The Informants performed at a party hosted by Virginia Governor Tim Kaine at Marlowe's on Monday, August 25th. In town for the Democratic National Convention (DNC), Kaine was among Barack Obama's final three picks for Vice President. He will address the Convention on Thursday just prior to Al Gore and Barack Obama's speeches.
Governor Kaine danced with his wife Anne and addressed the crowd, returning to the stage later to join the Informants on harmonica, on the Bobby "Blue" Bland classic "Don't Want No Woman." The enthusiastic crowd of Virginia delegates and politicians roared with approval. Special guests included basketball's Charles Barkley holding court at the bar, former Virginia Governor and Richmond Mayor Douglas Wilder, and veteran film and TV actor David Keith, best know for his role in an "Officer and a Gentleman." Keith joined the Informants on guitar and vocals for two songs earlier in the night.
The day before Informants performed at Mile High Station for an event hosted by the Blue Dogs Coalition, a group of a Congressional Democrats that share common political viewpoints. The group includes Colorado Congressman John Salazar. Entertiainment included the Informants playing a set before--and after, headliner KT Tunstall's performance. Tunstall is best known for her 2005 hit "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree."
The Informants have nominated by Denver's ABC television affiliate KMGH Channel 7, to be Denver's Top A-List Band. To vote for the Informants, simply click on this link, click on the Informants, register, and confirm your vote when Channel 7 sends a response to your e-mail account.
Denver-based television network Altitude, will feature the Informants on its On Stage series during the 2008 season. The episode will debut on Tuesday, August 19th at 9:00pm. Performance and interview footage for the program were filmed at Elway's, on July 30th. Hosted by local music legend Jake Schroeder, On Stage will feature six songs from the Stiletto Angel album. Altitude is available on Comcast channel 25, DISH Network channel 410, and DIRECTV channel 681. Below is a list of all scheduled airings, with additional airings to be announced later.
Tue., Aug. 19 - 9:00pm
Wed., Aug. 20 - 1:00pm
Fri., Aug. 22 - 12:00pm
Sat., Aug. 23 - 9:00pm
Tue., Aug. 26 - 9:00pm
Wed., Aug. 27 - 1:00pm
Fri., Aug. 29 - 12:00pm
Sat., Aug 30 - 9:00pm
Mon., Sept 1 - 1:00 am
The Informants took home the award in the "Blues" category at the 14th Annual Westword Music Showcase Awards ceremony last night at the Bluebird Theater in Denver. Band members Kerry Pastine, Mark Richardson, Paul Shellooe, Mac McMurray and Paul Christophersen were on hand to accept the award. This was the third Westword honor bestowed on the Informants in the past six months. The magazine named the Informants "Best Bar Band" in March, and included Stiletto Angel among its "Best Local CD Releases of 2007" last December.
The Informants debut recording, Stiletto Angel, made its national radio chart debut on the RIYL Music Charts for the week of May 21, 2008. Stiletto Angel debuted at a respectable #466 on the RIYL Unweighted Chart and #623 on the RIYLWeighted Chart; 757 records were reported on each chart. The unweighted chart considers each play as being equal, while the weighted chart takes into consideration that some reporting stations have more influence.
Charting lower than the Informants on both charts, Rock-n-Roll Hall of Famers Ringo Starr and Solomon Burke; million-selling artists Sheryl Crow, Jack Johnson, Carly Simon, the Offspring and the Black Crowes; up-and-coming critic’s darlings Panic At The Disco, Bravery, Silversun Pickups, Snow Patrol, Stanton Moore, Spoon and Sara Bareilles. Madonna, Steve Winwood, Hot Hot Heat, Willie Nelson and Stephen Malkamus all found themselves lower than the Informants on the unweighted chart. Other Colorado (or former Colorado) bands making the charts include Devothcka, Apples In Stereo, Flobots, Sixteen Horsepower, Otis Taylor and Slim Cessna’s Auto Club.
