dannyshafer.com News

its almost a new year and ive been out playing shows with the all night honky tonk allstars. nothing like a reunion of old friends making music for a few days for keeping it real. the allstars did our first show in june 2001. we stopped playing fulltime after a crazy run in 2004. tonight will be the last night of three at the mountain sun for some hometown kicks. then i will miss the band i always will love so much: once again. we all grew so much out of this band and went on to projects that weve all been proud to be associated with. close up those honky tonks and we will keep talking about some shows next summer . the unknown americans will be ringing in the new ear at our hometown base conor onniells. thats; hat i like to call it . new ears day. may we all have new ears. i hope that i keep listening in the new year. then some sleep and we will be off to jackson hole wyoming for a couple of shows. i look forward to the open space of wyoming again. i find the emptyness a comfort and the peaple a pleasure. there is no shortage of sweetness this life around. i have solwly been working on a new recording at home and if it takes shape i maybe putting out a solo record this time. i mean completly solo. just me and the guitar. does anybody know why there is no 1st or 2nd street in boulder? thats messed up stuff. i want an address on 2nd street. i knew there was something funny about this town. oh yeah one more thing i like math more then i like spelling. danny

santa fe? salt lake city? chicago? boulder? its all one big neighborhood now. boil the water. heat the beans. change the strings. get the tires fixed. catch some sleep in the van before rehearsal after a 7 hour drive. laugh at the bigtime and write a song and do another show. dont try to break any personal records but do well over two hundred shows. try not to wonder about what happens to dogs after they die. be thankful that no one is yelling at me to turn it down or up. keep a stash of cash for gas money and the tank full on off days. wish things were just a little bit different but not to much. make cold calls. wonder why my guitar wont stay in tune. wonder why it stays in tune. miss the city life and love the mountain mornings. yeah, its a living. i like the way that sounds "a living" .

it was a great summer. what kind of news could there be? my van was smashed to avoid hitting a bicyclist. then replaced by the insurance company. duck tape held together my touring word for a while. times are less stressful then ever in the music side of life. i am trying to figure out a way to put out the next cd. any ideas on how to get a big wad of cash? matt from the band gold hill says i should sell drugs. i would probably just give them all away to bands like gold hill. anyway it will be figured out and there is some sharp minds helping me this time . anyhow , anyway there is the future with no end in sight. its an adventure and a honest job.

there comes a time in the summer when suddenly there isnt any difference between 12am and 12pm or even 3pm and 3am. i do believe this is the way i enjoy being. there has been so much to enjoy this summer. the unknown americans has really become the band i was searching for. jon is really been a great new member of the band. last weekend in steamboat springs i just about threw my voice out for good. the moment still takes me away. i have been in colorado, utah, wyoming, illinois, south dakota and idaho and am looking forward to a fall trip to new mexico. this month i will be at the rocky mountain folks festival (yikes thats a lot of songwriters in one place) the gold hill inn and some great listening rooms. still every show is a blessing and the driving, singing and the van treat me so well. guess its what i am used to. thankyou for checking in. see you on the road, on the street, in the bar, at the festival, at the dang post office. danny

life goes on. the miles go by and the spring is starting to look more like summer. i am fed by the getting into the schedule of summer shows. i am playing many new places. its almost as if i am walking away with just my guitar for a summer. i have been thinking a whole lot about what i do, how i do it and what it means and brings. i am so greatful for the shows and the people and the chance to work hard at being a songwriter. it sure is an interesting question after the years of playing. to be a part of a saturday night of a town that is blowing steam till two am is amazing. hosting the conors songwriting open stage still is something i look forward to every week. of course opening up for bands like the drive by truckers and their audience is wonderful. i have been loving doing business and still trying to maintain a front porch attitude to carrying on with music. you know, to keep growing and enjoy being a songwriter and a folk artist is a wonderful experiment.
i will play over two hundred shows this year and never has it felt better and more surrounded by crew that is on the same level. jon and jay from the unknown americans are adding not only to the music by being a super tight rythym section but also to the longevity and heart of the project. music is still not only a business but a way of life for me. thankyou for the support, love and care, see you on the road, yours, danny

its been a good spring. i have been in rehearsals for the unknown americans to work in a new bassist jon vanspreall. yeah, korts leaving the band and jason and i will miss playing music with him. jon vanspreall is joining the band right as the busy season is getting going. jon is a great musician and the enthusiasm in the band is high. jon is drummer also so ther rthyhm section is really kicking. summer is going to be over the top again starting with a quick trip to chicago to play and visit. thje van is looking comfortable so here it comes.

