Tag Archives: indie podcast

Radio Crystal Blue 10/6/13 news

Posted on October 5, 2013 | Leave a comment

Radio Crystal Blue is sponsored in part by:
Cyber PR: www.cyberpr.com
Miles High Productions www.mileshighproductions.com
Wampus Multimedia www.wampus.com
Radio Crystal Blue is free to share and listen, in accordance with Creative
Commons License 3.0, full attribution, non-derivative, non-commercial.

*****
HOW TO LISTEN: FEEDPLAYER
Look for a popup link on the home and archive pages at
http://www.radiocrystalblue.net When you click, it will open within the same
window. The player allows you to stream all recent shows, as well as
download and share them. Click the tabs within the player for more.
If you cannot access the Feed Player or do not have Shockwave/Flash in your
browser, try a different browser or go to http://www.bigcontact.com/radiocrystalblu
This page contains a bona fide workable version of the Feed Player.
RSS: www.bigcontact.com/radiocrystalblu/rss
FEEDPLAYER LINK:
http://fp.bigcontact.com/fp/flash/fp/fp.swf?xmlurl=http%3A%2F%2Fbigcontact.com%2Fradiocrystalblu%2Frss&r=1&t=1001
CONTACT:
EMAIL: cblue456@comcast.net
personal FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/radiocblue
RCB FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=20805478312
LINKEDIN: http://www.linkedin.com/danherman0
VIDEO content: http://www.youtube.com/user/cblue456
TWITTER @radiocblue
EMPIRE AVENUE www.empireavenue.com/radiocblue
STAT BLOG www.idealisticstats.wordpress.com
DONATIONS to Radio Crystal Blue can be made via the Paypal button at the homepage.
***
PROGRAMMING:
NEXT SHOW will be published on or about October 9 and will be available for about 1 year. I usually publish on Wednesdays or as soon as possible thereafter. You will hear music in several segments of top indie/DIY/underground songwriters and bands.
RCB Novus Ordo is a separate podcast with 8 songs, one each from a brand new recording. I spin the music and give you the backstory of each artist.

*****

It’s nice to build up the life again, preparing a social calendar where I’m attending 1 show a week, providing a review where possible afterward, and also getting into a new work and play schedule alongsides. It’s been too long since.

Breaking programming news: I will be featuring a concept album for much of October and November. It’s not in my hands yet but I expect it to be here next week. Watch this very space, and on Facebook, for the announcement.

Congrats go to Tom Principato for achieving a #1 ranking in my quarterly airplay chart! www.tomprincipato.com
The full chart, along with prior quarterly charts, the annual top 100, and all-time list are at www.radiocrystalblue.net/chart-page

You’ll notice that 10 artists are mathematically eligible for the title of Artist of the Year. Vance Gilbert could make it a 3rd year in a row. Everyone else, besides Hungrytown would have their first such title. All the shows I do from the weeks of October 6 to December 15, 11 in all, will have the biggest impact.
___

So here are the shows I’m currently planning to attend this month:
10/8 @ The Fire, Philly
10/17 @ The New Deck Tavern, Philly
10/23 @Fergie’s Pub, Philly
And I’m seriously thinking of going to a show or two in Baltimore, 11/2 and or 11/3. Any Baltimore peeps know what’s going down?
 
With each event I plan to do a review after the fact on my website, complete with photos and video. My camera has seen better days; it’s time I got a new one! I make that purchase this weekend.

___

This is the start of my 14th year doing this labor of love. I still remain as excited with each new show as with doing and promoting the first years. I remain grateful to be airing music created by renowned artists, all the way to the underground artists in local areas. I’m also grateful for you listeners, especially those that have donated to the program and to me for keeping this show alive and for me to stay afloat.

