Album Review by Tim Van Schmidt

Man, I have not felt this excited about a new album for some time.

And I'm talking about an ALBUM- as in an LP vinyl album. When I received my advance copy of Russ Hopkins' newest collection, "Down and Out", the package was a lot bigger than I expected. Yeah, there was a CD in there, but also a brand new, fresh, absolutely contemporary LP. It has been decades since one of those has been added to my collection.

Okay, so the retro format was exciting to receive. And that is in keeping with what I have been hearing- vinyl has been making a comeback, even surpassing CDs in sales.

But beyond the coolness of actually having a new record to play on my turntable, Hopkins' album is a satisfying and engrossing production. Each song goes a little somewhere different, though it is all rooted in blues. Here, we're talking delta blues, country blues and a unique blues twist on vintage traditional British ballads. "Down and Out" doesn't stay in any one slot for long.

Hopkins will be familiar to longtime NOCO music fans as a performer, songwriter, recording artist, studio engineer and record producer. For years, his studio, Kiva, was responsible for the lion's share of regional releases ranging from singer-songwriters to full-on rock bands.

In his career as a musician, "Down and Out" is Hopkins' twelfth full length studio release. I remember when I first heard Hopkins' music back in 1989- on cassette.

The new record was co-produced by Hopkins and Colorado Sound Studios' Kevin Clock. The sound is crisp and clear- revealing both the brightness of his unique finger style guitar work and Hopkins' emotionally nuanced vocal style.

The songs on "Down and Out" were cherry-picked from Hopkins' extensive performing repertoire and include blues classics such as "Goin' Down to Richmond" and "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out". There are a couple of originals here, like "Old Man Shuffle" and the touching "My Moonbeam" but also tunes by Tim Buckley ("Buzzin' Fly") and the Beatles ("Blackbird")- all stamped with Hopkins' distinctive acoustic blues style.

Perhaps the most striking song on the album is "Pain of Your Love," by another longtime NOCO musician, Arnie G'Schwind, which benefits from a relatively big production, plenty of supporting vocals and a reach-for-the-sky vocal performance by Hopkins. When he's saying he's feeling blue, you believe him.

Add in some traditional songs such as "Deep River Blues," "Rosemary Lane" and "Hesitation Blues," all arranged and enhanced by Hopkins, and you have an album that is worth listening to again and again. That's what an album should be, right?

The players on "Down and Out" include John Magnie, Eric Thorin, Jerry Palmer, Tom Capek, Ernie Martinez and Steve Amedee- an A-list of NOCO musicians who add plenty of flavor to each track. But don't be distracted by that- the central musical vision here is Hopkins' deep understanding of the material and his ability to evoke simmering emotion again and again, verse after verse, song after song.

To celebrate the release of "Down and Out," Hopkins is set for a show at Avogadro's Number on November 29, featuring the Russ Hopkins Band with Andy Blanton on bass and Jess Amedee on drums, along with special guest Blake Miller on guitar.

Go to the show. Buy the CD- or better yet the LP- from Hopkins or stream it on YouTube, Spotify and "everywhere else." He’s not down or out on "Down and Out"- it's Hopkins at his best. 

by Chick Cavallero

This Saturday night at Avogadros the High Plains Blues Society is presenting The Delta Sonics! Come on out and enjoy a truly legendary Colorado blues band. As Albert King would say, this is none of that monkey junk,’ this is pure blues!’ The Delta Sonics have been playing in Colorado since 1992, and have established themselves as one of the finest blues acts in the area with their solid musicianship and exciting live performances. You may have caught them at this year’s GBJ Friday Night Prefest opening on the main outside stage. This is Chicago Blues, baby.

Frontman Al Chesis has been a Hohner Harmonica endorser since 1992. He has been described as “one of the few legitimate harp players”. One critic said, “Chesis actually makes his harmonica sound like a saxophone, a trombone, and a three-piece horn section.” Over the years Al has played with many of the blues greats as they roll through Denver and need a backing band, the Delta Sonics are the go to band. Al has backed Bob Margolin and Big Bill Morganfield numerous times, as well as Lurie Bell, John Primer, Pine Top Perkins, Bo Diddley, Albert Collins, Willie Big Eyes Smith and Bob Stroger, the list is a long one! Bob Pellegrino handles lead guitar for the group and is one of the best, whether on electric or acoustic, and sizzles on slide guitar where he has often been named the favorite of Colorado Blues fans. Al’s daughter Alissa took over bass duties a few years ago and this past year was named the favorite bass player of Colorado Blues fans. The drummer has switched on and off but always a stalwart suing Kyle Borthick often, along with Willie Panker and Tony Pantellis. This year the Delta Sonics were named the Favorite Blues Band of Colorado Blues fans!

Join us for an evening of killer blues on the beautiful Avogadros patio. This will be a membership drive for HPBS. Bring along your friends that aren't members yet, we will have a table there for them to sign up. the more members we have, the more we can accomplish.

by Chick Cavallero

I can’t think of a time I was following blues in Colorado without Dan Treanor being a huge part of the focus. Dan Treanor has had as eventful a career as anyone could imagine. He is one of the true Colorado blues legends and belongs on any list of the “Founders of Blues in Colorado”. His start on the blues harp was interesting to say the least. He enlisted in the Army during   the Viet Nam War and while serving as an infantryman in the Mekong Delta of ’Nam, he was taught to play the harp by a fellow soldier and musician, Bernie Willer. So at least one good thing came outta Vietnam, and shows the blues can grow from almost anywhere.

