Westword Music Showcase 2006

Personnel: Jon Wirtz (piano, keys); David Kurtz (drums, percussion); Jonathan Rakstang (upright bass).

Native or transplant? The Sputter was born in a Denver basement in Fall 2003.

Releases/discography: Great Unseen (Bocumast Records).

Describe your music in a sentence: Experimental independent jazz & electro-cosmic groove fusion.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? We have played many a mountain town.

What's your idea of "making it"? Never having to answer a question like this one again.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? Astrophagus (www.astrophagus.com), Nightshark, Born in the Flood, Dave Cieri, Mercury Project, Pat Bianche and Voices Underwater.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? Miles Davis, In A Silent Way; Medeski, Martin and Wood, Combustication; Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Esbjorn Svennson Trio, Coltrane, Radiohead, Monk, Brad Mehldau, David Bowie, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Mike Clark and Beck.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? What would Mr. T say?

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? Detachment Kit, Beirut, Fiery Furnaces, Brian Eno, the Books, Wayne Shorter Live!, Legendary Pink Dots, Calexico, Sam Prekop, Chad VanGaalen, Sufjan Stevens, Flotation Toy Warning, Hella, the Ills, Jenny Lewis, the Jolly Rogers, Bright Eyes, David Cross, Bob Moses, Sun Ra, Miroslav Vitous, the Flaming Lips, Sex Mob, Mingus, Wynton Marsalis, Animal Collective, Arcade Fire, Misfits, Turin Brakes, Swearing at Motorists, TV on the Radio, Art Blakey, Wolf Parade, Wolfmother, Bill Hicks and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

STARFUZZ
NOMINATED IN POP
6 P.M., MILK BAR

Website: www.starfuzzband.com

Personnel: Josh Skelton, Ryan Countryman, Jared Schiltz and Curtis Durham.

Native or transplant? Our band was raised in the hothouses of Indiana, Illinois, Florida and Colorado, and then transported here to the high desert climate of Denver for further growth and blossoming.

Releases/discography: You Are Food (2004); Product for American Radio (2006).

Describe your music in a sentence: The music of Starfuzz makes you tingle all over like the anticipation of biting into a tart kosher dill pickle.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? Without a doubt.

What's your idea of "making it"? Our idea of "making it" is being able to create music as a career, having the opportunity to leave our mark in the world of music and playing Stratego ALL DAY LONG.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? We are very happy for the success of bands such as the Fray, Born in the Flood, Rose Hill Drive and others. But in truth, we are mostly excited about our own band and the music we are creating.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? Zip Zap Rap, by Devastatin' Dave the Turntable Slave, has influenced us greatly.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? I think Josh got in a fight with the guitar player from Flock of Seagulls and got punched pretty good in the eye. But Josh totally kicked his ass after that. Oh, do you mean musically?

Myspace: godsend or the devil? Myspace is a froo-eet of the dev-eel and some kind of wacky kitty-cat factory.

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? Stereolab is playing on Curtis's Creative Nano. Josh is probably listening to a kid trying to play a Green Day song on his guitar. Ryan and Jared are most likely listening to the mysterious beep-beeps of space-bound satellite equipment.

ANGIE STEVENS
NOMINATED IN SINGER-SONGWRITER
9 P.M., BANNOCK ST. GARAGE

Website: www.myspace.com/angiestevens

Personnel: Evan on bass, Damon Scott on drums.

Native or transplant? Transplant (Midwest girl).

Releases/discography: I'm Okay (2005), Stand Up Girl (Summer, 2006).

Describe your music in a sentence: Honest songwriting with a dash of country, a cup of rock sprinkled with Americana -- stir well.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? I stay focused on playing shows locally and nationally, connecting with people and building a successful business. I am incredibly honored to be where I'm at and feel hard work will always pay off.

What's your idea of "making it"? Making it, to me, is connecting with my audience -- anything from selling a single disc to selling out a venue.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? We have an amazing local music scene! To name a few: Railbenders, Oakhurst, John Common, Meese, Zack Nichols and Born in the Flood.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? Jeff Buckley, Grace; Joni Mitchell, Blue; Patty Griffin, Living With Ghosts; Martin Sexton, Live Wide Open; Radiohead, The Bends; Dixie Chicks, Fly; Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life; Mason Jennings, Birds Flying Away.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Any artists who bare their souls impact me greatly.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? Godsend! I've heard countless unsigned artists who have just floored me in every way.

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? I have over 2,000 songs, everything from Ray Charles to Joanna Newsome.

THE SWANKS
NOMINATED IN PUNK/HARDCORE
4 P.M., TWO A.M.

