BIG ‘THANK YOU’ TO MIKE VILLIA!
A helluva ‘n oversight! COMBO wants to thank Mike Villia for pulling together – literally at the last minute – the list of nominees for the COMBO Awards at our Grammy Party held in January. Mike not only put the list together, he served as an MC for the Party! We hope to present these awards again next year for the Grammys and, of course, they go ONLY to Colorado musicians!
The list is presented under the tab of “Congratulations” on the COMBO website.
COMBO BOARD WELCOMES NEW MEMBER DOUG GARVEY OF PUEBLO
Long time COMBO supporter and member Doug Garvey was recently elected to join the Board of Directors of the Colorado Music Association, d/b/a Colorado Music Business Organization or, as ya’ll know it – COMBO! Doug is a singer/songwriter/guitar/bass and trumpet player with more than 30 years of performance and songwriting under his belt. Doug is also a past president of the Pueblo Songwriters Association. And last year, Doug started a singer/songwriter night at the Colorado State Fair held in August of each year. It went over so well, the fair organizers have asked him to do it again! Doug has attended the Durango Songwriters Expos for the last four times and has met lots of the attendees from Colorado and feels that it is a wonderful event for networking and getting to know other musicians and songwriters. Welcome, and THANK YOU, Doug!
(P.S. No, Doug does not drive all the way from Pueblo up to Denver for the board meetings. With today’s technology, the board holds their meetings via telephone conference so our members live in a wide range of the state. Doug does, however, attend the general meetings).
MUSICIANS IN ACTION COMPILATION CD OUT MARCH 22nd
Musicians In Action will be unveiling their very first compilation CD project on Saturday, March 22, 2014, at the CHUN UMX (People’s Fair auditions) being held at the Celtic Tavern (1801 Blake Street, Denver) from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
The 10 song compilation will raise over $15,000 for the homeless community, with 10% already granted to one of M.I.A.’s key agencies: Senior Support Services. Funds will also go to the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, The Gathering Place, and Urban Peak. CD production was made possible by Live Nation, with assistance from Eyedea Worx and Sonic Conscious Studio.
The artists featured on the Songwriter’s Compilation (Volume 1) include: Rob Drabkin, Katey Laurel, Dave Tamkin, Megan Burtt, Ryan Chrys, Stacy Price, Ryan McCarthy, Chris Webb, Andy Palmer, and Jonny Barber (aka SPIV).
M.I.A. founder, Marc Olson said, “We’re very proud of this compilation. These are some exceptional songwriters and we’re grateful for their generous spirit and support of our cause. Musicians know a little something about hard times and homelessness.”
Marc also added, “Musicians In Action will be celebrating five years in October of 2014 and we have some big plans throughout the year – plus several more projects like this. Please stay tuned…”
More info is available at http://www.MusiciansInAction.org
THIRD PERSON DIES FROM SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST CRASH
Police announced Monday that a third person has died after being hit by a suspected drunken driver during the South By Southwest festival in Austin.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – A third person struck by a suspected drunken driver in Austin last week during the South By Southwest festival died Monday, police and family said.
Sandy Thuy Le, 26, died from the injuries she sustained when she was run over outside The Mohawk music club early Thursday, Austin police spokeswoman Veneza Bremner said.
Police say the driver, Rashad Owens, was fleeing police when he crashed through a barricade and accelerated his car into a crowd in Austin’s Red River Entertainment District, killing two people at the scene and injuring 21 others.
Le had been listed in critical condition since she was struck. Dr. Christopher Ziebell, the emergency department director at the University Medical Center-Brackenridge, had said the two most critically injured patients suffered life-threatening head injuries.
Stuart Gates, Le’s brother-in-law, said she was surrounded by friends and family when she died Monday morning. She came from a Vietnamese-American shrimping family that had lost their home in Hurricane Katrina and had to stop working during the BP gulf oil spill.
“She was super-intelligent, one of those types that never let college get in the way of her education,” he said, adding that she had moved to Austin three years ago to finish her college degree. “She was a brilliant person, a wonderful personality and bubbly in a fun way, real outgoing. A live life to the fullest type.”
Gates said Le’s family was praying and offering support to the family of the other critically injured victim, DeAndre Tatum. They planned a funeral for Le in her hometown of Pass Christian, Miss., on Saturday.
The victims who died Thursday were Steven Craenmehr, a 35-year-old Dutchman who was on a bicycle, and 27-year-old Jamie West of Austin, who was riding on a moped when the car plowed into her.
Five of the injured remained hospitalized Monday at University Medical Center, including one person in critical condition and two in serious condition, spokeswoman Kendra Clawson said. Two other patients remained hospitalized elsewhere.
