LoHi Festival Tomorrow!!!

20130430-162611.jpg photo by J. Minma

LoHi Festival returns to the Highlands and LoHi again tomorrow, July 15th. The weather has been perfect the past couple years, it’s going to be a great day in the neighborhood! Acts include Kyle Hollingsworth Band featuring Michael Kang from String Cheese Incident, The New Mastersounds, Toubab Krewe (love, love, love), Tiger Party, and many more. I LOVE my neighborhood, come join us. Here is the link to buy tickets, make sure to get the tickets that include late night, catch Poor Man’s Whiskey playing Dark Side of the Moon with Allie Kral and others at Cervantes.

buy tickets here

Ladies, this is the festival to pull out cute hats, that Colorado sun sure gets bright! Here is a great look:

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Leather shorts, dotted tights, flat shoes, DIY hatband, this chick has it going on.

Rogue Wave at eTown Tonight!

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Tonight in Boulder, Rogue Wave will be at eTown Hall for a radio taping of their show. If you haven’t been to eTown you should definitely check it out. Gorgeous inside, great sound, and fun interviews with the band, plus Rogue Wave are so great. I used to listen to their song “Lake Michigan” video on repeat until I had to force myself to stop. Their new album just came out on June 4th, and after a few listens I am hooked, can’t wait to hear the new material live. Definitely hit up this show, it will be a completely unique experience.

Info regarding eTown and tickets: eTown website

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March Fourth Marching Band this Friday at Bluebird

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This Friday, June 7th, the fantastic March Fourth Marching Band will be bringing their circus to the Bluebird. I got the opportunity last year to shoot their Halloween show at the Gothic, and I never knew where to point the camera first. They have really been making the rounds and touring a lot lately, don’t miss this show! I honestly don’t know who wouldn’t enjoy them live.

show info and link to buy tickets

Edward Sharpe/Alabama Shakes sold out show at Red Rocks

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Last night I saw the perfect mix of artist and venue, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes at Red Rocks. I had only seen them live once before, at Belly Up in Aspen, and had positive hopes that it would be a good show. Totally underestimated them, it was one of the best shows I’ve seen there, the theatrical spirituality of the band just worked so well in the amphitheater. Opener Alabama Shakes were solid as always, they had the audience much more than when I saw them open for Neil Young and Crazyhorse. It was packed even in the reserved seats, and some of the audience thinned out after their set. Meanwhile, the whole sky was pink and the weather was the most perfect I’ve ever seen up there. Colorado, you’re beautiful!

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As soon as they started setting up the massive set for Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, you knew it was going to be stepped up a notch. Wow! I have never heard vocal microphones sound more crystal clear, you could hear his every murmur. Starting the night off with 40 Day Dream, the audience knew every word and clapped almost too enthusiastically. This one guy in front of us was slapping his hands together on his leg like Spoon Man, and lo and behold it was Kevin Connolly from Entourage. Then I realized the guy who looked like Josh Lucas WAS Josh Lucas, we were sitting in the middle of the cast and crew for the Leonardo DiCaprio produced movie Dear Eleanor that is filming right now in Colorado. Funny. I thought Liana was a rich teenage model at the beginning of the show, Hollywood starlet isn’t too far off, she’s beautiful and had some awesome gold metal toed brown booties on. *update! She told me the boots, I love these babies.

Edward and his crew played two never been heard songs with him quipping “well, you gotta start somewhere”, and asked the audience if they had heard this rumor that everyone dies, but then ended the night asking if we’d heard the one that said you could live forever. I eat this stuff up. So does everyone else apparently, when they finished the set with “Home” the whole place became a celebratory hands in the air, clapping hootenanny. They encored with “Lean on Me”, asking the Shakes to join them then “well, we don’t know where they are” as people put their arms on each other’s shoulders. It was like Girl Scout Camp but BETTER.

