ReverbNation and Colorado Music Buzz Present: Featured Artists of the Month

by Tim Wenger

TWenger@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

Colorado Music Buzz is excited to announce that we have partnered with ReverbNation to offer a unique opportunity for touring and local bands to be featured in the magazine. Each month, ReverbNation artists will have to opportunity to submit to the CMB RN page about why they should be a ReverbNation Featured Artist of the Month in the magazine. Portland’s Crown Point is our top featured touring act for November. The guys will be bringing their ambient indie rock to the Toad Tavern on November 16. We gave them the opportunity to brag about themselves a little bit, and here is what they had to say. Thanks to the over 1,300 artists who submitted.

We spend a lot of time on the road.  We’ve toured 44 states and four countries, and toured the US with Tyrone Wells and Andrew Belle.  We’ve also gotten the chance to play some cool festivals, like SxSW, Cornerstone, the Alaska State Fair, and MusicFest NW.  We’ve grown to love a bunch of cities, and their residents, along the way.

We’ve been honored to share the stage with some really talented, really genuine artists, including Mat Kearney, Matt White, Augustana, Puddle Of Mudd, SafetySuit, Saliva, Brendan James, Rehab, Hurt, A Change Of Pace, Go Radio, and a ton of incredible independent artists nationwide.

Our new record, Curtains, will be released November 13, and we’re touring the US again in support of it.  We’ve only released one album so far.  It’s called Wolves.   Its first single, “Back To You”, spun on almost 100 stations in North America.   We’re happy that other people besides our mothers buy our albums.

It seems to us that playing music is about more than entertainment.  We’ve done our best to do some tangible good with the opportunities we’ve been given, and have worked with some organizations we believe in, like the American Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the March Of Dimes, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and Forward Edge International.  We’ll be donating a percentage of the sales of our upcoming album to Tucker-Maxon, an amazing school for hearing-impaired children in Portland.  If you’d like us to play a benefit show for a cause that you, and we, believe in, please let us know.

Hit the band up at crownpointband.com

Our featured local band this month is Bop Skizzum. If you’re out in the scene at all, or if you were at Higher Ground Music Festival back in August, you know about these fabulous funksters. They just released a full-length album called Coloradical. Here is the low down on what they want you to know about their band.

Bop Skizzum’s music is all about fusion… Gathering inspiration from every corner of the record store, the band meshes their alternative pop rock vibe with groove based Funk & dance-laden hip-hop influences, creating an invigorating blend of unique instrumentation with phenomenal vocals to complete their sound. The diversity each musician brings to this eclectic mix of integrated styles, resonates in the music Bop Skizzum has written for their first full length album entitled “Coloradical.”

Music is Colorful! Music is Radical! We believe “Coloradical” is an energy, an intangible electricity; embodying the funky, fun, radiant spirit of Bop Skizzum’s music which fans of all ages have become so passionate about. Infusing the songs on the Album with member’s varied musical backgrounds & influences has resulted in a collection of 10 new songs which envelope a wide spectrum of genres. Giving listeners the chance to experience a unique connection with each song. Bop Skizzum’s singular style is like a knife that defies the cookie cutter outline and carves through the traditional. “Coloradical” is the ultimate expression of diversity, personifying their sound.

Online: bopskizzum.com

We selected a few other bands to be featured this month as well.

Jeff Wirtzfield– Singer/Songwriter from Denver- Jeff Wirtzfield is an indie-rock artist who enjoys working with a group of talented musicians to produce is original songs. He is a Denver-based singer, songwriter, guitarist and photographer. Jeff records at Galvanized Music Studio with music producer Allan Bumgartner.

Online: reverbnation.com/jwirtzfield

Joey Smokes: Alternative/Punk/Metal act from Arcadia, California– Front Man Joey Smokes has always been in choir/band and at age 9 he started humming chorus lines and verses to himself then around 13 Joey started writing lyrics and singing songs. At 14 he decided to pick up the guitar and teach himself to write songs. Because he was very busy with school, playing sports, choir and working, at a young age, to support himself, he really had to try hard to squeeze in his dreams, like so many people do. Well he did and he will never give up.

Online: reverbnation.com/joeysmokes1

Prospect Hill- Rock/Pop from Methuen, MA- Prospect Hill is an all-in-the-family operation, with Roberge’s father serving as the band’s management. Despite lacking a big name industry exec in their corner, the band still earned opening support slots on national tours coming through their market, developed a big (not to mention passionate) enough following to pack houses and released several albums independently.

The band played gigs with the multiplatinum likes of Godsmack, Disturbed and Korn, as well as heavy hitters like Sevendust, Hinder, Trapt and more. They also earned the Best Underground Act awarded from High Times and even performed at SxSW in 2010.

Online: reverbnation.com/prospecthill

Tags: bop skizzum, Crown Point, Toad Tavern, Jeff Wirtzfield, Joey Smokes, Prospect Hill

Category: On The Scene