Lots of Great Music and Not Much Sleep

Damn...this was a serious summer. SCI rehearsals and shows in June and July (which were sooo much fun). Then I was out with my band for a spell, traveling around the festival circuit. And, in between, I was invited to participate a few unique lineups including a super group with Bill Kreutzman, Steve Kimock and George Porter. It was a lot of great music with not much sleep, but maybe its better that way. On the beer front, it was big year as well. Kyle's Brew Fest sold out again and was another successful benefit for Conscious Alliance. The beer I made with Boulder Beer, Hoopla Pale Ale, has been getting a lot of great reviews from all over the country. Get it while you can! Also it was fun to add my new Brewru Experience at festivals, discussing beer and brewing with fans - trying to connect the dots between my passion for brewing and my love of music.

And now I am psyched to be home with the fam for a few weeks. While at home, I‘ve been forcing myself to dig in a bit and do some more writing. As inspiration, I have been playing through the Beatles songbook. Man, they were great songwriters. Some of those chord changes come out of nowhere and the modulations are seamless. The melody drives everything on that stuff. Listening to this music gets my mind thinking in different directions.

So this fall is mostly chill. Though I do head out for a long weekend with my band September 8-11 in the Midwest. We are going to hit some new towns as well as a couple of festivals. The Macpodz will be joining us in Cleveland and Kalamazoo. I dig their stuff and I think it will be a good musical combination. Also, we are playing one of my favorite breweries: Bell's. Yes! Great beer, great music. Yum.

And, of course, SCI is about to rev-up again for another big run of shows in December. And this time it’s a real tour. Like “get-on-the-bus-and-roll-” style. It's going to be awesome! Stay tuned for more on this on upcoming blogs

But for now, I’ll just enjoy the last weeks of summer. Sitting on the porch, drinking a beer and writing songs.

See you out there.

Kyle

In case you missed it, I did a "remix" of an argument we had on the road this summer. My band, KHB, had just finished a gig deep in the mountains of West Virginia. So at 4am we started driving around looking for our hotel. Tensions started running high as we came to the conclusion that we were hopelessly lost. I recorded some of our banter and then auto-tuned it and added music. Check it out (Beware it does contain some “moonshine-induced” mature language).

[soundcloud width="100%" height="81" params="" url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/22167316"]

Brew Fest and Beyond

Festival Season is here!! And now with “the rapture” out the way, it looks like it’s going to be quite the Summer. With Cheese back at Bonnaroo and then Electric Forest, it will for sure keep me busy for the majority of the summer. Then I continue forward with lots of unique musical formations and events. From collaborating with Steve Kimock to jamming with George Porter and Bill Kreutzman, plus doing clinics on beer and home brewing, it is going to be a diverse few months. But I’m looking forward to the challenge. Also, my band KHB will be working hard this summer. We’re heading to Electric Forest as well as local and national touring. Including my 2nd annual Kyle's Brew Fest here in Boulder, Colorado.

In case you missed it last year, Kyle’s Brew Fest is a unique brew event, benefiting Conscious Alliance, that not only showcases great beer, but also the art of the brewing process. Ultimately it connects my passion for music and my love of brewing (I’m even considering making a beer on stage while I play). Last year's Brew Fest sold out show was a blast and helped to raise awareness and money for conscious alliance. Boasting over 25 breweries and great tunes, please join us again this year. We will be drinking, talking and singing beer all for a great cause. Hope to see some of ya out there...

But for the next few weeks I’m being sequestered into the school of SCI rock. Back at it, we are digging in and spending time together making sure that every show we do is an unique “Incident.” From testing-out new stuff, to the ever-lasting search for the perfect cover, it's always a challenge and a relief to be back with friends.

See you soon.

Kyle

In preparation for Brewfest I am making sure we have enough Hoopla Pale Ale ready, check out the video. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pazYChsefiI&w=560&h=349]

Hoppy Holidays: #1

So here we are at the final keyboardist. As I look at this list I see so many amazing players. And although I had to choose the ones that made an impact on my playing I have so many more that I admire. From Red Garland and Brad Mehldau to Chester Thompson and Matt Rollings, there are so many great musicians out here. And, of course, my college teacher ,Greg Hatza, had a big influence on me and helped me get started on my journey so many years ago. And I thank him for that... #1: Herbie Hancock

So yes, every keyboard player is expected to cite Herbie as an influence. And with good reason, he is sooo the man. I first found him in college after my piano professor turned me on to Speak No Evil (a Wayne Shorter album). Of course I had heard of Herbie from the Eighties hit “Rockit,” but the earlier Miles Davis side of him was so was so soulful. Every note had so much feel and intention. And although in college I was studying all the greats, such as Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Bud Powell, etc., I kept coming back to Herbie. The live Miles Davis 1964 discs Four & More + My Funny Valentine were constantly playing in my room. It was, and remains to be, one of my favorite recordings of all time. There is great compositional improvisation on that record, so much musical intuition between the players. It wasn’t until later that I discovered the Headhunters' records. This was another level for me as well. Not only funky playing, but also that tone coming from the Rhodes was something I had to have. Herbie’s feel is always at the center of his playing whether a piano, Rhodes or Clavinet. He was a great inspiration for me.

