FRESH TRAX [DEBUT EDITION]

DJ Mike Colossal

Okay, I've featured Mike Colossal a lot - but I couldn't think of anyone better than him to start off our newest feature. In my opinion, his music is all about that DIY, independent spirit. He mixes, records, and promotes his music on his own.

Here's a track that is not only FREE to download, but also exemplifies his well trained ear for music of many genres and his skills as a master (and Sammie nominated) turntablist.

Find out more about DJ Mike Colossal:

MySpace | Twitter | Bandcamp

2010 Sammie Nommies!

DJ Blackheart Photo by David Jayne

Yesterday Sacramento News & Review posted this year's list of Sammie Award Nominees!

Quite a few folks had something to say about some of the choices, and moreover those who were NOT chosen. But, like any list of nominations, somebody gets left out. And quite frankly, the public had a chance to vote their favorites in. So if some band/DJ/dance night got missed  you can't really blame the folks who put on the Sammies.

I'd have to say that this is actually a pretty solid year: DOOMbird, Sea of Bees, Random Abiladeze, The New Humans, G. Green, Tribe of Levi, Lite Brite, Sister Crayon and DJ Mike Colossal. 

And not one but TWO punk bands made it into the Hall of Fame: 7Seconds and The Secretions.

Voting Begins September 2nd

Winners will be announced October 9th 

More Info @ Sammies.Com

Fresh and Free Music!

THMZ | Photo by Raoul Ortega

August is a good month for Sacramento indie electro-pop outfit The New Humans. It's been two years since they won a Sammie Award and after switching studios and producers, their first EP entitled "Avalanche" is finally complete.

On Saturday the 21st, Concerts 4 Charity is throwing a HUGE Avalanche EP release party at the Townhouse Lounge to celebrate and you won't want to miss it. Also performing with The New Humans are Little Foxes, Favors, and DJ Shaun Slaughter.

Thanks to Fuel (the all natural energy drink) pre-sale tickets are available NOW.  The first 50 to order receive not only a ticket to the CD Release Party on August 21st but a FREE copy of Avalanche for only $7!

>>Pre Order Now<<

 All the Kids by The New Humans

RSVP to the event to get a *FREE DOWNLOAD* of "All the Kids" off the Avalanche EP!

The New Humans and Paduta are planning a giveaway! Details coming soon . . .


More FREE Music From:

Mike Colossal is an upcoming local turntablist we featured a few weeks back in our "Unsigned Experience" series.

He recently released Mad DOOM: The Mixtape - a thoughtful upbeat, and well produced collection of tracks that samples music by MF Doom, Madlib, and Dilated Peoples.

It is smart, fun(ky), and the perfect soundtrack for summertime.

What I appreciate about DJ Colossal is that he truly embodies the spirit of the working artist. This tape was recorded and produced from his home, and he's releasing it on his own.

And he's even offering Mad DOOM: The Mixtape as a FREE DOWNLOAD!


Check out these guys out!

You Love Our Scene

And here's why:
Weekend Show Edition!

Friday July 23rd

Lite Brite the very loud and very awesome three piece band from Sacramento will be headlining this Friday's Concert in the Park Series.

With them will be fellow indie rockers Prieta (who says they are in a relationship with Lite Brite on Facebook) and Musical Charis (whose debut album People People is being released by JMB Records the very same day!).

Come on out, eat some great food, and watch three amazing local bands at Cesar Chavez Park in Downtown Sacramento.

5:30-8:30PM - ALL AGES - FREE!!!

Mike Colossal's Birthday Bash 

If it's too hot for you, come out to Butch N Nellie's coffee shop for a birthday party you don't want to miss. Mike Colossal will be doing live mixing and scratching with fellow Sacramento hip hop artists Poor from Tribe of Levi and Mr. P Chill, along with the rest of the Velvet Wax crew!

Have an iced coffee or a cold brewski and celebrate local influential hip hop!

Saturday July 24th

Boats the punk/powerpop group are releasing their "Totally Jawsome" LP and performing at Luigi's Fungarden this Saturday to spread the word. This three piece band is becoming a fixture of the Sacramento music scene. Their tunes are loud, energic and a lot of fun!

To celebrate the release, local punk icons The Secretions will be performing along with Bastards of Young and Ashtray.

All and all it should be a loud, explosive night. Get there early, grab a beer and a slice and have a blast!

7PM - ALL AGES - $5

Also Coming Up:

*Jerry Perry Presents* with:
Be Brave Bold Robot, Odame, Secret Argyle, & Jem and Scout

Old Ironsides - 1901 10th St. - Sacramento

9PM - 12 AM | 21+ | $7

*Concerts4Charity* Benefit Concert at Beatnik 

Supporting the McClatchy Music Program Boosters with:

Musical Charis, Prieta, Lite Brite, & Goodness Gracious Me

Beer By Sudwerk

Beatnik Studios | 2421 17th | 5PM

The Unsigned Experience 3 - DJ Mike Colossal

Sacramento's DJ Mike Colossal has been scratching for over ten years. His knowledge of music from all genres is astounding. This is a young man who can mix together everything from Metalica to Notorious B.I.G., Le Tigre to traditional mariachi.

He is quickly becoming a staple of the local hip hop community and has recently opened for a number of iconic hip hop acts - most recently Busdriver at the Blue Lamp. 



