Festival and Concert Hair- for the Ladies

Fellas, this one is not for you, put a baseball cap on, grow some dreads, rock a bowl cut, no one is looking at you. Ladies, concerts are your time to look like a cute little fairy rockstar, and I have a couple cute suggestions that work for me. Many of you can put your hair in a ponytail and go. Something about the way I dance causes that ponytail to turn into a tangled rat tail, so I often go for pigtails since they lay lower and don’t tangle or smack people behind you in the face.

For the past few years, feather hair clips were a hot item. Now it’s all about the permanent streak of funky color. Here’s Selena Gomez rocking blue:

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Blue, purple or teal is great for brunettes, while blondes have been going for more pinks and corals. Blondes-a warning: pink dye loves blonde hair. The other colors tend to fade, but not pink, so make sure you really like the look before you get it done. Below is my hair. That’s about a year and a half of layering various colors so my hair wouldn’t fall out just because I wanted to look like a My Little Pony:

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If physically destroying your hair for the sake of looking funky isn’t your thing, then you are in luck. Braids are HUGE and Pinterest has more tutorials than you can shake a stick at: Braid Hairstyles from Pinterest

Lastly, we have the flower headband which is big this year. In past years girls wore headbands around their foreheads, and I can’t stand them because they always make your hair do this:

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It makes the hair by your part all puff up weird and your head looks like a lightbulb. Seen this WAY too much. Instead, go for this. Much prettier look, doesn’t leave a line across your forehead, and who doesn’t like letting their inner flower child out when dancing at Red Rocks (or your local venue):

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Or if you are a next-level concert-goer, go big:

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Heck, combine em together and suddenly you are Drew Barrymore during her really good style years! Happy dancing, ladies!

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Jake Bugg – and what were YOU doing at 19?

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Jake Bugg from Mercury Records is the real deal. Comparisons to Dylan abound by critics, he’s got the retro folk sound down. I do not get starstruck ever, but when I saw him at sxsw I couldn’t even go up to him, I was so intimidated. He’s got “it”. English kid raised on Donovan and The Beatles, he picked up the guitar at 12, and now at 19 he’s ready for the big leagues. Fans of singer/songwriters and folk will love him, he’s already big in the UK, he’s about to pop in America. Plus, he’s really cute. Check him out, he’s impressive and genuine and I wish I had his swagger.

Video for “Two Fingers”

Video for “Taste It”

Full audio of his album

20130324-132756.jpg photo from DailyRecord

Delicate Steve at Hi-Dive- Review

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Delicate Steve of Luaka Bop played an exciting and searing show at Hi-Dive in Denver last night. The snowstorm we had all day caused for a lower turnout than I expected, but I love when that happens at that tiny venue. Don’t be fooled by the name, the only delicate thing on stage were this New Jersey guy’s elegant piano fingers shredding that guitar. All songs are instrumental, which I’m all about lately, you really get to focus on all the layers of sound they create. Their style of music is very positive though in comparison to a lot of the drudgy stuff I’ve seen lately, at moments having the entire audience jump up and down, and then being completely silent for two minutes, which I have always wanted to see work, a silent crowd and band. (Oh, for a Divided Sky with silence, shut up everyone!!) The crowd last night made sure that didn’t happen, however, they HAD to hear themselves say such funny things as “WOO” and “OK”. For maybe two seconds it was totally silent, and boy was that crowd exuberantly relieved when they dropped back into the song. They only have a few more dates for this tour, so keep your eyes open for his name. Delicate Steve Tour Dates

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Video for “Ballad of Speck and Pebble”

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Cayucas- the music of this summer

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This band is so California it makes me want to book a flight. They’ve got this Beach Boys/Paul Simon sound that makes you want to quit your crappy day job and go to the beach. I’m a sucker for bands that say their name in a song (looking at you, Morningwood) and this song is a good way to start the morning. The musicians are totally just normal guys as well, nice to see in a world of outlandish rockhobo wear.

get ready to hear this all summer

Bands to See in Denver Mar. 20-27th

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BOLD band names are my personal pics. Blue is video links.

Wednesday, Mar. 20
Rose Windows – Moe’s Original BBQ, Denver (great lyrics, slow psych) Rose Windows- Heavenly Days

The Soft Moon – Larimer Lounge (thumping psych) come here for your psych fix

The Pharmacy – Moe’s Original BBQ (creative powerful garage rock, they tend to cause mosh pits among hipsters. If you like the Flaming Lips without confetti, check them out) I will be here

Thursday, Mar. 21
Champagne Charlie – Lost Lake Lounge (rough Man Man type vocals, goes well with whiskey) Champagne Charlie

Widowspeak – Moe’s Original BBQ, Denver (soft female vocals with building sound behind her) sexy psych

Old Man Markley – Marquis (rockabilly bluegrass with NOFX influences, from Fat Wreck Chords) Old Man Markley

Friday, Mar. 22
Fol Chen w/ Royal Canoe – Hi-Dive (indie pop, they had a song on Weeds during a popular Botwin showing her body again scene) for Erin

Paper Bird (video release), He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister – Oriental Theater (beautiful harmonies and ragtag instruments Americana with heart, really cute dresses) new Paper Bird video- GO MACON!!

Saturday, Mar. 23
Delicate Steve – Hi-Dive (screechy goodness) Delicate Steve- Wally Wilder

Billy Bragg – Gothic (story time)

Jars of Clay – Grizzly Rock (that Christian band that had that 40 Days song that I loved until I figured out it was about Noah)

Tuesday, Mar. 26
In This Moment – Fillmore (metal with costumes and ridiculousness and a hot chick)

John Statz- Walnut Room (guitar, banjo, barstool, heart pouring out)

Tartufi – The Armoury (huge sound from three people, blissful crescendos) Tartufi

Wednesday, Mar. 27
Waxahatchee- The Armoury (solo project of Katie Crutchfield from P.S. Eliot, amongst a sea of chicks with guitars, this one really stands out) Video for Grass Stain

Lord Huron – Bluebird (indie folk from CA. Not much stage presence but a pleasant sound) video of Lord Huron

FIDLAR, Wavves, Cheatahs – Larimer Lounge (loud good rock, all of them. Saw FIDLAR twice at sxsw I liked them so much, Wavves is about to go to the next level so see this show if you get self-worth out of bragging about seeing bands before they were big) FIDLAR Live Video

Foxygen -SXSoWhat

image photo by leslieloudspeaker

After a rough time at SXSW, some well needed rest brought the band up to speed for a searing, energetic Denver show opening for Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Similar setlist to the last few times I saw them, but it was a relief seeing the singer Sam look happy again. If they aren’t playing a night before a show, go see them. Word around sxsw was that the new album would be a soul one. However they mature and evolve, I can’t wait to see what’s in the future. Watch his floppy white hats make a comeback.

Full Audio of their album

image photo by leslieloudspeaker

Bill Baird at SXSW 2013: Best Show of the Convention

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Bill Baird is a gift to music. Part performance artist, part artist artist, part comedian, part computer programmer, part perfect melody creator. Like a young Tom Waits from the future with a beautiful baritone, he won over the crowd with his showcase at Velveeta Room for SXSW this year. Accompanied by a group of orchestral players, Bill showed us yet another side of himself. Attached is a clip from “Bow Down to the Brain” off his new album Spring Break of the Soul, off PauWau Records. Also linked below is the full audio and link to buy this insanely good album. See him when he’s in your town,never miss a Bill show. You never know what you will get, but it’s going to be great.

Live Video of Bill Baird SXSW 2013 “Bow Down to the Brain”

Full audio and link to PAUWAU