Paint, Paper, Metal and Porcelain,” featuring the artwork of Ellen Phillips, John Wilbur, Marcia Bernstein and Truly Ball. Phillips, from California, describes her metal sculptures as “an extension of her inner experience of self-search, change and growth.” Wilbur makes the high plains of Colorado the subject of his dimensional paintings. From New York, Bernstein uses common items to create mixed media collages. And Iowa sculptor Truly Ball creates sculptures in both metal and porcelain.

The Walkway Gallery presents the quilt work of Loveland artist Louisa L. Smith. Smith began quilting in the late 1970’s and has since developed new ways of manipulating color, texture and design in her pieces.

Gallery hours at the Lincoln Center are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. Admission is free. The display of Smith’s quilting runs through June 28. The other two exhibits run through June 29.

July Music

Maybe you’re too old to have heard of bands like Papa Roach or NOFX. Maybe you’re too young to have been a fan of T.S.O.L. or Green Day. At least, maybe you think you’re too young or too old.

But age doesn’t matter when it comes to the Van’s Warped Tour. Really, all that matters is that you like loud, grinding music full of aggressive, punk attitude. Add in the allure of exotic vendor booths and extreme sports demonstrations and you have a hot summer day full of fun.

The Warped Tour, also featuring a long list of other bands including Suicide Machines, Jurassic Five, the Long Beach Dub All-Stars, the Mighty, Mighty Bosstones, Super Suckers, the Lunachicks and many, many more is set to explode at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Brighton on Sunday July 9. The annual hard rock festival is only one of many great live music events occurring in the area in July.

For Deadheads, the upcoming weeks are rich in opportunities. That includes a show by former Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart at the Aggie Theater in Fort Collins on Friday, July 7. Hart is fronting an all-new band also featuring Dead vocalist and keyboardist Vince Welnick. The Mickey Hart band will also be featured at the LoDo Music festival in Denver on Saturday, July 8. Then on July 21 and 22, Dead guitarist Bob Weir will be bringing in his band, Ratdog, to the Aggie Theater. Fans will also want to look ahead to a date with the Other Ones, featuring both Weir and Hart as well as keyboardist Bruce Hornsby and guitarist Steve Kimock. The Other Ones will be headlining at Fiddler’s Green in Denver on August 29. Reggae artist Ziggy Marley will also be performing.

Speaking of the LoDo Festival, the line-up for this year’s only major urban music festival is rich in diversity. On Friday, July 7, the Funky meters headline along with Leftover Salmon, Mojo Nixon and the Freddy Jones Band. On Saturday, July 8, Mickey Hart will be joined by Los Lobos, Wilson Pickett, Marcia Ball and Alejandro Escovedo.

If heavy metal is more to your taste, then check out the “Maximum Rock Tour,” headed for Red Rocks on Thursday, July 6. This event features a rock ‘em, sock ‘em line-up including Motley Crue, Megadeth and Anthrax. Also coming up is the “Summer Sanitarium Tour,” pulling in to Mile High Stadium on Wednesday, July 12. Headliners Metallica will be joined by Korn, Kid Rock, System of a Down and Powerman 5000.

Other great shows coming up in July are No Doubt and Lit at Red Rocks on Saturday, July 15; the Dave Matthews Band, along with Ben Harper and Ozomatli at Mile High Stadium on July 25; and the Eighties flashback tour featuring the B-52s, the Go Gos and a reformed Psychedelic Furs, scheduled for July 28 at Red Rocks.

Dates to watch out for in August and September include Widespread Panic- who sold out three nights at Red Rocks in less than an hour- in Keystone on August 19 and 20. Santana will be returning to Colorado on September 28, sharing the bill with Everlast at the Pepsi Center.

July 6 Recommended

Colorado-based singer-songwriter Sally Taylor has taken the independent route as an artist by choice. She has gotten major label offers, but prefers to market her own music at shows and through her website.

Also on Taylor’s website is her touring diary that immortalizes some of the crazy things that happen to an independent artist on the road. That includes stories about one of the best- and scariest- audiences she has played for- in a biker bar in Minneapolis. She has competed with NBA finals on sports bar televisions, battled blaring jukeboxes and watched a patron of a night club in Alabama become covered in soap bubbles thanks to the facility’s overactive bubble machine.

When not on the road, Taylor concentrates on recording her own music. She released her first album, “Tomboy Pride” in 1999. Her musical talents have also recently been included on the movie soundtracks for films such as “Me, Myself and Irene” and “Anywhere But Here.”

Taylor- the daughter of famous musical parents Carly Simon and James Taylor- is also a bandleader and has recently released her second CD album, “Apt. #6S.” The album features guest appearances by artists such as Reed Foehl of Acoustic Junction and Maceo Parker, as well as members of her band including bassist Kenny Castro and guitarist Chris Soucy. Also joining Taylor on the road is drummer Kyle Comerford. Taylor and band are set to celebrate the release of “Apt. #6S” with a local appearance at the Mishawaka Amphitheatre on Sunday, July 9. Call 482-4420 for information.

Paula Cole: In 1996, when singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Paula Cole came out of the recording studio with the master of her second album release, “This Fire,” she referred to it as a “little piece of art.” Cole’s “little piece of art” would go on to sell more than two million copies and earn her a Grammy Award for best new artist.

Cole’s most recent release is “Amen,” on Warner Brothers Records. The album features Cole together with her band, guitarist Kevin Barry and drummer Jay Bellerose. It also includes guest appearances by artists such as Gang Starr’s DJ Premier as well as Tionne “T-boz” Watkins of TLC. The album “celebrates life through an intoxicating blend of incendiary vocals, warm, supple grooves and soothing, graceful wordplay.”

Cole received her training at the Berklee College of Music, where she studied jazz singing and was a member of the gospel choir. She signed a recording deal with Imago records and then was invited to perform with progressive rocker Peter Gabriel on his 1992-93 world tour. Her first album, “Harbinger,” was released after the tour. Warner Brothers signed her, re-released “Harbinger,” and Cole began her climb to international stardom through extensive touring and television appearances on shows such as the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Late Show with David Letterman.

Cole’s album, “This Fire” produced two smash singles- “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” and “I Don’t Want to Wait,” which became the theme song for the television show Dawson’s Creek. Cole will be making a rare appearance in Fort Collins at the Aggie Theater on Friday, July 14. Call 407-1322 for information.

Grateful Dead: Deadheads should take note of several upcoming dates with former members of the Grateful Dead. First is a concert by Dead drummer Mickey Hart at the Aggie Theater on Friday, July 7.

Hart is currently leading his own band that includes Dead keyboardist and vocalist Vince Welnick. While Hart has become known as the “Godfather of World Beat,” thanks to his years of musical exploring, his current band project is focusing more on rock ‘n’ roll- like signature Dead tunes such as “Fire on the Mountain” and “Iko Iko.” But world music fans will still find plenty to listen to since Hart is currently mixing rock with Afro-Cuban sounds. Hart and band will also be appearing at the LoDo Music festival on Saturday, July 8.

Next on the list will be a two-night stand by Bay Area band Ratdog, also playing at the Aggie Theater on July 21 and 22. Ratdog grew out of duo work between Dead guitarist and songwriter Bob Weir and bassist Rob Wasserman. Ratdog’s set list draws from classic blues tunes to Dead songs such as “Playing in the Band” and “The Other One.” The band line-up also features drummer Jay Lane, pianist Jeff Chimenti, guitarist Mark Karan and saxophonist Kenny Brooks. Ratdog is expected to release their first album as a band in September.

Finally, Weir and Hart will be joining forces in a new touring version of the post-Dead musical conglomerate, the Other Ones. The Other Ones will be headlining the Further Festival 2000, also starring reggae artist Ziggy Marley. The Other Ones, also featuring keyboardist Bruce Hornsby and guitarist Steve Kimock, are scheduled to play at Fiddler’s Green in Denver on August 29.

Free Music: Free concerts continue in Old Town Square on July 6 with the Celtic music of the Indulgers on July 6. On Thursday, July 13, Opie Gone Mad will be playing funk in Old Town Square. Both concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. On Tuesday, July 11, the group Random Acts will be performing in Oak Street Plaza as part of the Noontime Notes series. Random Acts features teenage sisters Carole and Teresa Lundgren on fiddles as well as acoustic multi-instrumentalist Steve Eulberg. Their performance begins at 11:30 a.m.

July 20 Recommended

There’s bad news and good news coming from the Sunset Night Club. The bad news is that the Sunset- Fort Collins’ first non-smoking venue- will be closing as a night club. The good news is that the facility will be reborn as the Sunset Events Center and will still be available for private parties, concerts and other special events.

Before the change occurs, however, the owners of the Sunset will be producing a “Thank You Fort Collins Free Concert” on Saturday, July 22. The concert will be featuring regional musicians such as Pamela Robinson, the Mkono Drummers, plus other special guests. To join in the celebration, call 484-4604 for complete information.

Symphony Season: The Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra has announced their “Season of Symphonic Stories.” Starting with Carl Orff’s masterpiece, “Carmina Burana,” on September 30, the Symphony will be presenting selections throughout the season that celebrate the combination of literary tradition and music at the Lincoln Center.

As always, there will be plenty of guest artists during the season, including the opening date, which will feature the combined choruses of the Larimer Chorale and the CSU University Singers. Also appearing throughout the season will be pianist Tian Ying on October 21, marimba player Makato Nakura on February 10, 2001, pianist Petronel Malan on April 29, 2001 and celloist Marc Johnson on May 19, 2001.

Also expect special events such as the Cranberry Pops concerts on November 25 and 26, featuring vocal, choral and symphonic music. Also scheduled are two special afternoon programs called “Sunday Symphonic Stories,” mixing music with the tales behind the works on October 1 and April 29, 2001. The Symphony is also offering a series of limited seating events in private homes called “Musical Soirees.”

