Post Paradise performs at the 2nd annual SpokesBUZZ CD release show on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011. PHOTO: Tim Van Schmidt

Hodi’s Half Note in Fort Collins, Colo. Hodi’s quickly filled to capacity and stayed that way through all nine SpokesBUZZ bands’ sets,

Peace Officer performing at the 2nd annual SpokesBUZZ CD release show on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011. PHOTO: Tim Van Schmidt

but I was in the back of the venue for most of it  helping the bands load-in their gear. And, as I’m sure is required by some hair-brain law of physics, I helped them load-out all their gear, too. Loading-in, loading-out – it pulled me away from the festivities for a lot of the night. So even though my backstage task let me ogle at some amazing music equipment and socialize with the bands, I’ve been wondering what I missed out on. Thanks to the Media and the Internet I was able to listen to Dani Grant give an interview on TRI 102.5, read a preview to the show from the Coloradoan, and check out photos from the show at Fort Collins Life-Times. So click on any of those links if you couldn’t make it to the CD release show or just want to re-live it like I did.

While I’m still trying to figure out a costume, a couple SpokesBUZZ bands have had their Halloween plans locked down for a while. The Holler! just held their 9th Holler!ween out at Grant Family Farms, and based off the Facebook record it was a great time.

Is that Matt Mahern from Constitution? In a wig? Doing something regarding Holler!ween? I wish I knew more about this intriguing nugget.

Trichome are holding their 1st annual halloween show at SKY Nightclub in Greeley on Saturday, Oct. 29th. Their pals Gypsy Fit are opening the evening around 10 p.m. Tickets are $5 for 21+ and $8 if you’re 18-20. You can find more info for it here.

Hopefully you’ve seen the fliers for Musketeer Gripweed’s Halloween and Gasoline show at the Aggie if you’ve been hanging around Fort Collins recently. This one’s also on Saturday, Oct. 29th, and The Seers and SpokesBUZZ alumni The Nu Classics are opening the show. Doors open at 8 p.m. and tickets are $10 and can be purchased here.

Both of these should be good times, so don’t miss out. I’m hoping to have nailed down my “Single Ladies” dance by the 29th, but with my track record, it’ll still be looking like a baby’s first time crawling.

Our last post dealt with our bands playing FoCoMX III, and since then a lot has happened. For starters, we’ve got a whole new class of SpokesBUZZ bands for the 2011-2012 year. They’re a great group of musicians and we’re excited to be working with every single one of them. If you aren’t familiar with this year’s class, go ahead and get acquainted with them here.

Colorado’s had some uncharacteristically sun-shiney weather through September and our groups are set to send it off in style with two big shows on the same night.

The Good 'ol Boys of Constitution

Constitution is getting ready for their album release party at Road 34 on Friday, September 30, 2011. The show starts at 9 p.m. with the very talented Maxwell Hughes opening. With the price of admission (5$) comes a copy of the new album. Remember, this show is 21+ and is going to be damn good.

On the same night is alt-rockers Post Paradise‘s release show for their new album, “The New Normal,” at Hodi’s Half Note. This show’s got something unique going on. With admission comes a download code for Post Paradise’s performance set. Our good friend Dan Butcher – being the sound genius that he is – will be multi-tracking the show and uploading it to Bandcamp.com by 6 p.m. the next day. All you’ve got to do is go to the URL provided with the download code, enter in the information once prompted and click download. Take To The Oars, Vices I Admire and SpokesBUZZ’s own Common Anomaly will be opening the night up. The show starts at 9 p.m. and is 5$ at the door/8$ under 21.

We’re going to have fun bouncing between the shows and supporting all the groups involved while the weather is still nice enough to move around outside. Come out and join us, support these great local acts and have a beer or two while you’re at it (if you’re into that sort of thing).

