COMBO MUSIC EXPO - SUNDAY, APRIL 18th, 2010! Don't miss out on Colorado's first major music exposition! One day only! The ultimate music business extravaganza! Got a business you're proud of? Then you need to be there!  COMBO is proud to announce a partnership with Musicians In Action(www.MusiciansInAction.org), a nonprofit that mobilizes local musicians to perform, collaborate & volunteer to raise awareness & resources for Colorado's homeless population. M.I.A.'s twin goal is to help support the local live music scene. Please visit their web site for upcoming shows. * * * * * REVIEW OF “THE BASICS OF GIGGING” COMBO PROGRAM http://www.examiner.com/x-4127-Denver-Original-Music-Examiner~y2010m2d6-The-Basics-of-Gigging-in-review Big thanks to Mark Olson! www.247incentives.com * * * * * MUSICAL TERM: Severo (go to the end of the announcements for the meaning!) * * * * * TAKE A SURVEY -- YOU'LL BE HELPING THE MUSIC SCENE! The deadline on this has been extended again until March 15th due to the lack of "helpers". Please take the time to help the Foundation out. Will help musicians everywhere in the long run! The Fort Collins Musicians Association (FoCoMA), in partnership with Bohemian Foundation, is conducting a survey of Colorado musical artists. Together, these two non-profit organizations are trying to gather information about areas of professional development in our music scene that could be enhanced to help strengthen a flourishing music community. Your insight is needed. The survey is divided into sections, which may include questions regarding: your music background and career, booking and financial arrangements, marketing/promotions, legal issues and concerns, workshop offerings, demographics, etc... It should take between 15-20 minutes to complete and contains both multiple choice and free response questions. This process is confidential and you will not be solicited by anyone. We may contact you for professional development opportunities that are strictly non-commercial and are only intended to support the goal of strengthening the Colorado music community. What's in it for me you ask... Well besides providing useful information, which will be used to identify potential services and offerings that will help Northern Colorado musicians to be as successful as possible, we are also offering an incentive. Every Colorado artist who completes the survey will be entered into a drawing for an amazing recording studio package at Backbone Studio (www.backbonestudio.com) -- could be worth as much as $2,000! This state of the art facility, located in Loveland, will provide your band with all the necessary tools for either a two song radio ready product or a four to five song demo CD. Your band will get two, 10 hour days of recording, mixing and mastering as well as unlimited use of all the vintage gear and instruments in the studio. Additionally, the use of multiple live rooms for simultaneous recording in both studios will be provided. Top it all off, your band will get an overnight stay at the studio’s SkyLoft (the apartment above the studio) while tracking. Don’t pass up this opportunity to win this sweet package for you and your band — complete the survey today! In order to be eligible for the recording package, you must complete the survey by Tuesday, March 15, 2010. Here’s the link: http://colostate.qualtrics.com/SE?SID=SV_25AYdMhp0kUrCeg&SVID=Prod * * * * * BENEFIT CONCERT FOR ACBCO The American Council of the Blind of Colorado presents the 2010 Visionary Award Concert honoring Donald Seawell featuring legendary jazz artist and Grammy-award winner Diane Schuur. When: Saturday, March 20, 2010 Time: 6:00 p.m. - VIP reception - Curtis Hotel, 1405 Curtis Street, Denver Time: 8:00 p.m. - Concert - Seawell Grand Ballroom, 1101 13th Street, Denver Tickets: $100 per person - VIP reception and concert $70 per person - concert only 10% discount to members of ACBCO, Jazz89 KUVO, and employees of the City & County of Denver. The American Council of the Blind of Colorado, or ACBCO, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting independence, equality, and opportunities for all blind and visually impaired individuals in the state of Colorado. The Visionary Award honors an individual, organization, or group that has the blind and visually impaired through their work, and it also raises funds for ACBCO’s Community Outreach Programs. To RSVP or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please call Liana Camacho at 303-831-0117 or 1-888-775-2221 Purchase tickets online at www.blacktie-colorado.com * * * * * CHUN UMX [PEOPLE'S FAIR] AUDITIONS We've had a couple of inquiries regarding the auditions