Two weeks ago today, one of the best shows to ever happen in this building happened. It was magic, as it felt it would be. Nathaniel Rateliff brought harmonies and musics and the like to levels that melt butter. Plus, some oldies from Desire & Dissolving Men were scattered through the set list, including Just For Me But I Thought Of You. Video below. Enjoy and watch on repeat.
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6 months ago, Everyday Joe’s volunteer Josh Taves let us know that he’d like to compete in this year’s United States Barista Competition circuit. We agreed with vigor and enthusiasm to sponsor him. The Southwest Regional competition is this weekend (March 4-6) in Hollywood, CA. This post will continue to roll with updates over the next 4 days or so as our good people check in from where they are. Those people? Diana Sitzman (Everyday Joe’s Assistant Director), David Runkles (Board Member), Rachel Robichaux (Volunteer, Photographer) Alyssa Snow (Volunteer), and Josh Taves (Volunteer, Competitor).
Word has it Charlie Sheen is loaning Josh some tiger blood. Please enjoy the hilarity, awkwardness, and information below.
3.5.11: Competition Day 2
1.15 pm: IT’S ON
Sorry for the drop off in updates yesterday. Spent the afternoon getting the shop ready for this guy:
The Trace Bundy was sold out and great. He said you were a great crowd. Congratulations.
But, while I got things ready for that business, other business was happening out in Hollywood:
Rachel & The Biebs
Diana As Judge
Today is Josh’s competition day. We can feel our hearts rising into our throats. Luckily he’s getting good text messages from our friends in Guatemala:
And Josh is feeling good about the day, and wearing a fine fine shirt:
My heart is more in my throat now, so I am going to go watch. You can do the same below. Josh will be up at about 2 pm MST.
3.4.11: Competition Day 1
NOON pm: LET THE GAMES BEGIN
The time is here.With the SW regionals being held in SCAAs hometown, the venue is uber-hip. It’s gone from hotel conference rooms to Siren Studios in Hollywood. Watch the competition below (live stream) and then get a brief tour of the space in the videos & photos below that. Also being held is the regional for the Brewers Cup…which, you guessed it, is a brewing competition (thanks David Runkles for the constant updates). Be watching for Diana Sitzman starring as the Tech Judge slaying it.
Watch live video from SCAA/USBC on Justin.tv
Taves on the 4th machine
9.30 am: Knowing Is Good
Mr. Taves doesn’t compete until tomorrow (2:09 pm MST…we’re having a get together at the shop starting at 1:30 pm…come so we can see your face) but the competition starts today. When you watch, you’ll hear a lot of talk about origin…i.e. where the coffee was grown and on what farm and by whom. The winner of the regional even gets an all expenses paid trip to origin. Not a bad deal.
But, with green coffee prices creeping up up up over the past little while, things “at origin” are getting a little dicey. A couple of tweets from last week:
From @sweetmarias:
The lot of Finca Siberia Pacamara we had contracted for 2011 was stolen off the trees last night. Farm manager and crew were handcuffed.
From @coffeeshrub:
Coffee cherry theft is a frightening problem happening right now
My guess is you understand what those tweets are saying, but just in case: because green (unroasted) coffee prices are so high right now, bandits see it as an opportunity to make some cash. Trucks are being hijacked, people are being robbed, COFFEE CHERRIES ARE BEING STOLEN OFF TREES. It’s like walking into a corn field and taking the crop right off the plant.
I’m not putting this here to burst any bubbles. When consuming things – whether it is an apple or a cup off coffee – knowing where it comes from can be a very good thing. However, it can also get a little romantic. There is always more to be aware of, and it behooves us as people to be more aware of it.
Of course, a little bit of guidance (read: satire) can always help make the disturbing and disheartening a bit easier to process.
In other news, here’s where the Everyday Joe’s contingency chowed last night:
3.3.11
DAY 2 ROUNDUP
Diana aced the judges test. Fact.
She was also blogged by the SCAA. Pictures for you.
And now, how about some more pictures for you? Pictures of what the other 4 were doing while Diana was learning how to get her tech judge on. Observe:
SCAA HQ. Apparently there is video of a guided tour coming.
Intelligentsia pit stop. There was a St. Bernard in the atrium.
