Dear BTS and TBF Constituents,
Hello and greetings from Earth…a fantasy world that is every bit as amazing as you have the creative capacity to imagine. Everyone looks great! Thanks for coming out. Put your reading pants on, kiddies. I gots a lot of good things to say to you.
So, here it is, the new current fantasy: The Basics Fund and BTS Welcome: BoomBox!!!! I don’t know if everyone remembers/knows this, but I am huge fan of BoomBox. The first time they came through CO (at least it was the first time they came through since I had heard of them), I pitched the idea of writing a story on them to Brian F. Johnson at the Marquee Magazine. He was able to put me in touch with the band’s management, and shortly thereafter I had one of the best, most insightful interviews of my writing career. We got down to the dirty murky mucky mud of it. Art. Context. The point of music in the first place. To create a sense of place. And in this case a place you could dance in. Or couldn’t stop dancing in, as it were. A philosophy embodied in sound. Nothing lost in translation. Raw. Elemental. BoomBox. Russ Randolf and Zion Rock Godcheaux. Dead family scion. Son of Donna Jean and Keith. But they wanted to downplay that whole legacy side-story. Understandably. Let this music earn its own keep. Inheriting only the unavoidable cross-over. And one of Jerry’s guitars. And maybe a slight reincarnation of that effortless presentation. Anyway. The interview was great. We hit it off. Saw eye to eye. And during the conversation, I happened to let slip this whole thing that I was working on. The Basics Fund. It was a newborn baby then and I talked about it all the time to everyone. Bus to Show, wasn’t even thought of as a separate organization. That whole deal was still just a Twinkle in me and Charlie’s eyes. And anyway, BoomBox offered us the chance to partner up in promoting buses to their shows. Wholesale tickets to sell as a fund raiser, and a booth inside the venue. It was the first time a nationally touring act gave us this kind of a hand-up. Granted, it was the first time we had ever asked. Flash forward 3 years. BoomBox’s 2nd album is out. Downriver Electric. And, we get an idea. The Semiotic Sessions, our artist interview concept. An attempt to get people talking deeply about art they deeply cared for.. We’ve done it once before…with Signal Path on CU campus, interviewed by Ryan Nelli of GSP. Amazing turnout. Amazing content. Would BoomBox be down to investigate the true nature of their art, in the form of a guided discussion in front of a live audience (consisting of people like you…just exactly like you) at CU on February 25th at 5 PM? I don’t know. They surprised us before with their down-ness to Earth. Their chillness. Their going with the flow: downriver steadily. Electrically. Not unlike their music. Maybe it’s possible. Doesn’t hurt to ask. So we asked. And guess what…They said yes!
And as a result, this February 25th, 2011 (that’s a Friday), just before their sold out Show at The Fox, The Basics Fund will be welcoming BOOMBOX to the 2nd installment of The Semiotic Sessions, live artist interview series. A hopeless attempt to use something as abstract as words to describe something as abstract as art. Oh yeah, and it’s FREE! –Thanks to our CU student group and the Cultural Events Board. Reserve your spot below. There’s a link somewhere down there. You’ll see it. Space is limited. Seats will go fast. There’s a link below to reserve.
As if this weren’t enough, the night before (Thurs. Feb. 24th), BoomBox will also be throwing a VIP hangout sesh for BTS Bus Riders ONLY! upstairs at the Bluebird before their show.
Ask and ye shall motherfunkin receive!
Sorry. Got excited. Here’s the table of contents for this month’s letter.
1. BoomBox partners with Bus to Show and The Basics Fund for 3 nights of music, discussion, and parties
2. The Buffalo Exchange Donates to The Basics Fund, through its “Tokens for Bags” program
3. Welcome to the Tribe, Senor Johnston, The Michael Johnston of the Future.
4. The Elusive Silver Streak bus is back and ready for your VIP busparty endjoyment. **Available to monthly members only (so become one, already, geez).
5. Top Sponsors: Fresh2Death and Grassroots California.
6. Upcoming Bus Calendar
1. The BoomBox Run:
02/24 Thursday at the Bluebird (denver) http://on.fb.me/gOz92e
- BoomBox is inviting BTS riders to a Riders Only VIP Hangout Sesh. Kick it upstairs at the Bluebird with Russ and Zion and members of the BoomBox camp. The bus for this will leave Boulder a little earlier, at 6:00 PM. The hangout sesh is 7 PM to 8 PM. We will also offer a later bus to make sure that people who can’t make it to the pregame can still make it to the show. Anyone who reserves for any of the BoomBox buses during this run, including (Denver to Boulder at the Fox) are invited to join. Advanced Reservation Required. http://bustoshow.org/calendar
02/25 Friday The Basics Fund Presents: Semiotic Sessions Lecture Series w. BoomBox @ CU campus.
- Before the sold out show at The Fox, BoomBox is participating in the 2nd installment of The Basics Fund’s lecture series, The Semiotic Sessions. CEO and Ghost Chief of the Basics Fund, and widely published Music Journalist, Dustin Huth (aka me), will be interviewing Russ and Zion of BoomBox live and in person on CU campus in an effort to better understand their art, their perspective on their art, and the context of their art within contemporary movements.
Reserve Here: http://semioticsessions2.eventbrite.com/ This event is free for those who reserve in advance. Cost is $2 at the door.
02/26 Saturday BoomBox @ Bluebird http://on.fb.me/g5yyeq
So, an extra night of BoomBox @ Bluebird was just added in response to demand. BTS is following suit, and offering another night of buses. There is also a pre-party in Denver at the bar down the street from the Bluebird called Lost Lake Lounge http://on.fb.me/ewmS0A . Party starts at 7 PM, so BTS will be offering a 6 PM bus for this one, as well as the later leaving bus that will head directly to the show. reserve online at bustoshow.org/calendar.