This week I received a nice sampler of material from the folks at Renfro Foods. This was just about the nicest gesture, all from my promoting them via Twitter. their mango habanero salsa is off the chain, as the kids say. @renfrofoods www.renfrofoods.com
Also I must mention coffee alternative Teeccino, which is also a staple at RCB HQ. The folks at Teeccino remind you to go #nocaf www.teeccino.com

Here’s some more RCB LOVE to share: These artists helped promote the show during September:

http://debracowan.com/2013/09/debra-on-radio-crystal-blue-podcast-925/

___
Earlier in the week, the Philly band The Way Home announced an amicable breakup. I had positively loved them and enjoyed spinning their music over the last year and change. Between all the songs there is intimacy, there is youthfulness, fun and showmanship. Most of all, not much in the way of ego; they were a band by pure definition.
My one video of The Way Home comes from a CD release event at Sine Studios early in 2012.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab-MAclVeDc
These 3 photos from my collection are my favorites depicting TWH:
 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152167952730725&l=5bb2516ef7
********
The annotated notes of this week’s shows:
RCB Novus Ordo: The purveyor of ‘tiger pop’, NYC songwriter John Brodeur begins this edition. De Stijl is a French electronic band project. They collaborate with Joy Division/New Order bassist/vocalist Peter Hook on a single from an upcoming album. A welcome back to the RCB airwaves for Joe Nacco, borrowing heavy from 70’s-80’s classic rock.
 
RCB proper: Per RCB tradition, I spin ‘Song X’, as heard on Neil Young & Pearl Jam’s stellar “Mirror Ball” album. You should know that this song was the very first song I spun in the history of this program. The Bowie song I heard in a supermarket this past week. In between was this latter-day Cowboy Junkies tune that is part of their five-CD Nomad Project. Segment 1: Rising songwriter Stefani Rose with another song from her debut CD. Brand new music here from Daniel Levi Goans and Lauren Plank, who are now married and also the voices of Lowland Hum. Also brand new is the new-found old-style sound of Spuyten Duyvil. Segment 2: Why not some blues for starters ?Professor Louie, Tommy Z, and more new music from Herbie D & The Dangermen give it to you. Sirsy & Revel 9 are performing in the CNY (central NY, kids) Gaming & Entertainment Expo later in October, Frankfort NY. Segment 3: Introducing Bev Grant and Ina May Wool. They are Wool and Grant. We hear Bev’s lead vox on a song involving man and mountain vs corporate interest. Carolann Solebello perform October 11 in a show that Bev and Carolann host 2nd Fridays at Two Moon, Brooklyn NY. The aforementioned Tom Principato kicks off a run of instrumentals in the final segment. Molasses Creek opened for Si Kahn & The Looping Brothers on October 1 in Washington NC.
 
**************
HOW TO SEND MUSIC:
Send CDs to
Dan Herman
Radio Crystal Blue
1701 Snyder Avenue, #4
Philadelphia, PA 19145
Keep physical packages of reasonable size and weight, as this is a residence.
Please indicate release date. No material from before 2013 accepted. Material released before then will be added to RCB’s loose rotation instead.
Digital is acceptable if media is not available in other formats.
Artists are also advised to add my email address to their general email list.
I also accept EPKs through these companies. For EPK submissions I select
artists on their body of work and the completeness of the press kit.
SONICBIDS: http://www.sonicbids.com/radiocrystalblue
MusicSUBMIT: http://www.musicsubmit.com
MusicClout http://www.musicclout.com
Search for the words Radio Crystal Blue to find my pages there.
I continue to seek outstanding concept/compilation albums for future shows, ones I can feature track-for-track. Do you know of one? Send it along!
*********
Dan Herman
Radio Crystal Blue
http://www.radiocrystalblue.net
http://www.bigcontact.com/radiocrystalblu
cblue456@comcast.net
twitter: @radiocblue
215 995 2234

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Radio Crystal Blue 3rd Quarter Airplay Chart…

Posted on October 1, 2013 | Leave a comment

….is now available!
Here are some stats that you need to know:

