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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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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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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John Statz at Walnut Room

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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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Concerts to See in Denver Mar. 26- April 3rd

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Shows to See in Denver, Mar. 26- April 3

Mar. 26
Tartufi – The Armoury – San Francisco trio with layered arrangements that provide maximum soundscapes and vocal loops. Full Stream of Album here

Mar. 27
Waxahatchee – The Armoury – great voice, cute presence live, nice to have some straightforward indie folk without layers and pedals once in awhile video for Waxahatchee

Lord Huron – Bluebird – indie folk from CA. Not much stage presence but pleasant sound

FIDLAR/Wavves/Cheatahs – Larimer – see all three, the openers are good. Saw FIDLAR twice at sxsw because I liked them so much. Wavves has been popular for a few years, this year they are pushing for more. FIDLAR video w Henry Rollins

Lindsey Stirling – Gothic – hip-hop violinist who dresses in costumes and has weirdly mesmerizing videos. This will be where the anime and video game nerds are. Video of her in the Ice Castles at Silverthorne

KMFDM – Summit Music Hall – German industrial punk, nostalgia act

Mar. 28
Lindsey Stirling – Ogden – same comic con dream girl with violin as last night at Gothic video of her as Link playing Zelda medley

Soulfly – Marquis – the only spiritual metal I like

Mar. 29
Cave Singers – Gothic – Seattle band with members of Pretty Girls Make Graves, their haunting sound has been giving me goosebumps for years. Excellent vocal harmonies, darker themes video for “Dancing in Our Graves”

Low – Larimer – great band, been around forever, new album is fantastic, the lyrics hit me to the bone video for “Plastic Cup”

Robert Earl Keen – Grizzly Rose – I don’t listen to much country, but once every three years or so I have to make the pilgrimage to this sing-a-long since we are from the same hometown and he played every frat party during college. This song was almost every male in my graduating class’ Senior Quote and the words will never leave my memory. I don’t like country, but I love Robert Earl Keen link to Road Goes on Forever from ACL with singing Texans

Zoogma – Cervantes’ Other Side – sexy electronic fusion from Oxford, Miss., this will be a “beat driven dance party” HD video of a full show

Potato Pirates – Moon Room – typical rudecore punk. Take ya back to high school audio video for Potato Pirates

Mar. 30

Phosphorescent- Hi-Dive- seen twice at sxsw, both shows full of people your mothers age swaying along, as I said before, would sound great on Grey’s Anatomy. Will be a good show in that tiny room with good sound, but a little too “not enough of something” for me.

Joy Formidable/ Fort Lean/ Guards – Gothic – all good bands. Joy Formidable are quickly gathering steam right now with their energetic rock pop, been all over the tv and on the radio, the other two bands are great as well, go early Joy Formidable on David Letterman

Erykah Badu – Fillmore – nuff said. She’s the Queen. my fave song of hers with Rahzel beatboxing

Mar. 31

Pure X – Larimer – slow, dreamy psych pop from Austin. If anyone likes them I can tell you a hundred others that sound exactly like them. Nice guys, chat them up if inclined.

Cheers Elephant – Walnut Room – more psych pop, this time upbeat and melodic and happy link to audio of song “Leaves”

Apr. 1

Miracles of Modern Science – Walnut Room – orchestral craziness

Apr. 2

Parenthetical Girls – Hi-Dive – like weird hipster stuff? See them Video for Parenthetical Girls

Apr. 3

Cold War Kids – Gothic – they are back strong and sound amazing. Funny tidbit- new song on Grey’s Anatomy. Hypocrisy at its finest, here! acoustic version of new single from sxsw

Acid Baby Jesus – Lost Lake – fairly rollicking garage rock that reminds me of middle school, killer videos video of “I’m a Baby”

DO NOT SEE SKY FERREIRA. Don’t make my mistake!!!!

Nick Cave – Ogden- you know what you are getting. Make sure to catch Sharon Van Etten. Warning- powerful show, but if you are not a huge fan, it might be way slow for you. Let’s just say I left to see Parquet Courts and had a much better time, but Cave is a true showman and the fans were eating it up. You will see old 80’s Nick Cave shirts at this show.

And of course, Leftover Salmon at Bluebird all weekend.

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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