for the People's Fair. The acts have already been chosen for the auditions (which are open to the public). The auditions will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 27th & 28th at Bender's Tavern, 13th and Grant, Denver, from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. each day. For more info go to www.peoplesfair.com * * * * * NBC SHOW “AMERICA’S GOT TALENT” TO BE IN DENVER - CANCELLED 03/05/10 We've been informed that the auditions scheduled for Denver have been cancelled. No reason given. So we've removed the info. COMBO * * * * * ASCAP “I CREATE MUSIC” EXPO – APRIL 22-24, 2010, IN LOS ANGELES Go to www.ascap.com for more information. * * * * * COLORADO COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME FESTIVAL Where: Gala Gardens, 8383 Rosemary Street, Commerce City, Colorado When: Thursday thru Sunday, August 19th - 22nd Time: Th-Sa shows start at 7:00 p.m.; Sunday show is at 2:00 p.m. Cost: Cover to be determined (more info later) The 2010 CCMHOF Festival will feature a pro talent only contest to select male & female vocalist and an instrumentalist for 2010. The Entertainer of the Year and Band of the Year will be judged on 2010 Activities. Anyone can attend the Colorado Country Music Hall Of Fame Festival but you must be a CCMHOF member to perform on stage and/or compete in the Pro Talent Contest. For entry or more information call Sheila Gaccetta - 720-859-8988; www.ccmhof.com There is also a songwriting competition for Country and Gospel CCMHOF member songwriters. Contact Fred Martin (720-266-0674) for more information and an application. * * * * * ST. JUDE’S SONGWRITERS’ SUPPER: UNDER THE AUGUST MOON Date: Saturday, August 28, 2010 - 6:00 p.m. Location: Polson Farm 5201 Manhart Street (CO Hwy 67), Sedalia, Colorado 80135 Cost: $125 per person An annual Colorado Event featuring four songwriters from Nashville in-the-round. Each songwriter takes a turn presenting songs they wrote for famous recording artists. They explain why they wrote each song and the details surrounding each song, then they play them the way they originally wrote them. All done while you eat a wonderful dinner and enjoy the sounds; all to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. For more information, contact: 303-377-9987 or stacey.jones@stjude.org Roni Lambrecht Ph: 303-716-0521 Email: cci@comcast.net Event Website: www.StJude.org/SongwritersSupper St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family's inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. * * * * * AEG’S CHUCK MORRIS TALKS 1st BANK CENTER Posted: February 25, 2010 http://encore.celebrityaccess.com/index.php?encoreId=235&articleId=34211 Broomfield, CO (Celebrity Access Media Wire) -- 1st Bank Center, Colorado’s new state-of-the-art entertainment facility will launch on March 5 and 6 with a two-night stand by Furthur featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir." ..."Starting in 2011, the 1st Bank Center will also become home to Colorado's Music Hall of Fame, a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate and to raise money for the Music School of the University of Colorado. To be curated by longtime Colorado rock critic G. Brown, the museum will recognize artists who have influenced Colorado's music scene, including Joe Walsh, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Firefall, Dan Fogelberg, Poco, The Subdudes, The String Cheese Incident and The Fray among others. Plans are also in the works for historical locations such as Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Caribou Ranch to receive recognition." (Contributed by Margaret Day) * * * * * CONGRATULATION TO EDDIE SPAGHETTI!!! Evergreen, Colorado songwriter, recording artist, family entertainer "Eddie Spaghetti" (a/k/a Eddie “EJ” Bisiar ) had his song/ recording "Please Be My Valentine" featured on the CBS Sunday Morning show Valentine’s Day. The song has been drawing more attention every year since it was released a decade ago, mostly in the local Colorado markets, but finally garnered national attention. The feature story was about Loveland’s Valentines restamping event. The video can be viewed at the Loveland Chamber of Commerce website www.Loveland.org * * * * * iTUNES APPROACHING 10 BILLION SONG DOWNLOADS... ... thanks to Digital Music News The iTunes Store is now approaching 10 billion song downloads, and the fanfare starts immediately. The streamers are already adorning the 'Countdown to 10 Billion Songs' celebration, and Apple is awarding a $10,000 iTunes gift certificate to the fan who hits the magic number. That is certainly a monster gift certificate, appropriate for the threshold on hand. Also, Apple has revealed the best-selling songs of all-time on the iTunes Store. 