David Longstreth was living in western Colorado when he befriended the Love Letter Band’s Chris Adolf. The future Bad Weather California frontman put out Longstreth’s debut album, The Graceful Fallen Mango, on his This Heart Plays Records imprint. Since then, Longstreth has released music under the name Dirty Projectors, with…
In the first half of the ’90s, Ishmael Butler went by the moniker “Butterfly” as part of the rap trio Digable Planets. After the outfit’s 1995 split, the group performed one-off shows here and there, but since 2009, Butler has released music with Tendai Maraire under the name Shabazz Palaces…
Depending on whom you ask, Kenny Chesney represents everything that’s wrong with country music today: His songs stretch the once-tried-and-true country conventions so far that with the exception of the twang in his voice and the pedal-steel guitars, it scarcely resembles country, at least the kind once made by the…
Watsky is a San Franciscan poet/rapper, now based in Los Angeles, who first gained recognition as a slam poet. As a performer, he’s about as diverse as they come: serious, silly, cocky and heartfelt — sometimes all at once. His cross-genre appeal is demonstrated by his impressively varied resumé: winner…
The Lord notwithstanding, there were a couple of awesome things about growing up in the Calvinist parochial school system. JK — there was nothing awesome about growing up in the Calvinist parochial school system, but some aspects of it were more bearable than others. For example, sitting in chapel for…
It’s a shame the HBO series Carnivàle was canceled in ’05, because Bonnie and the Beard’s new album, Cascavel, would have made an excellent soundtrack for the gothic dust bowl of romanticized madness. Thick with a whiskey-and-humidity aesthetic, Cascavel is an appropriate release for the relentless triple-digit afternoons we’ve been…
Around a decade ago, Wymond Miles was part of a core group of underground bands in Denver whose loose affiliation included the likes of 16 Horsepower, Tarmints, Space Team Electra and the Czars. In his late teens, Miles became involved in the experimental-rock band Annik, but by the end of…
No need to check your equipment if you’re listening to this record at night: Those are crickets you hear on the recording — or an electronic analog of crickets. Did John Gross and Todd Novosad sample animals for virtually all of the sounds here? Possibly. It’s also entirely possible that…
Apothic Nights, Vol. 1 is a collaboration between a pair of underdogs from two different crews: Mid Wes_T from Da Krew and Zé from Diamond Boiz. The sharp production makes for an easy listen, but the sounds hit a little harder than the rhymes; the beatmaking, handled largely by TC…
There is nothing subtle about the Pretty Sure’s new EP. From frontman Arlo White’s gritty, basement-show vocals to the showstopping guitar to the je-ne-say-what lyrics (“I’ll be a werewolf for you, mama”) that permeate the entire album, this quartet betrays a distinctly Black Lips attitude and blues-punk aesthetic chased with…
See Also: Mile High Soul Club keeps the Meadowlark sweaty with classic Motown and vintage soul When I walked into the Meadowlark on Friday for Mile High Soul Club, I was greeted by the sight of a woman sporting a beehive that would’ve made Marge Simpson envious and a pair…
SP DOUBLE @ GOTHIC THEATRE | 7.14.12 See Also: – SP Double has come a long way, and it shows – Mr. Midas on Son of the Crack Era, hip-hop unity and the downfall of King Midas – Morning Star is striving to make his rise in the Denver rap…
OWL CITY @ BLUEBIRD THEATER | 7.15.12 See Also: Q&A with Adam Young of Owl City Last night we were all invited to worship at the church of Owl City. The service? Held at the Bluebird Theater, sold-out and led by singer-songwriter-guitarist-keyboardist, Adam Young. Besides following along to Young’s multiple,…
LIARS @ BLUEBIRD THEATER | 7/13/12 See Also: Liars dance to the beat of their own drum After one of many short pieces of connecting music that resembled a science fiction movie synth sound backed by a big bass pulse, Julian Gross came in with the urgent, curiously toy-like, drum…
Westword threw a party Thursday, July 12 at the Bluebird Theater to give out awards to our 2012 Westword Music Showcase winners, followed by a BLKHRTS show. Emily Driskill brings back these rowdy photos of musicians, bands, fans and more from the evening…
Westword threw a party Thursday, July 12 at the Bluebird Theater to give out awards to our 2012 Westword Music Showcase winners, followed by a BLKHRTS show. If you missed out on the free booze and great music, catch up with us through Twitter and Instagram below. See Also: -…
See Also: – First annual Great American Techno Festival to hit Great American Beer Festival – The Great American Techno Festival aims to give beer geeks a place to dance – Denver’s Ten Best Dance Clubs Technoheads, mark your calendars! The lineup for the second annual Great American Techno Festival…
See Also: – Mile High Soul Club keeps the Meadowlark sweaty with classic Motown and soul – Denver’s Ten Best Dance Clubs – Grizzly Rock grand opening this Saturday Denver always brags about its dance music scene, and with good reason. We have the best producers in the country working…
See Also: – Myke Charles has talent and charisma to spare – SP Double has come a long way, and it shows – Q&A with Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch – Q&A with Joe Queer of the Queers Welcome to the weekend! You’ve worked hard, and now it’s…
See Also: – 2012 Westword Music Showcase winners – Photos: Locals only! 2012 Westword Music Showcase – Set recaps by Westword music writers – Photos: The people of Westword Music Showcase In case you missed their blistering performance at this year’s Showcase or you just want to relive the mayhem,…
See Also: – Hey, DJ! Q&A with Tyler “Danger” Jacobson – Photos: Mile High Soul Club at the Meadowlark – Denver’s ten best dance clubs The soul mavens behind Mile High Soul Club grew up on a diet of Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves and Motown 45s played by their parents…
See Also: – Emily Francis brings together art and music at Marion Street Tattoo Gallery – Emily Francis Prepares for Takeoff Fans of art and metal, take note: Famed artist Paul Romano, best known for his illustration and design work on albums by Mastodon, Chiodos, Earth Crisis and Trivium, among…
