New songs to listen to this weekend

photo by leslie simon

photo by leslie simon

I’ve been in the processing of moving and had over 800 viruses cleaned off my computer (thanks, Spotify), so haven’t had a chance to listen to any new music in a few weeks. Things are now settled and I spent all morning dancing around to bouncy sunny off kilter beats, and here are ten of my favorite new songs to listen to this weekend:

French Style Furs “Solitary Life”- Cold War Kids side project with lead singer Nathan Willett singing poems written by 20th century monk Thomas Merton. Using found materials and putting them to a Latin groove, “Solitary Life” takes elements from David Byrne’s playbook as Willett’s distinct vocals sound more pleading than ever courtesy of Merton’s philosophical thoughts.
https://soundcloud.com/frenchstylefurs/solitary-life

Old Smokey “All the Way Slow”- Composed of veterans from the Athens, GA scene, Old Smokey make catchy songs with a perplexing AM sound that has elements of Bollywood and spaghetti western throughout the onslaught of beautiful strings. “All the Way Slow” has a great psychedelic extended bridge with a fitting public access looking video.

La Femme “Welcome America”- French electro-surf powerhouse brings the frenetic energy with uptempo synthesized clapping and a ridiculously bouncy bass line.

Sylvan Esso “Hey Mami”- Overlapping the crystal clear vocals of Mountain Man’s Amelia Meath, producer Nick Sanborn creates a perfect sweet pop song that gets harder and more complex with every measure.

Tyson Meade “Nihilists Need Love Too”- legendary 90’s alt-rock former Chainsaw Kittens member loved by the Flaming Lips shows that weird never dies in his new single.

BOSSK “Albatross”- This Fleetwood Mac cover maintains the beautiful dreamy mood of the original and is best heard over and over.

Yonatan Gat “Escorpiao”- mesmerizing guitarist from Tel Aviv now residing in NY spends time in Portugal and tweaks his fuzzy psychedelic unhinged sound.
http://yonatangat.bandcamp.com/album/iberian-passage-2

Teleman “23 Floors Up”- incredible songwriting and melody from a UK group who sound like they listen to a lot of Bowie.

Cretin Stompers “Eye of the Storm”- super fuzzy light as a beignet deliciousness. So fuzzy I thought a speaker had blown out. Yum.

Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea “Problem”- I’m sure Ariana Grande is a nice girl, but I go straight to Iggy’s part in this song. Reminding me of Lady Gaga’s “Teeth”, saxophone and marching drums never sounded so good with Iggy as the perfect Drum Major.

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

20130326-072639.jpg photo by leslieloudspeaker

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.