1. Black Eyed Peas: "I Gotta Feeling" 2. Lady GaGa: "Poker Face" 3. Black Eyed Peas: "Boom Boom Pow" 4. Jason Mraz: "I'm Yours" 5. Coldplay: "Viva la Vida" 6. Lady Gaga & Colby O'Donis: "Just Dance" 7. Flo Rida: "Low feat. T-Pain" 8. Taylor Swift: "Love Story" 9. Leona Lewis: "Bleeding Love" 10. Ke$ha:"Tik Tok" The Store first opened in 2003, though most of the tracks are recent pop releases. That indicates a continued ramp-up in volume, and the numbers support that theory. In January of 2009, Apple revealed a cumulative download total of 6 billion, at the time part of a multi-year plateau. But the leap to 10 billion is double the previous annual rate, raising an interesting question of just where download sales are heading. TA-DA (DRUM ROLL, PLEASE...) The 10 billionth downloader was – get this – 70 year old Louie Sulcer of Woodstock, Georgia who received an iPod from his grandkids for Christmas. He chose to download Johnny Cash’s “Guess Things Happen That Way” which was completely unexpected from iTunes and their execs! Louie won a $10,000 gift certificate to iTunes. * * * * * RESEARCH FINDS BRAIN LINK FOR WORDS, MUSIC ABILITY By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, AP Science Writer (2/19/10) SAN DIEGO – Words and music, such natural partners that it seems obvious they go together. Now science is confirming that those abilities are linked in the brain, a finding that might even lead to better stroke treatments. Studies have found overlap in the brain's processing of language and instrumental music, and new research suggests that intensive musical therapy may help improve speech in stroke patients, researchers said Saturday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In addition, researchers said, music education can help children with developmental dyslexia or autism more accurately use speech. People who have suffered a severe stroke on the left side of the brain and cannot speak can sometimes learn to communicate through singing, Gottfried Schlaug, associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School told the meeting. * * * * * MORE ON SCAMS http://soundtempest.net/guides/how-to-detect-and-avoid-music-scams/ * * * * * FARMERS’ MARKETS LOOKING FOR ENTERTAINERS My name is Dan Borgmann and owner of Vendor Hippo here in Colorado. Vendor Hippo is a farmers market and agriculture support company. Per the request of our farmers market owners across Colorado, we have created a musicians contact area on our website www.vendorhippo.com. Basically, we are allowing local artists to post their profiles on our site where market owners can browse and connect with those they would like to have perform at their events. We do not charge anyone for this service. We simply want to connect artists with possible employment and provide our owners with a nice service. You can see the setup on the site in the "entertainment" portion of our services. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me at the eddress listed below. Thank you, Daniel Borgmann Vendor Hippo, LLC www.vendorhippo.com dan@vendorhippo.com Editor’s note: Please make sure you/your band provide “family-friendly” entertainment as there are children at these markets. Also, if you book with someone, be sure and check to make sure what kind of a sound system is provided, if any. Some of these events may not be able to present a full band. * * * * * REVIEW OF THE COLORADO AMERICAN IDOL CONTESTANTS Haeley Vaughn is something we haven’t really seen on Idol yet–an African American country singer. Talented and vivacious, [MJ] is looking forward to seeing what Haeley’s got. Haeley, a 16 year old from Fort Collins, CO, was a 2 lb. preemie when she was born. Her dad died when she was 10. Haeley definitely has potential, and if she’s good, could bring an interesting twist to the show. Update: Unfortunately, Haeley was voted off 3/04/10. Darn! Lilly Scott, a 20 year old from Littleton, Colorado, and is in a band called Varlet with her brother David. She has an Amy Winehouse meets the singer from the Cardigans type voice. But even though she sings that type of music, her songs are fun and have titles like "Can of Beer" and "Jello Plate". That's our kind of girl! Take her quirky personality, fun songs, and sense of humor, and I think we've got someone to look forward to here. Make us proud, Lilly! Also, former AI contestant, Matt Buckstein from Aurora, hosted the Idol Watching group for local channel Fox 31 last week. Looking – and sounding – good, Matt! DISCUSSION TOPIC... Comment from Joshua on an American Idol Blog (after Wed., Feb. 24th’s