Tom Principato, Jason Spooner and Sassparilla each received the most airplay over the last 3 months.
For the last 12 months (October 2012  to September 2013), the most airplay was given to Aztec Two Step, followed by Aqua Cherry and Patti DeRosa, then Fred Gillen Jr. and Vance Gilbert, followed by a number of others.
In terms of progressive exposure, Aztec Two Step leads in this category, followed by these in order: Patti DeRosa, Aqua Cherry, Tom Principato, Vance Gilbert, Sirsy, Dana & Susan Robinson, Hungrytown, Meghan Cary, Spuyten Duyvil, and The Steel Wheels.

I’ve also published the 10 artists who, based on mathematical judgement, are most eligible to receive the title Artist of the Year. This rank is solely based on the raw rankings from the quarterly charts.  At the end of the year, I will have a special Twitter-based countdown show to determine who ranks in the top 100.

Congratulations, everyone!

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Radio Crystal Blue 9/29/13 news

Posted on September 28, 2013 | Leave a comment

Radio Crystal Blue is sponsored in part by:
Cyber PR: www.cyberpr.com
Miles High Productions http://www.mileshighproductions.com
Wampus Multimedia http://www.wampus.com
Radio Crystal Blue is free to share and listen, in accordance with Creative
Commons License 3.0, full attribution, non-derivative, non-commercial.
*****
HOW TO LISTEN: FEEDPLAYER
Look for a popup link on the home and archive pages at
http://www.radiocrystalblue.net When you click, it will open within the same
window. The player allows you to stream all recent shows, as well as
download and share them. Click the tabs within the player for more.
If you cannot access the Feed Player or do not have Shockwave/Flash in your
browser, try a different browser or go to http://www.bigcontact.com/radiocrystalblu
This page contains a bona fide workable version of the Feed Player.
RSS: http://www.bigcontact.com/radiocrystalblu/rss 

FEEDPLAYER LINK:
http://fp.bigcontact.com/fp/flash/fp/fp.swf?xmlurl=http%3A%2F%2Fbigcontact.com%2Fradiocrystalblu%2Frss&r=1&t=1001

CONTACT:
EMAIL: cblue456@comcast.net
personal FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/radiocblue
RCB FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=20805478312
LINKEDIN: http://www.linkedin.com/danherman0
VIDEO content: http://www.youtube.com/user/cblue456
TWITTER @radiocblue
EMPIRE AVENUE http://www.empireavenue.com/radiocblue
STAT BLOG http://www.idealisticstats.wordpress.com

DONATIONS to Radio Crystal Blue can be made via the Paypal button at the homepage.
***
PROGRAMMING:
NEXT SHOW will be published on or about October 2 and will be available for about 1 year. I usually publish on Wednesdays or as soon as possible thereafter. You will hear music in several segments of top indie/DIY/underground songwriters and bands. RCB Novus Ordo is a separate podcast with 8 songs, one each from a brand new recording. I spin the music and give you the backstory of each artist.
*****
One of the favorite times of the year for me is right now..the time when I figure out who will be ranked in the next quarterly airplay chart. It’s a time of number-crunching, which I admittedly love to do, and be able to spill the goods in a concise manner. The prior chart results for 2013 are on,…where else? …the CHART page http://www.radiocrystalblue.net/chart-pageI aim to publish, on October 1, the results of the chart, and also a short list of those whom I believe are the finalists to be RCB’s Artist of the Year for 2013.
October 1 is also Radio Crystal Blue’s 13th anniversary. I have some of the same equipment as I did when I started, and some of the same songs. My psyche has changed most of all, as has the programming. Truly, the last 2 waves of change came here: 2005, when I decided to spin much more indie and a lot less major-label artists. 2007, when I got a bona fide mixer that more than does the job, and 2009, when I changed up the programming to be more inclusive of artists sharing billing with others that I already planned to give airplay to.
I honestly don’t have plans on how to celebrate the show’s anniversary, but I might be able to come up with something. If you’re curious about gifts, online searches turn up suggestions such as lace, textiles, furniture for a 13th anniversary. Doesn’t exactly translate to radio, tho I could use a new mic.
I’m still in personal celebratory mood as I’ve gathered a very good temp job. Even tho anything can happen on a job with such terms, I’m still very hopeful for my future, especially given that the job came absolutely in the nick of time.A special dose of RCB LOVE goes to Renfro Foods, makers of quality jarred salsas, sauces, and relishes under the brand name Mrs Renfros. Their products contains varying levels of heat and flavor. Yours truly has extolled their virtues on my show (no doubt you know this by now). I found out about this company while shopping at a local supermarket two years ago. and at some point this week I tweeted that info. Immediately the company’s PR firm contacted me to see if I’d be interested in a sampler. Of course I’d be! I’m not partial to any one flavor, tho I will never tempt fate by trying the Ghost Pepper Salsa again. This was the stuff that hospitalized me. I have since recovered and don’t go for the hot stuff nearly as much. But, once a month I do try a different jar, and I happen to like their medium-strength Mango Habanero Salsa. www.renfrofoods.com

