I Had to Take a Class for This?

I thought this class was going to be a cake walk, but it was actually a decently challenging, and engaging experience.

I thoroughly enjoyed writing my beat about local music and I learned a lot about blogging, and even about the local scene.

I think I would like to keep blogging about this beat because it's just another way to keep the kids that are interested in this music updated with all the news in the local heavy music scene.

I will keep blogging about this beat because it's something that I'm actively involved in and it's something I enjoy.

I like the fact that I could essentially blog about whatever I wanted and cover any angle I wanted.

I believe blogging is another way to tell stories, not necessarily a good or bad way.

I liked that you could choose what you wanted to blog about and I liked that Professor Silverstein had everything on blackboard and updated us everyday.  I wish this was a semester long class.

Fans Equal Friends

Denver based screamo act Vicrory Heights has recently released a single that will be featured off their 10 song debut album.  Releasing a single for fans to hear isn't unheard of, but the lengths that Victory Heights are taking to ensure fans hear their new music.
"Comment this status with your email addresses and we will send you our brand new single as a gift to you."  On Facebook, the band declared they will send their new single to fans provided they comment with their emails.
It's a very interesting tactic to get new music out, but you have to have pretty trusting fans who are willing to give out their email addresses.  That could mean spam city.
A positive side to emailing your fans is getting personal feedback.  "Check it and tell us what you think," the band posted on their Facebook page.
For more information and more music, check out the bands' iTunes page.

Iamtheshotgun Wants you to Look your Best and Act your Worst

Popular Denver based local band Iamtheshotgun will be having a show on January 21st at the Marquis theater in Downtown Denver in which they will be filming their set for a music video.  They haven't figured out WHICH song exactly they want to do for the video, so they decided to film their whole seven song set!  So that means more camera time for your smiling face. 
The band is expecting the show to be packed with music hungry friends and fans who are ready for a good time.
"This video will hopefully reveal what goes on at our shows, on the stage, off the stage, backstage, at the bar, etc,"  Said Bryan Pelle, guitarist.
The show is being set up through Soda Jerk Presents and will be newcomers Book of Hours' first show as a local band, who will also be taking part in the music video festivities.
Pelle also explained, "It will show people what we do live which in turn will help booking tours and even show fans it'll be worth their money and time to check out our shows whether it's here or out of state."
So if you're in the crowd and you want some face time, be sure to look your best, and act your worst.

To be honest, I thoroughly enjoy writing blogs because it's a way to report stories with a twist of my, the authors', opinion.  And as we all know, everyone's got an opinion.  

In some ways it's difficult to write about the vast topics about the heavy local music scene, but once I pick a beat and focus on it, I find that writing it becomes quite natural.

Having blogged informally before, this is actually exactly how I thought it was going to be, but with the academic side and formal journalistic writing styles thrown in for good measure.

I feel that the topic I chose to write my blog about is something I could write about for years to come.  Being a part of the local music scene, I see that it is ever-evolving and there's always something new to write about.

I find writing about the local music scene extremely exciting because of how much talent that the local scene has.  There's always a new up and coming band around every corner.

I don't know everything about the local Colorado scene, so with that said I would like to learn more about how different bands go about doing things like writing songs, touring, and buying and selling their merchandise.

In the next two weeks, I would like to interview a band (Iamtheshotgun, or Allaegeon), or even do a member spotlight and get a day-in-the-life feel kind of thing going.  In any case, expect a lot more news in the weeks to come, and please feel free to leave comments and suggestions.

All I Want for Christmas is to Lose My Two Front Teeth in a Moshpit

The Holidays are upon us for yet another year, and the Colorado music scene is alive and well despite all the hectic shopping we are all enduring.  But if you're looking for the perfect gift for the metal head in your family, look no further.
It's a HUGE month for local death metal/hardcore band Ruins of Tomorrow who's debut EP, In This Horror hit the online community and Itunes hard in early December. The album features 4 bone crushing tracks, and a creepy intro that will be sure to leave you itching for more by the end of the new year.
A tangible copy of the CD is also available at Ruins of Tomorrow's website and their online merch store.  The hard copy of In This Horror features tantalizing and colorful artwork by Ricky Casdorph.
The EP was recorded at Taylor Hahn's, Phantom Studios in Aurora Colorado, and Ely Corliss of The Crew Presents released the the album through his company.
So if you're an avid local music supporter, or you know a mosh happy metal head, definitely be sure to pick up In This Horror because it's the perfect holiday gift.