The Playlist - Ultrasound 11/2/12

As usual last night’s Ultrasound Radio Show on KAFM 88.1 was genre spanning and full of new music. Show high points included playing music from Ben Gibbard’s new album, particularly “Bigger Than Love,” which features Aimee Mann on vocals. We also spent some time with Jessica Dobson, the current lead guitarist in the touring version of the Shins and lead guitarist and vocalist for her own project Deep Sea Diver.

The show really picked up at the 11 p.m. hour as I hit play on the new Third Man Records live recording of the Black Lips. If you haven’t seen the Black Lips play live then make it a priority. I’ve been lucky enough to catch two of their shows this year. Once at Coachella and the other at their Austin City Limits pre show. 

“We’re entertainers, we come from a long line of entertainers,” bassist Jared Swilley said during an interview with American Songwriter before their Bonnaroo 2012 show. “That’s our job is to entertain people and play good songs.” Ian Saint Pe adds “Entertainers are the people you remember.” True that. Live Black Lips shows are memorable.   

The Black Lips studio albums do not do the band justice. The band truly comes alive onstage. They are a perfect mix of unpredictability, Coors Light, and rock and roll. This Third Man Records recording is the closest thing you can get to the Black Lips without seeing them live. It’s the only way to listen to the Georgia band at home.  

Here is the complete playlist from last night’s show: 

9 P.M. 

• HOT CHIP “Boy from School”
• ARCTIC MONKEYS “Come Together”
• THE WOMBATS “Moving to New York”
• THE VACCINES “No Hope”
• TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB “Sleep Alone”
• BENJAMIN GIBBARD “Shepherd’s Bush Lullaby”
• BENJAMIN GIBBARD ft. AIMEE MANN “Bigger Than Love”
• BLACK KEYS “Gold on the Ceiling”
• JACK WHITE “Sixteen Saltines”
• THE WHIGS “Waiting”
• THE AVETT BROTHERS “Live and Die”
• TENNIS “My Better Self”
• THE SHINS “My Better Self”
• DEEP SEA DIVER “Ships”

10 P.M.

• DUM DUM GIRLS “I Got Nothing”
• WEEZER “Only In Dreams”
• FIRST AID KIT “The Lion’s Roar”
• DELTA RAE “Is There Anyone Out There”
• ZOLA JESUS “Seekir”
• RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS “By the Way”
• MIIKE SNOW “Paddling Out”
• THE RAPTURE (A-TRAK REMIX) “How Deep Is Your Love?”
• BIG GIGANTIC “It’s Going Down”
• JAMES EGBERT “September”
• CRYSTAL FIGHTERS “Follow”
• ZION I (BASSNECTAR REMIXXX) “Human”
• THE XX “Our Song”

11 P.M.

• THE BLACK LIPS “Family Tree”
• THE BLACK LIPS “Stuck In My Head”
• THE BLACK LIPS “Oh Katrina”
• THE BLACK LIPS “Make It”
• THE BLACK LIPS “Lock and Key”
• THE BLACK LIPS “Modern Art”
• KISHI BASHI “Bright Whites”
• GRIZZLY BEAR “Yet Again”
• GRIZZLY BEAR “A Simple Answer”
• RADIATION CITY “Hide From the Night”
• ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA “Mr. Blue Sky”
• MUSE “Madness”
• BLOC PARTY “Truth”

When he sank, half unwilling, into sleep, his dreams were filled with terrifying visions of Sherlock’s milkshake bringing all the boys to Scotland Yard.

John blamed it on the fever.

Modern rock fans welcome KMZK

By David Goe 
The Daily Sentinel

While your attention was diverted with the announcement of the 2013 Country Jam lineup, something exciting in the Grand Junction live music scene happened. We have a new rock radio station.

With Tenacious Brothers Pub closing its doors and the Rockslide Restaurant and Brewery no longer hosting bands, it’s been nothing but sour news on the live music front.

That all changes with the arrival of KMZK 106.9 “The Rock.”

So why should you care that there is a new, locally-owned radio station playing modern rock music in Grand Junction? Because there is a new, locally-owned radio station playing modern rock music in Grand Junction.

A much needed shot-in-the-arm to our music scene, KMZK has me feeling optimistic about shows in Grand Junction again.

Even if modern rock music doesn’t gel with your personal tastes, and it doesn’t always gel with mine, KMZK is a much-welcomed addition to the Grand Junction music scene. “The Rock” is a vital promotional channel for live music at both a national touring level and at a local band level.

My belief is that radio stations work best when they engage their broadcast community on a local level. Forget syndicated radio feeds coming out of Los Angeles, I want to know what’s happening in my community.

I’ve whole-heartedly thrown my support behind KAFM Community Radio 88.1 for that very reason, and that’s why I’m excited about KMZK joining the airwaves.

Take a look at Mesa Theater and Lounge’s early November lineup, which plays like the soundtrack to an awesome episode of “Daria.” Alt rock grunge heroes the Toadies and Helmet play this Sunday, Nov. 4, and Everclear with Eve 6 and Namesake take the stage in just over a week on Nov. 12.

The guitar riff on the Toadies’ “Possum Kingdom” might be worth the ticket price alone, and you know Everclear and Eve 6 will barrage you with radio hit after radio hit.

These are the kind of shows that used to come through Grand Junction every three months or so. Now, thanks in part to a radio station taking an active roll in supporting live music, we’ve got these shows virtually back-to-back.

Is this a trend or an anomaly? It’s too early to tell, but think about this. Behind every great music scene is a radio station supporting and making live music a priority.

I can’t tell you how many shows I’ve been to in Denver sponsored by Hot 107.1, KTCL 93.3 or KBCO 97.3. Radio stations collaborating with local venues to bring the community live music is a relationship that works and benefits everyone.

At a local level, KMZK is actively seeking music from local musicians. If you’re playing in a band right and that doesn’t get your whistle wet, then there is something wrong with you.

Bands such as Intertwined, the Shift and Showcage, take note. KMZK’s sound is right up your alley.

The bar is being raised for radio in Grand Junction. Don’t think for a moment that KMZK’s actions will go unnoticed. As long as the station keeps moving in this direction, the direction that puts them as the clear leader of promoting live music in the area, other radio stations and concert promoters will be forced to step up their game.

Increased competition is good for Grand Junction, and we as music fans get to reap all the benefits.

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Content originally appeared in print in the Daily Sentinel Out and About section, November 2, 2012.