Brent Cowles, Joe Sampson and Nathaniel Rateliff. Photo courtesy of Cindy at Angel Mountain Media.

Nathaniel Rateliff, Brent Cowles and Joe Sampson perform/interview on a special ” “Songwriter in the Round” session of KRFC 88.9FM Live@Lunch.

“While recording In Memory of Loss, Rateliff lived in Chicago, working with producer Brian Deck to craft the nuances: mournful harmonica on “You Should’ve Seen the Other Guy,” the ominous organ of “Longing and Losing,” propulsive bass drum on “Early Spring Till.” Rateliff’s Rounder debut is rooted in a bygone era. It’s both fresh and classic, imbued with a melancholy nostalgia, the rough candor of rock’n’roll’s past and the warmth and earnestness of folk storytellers. Rateliff has a personal connection to the sounds of the 60s and 70s. “It was more about songs, and not about an industry,” he says. “It was about a movement, not about making money. I think we’re moving back into that again. There’s still an importance in actually writing songs again. People are interested in hearing things that make sense.”

These thirteen tracks, with their soulful minimalism, certainly make sense. Hints of the music he grew up on – Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, the Beatles—shine through. (Album closer “Happy Just To Be,” with its pounding piano chords, is a close cousin to the Lennon-penned “Across the Universe.”) Yet Rateliff is also at home in what may be called, for lack of a better term, the neo-folk revival. His voice is so confident that you can occasionally imagine the music dropping out entirely, a song propelled solely by Rateliff’s a capella strengths—equal parts church spiritual and TV on the Radio riffing on the Pixies’ “Mr. Grieves.”

“The one thing that made me want to write and play music was trying to get the same feeling that it gave me when I listened to it,” Rateliff says. “Like having an anxiety attack—where you almost start to weep, at the same time feel a strange pressure in your chest.” This persistent troubadour has struggled and persevered to this point; now, the wider world is ready for Nathaniel Rateliff. “In Memory of Loss,” he says, “is for everyone who’s willing to listen.”

Andrew Schneider (host), Brent Cowles, Joe Sampson, Nathaniel Rateliff and Dane Pribbeno (sound) at KRFC. Photo courtesy of Cindy at Angel Mountain Media.

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Eufórquestra is a seven-member unit that relocated to Fort Collins, CO in Summer 2008 after spending five years in Iowa City, IA. The band’s own brand of High Intensity Global Dance Music is a percussion and horn driven blend of modern music that fuses afrobeat, reggae, dub, funk, rock, soca and highlife with traditional sounds from Cuba, Brazil, West Africa and beyond. This is cutting edge music that ignites dance floors across the country with a sound that “explodes, dances and melts in your ear with sheer bliss” (Chris M. Slawecki; www.allaboutjazz.com). With three full-length albums to their name and a relentless tour schedule (averaging over 110 shows annually), Eufórquestra has become one of the hottest bands on Colorado’s live music circuit and has created a national presence with performances all over the country at clubs, theaters, community events, and many great festivals including Electric Forest, Wakarusa, moe. Summer Camp, 80/35, Sweet Pea Festival, NedFest, Groovefest, Montana Beer Festival, the Iowa City Jazz Festival and their own Camp Euforia (hosting the 8th annual in 2011). The band has also been fortunate enough to collaborate with and support many other nationally touring artists including Page McConnell of Phish, Kyle Hollingsworth of String Cheese Incident, the Gin Blossoms, The Motet, John Brown’s Body, Toubab Krewe, Great American Taxi and many more. Eufórquestra’s latest studio album “Soup” was released for free online and has been downloaded over 10,000 times since its release in Fall 2009. After adding new members Ben Soltau and Matt Wright (bass and keys, respectively) the band shows no sign of slowing with multiple album and EP releases in the works and busy 2011 tour schedule. Find them online, spread the word, see them live and find out what they put in that Soup…

Euforquestra with host, Andrew Schneider

Eufórquestra is:
Mike Tallman (Guitar/Mandolin/Vocals)
Ben Soltau (Bass/Vocals)
Matt Wright (Keys)
Adam Grosso (Drums)
Matt Grundstad (Percussion/Vocals)
Ryan Jeter (Tenor Saxophone/Vocals)
Austin Zaletel (Alto Saxophone/Vocals)

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Andrew Schneider, Marty Rein, Brian Hull & Drew Jostad at KRFC with Spenser the dog after the radio show -Photo courtesy of Angel Mountain Media