show): “Here's my problem: the judges are always saying "that wasn't original enough" but, to quote the awesome Crystal Bowerlox (yes, that's what we should be calling her rad do), "originals aren't allowed on the show, that's the thing." Aren't the judges asking the impossible here? Original cover songs? Sounds like the definition of oxymoron. Or maybe it's just plain moronic.” Editor’s comment: Joshua has a viable argument. If the judges want the performers to be ‘original’, maybe they should consider letting them sing whatever they want! * * * * * MOVIE FOR MARCH: WALK THE LINE Our suggested movies will be ones that involve the business of making music – not the “song & dance” movies. All movies will teach you something about the music business. “WALK THE LINE” (2005) starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon (Best Actress - Academy Awards) BY Roger Ebert / November 18, 2005 Read Roger's full review at http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051117/REVIEWS/51107006 Johnny Cash sang like he meant business. He didn't get fancy and he didn't send his voice on missions it could not complete, but there was an urgency in his best songs that pounded them home. When he sang something, it stayed sung. James Mangold's "Walk the Line," with its dead-on performances by Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, helps you understand that quality. Here was a man who was blamed by his hard-drinking father for the death of his older brother, who said God "took the wrong son," who looked at Johnny's big new house and all he could say was, "Jack Benny's is bigger." In the movie you sense that the drive behind a Johnny Cash song was defiance. He was going to sing it no matter what anybody thought -- especially his old man. The movie shows John R. Cash inventing himself. He came from a hard-working Arkansas family and grew up listening to country music on the radio, especially the Carter Family. He wrote his first song while he was serving in the Air Force in Germany. When he came back to the States, he got married and got a regular job but dreamed about being a recording artist. When his first wife, Vivian, complained he was spending more time on music than on her, he referred to his "band" and she said, "your band is two mechanics who can't even hardly play." She was just about right. When they finally got the legendary Sam Phillips (Dallas Roberts) of Sun Records in Memphis to let them audition, they sounded like carbon copies of third-rate radio gospel singers. Sam should have shown them the door. Out of kindness he asked John if he had anything of his own he wanted to play. Cash chose a song he wrote in Germany, "Folsom Prison Blues." One of the key passages in Phoenix's performance comes as he learns, while in the process of singing this song, how he should sound and who he should be. You can hear his musicians picking up the tempo to keep pace with him. He starts the song as a loser and ends as Johnny Cash. .......................................................................... It is by now well known that Phoenix and Witherspoon perform their own vocals in the movie. It was not well known when the movie previewed -- at least not by me. Knowing Cash's albums more or less by heart, I closed my eyes to focus on the soundtrack and decided that, yes, that was the voice of Johnny Cash I was listening to. The closing credits make it clear it's Joaquin Phoenix doing the singing, and I was gob-smacked. Phoenix and Mangold can talk all they want about how it was as much a matter of getting in character, of delivering the songs, as it was a matter of voice technique, but whatever it was, it worked. Cash's voice was "steady like a train, sharp like a razor," said June. Cast & Credits: John R. Cash: Joaquin Phoenix June Carter: Reese Witherspoon Vivian Cash: Ginnifer Goodwin Ray Cash: Robert Patrick Sam Phillips: Dallas Roberts Luther Perkins: Dan John Miller Marshall Grant: Larry BagbyCarrie Cash: Shelby Lynne Elvis Presley: Tyler Hilton Jerry Lee Lewis: Waylon Malloy Payne Waylon Jennings: Shooter Jennings 20th Century Fox presents a film directed by James Mangold. Written by Gill Dennis and Mangold. Based on Man in Black and Cash The Autobiography by Johnny Cash. Running time: 135 minutes. Rated PG-13 (for some language, thematic material and depiction of drug dependency). * * * * * BOOK FOR MARCH: MONEY FOR NOTHING “MONEY FOR NOTHING - Greed and Exploitation in the Music Industry”, Simon Garfield, 1986, Faber & Faber, Inc. ISBN 0-571-12972-2 Cl. Unfortunately this book is out of print but you might be able to find it in a library. Very serious reading for any musician who