Also more LOVE to Teeccino. I learned of this company from an acquaintance, when I openly mused about coffee substitutes. I have stuck to 3 of the available organic coffee flavors, being quite partial to chocolate. Teccinno is available at Whole Foods, and is commonly packaged in tea bag format. www.teeccino.com for more.


********
The annotated notes of this week’s shows:
RCB Novus Ordo: No better way to start than to have disappear fear’s music return to RCB’s airwaves. The award winning songwriter SONiA fronts this band. I chose “Start”, which has a world music sound, recalling theTango album that I spun the last time you heard them on RCB. Arstidir checks from Reykjavik, Iceland with their own brand of Icelandic folk-rock. Jim Allchin, late of Microsoft and a career in blues music on the side, returns to this genre with his latest.

RCB proper: Segment 1: Butcher’s Blind and Katie Pearlman are part of the 8th annual Port Jefferson (NY) American Music Festival, being held in mid-October. Some sort of Americana and roots figured across this segment. We hear again from songwriter Stacey Y, as she continues to make waves north of the 48. Segment 2 starts with a pair of similar sounding songs (My Pet Dragon, Love X Stereo). The Grahams’ “If You’re In New York” retains the urban roots of this duo-led group, against the ‘river roots’ sound of their new album. A pair of soul songs follow (Chastity Brown, Adia & The 7 Eyes). Segment 3: Patty Larkin. What more is there to say? Patty’s music finally graces my show and a short tune here that is twinned with another song from Meghan Cary’s 2012 album. Karyn Oliver’s tune ‘Slip Away With Me” on her new Magdalene album contains a bonus acoustic version. Naturally I spin the bonus version. Repeat airplay for The Keller Sisters here. Segment 4: 3 Penny Acre and Rebecca Loebe are part of the St. Louis Folk and Roots Festival this weekend. A few traditional/European-flavored songs find their way here in the remainder of the segment.

**************
HOW TO SEND MUSIC:Send CDs to
Dan Herman
Radio Crystal Blue
1701 Snyder Avenue, #4
Philadelphia, PA 19145
Keep physical packages of reasonable size and weight, as this is a residence.
Please indicate release date. No material from before 2013 accepted. Material released before then will be added to RCB’s loose rotation instead.
Digital is acceptable if media is not available in other formats.
Artists are also advised to add my email address to their general email list.I also accept EPKs through these companies. For EPK submissions I select
artists on their body of work and the completeness of the press kit.
SONICBIDS: http://www.sonicbids.com/radiocrystalblue
MusicSUBMIT: http://www.musicsubmit.com
MusicClout http://www.musicclout.com
Search for the words Radio Crystal Blue to find my pages there.
I continue to seek outstanding concept/compilation albums for future shows, ones I can feature track-for-track. Do you know of one? Send it along!
*********
Dan Herman
Radio Crystal Blue
http://www.radiocrystalblue.net
http://www.bigcontact.com/radiocrystalblu
cblue456@comcast.net
twitter: @radiocblue
215 995 2234

