Bars and Beats

NEW WEBSITE!

2012-09-13T17:22:00.004-06:00

We're excited to announce that we have a new website for you guys to visit.

Please check out www.barsandbeats.net for our new and updated page.

-Christine and Katie

New Music Tuesdays ft. Hayden Calnin

2012-08-21T22:59:00.001-06:00

NEW MUSIC TUESDAYS:: featuring Hayden Calnin
Australian born and raised, this singer/songwriter's smooth melodies show the purity behind a great song. He records most of his songs in his home demonstrating his raw, beautiful sound.

His songs feature an amazing vocal range that highlight his falsetto while bringing in the lower bass tones. Hayden has been playing the guitar since age 14 and has since learned to play piano and drums.

Recently, he released his EP "City", which is now available on iTunes worldwide.

Check out his most popular song "Summer" which has been featured on a few AUS radio stations. Starting off slow and somber, he loops the song and adds progressive elements that give the song another personality. The video shows the process of recording, featuring all of the elements he used to create the final piece.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0GOMhIGPlU&feature=related

To hear more, you can check out his soundcloud

To see more on Hayden, check out his blog

http://haydencalnin.com/

and follow him on twitter

We are excited to announce that we will have an interview with Hayden coming in the near future! Keep checking back and for now, let's all hope he makes an appearance in the US sometime in the very near future.

NMT: Alex Clare

2012-08-14T15:07:00.000-06:00

For the first New Music Tuesdays of the month, and the first NMT ever, I'd like to introduce Alex Clare.

UK born singer/songwriter Alex Clare has created music that cannot be confined to one specific genre. Some describe his style as soulful and jazzy, while others hear the grungy-ness to his voice. His multi-genre influences combine to create an electric sound that keeps the listener interested. Clare's debut album The Lateness of the Hour was released in 2011, but it was earlier this year when his music took off. Clare's single "Too Close", produced by Diplo and Switch, landed the number 4 spot on the UK singles chart. As his music is spread across the world, we can be sure we'll hear more from him in the future. But for now, take a listen to his breakout song, "Too Close"

For all those in San Diego, be sure to get your tickets to Alex Clare at the HOB 8/26 with local supporting act Oliver Trolley.

Find out more about Alex Clare:
Facebook
Twitter
Youtube

New Music Tuesdays

2012-08-07T15:00:00.000-06:00

Introducing: New Music Tuesdays.

The world of music is ever growing. Talent exists around the world, far beyond the ears of the radio programmers who choose the music we listen to every day in the most accessible media outlets. Through exploring the depth of music, we discover artists from around the world who inspire us. We want to pass this inspiration to you, opening your eyes to something new and unique.

As a music industry tradition, we want to bring a new song to you every week, featuring an artist who we think is buzz worthy.

Check our social media pages for our pick of the week.

If you know of an incredible artist worth sharing, feel free to email us at barsandbeatsblog@gmail.com so they can possibly be featured on New Music Tuesdays

Getting to know Chris Wallace

2012-07-31T15:23:00.000-06:00

Chris Wallace is a former White Tie Affair member who recently made his solo debut. The pop genre artist has people across the globe dancing in their living rooms and belting out their best vocals to his new single 'Remember When.' With a preexisting fan base from WTA combined with a new and growing fan base, it's not long before Wallace becomes a household name. Check out our interview with him below and find out where his passion for music comes from, what he does in his time off and what he has to say to you, his fans.

B&B: Where did your inspiration for music come from? Family? Friends? What lead your path into pursuing music as a career?

Chris Wallace: "My inspiration usually comes from everything that happens in my life. This first moment I realized I wanted to pursue music was at my first concert my parents took me to. It was Boys To Men, Brandy was the opening act. I was pretty young, but I remember sitting in a giant arena in Chicago captivated at how different the live show was than the recording. During the show, I kept telling my parents 'I wanna go on the stage.' Of course, they told me I couldn't do that. Its kinda weird to say, but I'm pretty sure that concert may have been the spark that started it all for me."

B&B: If you had to describe your music solely using your influences, who would you say you sound like?