wants to go pro. This book basically covers unscrupulous managers, publishers, and other assorted “unethical” people in the music business. Want to know the real story of how Michael Jackson ended up with part of The Beatles’ Catalog? Here’s the book to say it succinctly and in a few words. Read how all these big names got screwed – and keep yourself from falling into the same traps. Don’t forget: Even if you don’t have the money to buy or rent a DVD or a book, there are libraries. Yes, they still exist... and they not only loan you books, but many of them also have DVDs to loan out as well. * * * * * Musical term definition... “Severo” - strictly with rigid observance of tempo and expression marks. * * * * * COMBO General Policies The COMBO Board of Directors prefers not to endorse any activities which require us to pick and choose among our members. COMBO does not wish to duplicate the efforts of our members. For example: Instead of starting up our own booking agency, we connect member musicians and venues with established booking agencies who are also COMBO members. COMBO supports the rights of all musical artists to get paid for their works, in all forms, including live performances and recordings. Monthly meetings of the Colorado Music Association, d/b/a Colorado Music Business Organization (“COMBO”), and their content are copyrighted by the Colorado Music Association for the private use of its members and its audience. Private and non-commercial use of photographs, videos and sound recordings of the meetings are granted without required authorization. Any other uses of any other visual and/or sound medium are prohibited without the express written consent of the Colorado Music Association.  COMBO OFFICE HOURS: Mark King has been holding regular office hours for COMBO on Thursdays from 5:30-7:30 p.m. If you have something you’d like to discuss in reference to COMBO, any suggestions for programs, or have a music business question you’d like to have answered, please call us at 720-570-2280 or come by! Call first to make sure someone is there and/or will be available to open the security gate. _ _ _ _ _ _ COMBO’s satellite websites: www.myspace.com/coloradomusic and (only if you’re a Colorado artist) www.myspace.com/coloradobandsonly. We’d LOVE to have you as a *friend*! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NAMM'S NEW PRODUCTS A couple of us attended the WINTER NAMM EXPO in Los Angeles January 14th - 16th and, WOW! Did we ever see the cool products. Here's a couple that we recommend looking for at your local musicians' supply store: Sync-A-Vision: A product that turns your grand piano into a player piano, a teaching tool, a karaoke machine, and for songwriters -- a midi that will actually write out the notes to the songs you play!! The gizmo is FANTASTIC! I wish I had a grand that I could put this on... truly. Check this product out at www.pianodisc.com or at www.SyncAVision.com - phone 916-567-9999 to find the nearest dealer in your area! ChromeDome: This amplifier puts the tubes ON TOP of the cabinet! Easy to reach and -- believe it or not -- very decorative! You'll have to see it to understand. It's so beautiful, you could just set it in your living room as artwork. See it at www.chromedomeaudio.com. To find a dealer near you call 513-733-DOME (3663). AND -- just for the fun of it -- check out Classic American Kazoos. They even have electric Kazoos now. And, for more fun, a kazoo with a little megaphone attached making it the "loudest acoustic Kazoo" to play with! www.ClassicAmericanKazoos.com
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Check out Colorado Free University at www.freeu.com. The university is offering classes in Basic Audio Production, beginning classes in voice, piano, songwriting, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, blues harmonica -- even workshops on how to get into the voice-over business! |
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BTW: If you're looking for a good, inexpensive website provider -- try COMBO's! www.bandzoogle.com This provider has pages already set up, ready for you to fill in. It's so easy even Barb, the president of COMBO, can do it and believe her -- that's saying a LOT! ;-) |
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Christmas Caravan Show to benefit Toys for Tots Charity video highlights taken from the Jefferson County Fairgrounds just outside of Denver, Colorado.
Missed Scott Baxendale's or Danny Masters and Stu Lippa's Les Paul videos? You can still watch them! We moved it to the 'Books & Videos' page under the 'Resources' menu item. |
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