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Radio Crystal Blue 9/22/13 news

Posted on September 21, 2013 | Leave a comment

Radio Crystal Blue is sponsored in part by:
Cyber PR: http://www.cyberpr.com
Miles High Productions http://www.mileshighproductions.com
Wampus Multimedia http://www.wampus.com

Radio Crystal Blue is free to share and listen, in accordance with Creative
Commons License 3.0, full attribution, non-derivative, non-commercial.

 
*****
HOW TO LISTEN: FEEDPLAYER
Look for a popup link on the home and archive pages at
http://www.radiocrystalblue.net When you click, it will open within the same
window. The player allows you to stream all recent shows, as well as
download and share them. Click the tabs within the player for more.
If you cannot access the Feed Player or do not have Shockwave/Flash in your
browser, try a different browser or go to http://www.bigcontact.com/radiocrystalblu
This page contains a bona fide workable version of the Feed Player.
RSS: http://www.bigcontact.com/radiocrystalblu/rss

FEEDPLAYER LINK:
http://fp.bigcontact.com/fp/flash/fp/fp.swf?xmlurl=http%3A%2F%2Fbigcontact.com%2Fradiocrystalblu%2Frss&r=1&t=1001

CONTACT:
EMAIL: cblue456@comcast.net
personal FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/radiocblue
RCB FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=20805478312
LINKEDIN: http://www.linkedin.com/danherman0
VIDEO content: http://www.youtube.com/user/cblue456
TWITTER @radiocblue
EMPIRE AVENUE http://www.empireavenue.com/radiocblue
STAT BLOG http://www.idealisticstats.wordpress.com

DONATIONS to Radio Crystal Blue can be made via the Paypal button at the homepage.
***
PROGRAMMING:
NEXT SHOW will be published on or about September 25 and will be available for about 1 year. I usually publish on Wednesdays or as soon as possible thereafter. You will hear music in several segments of top indie/DIY/underground songwriters and bands.

RCB Novus Ordo is a separate podcast with 8 songs, one each from a brand new recording. I spin the music and give you the backstory of each artist.
*****
RCB remains a one-person operation and I must market the show and presence just right to ensure the reach is strong. I am hoping there are enough who listen tho there days I wonder about this. I want to reach more fans of the artists you listen to, and you fans yourselves. When the $ comes, I want to replace my logo with something different and learn how to brand more properly.

Slight programming change: I am aiming to record on Tuesdays and publish Wednesdays. Now that I have the new temp job starting next week, shows will take on this new pattern. Further, RCB Novus Ordo goes back to 8 songs from 6, as the library has increased in recent weeks.

This week is the next to last before I construct the quarterly airplay charts, measuring which artists are receiving the most airplay and exposure from the last 3 months. If you ask me whcih artists are most popular, I’ll point you to the chart. Look for an update to it first thing October. Chart page: http://www.radiocrystalblue.net/chart-page

I was in NYC briefly on Thursday to repair a camera battery, which was stuck in the camera’s body. The night before I had planned to review an event at The Legendary Dobbs. I wasn’t able to get the photos done before the battery got stuck. Granted the battery was rather worn and I was taking a chance at its being further damaged. Thankfully I still have 2 others. So, no review from Thursday, but I did get some photos done in the aftermath of the repair job while in NYC. Kudos to Photo Tech in the Union Square section of the city for being available to do an excellent job! The photos I took on Friday are of The High Line. Full gallery here

I’m currently projecting to revive the social calendar in October after I’m a few weeks into the temp job, reviewing events and such. I might even enroll in another course at PhillyCAM, the city’s public-access network. What I really want to do is get into production instead of taking another course.

