Music in Denver 4/17-4/22

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Music in Denver 4/17-4/22

Wednesday 4/17

GWAR – The Gothic – metal cartoony grossness (sold out)

Los Amigos Invisibles – Bluebird – modern sounding Latin dance flava

Thursday 4/18

Family of the Year- Hi Dive – fleetwood mac’y (sold out)

GHOST – Ogden – metal seriousness in elaborate religious costumes

Friday 4/19

Dilated Peoples – Cervantes – good hip hop

Lucero and Langhorne Slim- three nights at the Bluebird, check them out any night this weekend

Tesla – Gothic – black t shirts and your dad

Saturday 4/20

Blaze Ya Dead Homie – Roxy – this is where the juggalos will be, and where I would be if in town (sold out)

Slightly Stoopid/Cypress Hill – Red Rocks – where the people acting a fool on 4/20 will be, wear a potleaf lei

Sunday 4/21

Bob Mould – Bluebird – formerly of Husker Du and Sugar, still sounds great live

How To Destroy Angels – Paramount – new Trent Reznor project with his wife

Black Mountain – Larimer – good, loud rock

Pegi Young – Walnut Room – Neil’s wife

Marnie Stern – Moe’s BBQ – current favorite female musician, she shreds her guitar with this tapping method and is just awesome

Monday 4/22

Polica– Bluebird – plain ole beautiful music

No Joy – Band to Watch

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Montreal’s No Joy has a new album coming out next Tuesday, and wow is it good. We got twelve inches of snow at my house. I think that’s unnecessary on April 17th, and this album made me feel like I was being pulled out of a sleepy cold state into a colorful spring. They pack layer upon layer of fuzz beautifully, all with pretty vocals dreamily floating on top. Man, this snow makes me want ice cream. They are supporting the album release with a North American tour, and they are opening for Metz at Hi Dive in Denver, May 7th. (Hey Houston they are playing at Fitz next week!!) Tour dates and new single in the link below:

new single “Lunar Phobia”

stream the album at Pitchfork

Akron/Family Concert Review at Larimer Lounge

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Last night at Larimer Lounge in Denver, Akron/Family played to a packed and excited crowd. It was the second date of the tour for the new album, and the new material sounds amazing live! Extremely loud, beautiful, they create great solid songs wrapped in noise, and at times the audience was told to sing certain notes, being used as yet another instrument. The front was packed with girls NOT giving up their spot right next to the lead singer, Miles Seaton, didn’t know he was such a heartthrob, but for good reason. He’s cute and very nice. One girl begged him for anything from his pockets, he gave her rosemary dust. If you are a fan of the new album Sub-Verses, this show is a must see. Opener Princess Music were great too, as a friend said “he’s got a David Byrne thing going on”. That’s a good good thing.

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Music to See in Denver 4/10-4/16

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Wed, 4/10

Akron/Family – Larimer Lounge – second date of the tour promoting the new album, awesome art rocks that builds live footage

Acid Mothers Temple – Hi Dive – Japanese psychedelic band that’s been around forever in various lineups

Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers – L2 Arts and Cultural Center- known for this video but she sounds like this and kicks it live in concert

Thurs., 4/11

Beach Day – The Moon Room – beachy pop rock with sweet female vocals video for Beach Day

Keaton Simons – Soiled Dove Underground. He was a friend of a friend when I lived in LA. Now I hear his voice in the mall, restaurants, some hotel in San Diego, tv shows, soap operas, and trivia- he’s Eric Roberts stepson…. live version of Currently

Fri., 4/12

Grey Boy Allstars – Cervantes – nuff said. Playing Saturday as well, same place. This is the party.

Sunday 4/14

Angel Olsen – Hi Dive – she’s all the rage right now in attractive chicks with bangs that sing old timey. I’ll be shooting this show, say hello…..video for Angel

Ponderosa – Lion’s Lair – southern rock from Atlanta, lead singer’s voice is captivating live….video for Ponderosa

Mon., 4/15

Death -Gothic – twee indie pop with a ukulele. Nah, I’m kidding, it’s masters of Death Metal.