Chris Wallace: "I recently read an interview I did w/ MTV and they called me the male katy perry, I love her music, so that was very flattering!! My main influences growing up were The Killers, Third Eye Blind, Queen, Bon Jovi, Prince, and pretty much every pop song on the radio. I've always been obsessed w/ ear catching melodies and personal lyrics. I really think it shows in my music."

B&B: You used to play with the group White Tie Affair. How has the transition to becoming a solo artist after working closely with a band for several years been?

Chris Wallace: "It's been really natural progression. As the frontman of the band, I was in charge of most of the creative direction and songwriting. So it wasn't really that much of a departure. It's actually a bit easier for me to do things without so many minds involved. When I started my solo album I had developed such a clear vision of exactly who I wanted to be and how I wanted it to sound. I couldn't be happier w the way things are going!!"

B&B: Have you noticed White Tie Affair fans following your career as a solo artist?

Chris Wallace: "Yes definitely!! My first solo album "push rewind" is pretty much the natural progression of the white tie affair, since I was the main songwriter. I really feel like white tie affair fans are looking forward to coming along on this brand new journey with me."

B&B: Your new single “Remember When” is one of those can’t-help-but-dance kinds of songs. What was going through your head when you wrote that song?

Chris Wallace: "'Remember When' is about the girl I was dating when my music career starting taking off. The line 'as my future got bright, we started losing light,' pretty much sums up how I was feeling when I wrote it. With the music I really wanted to give it an positive undertone, so the hard hitting beats and melody represent the celebration of looking back on great times we shared."

B&B: Do you write all of your own music? If so, when you experience writer’s block, what trick do you use to get back into the groove?

Chris Wallace: "Yess I write or co/write all of my music. As far a writers block goes, I usually listen to other music really loudly to get inspired. It has never failed me yet haha."

B&B: Any particular artist you want to work with in the future?

Chris Wallace: "I would love to write a song w/ P!ink. She is so real and straight to the point w/ her lyrics. Hopefully we'll be able to go get some drinks after the writing session. She seems like really cool."

B&B: The life of a musician is exciting, but can be exhausting on an individual. What do you do with your time off?

Chris Wallace: "Hmm I love to surf, ride dirtbikes, and go to theme parks like six flags or disneyland."

B&B: What can we expect from you next? What do you have planned as your follow up to “Remember When?”

Chris Wallace: "My album 'push rewind' will be released on itunes on August 14th. I'm so excited for people to hear it. I'm also planning on doing some touring this fall!"

B&B: Is there anything you’d like to say to your fans?

Chris Wallace: "Don't be afraid to talk to me on twitter or Facebook. I love replying to people who support my music. Also, I'd like to say thank you!! It's because of your continuous support that I am constantly inspired to write and perform music! See you on tour sooon!"

Check out Chris' new single "Remember When":

For more information on Chris Wallace, refer to the links below:

Follow Chris on Twitter and Instagram: @chriswallace101
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChrisWallaceMusic
YouTube: www.youtube.com/realchriswallace
Website: www.chriswallacemusic.com

DOT HACKER

2012-07-31T13:14:00.002-06:00

Bringing together musicians behind the music of Gnarles Barkley and Red Hot Chili Peppers comes the band Dot Hacker. This experimental rock band released their first album, Inhbition, at the beginning of May. Dream like melodies are paired with twisted rhythms to form their unique sound. Katie talked with Eric Gardner about the creation of the band and recording of the album.

Dot Hacker's Eric Gardner Interview--Take a listen

Katie's personal favorite song off the album-- Inhibition
And check out the band's facebook page HERE

M.O.S.S.

2012-04-17T17:11:00.005-06:00

As a child, Christopher Wilson had many struggles to overcome. His father left him at the age of 2. As a youth, he battled with discrimination because he is African American. When it came time to choose direction in college, Wilson chose to pursue music; a decision which many would advise against. It turned out, however, to be the right decision. With so many strikes against him early on, it makes today's success that much sweeter. Wilson has excelled in Denver's music scene and made the city proud. His single "Mile High" pays tribute to Denver (5,280 ft. above sea level) and has become an anthem for many locals.

Get to know Wilson through his own words here and find out how he acquired the name Moss, where his musical inspiration comes from and what he has to say to others pursuing a career in the music industry:

Bars and Beats: Tell me about your childhood.