That was in 1969 and Dan never put that harp down. "Bernie showed me how to blow that harp and it's been stuck inside me ever since". To read that fascinating story click this link.  Dan has been documenting his time in ‘Nam “Crazyland- A Grunts Memoirs”.  https://highplainsbluessociety.org/files/1280712/misery-whistle-how-the-harmonica-found-me.pdf   

This is just Chapter XVII  and details his introduction to the harmonica. For some fascinating reading check out the rest of Dan’s “Crazyland- A Grunts Memoirs” on Dan’s Facebook page. It’s Dan’s Vietnam years and it’s still a work in progress. Facebook

Returning to the States, he began a lifelong quest to master the art and soul of American Blues. He used his GI Bill to earn a Masters in American History, where he unraveled the truth behind the evolution of the blues - from Africa to America, developing his interest in many of the African instruments that were at the beginning of the music that blues sprang from. 

Dan is considered one of the top harp players in the business. And not just a harp player- Dan has played harp, guitar and dobro on hundreds of 45s, LPs, CDs and even motion picture sound tracks (you can hear his harp in the background on “Dancing With Wolves”). His career has been a sampling of Colorado blues history, playing with every Colorado musician you can think of, as well as national performers like Son Seals, Frankie Lee, Corey Harris, and Bob Margolin to name a few, including a rising young bluesman named Nic Clark who Dan mentored from the beginning as a 12-year-old and has grown into a BMA nominee. He has performed in the IBCs in Memphis making it to the Finals stage in 2013 and taking home 3rd place with “Dan Treanor and Afrosippi featuring Erica Brown”. In 2012 he received the KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE award as an Educator from the Blues Foundation for his work in “Blues In the Schools” (BITS), making Dan one of the few to take home hardware in the IBC and as a KBA recipient. Dan started the CBS BITS program and has reached over 100,000 kids over the years. He also started the Grand County and Austin, Texas BITS programs. Heck, he’s even made a couple 1950s style sci-fi monster movies!!!

How to classify Dan? Bandleader, musician, harp master, songwriter, solo artist, blues educator, producer, African instrument maker…bottom line? He is a BLUESMAN! And you won’t find  better anywhere.

Here’s a few cool videos of a Blues Master in action:

https://youtu.be/EiNFnLlgTG0?si=X1m-TZ9K-GSfZyZG

https://youtu.be/cLp1TPxURiU  with longtime friend musician w/Randall Dubis

https://youtu.be/H5D-WYKurQg    at the 2013 IBC Finals in Memphis

Story and all photos by Tim Van Schmidt

It all started in 1959, when producer Berry Gordy Jr. formed Tamala Records - the first major African American owned record label. In short order, it became Motown Record Corporation and so began a tsunami of irresistible hits that dominated the record charts for years afterwards.

Stop in the Name of Love -Front Line- Phil Donaldson, Carlton Pride, Peaches Embry and Audree Dillard

Flash forward to March 6, 2024 and the power of Motown would turn the Fort Collins Senior Center into a happy dance hall thanks to a super group of Colorado musicians calling themselves the FoCo Motown Revue. 

The event was a musical celebration as part of the extensive five-day Founded in FoCo conference focusing on local entrepreneurship. Honestly, I hadn't even heard of Founded in FoCo, but I saw a poster for the FoCo Motown Revue's show in a local coffee shop and I knew that this would be fun. Not just fun, VERY fun.  

John Magnie on the keys

"Shotgun," "Dancing in the Streets," "Tears of a Clown," "Superstition" and so many other great tunes just kept blasting from the stage at the Senior Center, with a little bit of history thrown in for good measure. And, well, I just couldn't keep my seat. Neither could the rest of the crowd, who were easily coerced into forming a "Soul Train line" and otherwise absorbed the upbeat vibes from the stage.

Laying the beat-Jeff Finlin on the drums and Ian Anderson on Bass while Craig Brunner is blowing some soul 

I recently saw an online article that wondered if the music of rock artists like Joni Mitchell and The Eagles would ever hold a place in the "American Songbook" like the standard tunes of previous generations. I don't know about those artists in particular, but the Motown hits the FoCo Motown Revue cranked out have and will stand the test of time.

The talent was endless-Craig Satterfield bending some string, Hugh Ragin and his horn

All you had to do is look around the room. If attendees weren't dancing, they were singing along as though the music was just a part of their DNA. That's proof positive that Motown music is not just a case of nostalgia, it remains a creative engine that makes the heart pump and the feet move. Thanks to the FoCo Motown Revue for that!

Editors note: Thanks, Tim, for sharing! The Motown Revue is something this group of talented players do extremely well. Last year I caught them at the Juneteenth Celebration in Fort Collins. I am hoping they repeat it this June. if they do be sure to catch it, you will be in for a treat!