Tues., 4/16

Bon Jovi – Pepsi Center – if I get the go to shoot this show, I’m so there…

The Dear Hunter – Marquis – …but most likely will be here. Progrock from Providence, RI, they’ve got albums that tell a story in three parts, with a son poisoning someone and basically Gamehendge but it sounds like this

Les Racquet – Hi Dive – indie rock power trio out of Brooklyn who sound like an indie rock power trio from Brooklyn. I’m going to try to make this and Dear Hunter, tough choice. video of Les Racquet

Shakey Graves Concert Review- He’ll get in your SOUL

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Shakey Graves is a one man band to be reckoned with. Just when you think there are enough folk/blues singer/songwriters, someone like Shakey Graves fires through proving you wrong. Hailing from Austin, he’s recently finished a residence at The Parish and went on to become a big buzzed about musician during sxsw. When he walked up to the Denver show in his cowboy hat and leather jacket, fans were stopping him to shake hands, take pictures and tell him thank you. The word has really gotten out! The venue was packed clear back to the soundboard at Hi Dive, filled with people who had heard about this guy and his drum suitcase. He didn’t disappoint. Playing with ease and singing with conviction, he had the audience clapping and in awe, leaving them yelling for an encore, which he gladly played. Next time he comes through town, he’s going to have a big show, and it definitely won’t be free.

On a personal note, when reading his bio, I came across his old headshot. I knew Alejandro instantly from old castings and working on Spy Kids 3. Small world! I’m glad the ghost of Shakey Graves decided to haunt him, guy has talent galore, and I’ve gotta say, the ladies LOVE him, I saw y’all all swooning at the front last night!

listen to his album free here

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Pickwick – Band to Watch

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Pickwick have released one of the best albums this year, Can’t Talk Medicine. Indie-pop enthused with the bluesy soul of singer Galen Disston, a guy who listens to his dad’s vinyl collection of Grateful Dead and cites Bob Dylan’s lyrics as an influence, giving a positive sound to this Seattle band, a town known for it’s grunge and sludge. Incredible energy live, caught them at sxsw and the audience was dancing, an activity seldom seen there. Catch them live in Boulder on May 8th.

listen to the album, buy the album, check out tour dates

“Lady Luck” cover with Sharon Van Etten

“Hacienda Motel” live video

Music to See in Denver 4/2-4/8

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Tuesday 4/2
Parenthetical Girls – Hi-Dive – experimental indie pop from Portland video for “A Song for Ellie Greenwich”

Hidden Towers – 3 Kings – post hardcore rock trio from Vancouver, they are touring for their first full length album

Wednesday 4/3
Shakey Graves – Hi-Dive – one man band from Austin, used to play on the streets, now he’s having a moment. True talent. video with story of his name and song

Acid Baby Jesus – Lost Lake – fuzzy punk from Greece, you may have seen them open for Black Lips a couple years ago: video for “It’s On Me”

Cold War Kids – Gothic – Long Beach based moody pop trio with piano. I LOVE these guys. Some friends don’t like the singer’s over-pronunciation, I love it, so make your own decision: new single from latest album

Thursday 4/4
Spiritualized – Bluebird – space rock from England following the demise of Spacemen 3

Airborne Toxic Event – Ogden – for people who like this song

Merchandise – Marquis – these guys are good live video of Merchandise

Deer Tick – Gothic – see them if you haven’t, even the lead singer solo is great their main video

Friday 4/5
The Suspects – 7th Circle – Houston, TX ska band I’ve been seeing my whole life, great ska

Saturday 4/6
Detective – Lions Lair- awesome band on the rise, favorite at sxsw some of their music

Slaughter – Grizzly Rock – gotta do some people watching at a hair metal show at least once a year

Monday 4/7
Purity Ring – Gothic – sugary dance pop, openers Blue Hawaii are pretty good so come early. For a good time read their Youtube comments where people fight over who was a fan first. Purity Ring Video

Leftover Salmon Sold Out Saturday Show in Denver Review

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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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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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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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