For complete information- including season ticket prices- contact the Fort Collins Symphony at 482-4823.

More classical music: In cooperation with the Fort Collins Symphony, the CSU Department of Music and the Front Range Chamber Players, the Lincoln Center will be presenting three special concerts during this year’s Classical Music Series. The series opens on October 13 with Double Exposure, featuring Thomas Bowes on violin and Eleanor Alberga on piano. On November 10, the series will spotlight the Jacques Thibaud Trio from Berlin. On February 13, 2001, Red Priest will be performing. Call 221-6730 for information.

Bas Bleu Theatre: The Bas Bleu Theatre Company has announced its “premier season subscription offer.” Patrons can choose between three options, viewing upcoming productions on opening nights, preview nights or on a flexible schedule.

The Bas Bleu season opens on September 1 with “Dancing at Lughnasa,” the story of five unmarried sisters on the eve of an Irish festival that celebrates an ancient god of light with drunken revelry and dancing. Next is “A Most Notorious Woman,” starting on October 20, which follows the life of Grace O’Malley, a noblewoman and contemporary of Queen Elizabeth I. Other productions set for the Bas Bleu’s 2000-2001 schedule include “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: Abridged,” “The Beauty Queen of Leenane,” “Dealer’s Choice” and “Red Roses.”

For information on ticket options and dates call498-8949

Hot Club Catz: A retired music professor, a parading fiddler, a bluegrass player and a “starving artist.” This unlikely combination of personalities has come together in a new band to play an unlikely kind of music. The band is called the Hot Club Catz and the music is the acoustic jazz of the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s.

The retired music professor is bassist Jim Dailey, who taught at Indiana State University and also plays viola in the Fort Collins Symphony. The parading fiddler is Richard Jones, a familiar figure (as a leprechaun) in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, as well as a current member of the T-Band. The bluegrass player is rhythm guitarist Bill Lynch, who won 2nd place in the Gibson Flat Pick Guitar Contest in 1997. The “starving artist” is lead guitarist James Grubb, who balances his music with being a full time student at CSU in the medical field. Together, the quartet has settled on playing music inspired by classic jazz artists of the past such as Django Reinhart and Stephane Grapelli.

The Hot Club Catz have several dates coming up in the area. These include gigs at the Parrilla Grill at 185 N. College on July 21 and 28. The group will also be featured at Starbucks at College and Horsetooth on July 23 and at the Starbucks on Harmony on July 26. For complete information, try their website at www.footwork.net/jazz.

Concerts: The summer concert season continues with a two-night stand for Ratdog at the Aggie Theater on July 21 and 22. As a band, Ratdog is the result of the musicial collaboration between former Grateful dead guitarist Bob Weir and bassist Rob Wasserman. Also on July 21 and 22, Nederland bluegrass fusion band Runaway truck ramp will be at the Mishawaka Inn.

Also coming to the area will be Ozomatli at the Fox Theater in Boulder on July 24, as well as opening for the Dave Matthews Band and Ben Harper at Mile High Stadium on July 25. The Huun-Hurr-Tu Singers will be at the Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder on July 26. On July 28, the B-52’s and the Go Go’s will be joined by a reunited Psychedelic Furs for an 80’s pop flashback at Red Rocks.

August 17 Recommended

The summer isn’t over yet. Even though students are starting to arrive in town and schools are getting ready to open, August is traditionally one of the busiest concert months on the calendar.

That includes the upcoming “2000 Flashback Concert” scheduled for the Larimer County Fairgrounds on Friday, August 25. Two great sounds- pop rock and grooving, lowdown funk- will be presented in conjunction with the Loveland Corn Roast Festival.

Produced by Clear Channel Communications of Northern Colorado, the “Flashback Concert” will feature the instantly recognizable pop hit songs of Three Dog Night, as performed by former Three Dog Night vocalist Chuck Negron. Three Dog Night’s hit list includes such tunes as “Joy to the World,” “Mama Told Me Not to Come” and “One.” Negron is joined in this new band venture by former Three Dog Night members Floyd Sneed and Jimmy Greenspoon.

Also performing will be the band War. Their funky grooves fueled hits such as “Cisco Kid,” “Slippin’ Into Darkness” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends” (a song recently covered by the Mighty, Mighty Bosstones.) In all, War produced twelve multi-platinum, platinum and gold albums, including the triple platinum success, “The World is a Ghetto.”

The “2000 Fl;ashback Concert” is being sponsored by businesses such as Budweiser, Quality Auto Sound, Thunder Mountain Harley Davidson and the Loveland Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are currently available at sponsoring businesses as well as at Finest CD’s and Tapes in Fort Collins and Greeley and at Sonic Drive In in Fort Collins and Loveland.

More music: There are plenty more music events this month to choose from as well. Of course, that includes the NewWestFest’s Linden Street Live concerts, this year headlining the Robert Cray Band on Friday, August 18. Colorado singer-songwriter and bandleader Nina Storey opens. On Saturday, August 19, the NewWestFest presents a widely varied program including sets by Teddy Morgan and the Pistolas, the Congos, the Derek Trucks Band and the Radiators. On Sunday, August 20, the Linden Street Live stage will spotlight regional country bands, Drag the River and Woody Procell and the Snowy River Band.

Other free concerts in the area include Kenny Cordova performing roots rock and roll in Old Town Square on Thursday, August 17. Challenging Fort Collins pop rock band You Call That Art? will extend the Old Town concert series an extra week with a performance on Thursday August 24.

In the Denver region, the hottest tickets to have are for the Dr. Dre/Snoop Dogg/Eminem tour blasting through Colorado on August 20 at Fiddler’s Green. This is a true meeting of musical minds- representing the recent past and the controversial future of hip hop culture. Also coming to Denver will be Jimmy Page and the Black Crowes at the Pepsi Center on August 25. The Further Festival featuring the Other Ones (including former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart as well as keyboardist Bruce Hornsby) and Ziggy Marley checks in to Fiddler’s Green on Tuesday, August 29.

Who art: Fans of English rock band the Who will probably want to make two trips down to Denver to help celebrate the group’s first tour since 1996. Of course, the band will be performing at the Pepsi Center on August 24, original members Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and John Entwhistle playing with Zak Starkey on drums and John “Rabbit” Bundrick on keyboards.

Who fans will also want to check out a one-night show of bassist John Entwhistle’s whimsical artwork. Since drawing the cover of the Who’s album “Who By Numbers,” Entwhistle has been drawing his bandmates in the Who as well as other rock stars. These drawings include picturing Towshend, Daltrey and original Who drummer Keith Moon as their own ancestors.

Entwhistle’s art show will be held at the Oxford Hotel at 1600 17th Street in Denver on August 23. The public is invited to view Entwhistle’s original works from 8-10 p.m. For more information about this special Denver appearance- one of only five art dates in the United States this year- call the Walnut Street Gallery (Entwhistle’s exclusive art representative) at 221-2383.

Theater: The New York Times says that Brian Friel’s play “Dancing at Lughnasa” “does exactly what theatre was born to do- carry both its characters and audiences aloft…” The play tells the story of five unmarried sisters in a small village in Ireland in 1936. An important figure from the women’s past returns to evoke memories of love and loss. The bas Bleu Theatre’s production of “Dancing at Lughnasa” begins on September 1 and runs through October 1. For information, call 498-8949.

The OpenStage Theatre and Company begins their 2000-2001 season with a production of Steve Martin’s comedy “Picasso at the Lapin Agile.” This long-running Off-Broadway hit mixes Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso with Martin’s outrageous wit.

Called “a shaggy dog of a comedy,” “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” takes an intriguing look at a 1904 meeting between Einstein, the brilliant physicist, and Picasso, the passionate cubist painter. Martin “allows the audience glimpses of the perfection of these two geniuses as he steps lightly between the profound and the comic.

The OpenStage production opens on August 26 and runs on Friday and Saturday evenings through September 23. There will be one Thursday performance on September 21 and two Sunday matinee shows on September 10 and 17. Tickets are available at the Lincoln Center. Call 221-6730 for information.

August Concert Preview

Free. Yes, that’s everyone’s favorite ticket price in Fort Collins and the summer’s best opportunity to enjoy top notch entertainers without shelling out a dime is on its way. What I’m referring to here is the Linden Street Live event that has become a tradition during the annual NewWestFest celebration.

This year, Linden Street Live- which has in years past featured such names as Dr. John, Little Feat and Roberta Flack- is back for more, and I do mean more. Besides presenting music on both Friday, August 18 and Saturday, August 19, there will be a third day of music on Sunday, August 20. Not only that, but organizers have cranked up the talent gauge and put together their best line-up yet.

On August 18, for example, Linden Street Live will feature one of America’s top blues guitar stylists, Robert Cray. Cray is internationally known for his clear, expressive guitar leads and his soul-drenched blues hybrid. Also on Friday will be Colorado-based performer Nina Storey, who “has the soul of a blues singer, the heart of a folkie, the spirit of a gospel devotee, the attitude of a rock ‘n’ roller and the pipes of a soul queen.”

The music continues on August 19 with Linden Street Live’s most ambitous single day of music to date. It starts with the rocking swamp blues of Teddy Morgan and the Pistolas, followed by reggae pioneers the Congos, featuring vocalist Cedric Myton formerly with bands such as the English Beat, General Public and Fine Young Cannibals. The Derek Trucks Band continues the schedule, taking a progressive approach to roots music- that is when the young slide guitarist isn’t filling the second guitar slot in the Allman Brothers Band. Rounding out the concert will be New Orleans music legends the Radiators. The Radiators have been blending rock and R & B since 1978 and are known as one of America’s most enduring live acts.

Then on August 20, Linden Street Live adds a third day of music, featuring local country bands. Starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday will be five-piece country and rockabilly band Drag the River. Following will be Woodie Procell and the Snowy River Band, known as “one of Colorado’s hottest country bands.”

