“Cuvée 6” is the latest release from Boulder-based Adventure Records. Art by Sarah McLaughlin.
Reports of the death of idealism in the music world are greatly exaggerated. Sure, there are signs that Lucifer is hard at work (e.g. the Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger, the return of cassette tapes, Miley Cyrus), but there are even more signs that something good is happening here, even if what it is ain’t exactly clear.
Plenty of musicians and music lovers are sidestepping the rotten, necrotic music business and finding new ways to express their passion and support for music, art and other good things. Boulder-based — releasing its sixth compilation of Colorado music this weekend — is just one inspiring example.
Ken Kadonaga started Adventure Records ten years ago to promote local music and local visual arts, while also building and enriching the local community. The label’s ingenuous tagline — “It’s about music and it’s about community” — proclaims a simple, idealistic mission. “We exist because we care about culture,” says Kadonaga, who describes himself as, “a frustrated junior high school trombone player.” Impressed by the caliber of talent in his own backyard, Kadonaga was eager to help artists in the Denver area gain greater exposure.
The label’s featured noteworthy bands of the time, such as Ordinary K, Yo Flaco!, Cabaret Diosa and United Dope Front, as well as some artists who are still around today, like and . The compilation also sported cover art by local visual artist . Sales of that compilation benefited the , a gift from the city of Boulder to its sister city, Dushanbe, Tajikistan. “When you give to the community, the community gives back many times over,” says Kadonaga, with characteristic enthusiasm.
Since that first compilation, Kadonaga has put together five more and produced events to promote local musicians and artists while benefiting a variety of non-profits (including and ). Not surprisingly, Kadonaga is eager to share the credit for the label’s accomplishments. “Rachel Hamilton is the heart and Judy Craddock is the voice,” the unabashed music lover explains. “We also have several others helping out, like John Kasdorf, who does amazing design work. He’s the eyes. And there’s mastering by Jason McDaniel, the ears. I’m the big toe.”
Adventure Records latest compilation, “Cuvée 6,” follows the same tradition as previous releases from the label. Artist Sarah McLaughlin provided the cover image, and a number of noteworthy Denver-area bands contributed tunes. , , , , and account for just a few of the album’s 17 eclectic tracks. The equal-opportunity Kadonaga prefers exploring the diversity of high-quality local music to focusing on a particular sound.
“Cuvée 6” will be unveiled this Saturday, Feb. 27, at the , with performances by , , and . The show is open to anyone over 18, and the $10 cover gets you a copy of the CD as well. If you don’t manage to make it out to the show, you can grab a copy of “Cuvée 6” at in Denver or the in Boulder.
Eryc Eyl is a veteran music journalist, critic and Colorado native who has been neck-deep in local music for many years. Check out every Tuesday for local music you can HEAR, and the every Friday.
