This installment of the Naropa Sessions features Naveen K, a singer-songwriter with a unique, upbeat sound. He can currently be found in Gainesville, FL. Enjoy these 2 great songs from his time in the Naropa studio in the summer of 2010.

Check out more of Naveen K’s music on his Myspace page.

Contributed footage (all shallow depth-of-field Canon 7D shots and dolly shots).  Edit by James Joliat.

You may remember Phil Norman from the previous Naropa Session with Rosh & One Eye-Glass Broken. His accompaniment always lends an amazing touch to others’ songs, and it’s always a treat to see what he’s capable of on his own.

Here we highlight two incredible songs from Phil Norman recorded at the Naropa Sessions in July, 2010.

“Cat’s Pajamas” by Phil Norman

“Julie-O” composed by Mark Summers, performed by Phil Norman

For more of Phil’s performances and music, check out gravitycello.com.
You can also hear him perform as part of Rosh & One Eye-Glass Open at upcoming instances of the Blind Cafe.

July 2010

We gathered in a small recording studio on the Naropa campus one summer afternoon. Just about 10 guests joined us, some of them other artists waiting to perform. All of us squeezed into the small studio, enjoying wonderful music on a perfect afternoon.

This is just one segment of a new series here… the Naropa Sessions. Each features an amazing local musician from the Denver/Boulder area, in an intimate studio recording session.

Rosh, of Rosh & One Eye-Glass Broken, has quickly become a friend of mine in the past year. His work on The Blind Café has been an amazing awareness project, and it continues to quickly grow into a national event. The dinner in complete darkness features live music from Rosh & OEGB, which seems to transcend to a completely unknown part of your soul when immersed in complete darkness with a room full of others. It’s a moving and remarkable experience. If the Blind Café comes to your city, make sure to get your tickets early.

Rosh & One Eye-Glass Broken are seen here in a limited arrangement (only a few members are present), but the songs remain no less powerful or graceful. A talented songwriter, Rosh is usually joined by the incredible cellist, Phil Norman. Together, they weave beautiful harmonies that accent an instrumental pairing you don’t hear every day.  Enjoy.

“Tonight”

“Lows & Highs”

“Oh My Son”

“Told A Lie”

For more music by Rosh & One Eye-Glass Broken, visit the band’s Myspace page.

For more information on The Blind Café, visit the theblindcafe.com.

14 November 2010
Summit Music Hall in Denver, CO

What a powerful show.  What can I say?  You should have been there?  Yes, you should have.  Or, rather, if they’re coming to your town, don’t miss it.  I have been to quite a few concerts this year, and it was completely unexpected that this one would blow me away like it did.  I’ve always loved Filter, but I had definitely forgotten the way it has the sheer power and energy to feel like an out of body experience.

I had also forgotten just how many songs I had fallen in love with over the years and associated with different parts of my life.  Their music has definitely been a part of my development as a musician and as a person, and it was surreal to finally see them live.  More than anything else this year, it has made me want to pick up a guitar and join a band again.

It was also great to see that Richard Patrick appreciates every one of his fans (he made it clear, more than once).  And just how often does the headlining band come to the merch table after the show to meet each and every fan?

Enjoy these photos from that night’s show.  For more info on the current tour, check out the Filter website here.

Shot 17 September 2010 at the Bluebird Theater in Denver, CO.

They had just played an amazing set at the Bluebird Theatre and we waited while they packed up all their gear.  It’s quite a bit, considering the more-than-average instrumentation of the band.  I thought about how I had come to love this band so quickly in so short a time.  I had only first been exposed to them a few months before, but they were already one of my current favorites.  I keep telling everyone I know about Hey Rosetta – not because I’m some kind of music promoter – but probably because I think they write some of the most genuine and unique music I’ve ever experienced.  Each song tells a story, beautiful and heartfelt, perfectly orchestrated and never rushed – they seem to put an amazing amount of emotion into each one.