That’s an excellent offering of talent and styles for free, so mark those dates down.

For those who don’t mind investing in concert tickets, there are plenty of other great shows coming up in August. These include the hip hop tribal dynasty the Wu Tang Clan at the Fillmore Auditorium on August 8. Merl Saunders will be bringing his fusion of New Age and funk to the Mishawaka Amphitheatre on August 11. Kiss and Skid Row will be at Fiddler’s Green in Denver on August 14. Also coming to Fiddler’s will be BB King and Buddy Guy on August 15, Poison, Cinderella, Dokken and Slaughter on August 17 and Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg on August 20.

Other dates to keep in mind include Incubus at the Fillmore on August 22, Tracy Chapman at Red Rocks on August 23, War at the Larimer County Fairgrounds on August 25 and the Other Ones with Ziggy Marley at Fiddler’s Green on August 29.

August 3 Recommended

There’s plenty of entertainment excitement coming up at the Lincoln Center over the 2000-2001 performance season.

For example, the Anything Goes series begins on September 14 with a performance by South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Best known for their work with Paul Simon on his hit album “Graceland,” Ladysmith Black Mambazo has become the most prominent voice of traditional African music in the world. Their performances are marked by inspired harmonies and an uplifting stage presence. Also coming up in the Anything Goes Series will be the musical comedy “Pump Boys and Dinettes,” comedian Steven Wright, folk-rock band America and the one-man play, “The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron?”

The Lincoln Center Showstopper Series begins with a five-performance run by the Beach Boys, September 18-21. While best known for their long string of hit singles in the early 1960’s, the Beach Boys scored their biggest selling hit in 1988 with the song “Kokomo.” The group has been touring annually since 1961 and brings the allure of superstardom to a series known for topnotch acts. Also appearing in the Showstopper Series will be nationally touring Broadway musical productions of “Porgy and Bess,” “Footloose” and “Chicago,” as well as the satire of the Capitol Steps, swing music by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and comedy by Louie Anderson.

Tickets for last year’s Showstopper Series were all sold out in advance. This year, however, a fifth performance- a matinee show- has been added for each production. That means that new season ticket subscribers as well as single ticket buyers have a chance this year to join in the fun. New season tickets will be made available starting on August 18.

But there is much more on tap at the Lincoln Center. That includes the Classical Music series which begins with an October 13 performance by Double Exposure, an acclaimed husband and wife duo from Great Britain. The Lincoln Center Dance series begins on November 4 with the River North Chicago Dance Company. And the SuperSeries for Kids begins on February 1, 2001 with Gregory Popovich’s Comedy and Pet Theater. For information on all shows, call the Lincoln Center Box Office at 221-6730.

NewWestFest: As promised, this year’s Linden Street Live concert stage will be cranking out an unprecedented line-up of music for this year’s NewWestFest. It all starts on Friday, August 18 with a performance by five-time Grammy award-winner Robert Cray. As headliner of three days of free music on Linden Street, Cray brings the unique mixture of blues and soul that has earned him one double platinum album and two gold albums.

Opening the special kick-off concert will be Colorado-based performer Nina Storey. Storey has racked up plenty of critical acclaim nationwide thanks to impressive appearances in the Lilith Fair, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Telluride Blues Festival and Woodstock ’99. The event set right in the heart of Old Town Fort Collins begins at 6 p.m.

On Saturday, August 19, the live music continues starting at 2 p.m. with the “swampy, rockin’ blues” of Teddy Morgan and the Pistolas. Next up will be the international reggae stylings of the Congos, featuring vocalist Cedric Myton, whose musical history includes background vocals with the English Beat, General Public and the Fine Young Cannibals. Slide guitarist Derek Trucks then will bring his blend of blues, jazz, rock and more to the stage- music he has developed after performing with artists ranging from Bob Dylan and Buddy Guy to Phish and Blues Traveler. Rounding out the day will be a set by the Radiators, one of New Orleans’ most popular live acts.

Not to be outdone by previous years, Linden Street Live adds a third day of music on Sunday, August 20. This year, the stage will feature the best in regional country music beginning with a set at 2 p.m. by Drag the River, a five-piece band that mixes country with rockabilly. Following will be Woodie Procell and the Snowy River Band. Procell has been performing since the age of 9 and has opened for other artists such as Asleep at the Wheel, Michael Martin Murphey and Chris LeDoux.

Linden Street Live is sponsored by the private family foundation, the Stryker Short Foundation, and the Downtown Business Association. Also on Saturday, the event will include a beer garden. Of course, the best part is that all events are free to the public. See you there!

Monet: Openstage Theatre & Company is well-known for its creative and innovative productions of a wide variety of theatrical presentations- from mysteries to comedies to dramas. Still, the longtime group has found room for creating a new venture, called openstage etc. This new division of Openstage is being dedicated to “providing new opportunities for audiences and theatre artists, developing and nurturing new and challenging works, and developing new skills and new artists.”

openstage etc offered its inaugural production in February 1999 and is set to present a staged concert performance of the original musical, “Impression: Monet,” in the Lincoln Center Mini Theater on August 11-13. Written by two South Dakota artists, Cynthia Strom and Curt Ireland, “Impression: Monet” follows the career of the foremost French Impressionist painter Claude Monet. The work traces the life of a “brazen and confident young artist” through times of poverty, decades of painting and into his final years when critics applauded his work while Monet goes blind from cataract surgery.

Performances of “Impression: Monet” will be at 7:30 p.m. on August 11 and 12. There will be a 2 p.m. matinee on August 13. Each performance will be followed by a discussion with the creators, staff and cast. Tickets are available at the Lincoln Center Box Office.

Meanwhile, Openstage is readying their 2000-2001 season, which opens on August 26 with a production of Steve Martin’s “Picasso at the Lapin Agile.”

September 7 Recommended

To experience the sweet sounds of the human voice, try experiencing the music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. From South Africa, Ladysmith Black Mambazo is an a cappella group singing the traditional songs born in the mines of their native country. But thanks to international recognition, their music has become music of the world.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is best known for their contributions to Paul Simon’s “Graceland” album- gentle, otherworldly backing vocals aiming to both soothe and uplift. Their first album release in the United States- produced by Simon- was given a Grammy award for Best Traditional Folk Recording in 1987. They have also contributed to the soundtracks of numerous movies, including Eddie Murphy’s “Coming to America,” Disney’s “The Lion King Part II” and Marlon Brando’s “A Dry White Season.”

Currently the group is in the midst of an international tour taking them to North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Ladysmith Black Mambazo will be opening the Lincoln Center’s Anything Goes Series on Thursday, September 14. Call 221-6730 for information.

JLGeez: Consisting of ten men and women who have come together “for the pure joy of singing,” the JLGeez is a mostly a cappella group that performs music ranging from traditional to contemporary to international. The singers come from Fort Collins, Greeley, LaPorte and Loveland and are under the direction of Jana Thomas. Thomas is one of the creators of the Rainbow Chorus and was the artistic director for five years. The JLGeez formed in 1998 for the purpose of supporting the Human Rights ordinance on the Fort Collins ballot that year. The group will be performing on Saturday, September 9 at the Rialto Theater in Loveland. Call 493-2806 for information.

Beach Boys: Since releasing their first record- “Surfin’”- in 1961, the Beach Boys have added plenty to American music. Their fresh combination of Chuck Berry-style rock ‘n’ roll and the smooth, full vocal harmonies of the 1950’s doo-wop groups took them to the number one record chart position in 1964 with “I Get Around.” Then the group ushered in the era of recording studio experimentation by producing the album “Pet Sounds.” Their biggest selling hit- over such familiar tunes such as “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “Surfer Girl,” “California Girls” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”- was the multi-platinum “Kokomo” from the 1988 Tom Cruise movie “Cocktail.”

In addition to great records, the Beach Boys have also become musical ambassadors to the world, taking their hit songs and entertaining stage show around the globe. The Beach Boys will be opening the Lincoln Center’s Showstopper Series with performances on September 18-21. Beach Boy songwriter Brian Wilson will be performing with his Pet Sounds Orchestra at Magness Arena in Denver on Saturday, September 16.

David Grisman: If you are an acoustic music fan, then make sure to give yourself a treat. That is, plan to attend one of the three nights the David Grisman Quintet is scheduled to perform at the Mishawaka Amphitheatre. Be prepared for some of the finest in contemporary acoustic music- smooth, jazzy and thoroughly satisfying- as well as the best natural surroundings of any music venue in northern Colorado. Grisman will be at Mishawaka on September 8-10. Call 482-4420 for information.

More music: Other great music coming in September includes Moby- with a full live band- at Red Rocks on Friday, September 8. Alice Cooper will be at the Ogden Theater in Denver on September 9. Gov’t Mule is at the Fox Theater in Boulder on September 15. The Red Hot Chili Peppers will be joined on stage by the Stone Temple Pilots on September 16.

Neil Young has added a third date at Red Rocks- on September 21. Opening on all three nights- September 19-21- will be the Pretenders. The Buena Vista Social Club presents vocalist Omara Portuondo at the Paramount Theater in Denver on September 23, the Mr. T Experience will be performing punk rock at the Bluebird Theater in Denver on September 26 and Phish will jam at Fiddler’s Green on September 27. Santana brings his “Supernatural” music to the Pepsi Center, along with Everlast, on September 28 and Rickie Lee Jones will be at the Bluebird on September 29.

Bas Bleu: The Bas Bleu Theatre Company has recently sent out a letter urgently appealing for help in keeping the theater operating. The Bas Bleu is an intimate theater environment- with only 49 seats- but has achieved a reputation for staging innovative productions of both classic and contemporary works. Ticket sales alone do not cover the bills, so the company is soliciting contributions. However, ticket sales are a good place to start. There are three ways to become a “season subscriber,” which not only helps the theater stay afloat, but also guarantees theater experiences such as “A Most Notorious Woman” and “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: Abridged.” Call 498-8949 for information.