Competition milk shopping at the Whole Foods.
Shirtless Man Painting Name On Box. Big Gulp.
California, we have descended upon thee.
10.30 am: BACK TO SCHOOL
The fifth member of the 5 has arrived in Cali. Text messages have been exchanged:
Me: You taking your camera? You send me pretty pictures?
Rachel: Yep. Done and done. Just landed. From here on out I will only be listening to Sublime.
While they’re all listening to Sublime, Diana is at judges class. It’s been mentioned earlier, but now we have video proof. It rings of dropping your child off for their first day of kindergarten:
9.00 am: NICE CUTOFFS
Text messages exchanged this morning:
Me: Any updates
Diana: I just took an ice cold shower
Alyssa: Diana just took an ice cold shower because she turned the knob the wrong way. Not going to tell her mine was warm and toasty.
Josh: I’m a gangster for real.
David: I hear josh garggling in the bathroom. We’re leaving for SCAA.
What’s going on at SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association Of America) HQ today? Judges training. It is vigorous. Luckily, it appears the weather is nice. Too bad the Dianimal will spend all day absorbing copious amounts of information and caffeine. Or not too bad, because she will slay it.
3.2.11
8.30 pm: THE DIANIMAL GETS HER BURGER
2 hours to go. Only certain things will suffice.
1.20 pm: THE TALE OF A COMMUNITY SUPPORTED BARISTA
As the gang of 4 drives across the great West and continues to posting videos like the one below (Acorn rest stops are underrated, if you ask me), it may prove nice to give you some nice, concrete content about how this all came about.
Our good friends at Barista Pro Shop are also sponsoring Josh, and have posted a nice piece on their blog about the new USBC regional format and the efforts made on many fronts to get Josh to competition. I am reposting the piece in its entirety here, trusting that you will find it riveting enough to subscribe to said blog. Read the post below the video of Josh killing it at a game of either Area 51 or Virtua Cop
A Community Supported Barista by Kari Guddeck
If you’re a follower of the United States Barista Competition, then you’re probably aware of the restructuring that took place for the 2011 season. Ten regions were combined down to 6 and entry fees for competitors were increased (from $50 to $150 BGA member, $195 SCAA member, or $300 non-member). Although there has been some grumbling about fee increases and certain states getting the cold shoulder (Colorado, for example, had become the unofficial hub of the now retired Mountain Region. CO is now part of the South West Region, which includes the ‘big gun’ of CA…will we see another CO competition?), I think that most folks would agree that changes needed to be made. The Specialty Coffee Association of America estimated that the cost of competitions was averaging around $500/competitor, and that cost is sure to increase as the events become more popular and more involved to put on. Where does that leave your neighborhood barista who lives far from the competition venue and depends upon tips to make a living? Enter Josh Taves and the community.
Josh Taves was a competitor in the 2010 Mountain Regional Barista Competition. Josh is a volunteer barista at Everyday Joe’s (a non-profit café in Fort Collins), works as head barista at Little Bird Bakery, has his own consulting business on the side (Northern Colorado Barista Training), and attends CSU full time. Take it from me; this guy is passionate about coffee. Too bad passion alone won’t pay for a trip to Hollywood, CA to compete in the SWRBC. Here’s where the community part steps in. The fine crew at Everyday Joe’s made it their mission to send Josh to CA, and enthusiastically stepped up as his sponsor.
Joe’s (as it’s lovingly called) proceeded to: lend their store and espresso machine for after hours practice, pay the entry fee, promote ‘the cause’ via social media sites, work with their roaster to develop/donate coffee, involve and educate the general public about Josh’s goal, recruit the help of other coffee industry peeps in the area (including Barista Pro Shop), lend moral support, and much more. This is just one example of a localized coffee community stepping up to support a barista on their path to competition; I’m sure there are others across the country. My thought is that these incidents will become more widespread as the new USBC structure sets in as reality, and I think it’s just what the specialty coffee industry doctor ordered. The competitions should serve as a way of designating the best of the best baristas and a worthy ambassador, but in doing so should also act as a vehicle for educating communities about coffee excellence, professionalism, and passion.
