Westword Music Showcase 2006

Website: www.blacklambrocks.com, myspace.com/blacklamb

Personnel: Who knows anymore?

Native or transplant? Both.

Releases/discography: hang the moon; the low road; pillar of salt; high and mighty.

Describe your music in a sentence: "Commerce City soul music."

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? Yeah, if you lend us gas money.

What's your idea of "making it"? Making what?

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? Weapons of Ass Destruction. Makeshift Vagina. Munimula. (loif)

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? Cro-Mags, Age of Quarrel.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Jerry VanDyke.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? Those dudes are on there? I wanna be their friend!

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? We rock a shoulder-full of boombox, bitch! Recognize...(?)

BLACK PEGASUS
NOMINATED IN HIP-HOP -- MC
7 P.M., VINYL ROOFTOP

PETER BLACK
NOMINATED IN DJ: ELECTRONIC/NON-TRADITIONAL
7 P.M., VINYL MAIN

Website: www.myspace.com/rockstarsaredead

Native or transplant? Native.

Describe your music in a sentence: Basshead paradise, anti-everything.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? Yes. It's all about attitude.

What's your idea of "making it"? Doing what you enjoy and getting paid for it.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? Laylights, Swayback, Photo Atlas.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? Anything on the Mo'Wax record label.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Fela Kuti and James Lavelle.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? Mindwaste.

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? VYBZ Cartel; Sound of Miami: Funk Compilation; Brazilica: Compilation; Baile Funk Compilation; Sounds of Young New York - '80s New Wave compilation; Massive Attack, Blue Lines; Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings; the BellRays; Mad Decent Mix, Diplo (Podcast); Cameo, Best Of compilation.

BOP SKIZZUM
NOMINATED IN FUNK/SOUL
7 P.M., LA RUMBA

Website: www.bop-skizzum.com

Personnel: Bop Skizzum is Andy Guerrero (lead vocals, guitar); Serafin Sanchez (tenor saxophone, keyboards); Joe Ferrone (trumpet); Jeff Valentine (trombone); Tohbias Juniel (drums); Chris Harris (bass). The Bop Skizzum extended family is made up of Simone Bracket and Monica Conway (aka The Simonica) and Mike Friesen (producer, backup vocals).

Native or transplant? Halfsies.

Releases/discography: Reverberating Funk (2001); Waiting For (2004); Propeller (2005).

Describe your music in a sentence: Did you ever see the Funktion in 1996? Like that, but with Serafin.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? Definitely can. Just waiting for a van and that Westword spread. Call me, Dave!

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? Serafin Sanchez and Jeremy Jones Quintet, 8-trac, Hip-Triplet, Everyone's Pleasure, the U.S. Air Force Falconaires, the Flobots, Psychodelic Zombiez (reunion), Yo, Flaco!, Pure Soul, Tony Black Project, Chilly Willy, After 8, Funktion (circa '96), and we really love the Fray.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? All the Psychodelic Zombiez albums, Thriller, and Tower of Power's Back to Oakland.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Red Hot Chili Peppers, Earth, Wind & Fire, Fishbone, Parliament Funkadelic, Prince, Stevie Wonder.

Myspace: godsend or devil? It's a godsend, slowly eliminating all human-to-human contact. It's a great way to meet and communicate with people outside of Denver. We've got some fans in the U.K.! www.myspace.com/bopskizzum Thanks for the ad!

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? Yeah, we got iPods; we've been spinning audio books like crazy. Also: Gnarls Barkley, Chili Peppers, Danger Doom, Charlie Hunter, Kneebody, the Coup and Muse.

BORN IN THE FLOOD
NOMINATED IN INDIE ROCK/POP
7 P.M., OUTDOOR STAGE

Website: www.bornintheflood.com

Personnel: Nathaniel Rateliff, Joseph Pope III, Matt Fox, Mike Hall.

Native or transplant? Transplants.

Releases/discography: The Fear That We May Not Be (Self-released, 2005).

Describe your music in a sentence: The pounding of heads on walls and smashing of vessels once filled. Rejoice.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? If the van keeps running.

What's your idea of "making it"? We've taken a vow of poverty, so in essence, we've already made it.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? Joe Samson, aka A Dog Paloma, Strangers Die Everyday, the Milkshakes, and a yet-unnamed project involving Jeff Lindsemeyer.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? Leonard Cohen, Songs of Leonard Cohen; Minus Story, The King Is Dead, Let the Drum Corpse Dance.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? It comes in waves: I love it, then feel very dirty, end up hating it, yet fall back in love. Overall voyeurism is overrated but somewhat necessary.