Spectrum September Concert Preview

The Denver-based RiverReach Youth Initiative was founded in 1992 and aims to help at-risk youth get involved in positive community service projects, learn about the environment and earn Colorado adventures like rafting and skiing. Since the organization’s beginning, the RiverReach Youth Initiative has worked with over 20,000 young people in the Denver metro area, finding participants through Denver Parks and Recreation, various public schools and recreation centers, the Denver Police Department and other organizations.

For the second year in a row, RiverReach is teaming up with international recording artists- and Colorado natives- Big Head Todd and the Monsters to produce a benefit event that promises to rock. Todd and the Monsters will provide the music, but the evening- called the “Sunset Rendezvous”- will also feature beer on tap and open bar, catering by Panache and a silent auction including an autographed Terrell Davis jersey, a Big Head Todd guitar, art, trips and more.

Big Head Todd and the Monsters are donating their performance to help benefit RiverReach and to showcase some new tunes. A new album is expected this coming winter. The Sunset Rendezvous will be held on Friday, September 22 at the Gothic Theater in Denver. Call 303-477-0379 for information.

Zap Mama: Traditional West African music meets big-city technology in the new music of Zap Mama. Front woman Marie Daune was born in Zaire and has since founded one of the world’s most renowned a cappella groups. Zap Mama’s latest album release is titled “A Ma Zone” and explores hip hop rhythms with special guest artists such as the Roots, Speech from Arrested Development, and Camaroon’s soul man Manu Dibango. Zap Mama bring their “world beat block party” to the Boulder Theater on Monday, September 11. Call 303-786-7030 for information.

Ladysmith: Another African treasure is the South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Known in America for their contributions to Paul Simon’s “Graceland” album, the group sings a traditional music called “isicathamiya,” born in the mines of South Africa. Their first album release in the United States was produced by Simon and won the Grammy award in 1987 for Best Traditional Folk Recording. Since then, they have been nominated for Grammy awards five additional times and have also recorded with the likes of Stevie Wonder, George Clinton and Dolly Parton. Ladysmith Black Mambazo will be performing at the Ogden Theater in Denver on Wednesday, September 13 and at the Lincoln Center in Fort Collins on Thursday, September 14.

Buena Vista: Omara Portuondo is the only female contributor to the Buena Vista Social Club and her self-titled debut album marks the introduction abroad of one of Cuba’s most celebrated singers. The album sets Portuondo’s voice against a large soundscape created by Cuban arranger Demetrio Muniz, director of Havana’s famous Tropicana cabaret. Portuondo will be performing with fellow Buena Vista Social Club member Barbarito Torres and his band at the Paramount Theatre in Denver on Friday, September 23.

More: Laura Love brings her “Afro-Celtic” music to the Boulder Theater on Friday, September 8. The David Grisman Quintet will be doing a three-night stand at the Mishawaka Amphitheatre, September 8-10. Reggae giants Black Uhuru, including Sly and Robbie, will be at the Fox Theater in Boulder on September 13. Kenny Wayne Shepherd is at the Fillmore Auditorium on September 16. Punk band Mr. T Experience is at the Bluebird Theater in Denver on September 26, Phish is at Fiddler’s Green on September 27 and the Mighty, Mighty Bosstones- standouts at the recent Warped Tour- will be at the Ogden Theater in Denver on September 29.

September Concert Preview

Some bands are created to make hit records. Some bands are made to play in bars. Others are destined to achieve cult status- adored by hipsters with discerning taste and unknown to the masses of the uneducated.

One band currently deserving cult band status is Modest Mouse. This Issaquah, Washington trio has been recording independently since they formed in 1994- including a release on Sub Pop Records. Their recent Epic Records album, “The Moon & Antarctica,” reveals that this band has much more in common with other musical explorers such as Pink Floyd and Camper Van Beethoven than they do with the likes of current megastars like Christina Aguilar.

Part of being a cult band is in having a kind of private mythology shared between the members and their fans. In the case of “The Moon & Antarctica,” the mythology includes the story behind the music. It seems a crazed fan from Laramie, Wyoming- self-named Ugly Casanova- loved the music of Modest Mouse so much that he began to write songs in much the same vein. He was also sinking into mental instability. The writings that Ugly Casanova ended up passing on to the band before disappearing became the inspiration for the 15 tracks of moody, psychedelic rock that would become the album.

With heavy use of mixing and sound effects, the music on “The Moon & Antarctica” takes the time to drift around some, then allows itself to morph into something new. Acoustic songs are underscored and balanced by fully electric rockers. Even the cover is a dada-esque melange of photographs designed to create an ambiance of mystery. It’s a trippy production, bursting with handmade journey music.

That’s what should make Modest Mouse’s upcoming concert at the Gothic Theater in Denver an interesting event indeed. Besides the appearance of a contemporary cult band, maybe their real life piece of group mythology- Ugly Casanova- will reappear. Modest Mouse is scheduled to perform at the Gothic on Sunday, September 10. Call 303-380-2333 for information.

If you are an acoustic music fan, then make sure to give yourself a treat. That is, plan to attend one of the three nights the David Grisman Quintet is scheduled to perform at the Mishawaka Amphitheatre. For the past two years, I have had the opportunity to see Grisman at the Mish and each time has been outstanding. Be prepared for some of the finest in contemporary acoustic music- smooth, jazzy and thoroughly satisfying- as well as the best natural surroundings of any music venue in northern Colorado. Grisman will be at Mishawaka on September 8-10. Call 482-4420 for information.

Other great music coming in September includes Moby- with a full live band- at Red Rocks on Friday, September 8. Alice Cooper will be at the Ogden Theater in Denver on September 9. The sweet sounds of African vocal harmonies come to the area when Ladysmith Black Mambazo perform at the Ogden on September 13 and at the Lincoln Center in Fort Collins on Thursday, September 14.

Gov’t Mule is at the Fox Theater in Boulder on September 15. The Red Hot Chili Peppers will be joined on stage by the Stone Temple Pilots on September 16. Neil Young has added a third date at Red Rocks- on September 21. Opening on all three nights- September 19-21- will be the Pretenders. More music includes the Buena Vista Social Club at the paramount Theater in Denver on September 23, the Mr. T Experience at the Bluebird Theater in Denver on September 26 and Phish at Fiddler’s Green on September 27. Santana is at the Pepsi Center, along with Everlast, on September 28 and Rickie Lee Jones will be at the Bluebird on September 29.

9/21 Recommended

Native American cultures often use the ancient term “Turtle Island” to describe the origin of the North American continent. The Crow myth of creation weaves throughout the debut performances of an original dance and musical production titled “Turtle Island,” scheduled for four upcoming dates at the Lincoln Center Mini-Theater.

The story features a young Native American girl named Agnes, who has vivid dreams of dances from far away places. When she can’t be roused from her dream world, the townspeople suggest solutions to the problem, but only end up creating more confusion and disagreement. Another character, Grandmother Moon, encourages the people to seek the vitality of their own cultures in order to restore harmony. That spirit of unity rouses Agnes and she shares the dances that came to her in her dreams.

Including more than 14 dancers, the cast of “Turtle Island” performs modern, African, classical East Indian, Native American and Mexican dances. Original and traditional music is performed by the regionally popular band the Atoll and others. Primarily created by Atoll leader and composer Cary Morin and choreographer Jessica Freestone, the production unites dance, theatre, music, visual art and cultural history. “Turtle Island” aims at appealing to audiences of all ages and all cultural backgrounds.

Produced by the Dance Connection Performance Network, “Turtle Island” will be premiering in the Mini-Theatre on September 29 and 30 and on October 6 and 7. Call 221-6730 for information.

One World Festival: The One World Music Festival continues its tradition of presenting powerful and ecelctic performers on stage in Colorado on October 7 and 8. This year, One World will be bringing together the lifeblood of reggae. Headlining will be reggae legend Bunny Wailer, the last survivng member of the seminal Jamaican group the Wailers. Representing the other two Wailers- Bob Marley and Peter Tosh- will be their sons, Ky-mani Marley and Andrew Tosh. They will all be performing on Saturday, October 7, along with Djate.

On the festival schedule for Sunday, October 8 will include Spearhead, Mix Master Mike (from the Beastie Boys,) Sucker, Billy Nershi and Liza, as well as a special One World All Star Jam featuring members of Galactic and surprise special guests.

More music: The RiverReach Youth Initiative is a Denver-based organization aiming to help at-risk youth get involved in positive community service projects, learn about the environment and earn Colorado adventures like rafting and skiing. For the second year in a row, RiverReach and Big Head Todd and the Monsters are teaming up for a benefit event that not only features music, but also a silent auction and catering. The date is Friday, September 22. The location is the Gothic Theater in Denver. Call 303-477-0379 for information.

Grateful Dead music and beyond will be on tap at the Mishawaka Amphitheatre on September 22 and 23 when Shakedown Street returns. Call 482-4420 for information.

Funky Fort Collins band Meadowlark Jivin’ is celebrating the release of their debut CD, “Have you ever seen…Meadowlark Jivin’.” The album is a fresh burst of energy- complete with precision arrangements and irresistible rhythms- and was recorded at the University of Northern Colorado Recording Studio in Greeley and at Hollar Studios in Fort Collins. Their CD release party is scheduled for Thursday, October 5 at Linden’s. Call 482-9291 for information.

Theater: Recognized recently in Westword’s 2000 Best of Denver issue for “Best Children’s Production,” the Arvada Center for the Arts continues its children’s theater program this fall with a new musical coming-of-age story, “…and now Miguel.” Based on the 1954 Newbery Medal-winning novel by Joseph Krumgold, this production tells the tale of a young boy growing up in a family of shepherds in New Mexico in the 1950’s. The musical “crosses cultural boundaries” and is flavored with the language and traditions of a Hispanic family. “…and now Miguel” opens on September 28 and continues through November 24.

