Andrew Schneider (host), Johnny Hickman & Drew Jostad (sound) at KRFC after the radio show

“Hickman is best known for co-founding the band Cracker. His fiery lead guitar sound and spirited co-writing gave flavor to that band’s alternative radio hits, including Teen Angst, Low, Get Off This, and Eurotrash Girl. Cracker, founded in 1991 with childhood friend David Lowery, has eight full-length releases to date. Kerosene Hat (1994) remains an alternative music collection staple. Lowery and Hickman together are seen as godfathers of the alternative music scene, who turned gently away from plaid-clad grunge in the 1990s with more countrified and bluesy stylings. Their collaboration with the jam-band Leftover Salmon in 2003 further proved that no one genre could contain them.

Prior to his tenure in Cracker, Hickman toured as a solo/folk acoustic performer, had a brief stint in the Unforgiven (a tongue-in-cheek-Western guitar rock band), and co-founded the Inland Empire (California) cult band the Dangers. Influenced by punk rock, surf guitar, and true Bakersfield country, Hickman’s sound is often imitated but never perfected by anyone but he and his signature 1978 Les Paul.

Occasionally, Hickman ventures away from solo work and Cracker to spearhead side projects, such as All Thumbs Trio (with moe. guitarist Chuck Garvey, and East Coast guitarist Gibb Droll), and Crazysloth, an Arizona-based band. Film and TV work to date include one full film score for the independent River Red, as well as the placement of Lowery/Hickman songs in several popular films.”

~courtesy  © ReviewNetMedia.

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“Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, The Holler! presents a bluegrassy sound, rock n’ roll personality and passionate vocals delivered with mountaintop exclamation.  This quartet of prolific songwriters uses mandolin, guitar, bass, drums, and four bombastic baritone voices to create their Folkedelic sound.  In the canyons of influence, with child-like eyes and wonder, these tone chasers relentlessly explore their roots in acoustic music and dramatic lyricism.  This band’s bottomless cup of original repertoire is led by mandolin obsessed songsmith Michael Kirkpatrick, whose voice resonates with evangelical theatrics and gratitude.  Hot-shot guitar slinger Brian Adams picks some of the tastiest licks this side of Garciaville.  With Brad Poto on bass guitar and Kris Smith on drums, The Holler!’s energetic live show is fortified with a groove that induces movement of body and mind.   9 years of sonic wanderlust has seen the band through many forms, employing sitar, keyboards, tuba, lap steel, accordion and world percussion into their evolving acoustic folk-rock format.  Their repertoire artistically celebrates reverence for nature, the exploration of human consciousness, and their passion for festive community gatherings while echoing the Colorado landscape The Holler! calls home.

In addition to original music, The Holler! has fun twisting up songs by influences such as: Led Zeppelin, Bjork, The Grateful Dead, Ween, Roger McGuinn, Taj Mahal, The Highwaymen, and Darrell Scott.  They have a charismatic ability to connect with a diverse demographic of music lovers, shaking up dance floors, elevating love frequencies, and having lots of fun along the way!

“The group’s songwriting is second-to-none, creating a diverse album that holds quick to its mountain roots.  There is some subtle magic going on here as The Holler! swiftly and thoroughly draws you in with their one-of-a-kind lyricism and finger-pickin’ goodness.” -review of Gratitude by Dusty Ray, Scene Magazine July 2011

-awarded “Best Bluegrass Band 2011″ by the Fort Collins Musicians Association

-placed 3rd Place in Northern Colorado’s Scene Magazine Battle of the Bands 2010

History

Holler!WildPicked who?  Michael Kirkpatrick’s progressive acoustic vision goes back to 2002 with a project called Wildwood Holler! consisting of upright bass, banjo, and mandolin. This Colorado string trio made an underground name for themselves, from the Rockies to the Ozarks to the Cascades, in a big green school bus between 2004-2008. Eventually percussion and a tasty guitar player were added and banjo was traded for the tuba! This rock-tuba-grass quartet recorded and performed under the name Handpicked Holler! from 2008-2010. In early 2010, bass guitar was re-introduced to the band and the name was simplified to The Holler!.  Michael continue’s to walk this path of folk-rock and bluegrass with willing cohorts and enjoys the experience of working with great musicians.”

Band Members

Michael Kirkpatrick- Vocals, Mandolin, Guitar, Lap Steel

Brian Adams- Guitar, Vocals

Brad Poto- Bass, Vocals

Kris Smith- Drums

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Colorado Spins for November

1)  Constitution, Wrestling With Daylight  (C)
2)  Fierce Bad Rabbit, Live and Learn  (C)
3)  Lionel Young Band, On Our Way To Memphis  (C)
4)  Honey Gitters, Poor Gitters’ Almanack  (C)
5)  Great American Taxi, Paradise Lost  (C)
6)  John-Alex Mason, Jook Joint Thunderclap  (C)
7)  Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore, Saints & Sinners  (C)
8)  Patti Fiasco, Patti Fiasco  (C)
9)  Cary Morin, Sing It Louder  (C)
10)  Cassie Taylor, Blue  (C)
11)  Finnders & Youngberg, FY5  (C)
12)  Devotchka, 100 Lovers  (C)
13)  Holler, Gratitude  (C)
14)  Longest Day of the Year, Turn Into the Ground  (C)
15)  Turn 4, What You Do About It  (C)

Album Spins for November

1)  Constitution, Wrestling With the Daylight  (C)
2)  Fierce Bad Rabbit, Live and Learn  (C)
3)  Lionel Young Band,  On Our Way To Memphis  (C)
4)  Tom Waits, Bad As Me
5)  Steve Cropper, Dedicated
6)  Crooked Still, Friends Of Fall
7)  Honey Gitters, Poor Gitters’ Almanack  (C)
8)  Maria Muldaur, Steady Love
9)  Pieta Brown, Mercury
10)  Ry Cooder, Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down
11)  Great American Taxi, Paradise Lost  (C)
12)  John-Alex Mason, Jook Joint Thunderclap  (C)
13)  Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore, Saints & Sinners  (C)
14)  Patti Fiasco, Patti Fiasco  (C)
15)  Wilco, Whole Love
16)  Blitzen Trapper, American Goldwing
17)  Carolyn Wonderland, Peace Meal
18)  Chris Kennison, Simply Steel  (C)
19)  Gillian Welch, Harrow & the Harvest
20)  Blind Pilot, We Are the Tide

Song Spins for November

1)  Crooked Still, “We Can Work It Out”
2)  Deer Tick, “The Bump”
3)  Fierce Bad Rabbit, “Rich Man”  (C)
4)  Fierce Bad Rabbit, “You”  (C)
5)  Holler, “Gratitude”  (C)
6)  John-Alex Mason, “My Old Lonesome Home”  (C)
7)  Middle Brother, “Portland”
8)  Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside, “Poison Milk”
9)  Tom Waits, “Satisfied”
10)  Blind Pilot, “Keep You Right”

Lists compiled by KRFC’s own Scott Foley, host of Routes & Beanches. For more lists visit his blog >>>

or check out The Colorado Sound blog from KRFC’s own Chris K. >>>