ZZ Ward – SOLD OUT – Photos and Review

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Last night ZZ Ward played her heart out to a sold out audience in Denver, and everyone left wanting to be her. What a cool, talented chick. She can belt the blues, rage a soulful blues guitar, rock the keys and play a wild harmonica. We needed an exciting blues musician like this. The audience was packed into the Gothic over an hour before she even hit the stage, volume buzzing ever higher as the great Ft. Collins opener, You, Me and Apollo finished.

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She started the show with her hit single “Put the Gun Down”, and the audience of mostly females freaked out. Above you can see ZZ’s interpretive dance for the lyric “I’ve got ten fingers to the sky”.

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I love when artists have a huge backdrop of their name, and I thought ZZ’s looked great.

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I’d say ZZ Ward is one to watch, but I think everyone’s already watching! I can’t wait to see what happens in her future, a collaboration with Gary Clark Jr. would be amazing….

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….and of course, there were a ton of hats in attendance. Don’t miss ZZ Ward when she hits your town, but go early for a good seat, she’s in the big time.

Lovelife – edgy Synth pop at Gothic on May 30th!

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Lovelife is bringing their heavily 80’s influenced synth pop to the Gothic this Thursday, May 30th, sure to be a great high energy dance party. This Brooklyn by UK duo fits right in with the nu-R&B/electro dance pop wave that’s getting gaining steam right now. I know, these genres are getting so particular, but it’s great for organization. They just traveled around the country playing with Capital Cities, who have this big hit right now (when I saw them play this at the Perez Hilton SXSW party this year, many guys inexplicably took their shirts off): Safe and Sound

Listen to the new Lovelife single here: Dying to Start Again

Watch Lovelife video here: Your New Beloved

Page McConnell tonight with the Meter Men plus Phish Chicago Stage!!

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Page McConnell, master of the keys for Phish, is playing tonight at the Ogden in Denver with the freaking Meter Men. He played here last night too, heard it was hot. This concert might set off my Phish obsession too early, but I’ll try to remember there are other bands out there since this is not a Phish blog. Some people air guitar, I air keyboard, arms are going to be exhausted. Come find me on the right side balcony.

Below is the stage on Northerly Island for the 3 day Chicago Phish run. The lawn is sloped, so it won’t be bad at all. I’ll be in these here stands,looking at Soldier Field and the skyline with Kuroda exploding over it. This is going to be a really good summer.

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Pickwick at ETown – Concert Review and Photos and how Lou Reed is Involved

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Last night in Boulder, Pickwick had their final stop of their tour at ETown, a live music radio show taping that will be heard by millions. Yet another band I found at sxsw, this Seattle group is unique, talented, and best of all, good guys. During the ETown interview, they were asked how they got their name. They told everyone that Lou Reed used to be a songwriter for Pickwick Records, and they asked him to write a hit like “The Twist”. Being Lou Reed and all, he wrote a song called “The Ostrich” that was weird and failed big time. Here is Pickwick covering the song: The Ostrich

They started the show with Lady Luck, one of the catchiest covers I’ve ever heard and been listening to nonstop, so I was instantly pumped. The rest of the songs were fantastic singles from their new album that was released Tuesday, get it here.

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Galen Disston is a huge talent with a huge voice, he can hit notes higher than most women. When they were asked how the band manages to stay so friendly with each other, they replied “We actually go to a band psychologist. Is that too Seattle?” However Seattle it is, it’s working. I love to see a band interacting and smiling at each other, they wear their love and excitement on their sleeves.

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Music in Denver 5/8-5/14 aka Prince Weekend

20130508-140924.jpg photo by leslie loudspeaker (disco biscuits red rocks)

Music in Denver May 8-14

Wednesday, May 8th

Pickwick – ETown Boulder – soulful rock, these guys are incredible and I’m excited to go to my first taping at ETown. Starts at 7, nice and early.

Bleeding Rainbow – Larimer – psychpop act that used to be a two piece named Reading Rainbow, better name, better band, better sound, this show should be exciting

Appleseed Cast – Hi Dive – so many people ask me if I like them, I’ve never seen them but they must be good since everyone’s always bringing them up!