Also playing at the Arvada Center through October 1 is the regional premiere of “As Bees in Honey Drown.” Exploring the effects of fame and fortune on individuals in today’s society, this play features characters drawn to the lure of the “big time” and reveals what it takes to become a “success.” Call 303-431-3939 for information for both productions.

In Fort Collins, the Bas Bleu Theatre’s production of “Dancing at Lughnasa” continues through October 1. “A Most Notorious Woman” is scheduled to open on October 20. The OpenStage Theatre’s “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” ends on September 23. “The Tempest” is coming up next for OpenStage on October 28.

October Concert Preview

On October 7 and 8, the One World Music Festival continues its tradition of bringing together an eclectic and powerful mix of artists by booking the lifeblood of reggae beside the jamming experimentation of a whole new generation of bands. Headlining will be reggae legend Bunny Wailer, the last survivng member of the seminal Jamaican group the Wailers. Representing the other two Wailers- Bob Marley and Peter Tosh- will be their sons, Ky-mani Marley and Andrew Tosh. They will all be performing on Saturday, October 7, along with Djate.

The festival schedule for Sunday, October 8 will include Spearhead, Mix Master Mike (from the Beastie Boys,) Sucker, Billy Nershi and Liza, as well as a special One World All Star Jam featuring members of Galactic and surprise special guests.

The One World Festival began in Telluride in 1992 and has since moved to various locations including the Snowmass Ski Area outside Aspen, Taos, New Mexico, Lake Travis, near Austin, Texas, Ridgeway and Crested Butte. This year, the festival will be held at the Boulder Reservoir. Due to “unforeseen circumstances” at a One World event produced in Lake Havasu, Arizona, the press material indicates that this “independently produced, grassroots festival is in danger of becoming extinct.” Artists and staff are giving their time and performances for free (or for a minimal fee) in order to keep this event alive. Call 303-786-7030 for information.

Lloyd Drust: Fort Collins singer-songwriter Lloyd Drust- known for his Neil Young-like original songs and a twisted sense of humor- will be celebrating the release of his second independent CD release, “Watchin’ the World Go By,” with a concert at Avogadro’s Number on Friday, October 13. The show will feature original songs from the new album, tracks from his first release, “Junkman,” as well as other new material. Drust has constructed several unique backdrops for the concert and will decorate the stage with a wilderness camp setting complete with a campfire and a few surprises. Admission is free and all ages are welcome. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Call 224-4501 for information.

Karen Savoca: Also coming to Avo’s will be New York acoustic duo Karen Savoca and Pete Heitzman. Savoca, a composer and percussionist, and Heitzman, a guitarist, have toured extensively with Greg Brown and have appeared on Prairie Home Companion. They were named Musician Magazine’s Best Unsigned Band in 1995 and their mix of soul, R & B and world rhythms have earned the label “funky folk.” Savoca’s latest release on Alcove records is titled “Here We Go.” Heitzman and Savoca will be at Avo’s on Sunday, October 15. Call 493-3080 for information. They will also be performing in the Tuft Theater at swallow Hill in Denver on October 14. Call 303-777-1003 for information on the Denver show.

Runaway Truck Ramp: Nederland “newgrass” band Runaway Truck Ramp have just released their second album, titled “Chateau Fever.” Like other Colorado bands such as the String Cheese Incident and Leftover Salmon, Runaway Truck Ramp have taken bluegrass-inspired music into new directions. The group, however, focuses on “solid songwriting and instrumental prowess” rather than the never-ending jam. Runaway truck Ramp was recently hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as “(One of) the 150 performances (across the country) that make up the soul of Saturday night.” They will be playing several special Halloween shows in the area. On October 26, Runaway Truck Ramp will be performing at the Fox Theater in Boulder. On October 27, they will be at the Aggie Theater in Fort Collins.

More: Live and the Counting Crows will be at Fiddler’s Green in Denver on October 5. Moe. will be at the Boulder Theater on October 6 and 7. The deep voice and wry songs of Greg Brown come to the Sunset Events Center on October 7. Bad Religion is at the Ogden in Denver on October 10. Reggae legend Burning Spear will be bringing his mesmerizing vocal style to the Aggie on October 14. Matchbox Twenty will be at the Magness Arena in Denver on October 16, the Tom Tom Club will be at the Fox Theater in Boulder on October 19 and Phil Lesh and Friends play a two-night stand at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver on October 24 and 25.

10/5 Recommended

There are plenty of reasons why Iowa singer-songwriter Greg Brown has become one of the most revered musicians in the contemporary folk world. The first is that Brown is a great songwriter. His original ballads easily combine his down-home roots with a modern sense of physical and mental wanderlust. He’s a writer with philosophical leanings as well as wry humor. His songs have been covered by a wide range of artists including Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana and Shawn Colvin.

Another reason is that Brown is a warm and personable performer. His between-song monologues are often as telling as the songs themselves, humor once again being his forte along with a relaxed, offbeat stage presence. Add in his deep, bluesy baritone voice and you’re starting to get the picture.

Brown’s most recent release, “Covenant,” is his 15th recording for Red House Records. Also in the works is a Greg Brown tribute album featuring all female artists, including Lucinda Williams, Iris Dement, Ani DiFranco and Suzzy Roche. Brown is rumored to be taking a break from the road in 2001, so now is the best time to catch one of America’s folk treasures. Brown will be performing at the Teikyo Loretto Heights Theater in Denver on October 6. Call 303-777-1003 for Denver show information. He will also be appearing at the Sunset Events Center on Saturday, October 7. Tickets are available at Finest Records. Call 493-3080 for Fort Collins information.

Lloyd Drust: Fort Collins singer-songwriter Lloyd Drust will be celebrating the release of his second independent CD release, “Watchin’ the World Go By,” with a concert at Avogadro’s Number on Friday, October 13. The show will feature original songs from the new album, tracks from his first release, “Junkman,” as well as other new material. Drust has constructed several unique backdrops for the concert and will decorate the stage with a wilderness camp setting complete with a campfire and a few surprises. Admission is free and all ages are welcome. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Call 224-4501 for information.

Karen Savoca: Also coming to Avo’s will be New York acoustic duo Karen Savoca and Pete Heitzman. Savoca, a composer and percussionist, and Heitzman, a guitarist, have toured extensively with Greg Brown and have appeared on Prairie Home Companion. They were named Musician Magazine’s Best Unsigned Band in 1995 and their mix of soul, R & B and world rhythms have earned the label “funky folk.” Savoca’s latest release on Alcove records is titled “Here We Go.” Heitzman and Savoca will be at Avo’s on Sunday, October 15. Call 493-3080 for information. They will also be performing in the Tuft Theater at Swallow Hill in Denver on October 14. Call 303-777-1003 for information on the Denver show.

More music: Just a reminder that the One World Music festival will take place at the Boulder Reservoir on October 7 and 8. Reggae legend Bunny Wailer headlines on Saturday and Spearhead headlines on Sunday. Acoustic bluesman Chris Whitley will be at the Fox Theater in Boulder on October 10. On October 14, the Everly Borthers will be at the Paramount Theater in Denver and Burning Spear, another reggae legend, will be at the Aggie Theater in Fort Collins.

Also coming up is folk legend and storyteller Arlo Guthrie, who will be at the Boulder Theater on Friday, October 20. Irish fiddler Natalie MacMaster, one of Celtic music’s most dynamic performers, will be at the Paramount Theatre in Denver on October 21. Singer-songwriter Dar Williams and band will perform at the Boulder Theater on October 22. The Tragically Hip are headed for the Aggie Theater on October 27.

Capitol Steps: Thanks to the continuous antics of both Republicans and Democrats in Washington, there is never a shortage of material for political satire group Capitol Steps. The troupe is the country’s foremost political humorists who perform more than 500 shows each year. Since 1981, the group has recorded 20 albums, have been featured on national PBS specials, are regulars on National Public Radio and have performed for the last four Presidents. Capitol Steps should be in rare form in this election year and will be continuing the Lincoln Center’s Showstopper series, October 9-12. Call 221-6730 for information.

Classical music: Presented in association with the CSU Department of Music, the Fort Collins Symphony and the Front Range Chamber Players, the 2000-2001 Lincoln Center Classical Music series begins on Friday, October 13 with a performance by Double Exposure, from Great Britain. Double Exposure is the husband-and-wife duo of Eleanor Alberga on piano and Thomas Bowes on violin. The pair have received critical acclaim for their concerts spanning the great Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods of classical music as well as works by Alberga and other contemporary composers. Also coming up in the series will be the Jacques Thibaud String Trio on November 10 and Red Priest on February 13, 2001.

Still playing: “Turtle Island” is a combination of music, dance and storytelling created by local choreographer Jessica Freestone and composer Cary Morin. The production is currently making its debut at the Lincoln Center Mini Theater. Telling the story of a Native American girl who dreams of “dances from far-away lands,” “Turtle Island” will be playing on October 6 and 7.

October 19 Recommended

William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” is a fantastical story that pits revenge against redemption and forgiveness. All the while, love and romance rises over an enchanted island bewitched by spirits and sprites.

Set in the seventeenth century, “The Tempest” follows a group of European royalty who are stranded on a remote island by the usurped Duke of Milan, Prospero. The island is inhabited by spirits that Prospero commands as well as evidence of ancient cultures. Prospero’s daughter, Miranda, becomes intrigued by the son of Prospero’s enemy while the magical being Ariel torments the “natural man,” Caliban. The play is considered Shakespeare’s last work and combines tragic, romantic and comedic elements.

