Concerts

For the most part, it’s pointless to take a band’s name too literally. For example, I’ve stopped hoping that I’ll receive a coin every time I’m forced to listen to Nickelback. Occasionally, though, a group’s appellation perfectly captures its aesthetic, as is the case with Musee Mecanique, which headlines a…

Few bands convincingly cross genres within a career as deftly as Cynic does within a single song. These virtuosic purveyors of progressive metal from Miami are a prime example of musical ambition and the typically tumultuous response that follows revolution; critics hailed their genre-bending 1993 debut Focus as visionary, yet…

The Fray’s latest feels like a natural progression from its massively successful debut. Everything that drew listeners in the first time — the piano-driven ballads, the tasteful guitar flourishes, the dramatic builds, the soaring melodies and earnest, soul-searching lyrics — is plentiful here and more refined. The magnetism of Isaac…

In the early ’90s, Gang Starr rapper Guru helped pioneer the fusion of hip-hop and live jazz with his various Jazzmatazz groups and recordings. While he might not have been the first to mix the two, he proved that they can be worthy companions, as does TheSaurus. As the band’s…

Hailing from San Diego rather than Louisiana, Delta Spirit writes the type of music that will always be lumped in with some strain of Americana. A casual listen to the band’s music reveals roots in the folk, blues and soul that is very much a part of that tradition, but…

Crowboy’s Christopher Smith and Todd Redmond classify their music as alt-country, and that’s probably appropriate. But Making Up for Lost Time avoids the pretentiousness that sometimes taints the style via a bracingly straightforward presentation that keeps frills to a minimum. The instrumentation stays simple, with fitting focus placed on Smith’s…

My Sister Outlaw once considered using the title of this record as its moniker, which makes sense; the feisty material here certainly fits. From the shimmeringly psychedelic “Aphrodesiac” to the hard-edged “Bus Stop” to the latter-day riot-grrrl rock of “Whatever,” the remarkable variety of sounds is reflective of the input…

People often ask me, “Adam, what’s the hardest part about being such a sophisticated gadabout with a head of hair that’d make a Beatle cry and the alcoholism of an Irish playwright?” A great question. The hardest part is having to put up with people who feel like they have…

In less than two hours, the Fray is slated to take the stage at New York’s Webster Hall, a room which played host to a recent set from DeVotchka. No where near Gotham? No worries. Make your way over to the act’s website and you can stream the whole thing…

UPDATE: Just got word that the shoot is postponed until Friday, February 6, at noon. I know this doesn’t help you much if you are already there, but those of you suffering the pain of knowing you missed it just got another chance. If you’ve always wanted to watch a…

I just stumbled upon this gem of mid-90s Denver rap, Give it Up 2 Da Mile High by the Black Hole Posse, and was transported back to a time of Fila sweatshirts, Alize and tall beanies. Clearly, the Black Hole Posse was all about “regulatin’ in this Colorado sunshine” with…

Received word earlier today from Heavenfest founder Luke Bodley that the annual Christian themed summer festival has expanded the number of acts slated to appear this August to eighty. Last year’s event was well received enough to not only continue but to attract marquee Christian acts like Third Day, Skillet…

We started off the day talking about the Fray’s new album, which hit stores today, and posted a link to its performance on Good Morning America. So it seems fitting to end the day with another clip that Ron Patrick from Douglas County Television brought to our attention of Isaac…

Although we heard grumblings about this last week, we held off reporting anything until we received confirmation. (You know, journalistic due diligence and all that.) Well, we now have confirmation: Railbenders frontman Jim Dalton has been asked to join Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers to replace departing guitarist Steve Larson…

It’s here. The day of reckoning for Denver’s most high profile band. Five years ago, they were four unknown guys dreaming, wondering, hoping — hoping that their music could break out of a city that most people in this country would’ve had a hard time finding on a map. Today,…

Gotta love the matter-of-fact nature of the Mansfields. The Colorado Springs outfit, which continues to enjoy frequent spins on Rodney on the Roq’s specialty show, Sunday nights on KROQ, took the time to fashion a list of frequently asked questions for anyone who might be interested in doing an interview…

I was shuttling between the hi-dive and the Larimer Lounge on Friday night, so unfortunately, I didn’t catch Reno Divorce and Slim Cessna heating things up for Reverend Horton Heat at the Ogden. But from the sounds of it — Jon Solomon was at the show — both acts tore…

Bruce Springsteen is on the brain this morning, mainly because everybody’s talking about his halftime performance during the Super Bowl last night, and tickets just went on sale for his upcoming show at the Pepsi Center. I got a copy of the new disc on Friday and have only had…

Hot Congress Show 1: The Jim Jims, Lil Slugger, The Pseudo Dates and Vitamins Friday, January 30, 2009 Moe’s Original Barbecue, Denver Better Than: A bill where a random group of bands is thrown together. Opening this show was the Jim Jims. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but…

There’s a great dialogue happening right now on the Denver Music Board about the local bands that mattered the most to everyone individually. While there’s a ton of groups on that list that had a big impact on me, there’s one in particular that I remember fondly as being my…

All week we’ve been talking about talking at shows and all this talking has compelled me to weigh in with my own two cents. Like many of our other commentators, I need to admit a bit of guilt first — I have been known to say a few words whilst…