Hoppy Holidays 12/10 Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom | Denver, CO – KHB feat. DJ Logic & Liza Oxnard w/The Nu Classics plus signature beer by Kyle and Boulder Beer 12/11 Hodi’s Half Note | Fort Collins, CO – KHB feat. DJ Logic & Liza Oxnard w/the Nu Classics plus signature beer by Kyle and Boulder Beer 12/12 Avery Brewing Co. | Boulder, CO – KHB plus signature beer by Kyle and Avery Brewing and much, much, more! – SOLD OUT!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hmVHhH96es&fs=1&hl=en_US]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76uSD1-u34Y&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Hoppy Holidays Countdown: #2

In anticipation of Hoppy Holidays, I will be counting down the top five keyboardists whom have had the most influence on my playing. I’ll post a different artist every few days between now and the first day of Hoppy Holidays: Friday, December 10th. I am often asked to name the most influential keyboardists in my life. I usually just rattle off my favorites from then and now, but I wanted to really take a look at who influenced my playing. I didn’t want to select just keyboard players that I admire and study, but those that have made an impact on my performance and writing. So I scanned my iTunes library and dug up my old cassettes from the basement and this is what it came down to…

#2: Bill Payne

Growing up, I would hear music wafting down the staircase from my brother’s super cool attic bedroom. And although my family was primarily a Beatles/Simon & Garfunkel institution, he was playing some new music that peeked my interest. It had great feel and less-predictable song forms. So I started digging into Little Feat myself. I remember spending hours listening to Waiting For Columbus, especially “Dixie Chicken.” I loved the breakdown with the horn section and Bill’s solo moment there is awesome. The whole concept of laying-down time with the left hand, while freeing up the right for improvisation, was new to me. I guess I had never really heard much ragtime/New Orleans-style music before, so the concept of a “one man band” was inspirational. And Bill uses the whole piano as a canvas. From his high percussion-type splashes to super low bombs, Bill taught me that piano is a percussion instrument in every sense of the word. At times, I still struggle to get out of my three- or four-octave safe zone. It is always refreshing to watch or listen to Bill play. He is the catalyst for me to stretch out of my comfort zone, which is always good.

Hoppy Holidays 12/10 Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom | Denver, CO – KHB feat. DJ Logic & Liza Oxnard w/The Nu Classics plus signature beer by Kyle and Boulder Beer 12/11 Hodi’s Half Note | Fort Collins, CO – KHB feat. DJ Logic & Liza Oxnard w/the Nu Classics plus signature beer by Kyle and Boulder Beer 12/12 Avery Brewing Co. | Boulder, CO – KHB plus signature beer by Kyle and Avery Brewing and much, much, more! – SOLD OUT!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWnYuw2JxSA&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Hoppy Holidays Countdown: #3

In anticipation of Hoppy Holidays, I will be counting down the top five keyboardists whom have had the most influence on my playing. I’ll post a different artist every few days between now and the first day of Hoppy Holidays: Friday, December 10th. I am often asked to name the most influential keyboardists in my life. I usually just rattle off my favorites from then and now, but I wanted to really take a look at who influenced my playing. I didn’t want to select just keyboard players that I admire and study, but those that have made an impact on my performance and writing. So I scanned my iTunes library and dug up my old cassettes from the basement and this is what it came down to…

#3: Bernie Worrell via Talking Heads

Seriously, from ages 17 to 21 I went a bit psychotic over the Talking Heads. This band was my high school obsession. You know, the time in your life where you kind of find an identity based on the scene you are in and music you listen to? It was not until I saw Stop Making Sense that I really got hooked. I dug in deep. I got every recording I could find and listened until the grooves on the vinyl wore out (records were large discs that would play music, they predate the modern CD). I then followed the musical genealogy of the separate band members from The Tom Tom Club to The Modern Lovers to Bernie Worrell and Parliament. It was the sounds and the groove that Bernie brought to the Heads' music that most likely made me like them in the first place. I was discovering funk from the back door. Maybe not the back door, but some sort of super white, geeky, artsy side entrance. Some of those songs had great moments. “Life During War Time” and its super funky Clavinet and wailing prophet tones made my head turn. What the hell was making those sounds? Parliament was a later addition for me, and although Bernie was an integral part of those tunes, I kept falling back to his work with the Heads for funky inspiration.