2. The Buffalo Exchange…Exchange
So, you know that rad recycled clothing shop that used to be on 17th and Walnut, but is now on 17th and Pearl? The Buffalo Exchange? There’s also one in Denver on 13th by just east of the Denver Art Museum, by City O City? Do you know it? Yeah? Well check it out…they’re donating 5 cents for every bag you refuse to 3 local causes. One of which is none other than The Basics Fund! That’s right. In other words, go by clothes and stuff at the Buffalo Exchange in Boulder, and when you do, tell them that you don’t want a bag. Instead of a bag, they will then proceed to give you a wooden token. Take the token and put it into the little box at the register that says, The Basics Fund, on it. At the end of the quarter, they will tally all of them up and give us 5 cents for each one. We have NO IDEA how much money this is going to equal out to, but it’s going to be more if more of you go there and buy more of their stuff without getting bags. So go! Stop reading this and go! Wait…no, actually there’s good stuff coming up, so read the rest and then go.
3. Welcome to the Tribe
I’d like to give a special shout out to Michael Johnston, the newest member of the BTS tribological unit. You may know him better as Director of Community Integrations, or the guy who spends his time rounding up 100s of comp tickets to shows each month. Michael has actually been with us since like June or July of last year, but for some reason, I am just now getting around to bragging about him. We found Mike at the Dumb Friends League, and he was so cute with those big cute eyes, that we just couldn’t say no. He ended up there after a several year stint managing the reservations call center at Intrawest (copper mountain), where he quickly climbed the ladder to the top, then built a few new rungs so he could climb even higher. His work at Intrawest served to cultivate his skills with numbers, budgeting, and projections, and also earned him the opportunity to receive a Six Sigma Degree in Project Management. In his time with Bus to Show, he has already set up and mastered the Community Integrations Department, which basically Integrates BTS with the Community it supports. It works to build seamless relationships with all of the venues and bands we support. It is also working to provide a channel through which other members of the community, who benefit indirectly from the reduced intoxicated driving, can donate or contribute to show their support. Each month, the CI department tallies up the contributions it received and adds them to the running score for each of our supporters. The top sponsors, are what you see in our sponsor totem, and rotating through the sidebar of the bustoshow.org website. Oh, yeah, Mike also maintains that website…and organizes our promotions. Aside from all of that, Mike is also one of the nicest, chillest, easiest to talk to, and most enthusiastic lovers of life ever born. We are ridiculously lucky to have Mike with us. So, please, next time you run into him at a show, buy him a drink and give him a nice long back rub, and whisper something soft and breathy against his neck. Do it for me. Do it for the future.
4. The Streak is back with a brand new invention.
So, after becoming stranded in Austin during the Communikey tour, The BTS Silver Streak, under the sturdy captainship of Charlie, is back in action. This is one of the most righteous buses in existence, 2nd only to the famed Warrior, and employing it’s same strategies, craftsmanship, and at least one of its couches. This bus is 40 feet of pure mayhem. A true home within the journey, soaking up a little bit of soulshine from all who ride inside, and in that way becoming its riders as they simultaneously become it. Here’s the catch…This bus is available to Monthly members only. TO become a monthly member, reserve here:
5. Top Sponsors. You know who’s really been hooking it up for us this last month? Fresh2Death, by way of Grassroots California. Being that GRC are badasses, and have built into their business model a generous contribution to a worthy cause for each sale, and also being that they did the Fresh2Death hat, which was designed by one of the OG TBF/BTS crew, Eric Spector, and also being that Fisk and Samples were the ones who got to decide, THE CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION IS GOING TO THE BASICS FUND! Huge thanks to Fresh2Death. We love you guys! We have loved watching you kill it on larger and larger levels, and getting individual recognition as well as group recognition…and by recognition, I mean fame, while still managing to stay completely chill awesome genuine friends. Infinite love, y’all. Get yer hat here (scroll down,,,look for the one with the Fresh Plaid Christmas Tree Air Freshener)
6. Upcoming Busparty Shows of Note:
Save a cowboy. Ride a bus: bustoshow.org/calendar – 830.299.7762 (830.2.99.PROB)
[Fri - 02/04] The malah @ Cerventes (Den]
[fri - 02/04 & sat - 02/05] moe @ ogden (Den]
[sat - 02/05] michael menert, project aspect @ cerv.
[fri - 02/11] Umphrey’s @ Fillmore (den]
[Fri - 02/11 - Sun 2/13]] furthur @ 1stbank [brmfld]
[fri - 02/11] sub.mission > Stagga,raiden @ Cervantes
[sat - 02/12] devotchka @ Boulder Theater
[fri - 02/18] Drunk Poet Society @ astroland (boulder)
[thu - 02/24] boombox @ bluebird [den]
& VIP social hour w/ boombox for bts Riders
[Fri - 02/25] boombox @ fox[boulder]
& semiotic sessions live interview w/ boombox
@ 5 PM @ room TBA (CU Boulder)
[fri - 02/25] sub.mission > High Rakin, Bare @ oriental
[sat - 02/26] boombox @ bluebird [den]
& pre-party w/ boombx @ lost lake lounge
[Sat - 02/26] woodrose @ astroland (boulder)
[sat - 02/26] ghostland w/ eskmo @ fillmore [den]
[sat - 02/26] larva ink, papadosio, heyoka @ Cerv.
Alright. Gotta role. The waiter at Tom’s Diner has refilled my coffee 6 times. Umphrey’s should be finishing up over at The Fillmore in the next ten minutes. Time to warm up the bus and crank up the PA.
Love with every chamber of this 4-chambered heart.
Dustin.
.
Join us or perish!!!