Owens, 21, has been charged with capital murder and aggravated assault with a motor vehicle. He’s accused of driving drunk and fleeing from police, then intentionally driving into the festivalgoers. The aspiring rapper from Killeen has been jailed on $3 million bond, and prosecutors are expected to seek additional charges against him from a grand jury.
The South by Southwest festival attracts more than 200,000 people to Austin for a technology conference, film festival and thousands of music performances.
BAND PERFORMS IN HOSPITAL FOR SXSW CRASH VICTIM
By Ralphie Aversa | Trending Now
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Of the 21 other people injured in Thursday morning’s series of crashes, six are still in the hospital. Mason Endres is the only patient at St. David’s Medical Center, and is in fair condition. The 18 year-old’s spirits were lifted on Saturday afternoon, when one of her favorite bands decided to play at her bedside.
Jared Kolesar is the lead singer of Jared & The Mill, an indie-folk band from Phoenix, Ariz. He first found out about the incident when he was denied access to his hotel. Kolesar and two band-mates were coming back from a late dinner when they discovered that the road to their hotel was blocked off.
About 10 minutes before the car crashes, two other members of the band were chatting with Mason outside of a venue where they were to perform a showcase. Then 21 year-old Rashad Owens allegedly evaded a traffic stop, plowed through barricades, and drove through a group of pedestrians. A witness described the scene to the newspaper as if a person was getting “hit like a bowling pin.”
Endres suffered a number of serious injuries, including a fractured leg, broken neck, and broken nose. Owens was later charged with one count of capital murder. His bail is set at $3 million.
After the incident, the band put the pieces together and realized their biggest fan was where the crash happened. Kolesar’s heart dropped.
“I tweeted her and she didn’t respond to me,” the lead singer recalled to us via telephone. “But her friend tweeted me back. She said that (Mason) is alive and she’s on the way to the hospital. It was nice to know she was alive but heartbreaking to hear what had happened.”
The front man admitted the band doesn’t have a huge following yet, especially in Texas. That made them even more appreciative of Mason’s support.
“She really meant a lot to us,” Kolesar said. “We said that if she can’t come to us, we gotta go to her.”
So Saturday afternoon, Jared & The Mill took the show on the road, to Mason’s hospital room at St. David’s. The American-Statesman reported that the teenager smiled and sang along to the band’s performance. But the musical cameo proved beneficial for all involved.
“It was a very powerful reaction… her family was crying. It was just very intense,” Kolesar told us. “It was so incredible to see that someone enjoys our music as much as Mason does. It’s hard to put a positive spin on something like this but it was a happy moment for all of us.”
When asked about the band’s two showcases last weekend, Kolesar said they went well. For he and the rest of the group, the real highlight of the trip and of the band’s career thus far, played out in a much more unlikely setting.
HARLEM BUILDING BLOWS UP, COLLAPSES – KILLS MUSICIAN
NEW YORK (AP) – Emergency workers sifted through debris Saturday from the site of a deadly explosion at two New York City apartment buildings as they worked to clear the way for investigators to search for clues that might reveal what caused the blast.
Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano said rescue workers reached the rear of the basement Saturday but said that investigation of the piping and meters in the front of the basement that will help explain what caused the blast that killed eight people will likely start on Sunday.
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Arson detectives and fire marshals have been waiting to enter the basements to examine meters, check pipes and inspect any possible ignition sources, such as light switches, that might have caused the blast.
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The theory that the explosion was due to a gas leak gained momentum Friday after the NTSB, which investigates pipeline accidents, said underground tests conducted in the hours after the explosion registered high concentrations of natural gas. The NTSB will conduct its own inquiry after police and fire officials determine what might have caused the blast.
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More than 60 people were injured in the explosion, and more than 100 others were displaced.
Police have identified six of those who died: Griselde Camacho, 45, a Hunter College security officer; Carmen Tanco, 67, a dental hygienist who participated in church-sponsored medical missions to Africa and the Caribbean; Andreas Panagopoulos, 43, a musician; Rosaura Hernandez, 22, a restaurant cook from Mexico; George Ameado, 44, a handyman who lived in one of the buildings that collapsed; and Alexis Salas, 22, a restaurant worker.
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Investigators were trying to determine whether the explosion had anything to do with the city’s aging gas and water mains, some of which were installed in the 1800s. More than 30,000 miles of decades-old, decaying cast-iron pipe still are being used to deliver gas nationwide, according to U.S. Transportation Department estimates.
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The blast erupted about 15 minutes after someone from a neighboring building reported smelling gas, authorities said. Con Edison said it immediately sent workers to check out the report, but they got there too late.