Moss: "I grew up the youngest of three. My dad left when I was 2 and I rarely saw him. I played piano and sports as a child. It wasn't until I moved to Alabama to live with my dad at 13 that I decided to do hip hop and pursue it as a career."

Bars and Beats: Your name is Christopher Wilson, where did the name Moss come from?

Moss: "When I was a kid, I used to play a lot of sports. Basketball, football, track, you name it. I was pretty good too and my friends called me Superman a.k.a. Man of Steel. Man of Steel stuck with me through middle school and over time turned into M.O.S. I didn't like how short it was or how it looked so I added an S. It took awhile to find an acronym that fit for M.O.S.S. Finally at the age of 13 I came up with "Man of Skilled Strategies," and I've had it ever since."

Bars and Beats: Where has your inspiration from music come from? Family? School?

Moss: "My mom is a big influence on getting me started. She put me through 8 years of piano lessons. My dad played a roll too. I never took it serious until he sat me down and showed me how to structure a song, not just rhymes or words.

Bars and Beats: Did you ever sing other types of music or has rap been your only venture?

Moss: "Yes! I was raised in the church and started out singing gospel of course. My dad is a gospel singer and had his own studio so I would remake songs for him as well as produce my own songs."

Bars and Beats: In your bio on your website it says you had a hard time with racism growing up in Alabama. Could you explain that?

Moss: "Well, in Alabama there is really a dog eat dog mentality and I wasn't brought up like that. I experienced culture schock going from predominantly-white-Colorado to a school with 60% black students. Not only dealing with segregation between races in and out of school, I also didn't fit in with my own race since I had a northern accent. I definitely stood out and was made fun of for it, but I found a way to use it to my advantage."

Bars and Beats: Who are your bigget rap influences?

Moss: "My biggest influences in rap would probably be Tupac, Biggie, Wayne, all the greats. Jay-Z has built a family, a clothing line, an empire really. That's what I want to do, not just music. So he's a huge influence as well."

Bars and Beats: What about nonrap influences?

Moss: "I'm influenced by all of the greats. The best of all genres serve as inspiration, to watch the process as well as the ups and downs to get there. Madonna, Michael Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Whitney Houston, Adele, and the list goes on."

Bars and Beats: What is your favorite thing about the "Mile High" city?

Moss: "The diversity. Most other cities in Colorado don't have the diversity that Denver has. The music scene is really hot right now as well. We have some real talent out here."

Bars and Beats: How has it been trying to breakthrough as an underground hip hop artist?

Moss: "Man, it has been a long, hard road. Lots of mistakes made and money lost but it was all worth it soaking up all this knowledge of how things really work. My team that I work with is amazing and they take a lot of stress and responsibilities off my work load. They make it happen behind the scenes (His team consists of Evermax Media owner Jeff "Pete Ryan" Peterson, Ocean and Mike Lemieux).It's a growing process, but I think we're in the works of making a pretty solid blueprint."

Bars and Beats: This is something we ask all of the artists we interview, what would you say to someone pursuing their dreams in music?

Moss: "I would say to never be afraid to take criticism, especially from people you respect or look up to. Never lose your style if you find your "it" factor whether it's singing, rapping or both. Surround yourself with motivated people willing to work with you. Take any and every opportunity you get to perform and get your name out. Believe in you."

As a music blog based out of Denver, Bars and Beats couldn't be happier to support such a talented and kind soul. Ladies and gentleman, we highly suggested you attend a concert while he's still performing in smaller venues. It's only a short matter of time before he's performing across the country and around the globe in venues like the Pepsi Center where you won't get that same level of intimacy.

Watch our favorite, Moss' "Mile High" here:

For more information on Moss visit the following pages:

Website - www.likeimfamous.com
Twitter - @MossOfficial
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/#!/mossofficial

Meet the Ladies Behind Bars & Beats

2012-04-13T15:51:00.002-06:00

Christine Rosasco and Katie Failinger met during the summer of 2011 while interning for Entercom Denver. Entercom is a communication company that owns four of Denver's most popular radio stations. Their passion for music and entertainment alike sparked a friendship that has continued to grow.

