Tongue in Groove

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More About

• Wymond Miles
• Kerry McDonald
• Ben Desoto

Esperanto — a sort of alphabetic goulash that, some hope, will eventually be spoken by all of the world’s people as a linguistic interface for humanity — may well have found a musical manifestation in the Denver band of the same name. Esperanto, which performs Sunday, January 20, at the 15th Street Tavern with Milemarker and Gravity Index, is a highly instrumental five-piece that blends the rules and structures of a wide range of styles into one all-encompassing, and beautiful, whole. And though guitarist Kerry McDonald (formerly of melodic punk gem Christie Front Drive) occasionally steps forward for vocal duties, the band often prefers to let the instruments — which range from trumpet, flute and drums to piano and farfisa organ — do the talking, resulting in a spacey, ethereal sound that floats on a current of art-punk noise. A relative newcomer with one EP, Laser Optical, to its name, Esperanto has recently been connecting with local audiences through a steady string of live shows. Assembling some of the city’s most nimble and expressive players, including Pinkku’s Ben Desoto and Wymond Miles, Esperanto is a welcome new tongue, indeed. If there’s anything universal here, it’s talent.