i just returned from south dakota and wyoming. i believe it was one of the most enjoyable trips i have taken in a long time. the road is becoming even more and more comfortable. the songbird in custer is one of the nicest listening rooms around. also the howling wolf in lead is run by one of the most hospitable families i have met. the country side was quite and still. now its time to be around the hometown for a while. yes living is good. summer is coming. oh yeah yeah spring first. thanks, danny

oh sweet summertime. i can feel it even from a snowbound colorado. i have been snowed in twice but still havent missed any shows. spring is gonna come and i sure am going to embrace it. trhe road has been great. it was a fun end of the year tour with the unknown americans. soon i will be heading out to utah again to play during the sundance film festival. i am going to be at marys lake lodge every monday night this summer. the news this month is basic. shovel out the car, keep spirits high and enjoy. danny

cold, cold, cold. temp low and spirits high. woke up in steamboat springs the other day w/ a flat tire in a snowstorm. the road has a sense of humor and i know i am either on or off that fast moving train. the all night honky tonk allstars played last night in lyons, colorado at oskar blues right after the winter fireworks. i saw those explosions in the sky and it just made me laugh. times are very good. you know the ups and downs are always there but still its a independant folksinging life. the coffees good and the food is sketchy. the unknown americans are working on some new material. the musicians and others that i get to be around always amaze me with the sense of lifestyle, faith and commitment to life as we make it. yeah, someday spring will arrive. until then i will wonder how to drive up the driveway in a snowstorm and if i remembered to put my old guitar in the car after the show. thats living. hope you are all warm and also cold. checking out those winter stars in those clear winter skies. danny

its thanksgiving on the mountain and i can feel this strange and great country of peaple slow down. winter refuses to arrive and that makes the driving really easy. the road has treated me very well. the millwood junction in mancos, colorado was a wonderful place to play a saturday night show. i will get a lot of traveling in during the winter. the unknown americans are doing an end of the year tour. i will be doing some shows in south dakota, utah and of course all over wyoming and colorado. i have been lucky running into friends all over the place. kort and i will also be doing be doing some duo shows. kort has a new album coming out in the new year that is sounding great. one of my songs is on the album. its a song called "one day". one more piece of news. the all night honkytonk allstars are playing at oskar blues in lyons on december 2nd. thanks for checking in, i will always be singing and traveling its all i know how to do. danny

another summer is over and an indian summer is here to take its place. after a busy time i look forward to some unknown american shows and rehearsals. summer was a blast. now i have new tires on the car and i am ready to go for winter. i am sure the road will offer many things (hope i still maintain my talent for talking policemen out of speeding tickets). the college shows have been fun. in steamboat i had a great time jamming with the students a bit. the mountain aspens have lost all there leaves and i am looking to a day with snow and woodfire. thankyou for all the enthusiasm it means so much on a 6th show of the week. thankyou with all my heart, danny

its morning on the mountain and the sun is really shining hard on my face. i just put my cubs hat on so i can see my computer. up here has always seemed like a strange place to plug into the internet world. it is convienent to get some worlk done evey once and a while up here. anyhow its been another wonderful pick and sing till you drop summer. i have enjoyed the road and the music more than ever. songs have been ratteling in my head asking for a place to go but i have to write down ideas and stash them till the aspens change. oh yeah the ebb and flow. fall will be here in an insant one afternoon. at 8700 feet sweet autumn never bothers with a warning. take it easy on yourselves. thankyou for everything. i willl keep the car running and at least decent strings on the gibson. lots of love, danny

good to be back home. nashville treated me right. in the last couple of years i have been gone so much that i am feeling at home everywhere. i should be going back down south sometime in the fall. now i am looking forward to constant shows this summer. the unknown americans are ging to ring in summer right with a few hometown shows. mountain sun is a local tradition. we will be there on may 21st. then we be at the fox theatre on may 25th. here comes summer!!!!!! i hope we all have enough time to jump in the water in between shows. thanks for checking in. as always i will sing my heart out so we will see you soon.
yours, danny

spring is here and the shows start full blast may 15th.thankyou to all you crazy dancing fools in steamboat springs. the unknown americans had a great night at the old pub because of all you locals. i am heading to nashville on may 10th for meetings. i am looking forward to being 1 songwriter in a town full of songwriters. i am so looking forward to summer touring with the unknown americans. it was a crazy winter and i am feeling better than ever, so bring on the music. thankyou all for checking in. danny