Hoppy Holidays 12/10 Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom | Denver, CO – KHB feat. DJ Logic & Liza Oxnard w/The Nu Classics plus signature beer by Kyle and Boulder Beer 12/11 Hodi’s Half Note | Fort Collins, CO – KHB feat. DJ Logic & Liza Oxnard w/the Nu Classics plus signature beer by Kyle and Boulder Beer 12/12 Avery Brewing Co. | Boulder, CO – KHB plus signature beer by Kyle and Avery Brewing and much, much, more! - SOLD OUT!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsksSWOxq2Y&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Hoppy Holidays Countdown

In anticipation of Hoppy Holidays, I will be counting down the top five keyboardists whom have had the most influence on my playing. I’ll post a different artist every few days between now and the first day of Hoppy Holidays: Friday, December 10th. I am often asked to name the most influential keyboardists in my life. I usually just rattle off my favorites from then and now, but I wanted to really take a look at who influenced my playing. I didn’t want to select just keyboard players that I admire and study, but those that have made an impact on my performance and writing. So I scanned my iTunes library and dug up my old cassettes from the basement and this is what it came down to…

#5: Stevie Wonder

Growing up, my family was the Bob Dylan and Peter, Paul and Mary-type crowd, nothing musically challenging, just good songs with lyrically provoking themes. Of course, the Beatles were right in there as well, but the R & B and Motown sound didn’t really make it through our door. It came down to me looking outside my family’s genre to find new music. By the time I was in high school, I was listening to the Talking Heads and discovering new sounds, such as African rhythms through the albums Remain In Light and My Life in the Bush of Ghosts and funk from Bernie Worrell and Parliament. This road eventually wound its way through Billy Preston and The Meters into Ray Charles and landed on Stevie Wonder. It was not just Stevie’s soulful playing, but also the songwriting that hooked me in. Tunes like “You Haven’t Done Nothing” and “Higher Ground” spoke to my sense of funk, but also to my feelings on social consciousness. And I loved the quality of those recordings, so raw and so much energy. And his voice has such great versatility, I enjoyed all the nuances that decorated the ends of his phrases. Stevie was able to bridge my early pop influences with some real soul and lead me in a new direction musically and compositionally.

Hoppy Holidays 12/10 Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom | Denver, CO – KHB feat. DJ Logic & Liza Oxnard w/The Nu Classics plus signature beer by Kyle and Boulder Beer 12/11 Hodi’s Half Note | Fort Collins, CO – KHB feat. DJ Logic & Liza Oxnard w/the Nu Classics plus signature beer by Kyle and Boulder Beer 12/12 Avery Brewing Co. | Boulder, CO – KHB plus signature beer by Kyle and Avery Brewing and much, much, more!

For more information on Hoppy Holidays and to purchase tickets go to www.kylehollingsworth.com/ontour

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnbdXWvmysg&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Fall

Hampton Coliseum. The mothership, hell yeah. I had heard of this place for years, but I had never been there. It was incredible. Nice to be in a venue that has so much history. The shows were pretty rocking, a bit more edge than our usual “diverse“ String Cheese sets. We purposely mixed up the tunes a bit and tried not to put traditional tunes in the same old spots. For example: “Shine” to open second set or “Restless Wind“ to end the show. Although, by doing this, it did put some not-quite-as-strong songs in the hot seat for opening and closing the sets. But it came off pretty well. And really it just comes down to committing to the tunes and making them rock. Overall, I thought the shows were great. Plus “Jump” was awesome. Travis nailed it! So I’m keeping super busy this Fall. Next week my solo project, KHB, is playing in the Midwest. We are touring with a band out of St. Louis called Messy Jiverson. They are making some waves in that area and I’m looking forward to hanging and jamming with those guys. There are a lot of good collaboration possibilities, so the shows are sure to be slammin’.

I am super psyched to announce my Hoppy Holidays run December 10-12. The three shows are here on the Front Range with my band and also feature DJ Logic and Liza. It is sure to go off, we did this same line up at YarmonyGrass Festival last Summer and it was one of my favorite sets of the Summer. And, of course, there is always awesome beer. In conjunction with Boulder Beer and Avery Brewing, I will be making special brews for this event. In fact, the Sunday show is a benefit for Conscious Alliance at Avery Brewery in their back barrel room in Boulder. Tickets will include a lot of great stuff as usual.