Fort Collins Musicians Association is looking for volunteers for this year’s event – a great way to support live music, see live music and score a weekend wristband for FoCoMX. Contact volunteer@focoma.org to help out. For more information on tickets and venues, visit  http://www.focomx.org/.

SpokesBUZZ Featured and Supporting Bands at FoCoMX

*Candy Claws
Fri. 4/8 6:00PM Hodi’s Halfnote

Musketeer Gripweed
Fri. 4/8 9:15PM Road 34

The Honey Gitters
Fri. 4/8 10:30PM Avogadro’s Number

The Nu Classics
Fri. 4/8 10:30PM Road 34

Constitution
Sat. 4/9 12:00AM East Coast

Stella Luce
Sat. 4/9 12:00AM Ramskeller

Patti Fiasco
Sat. 4/9 10:30PM Avogadro’s Number

Wire Faces
Sat. 4/9 11:00PM Hodi’s Halfnote

Fierce Bad Rabbit
Sun. 4/10 12:00AM Hodi’s Halfnote

Peace Officer
Sun. 4/10 12:00AM Aggie Theatre

*SpokesBUZZ Class of 2010

SpokesBUZZ has always been committed to sponsoring and promoting up-and-coming bands.  Along the way, we have been showered with support from many established Colorado bands.  Two of these bands are The Heyday and Danielle Ate the Sandwich, who we were privileged to have grace the stage at this year’s SXSW Showcase.

The Heyday

Genre: Rock/Pop

Background

The Heyday formed in the spring of 2006, when singer-songwriter Randy Ramirez and pianist Jeff Appareti parted ways with their former Americana-roots project aptly-named “Like Chasing Wind.” Shortly after, guitarist Brian Martin and drummer Sean Bennett began sneaking away from their other bands to develop the Heyday’s sound in Appareti’s parents’ basement. The band calls them fit for “the drive home with your friends on the last night of summer,” but these radio-ready tunes are destined for bigger things.

Look and Listen
The Heyday-”Come In or Stay Out”  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8OULNvCy54

Links
http://theheydaymusic.com/

Danielle Ate the Sandwich

Genre: Indie Folk/Acoustic

Danielle “Ate the Sandwich” Anderson is a solid young songwriter, gifted with an ethereal voice and the talent for writing honest observations of an ordinary world. Her melancholy and often times vulnerable songs are nicely contrasted by her humorous and engaging stage presence. Dubbed “Joni Mitchell meets Sarah Silverman,” Danielle tours nationally, has licensed songs to various tv shows and significantly understands and works new media on a generational level. Denver’s Westword described Danielle as, “cripplingly enchanting with lyrics telling the story of a generation coming of age in an age of uncertainty.”

Look and Listen
Danielle Ate the Sandwich-”Stand By Me” cover  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuFIRAex-DE

Links
http://www.danielleatethesandwich.net/

Candy Claws

Genre: Dream Pop/Psychedelic/Experimental

Background Candy Claws is a band from Fort Collins that was selected to participate as part of the SpokesBUZZ “Class of 2010″. Later that year, their album “Hidden Lands” landed on NPR’s All Songs Considered Top 10 Albums of 2010 list. Kay and Ryan write and record the music in their home studio called Flashy Storm, and are joined by five friends for live shows – Wesley, Riley, Meghan, Mckenzie, and Karen.

Candy Claws is a way to explore the miracle of a living planet, through the look and feel of nature books from the mid-century. Their debut album, In the Dream of the Sea Life, is a musical companion to Rachel Carson’s 1951 book, “The Sea Around Us,” and their latest release, Hidden Lands, is paired with “The Secret Life of the Forest” by Richard M. Ketchum. Other notable releases include Glacier Prey, a collection of rarities, cover songs, singles, Christmas songs, and side projects, and Two Airships / Exploder Falls, their original DJ set comprised of 30 minutes of electronic instrumentals. Kay and Ryan have always experimented with video, and now they will do it weekly with “Candy Claws in Dreamland.” Each week’s episode will feature brand new footage and music, an exciting creative challenge. Come along to the land of dreams!