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? We fear change. Mix tapes all the way.

BREAK MECHANICS
NOMINATED IN HIP-HOP -- GROUP

BUCKNER FUNKEN JAZZ
NOMINATED IN JAZZ/SWING

BUCKSKIN STALLION
NOMINATED IN COUNTRY/ALT COUNTRY

Website: www.buckskinstallionmusic.org

Personnel: Dave Shapiro (telecaster guitar, pianet, vox); Grammy winner John Macy (pedal steel guitar); Brian Schey (bass); Todd Moore (drums); Troy Schoenfelder (vox, acoustic guitar).

Native or transplant? Transplant -- from rural South Dakota to Minneapolis to Colorado.

Releases/discography: Blue Ribbon Buzz (2004). We're currently recording our sophomore effort, looking for an early fall release.

Describe your music in a sentence: Part salt of the earth, part fire in the belly, one hundred percent rousing ruralism!

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? Ah, hell, first we have to make it in Denver.

What's your idea of "making it"? 1) Opening for the Railbenders. 2) Making the money back from recording and distributing Blue Ribbon Buzz. FYI: Still working on the first one (Hey, Jim Dalton, you got my phone number?). According to my accountant, we can consider the second one as "mission accomplished," but we've heard that before.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? All the bands with the mettle to play the music they choose to play. By the way, have you heard Great American Taxi? Kickin' country rock!

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? Harry Smith, Anthology of American Folk Music; Woody Guthrie, Library of Congress Recordings; Bob Dylan, Basement Tapes and Street Legal; Gram Parsons and the International Submarine Band, Safe at Home; Townes Van Zandt, High, Low and in Between; Neil Young, Ragged Glory; Uncle Tupelo, Still Feel Gone; Whiskeytown, Stranger's Almanac.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt and Uncle Tupelo.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? Great networking tool for bands. I'll have to side with godsend on this one.

Do you have an iPod? Nope.

BUCKWILD
NOMINATED IN COUNTRY/ALT COUNTRY
4 P.M., SHELTER

Website: www.myspace.com/buckwilddenver

Personnel: Rex Moser, Susan Phelan, Carlos Newman -- two bad boys and one very, very bad girl!

Native or transplant? One native (Carlos), two transplants -- Rex is from New York, and Susan is from Indiana.

Releases/discography: We're recording at Module Overload as we speak!

Describe your music in a sentence: Cowboy rock!

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? Hell, yes -- they'll love us in Baghdad.

What's your idea of "making it"? Second base?

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? Susan is excited about the Swanks, the Haggardies and the Blue Blooded Girls. Rex and Carlos are excited about Susan.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? Rex: Green River, by CCR. Susan: Anything by KISS, Destroyer, Primus, Led Zeppelin, Aretha Franklin or Ray Charles. Carlos: At Folsom Prison: Live, the Highwaymen, Appetite for Destruction.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Rex: John Fogerty, Hank Williams and Chuck Berry. Susan: her father, Gene Simmons, Shirley Horn, Junior Brown. Carlos: Johnny Cash, the Clash, the Eagles and Guns 'N Roses

Myspace: godsend or the devil? Not the devil -- just a good-lookin' guy!

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? I what?

CAUSTIC SOUL
NOMINATED IN GOTHIC/INDUSTRIAL

COCKTAIL REVOLUTION
NOMINATED IN JAZZ/SWING
9 P.M., DAZZLE

Website: www.cocktailrevolution.net

Personnel: Chad Aman (keys); Artie Moore (bass); Zach Pietlock (drums); Jon Hegel (saxophone).

Native or transplant? We are natives.

Releases/discography: Cocktail Revolution.

Describe your music in a sentence: We play drum-and-bass-influenced urban improv -- music that has the power to grant eternal youth and winning Lotto numbers.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? So far, we've done quite well outside of Denver.

What's your idea of "making it"? We don't know. It'd be nice to quit our day jobs.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? Not to sound too kiss-assy, but all the local artists are great (but actually we're the only band on the planet worth listening to).

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Roni Size, the New Deal, Led Zeppelin, the Streets and Fishbone.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? Addictive as hell.

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? I have an iPod, and right now it has a folder icon with an exclamation point next to it -- I think that means it's broken. Damn.

