New Release: Local Shakedown, Vol. 3 – Radio 1190’s brilliant snapshot of the Denver scene

If you’re familiar with Radio 1190 (KVCU Boulder, The University of Colorado at Boulder’s independent station) in general, or the Local Shakedown, their weekly Friday afternoon show dedicated to the local scene in particular, you already have a pretty good idea of the significance of this release. “Local Shakedown, Vol 3,” is the third installment of the radio station’s compilation of the best of the local best, and this year’s promises to be the best so far.

Volumes 1 and 2, released in 2000 and 2004 (respectively) by Smooch Records, have maintained a reputation through the decade as amongst the most legitimate archives of the Front Range music scene at the time, showcasing bands that show promise, or are on their way up and out. Volume 1 featured 45 bands and performers from all around Denver, Boulder and surrounding suburbs, some world-renowned (Dead Kennedy’s ex-frontman Jello Biafra and Blood Axis, for instance) or already longtime scene stalwarts (Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, Jux County, Maraca 5-0). Many have gone on to become major national indie bands (Apples In Stereo, Devotchka, Dressy Bessy), and many have since splintered or disintegrated (Space Team Electra, Czars). Thanks to the Local Shakedown compilation, however, there will always be a record of where they were when.

Volume 2 is surprisingly similar in content to Volume 1 (it includes 12 of the artists from the lineup of Volume 1) but is nevertheless a stunning record of bands that made a difference in and around Denver towards the middle of the decade. After 4 years, the scene had grown, but how significantly?

And now, with Volume 3, it’s obvious that the scene has made a major shift. By comparison, this volume contains almost an entirely new band selection over its 41 tracks. If you’ve been following the scene, however,  you’re already aware that many of the players are old scene stalwarts and gadabouts.

Kal Kahoone, for instance, solo on this collection, used to sing for Tarentella, veterans of Vol. 2, and Moonspeed contains members from both Monofog and Bright Channel (and others), also veterans of – you guessed it – Volume 2. New bands, but many of the same faces, and some similar sounds, too!

Volume 3, besides being (of course) the most up to date record of the current scene, comes from it’s best and most staunch supporter, Radio 1190’s Local Shakedown – on the air every Friday afternoon from 4 – 6 PM (webcast at radio1190.org), and from Smooch Records. The whole collection was mastered by Denver’s local recording and producing genius, Bob Ferbrache – of Absinthe Studios, to boot!

And – to get your hands on some copies (only $11.90!!), and celebrate its release, join Radio 1190 and the hipster elite at one (or more) of these three Release Parties this weekend, all with live local bands:

Friday, Oct. 16th
Twist and Shout
2508 E. Colfax Ave., Denver
6:00 PM – The Kissing Party

Saturday, Oct. 17th
Bart’s CD Cellar
1015 Pearl St., Boulder
2:00 PM – Thee Goochi Boiz, otem rellik, Aënka

Sunday, Oct. 18th
Wax Trax
638 E. 13th Ave., Denver
2:00 PM – Bad Weather California, Magic Cyclops, The Fire Drills, The GetDown!