The OpenStage Theatre and Company’s production of “The Tempest” features actors Charlie Ferrie as Prospero, Sharon K. Wilson as Ariel and Jessica McCoy as Miranda. Performances will be in the Lincoln Center Mini-Theatre on Friday and Saturday evenings beginning on October 28 and running through November 25. There will be one Wednesday performance on November 22. Two Sunday matinee performances are scheduled for November 12 and 19. Tickets are available at the Lincoln Center Box Office. Call 221-6730 for information.

Bas Bleu: Coming up at the Bas Bleu Theatre will be a production of “A Most Notorious Woman,” written and performed by Molly Lyons. The play follows the adventures of Grace O’Malley, a contemporary of Queen Elizabeth I and a fierce patriot. O’Malley has been called an Irish pirate, chieftain, gambler, noblewoman, traitor and mercenary and throughout her life she survives prison, two warrior husbands, the murder of her eldest son, the betrayal of her second son and the reign of Elizabeth. “A Most Notorious Woman opens on October 20 and runs through November 4. Call 498-8949 for information.

Anything Goes: The Anything Goes Series continues at the Lincoln Center with the nationally touring production of “Pump Boys and Dinettes” on Tuesday, October 24. This light-hearted musical comedy looks at the lives of small town Americans. The setting is in a gas station somewhere between Frog Level and Smyrna, Arkansas. Across the highway is a roadside café. The “pump boys” at the station sell gas between repair work and drinking beer and the “dinettes” cook up a storm at the restaurant. Together, the two groups deliver songs that have kept both critics and audience members coming back for more. “Pump Boys and Dinettes” ran for 685 performances in New York City and was nominated for Best Musical in 1982.

Runaway Truck Ramp: Named by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the “150 performances…that make up the soul of Saturday night,” Nederland bluegrass fusion unit Runaway Truck Ramp combines eight varieties of guitars, mandolin, fiddle and drums with three lead vocals, four songwriters and a full load of fun. The music is rooted in the traditions of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Appalachia, but adds “the power and grandeur of the Rockies.” Runaway Truck Ramp has recently released their new CD, titled “Chateau Fever.” The 13-track album features guest appearances by Sally Van Meter and Pete Wernick and was recorded over eight months at Hog Studio in Nederland. Runaway Truck Ramp will be at the Aggie Theater on Saturday, October 28. Call 407-1322 for information.

Film: The 2000-2001 Passport Travelogue Film series begins on Tuesday, October 31 with a presentation of “The Great Trans-American Train Ride” by filmmaker Doug Jones. Taking viewers on a panoramic cross-country tour of the United States, this film starts at New York City’s Pennsylvania Station and ends at the Historic Union Station in Los Angeles. Along the way, Jones includes tours of Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. Show times are at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. and season tickets are now available for the whole series. Coming up will be film journeys to Portugal, the Galapagos Islands, Jerusalem, Polynesia, Bavaria and the Black Forest.

Hot music: Great live music coming up in the area includes the Tom Tom Club at the Fox Theater in Boulder on October 19. Motet will be at the Fox on October 21. Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, along with Gov’t Mule guitarist Warren Haynes, will be at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver on October 25 and 25. The Young Dubliners will be at the Aggie Theater on October 26, the Tragically hip will be at the Aggie on October 27 and Poco will be at the Rialto Theater in Loveland on October 28. The Reverend Horton Heat will be at the Starlight on October 29 and Meadowlark Jivin’ will be at Linden’s on October 31.

Larimer Chorale: “Westward Ho!” is the title of a concert of choral music, poetry and prose about the American pioneer and the cowboy of the American West being presented by the Larimer Chorale on Sunday, October 22 at the Lincoln Center. Joining the Chorale for this special evening will be two guest performers- Dr. Thomas Sutherland and Baxter Black. Sutherland will tell the story of a covered-wagon journey. Intertwined with the narrative will be a wide variety of music including compositions by Aaron Copland, movie music, favorite hymns of early settlers and a few cowboy songs. Black will then treat the audience to poems and cowboy stories.

The Chorale has traditionally performed large classical choral works in a formal concert setting, but makes a departure with this concert. Chorale members will be in pioneer and cowboy costuming during the evening and are inviting audience members to join in the fun by also wearing Western-style clothing. There will be a “Pioneer Party” in the front lobby following the performance where the audience can sample historic foods, such as vinegar pie. Photographs of Chorale members’ ancestors will be on display as well as antique quilts, miniature covered wagons and a handcrafted log cabin. Black will also attend the party to sign books and greet fans.

November Concert Preview

Since the release of her Warner Brothers Records debut solo album, “Tonight and the Rest of My Life,” singer-songwriter Nina Gordon has been swept up in a blur of non-stop promotional globe-trotting that has included TV appearances and radio performances in the USA, Japan and Australia. The album has already sold over 100,000 copies and that’s before Gordon and her band have even set foot on the concert stage. Beginning this month, Gordon will finally be hitting the road for her first concert tour as a solo artist since her departure from Veruca Salt. Gordon will be checking in to the Bluebird in Denver on Saturday, November 18.

Habib Koite: African singer-songwriter Habib Koite will be bringing his soulful rhythmic music to the Boulder Theater on Monday, November 13. Koite’s compositional skills and velvety warm voice blend Malian music with western influences to create a unique afro-blues sound. Performing with Koite will be Oumou Sanagare, a renowned women’s rights champion in Africa.

A descendent of the Khassonke griots- the minstrel historians of West Africa- Koite includes this cultural influence in his music by using indigenous instruments like the talking drum and the djembe. His latest album release, “Ma Ya,” spent three months in the number one spot on Europe’s World Music charts. His songs deal with societal issues ranging from racism to friendship. Call 303-786-7030 for information.

Dave Beegle: The Dave Beegle Acoustic Band has been holding down a regular Thursday night gig at the Vault in Fort Collins. Also featuring percussionist Erik Meyer, bassist Mike Olsen and guitarist Aaron Lee, the group performs original music and the occasional cover- like “3rd Stone From the Sun” by Jimi Hendrix. They are also booked for a date at the Cactus Grille in Loveland on November 17. Beegle is also looking forward to a special holiday show, with Perpetual Motion, Taylor Mesple and Keith Rosenhagen at the Rialto Theater on December 1. Also watch for Beegle with the Jurassicasters at the Country Cork on December 8.

Benefit: Respite care is not a community need that will go away. In fact, if anything, the need for care is growing rapidly. That’s one of the messages that organizers are trying to put out to the community through a special dance party event featuring Fort Collins band the Three Twins. The event is scheduled for Saturday, November 11 at the Mulberry Inn and not only is it a benefit trying to raise money, but also to raise awareness.

The upcoming event will benefit Caring Hearts, a volunteer-based program that provides respite care, companionship and practical assistance to individuals and families in Larimer County. It is a non-profit agency sponsored in part by Catholic Charities Northern, a coalition of 15 local churches, the United Way and the Larimer County Office on Aging. Organizers for the benefit are hoping to help fund the program as well as to attract new volunteer workers.

The Three Twins are a natural choice as headliners for the benefit, called “A Date with an Angel.” Featuring former members of the subdudes, the Three Twins have been hosting regular community dance party events with their cool mix of gospel, blues, Cajun, folk and country music. The group has released a CD titled “Trinkets and their close harmony vocals have become as much of a trademark sound as their highly danceable music. Showtime is at 8 p.m. and tickets are only $8.

Terri Allard: Singer-songwriter Terri Allard was a favorite at last year’s Rocky Mountain Folks festival workshop stage and she is returning to Colorado after a busy year touring concert halls, coffehouses and festivals throughout the country. Based in Virginia, Allard is one of the brightest new talents on the Americana music circuit and she was recently awarded a Wammie Award by the Washington Area Music Association for Best Female Country Vocalist. Her most recent CD release, “Loose Change and Spare Parts,” scored the number 27 position on FolkDJ Radio Playlist’s Top 100 Albums of 1999. Allard will be performing at Avogadro’s Number on Thursday, November 9.

November 2 Recommended

Respite care is not a community need that will go away. In fact, if anything, the need for care is growing rapidly. That’s one of the messages that organizers are trying to put out to the community through a special dance party event featuring Fort Collins band the Three Twins. The event is scheduled for Saturday, November 11 at the Mulberry Inn and not only is it a benefit trying to raise money, but also to raise awareness.

Dance: The 2000-2001 Lincoln Center Dance Series begins on Saturday, November 4 with a performance by the River North Chicago Dance Company. The Chicago-based company was founded in 1989 by well-known dancers and choreographers for the purpose of cultivating and promoting the city’s unique wealth of jazz dance talent. Under the leadership of Artistic Directors Sherry Zunker Dow and Frank Chaves, the company remains committed to taking jazz dance to new creative heights. The River North Chicago Dance Company’s performances are “fast-paced jazz dance retrospectives that demonstrate how the social climate and events of the day affected jazz dance throughout the 20th century.” Call 221-6730 for information.

Classical music: The Classical Music Series at the Lincoln Center continues on Friday, November 10 with a concert by the Jacques Thibaud String Trio. Founded at the Berlin School of Arts in 1994, the ensemble has since toured throughout Europe, Japan and the United States. The Trio pays homage with its name to the great French violinist Jacques Thibaud, who devoted his career to the development of chamber music. The contemporary group has been greeted by critical acclaim partially because they perform their repertoire by memory. Other classical music coming to the Lincoln Center includes a November 5 performance by the Front Range Chamber Players, performing the works of Bach, Brahms and Poulenc.

Carol Frazier: Cool jazz, brassy swing, smooth pop and slippery blues. These are the moods- and more- that move through the music of Fort Collins vocalist and songwriter Carol Frazier. The evidence is on a challenging, wide-ranging solo album, titled “Life’s A Ride,” and in the years of experience behind this ambitious and multi-talented artist.

“Life’s A Ride” is Frazier’s debut album release produced and co-written by Taylor Mesple. From soulful acoustic introspection to broad showpiece band numbers, the record takes the listener on a musical journey that shows just how far Frazier has traveled herself. It’s all based on jazz somehow, but Frazier also reaches out to touch the beauty of the ballad as well as the funky bump of the back-beat torchburner.