JOHN COMMON
NOMINATED IN SINGER-SONGWRITER
7 P.M., BANNOCK ST. GARAGE

Website: www.johncommon.com

Personnel: John Common (vocals, guitars, keys, samples, songs); Tom Germain (drums, vocals); Kevin Meyer (bass, vocals); Jed Marrs (keys, vocals); various friends (various things).

Native or transplant? I'm a transplant from Pensacola, Florida. The cruel humidity drove me away.

Releases/discography: Good to Be Born (John Common, 2006), The Longest Street in America (Rainville, 2002), Collecting Empties (Rainville, 1999).

Describe your music in a sentence: Right before I grabbed the steering wheel and swerved to avoid the oncoming truck, everything got very quiet. I looked over at her, with her arm out the window, wind blowing her hair, watching miles of wheat stretch out, singing softly with Chet Baker -- she didn't know we were about to wreck. Or: All I want to do is write songs that make you feel everything all at once.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? This question brings three Chinese proverbs to mind: 1) Distant water won't quench your immediate thirst. 2) A dog won't forsake his master because of his poverty; a son never deserts his mother for her homely appearance. 3) Dream different dreams while on the same bed.

What's your idea of "making it"? I'll know I have made it when I have a beautiful-yet-oddly-strong roadie named Estelle who hauls my gear and tunes my guitars. Until then, I'm a complete failure.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? Chris Eagleton, Joshua Novak, Ed Skibbe, Born in the Flood, Matt Kowal, Angie Stevens, DeVotchKa, Tom Zingaro, Meese, Drag The River, Red Cloud West, Zack Nichols, Starfuzz, Ten Cent Redemption, Astrophagus, Kettle Black and A Dog Paloma.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? The Beatles, Abbey Road and the "White Album"; Neil Young, Rust Never Sleeps; Lynyrd Skynyrd, Second Helping; Chet Baker, My Funny Valentine; Velvet Underground, Vu; Tom Waits, Rain Dogs.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Bob Ross, Tom Waits, John Lennon, Jesus, Sparklehorse, Miles Davis, Yo La Tengo, Rufus Wainwright, Neil Young, David Lowery, Big Star, Beck, Jeff Tweedy, Robert Zimmerman, my brother Scott, Daniel Lanois, Robert Pollard, Mark Kozelek, Elliott Smith and Emma.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? Myspace = digital high school. It all depends on how much you enjoyed high school.

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? Bonobo, Eels, Rogue Wave, William Shatner, a bunch of found audio stuff.

DENT
NOMINATED IN HIP-HOP -- MC
6 P.M., VINYL ROOFTOP

Website: www.myspace.com/dentsmusicissaulgood

Native or transplant? C.O. NATIVE...that Northside love!!

Releases/discography: Make Yall Feel It (mix CD with DJ Chonz, 2006); Platinum in the Shower (2005); Low Budget Soul (2005); Hip-Hop Love Jazz (2005); The Revolushun (with Rraahh Foundashun, 2005). Peace to all the DJs playin' my music and showin' love on the mix CDs.

Describe your music in a sentence: Hmm...take some time out and come vibe out to some of my music. Y'all tell me.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? The way I see it, the place in the middle of the map is where it's at. There are many hip-hoppas worldwide who are on the grind in this industry, But being in the middle, I can network with people from both coasts. Create and build your own network, and let the music speak for itself. Form a game plan, stick to it and let your music spread like wildfire. The world is a lot bigger than Colorado. Let your light shine!

What's your idea of "making it"? Waking up every single day of your life, doing something you love, being able to pay your bills, doin' your passion... To me, that's the essence.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? I run with the Radio Bums and the Shunz, so there's some powerhouse krews. I love everything my peoples are rockin', but other than that, I'm feelin' Distrakt, D.O. ManeLine and Boostwell Camp. And I like Playalitical, just to name a few.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? We could probably talk about that all day. I study all kinds of music. For hip-hop albums, let's say Eric B. and Rakim, Paid in Full; Big Daddy Kane, Long Live the Kane; the D.O.C., The Formula; and all of Native Tongues.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Big Daddy Kane, Kool Keith, Rakim, Chill and Afrika Sam.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? I use it; I think it's a great networking tool for your music, if you use it for all the right purposes. Look me up.

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? I don't have an iPod, but my music is on iTunes; buy my EP in the iTunes music store NOW! Platinum in the Shower. Support good music: It's SAUL GOOD!!!