Look and Listen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYM4AleN1kw

Links http://www.candyclaws.com/

While I arrived early to attend SXSW Interactive, many of the board members flew in the week of the music portion of the festival, and the bands arrived via the road — some touring in and playing shows before or after SXSW, some hopping on the biodiesel bus that our friends at ZeroHero arranged and piloted from Fort Collins. (This was immediately dubbed the “SpokesBUSS”).

Thursday night we had a gathering of the Fort Collins folks at Moonshine, one of Austin’s fine patio establishments near the convention center. Many of Austin’s bars and restaurants are built with patios and/or rooftops so you can better enjoy the ambience. Weather during the week was gorgeous, in the ’70s and ’80s, springtime in the hill country at its best. Reuniting in Austin with the FoCo folks was inspiring, to say the least. This was the moment we’d all worked so hard for! It was fun for me, after a week in Austin, to see all the new arrivals and through them, experience the awe all over again. The biggest thing about Austin: there is SO. MUCH. MUSIC. It’s staggering.

The Nu Classic strut their stuff above The 512.

Friday was the day of our SpokesBUZZ SXSW showcase at a bar called The 512 (that’s Austin’s area code). We had bands playing on two stages all day long – the main stage upstairs featured our SpokesBUZZ “Class of 2011″ bands, while the downstairs improvisational stage was reserved for our supporting bands, impromptu jams, and performances from partnering bands like Danielle Ate the Sandwich and Denver’s The Heyday. The sound from the rooftop stage filtered down below to Sixth Street, Austin’s main drag and a thoroughfare for literally thousands of music fans. Those that weren’t pulled in via the sublime sounds from the rooftop fell prey to the siren song of FREE New Belgium beer and Coyote Gold margaritas. We also provided some food for those attendees that RSVP’d online to the showcase (more than 4000 people submitted an RSVP in the weeks leading up to SXSW). The festival attracts people from the music industry, the media and of course, plenty of music fans from all over the world. I shared the registration table with a trio of Brits for several hours, who loved the atmosphere so much they hung out for several sets (no small win at SXSW, where the norm is to pop in and move on, over and over, all day long).

All in all, it was one terrific party, for sure. But here’s what it really was: it was one terrific Fort Collins party. The bands said it best, explaining from the stage, “we came a thousand miles to play for you guys – and we’re bringing Fort Collins to you!” And it was absolutely true. Somehow, an Austin bar was transformed into a full-on Fort Collins experience Friday. Summit Studios prints hung above the merchandise table – it was like a mini Gallery Underground. John Long brought in a ZeroHero tent, allowing attendees to compost and recycle waste from the event — just like at home. Shaped Music provided the sound at The 512, both for our showcase AND for official SXSW showcases throughout the festival. And this merely scratches the surface of the support we received and is only a small snapshot of the Fort Collins presence here in Austin.

The Honey Gitters share a little happy-go-lucky.

And then, of course, there was the music: the bands represented life in Fort Collins like nothing else could: creative, energetic, good-natured, fun in the sun. Singing, dancing and smiles all around. And, oddly enough, a sense of community – even in a city filled to the gills with strangers, it was easy to feel like you were among friends.

Ian from Wire Faces takes a tumble over the drums. Rock 'n' roll is dangerous. Don't try this at home.

And we certainly were among friends, literally. One of my favorite parts of the day was watching the bands enjoy each others’ performances and show mutual support – they don’t get to do that terribly often, as when they’re at home, they are frequently playing gigs on the same night in different venues. And, as is our way, the Fort Collins folks traveled the streets of Austin in a big rowdy pack, with people from home pulling in friends who were visiting and making new pals along the way. And when the SpokesBUZZ bands played additional shows at SXSW over the weekend, there was always a contingent of FoCo fans front-and-center, singing along or even offering assistance with equipment before, during and after the performance. Overhead at the Wire Faces show on Saturday (they also played as part of the Denver-sponsored Reverb showcase) “We’re Wire Faces and we’re from Denver …” [half-hearted crowd golf clap] “… AND Fort Collins, Colorado!” [enthusiastic cheer from the dozen or so FoCo friends on the rooftop]. Gotta love that.

