Author Archives: leslieloudspeaker

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About leslieloudspeaker

Currently writing, taking photos and voiceovers at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities. Former music writer/photographer at Westword and overall arts lover.

Cactus Feathers- Johnny Pfirman’s new collaborative

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20130401-115203.jpg photo by hope irish

Johnny Pfirman was in one of my favorite Austin bands (well, two), Til We’re Blue or Destroy and Radar Radar. He moved home to El Paso, built a house with a recording studio with his own hands, and created the soon to be released album Beach Fire. Isolation sounds good on Pfirman, for his new album he’s incorporated bass and drum parts (not that bass and drum) with long time friends Scott Lindsey and Aaron Grossberg, familiar partners in crime who were former bandmates of Johnny’s in Boulder’s The Leprechauns. Sending each other their parts from state to state, they have uniquely created the collaborative Cactus Feathers. These lo-fi recordings of yearning, dreaming and escaping with lyrics that give me that nice melancholy feeling of home hit the heart, subtly making me miss Austin. Check out the song “Stuck in Tallahassee and a Gunshot” I’ve uploaded to soundcloud below. Hopefully we get this former Boulder citizen back to the Front Range soon.

“Stuck in Tallahassee…” by John Pfirman

Leftover Salmon Sold Out Saturday Show in Denver Review

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20130331-103720.jpg photo by leslieloudspeaker

Saturday night at Bluebird saw a sold out show for Boulder/Nederland’s own Leftover Salmon. At HORDE tour in 1997, I was bored watching Lenny Kravitz, went to the side stage to see what was going on, and these guys were playing and changed my life. Never knew music could be so fun. 16 years later, they are just as good as ever, and continue to write amazing new songs as seen on last year’s Aquatic Hitchhiker release. Set One ended with my favorite song, “Euphoria”, speeding up faster and faster until you feel like you can’t go any faster. And then they went even faster. This is why I love this crazily talented band.

Last time I saw them, the lyrics to the pro-growing anthem “Pasta on the Mountain” had the lyric “pasta will be legalized”, but last night it was “pasta HAS been legalized”, followed by a roar of approval by the voters of the house and strong Nederland presence. The song then went on to become a medley including Marley’s “Stir It Up” and Led Zeppelin’s “D’Yer Maker”. The night ended with church, a rousing call and response version of “Rise Up (Wake and Bake)” that left the audience happy to be in Colorado seeing Vince Herman back in town. You’ve been missed! Special Guest Steve Berlin from Los LobosScramble Campbell and C Alan Crandall were also in attendance, making Bluebird the place to be last night.

Leftover Salmon Spring Tour Dates

Euphoria at Denver Street Party 2012

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Moksha with Jennifer Hartswick in Denver

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20130330-122950.jpg photo by leslieloudspeaker

Last night at Cervantes Other Side we had Moksha opening for Zoogma Musiq. With special guest Jennifer Hartswick on trumpet in the very talented horn section, these Las Vegas bustouts had the fans dancing, cheering even when teasing Pink Floyd. I’d like to see more usage of the bazillion different effects they had on stage, but I always want a little too much everything.

Tour Dates and Music

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Zoogma Sells Out the House in Denver

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20130330-092235.jpg photo by leslieloudspeaker

Zoogma Musiq packed the house tight last night at Cervantes Other Side. Originally hailing from Oxford, Miss., this DJ/four piece electro rock band mix made for a funky, beat driven dance party. You could barely get through the sold out crowd during their set, as everyone showed off their best moves while smoke, lights, and an awesome “Z” of neon tubing flashed. Fun for the eyes, ears and dancing bones, check these guys out when they come to your town.

Zoogma Website Tour Dates

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Concert Uniform #2 : Coffeeshop-type Venues

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20130328-180412.jpg photo by Russ Simon

Coffeeshop venues are so easy to dress for. Basically, you can wear what you want, your work clothes, date night clothes, or something like this. Obviously a plaid shirt is always a fall back, but this one is more fitted and buttoned all the way to the top, because the fashion blogs say that’s how we wear them now. almost cholo style, but buttoned to the very bottom. Great for showing off chunky shorter necklaces or a bowtie if you are daring.

I always wear jeans to singer/songwriter type venues. First off, it’s usually a bunch of high tables and stools, so you sit cross legged like a lady ( great time to wear heels, hook it on that lower rung for stability) or you have to sit kind of open legged like a man. I do the latter, so jeans it is.

As for shoes, rock those heels, wear your nice ones, even! These crowds are chill, there isn’t beer spilled everywhere. Only venue I will dare wear a pair of Jordans is of the coffeeshop venue variety, why not? It’s clean! Also, go ahead and bring your nicest purse, you’ve got that high table to flop it on (bonus if they have hooks under the table) and it never leaves your sight!

Doll up, go see some folk and Americana, come home and say “Hey ! My super high heeled boots didn’t hurt tonight!”

Phish Tour Tickets OBTAINED

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20130328-134353.jpg photo by Andee Kuroda

Besides keeping up with new music, I’m a major Phish fan. Today was a day of Ticketmaster madness, but through Ticketmaster skills and a LOT of kindness from my fellow Phish obsessives, I’m in for Toronto, San Francisco, Tahoe and Hollywood Bowl so far. All I have to worry about is SPAC and Dick’s.

UPDATE in for SPAC and Chicago. Follow my blog this July, will be reporting the kooky scene I adore from the field.

Phosphorescent New Video

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20130327-214615.jpg photo by leslieloudspeaker

Phosphorescent (boy do I question my spelling every time) from Dead Oceans mesmerized the audience when I saw them at sxsw, slow layering of beautiful sounds, they are very good at creating soundscapes and making you forget the world around you. They released their video for “Song for Zula” today, and it’s even more mesmerizing now. I feel like reading Clan of the Cave Bear.

video for “Song for Zula”

NEW RILO KILEY!! Unreleased Tracks on New Album

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20130327-110121.jpg still from “Portions for Foxes”

My life is complete. Next month an album of unreleased tracks, B-Sides and rarities will be released by Rilo Kiley. Just got the advance copy and this Jenny Lewis obsessive is in LOVE. Every single song is just perfect, and fans will be ecstatic. No need to comment on any different kind of sound, this is the early Rilo Kiley you love. Can the Postal Service Red Rocks show come any sooner??

video for new single “Let Me Back In”

pre-order here

20130327-111005.jpg photo by George Bekich

John Statz at Walnut Room

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20130327-090635.jpg photo by leslieloudspeaker

John Statz played a hauntingly beautiful set last night at Walnut Room. He has played his distinct style of Americana all around the world with gigs in Budapest, Slovenia, even up in Anchorage and Quebec (this guy must love the cold!) His last album had him traveling around to ghost towns for inspiration, and the latest brings him back to his Wisconsin Heartland roots. Beautiful voice, deliberate playing and fantastic lyrics will make any Americana and folk fans love this guy AND his really great hat.

John Statz Website

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New Black Angels Album Streaming Now

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20130326-130532.jpg photo by Black Angels

When I moved back to Austin in 2009, an old college friend introduced me to Christian Bland the very first day. All I knew was that he was a tall, sweet guy who could really rock a striped shirt. 20 something The Black Angels shows later, I am a total fangirl. These guys caused the resurgence of psych rock in Austin and run Austin Psych Fest, now 6 years running. Couldn’t be more proud or more excited about their success and only see them getting bigger. The new album is streaming today, and it’s wonderful as expected. Root for these guys, they work hard and are kind people.

free stream of the new album

link to Austin Psych Fest