DEVIANT
NOMINATED IN GOTHIC/INDUSTRIAL

Website: www.deviantmuse.com

Personnel: London (vocals); D' MacKinnon (guitar, synths, production); Marcus Wilkerson (bass, backing guitars).

Native or transplant? We are all from various parts of the globe, but we've lived in Colorado for the past ten years, some of us longer.

Releases/discography: We have an EP, Absenta, which was released in 2003, and we are recording a new album to be released at the end of 2006.

Describe your music in a sentence: Dark-edged electro-rock.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? We've had label offers, but recently have decided to go with an independent record label, Kheperi Global Media, which has done a good job of exposing our music through TV and film.

What's your idea of "making it"? D' responds: Making it for me would be to be able to make a living writing and performing music and make enough money to have a car and a place to live. That's all I really need.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? D' responds: I really like DeVotchKa. I think they have a unique sound and look that works well for them, and I think they'll get far with it.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? D' responds: David Bowie's Low and Diamond Dogs, Ministry's A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste. London has been influenced a lot by artists like Tori Amos.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Tori Amos, Nine Inch Nails, early-'80s punk.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? I think it's a good way for bands to market to a wide audience and get around the system of corporate radio. Time will tell how effective it is in the long run.

Do you have an iPod? Nope, no iPods.

DEVOTCHKA
NOMINATED IN AVANT-GARDE/ECLECTIC

DJ IDIOM
NOMINATED IN DJ: HIP-HOP CLUB/TURNTABLISM

Website: www.djidiom.com

Native or transplant? Silicon implants.

Releases/discography: Thus far, I've only made mixtapes/cds. So, legally, and as far as most musicians are concerned, I haven't released anything.

Describe your music in a sentence: Basically, it's someone else's music stolen and then played with other stolen music, with my personal signature on every last detail.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? Yes. The sooner the better.

What's your idea of "making it"? That's more of a day-to-day thing for me. I suppose waking up every day satisfied with who you are and what you are doing. I think that if making it becomes an ideal or goal and you believe someday it will all change and your life will suddenly become a fairy tale, you're going to be very disappointed and not find beauty in what you're doing on a day-to-day level.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? CACHEFLOWE!!!; The Yummies; An-ism; Drop Logik; Scaffolding; Ivy; 21 Dread; and Vajra.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? DJ Shadow, Endtroducing; Tricky, Pre-Millennium Tension; My Bloody Valentine, Loveless; Arto Lindsay, Prize; anything by Björk; Blackstar, Blackstar; anything by Boards of Canada; the Books, Lost and Safe, Lemon of Pink; Cacheflowe, Automate Everything; CocoRosie, Le Maison de Mon Reve; Digable Planets, Blowout Comb; KMD, Black Bastards; Pharcyde, Labcabincalifornia; Philip Glass, Mishima; Tribe Called Quest, Beats, Rhymes & Life; Prefuse 73, Vocal Studies and Uprock Narratives; DJP, Manipulated Trax.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you?

The artists mentioned in the previous answer and DJ Nutter.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? Santa Claus. So, technically, both.

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? "Act Too (The Love of My Life)," from the Roots' Things Fall Apart.

DJ LAZY EYEZ
NOMINATED IN DJ: HIP-HOP CLUB/TURNTABLISM
3 P.M., VINYL ROOFTOP

Website: www.myspace.com/DJLazyEyez

Native or transplant? Born and raised in Colorado Springs; brainwashed in Boulder; now living in Denver.

Releases/discography: "I Ain't the One," D-Roccamus Rhyme featuring Jo-el (single, 2001).

Describe your music in a sentence: I'm a party-rocking DJ who tries to keep it real but ends up playing the songs requested by cute girls.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? I go to Boulder and Colorado Springs all the time.

What's your idea of "making it"? "Making it," to me, is being my own boss, controlling my destiny, being financially secure, loving what I do for a living, making a difference with my life and hanging out with my people that I grew up with.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? Dent, 1865, Distrakt, Maneline, Rrahh Foundashun, Ground Zero Movement, Flobots, Herbin Tribe, Es-Nine, Black Pegasus, SP Double, Q-Burse, DJ Cysko Rokwel, DJ Thought, Crunk Brothers, DJ Vajra, St. Nick and D-Roccamus Rhyme.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? Outkast, ATLiens; Akinyele, Aktapuss; Mission (Crown City Rockers) One; the Roots, Do You Want More.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Outkast, Tupac, DJ Shadow, Native Tongues, Dead Prez, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, the Roots, Bruce Lee, Jeff Smith (creator of the "Bone" comic books), Dent, the Procussions, and everyone at Radio1190 and Colorado Hip-Hop.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? Reluctantly...godsend. I would say the devil, but even DJ Thought, who was the biggest myspace hater, just got one last week.