Everyday Joe’s did a great job of including the community, not just treating them as spectators. There really was an emphasis on involving everyone and getting people to take ownership of Josh’s trek to the SWRBC . For example, I and several others served as judges for Josh’s mock presentations. The last of these was done on Sunday morning, and I’m happy to report that Josh (rocking a brown shirt and red suspenders) has come a long way! It’s personally been an awesome experience to watch his routine take shape and become increasingly polished. I for one feel emotionally invested in Josh’s pursuit of the SWRBC championship and give much kudos to Mr. Taves and the folks at Everyday Joe’s for including me and others in the community in their efforts. Good luck and have fun, Josh!
10.30 am: THE AWKWARD INTRODUCTION VIDEO 3 HOURS INTO THE 17 HOUR DRIVE
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Sometimes you read things that make you go “wow wow.”
I just went “wow wow” followed by “like, whoa.”
Our good friend Barton Dahl – who also manages Nathaniel Rateliff – sent over a message on the Google chat, insisting I go read what he posted on the shop’s Facebook wall. I did what he said.
Again…wow wow. Like, whoa.
The link took me to the MR PORTER Journal, where current “Man Of Note” Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin, Allison Krauss collaborator) lists his current musical playlist favs. Number one on that list? Oh…just NATHANIEL RATELIFF.
“Empty, fragmented and poignant” he says of Rateliff’s “Early Spring Till”. It’s a song I’m sure you’ve heard if you’ve been in the shop over the past couple weeks, as the volunteers have been playing Rateliff’s In Memory Of Loss on what seems like repeat in anticipation of his show at Everyday Joe’s on February 25 (tomorrow!).
Listen to “Early Spring Till” below. Head over to MR PORTER to get more musical suggestions from Mr. Plant. Tickets for the show- which are $10 in advance or $12 at the door – can be purchased here. Reed Foehl will be opening (that’s a treat), and the show starts at 7 pm.
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In 2011, we have decided to host less formal concerts in hopes to better the quality of the shows we do host. We have also decided to put more effort into helping develop local songwriters.
The Everyday Joe’s Songwriters Circle will be a chance to meet local musicians, share your music, and receive helpful feedback and critique. Our hope is that your craft will be bettered by this community, preparing you for when it is time to play out.
The circle takes place each Wednesday night from 7-9 pm in the downstairs auxiliary room at Everyday Joe’s. Each songwriter in attendance will have the opportunity to play at least one song and receive feedback, as well as offering feedback to the other musicians in attendance.
This whole thing started as an idea, and out of not wanting to abandon our beloved local artists. Through conversations with good people, our friends at Magnolia School Of Music and some of their friends are making this happen. We could not be giddier.
See you soon!
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Our good friends of The Sunshine House are quite the musical ensemble. They are releasing their EP this coming Saturday at Everyday Joe’s, and that has most people excited.
If you enjoyed when The Riflemen were around town, then methinks you’ll enjoy The Sunshine House…as 3 of its 6 members were Riflemen. Plus, they use electronic trickery on their electric guitars. Plus they’re nice folks.
So nice, in fact, that you can listen to the middle 2/3 of their self-titled debut below. What will the other two tracks sound like? What is electronic trickery? Can a horn section and a string section and a six member band all play at Everyday Joe’s at the same time? To find out, you’ll need to come to the show. 7 pm. Buy tickets here. You Me & Apollo and Seth Braverman will warm you up with their musics.
Enjoy the tunes.
The Sunshine House EP (2/3 of it, anyway)
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For many years now, musician friends have come up from Denver to play at Everyday Joe’s or friends from Fort Collins have moved to Denver. Now, though, the good people of D-Town may just be talking about this place at 144 S. Mason.
I got a text message yesterday morning from an old vounteer-turned-Denverite. “Everyday Joe’s made the Denver Post,” it read. “Shout out about joes in the A&E section.”
“Whaaaaaaaa?” I replied.
I bought a paper yesterday for the first time in at least 2 years. I turned to the A&E section and read a well-written piece by Mr. Ricardo Baca concerning the music coming out of what he called The Great North Of Fort Collins. Part of the reasoning given for the great music…the great venues. And oh yeah…Everyday Joe’s is a venue.
There are very kind words there from very kind people: Jon Alonzo and Danielle Ate The Sandwich.