Website: www.theswanksrock.com

Personnel: Rex Burdick (guitar, vocals); Phillip Atencio (drums); Shanda Kolberg (guitar, vocals); Shay Moss (bass, vocals).

Native or transplant? We're all transplants. Shay came here from Texas, but has lived here for thirty years; Rex moved here from Hawaii, by way of Pennsylvania; Phillip's from Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Shanda hails from Iowa.

Releases/discography: The Swanks (1999); Keep America Rollin' (2003); The Swanks vs. The World (2005); appeared on Undead in Denver Vol. 1 and Vol.2; upcoming release: The Brides of Electric Frankenstein.

Describe your music in a sentence: Loud, angry, kick-you-in-the-nuts rock and roll.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? Who knows? We've never sent any of our music out to anybody. The motivation just isn't there. We'd rather drink beer, I guess.

What's your idea of "making it"? In our eyes, we've already "made it." We get to do what we want, when we want to do it. We don't need some record exec mucking it all up.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? King Rat, Reno Divorce, Valio Mierda, Alcoholiday, the Swindlers, Black Lamb, Ghost Buffalo, Jett Black, Fallout Orphan, Cobra Kai and the Mansfields.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? Slayer, Reign of Blood; The Ramones, Rocket to Russia; Betty Blowtorch, Get Off; Lars Friedrickson and the Bastards, Viking; Gluecifer, Atomic Thrill.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Slayer, the Ramones, Betty Blowtorch, Motörhead, etc.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? Phillip says, "I like it! A trend in the electronic entertainment industry is user-created content. Developers create tools which enable users to create personalized content. The end result can be something as creative and diverse as user pages found in myspace. Great idea!"

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? None of us own an iPod.

SWAYBACK
NOMINATED IN ROCK
7 P.M., ACOMA CENTER

Website: www.myspace.com/theswayback

Personnel: Eric Halborg, Bill Murphy, Martijn Bolster.

Native or transplant? Transplants.

Releases/discography: Swayback (Too Bad You're Beautiful Recordings, 2004); Forewarned EP (What Are Records, May 2006).

Describe your music in a sentence: Equal parts completely enchanted/completely disgusted with everything.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? On the backs of the hounds of Denver go we.

What's your idea of "making it"? Some Muddy Waters on the phonograph, a little drunk on wine.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? Jef Kopp and the people who make the Horndribbles (and most of the stuff at Andenken).

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? Unknown pleasures /Kill 'em All.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Mudhoney, Love and Rockets, Death, Leonard Cohen, Bowie, My Bloody Ridedriver, Dungen, My Morning Jacket, Sonic Youth, Hendrix!, Bob Marley, Stooges, Smiths, Kraftwerk, Daramarama, Murder City Devils, Bukowski and Henry Miller.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? Bit of both, I guess.

Do you have an iPod? If so, what's on it right now? Twenty gigs of the good stuff.

TEMPA AND THE TANTRUMS
NOMINATED IN BLUES
4 P.M., DAZZLE

Website: www.tempaandthetantrums.com

Personnel: Tempa (vocals, songwriter); Joseph Barton (guitar, songwriter); David Foret (bass); Phil Bassist (drums); JZ (guitar); Dave Camp (sax); Harold Rapp (sax).

Native or transplant? We are transplant/native hybrids.

Releases/discography: Tempa and the Tantrums, Foo Ya Live, and coming up: Holding on to the Blue.

Describe your music in a sentence: Wild-ass blues jazz zydefunk!!!

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? All of the bandmembers have already. :)

What's your idea of "making it"? Being heard and being humble about it.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? Melissa Ivey, Elizabeth Rose, Michael Hornbuckle, Brian Hornbuckle, Jen Fielder, Potcheen Folk Band, Steve Crenshaw, Mercury Project, Rubber Planet, Elana Rogers & the Reason, Jill Watkins Band, Erica Brown Band, Willie Houston, Bigga Digga, Uncle Monkey Band, Johnny O. Band, Rob Drabkin, Kirwan Brown, Lannie Garrett and Hazel Miller. These are just a handful of the people/bands we love, admire and are excited about!

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? Joni Mitchell, Blue; Zappa, The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life; Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Cha's, Let's Go!; Koko Taylor, Live, Fleetwood Mac, Live, Earth Wind & Fire, Fantasy; Michael Brecker, Heavy Metal Bee Bop; Grover Washington, Inner City Blues; Beatles, the "White Album"; the Allman Brothers, Live at the Fillmore.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Grand Funk Railroad, The Beatles, Zappa, Bonnie Raitt, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Mavis Staples, Ralph Stanley, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Koko Taylor, Blind Willie Johnson, Janis Joplin, James Taylor, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Robert Johnson, Patsy Cline, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Louis Jordan and KISS!