Thursday, May 9th

Vietnam – Larimer – member from various Austin bands residing in Brooklyn now and on Mexican Summer, one of my favorite labels. They reached their goal on Kickstarter so tada! Here they are: video of the band and their goals and music

Zac Brown Band – Red Rocks – country jammy band, they’ll be here all weekend. This is where all the beautiful women that listen to country will be.

Friday, May 10th

Denver Disco Presents: Astronomix – Bar Standard – Denver Disco and Phibstock join forces to create a disco freakout. All info here, dress funky if you desire: facebook event link

Page McConnell and the Metermen – Ogden – the funk is here. I’ll be here tomorrow.

Saturday, May 11th

Page McConnell and the Metermen – Ogden – see?

The Thermals – Bluebird – I’ve been thinking this band would pop for a year now, pleasant garage pop punk that is accessible: video of people falling

Black Pus – Larimer – if I had a clone I would be here and Ogden. Definitely one of those bands that make your friends call you a freaking hipster. For fans of interesting noise and spectacle: check him out

Sunday and Monday 12-13th

Prince – Ogden. Yep.

Monday, May 14th

Charli XCX – Gothic – new favorite pop star, she was always in cute outfits tearing it up at sxsw. She’s got it

Boris – Bluebird – Japanese expiremental for the quirky and the lovers of sound and chicks shredding without flinching: Boris video

Concert Uniform #4- Symphony with Bela Fleck

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So you think you might like to go to the show. Got your fancy symphony ticket but it’s the symphony with Bela Fleck, what level of fanciness do you bring? Personally, I take my regular concert uniform for mid level and arena shows (as discussed here) but I take the sequins away because have some respect! Now is your chance to wear some really cute wedges and platforms, but I try to stay away from regular high heels because these venues usually have tons of very thick carpeted stairs, I’m not a fan of walking like I’m in quicksand.

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Here we have standard pieces of uniform #3, buttondown shirt (I’m a HUGE fan of denim shirts, they match everything and if someone spills a drink on you whatever, it’s a jeans shirt). Swapped the sequin mini for a cheap cotton one. I have zillions of these cotton skirts, never pay more than $9 for them. Some will ride up and be horrible, but most are slimming and great for dancing, just give the bad ones away, you are only out $7. My favorite place to buy these is club wear stores with names like Zazzi’s or something. This one is from H&M, and comes in seven million other colors. It rides up if you don’t wear tights but what do you expect for $5.95. Here it is in leopard print, I like this one with band t shirts, leopard print is a neutral now, wear it with anything: cheap tacky great skirt

Now the black tights are a constant for me in CO since the temp drops at night, but I also love them because I can be less ladylike and still climb over seats if I need to get past a security guard to sit in seats by your friends that are empty and closer. When you find some that work, buy them in bulk. I’ve got three go to pairs, cheap, medium price, and not cheap. Right now is not a good time to shop for black tights, but I usually like a denier of 80-100, they make them up to 200 in the winter. 40 is great for the summer, those H&M ones are comfy since they are cheap, the waistband isn’t tight. The Wolfords are beautiful and almost as thick as leggings but I snagged em the first time out, they are not indestructible. Luckily, I like snags. The jacket is from the Volcom store in Boulder from three years ago, I can’t find it online anywhere, but it’s perfect, Zara has similar.

This photo is actually a lie. I ended up tripping in those platforms right after that picture (old H by Halston wedges from Bakers) and wore these which are really cheap now for someone with a tiny foot: cheetah bootie

Also, I never wear these Aviators because they slide down my nose, but I tossed them on to copy this blogger a friend showed me who looks and dresses like my classier, prettier doppelgänger, check her out!: Happily Grey

As for the show, it was fantastic. The first act was various songs by Bach, DeBussy and Pat Methany, interpreted by Bela with great commentary regarding musical theory by the conductor, and some awesome marimba. The highlight was “The Landing” with full orchestra, a Futureman request. Second act was The Imposter, a 4 part piece that Nashville commissioned Bela to write. The audience was very reciprocative, and the awesome elderly season ticket holders shared their jokes with us. “VELCRO?? what a ripoff!!”