Besides being a vocalist, Frazier has also learned to play both the piano and the viola. As part of the fertile Colorado music scene, Frazier came into contact with the full roster of talented musicians who have helped turn “Life’s A Ride” into a recording triumph. These include producer, keyboardist and bandleader Mesple, who not only headed up the album’s production, but also co-wrote and arranged the music for Frazier’s lyrics. Other Colorado musicians on the album include bassist Michael Olsen, guitarist Dave Beegle, sax master Nelson Rangell, and percussionist Steve Amedee, who helped co-write two pieces on the album and performed a vocal duet with Frazier. The album was recorded in several of the top studios in the Colorado Front Range region.

Frazier will be celebrating the release of “Life’s A Ride” with a special concert performance at the Aggie Theater on Saturday, November 4. Call 407-1322 for information.

November 30 Recommended

To help raise awareness and money for Partners of Larimer County, Fort Collins guitarist Steven Wiseman will be hosting a special benefit concert at the Rialto Theater in Loveland on Saturday, December 2. Partners is a child-mentoring organization and Wiseman is producing the show himself in order to donate proceeds from ticket and CD sales to the group.

Wiseman often uses sounds that he has collected in natural settings on his original recordings, augmenting his gentle, mellow guitar compositions with the “music” of elk, birds, coyotes and mountain streams. For example, on his recent independent CD release, “Welcome to Rocky Mountain National Park,” the sounds of thunderstorms, waterfalls and squirrels create a calming and soothing atmosphere for Wiseman’s melodic guitar work.

“Welcome to Rocky Mountain National Park,” is not Wiseman’s first project involving the combination of music and natural sounds. Wiseman has also recorded the “music” of the Poudre River and released it on a CD titled “Rhythm of the River.” He has also worked with the natural sounds of Hawaii for a CD release as well as recorded wolves in Yellowstone National Park.

Wiseman’s holiday show in Loveland will not only feature his own original music, but also the music of others. Wiseman will be joined on stage by local musicians such as vocalist Deborah Peterson, who sang on four tracks on “Christmas in the Rockies.” Also appearing will be singer-songwriter Greg Simons, who recorded his debut CD, “Blue,” at Wiseman’s private studio. For more information, call 215-8113 or visit Wiseman’s website at www.stevenwiseman.com.

More Lincoln Center: The Canyon Concert Ballet brings the holiday ballet favorite, “The Nutcracker,” to the Lincoln Center December 7-10. Also on December 10, the Foothills Pops Band presents a program of “best loved seasonal greats” in the Mini Theater.

The Lincoln Center Passport Travelogue Film Series continues on Tuesday, December 12 with “The Best of Portugal” by filmmaker Grant Foster. Foster’s tour of Portugal includes the capital city of Lisbon, coastal fishing villages, castles and churches, while meeting “warm and gracious people” along the way. Showings are at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Sculpture in the Dark: The sixth annual “Lighting the Pathway for Kids…Sculpture in the Dark” fundraising event will be held on Friday, December 1 and Saturday, December 2 at the Foote Lagoon and the Civic Center Plaza in downtown Loveland. Presented by Foothills Service league and the Loveland Sertoma Club, this annual event will benefit Namaqua Center, a non-profit agency providing intensive treatment services to children who primarily have been physically or sexually abused or neglected.

A variety of activities are planned for children and families including horse-drawn wagon rides, visits with Santa Claus, ice sculpting and a live nativity scene. Lighted trees and bushes, floodlights illuminating permanent sculptures and luminaria will outline the perimeter of the lagoon and a large, lighted Christmas tree will be on the island in the lagoon. Sculpture pieces will also be brought in specially for the event.

Also planned are two full evenings of entertainment featuring the Mugno Family singers, Clog Colorado, elementary school and church choirs and many others. For more information, call 669-7550.

Jerry’s Girls: The Arvada Center for the Arts will be presenting an audio-described performance of “Jerry’s Girls,” a musical celebrating the spirit of composer and lyricist Jerry Herman on Saturday, December 2. Audio description is a method of explaining the non-verbal aspects of a live performance with words, to people with visual disabilities. The description is provided by a trained audio describer through a closed circuit microphone and small headsets. Call 303-431-3939 for information.

The Arvada Center just recently received a $35,000 grant from Denver Post Charities to support programming that positively impacts children. The grant will be used to support the Arvada Center’s children’s theater and Arts Day programs, which serve nearly 70,000 children each year. The Arvada Center’s award-winning Children’s Theater program offers 170 performances for families and school groups throughout the year.

Still playing: “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: Abridged” will continue playing at the Bas Bleu Theatre through December 30. Call 498-8949 for information.

Recommended – December

You have to go back more than 40 years if you want to trace the history of venerable blues rock band Hot Tuna. It was back in the late 1950’s when guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and bassist Jack Casady met in high school, mined the depths of Casady’s brother’s blues record collection and began making music in a teen garage band. That was in the Washington D.C. area.

When the pair reunited in California a few years later, they graduated from a burgeoning folk scene to the eye of rock culture by joining the Jefferson Airplane. The blues, however, was stronger than rock for Kaukonen and Casady and they eventually left the Airplane to pursue their side project, Hot Tuna, full time. Since then, Hot Tuna has entertained a loyal fan base with over 27 album releases and stunning live performances.

Today, Hot Tuna also features guitarist Michael Falzarano, drummer Harvey Sorgen and keyboardist Pete Sears The band will be returning to Fort Collins on Sunday, December 5 with a “Hot Tuna Electric” performance at the Aggie Theater. Other shows coming up at the Aggie include the Abyssinians on December 10, Fort Collins band Sho’ Nuf on December 16, the Young Dubliners on December 30 and the “Grande Celestial Masquerade Ball” with Cabaret Diosa on December 31. For all Aggie show information, call 407-1322.

Cowboy Christmas: Famed country and pop performer Michael Martin Murphey has started his own holiday tradition by reviving a tradition from the past. That is the “Cowboy Christmas Ball,” originally an event started in Texas in the 1880’s. Murphey has not only recreated the parts of the original ball by performing standard cowboy dance music, but he has also added to it by including original contemporary Christmas songs. It all comes together in a nationally touring production that will be stopping at the Lincoln Center for two shows on December 4. Other music at the Lincoln Center this month includes the “Joyful Pops” concert by the Foothills Pop band on December 12. On December 19, the Larimer Chorale will be presenting Handel’s “Messiah.” Call 221-6730 for all Lincoln Center show information.

Twelve Cents for Marvin: At the recent Battle of the Bands at the Starlight, 7-piece Fort Collins group Twelve Cents for Marvin came away as hands-down winners thanks to an exciting stage presence and a funky, blasting mix of funk, ska and soul. With a full horn section, hard-driving vocals and precision arrangements, Twelve Cents for Marvin took the stage and dominated every second of their set with booty-shaking fun. That’s the kind of stuff that wins contests and recently inspired CSU students to name the group the number one local band. Twelve Cents for Marvin will be returning to the Starlight on December 10. Call 484-4974 for information.

Dance: The High Performance Dance Theatre will be presenting a holiday performance titled “Dancing Through the Snow” in the Lincoln Center Mini-Theater on December 17-18. Each evening will include a variety of repertoire pieces suited for the whole family. Other holiday dance events at the Lincoln Center include the Canyon Concert Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” in the Main Performance Hall on December 9-12. New sets, new costumes and the largest cast of the company’s season once again bring the holiday classic to life.

Holiday event: The 5th annual Sculpture in the Dark…Lighting the Pathway for Kids is an event to benefit the children and families served by Namaqua Center, a non-profit agency serving the needs of emotionally disturbed children. Traditional holiday activities including horse-drawn wagons, ice sculpting, a living nativity and musical entertainment will occur near the Foote Lagoon and Civic Center Plaza in Loveland on December 3 and 4. Over 600 luminarias will surround the lagoon and all sculpture in the park area will be lighted. Food and drink will also be available. For information, call Namaqua Center at 669-7550.

Theater: The Rocky Mountain News called Colorado playwright Terry Dodd’s “Vaughn, New Mexico: Christmas Eve, 1956” “lyrical, poignant, and beautifully written.” The Bas Bleu Theatre Company will be continuing its presentation of Dodd’s work- directed by Laura Jones- on Fridays and Saturdays through December 18. Call 498-8949 for tickets and times. The River Song Waldorf School will be presenting “A Shepherd’s Play,” in the Lincoln Center Mini-Theater on December 19. The work is one of the Oberufer Christmas plays adopted by Waldorf education founder Rudolk Steiner and now considered traditional in many Waldorf schools. The performance is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

Art: Master of Fine Arts candidates will be presenting work in a variety of media for the MFA Thesis Exhibition at the Hatton Gallery at CSU. The show opens on December 10 and runs through January 10, 2000. Paintings and Iris prints by Colorado artist Louis Recchia will be featured in the Lobby Gallery of the Lincoln Center from December 2 through January 1. Recchia incorporates art history and quotations in his work “to help explore the emotions and relationships of individuals to each other as well as to society.”

Hour for Peace: Since 1985, Fort Collins residents have been joining others around the world by gathering at the Lincoln Center at twelve noon Greenwich time to meditate, sing and pray for the furthering of peace on earth. The International Hour For Peace event in Fort Collins begins 15 minutes prior to Greenwich time- 4:45 a.m. on December 31- in the Main Performance Hall in order to allow patrons the opportunity to prepare for 20 minutes of meditation, followed by 40 minutes of performances and audience

December 14 Recommended

The music and spirit of Hanukkah will be presented at the “Bright Lights” Hanukkuh concert scheduled for Sunday, December 17 at the Lincoln Center Canyon West room at the Lincoln Center. The all-ages concert will feature Congregation Har Shalom Rabbi Jack Gabriel and his band Living Tree, performing original and traditional songs.