While interning with Entercom, contact with radio djs, record label employees, musicians and artists was frequent. Rosasco had the idea of creating a music blog to let the outside world get a peek into the realm of music. She shared her idea and asked Failinger to join; Both were immetiately on board. Deciding on the blog was the easy task, but coming up with a name was a little more difficult. A lot of names they wanted were already taken, so they went to the employees of Entercom to ask for suggestions. Bars and Beats was a name suggested by Mike Santos. It represents musical bars and the beats that typically accompanies them.

Since then, the two have been interviewing bands, artists, djs, even the man who is responsible for throwing Denver's famous venue, Red Rocks', after parties. The interviews have been both written and video. Though they will never lose their touch with writing and hope to always have a written portion to compliment every interview, they both realize that videos generate more buzz with today's society. Failinger and Rosasco both hope to bring you exciting, behind-the-scenes interviews and interesting facts that will be both entertaining and enlightening.

Katie Failinger is a junior studying Communication at the University of San Diego.

Christine Rosasco is a senior studying Communication at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Stay tuned to see what else these creative girls come up with!

Dan White Sextet

2012-03-30T14:07:00.002-06:00

With the way technology has grown and social media has taken off like wildfire, music has a way of spreading faster than ever. People are always looking for new music and asking their friends "who should I download" or "what's the new hot music?" When on your quest for new music, that's a question you won't have to ask this time around because we've found it for you. Something we can guarantee is unlike anything already in your iPod. A group that goes by the name of the Dan White Sextet.

DW6 is a jazz group formed in 2010, comprised of college musicians out of Ohio, although by listening to them, you'd guess otherwise. Their different sounds and tones fit so well together you'd assume they've been a group together for the last 15 years. The band consists of musicians whose talents and successes outside the group tell their own stories across the board.

Dan White (saxophone) is an Ohio State senior whose hard work earned him an audition with Juilliard earlier this month.
Chris Ott (trombone) is pursuing his masters at the College-Conservatory of Music.
Jon Lampley (trumpet) is an Ohio State junior who has been touring with national recording act O.A.R.
Adam DeAcentis (bass) is a junior Ohio State focusing on the projects he's involved with while hoping to attend Juilliard for his masters.
John Hubbel (drums) received his masters from the State University of New York.
Chris Ziemba (keys) is a graduate of the University of Rochester's Eastman School of Music and is currently studying at Juilliard.

Jazz, in the past, has had a reputation for popularity with an older crowd. DW6's goal is to change that by incorporating other genres' influences into jazz to form a whole new sound that will catch the listening ear of that same older crowd in addition to new audiences of all ages.

In December, 2011, DW6 recorded a series of videos at Supr Dupr Sound Studios in Brooklyn, New York. Two of eight total videos will be released weekly with the first two having been released on March 30 at midnight.

For your listening pleasure we've attached the videos that were released early this morning. ENJOY!

For information on the sextet, visit the following pages...

Website: www.danwhitejazz.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Dan-White/218644929176
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/DanWhitemusic

Keep up with the rest of the guys' latest happenings here:

Adam DeAscentis: @Adam_DeAscentis on Twitter
John Hubbell: @John_Hubbell on Twitter
Jon Lampley: @JonLampleyMusic on Twitter and http://www.wix.com/jonlampleymusic/jonlampley
Chris Ziemba: http://www.chrisziemba.com/
Chris Ott: chris.ott27@gmail.com

-C

Allen Stone

2012-03-30T09:00:00.000-06:00

As all of you know, music is our passion. There's nothing like it. An artist we've had our eye on lately has had tremendous success in the past few months and we were thrilled to have had the chance to sit down with him and pick his brain. His name? Allen Stone. He describes his music as soul music while others describe it as r&b. Regardless of what genre you think he may fall under, we guarantee you'll fall in love with it. USA Today called him the "pitch-perfect powerhouse," and we couldn't agree more. Check out the interview below.

-C

MUTEMATH

2012-02-20T21:51:00.000-07:00

Katie interviewed MUTEMATH when they were in San Diego earlier this month. Check it out here!

