Burn Sun Burn: News

Dear Friends,
I'm losing time. Everything's happening all at once. I can't quite break the news yet, but there's so much on the brink...it feels like I'm sitting on the top of a readied volcano.

Don't worry, I'll fill you in soon. In the meantime, check out: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=165110249
Download tunes while you can...

muchos lovos (hit me with email if you can),
t

It's true...I'm recording again. Some of you are shaking your heads and fists at the computer yelling, "Noooooo!" Others, I hope will be very pleased. I think the new songs (combined with some new recordings of "classic" helvig tunes) are really starting to shine. I'll warn you again, these are stripped down, bare-bones, kid'n-his-guitar songs. But if you've ever been to a set of mine...you're going to get the same realio dealio.

Sure, I'm still stumping last years album. Listen to the songs (or even buy downloads) at: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=165110249

AND/OR, if you dug Celophayne, hit up: http://www.emusic.com/album/10889/10889604.html?fref=700329
Thanks for listening, keep checking back, and bait your breath for this new endeavor.
t

It's funny how you can get swept away in the daily ins and outs of life forgetting to take a step back to enjoy your enjoyment. Translated, this means: I'm sorry I haven't jotted out my journal or new news lately. My goal has been to keep you (and all who follow this little blog) up to speed. And I hate it when I check sites I've been to and nothing changes...no updates...no news.

So here's my pledge: I will do a better job in 2007 of making notes that keep you informed.

Of late, what I have to report is that I've got a set at Common Grounds in the Highlands area (32nd 'n Federal) on January 20th. What I've been working so diligently on is the set for a new album. One of the main points of "feedback" (if you will) from some of my previous recordings was that I sound different live than I do recorded. Obviously I'm not a band, and play live gigs pretty simply with a guitar and mic. However, I've tried to add in plenty of instrumentation on recordings. So here's what I'm gonna do. I'm going to record everything live...songs mic'd out as I play them. Some will be of songs previously recorded, and others will be brand new. It's going to be simple, straight forward, and clean. Then I'm going to ask for some listeners to volunteer their ears for an honest reaction.

If you hear about it rolling around in the next few months, drop me a line. Ask for a copy. Give me your thoughts.

Lastly, I always respond to my email. If you haven't written in ideas, comments, thoughts, or hello's lately...please take a second to do so. Nothing makes my day more than hearing from someone I may not have expected to hear from.

'til it breaks,
muchos lovos, todd

Don't want a bulky cd and cd case lying around your house? Just want to pour a dab of Todd music into your iPod or MP3 player? head to: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=165110249
or (if you don't want to register with iTunes):
http://www.payplay.fm/helvig2
Dowload 1 song, an assortment of songs, or the whole dern album. Gosh, while you're there, download singles from the other albums I have loaded on these sites (and others)...or find other crazy cheap indie music to plunk on your ear-drive.

I just want to say "thank you" to everyone who made it to Everyday Joes in support of both myself and 10pm (the band). It was definitely cool to get back to Ft. Collins...and then to hit the airwaves at KRFC was phenomenal. They've kept me off the fm dial all my life...now there's no safe band or frequency. In case you're not familiar with KRFC, it's a nonprofit radio station that only survives through grants and the contributions of loyal listeners. They support a lot of good causes as well as the community they serve. It was an honor to play for them in their studio, and my special thanks to Matt Campbell for lobbing cool questions that gave me room to breathe.

As you'll notice there are new dates/times/channels coming online every day (thanks to my wonderful manager!). So, check back often to see when I'm gonna be in your back alley.

Thanks for coming back to check things out. Let me just list a few of the August highlights. Firstly, if you're in the Denver, CO area come on out and say hello at the Golden Fine Arts Festival this Saturday and Sunday (8/19-8/20) from 10am-1pm. See specifics on my Calendar page. Next Saturday (8/26, 7:00pm) I'll be at Common Grounds (the downtown Denver location), so if you're busy this weekend, come and say "Hi!" next weekend :)

Other thingies:
you can request, listen, and rate songs from A Stones Throw on www.wholewheatradio.org.
It's yet another smashing internet station that just recently put my tunes into rotation. The more you request...the more they play, so don't be shy.

AND...if you're registered (or want to register) for digital downloads of individual songs check your favorite digital distributor (e.g., iSound, iTunes, Rhapsody). If I'm not on their site already, I've been assured that my tunes will be accessible there shortly. www.iTunes.com is probably your best bet. If you like the old Celophayne songs...you can find 'em there too!

See you soon!

It's hard to imagine that in just 7 short weeks things have taken off here in helvigville! You've just got to check out the calendar (both mine and yours) to see when you can come to the next show. We've got so much in store, I'm not sure where to begin. However, listening in can be as easy as tuning in to KRFC 88.9's Live @ Lunch. Yup, Oct. 3rd I'll play live out of Fort Collins. We've got t-shirts being printed, a new contest coming up, and possibly a regional mountain tour in the fall. If you're into digital downloads, look for a list here soon of where you can download even more TH music! Through cd sales we've put together a nice chunk 'o donation for the ONE campaign already, but our hope is to keep the love flowing. And for you intense, die-hard, politically progressive activists...don't forget to check out www.musicforamerica.org. I'll throw a new blog your way sometime soon! M-m-m-m uch love, todd

So, I've broken into the internet radio mainstream. Within the last week, I've been picked up by 4 new stations. Here's the list of stations and my songs that are being played - you can click on the stations, rate the songs, and of course, email the DJ's requesting "more Todd Helvig."
1. BUM Radio (the BUM stands for Best Unheard Music - not a comment about the artists being played!) www.live365.com/stations/unheardmusic 2. Theacousticstage.net They are actually playing my whole CD on this station and gave some positive press..."music to build websites by, it is excellent."
3. Anti-War Radio www.live365.com/stations/richhinrichsen I will admit I got chills to hear my song played between John Lennon's "Imagine" and Sting's "Russians."
4. Chrisnotes Indie Pop www.live365.com/stations/chrisnotes 5. Acoustic & Mellow www.live365.com/stations/lowspirit We love Denmark!

I'll keep everyone posted as more news comes in.

My new CD "A Stones Throw" is finally available for the masses. Check it out, sample the tunes, and then support the man and buy it!

I'm excited to hear any and all comments about the new music. Thanks to everyone for their support. ALSO: $1 from the proceeds of each sale of "A Stones Throw" (purchased on this site, or at one of Todd's gigs) will be donated to the ONE campaign to fight worldwide hunger, poverty, and disease (among other things). Check it out at www.ONE.org