Singer, composer and guitarist Rabbi Gabriel has shared stages with musicians as diverse as John Prine, Leon Redbone, Patti Smith and Tom Waits. His music is based on traditional melody forms such as Klezmer music, street corner doo-wop and reggae. Joining Rabbi Gabriel will be several of the regional musicians who appeared on his seventh album release, “Living Tree,” including keyboardist Mark Sloniker, saxophonist Pamela Robinson, percussionist Oscar DeZoto, vocalist Colleen Crosson and bass guitarist/vocalist Chris Bacon. Also appearing will be harmony vocalist Linda Norton.

Tickets for the Bright Lights concert are available in advance from the Har Shalom office and at the door. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children. Call 223-5191 for information.

Larimer Chorale: The upcoming “Messiah and Carols” concert by the Larimer Chorale set for the Lincoln Center on December 17 is an opportunity to not only to hear holiday music, but also to make holiday music. The Chorale will be performing the Christmas portion of “The Messiah,” “The Hallelujah Chorus” and many favorite Christmas carols. Then they will invite the audience to join in a sing-along to celebrate the season. The program is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Call 221-6730 for information.

Benefit: Classic Catering at the Mulberry Inn will be hosting a special 3 Twins dance party on Saturday, December 16. A free drink is being offered in exchange for the donation of a toy. Donations will be distributed by the Open Door Mission, which aids indigent and homeless families and individuals with a number of services including the “Fresh Start program.” The dance party is set to begin at 8 p.m. and tickets are $7 at the door.

The 3 Twins, featuring former members of the subdudes whose latest CD release is titled “Trinkets,” will also be performing at a pre-New Year’s Eve party at the Mulberry Inn on Friday, December 29.

More music: On Friday, December 15, funky three-piece band Point One will be at Diamond’s Billiards and Pub and Mind Go Flip will be at the Starlight. “Rock and roll machine” the Blue Meanies will be at the Starlight on December 16. Fort Collins singer-songwriter Randy Pfeuffer will be joined by Don Cordes at Linden’s on December 27. Tony Furtado returns to the Aggie Theater on December 29 and guitarist Jerry Palmer will perform at the Rocky Mountain Coffee Connection on Saturday, December 30.

Dance: In a musical welcome to the holidays, the High Performance Dance Theatre presents “Jingle Toes” at the Lincoln Center Mini-Theater on Friday, December 15 and Saturday, December 16. Offering a variety of dance styles from jazz to tap, “Jingle Toes” takes a journey under the ocean, across a beach and to the home of tap dancing elves. The show features dance works choreographed and performed by High Performance Dance Theatre members with special guest choreographer Linda Hein. Admission is $8 for general audiences and $7 for students and seniors.

Art: The paintings of California artist Louise Victor and Illinois artist Kevin Evensen will be on display in the Lincoln Center Lobby Gallery through January 2, 2001. Victor’s large figure paintings have been described as “incredibly rich and textural.” Made from many layers of material, the paintings are “representations of the internal life of the self.” Evensen’s paintings are also rich in layers and portray the artist’s reactions to and impressions of natural environments. His work changes normal perception of the viewer’s surroundings so that it is directed looking straight up. Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

First Night: Don’t forget that the city’s largest family-oriented arts festival, First Night, is just around the corner. Set for New Year’s Eve at venues throughout the downtown area, First Night offers a wide variety of performing artists in a non-alcohol end-of-the-year celebration. That includes three shows at the Lincoln Center Ludlow Room by the performance poetry and sound art group that I perform with, TVS & two fingers. Come check us out!

December Concert Column

I’m not a very discerning wine drinker- I’ll drink just about anything. But I think I know very well how wine connoisseurs feel about their beverage. I feel that way about the music that I go out to hear at the concert halls and nightclubs in the region. For me, a good concert can be just as tasty as that handpicked bottle of red. The year 2000 has been an above-average year of wine/music-tasting for me. Even though I didn’t get to see Springsteen, Tina Turner, Limp Biscuit or Nine Inch Nails- you can’t see them all- my list this year included some great nightclub performances and some flashy stage shows.

In the clubs, my number one choice for concert of the year is Joan Osbourne’s show at the Aggie Theater in September. Sexy and personable, Osbourne returned to touring after a long hiatus with a powerful rock band and some real passion in her hips. In fact the Aggie was my favorite spot this year to see touring bands in general. That includes shows by the Wailers, with vocalist Marcia Griffiths, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Ratdog and Ozric Tentacles. Also memorable was bassist Tony Levin’s stop at the Starlight in June, offering artistic world music in an intimate environment. The most fun, in terms of dancing music, however, was the return of the Tom Tom Club at the Fox Theater in October. Yes, they’re still wonderfully funky and funny at the same time.

On the big stage, the single-most impressive performance belonged to Roger Waters at Fiddler’s Green in July. With a great catalog of Pink Floyd material at hand, along with solo stuff, new tunes, a great sound system and an ever-changing light show, Waters’ concert was everything you could ask for in a classic rock setting. Also great was Van’s Warped Tour, this year featuring bands such as Anti-Flag, Snapcase, the Lunachicks and the Mighty, Mighty Bosstones. It was worth wilting in the 90 plus degree heat to watch Green Day tear up the stage and set fire to the drum kit. Other bigger shows included the good-natured nostalgia of Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band at Red Rocks in June, this time featuring Cream bassist Jack Bruce and great guitar stylist Dave Edmunds. In August, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Eminem brought the Up In Smoke Tour to Fiddler’s Green for a raucous evening of beats and posing. The Who also returned to Denver in August, playing hits and soaking up the wonder of still being able to draw an excited crowd, even after so many decades of working the same turf.

There was some questionable stuff too. Bad concerts are almost as important as good ones in terms of establishing a personal standard. Singer-songwriter David Wilcox, for example, seemed tired and ill at ease at the Lincoln Center in January, relying more on between-song stories and jokes than on his finely crafted music to get through the evening. Todd Rundgren’s set at the Fox Theater in Boulder in June was nearly unlistenable thanks to jet airliner level volume settings. Mickey Hart’s new band proved to be wooden and uncreative- sounding like an inexperienced Grateful Dead cover band- at both the Aggie and at the LoDo Festival in Denver. The Beach Boys were lifeless musically, while taking an arrogant stage presence at the Lincoln Center in September.

What I like most about live music is that roll of the dice that determines a winner or a loser. You just might get stiffed on a show thanks to a performer’s whim or “unavoidable circumstances.” But you also might get treated to a lifetime memory that can give inspiration long after the event is over. It’s kind of like that bottle of wine- you never know how it’s going to taste until you get inside the bottle.

Upcoming: Rancid is at the Ogden Theater in Denver on Sunday, December 3. Original members of Parliament/Funkadelic are touring as the Original P and will be at the Boulder Theater on December 6. Clutch and Corrosion of Conformity are at the Ogden on December 7. “Folk goddess” Rosalie Sorrels will be at Swallow Hill in Denver on December 8. Joe Jackson is at the Paramount Theater in Denver on December 9. Hot Tuna will be at the Fox on December 13 and at the Gothic Theater in Denver on December 14. Stanley Jordan is at the Bluebird Theater in Denver on December 22 and Soul Hat is at the Soiled Dove in Denver on December 28.

Christmas CD Review

Over years of being a music journalist, I have received a lot of Christmas music CDs. For the most part, I have always considered them just another marketing ploy. Just about every pop singer on the planet ends up doing a Christmas album at one time or another and their efforts usually get heaped in with all the other holiday sales hysteria.

The fact that the music is so marketable, however, indicates that there really is something special about Christmas music. Both artists and listeners willingly give in to a wide range of holiday music because it expresses the feelings of a time of year when the cold has set in and food and family become the biggest concerns. Christmas isn’t just a religious time, it’s also a season in our culture that affects everybody. You don’t have to believe in Jesus in order to appreciate the mellow thought of chestnuts roasting on an open fire or of sugarplums dancing in your head.

Regional artists, of course, are also attracted to Christmas music and two new releases capture the many moods and feelings of the holidays. One example is “Christmas in the Rockies” by Fort Collins guitarist Steven Wiseman. Over the course of 19 tracks, Wiseman weaves together a hand-picked selection of both sacred and secular Christmas music classics. From the country-ish feel of “Winter Wonderland” to the progressive jazz of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” from the formal presentation of “Pachelbel’s Canon” to the sweet lullaby arrangement of “Silent Night,” Wiseman changes playing styles almost as many times as he changes melodies. With the help of musicians such as Michael Olson on fretless bass and vocalist Deborah Petersen, Wiseman offers a production that remains fresh, polished and constantly on the move. The tunes are short- just like warm, fuzzy memories- and cover a wide range of moods swinging from jaunty and joyful to gentle and reflective.

Another new Colorado Christmas album this year is Hapi Skratch Records’ “A Rocky Mountain Christmas Collection Volume 1.” Like Wiseman’s CD, this one also brings together a wide diversity of music and styles thanks to artists such as Chris Daniels, Clockworked, Danny Oertli, Taylor Mesple, Dave Beegle, Perpetual Motion and more. This is a hip, upbeat collection that doesn’t mind playing with the story of Santa Claus- with a tattoo?- or the rhythmic groove of “Little Drummer Boy.” There is Middle Eastern-flavored music, stately, new agey instrumentals, rock, swing and more. Most riveting is the track “To the Sky” which turns the tune of “Happy Birthday” into a celebration of the birth of Jesus. The album is a benefit for “Realities For Children,” an organization geared at providing financial assistance for abused and neglected children. It’s a creative and entertaining record for a good cause.

The bottom line is that Christmas music is meant to calm, soothe and inspire. It’s meant to be personal and intimate. It’s meant to warm the heart. Everybody can use those kinds of feelings and messages.