The Informants are featured on the 9 KUSA-TV sponsored entertainment website Metromix.com. Informants front woman Kerry Pastine is the subject of a provacative Q & A.
Denver-based sports television network Altitude, will feature the Informants on its On Stage series during the 2008-2009 season. To obtain live performance footage for the program Altitutde will film the Informants' July 30th performace at Elway's in Cherry Creek, part of Live From Elway's Backyard Summer Music Series. Elway's is owned by Denver's favorite son pro football hall-of-famer John Elway. The hour-long program will also feature interview segments with the band. Past On Stage shows have featured Big Head Todd and the Monsters, the String Cheese Incident, Erica Brown and Brethren Fast. Altitiude is the official network of the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets and is owned by billionaire sports and business mogul Stan Kroenke.
Denver's premeir entertainment publication, Westword, bestowed its third honor in the past five months on the Informants, nominating the band in the "Blues" category on its annual list of the town's best acts. Westword named the band "Best Bar Band" in March, and included Stiletto Angel among its "Best Local CD Releases of 2007" in December.
The band has stiff competion with American Relay, Erica Brown Band, John-Alex Mason, and Lionel Young also recivieving nominations. Brown, Mason & Young all recently represented Colorado at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in February; Young won a top award and Mason was a runner-up.
Many of the nominated acts will perform at the Westword Music Showcase on June 14th, held in Denver's Golden Triangle, with headliners the Drive By Truckers and Ra Ra Riot.
You can vote for the Informants to be Denver's Best Blues, by mail using an official ballot in the current Westord, or online at Westword.com. All votes must be recived by noon Monday, June 16th. Don't delay-get out and VOTE!
Wipe It Off! Records has released the title track from Stiletto Angel as the first single from the album. The hit single is available exclusively as a free download on the band's MySpace site. The release of the free single is set to coincide with the distribution of Stiletto Angel to more than 350 radio stations across the U.S. and Canada.
The Informants will be featured on the April 19th House of Blues Radio Hour as part of an on-air Stiletto Angel CD giveawy. The band was the featured "Blues Breaker" on the February 16th show. Listen to it on the band's MySpace site. Hosted by Elwood Blues (aka Dan Akroyd) the show is heard on over 120 stations nationwide.
The Informants the ColfaxAvenue.com featured artsit for April 2008. The hit single "Stiletto Angel" can be downloaded from this site for a limited time.
Westword named the Informants the "Best Bar Band" in its Best of Denver 2008 edition (March 26, 2008). Here is what they had to say:
“Plenty of musicians take umbrage if their group is called a bar band. Still, the finest acts with this label don't need open taps or drink specials to work their magic; their playing is intoxicating enough. Witness the Informants, which boasts killer brass, a driving rhythm section, a lead singer (Kerry Pastine) capable of starting any party, and songs such as "Stuck on You" (from the album Stiletto Angel) that sound just as good to a designated driver as the folks along for the ride.”
Stiletto Angel debuted at #7 on Real Blues Top #100 Releases list. A review of Stiletto Angel will be featured in the magazines March/April 2008 issue.
Stiletto Angel was chosen #31 on KRFX 103.5 FM The Fox Strictly Blues Annual Top 50 Albums for 2007, and "Ding Dong Daddy" was chosen #39 on the Top 50 Songs for 2007. Stiletto Angel ranked #2 in November 2007, and #3 in January 2008 on the station's Top 10 monthly list.
The song "Stiletto Angel" is featured in a video clip posted on YouTube.com , playing behind film of NASCAR great Robby Gordon. The clip, sponsored by Monster Energy Drink, was directed by famed surfing film maker Chad Towersey. Towersey has said he would like to use additional tracks for Stiletto Angel in his next film.