Get to Know Andy Grammer: A Q&A Style Interview

2011-10-22T09:48:00.000-06:00

Several months ago Katie and I had the pleasure of meeting Andy Grammer after checking out one of his concerts here in Denver. He came through Denver again this month, on tour with Colbie Caillat, and I had the chance to catch up with him and his band. Grammer was born in Los Angeles and raised in New York. His path to success falls no where short of interesting. Here are a few questions I asked him so you guys have the chance to get to know him as well. Enjoy!

B&B: Where did your inspiration from music originate? Parents, siblings, etc?’
ANDY: My father is a Grammy nominated childrens musician. I'm sure that some of my musical interest spurred from him :)

B&B: How many instruments do you play?

ANDY: I play guitar, piano and beatbox.

B&B: What was the first song you learned how to play?

ANDY: I think it was "Change the world" by Eric Clapton.

B&B: When did you decide music was going to be your career path? How long have you been at it?

ANDY: I decided in college. Just kind of knew in my bones that even though it was a long shot it was what I was supposed to do.

B&B: When was the first time you heard yourself on the radio and what was was your reaction?

ANDY: The first time I heard myself on the radio was in St. Louis. Me and the band freaked out, we turned the speakers up super loud and flipped until it was over.

B&B: Describe the best crowd you ever played for? Where was it and what venue?
ANDY: Taylor Swift just brought me onstage to sing keep your head up to 20,000 people so... that was pretty cool :)

B&B: If you could tour with any band, who would it be?

ANDY: Right now I would love to tour with The Script. I'm a huge fan of their songwriting.

B&B: What’s your favorite song by another artist?

ANDY: Right now I am digging the new coldplay "Paradise"

B&B: Who are you listening to the most on your iPod right now?

ANDY: The new Gavin Degraw album is pretty damn good.

B&B: When you’re not playing music, what can we find you doing?
ANDY: Playing basketball, or anything outside. I love sports - any game with a ball. Don't take it dirty.

B&B: What do you have to say to someone pursuing a music career?
ANDY: You have to be okay with lots of uncertainty in your life :) Even when you get some piece of success nothing is written in stone. If you can hang with that, then get writing some great songs!

B&B: How have you succeeded in a field where so many others have failed?

ANDY: Perserverance, luck, and love for music. I just love what music can do to someone. I love the whole process of music. Its like a restraurant, first you get to be a chef and come up with something, then you get to serve it and effect people. If you are focused on that, and you get good at that, you will be successful :)

B&B: What songs of yours are you most proud of?

ANDY: For sure I'm proud of Keep Your Head Up because it shows i can write something that ALOT of people like. I'm also proud of every song on my album. More excited to be apart of the music community then proud.

B&B: What’s your favorite part about being on tour?
ANDY: Seeing the people in each city. There are a lot of people in this country that like music the way that i like it. Everynight i get to hang out with a whole lot of them :)

B&B: What career path would you have chosen if music hadn’t worked out?

ANDY: Something else creative. Maybe acting, writing, producing. There is still time :)

B&B: What can we expect next from Andy Grammer?

ANDY: More touring, more songs, more of me trying to figure out what specific thing i have to bring to music. Life is pretty awesome right now, hopefully you can expect more awesome.

Continue getting to know Andy by checking out some of our favorite videos:

Here's a link to the official Andy Grammer website: http://www.andygrammer.com/

I hope you enjoyed getting to know Andy a little bit more and look forward to seeing his success skyrocket like we do!

--C

Sensation White

2011-10-13T12:05:00.012-06:00

If there is one thing that Spain has mastered, it's throwing a party.

On October 8th 2011, the streets of Barcelona became flooded with a sea of white. Last weekend, Barcelona played host to one of the world's largest dance events-- Sensation White. This year, Sensation White featured DJ's such as Fedde Le Grand, Sunnery James and Daniel & Juan Sanchez (to name a few). This sold out event brought more than 20,000 people to Palau St. Jordi.

Originally named Sensation, this dance festival started in Amsterdam in 2000. By 2002, popularity had grown and split into two editions: Sensation White which features house and trance music, and Sensation Black which features darker music. Famous DJ's from around the world come together to participate in an 8 hour spectacle. Each year, a different theme is chosen and then the tour spreads throughout the world. Sensation has been planned for 22 countries and is continually growing.