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Associated Press writers Jake Pearson, Ken Sweet, Julie Walker, Jonathan Lemire, David B. Caruso, David Crary, Leanne Italie, Karen Matthews, Deepti Hajela, Mike Casey and Sonia Moghe contributed to this report.
http://www.aol.com/article/2014/03/15/rescue-workers-reach-basement-of-nyc-blast-site/20850798/
http://www.aol.com/article/2014/03/15/police-tyler-the-creator-incited-riot-at-sxsw/20850770/
POLICE: TYLER, THE CREATOR, INCITED RIOT AT SXSW
AUSTIN, Texas, (AP) – Tyler, The Creator, has been arrested for allegedly inciting a riot during the South By Southwest.
Police say the Odd Future rapper was arrested Saturday without incident and has been charged with riot, a misdemeanor in Texas.
His bond has been set at $3,500. Tyler’s publicist did not immediately respond to messages Saturday.
Police say the 23-year-old Los Angeles resident incited a large crowd of fans at the annual music conference and festival to push their way past venue employees controlling access to an at-capacity show more than once during a Thursday performance.
Officers at the scene said in a warrant that Tyler yelled for fans to push their way inside twice, and that a bartender had to protect a woman from injury in the resulting push.
CONGRATULATIONS, KUDOS, PATS-ON-THE-BACKS TO . . .
. . . Peter Jones for writing such a nice article in March’s Life on Capitol Hill on Chris Daniels and on The Subdudes! If you don’t get the paper and want to read the article, check out the website at http://www.lifeoncaphill.com
. . . Michael St. James. Michael posted this on Facebook on 3/18/14: I just finished the contract on a life’s dream of mine. Nothing big to most and, in fact, I’ve kind of done bigger. But I will be one of the featured writers in the Songwriter’s Market 2015 published worldwide. As a young buck, I used to read it voraciously to get contacts, insight, and pro tips! Back in those days, you’d get peoples’ addresses and send them demos (oh, what fun we had!) I always imagined I would be in there someday, and apparently I have been, as a music publisher and licensor – for quite some time. But now I get the writer part, too. Anyway, totally stoked. Dreams come true. And if you see Ryan Tedder or Dana before I do, tell ’em they missed out on that big interview. Besides, who reads Billboard anyway? HA!
. . . Tyler Stanfield. Tyler posted this on Facebook on 3/18/14: Well, it is official… I have signed to a management deal with Two Roads Entertainment. I am very excited for what the future holds and am honored to join their amazing roster – Random Hero, The Band, A Memory Down, No Fair Fights, Firefall, just to name a few. I hit the studio this weekend to start work on a new release, with a video to follow soon after. I love music – the writing, the performing. All of it. I can’t think of anything else I would rather do with my life. So thank you for the support and I can only hope you stick around to see what is next!
. . . Biff Gore. Biff made it onto The Voice – Usher’s team. Biff is a local Denver church worship leader. On Monday, after the Battle Round, Usher decided to keep much younger contestant T.J. Wilkins on his team, eliminating Biff. Fortunately for Biff, Blake Shelton decided to steal Biff so Biff is still in the competition! Blake not only loved Biff’s growly, blusey voice but LOVED the singer’s high-kicking style! Watch the Battle or the complete show here: http://www.nbc.com/the-voice
. . . The Following musicians who were recognized at COMBO’s Grammy Watching Party for outstanding contributions to the world of Colorado music in the year 2013: We’ll put more in the newsletter in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for YOUR name!
Best Folk Album
“The Last Love Song” – Andy Hackbarth
“Periscope” – Katey Laurel
“It Ain’t Love” – Megan Burtt
“Bermuda” – Mosey West
“Now You Know” – Justin Roth
Uncle Earl song: One True
Ryan Chrys
Best Reggae Album
“Spread The Word” – Green River Vibe
“New Voice” – Full Belly
“Booty Snatch” – Robotic Pirate Monkey
“Love to Love Her” – P-Nuckle
Best Hard Rock Group
Havok
Omniism
Five13
Rightfully Accused
DC9
Honorable Mentions
Paper Bird
Pretty Lights (featuring Talib Kweli)
The Reminders
Star Jaguar
West Water Outlaws
Xiren
Sarah Angela & The Meanies
In The Whale
Danielle Ate the Sandwich
Justin Roth
12 yr-Old-Mind
Good Gravy!
Another Door
Megan Redmond
Norrok
The Pretty Sure
Jubilant Bridge
E.J. Bisiar
Taylor Marvin & the Golden Boys
Jerry Greene
Laura Ruggle
Holden Young Trio
Quadrosonic
The Amends
The Yawpers
Wheelchair Sports Camp