I met Boulder-based singer-songwriter Kristina Ingham (pictured above) there. She and her musical collaborator, Chris Woodward, were half-jokingly talking about playing a set at some point in the future as part of Matt Fecher's New Music Monday -- an out-of-the-box idea that just might work and expand Ingham's audience beyond her usual following. For now, you can catch her at Quixote's on Thursday, March 19.
I also met Greg Campbell that night, a Denver DJ and producer who runs his own label, called Full Flavor Music, and can also be found spinning electro, house and nouvelle disco at clubs all over town. Running a record label these days is a scary proposition, but Campbell's creative energy and love for music keep him plowing forward, in spite of market forces that might suggest joining the military would be a safer option. Visit his Myspace page for more information, including a list of his upcoming gigs.
I spent a fair amount of time talking to the always affable Joshua Novak, a singer-songwriter who has morphed over the years into a potential pop star. Novak amazes me with his consistently positive demeanor -- and he still insists, with tongue firmly in cheek, that 2009 is"the year of Josh Novak." "By the end of the year," he told me, "you'll either love me or hate me."
Lastly, I met a group of young guys who are trying to promote electro music -- both live and DJs -- locally. They, too, are starting a label (?!), and have launched a night at Snake Pit on the first Friday of every month. Unfortunately, my conversation with them was punctuated by interjections from a nearby drunken woman who had some choice words for me about Westword's music coverage (yawn), so I didn't get enough details about them. Look for more information here as I get it.
All of this is to say that, in spite of -- and possibly even inspired by -- the currently unfriendly economic climate, the creative juices are flowing in Denver. Sure, it might be hard to dig up a dime these days, but that doesn't stop art. If you're an artist, it's a difficult-but-juicy time. And if you're not out there creating, get out there and start consuming. These indefatigable artists need your support.