Not only that but as a member of the LBGT community, he is looking to create socially conscious hip hop music that doesn't glorify hate speech toward anyone based on their sexual orientation.

Mike Colossal will be performing at his very own Birthday Bash at Butch n' Nellies coffee shop on Friday July 23rd along with other local hip hop performers like Poor from Tribe of Levi, Mr P Chill and the Velvet Wax.

A few weeks ago, I asked him some questions about his career as an unsigned artist, the local scene, and how to make it without a label.

How did you start getting booked for gigs? What was your first professional gig?

I started booking gigs through my campus radio station called KSSU and through a local promotion company called 12s Wax. I volunteered at the station as a radio deejay and as part of the management team. The two joined forces: KSSU sponsered the flyers, brought promotional goodies, etc. 12's Wax booked the gigs and took care of security and money. My first gig was at the second version of the Capital Garage in Sacramento. There I would scratch, mix and play the latest hip-hop, with some breaks and funk.


What web tools do you use to promote your music?

Originally, MySpace was a huge part of promotion. I would post bulletins promoting the show using three different accounts. I would write new bulletins each time, add new YouTube videos of either myself or of featured artists who were going to be present, added my artist profile songs in to give people a taste of my music.

Facebook today isn't as kind to artists as MySpace is. When I do shows I tell people to check out my MySpace or Twitter accounts. MySpace is like having my own website and Twitter gives a real feel of connection. I don't post a lot of BS since I have to keep it poignant. I tell them about my shows, let them know what I'm working on.

I use zSHARE to save my music and send it to other artists to collaborate on. Or, I upload my mix on there and post the link on MySpace and people can download it for free.


What other kinds of media do you use (audio, visual, etc.)?

I run stacks of flyers to local record stores, clothing boutiques, and food spots, book stores; anywhere they would let me leave them. On occasion I will flyer Sac State and personally hand out flyers and invite people to shows. We even make large posters for the shows and tape them up in windows and telephone poles. 

I still don't have internet at my current residence and that is why it is still important to make sure I flyer personally (for all us poor people). I also add as much media (videos, songs, downloadable mixes) to the internet to keep people satisfied until my next show. I'm also printing mixtapes and handing them out free at my expense, bootlegging my shows so people hear and want to see my live performances. I see free CD's as an audio business card and resume. People look it over and see if they like it and if do, then they will remember me.

Are you actively looking to be signed by a label?

With such a lack of a need for labels these days, I am not looking to be signed. My current goal is to be able to do lives shows (my MPC/scratch/mixing performances) and to sell merch and get my music out. If it stays steady at a local or regional level, I would be happy with that for the rest of my life, but recently doing shows out of state makes me want to get my music out to more people live, get out my DVDs with trippy animation and my music on them, and get CD's (and eventually LP's) in to fans' hands.

Describe the Sacramento music scene and how you interact with it. Where are your favorite places to perform?

I can't speak for the Sacramento music scene as a whole, only the hip-hop scene and that is a pretty incestuous scene. Few people really make a name for themselves off merit. Hip-hop shows usually consist of people bringing out all their Facebook friends and shows never usually pan out (unless a national hip-hop act headlines). That is why groups, cliques, and collectives dominate the scene for a while then fade out because their friends cannot keep supporting them alone. When people do get big, they just leave the Sac scene because they can flourish without it on a larger scale.  

Shows also lack good sound quality and planning making them drag on a long time.

Los Hermanos 1200 w/ Mike Colossal @ the Golden Bear 10/30/09

Some of the best places to perform in Sacramento are Capital Garage, Golden Bear, Butch n' Nellies, Press Club, the Distillery, Sac State, and the Java Lounge. These places are usually down to let you do whatever it is you want to do, as long as you put real effort into it. They are always down to let you do a one-time show and will allow you to do a weekly or monthly as long as it keeps bringing in revenue.




*Listen to "Interstellar Love Jam" by Mike Colossal PLUS his interview about the Sacramento hip hop scene with Nick Brunner on Off Air - Smart Rock Radio.*


Here's the BIG question: do you think unsigned musicians have any influence over the music industry?

Unsigned musicians don't have influence on the music industry, only the fans. Before, record labels were the MySpaces and Twitters and Facebooks. They gave an artist the ability to be recognized on a national level. Now with the internet, you can get that recognition without the industry. If you promote, do shows, leave free CD's for fans you can be your OWN industry. Radiohead said "fuck it" and showed a whole generation of musicians you can do it without the industry. Although musicians can only gain so much fame without the industry, but most artists can create a sustainable fan base.

Also with promoting being in the hands of the artist, artists can be as big or small as they see fit. Before you couldn't make a living being a part time musician. But now that you can do a lot of promotion at home on your own time, you can go to work from 9-5, update social network sites, records in your home studio, make your cool flyers on the computer, print them out at a local show, and hustle your ass off on your free time.

People don't have to worry about making a huge record industry flop, have terrible show attendance, get dropped and never be heard of again. People can now be effective artists at their own pace. And people are ready to run in the long marathon of becoming artists, not just sprinting for fame. Those cats don't last.

Don't miss Mike Colossal's Birthday Bash at Butch n' Nellies (19th & I Street) on July 23rd from 7-10PM. Great music and quite possibly the best cappuccino in Sacramento!

Check out Mike Colossal on:

MySpace
Twitter

It's ALL AGES, and only $3 donation - come out and support!