Brian Hull has been performing music professionally for the past few decades. You may have enjoyed his vocal stylings with Mark Sloniker at Jay’s Bistro or with one of his bands at other venues around town. In the early 90′s he moved from Texas to Fort Collins with his band Ezra’s Poundcake. In ’97 he founded the popular funk/soul/and jazz band Meadowlark Jivin’. Currently working on mixing their third CD,  Meadowlark Jvin’ has two CDs out , “Have you ever seen Meadowlark Jivin?” and “It’s the Groove”. Both CDs are in the KRFC library and receive regular spins on various DJ shows. In recent years, Brian has done a lot of solo gigs and he enjoys the variety of playing in a solo or duet format in addition to with the full band. “Playing solo has challenged me to really get my act together and know my songs like the back of my hand.”, Brian explains.   With Marty Rein (bassist-Liz Barnez, 3 Twins, Escape Goats)  accompanying him, Brian performs original music you won’t hear with the band, an a capella song based on a Rumi poem and a few other popular tunes that Brian puts his own spin on.

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With less than two weeks until KRFC celebrates 9 years of volunteer-powered radio in Ft. Collins, Tuesday, March 6th is a perfect opportunity to show support for the 9th Annual Birthday Bash concert March 10th at Lincoln Center.

WHAT: At the City of Fort Collins Council meeting next Tuesday (3/6) at 5:30 p.m, a proclamation will be be read by the Mayor in Council Chambers (300 LaPorte) declaring March 10th a day of celebration in honor of KRFC’s 9th Birthday Bash. Members of the staff and Board of Directors will accept the proclamation and speak briefly about KRFC and the birthday bash. A large KRFC contingent will be present to make a public show of support.

WHY: Since March of 2003 KRFC has charted the history and rise of the Ft. Collins and Colorado music scenes through volunteer powered programming. Heading into the tenth year broadcasting KRFC offers more locally focused programming to fulfill the station’s vision to be recognized as a respected voice of the community, creating a sense of place through excellent radio programming.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 6th, 2012
5:30 p.m.

WHERE: City Council’s Chambers
300 Laporte Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80521

Please let us know if you are coming >>>

John Beacher

“John Beacher is a gifted contemporary singer-songwriter, performer, and an original artist from New Hope, PA (formerly of Boulder, CO). He has the knack of drawing listeners into his provocative world of song and then astounding them with his vocal improvisations. His extraordinary ability to scat and vocalize in a jazzy, soulful, funky, rap-like style puts him in a category of those who have gone onto national success. His acoustic guitar playing is uniquely percussive and deeply rooted in rhythm. Within his performances there is something for everyone as he weaves in and out of musical genres with ease and cohesion. Lyrically, Beacher takes his listener on a poetic musical journey as he incorporates songs of spirituality, love, and humanity. As a live performer, Beacher has been invited to many music festivals where he was the only solo artist, chosen for his incredible stage presence and ability to captivate his audiences. In more intimate settings you can see and f eel the emotions running through his entire performance. John Beacher is simply a magnetic performer whose attraction to the listener is undeniable and powerful. John Beacher has opened up for the following internationally known musicians including: The Marshall Tucker Band, Leon Russell, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. He has also shared a stage with these up-and-coming and established artists including: Danielia Cotton, Fuzz (of Deep Banana Blackout), Paper Bird, and Elephant Revival. John Beacher is often compared to the following contemporary mainstream artists: Dave Matthews, John Legend, John Mayer, Citizen Cope and Jason Mraz. John Beacher currently is host to a popular weekly open mic night called The Beacher Community Stage. He has recently released a 12 song self-released CD which was recorded at the Cutting Room Studios in NYC. His plans are for extensive touring from coast to coast in the next few years using New Hope and Boulder as his home bases.”

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Snow falling on Erin McGrane and Jeff Freling of Victor & Penny at KRFC

“Victor & Penny is a Chicago and KC based duo singing music they call Antique Pop on ukulele and a lovely old guitar. Playing vintage instruments with modern sensibility, they bring a fresh twist to music of the early twentieth century and unique arrangements of modern tunes with characteristic charm and good humor. Victor & Penny are touring the USA in 2012.

Victor & Penny is Jeff Freling and Erin McGrane.

Erin has been an active performing artist in the KC arts and music scene for many years. She currently divides her time equally between Chicago and Kansas City, but calls KC home. Erin is a film, theater and commercial actress; a musician and songwriter; and one of the co-hosts of the new TV program CINEMAKC. Most notably, Erin appeared in the Emmy-winning web series THE UNREAL HOUSEWIVES OF KANSAS CITY and in the Oscar-nominated film, UP IN THE AIR alongside George Clooney. Look for Erin this year in the soon-to-be-released thriller feature film NAILBITER. As chanteuse Ruby Falls, she fronts the cabaret act Alacartoona who was awarded a 2009 Inspiration Grant from the Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City. She is proud to say she mis-spent her youth singing in a rock band and was named Kansas City’s sexiest musician in the Pitch Magazine’s “Best of KC 2005”.