Fierce Bad Rabbit bringing some FoCo to SXSW.

In addition to love and camaraderie, I think most prevalent emotion I felt over the past few days, and the feeling I’m leaving Austin with is pride. The city where I live turns out talent, values hard work, and fosters creativity; all that is true. But in Fort Collins we also enjoy – and happily share – a sunny disposition and an outlook on life that I haven’t found anywhere else. Not that I need to look any further than my own backyard.

Peace Officer - all energy, all the time.

I’m glad I rediscovered Fort Collins at SXSW. I’m proud of SpokesBUZZ and all the people who support it. And I’m ready to come home now.
- Julie Sutter, satisfied citizen, Fort Collins, Colorado

Darren Mahuron and Tomas Herrera, two of Fort Collins' finest creative minds.

As we draw nearer to our SpokesBUZZ Fort Collins SXSW Showcase, we’ll be spotlighting our Class of 2011 bands, so you can get to know them a little better. Enjoy!

Fierce Bad Rabbit

Named after the beloved Beatrix Potter children’s book, Fierce Bad Rabbit has combined the musical talents of four veteran Fort Collins musicians to create an indie rock quartet.  Brining fans and inspiration from their past bands, the quartet has made waves in the Fort Collins music scene.

Band Members
Chris Anderson-vocals, guitar, piano
Alana Rolfe-viola, vocals
Dayton Hicks-bass
Adam Pitner-drums, percussion

Background
When Fierce Bad Rabbit formed in 2009, regional media called them a “supergroup.” The standout talent of each member of the band was already well established in Northern Colorado.  The members of Fierce Bad Rabbit were magnetically drawn together to create indie pop music with a hook and a heart.  Fierce Bad Rabbit found regional success nearly immediately after coming together. Songwriting came natural, and the band soon released a self-titled EP that had airplay before it hit the streets. They were voted “Best Indie Rock” by peers in the Fort Collins Musicians Association, andWestword nominated the band for “Best Indie Pop.” They performed at the 2010 South by Southwest in Austin, received featured airplay on stations throughout the region, and were selected for the inaugural class of SpokesBUZZ.  The band just wrapped up a tour of the southwest and west coast following the release of their second album, Spools of Thread, in October 2010.

Look and Listen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USeU9_7WwyU

Links
http://www.fbrmusic.net/

Look and Listen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU0K45yXAbQ


Links
http://www.wirefaces.com

The Honey Gitters  

This eccentric quartet is not your ordinary bluegrass rock band. With shades of early Americana fused with electric new-grass, The Honey Gitters astound and confound audiences with their sound, featuring an electric banjo and a high energy yet unpretentious and fun stage presence. 

Band Members
Greg Simms-Guitar, Vocals
Michael Acosta-Bass
Leland Leyba-Drums
Josh Beard-Banjo, Vocals

Background
The Honey Gitters is a Colorado Based Band with the following members in their line-up: Leland Leyba on drums, Micheal Acosta on Bass, Josh Beard on Banjo and Vocals and Greg Simms on Guitar and Vocals. Their music is classified as Pop/Rock/Americana, but the banjo adds a twist of twang to the movement. Honey Gitters original song writing can be classified as Americana with timeless character sketches and pearls of wisdom that could easily belong in Ben Franklin’s “Poor Richards Almanac.” On the other hand, it takes only a flip of a switch for the Gitters to barrel down a Rock-n-Roll Avenue with tasty licks over a driving rhythm section. Appropriate for all ages and many genres.

Look and Listen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=029jDWkBzbM

Links
http://honeygitters.com/