“My favorite place to play in Colorado is Everyday Joe’s,” said Danielle Anderson, better known as Danielle Ate the Sandwich, a mostly solo folk act with more than 3.5 million YouTube views and a No. 5 peak on the iTunes singer- songwriter chart. “It’s such a quiet room, and the people — the Fort Collins people, who are my people — are good people.”
If you want to read our dear friend Jon’s kind words, please read the rest of the story over at the Post’s site.
Daneille’s words, though, talk about the good Fort Collins people. You are good people. We could not agree with her more. We’ve been saying this a lot lately, but it is worth repeating: thank you for being our community. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your community. It is an honor we take seriously.
You are so very, very snazzy.
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Well, these are at least as good as expected.
Our very good and lovely friends Aaron Strumpel & Karla Adolphe make beautiful music as solo artists. It can be hoped for, then, that if they make music together, that music will be maybe stupendous. Or a disaster.
Disaster averted.
Strumpel & Adolphe have come together as The Emporiums. They will celebrate the release of their new album I Am The Richest at Everyday Joe’s on Friday night (1.21.11). At the show they’ll be giving away some tunes and taking pre-orders…but you can get your earphones started right now. Please enjoy rough cuts of “I Am The Richest” and “Lucy” below.
The show starts at 7 pm on Friday and will run you an easy $5. Click the poster to buy tickets.
“I Am The Richest”
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“Lucy”
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Remember Newcomers Home? They were a fine musical troupe. Out of that band, Katie Herzig has gone on to be Katie Herzig and our dear friends Tim & Lori Thornton have gone on to form The Blackthorn Project.
Methinks this isn’t news to you. It’s been this way for some years now. But, if it is news to you, welcome to the fold. Also, you may want to clear your calendar for Friday night and make your way to Everyday Joe’s. You see, it is there that The Blackthorn Project and The Emporiums will be having a dual album release show (you can hear some Emporiums treats here).
When trying to pick a song from Tim & Lori’s new album Reckless to whet thine ears, it was decided as best to allow the whole album to do the job. Listen to it below. Buy tickets to the show below that (click the poster). See you then.
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It’s hard to believe Everyday Joe’s has been open for 7.5 years. Over the majority of those years, we have hosted at least 2 shows a week: on Friday and Saturday nights. However, with changes to the music scene, vision of the use of the space at 144 S. Mason, revised thinking concerning the stewardship of volunteer resources, and a handful of other things…we have decided to cut back from 8-10 events per month to 4-6 events per month. We desire the events we do host to be a service to the community, to the musicians playing the shows, to be energizing to the volunteers running the building that night, and to be enjoyable to you. Filling a calendar for the sake of filling a calendar does not accomplish those things. Having a handful of shows & events focused like a laser beam on these things is what we see happening…and our short foray into this territory has proven a good foray to this point.
From the beginning, we have wanted to be a place where the nationally recognized act can be seen & heard in an intimate room and a place where the local act can begin to play. This is still part of what runs through our veins. While the cutting back of formal concerts will limit the number of acts who play from the stage, we are very excited to be working with a few new friends from the local music scene to put on a weekly Songwriter Circle. Beginning Wednesday, February 9 at 7 pm in our auxiliary room downstairs, musicians honing their craft can gather to share songs, compliment each other, and critique each other. It will be facilitated and structured in a way that will give everyone in the room a chance to play. We’re quite excited.
What do you think of all this? Let us know.
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Those are our windows. We see you walk past them before you walk through the doors. Thank you for walking through the doors. Thank you for being our community and for allowing us to be a part of yours. It’s a joy to occupy a small space in your universe.
It’s an easy thing to say that we love being here, because we do. It’s not always easy to remember why, though. I was sitting at our Christmas Eve service with my friend Dwight and we were talking about having kids…about how the things your kids do that are so wonderful become normal, and maybe harder to notice or easier to overlook because of that. It made me think of Everyday Joe’s.
New Year’s Resolution: notice things. Like our 80-year-old windows.
What do you notice at Everyday Joe’s that we should be reminded of? Let us know in the comments.
We love you. Again…thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Hat’s off to you and to 2010. Off we go into 2011.
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