This massive production costing over 2 million euros features state of the art lasers, lights and sound systems. This year, the theme was Innerspace and displayed a large lotus in the middle of the arena. The ceilings were decorated with a hundred light up orbs that moved up and down and changed colors based on the mood of the song. The amazing visual effects that take place are an artistic masterpiece.

If you ever get the chance to attend Sensation White, take the opportunity to experience the angelic production.

Look for Sensation 2012 in the following countries:
Belgium
Norway
Serbia
Brazil
Netherlands
Chile
Ukraine
Czech-Republic
Russia

Sensation White: Innerspace Barcelona 2011

--K

Lazy Rockin' B Ranch

2011-09-04T15:09:00.011-06:00

If you want to know what it's like to host Red Rocks headliners' official after parties at your home, Billy Major has the inside scoop. Red Rocks is an open-air amphitheater nestled into one of Denver's most jaw dropping rock structures. Millions have attended concerts at the incredible venue, but few have had the opportunity to experience one of Red Rock's best kept secrets; A little something the greats who have played the stage like to call the Lazy Rockin' B Ranch. Tucked in Denver's foothills, Lazy Rockin' B Ranch serves as a luxury home as well as a private event rental; The ideal place to celebrate a successful performance at one of the world's most recognized venues. Homeowner Major graciously opens his doors to touring acts pre and post Red Rocks performance.

Six years ago, before a realtor could even finish posting the for sale sign in the driveway of this exquisite home Major pulled over and told her he would take it. Raised in Golden, Colorado, with a science teacher as a father, Major has always been partial to the Red Rocks area.

The house was built in 1970 and had seen very few changes since it's beginning. It had it's 70s appeal, complete with orange shag rugs and a conversation pit. Billy spent several years remodeling the house adding his own personal artistic touch, including hallmark souvenirs from around the world. His goal was to create a comfortable environment where his guests could "make themselves at home." He succeeded, resulting in a home that has a natural ambiance.

Part of what makes the house so unique is the imagination that was put into the remodel. Many of the walls in the home have a stone overlay that are intermixed with fossils from Major's personal fossil collection he acquired with his father during his childhood. The fossils include fish, clam shells, sharks teeth and even an arrow head his two boys so generously glued to the wall. His art collection throughout the house is composed of pieces by established artists across the globe. A folksy favorite, Barbecue Bob, which hangs in the kitchen, is one of two in the world; the other is displayed in Las Vegas.

Major takes in his breathtaking view of rolling hills, roaming with wildlife, while listening to the sounds of the Rolling Stones and describes his perspective of his home. "It's like the Wall of Jericho because on the other side is 3 million people, but it feels so isolated here." This hidden gem is the perfect escape from the city to enjoy geological history, Native American history as well as the musical history of Red Rocks.

Major prides himself on being hospitable. "It just sort of became a stop along the way," Major said, "either going to the show or coming back. We've always had parties, but they've just become more grand." This summer he has played host to various artists including musical acts O.A.R., Pretty Lights and Thievery Corporation, each party varying in size and extravagance. Although large parties can be fun, he prefers hosting smaller, more intimate groups of 15 - 20; "It's the perfect number of people...when you get beyond that, it loses it's charm." The intimacy of his home mimics Red Rocks. "It sits over 9,000 people but it still feels quaint when you're inside it." Major's home far from fits 9,000 people, but it's grandeur doesn't overpower it's feel of comfortable familiarity.

Musical artists congregate outside, scattering across the patio and gathering around the fire pit while taking in the midnight stars splashed across the sky. While others may linger in the inviting warmth of the hot tub. Major mimics the roll of bartender, steps away inside, serving an array of exotic drinks at his elegant in-home bar. Next to the bar is the kitchen with an elaborate spread of catered food, ranging from colorful fruit baskets to fall-apart-in-your-mouth-tender pulled barbecue. After a successful, yet exhausting show, musicians get their second wind at the sight and sense of hospitality Major emanates. "The house was beautiful and the location was perfect with a phenomenal view," Jon Lampley of O.A.R. said, "Billy was an extremely gracious host; After talking to him, I felt right at home."