The House of Blues Radio Hour has announced that it will feature The Informants on its February 16-17, 2008 show. The show’s producer Ben Manilla has confirmed that the show will include the title track from The Informants’ debut record, Stiletto Angel. "Stiletto Angel" will also be played on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 on the stations that carry The House of Blues Radio Hour on the House of Blues Blues Break. Check out the BluesMobile website, the Informants are featured prominently. The House of Blues Radio Hour was formed in conjunction with the House of Blues music venues that were first opened in 1992 by the show’s host, famed actor and comedian Dan Akroyd, a.k.a. Elwood Blues. The award winning radio program is heard weekly across the U.S. on over 120 stations.
February 4, 2008 - Informants Sign Licensing Deal with Muzak
The Informants have officially entered into a licensing agreement with Muzak. Colorado-based Rock Bottom Restaurants have requested that two tracks from Stiletto Angel, “Backyard-Bar-B-Que,” and “Baby Take a Shot” be added by Muzak to the play-lists of the company’s 50+ locations. Muzak, however, has decided to license the entire CD and will likely be adding other tracks to other various formats. Hear the Informants at Rock Bottom, on the elevator, at the mall, and while waiting to get your teeth cleaned beginning in May.
January 30, 2008 - Informants on the Tube
The Informants will appear on independent television station CCTV54 on the show Tuesday Blues, hosted by John Standler. The live premier is Tuesday, February 19 from 7:00-8:00 pm with rebroadcasts throughout the week. CCTV54 is a Boulder County-based independent community television station that broadcasts across Boulder County.
January 29, 2008 - Informants on the Radio
The Informants will be a featured artist on the Colorado Wave, a nationally syndicated radio program spotlighting independent artists. The episode will begin airing on Wednesday, January 30th or be streamed from the Colorado Wave website. The Informants will also be live in studio with Mama Kat on KUVO 89.3 FM, 7:00 pm on Friday, February 1 discussing the new CD and all other things Informants.
January 21, 2008 - Stiletto Angel Cracks the BluesWax Top 5
Stiletto Angel made the BluesWax Office Top 5 most often listened to CDs for the week of January 17, 2008. The other artists were The North Mississippi Allstars, Webb Wilder, Barbara Blue, and Al Basile.
January 14, 2008 - Stiletto Angel Wins First Award
The Informants picked up their first award for Stiletto Angel at the 6th Annual Hapi Skratch Awards held Sunday night at The Toad Tavern in Littleton. Stiletto Angel was awarded the "Greasy Spoon Award for the Best Blues/Rockabilly Recording for 2007" by Hapi Skratch. The opening song on the CD, "Stuck On You," is included on the Sixth Annual Hapi Skratch Awards CD Sampler.
December 22, 2007 - Westword Honors Stiletto Angel
Westword's list of "Moovers and Shakers 2007" includes The Informants' debut CD Stiletto Angel. The annual list is the publications favorite local CD releases for the year. Also making the list are recent records from Otis Taylor, Born In The Flood, Flobots, Hemi Cuda and Uncle Earl.
December 7, 2007 - Stiletto Angel Ranked #2 by the Blues Vassal
Stiletto Angel was ranked the #2 CD on the Blues Vassal's (DJ Kai Turner) Top Ten Blues Albums for November 2007. Turner hosts Strictly Blues on Denver radio station, KRFX 103.5 The Fox. Also making the list are recent releases from Stevie Ray Vaughn, Chris Duarte, Tab Benoit, Ruthie Foster, and a release form Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter & James Cotton.
December 4, 2007 - Celebrity Fans?
A recent posting on the Denver Message Board from Hapi Skratch Productions founder Morris Beegle, said that during recent phone call with Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle, that Hurdle mentioned loving Stiletto Angel and that it was in rotation in his car's CD changer. Beegle said not to be surprised if you see Clint hanging out at a future Informants' show.
The Informants also received a personalized letter from Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper indicating the Mayor was looking forward to enjoying the new CD while traveling over his Thanksgiving vacation.