well things are starting to cook. the unknown americans just seem to be jumping into a full schedule for summer. i just returned from the northwest and had a great time. i am planning a trip to nashville in early may. i also just found my new album was number 11 on the country charts for kgnu radio for the last year. this summer i will be at marys lake lodge every monday 7-10, conors in boulder every tues to host my songwriters open stage and then the buffolo rose in golden every wed on the patio 3- 7. then on the rest of the week i will be taking off with the band. times are good a bit of a break has done my head a world of good and i am ready to get back to more then full time. thanks for being there to hear all the new songs and still asking for the ones i cannot always even remember. i am driving safe, i promise, danny

the new band is now called THE UNKNOWN AMERICANS. jason pawlina on drums. kort mcumber on bass. man those guys can play. i am starting to pick up some steam as spring comes closer. yeah times are good i couldnt be more exited about summer coming. i am starting to feel the road calling. cheers thanks for being there.qoute of the month as i was about to end five minutes early tiffany yells "you got five minutes mofo" it helped me get into the show again so i played an extra 30 minutes. thanks for the hometown love. danny

winter in colorado is making wish for slow times amd sweet mornings. i am slowing down only to speed up for another busy colorado summer. kort and jason continue to work on this unnamed band. i am writing so keep asking for new songs.summer i know i will be at marys lake lodge in estes park every monday 7-10 then conors hosting the songwriters night on tuesdays and at the buffulo rose every wed on the patio 3-7. this should give me time to travel weekends for festivals and everything else. hope your all well sometimes eachother is all we have got.
danny

what a year!!!!! best lines of the times at shows

don't stop playing no matter what you do!!!!!(the cops show up at the gig)
do you want to see my scar? (blaaaaah, hell no)
are you going to need to plug anything in? ( as the ramblers drive in with a full electric setup)
we don't book rock and roll! ( during a ramblers soundcheck)
when can i sing? i always sing with the band. the owner of the club says so.( your not singing with me and kort. yeah it ain't over till the fat lady sings)
don't dissapoint me!( i haven't even sang yet. you have never heard me)
i thought you were some obscure boulder songwriter? ( oh boy someone had to say that)
doesn't somebody come and set up your stuff for you?(i like the way you think. keep thinking that.
do you mind if i pay you in cash? ( wow if i would have heard that when i was 15 years old.
the most popular one!!!!! is this what you do for a living? ( yes, do you think i could get back to work tommorow after all these questions!!!!!!?????)
thanks danny

this has been an amazing season. i have nothing but a great time. hit and run bluegrass just released a new album with two of my songs on it. thanks to them, they really made the songs sound amazing. the album is called maps without charts.my life as a songwriter is simple and sweet. the mountains when i am at home are still and peaceful. still i love getting in the car and not knowing what the next show will be like. in the next month i look forward to the rocky mtn folks fest where i get to play a round with kort mccumber and jeff hamer. the swallow hill folk festival should be a kick since i get to play it with the ramblers. i think bassist pete's new baby will be seeing us there for the first time. i hope she likes us. thankyou all for the inspiration and listening to the songs new and old. yours, danny

thankyou all for coming out to my cd release. it was rowdy and fun. i really wanted to just get loose and celabrate.summer is going to a bit out of control. show upon show just the way i like it. check out the calender page and then go sit in the sun and relax for me cause i need to know someone is. you know i love the busy times. i really get fired up. see you all out there drive safe ,swim deep, love well. danny

the album is out of my hands and off in the world.its being made right now somewhere in the south. in about one month it will be joining me on the road. these last few weeks have been a bit crazy. i have been in and out of town and the studio. its been a blast but also so much has happened that without the help of the amazing people i have been working with i couldn't say ITS DONE. thanks to james tuttle, david glasser, greg schochet and melanie hersch for the last push support. now i am off to some shows in wyoming and then southern colorado. hope to see you all at the trilogy on april 22nd for the big cd release.

thanks for checking the news. its life at a pretty good speed for me these days.the albums starting to be mixed this week by james tuttle. i look forward to the process.i am doing a cd release in late april at the trilogy in boulder.it should be a perfect spot.shows are being booked all the time. so hopefully weather is good and my vehicle is in top shape. i broke down this week and missed my third show in 15 years.so i guess missing 6 shows in 30 years would be acceptable.both the red glory ramblers and the all night honky tonk allstars will be playing these next few months. since i am traveling quite a bit solo i really look forward to seeing the bands. the solo shows have been really great i am in the songs and exploring the new ones.oh yeah i think the albums gonna be called THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE RED GLORY RAMBLERS.thanks for enjoying the music and checking up on me.careful on those roads i will see you out there. DANNY