A word about ‘sponsors’-‘supporters’: There are many individuals and businesses that send me music. The ones that have formally agreed to be sponsors are the ones I’ve listed at the beginning newsletter, and are also the same ones who get mentioned in between music segments. The others don’t get mentioned tho I find it’s impossible not to mention them at times. Here’s a few of those companies:
http://www.waterbug.com
http://www.moodindigoentertainment.com
http://www.signaturesounds.com
********
The annotated notes of this week’s shows:
RCB Novus Ordo: Tom Principato, one of RCB’s top airplay recipients for certain, returns with a new album of guitar-oriented blues. The Tressels, a Philly hard rock band I’ve seen a few times, also returns with the second of a three-album trilogy. I was intrigued by the Sidleys, telling real-life love stories in their songs.

RCB proper: Why not start with a song from the Twin Peaks soundtrack? A definitive autumnal statement kicks this show off. Segment 1: Loretta Hagen & Beaucoup Blue appear at the Hillside Cafe in Nutley NJ, 9/21. Lara Ewen returns with a long-awaited new album, telling semi-autobiographical songs about her most recent life experiences. The CD is encased in a short hardcover book. Why don’t more people release music this way? I really like the roots-rock of David Newbould; you hear a 7-minute roots-rock song from his new album. Segment 2 is augmented by Melissa Greener. She shares billing with the following artists: with Nels Andrews at Osteria, San Francisco on 9/23; then with Freebo and John Batdorf at the Cinema Bar, Culvery City, on 10/6. The Steel Wheels also sharing billing this very weekend in Winfield KS for the Walnut Valley Festival. Si Kahn & The Looping Brothers are part of the festivities. Si’s new album contains a fast-moving bluegrass song that you heard me spin. Gina Holsopple is also part of the festival, and we hear a song from her new (and 8th!) album. Segment 3 ran from songwriter fare to country/roots to modern rock/pop. Belles & Whistles’ “Right Side Of Dirt” is an enduring favorite here. Segment 4 features artists who are part of next weekend’s Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, in Bristol VA/NC, the ‘birthplace’ of country music. A number of seafaring songs are included in the mix, and two referencing Tennessee (James McMurtry, Miss Tess). Besides the festival, Red Molly are sharing stages with Brother Sun on October 5 in Chatham NJ. The Boxcar Lilies & Beggar’s Ride both appear October 4 at the 1st Presbyterian Church, New Haven CT, then October 5 at the Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham MA. Segment 5 was generally folk and folk-rock. Best segue from here contains the theme of tackling life’s big questions (Mark Erelli, Carrie Elkin, Aztec Two Step).
**************
HOW TO SEND MUSIC:

Send CDs to
Dan Herman
Radio Crystal Blue
1701 Snyder Avenue, #4
Philadelphia, PA 19145
Keep physical packages of reasonable size and weight, as this is a residence.
Please indicate release date. No material from before 2013 accepted. Material released before then will be added to RCB’s loose rotation instead.
Digital is acceptable if media is not available in other formats.
Artists are also advised to add my email address to their general email list.

I also accept EPKs through these companies. For EPK submissions I select
artists on their body of work and the completeness of the press kit.
SONICBIDS: http://www.sonicbids.com/radiocrystalblue
MusicSUBMIT: http://www.musicsubmit.com
MusicClout http://www.musicclout.com
Search for the words Radio Crystal Blue to find my pages there.

I continue to seek outstanding concept/compilation albums for future shows, ones I can feature track-for-track. Do you know of one? Send it along!
*********
Dan Herman
Radio Crystal Blue
http://www.radiocrystalblue.net
http://www.bigcontact.com/radiocrystalblu
cblue456@comcast.net
twitter: @radiocblue
215 995 2234

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,