If you are fortunate enough to attend an event at the Lazy Rockin’ B Ranch, you certainly will not be disappointed. The perfect home, the perfect host, the perfect night.

--K & C

We love you guys too!!!

2011-08-25T16:32:00.000-06:00

Here's a video our great friend Jon Lampley and his friends sent us yesterday that we had to share!

We love you guys more!

--C & K

Matt Nathanson - Faster

2011-08-18T22:49:00.002-06:00

Here's a fun video we snagged while we were working with Matt Nathanson a couple of weeks ago. Enjoy!

--C & K

The Road to Red Rocks

2011-08-17T21:55:00.006-06:00

Imagine a crowd of 10,000, on an upward slope, under the Colorado night sky. Faces lit up by the lights of the stage you're standing on. The same stage legends such as The Beatles, The Grateful Dead and Jimi Hendrix have played on. They're jumping and singing, word for word, the songs you're playing. They cheer you on and become more enthusiastic for your solos. This has become reality for Jonathan Lampley and Evan Oberla.

Lampley and Oberla are both musicians and residents of Ohio who were presented the opportunity to tour with internationally known band O.A.R. (Of a Revolution). For a musician, if you're ever asked to spend your summer performing for thousands and thousands across the United States, the answer should be a no-brainer; Lampley and Oberla didn't hesitate.

Lampley is a 21-year-old trumpet-playing college student at Ohio State University who worked at a children's day camp and an ice cream shop prior to taking a hiatus to tour the country. He played trumpet with a variety of different music groups throughout Columbus and Akron for several years before he received a life-changing phone call...a voicemail from Jerry DePizzo, saxophonist of O.A.R., who wanted to meet with him and hear him play in hopes of adding Lampley as an addition to the band for their O.A.R. King Summer Tour of 2011. "I had just taken a midterm when I got the voicemail. My heart jumped out of my chest," Lampley said. DePizzo attended one of Lampley's performances (Oberla happened to be performing as well, but we'll get to that later) and loved what he heard. Soon after, they were traveling the country together playing the sweet sounds of O.A.R.

Despite being talented beyond belief, Lampley is an extremely humble musician. "I got lucky. I was in the right place at the right time," Lampley said. This may be part of the equation, but he's also played and been passionate about music since he was 4 years old. Growing up, he was inspired musically by his older cousins and friends, who played at the local church he went to. He stresses how talented they were. He began playing piano and added instruments such as the trumpet, tuba and drums to his repertoire. Impressive. While being in the right place at the right time may have played a role, Lampley's hard work and effort through the years shouldn't go unmentioned. He was noticed due to the success he's gained mastering the trumpet. Our parents were right when they always told us "hard work pays off." Lampley thoroughly enjoyed playing to crowds of thousands, but also enjoys the intimacy of smaller crowds. "It's an incredible rush playing in front of a crowd like that. It's just awesome to feel that you're sharing your music with that many people. At times I missed the intimacy though. It's cool to be able to connect with a real small crowd," Lampley said. He values connecting with his audience so they truly feel the emotion in the music; a sign of a great musician and not a fame-seeker.

Lampley's roommate, Evan Oberla, was also on DePizzo's radar. He was picked for the tour during the same time frame Lampley was.

Oberla is a 24-year-old trombone player from Columbus who was mentored by his jazz bone instructors, Jim Masters and Marc Fields. "Ever since I can remember I've been in love with music. I took piano as a youngin' and my dad had an old classical guitar that was never played. I said 'I want to play that!' The first actual CD I bought was Metallica's Black album. It was so powerful. I went through my grunge phase and did jazz band in middle and high school because it was more exotic than anything I had heard," Oberla said. His exploration outside of grunge has produced the incredible trombonist he is today.

Oberla was contacted by DePizzo as well in hopes of completing a horn section for the tour. Oberla and Lampley, roommates and friends, had a performance for Mardis Gras weekend, which they invited DePizzo to attend to listen to them play; "Killing two birds with one stone," as Oberla refers to it. When he came to watch them play, he fell in love with what he heard. Oberla and Lampley "auditioned" DePizzo as well and had him play with them. "When Jerry came up and played, it was because we were auditioning him at the same time," Oberla said laughing, "As a horn section, you have to be as one so it's important to have great chemistry, which is what we turned out to have."