A few minutes of walking found us in front of a complete stranger’s house on a dark side-street.  The bricks bordering the sidewalk were a perfect spot for a band to sit down and offer their music to the sounds of the night.  We were only able to capture one song that night, a slow one, but one of my favorites for sure.  It was quite surreal, and an off-stage short I’ll never forget.  Enjoy a brief taste of Hey Rosetta! from a sidewalk in Denver, CO.  Photos from that night’s show are below.

“Red Song” from the Red Songs EP

For more of Hey Rosetta’s greatness, check out their website here.  I highly recommend seeing them live, and adding their music to your collection.  It’s well deserved.

27 October 2010:

What a show.

It was sold out.  Packed to the rafters, as they say.  No photo pit (all that much more of a challenge to get into any position to a good photo).  But I didn’t mind one bit, and neither did the thousands of others that filled the Ogden Theatre in Denver for Mumford and Sons.

You didn’t really have to convince anyone there as to the greatness of Mumford and Sons.  It only took one album to push them to instant international stardom.  It’s something magical that most fans can’t really put into words, but it’s there.  The gods of harmony spoke to them, and Mumford and Sons sang back.  Their music speaks to thousands (millions?) of people all over the world, pushing the envelope for a whole genre of music.

Mumford brought an energy and passion to that stage that electrified a whole room.  The lights strung in barnyard fashion from end-to-end seemed to respond to this, as if they were directly wired into the crowd.  The fans swayed and swooned over them, intoxicated by every song.  The band treated them to a couple new songs that, while equally brilliant, would only wet their appetite for the next album, and leave them wanting more at the end of the night.

So yeah, I’d say it was a damn good show.  If you don’t have their album, you’re really missing out on one of the most innovative sounds of the past 10 years.  If they come to a town near you, jump on those tickets fast, because they’ll probably sell out in minutes.  Enjoy the photos below for a small taste of a night with Mumford and Sons.

23 October 2010:

More than 7,300 zombies gathered on the 16th St. Mall in Denver for a world-record breaking zombie crawl (& zombie rights march?).  More info at eyeheartbrains.com.

It was a busy day. I was shooting The Ataris that evening, and they had asked me to consider shooting Gasoline Heart while I was there. On a quick listen to GH beforehand, I thought it was good, so I agreed. I’m so incredibly glad I did. I ended up making three of my favorite recordings ever, and meeting one of my new favorite artists. Easily one of the best bands I’ve discovered in the past year, I just can’t get enough of Louis DeFabrizio’s voice, lyrics, and songwriting. As a huge Foo Fighters fan, I found comfort in Louis’ vocals (though he says he’s more keen of Eddie Vedder), and his writing weaves heartfelt lovelorn stories of joy, pain, love, and loss. Regardless of the subject or setting, Louis proves he can hold his own – which he did – not only in the performances seen here, but in his mostly solo set on stage. I think I even remember a Springsteen cover in there somewhere that was utterly amazing.

Also, a special thanks to Louis for enlightening us to the comedic genius of the HBO series East Bound and Down. As he flawlessly performed the opening monologue from the show to hundreds of clueless concertgoers, a few of us in the know could simply not stop laughing. I’ve never seen someone pull off a performance with such reckless disregard for whether or not the audience understood what was going on. And I loved it, it was perfect. Never change.

I’d love to see the whole band one day, and I hope to god Louis DeFabrizio keeps making music, because I for one will be enjoying his music for a long time to come. Enjoy these three songs from Louis DeFabrizio of Gasoline Heart. Photos from that night’s show can be found below.

“Never Been Better” from Nostalgia Ain’t What It Used To Be

“Armadillo” from Nostalgia Ain’t What It Used To Be

“Yellowbelly”

Photos from that night’s show:

Be sure to check out GasolineHeart.com for tour dates, more info, and music downloads.

This was my first time seeing/hearing Random Rab, as he opened for Beats Antique.  I had no idea what I was missing.  He definitely brought a fresh, intricate sound to the Ogden Theatre – the kind of thing a Beats Antique crowd can appreciate.  His atmospheric and ambient layers played with tight beats that echoed similar world music influences, and Android Jones accompanied with visuals from his magical machines.  If you have a chance to check out Random Rab – don’t miss it.

Check out Random Rab’s website for more info on tour dates and music.