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? I did. It's broken. Which really sucks, since my CD player has duct tape holding in the batteries and I have to use one of those jacked-up cassette-player adapters. But the last thing I uploaded was the Go! Team's "College Sessions" and Showbiz & A.G.

DJ LOW KEY
NOMINATED IN DJ: HIP-HOP CLUB/TURNTABLISM

Website: myspace.com/djlowkey; djlowkey.com

Native or transplant? Transplant. I'm originally from Georgia.

Releases/discography: I've released countless unofficial tapes, but the last official joint I dropped was a tape called Mixing in Action #1 (you can download it for free at djlowkey.com). Later this month, me and DJ Amen are going to drop the Bar Luxe: Late Night Soundtrack mixtape. Later this summer, Mixing in Action #2 (hosted by Tanya Morgan) will be out.

Describe your music in a sentence: I play too much music to describe in a sentence.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? Without a doubt. With that said, people need to start thinking about ways to "make it" in Denver rather than making it out. It's 2006, and you don't have to be in NYC or L.A. to do it big.

What's your idea of "making it"? Being comfortable doing what I like to do.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? The Basementalism crew, Radio Bums, Dent and the Shunz, Amen and Sounds Supreme, DJ Vajra and Bumpy Chill (if he ever drops some new ish).

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? DJ Spinbad, Needle to the Groove; Vin Roc, Reconstruction; DJ Chonz, Chonz '97; Nas, Illmatic; A Tribe Called Quest, Low End Theory; Cru, Da Dirty 30; Isaac Hayes, Hot Buttered Soul; Biggie, Ready to Die; Pete Rock & CL Smooth, The Main Ingredient; and Slick Rick, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Jigga, Jay Dee (RIP Dilla), Pete Rock, Jazzy Jeff, DJ Spinbad, Vin Roc, Radio Bums, Basementalism Crew, Primo, Prince and, over the last year, Median and Tanya Morgan.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? Myspace is what you make it. That explains both the good side of it and the rest.

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? I have two iPods, and both are full of all sorts of random ish. Hundreds of mixtapes, classic and new hip-hop, some soul/R&B albums, a bunch of crazy live shows -- really, anything that's dope.

DJ SOUNDS SUPREME
NOMINATED IN DJ: HIP-HOP CLUB/TURNTABLISM

Website: myspace.com/soundssupreme1

Native or transplant? Born and raised.

Releases/discography: The "AnyQuality" mixtape series w/ DJ Amen.

Describe your music in a sentence: Drunk or not, that DJ's crushin'!

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? YES! -- if my mom lets me.

What's your idea of "making it"? Free beer and no song requests.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? ManeLine, DJ Amen, DJ Deft, DJ Stretch and Whygee.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? Gang Starr's Moment of Truth.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Revolution, A-Trak, Premier, P.N.M and Radio Bums.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? Neither -- it's just an ingenius business idea.

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? Yes -- hopefully nobody fat; they ain't cheap.

DJ VAJRA
NOMINATED IN DJ: HIP-HOP CLUB/TURNTABLISM
4 P.M., VINYL ROOFTOP

Website: www.myspace.com/djvajra; www.djvajra.com

Native or transplant? Transplant. Grew up in Indiana. Moved to Colorado when I was seventeen.

Releases/discography: Saul Good, the Mixtape (available for free download through my website, www.djvajra.com)

Describe your music in a sentence: I like good hip-hop, so that's what I try to make.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? I feel like I already am.

What's your idea of "making it"? Being able to support my family by doing what I love.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? I like them all!

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? The ones I have listened to at Bart's CD Cellar in Boulder.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? All of the ones who have encouraged and inspired me, and the ones who will continue to do so.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? www.myspace.com/djvajra :)

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? I haven't jumped on that bandwagon just yet.

DORK
NOMINATED IN PUNK/HARDCORE

Website: www.wearedork.com

Native or transplant? Native.

Releases/discography: Rock Out With Your Cock Out (2001); One Up (2002); Furious George (2003); Dorkside of the Moon (2004); The K.R.O.D.Father (2005); Suck It! (2006).

Describe your music in a sentence: We are the most hardcore pop-punk band on the planet (if there is such a thing).

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? We have as good of a shot as anyone, I suppose.