Cindy Schneider (Host), Bill Vickerstaff (Sound), Erin McGrane (Penny), Jeff Freling (Victor) and Drew Jostad (Sound) after the radio show

Jeff, originally from Kansas City, calls Chicago home most of the time where he performs regularly with Blue Man Group, Tributosaurus, Mar Caribe, the Tom Waits tribute band B1G T1ME, and has performed alongside Doug Gillard (Guided By Voices). He began furiously studying the guitar at the age of 10 when he first heard Jimmy Page’s guitar solo on “Whole Lotta Love” and has considered himself a guitar geek ever since. In the late 80s and early 90s Jeff was the guitarist and co-songwriter for two of KCs favorite bands: The Mongol Beach Party and Grumpy. He studied at the Conservatory at UMKC and at the Berklee School of music in Boston.”

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“Combining a compelling mix of music, theater, fashion and modeling into her repertoire, Cassie Taylor is an ambassador of blending the arts.  Cassie is the daughter of renowned bluesman Otis Taylor and toured in his band for seven years as bassist and backup vocalist.  She takes her passion for the blues seriously by serving on the board of directors of The Blues Foundation.  Staking a claim as a musician in her own right, her songwriting is a new kind of blues which explores the trials and tribulations of a twenty-something woman.  Using pop vocals and deeply-rooted blues bass lines, Cassie is leading the new generation of blues artists. “

Joining Cassie in the studio on percussion is Josh Moore.  Guitarist Eric Wiggs could mot make it in to the studio for the radio show but gave a stellar performance with Cassie & Josh later that evening at their Avos show.

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“Turn 4‘s exciting Country sound will rattle your teeth and shake some fillings loose on one song and then touch your deepest regions on the next. Humor and sincerity ooze out of these songs like so much mud, blood and beer after a good barfight.”  – Jason D. Rogers / KRFC

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“Learning violin at age four by the Suzuki Method then nurturing a passion for piano music, Stephen Letnes learned and played contemporary and classical pieces, from David Lantz to Serge Rachmaninoff to Edvard Grieg. With hyper-sensitive hearing of tone and harmony (born legally blind) coupled with a cavernous memory, he eventually began composing. Tapping the musical disciplines gathered through lessons and performances (following in the footsteps of the masters) compositions poured forth, culminating in three CDs: “A Dim Glow Through a Stained Glass Window”-dedicated to six people who greatly impacted his life; “Incorporio” -music signifying what love is, that it goes where it wishes; and his latest CD, “Labreya”.” Stephen lives in Highlands Ranch,Colorado but grew up in Fort Collins and used to be band-mates with our own Live@Lunch volunteer, Corey (Barnes) Bairre.

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Oak Creek is Daniel Watters, Jenna Cunningham Watters, Steve Rogers, Adam Wolin, Paul Morris and Seth Evans.

“While knowing each other for years from growing up in the same small town of Sedona, AZ, it wasn’t until their senior year in high school when Daniel Watters and Jenna Cunningham discovered a musical talent together. Throughout the past 4 years, Daniel and Jenna have been songwriting in long-distance fashion; Daniel attending university in Los Angeles while Jenna way fared her way around the world, performing whenever and wherever their paths crossed. It wasn’t until early 2009, after Daniel graduated college, that he decided to join Jenna in Colorado where they can finally pursue their music together, full time and face to face. Both Aquarians and avid lovers of The Beatles, Daniel and Jenna come together to create Oak Creek, a harmonic, folk-filled, energy to be reckoned with. They have been compared to the Canadian indie-pop band, Stars, as well as the folk-rock band Rilo Kiley from Los Angeles. Both pull influences from bands such as Fleet Foxes, Broken Social Scene, Phoenix, Wilco, Stevie Wonder, Simon and Garfunkel, and of course, The Beatles. Daniel has 2 self-released albums under his belt, with Jenna making an appearance on both. Currently, Oak Creek are living in and performing around Denver, CO. Joining them to create a 6 piece band are Adam Wolin on drums, Steve Rogers on bass, Seth Evans on accordion, banjo, and piano, and Pablo Morris on wurlitzer, organ, and guitar.”

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