And, in my ever-changing need to try new things and challenge myself, I am doing a few unique shows this Fall as well. I am playing a children’s concert at the Yo Gabba Gabba show here in Broomfield this Sunday, November 7th. Also I will be touring with Bonerama and Steve Kimock on the East Coast for a few select dates.

Check the website for all the info: http://www.kylehollingsworth.com/ontour

Thanks y’all.

Kyle

Falling Out of Summer

It has been a crazy few months. From Red Rocks to forest fires, this summer has been full of wondrous and disastrous times. The season began with copious amounts of SCI rehearsals that lead to a great run of shows here in Colorado and the West Coast. Then I put on a brew fest and traveled the country playing with my solo band. We had a lot of fun hanging in the festival circuit. But then in late Summer, the foothills of Boulder got hit with the biggest fire in local history. To that end, I am super psyched to be involved in the Fourmile Fire Revival show. The line up is killer and it will be the first time I have played with some of those folks. I have seen Phish many times, but never really met them. And, in fact, I played in a band that performed a tribute set to them at the last Jammy Awards. A bit awkward really, they sat side stage as we performed their music very marginally. Must have been weird for them as well. I am not sure how this whole show will go down, but I hope all the bands get some time to play together. I am looking forward to it!

On the beer front, I have been talking with a lot of great breweries about doing some more “Kyle brews." Several of them have already shown some interest in crafting up new brews with me. I would love to do another brew fest next summer and perhaps a benefit this holiday season. Stay tuned... I also went to the Great American Beer Festival this last week, great times and awesome beers. Some of my favorites were Fat Head Brewery and Blind Tiger Brewery, their IPA's were outstanding. I made a short video of my adventure, from karaoke to silent disco, I got a little crazy this year.

see ya, Kyle

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzQuV3a_890&fs=1&hl=en_US]

Let's Go Outside

So my “other” band, SCI, has been at it for about two weeks now. It has been great, but a bit overwhelming. We have been digging in pretty seriously, about 25-30 hours a week.   And the shows aren't even happening for another month!  I imagine by then we will be so ready to get out and play for a live audience.  Staring at the those four walls of our practice space can get a bit tedious. I am ready for the stage surrounded by walls of giant red rock. The trick has been what to practice. With about 120 tunes we do not have time to polish all of them up. And, for me, I am more interested in people bringing new tunes and cover ideas to the table. While I'm excited to play all the old tunes, I also want to keep it fresh with new music and grooves. We have all been growing outside of SCI with other projects, so it's cool to bring in those influences.

In rehearsal we have been trying to balance all six of our diverse opinions so everyone can be heard. It can be a bit of a tightrope act at times to juggle all the strong wills in one band. And in fact we kind of got into it with each other the other day. But I see that as a good thing. A sign that everyone is feeling vested in this project and its final outcome. It's nice to be back with the band again, a place where everyone can put it all out there.

On a personal note, I was able to jump back into the studio and mix an outtake from my latest disc, Then There's Now. This little gem didn't make it on the disc originally, but after a few tweaks here and there, I think it's ready.  I made it available as a free download so feel free to grab it and rock it.
Download "Let's Go Outside" Here!

See ya soon.

Kyle

One of Everyone

Wow. What a great time this past weekend. I had the pleasure of being part of the Everyone Orchestra. I have done similar gigs in the past with Colonel Bruce Hampton and Zambieland, but this time around it seemed a bit more focused. Matt Butler did a great job driving the ship through the murky sonic seas. Trying to direct so many musicians from different backgrounds into a cohesive sound must be difficult. And, yes, at times it was a bit chaotic, but overall it felt like a good dance party. If you have not seen one of these events get out be a part of it sometime. Speaking of  “events,”  I am excited to announce that I will be hosting my own beer festival this summer. Kyle’s Brew Fest is happening on Thursday, July 22nd, the day before the SCI Red Rocks shows, at Great Divide Brewing in Denver. It is a culmination of all that I have done over the last year and will combine my love of music, home brewing and great beer. We will be hosting 8 to10 different breweries from around the country. Each will bring its unique tastes to this festival. Hoppingsworth IPA will be back on tap as well as some other treats. The ticket will include beer, food, cool pint glasses, and a set from my band, KHB. And with all the proceeds benefiting Conscious Alliance, it's a great way to give to a good cause and enjoy a summer night with a cold brew. see you out there!

Kyle