Following in the footsteps of fellow Pittsburgh native and Taylor Allderdice graduate Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller is well known for making feel-good music. His breakout mixtape K.I.D.S. (Kickin’ Incredibly Dope Shit), an homage to the notably dark Larry Clark film, and followup Best Day Ever were beloved by casual and…
Starting out in Chicago as the Suburban Nightmare, the Dwarves quickly ditched their early hardcore sound for something less narrow. The band subsequently cultivated a perverse sense of humor and a stage show worthy of GG Allin, and the members played out under such pseudonyms as HeWhoCannotBeNamed and Blag Dalia…
This EP isn’t a collection of murder ballads so much as one of tales of misfortune collected from grandparents who grew up during and after the Great Depression in the West. “Brother Ely” is the tale of a pious figure who comes to town, doomed to sing his praise to…
With more than two decades of playing trumpet under his belt, Joshua Trinidad knows his way around jazz, and he’s a hell of an improviser. On BUCK, a soundtrack he wrote to accompany ten photos captured by New York-based photographer Chris Buck, he explores some different ground. While Trinidad is…
Longtime Lipgloss DJ option4 brings his dance-floor creations to disc with this impressively strong collection of narcotic beats. A vital contribution to the local dance scene, Into the Night finds option4 effortlessly blending his signature flavors of house and techno on songs like “Ride On,” which features an interpolation of…
One of the great charms of Matt Sage’s musical output is that he has a real gift for seeking out, exposing and transforming his personal frustrations into song. On “Properties,” part of this new release from Sage project Kick Majestic, it feels like he is defiantly crying out for respite…
IAMTHESHOTGUN formed in 2007 when guitarist Bryan Pelle met Kareem Hendricks through an ad for bandmates. The two bonded over a mutual love of the melodic death-metal band Dead to Fall, and subsequently struck up a musical partnership that has endured numerous lineup changes. The band didn’t have a bassist…
Justin Long has had his hands on decks longer than some up-and-comers have been alive, so it’s no surprise that by this point, his taste for tunes and his ability to mix, match and master are nigh unparalleled. Long grew up in Chicago, performing alongside the likes of Daft Punk,…
MUMFORD & SONS @ RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE | 8/28/12 Mumford & Sons played the first of two sold-out Red Rocks shows last night for an exuberant audience eager to sing along with every word, and the British folk-pop quartet gave them plenty of fodder, treating fans to most of the…
Last night, in celebration of their brand-new record, The Circle in the Square, which was released yesterday, Flobots gave a special in-store performance at Twist & Shout and then stuck around afterward to hang out with fans. As you’ll see below from the photos of Brandon Marshall, who was on…
YEASAYER @ OGDEN THEATRE | 8.26.12 See also: Anand Wilder of Yeasayer on being from Baltimore but making a name in New York As soon as the lights dimmed for Yeasayer’s entrance, the cheering began. Moments later, when the bizarre, sci-fi mirror-monstrosity of a stage set was revealed, the cheers…
Good morning! Here we are again. Weekend’s over. Bummed? So are we. Luckily, there’s another full slate of music to look forward to this week. As always, the choices are plentiful. From folk and metal to indie rock and jam, whatever your flavor, there are plenty of options. Mumford &…
If you’re up early, you’ve probably already noticed that we put the paddles to Heavy Rotation and brought that feature back to life. We’ve done the same with another dormant feature, Flier of the Week. Starting today, we’ll once again be paying tribute to the tried and true, time-tested method…
Nestled between abandoned mines, a cemetery and a towering nosebleed-worthy hill overlooking Central City, the inaugural Higher Ground Music Festival could have hardly taken place in a more atypical locale. But with forty-ish Colorado bands playing to a mostly local crowd of campers and Denver daytrippers, the fans here were…
SNOOP DOGG and ICE CUBE @ COMFORT DENTAL | 2/4/12 With a lineup in which the youngest performer was Bizzy Bone of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony at 35, one might assume that this show was doomed to an early bedtime and fading energy as the night wore on. In reality, the crowd…
Westword caught up with Flobots frontman Jonny 5 (aka Jamie Laurie) for a track-by-track breakdown of The Circle In the Square, the new record. If you’ve bought the record and you’re listening right now wondering what the songs are about, wonder no more. You’ve come to the right place Page down to see what the Jonny 5 had to say.
See also: – Flobots, The Circle In the Square: Jonny 5’s track-by-track breakdown of the new album – Remembering Sandy Widener Sometimes Denver can feel like a very hip Mayberry. While waiting to meet the founding members of Flobots at the Denver Bike Cafe, I ran into Jason Heller –…
Work week’s almost done. Feel like blowing off some steam on the dance floor? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve got you covered. There’s a full dance card this weekend with a little something for everyone. Drum-and-bass aficionados have their hands full this weekend at City Hall with Jungle…
Welcome to the weekend! If you haven’t made plans yet, there’s an unreal number of shows, from five different festivals to several CD release shows to old school hip-hop. Of course, we have them all listed in our massive concert calendar. If you’re feeling industrious, print that bad boy out…
See also: – Nathan & Stephen: This nine-piece band started out as a simple duo – Nathan & Stephen – Best New Band, Best of Denver 2007 – Nathan & Stephen Ponder Name Change – Q&A with Nathan McGarvey of Hearts of Palm Have you heard the one about how…
See also: Karen Cuda benefits – Hemi Cuda bassist needs surgery to repair degenerative neck condition Jessica Hughes wasn’t too worried about the numbness and tingling in her hands and feet when it first started — she chalked it up to a case of carpal tunnel. The Cougar Pants drummer…
See also: The third annual Spirit of Hip-Hop celebrates the four elements and keeps the culture alive What began as a casual Friday cookout/dance get-together has blossomed into a full-blown community hip-hop jam — and you don’t need to be a hip-hop-head to appreciate the Worm Tank Jam going down…