Mojoflo is a neo-funk band Oberla plays with in addition to several others. All of which you can check out on his website at www.EvanOberla.com. We highly suggest you check out Mojoflo. Here's one of our favorite videos of them:

This is also our favorite solo of his while on tour:

Follow Evan Oberla on Twitter: @EOfromtheCO

You can also keep up with Lampley on his websites at www.wix.com/jonlampleymusic/jonlampley & www.jonlampleymusic.wordpress.com. Be sure to watch my personal favorite solo while he was on tour. Start it at 7 minutes and 10 seconds in. You may find yourself watching it on repeat like I do! :

Here you can see Lampley playing with another group he's part of, the Dan White Sextet:

Follow Jon Lampley on Twitter: @JonLampleyMusic

Something unusual we took special note of while interviewing Lampley and Oberla was their support of each other. They truly believe in each other and respect what each does with their music. It's refreshing to meet musicians with such sincerity.

We want to extend a special thank you to Jon Lampley and Evan Oberla for giving us a portion of their time!

--C

Your inside to new music

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I am addicted to New Music Blogs. If I hear about a new song coming out, I will go to all lengths to get ahold of that copy. I love finding leaked singles and albums. The only unfortunate thing is once radio gets a hold of it, you've already exhausted the song.

I wanted to do a quick review/shout out to my personal favorite music blogs! Check 'em out and hopefully you can discover some great new music instead of relying on itune's top 10 played.

Big Green Beats

This is my personal favorite site. I heard about this site roughly 2 years ago and found out I have a 2 degree separation with one of the creators. They are a "college blog" and focus on hits and artists the young adult age group would like. They feature mix tapes, rap, house, techno, electronic, and occasionally a few chill alternative bands. They also give suggestions for other songs that might strike your interest on each song's individual page. In my experience, they have been one of the fastest blogs to post songs as soon as they drop. Be sure to check them frequently because they post about 3 songs daily!

Frat Music

After a devastating hiatus last year, fratmusic has revamped and is back up and running. Songs aren't available for download but they provide free listening to playlists they have created. They feature a wide variety of playlists such as the study playlist, throwbacks, power hours, and chill. I use this site all the time to stream music while I'm surfing the internet, doing chores, etc.

im1music

This site is for you hip hop fans out there. They have just about every hip hop/rap artist/song you could imagine and host downloading for free. There are around 10-15 songs posted daily as well as full album downloads each week. One specific feature I like is their "top songs" which allows you to see what other people are listening to and really like instead of trying to weed through tons of songs. They also give you daily "listener picks," which provides you with even more information about who is listening to what.

Stereomood

My Go-To for anytime I'm studying, planning a dinner party, want to curl up in bed and ponder life, rainy days…the list goes on. How many times have you been in a situation or a certain mood and said, "gosh, I wish I knew of the perfect song to listen to right now.." This site does that for you! What's wonderful about stereomood is they feature hundreds of different playlist "moods" that feature songs that listeners have thought “fits the mood”. I've discovered so many songs through this site. My favorite playlists are Sunday Morning, Lost in Thought, Sexy, and Funky. They sum it up best. "stereomood is a free emotional internet radio that suggests to me the music that best suits my mood and my daily activities"

480619

This one is a shout out to my good friend Gregg who started his music blog about a year ago. He features artists' videos, new songs, a "download of the day," artists' pictures…basically he does it all. A great site to check out if you're looking for some new hits or videos

And who could forget the classic Pandora or straight from the UK Spotify

Hope this gives you a few good resources to help you discover new music. May you never have nothing to listen to.

Feel free to post your own personal favorite sites!

--K

To New Beginnings

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To New Beginnings

Hello Everyone! Thanks for taking the time to read our blog. We are currently brainstorming, researching and networking to come up with some great material for you. We would love to hear your suggestions as well. We are interested in anything and everything music related. Is there a particular band you would like to know more about? Specific genre? Aspect to music? Concert Venue? The possibilities are endless. Feel free to comment and let us know what YOU (our readers) are interested in reading.
Cheers!

Katie and Christine