Myspace: godsend or the devil? How about DEVIL? Bwahahahaha!

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? No iPod, but Tempa has a really cool Grafonola that she cranks up and plays 78s at dinner parties!

TEN CENT REDEMPTION
NOMINATED IN ROOTS/AMERICANA
6 P.M., SHELTER

Website: www.tencentredemption.com

Personnel: Rhett, Tony, Johnny, Bill.

Native or transplant? Native, except for Tony.

Releases/discography: Worst Plan Ever (2005).

Describe your music in a sentence: Sounds like a Mississipi clothesline being dried by a British breeze -- then we smashed our shit.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? Yes.

What's your idea of "making it"? Not blinkin' at $240 worth of puddin'.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? Vaux, Born in the Flood, the Fray and Slim Cessna's Auto Club.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? The Cure, Disintegration; Jeff Buckley, Grace; Jimmy Eat World, Clarity; the Sex Pistols, Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Uncle Tupelo, Ryan Adams, Cowboy Junkies, Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, Wilco, Afghan Whigs, DJ Sasha and NIN.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? Godsend.

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? Ryan Adams, Vaux, Cracker, Panic! at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, People in Planes, Led Zeppelin, Lots of Techno, the Real People, K's Choice, Solid Frog, Kanye West, Neil Diamond, Calexico, Neko Case, Hard-Fi, Elliott Smith, Bright Eyes, Miles Davis, etc., etc., etc.

TEN TIERS
NOMINATED IN POP
4 P.M., BANNOCK ST. GARAGE

Website: www.myspace.com/tentiers

Personnel: Jonathan Tiersten, Mitch Dezwarte, Chris Childress, Paul Henry, Brion Neill and a whole slew of other people.

Native or transplant? Transplant from NYC.

Releases/discography: Tied Up (2004), Don's Club Tavern Part 1 (2006).

Describe your music in a sentence: I write about things that move something in me emotionally. You gotta feel it! That being said, it's rock music with an acoustic guitar.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? Gosh, I hope so. Actually, we have already toured the West Coast, and I have played all up and down the East Coast. It looks like we will have a song on the CBS show Numbers this fall.

What's your idea of "making it"? You mean this isn't it? It's funny, we spend so much time trying to "make it," that we don't enjoy where we already are. I want more, but I appreciate that every day I get to sing and write and eat. I guess we could ask Nietzsche how he defined success.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? The Photo Atlas, Jimmie Austin, Rubber Planet, Lazy Face and Hot IQs.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? David Bowie's Space Oddity, Yes's Close to the Edge, Crosby Stills, Nash and Young's 4 Way Street and Joan Armatrading's Show Some Emotion.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Robert Smith, David Byrne, Peter Gabriel, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Joan Armatrading, Mike York and Gregg Allman.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? Guilty pleasure. Valuable tool. That being said, probably anything associated with Rupert Murdoch...?!%&*

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? I still listen to whole CDs. When did we criminalize attention spans? I am in the midst of a torrid affair with the band Yes. Who said retreads don't work?

THREE MILES WEST
NOMINATED IN ROOTS/AMERICANA
3 P.M., SHELTER

Website: www.threemileswest.com

Personnel:Russ, Mindi, Todd and John.

Native or transplant? Native.

Releases/discography: Dead Reckoning (2006).

Describe your music in a sentence: Three Miles West plays a brand of Western, spacious alt country that is an intriguing companion for a nighttime drive in the desert.

Do you think you can make it out of Denver? With GPS, it should be possible to get out of Denver.

What's your idea of "making it"? We have arrived once we a) have an actual fan; b) sell a CD for full price to non-family members.

What local artist(s) are you most excited about? Angie Stevens.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you? U2's The Joshua Tree, since I waited all day in line to get a copy at midnight at a record store; Echo & the Bunnymen's Ocean Rain let me know you could be dark, psychedelic, and have hooks at the same time.

What artists have had the biggest impact on you? Josh Ritter. He can't play rhythm guitar, either, but the songs still say enough.

Myspace: godsend or the devil? The Final Solution in drag.

Do you have an iPod? If so, who's on it right now? A what? Vinyl, baby, vinyl.

TRISTRAUM
NOMINATED IN GOTHIC/INDUSTRIAL

Website: www.tristraum.com

Personnel: Randall Erkelens (keyboards); Pierre Norman (keyboards); Krystyna Eller (vocals/lyrics).

Native or transplant? Randall moved to Denver from San Francisco ten years ago. Pierre and Krystyna are natives.

Releases/discography: See: www.tristraum.com/disco.html

Describe your music in a sentence: Modern electronica with fiery female vocals and lush synth textures.