Westword Music Showcase 2007

Favorite place to hang out/drink: The Bar.

Best artist/band to come out of Denver (that's not yours/you): DeVotchKa.

Best song to come out of Denver (that you didn't write): "Closer Than You Think Pt. 1" - Everything Absent or Distorted.

If you were a street in Denver, which street would it be and why? Speer: We're all over the place and can rarely walk a straight line.

If you had to choose one act to represent Denver, who would it be and why? Someone on Needlepoint — we need money.

Which artist has had the biggest impact on you? Jackson Pollock.

Which album has had the biggest impact on you? Songs for a Blue Guitar - Red House Painters.

File-sharing: Godsend or the death of music? We're all for file-sharing. You know you've arrived when people start stealing your stuff.

Who's on your iPod right now? Pet Shop Boys.

Parting shot: Stay in school, don't do drugs

CEPHALIC CARNAGE
NOMINATED IN METAL/HARDROCK

Website: www.myspace.com/cephaliccarnage

Personnel: Lenzig (vocals); John (drums); Nick (bass); Zac (guitar); Steve (guitar).

Native or transplant? Native.

Releases/discography: Xenosapien (2007); Anomalies (2005); Perversion and the Guilt After (2002); Lucid Interval (2002); Halls of Amenti (2001); Exploiting Dysfunction (2000); Conforming to Abnormality (1998).

What three adjectives best describe your music? Crispy, minty, chappy.

Favorite place to play a show: At a venue.

Favorite place to hang out/drink: 3 Kings, of course.

Best artist/band to come out of Denver (that's not yours/you): DeVotchKa.

Best song to come out of Denver (that you didn't write): "Dance Like an Asshole" - A-no.

If you were a street in Denver, which street would it be and why? Colfax. It's one of the most entertaining streets in the world. It's a great street to get and listen to some good rock.

If you had to choose one act to represent Denver, who would it be and why? South Park. Every topic they take on, from our homeless sitch to Casa Bonita, is just spot-on.

Which artist has had the biggest impact on you? Miles Davis.

Which album has had the biggest impact on you? Master of Puppets - Metallica.

File-sharing: Godsend or the death of music? As long as you go buy the record after you check it out, right on. I hate buying a CD and being disappointed that I just wasted my money. But after you download it and know you like it, go pick it up at a record store.

Who's on your iPod right now? Steve Hughes the comedian. Check him out!

Parting shot: Pick up, Xenosapien! Yar.

CONSTELLATIONS
NOMINATED IN NOISE/EXPERIMENTAL
7 P.M., SHELTER

Website: www.myspace.com/constellations

Personnel: Brandon Weaver (drums); Zak Brown (vocals, guitar, keyboards, sequencing); Mark Weaver (bass); Davey Hart (guitar, bass); Mark Shusterman (Rhodes, sound manipulation).

Native or transplant? Native.

Releases/discography: Sistering EP (2005); Necrogeister EP (2007).

What three adjectives best describe your music? Future, urban, sadness.

Favorite place to play a show: hi-dive.

Favorite place to hang out/drink: Gabor's.

Best artist/band to come out of Denver (that's not yours/you): Fissure Mystic.

Best song to come out of Denver (that you didn't write): "Vinyl Psyche" - Fissure Mystic.

If you were a street in Denver, which street would it be and why? Federal Boulevard, because we've got it like that.

If you had to choose one act to represent Denver, who would it be and why? Women Gathering Gems, because we've got it like that.

Which artist has had the biggest impact on you? Autechre.

Which album has had the biggest impact on you? Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys.

File-sharing: Godsend or the death of music? Godsend.

Who's on your iPod right now? Fela Kuti.

CONVERGENCE
NOMINATED IN JAZZ

Website: www.jazzconvergence.com

Personnel: Greg Gisbert (trumpet); John Gunther (sax); Mark Patterson (trombone); Eric Gunnison (piano); Mark Simon (bass); Paul Romaine (drums).

Native or transplant? John and Mark P. are natives, the rest transplants, but we always Converge in lovely, sweet Colorado.

Releases/discography: Modern Man (2004); Hometown (2002); As One (1998); Big Lunage (1994).

What three adjectives best describe your music? Exciting, joyful, sincere.

Favorite place to play a show: Dazzle.

Favorite place to hang out/drink: Paul's house (aka "The Hey Cafe").

Best artist/band to come out of Denver (that's not yours/you): Bill Frisell.

Best song to come out of Denver (that you didn't write): "America the Beautiful" written by Katharine Lee Bates at the summit of Pikes Peak during the summer of 1893.

If you were a street in Denver, which street would it be and why? West 29th, because that's the street "La Cocinita," THE best Mexican restaurant, is on!

If you had to choose one act to represent Denver, who would it be and why? Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts. It may not be an act, but it's an organization doing great things for kids.

Which artist has had the biggest impact on you? Pablo Picasso.

Which album has had the biggest impact on you? Grandma's old photo album.

File-sharing: Godsend or the death of music? Music will never die. File-sharing is just another technological stop on the way, like sheet music or the '78.

Who's on your iPod right now? Juana Molina, Coltrane, Miles, Monk, Bach, Squarepusher, Brazilian Girls, Coldplay...and Convergence!

Parting shot: We want to thank all our dear friends and fans who have supported us over the years!

IAN COOKE
NOMINATED IN SINGER SONGWRITER
7 P.M., SUTRA ROOM

Website: www.myspace.com/iancooke

Personnel: Ian Cooke (vocals, cello, piano, percussion); on occasion: Ian O (guitar, piano); Whit Sibley (bass, vocals); Justin Ferreira (drums, percussion); Sean Merrell (drums, percussion).

Native or transplant? I am a Colorado native. Greeley is my home town.

Releases/discography: The Fall I Fell (2007); Vasoon EP (2005).

What three adjectives best describe your music? I asked a friend for three adjectives that best describe my music. She came up with beautiful, tragic and mesmerizing.

Favorite place to play a show: Intimate venues and houses are my favorite places to play shows.

Favorite place to hang out/drink: Lately, I like dinking at the Horseshoe Lounge. Tuesdays and Thursdays at JR's are fun every once in a while.

Best artist/band to come out of Denver (that's not yours/you): The best band from Denver in my book is Rabbit Is a Sphere. As for solo artists, I'd say Rachael Pollard. This question isn't fair. There are too many good ones. Other contenders include Paper Bird, Bela Karoli, Handsome Bobby, Supply Boy, Ghost Buffalo, Porlolo, Joshua Novak, Mark Darling, the Wheel, Peña, Gregory Alan Isakov, A Dog Paloma, Laura Goldhamer, Meese, Bad Weather California — I could go on for days.

Best song to come out of Denver (that you didn't write): Again, there is more than one best song to come out of Denver. I'll narrow it down to five: "Motorcycles" - Supply Boy; "New Year's Day" - Joshua Novak; "Sacrifice" - Paper Bird; "No Ability" - Laura Goldhamer; and "My Hanging Surrender," by the Wheel.

If you were a street in Denver, which street would it be and why? I would be 16th Avenue, because it has a generous and clearly marked bike lane — the kind of bike lane all streets should have. On second thought, I might be Colfax, because I always have at least two prostitutes on me.

If you had to choose one act to represent Denver, who would it be and why? The act I would choose to represent Denver is Malas Semillas. Those cats are the illest and have hearts of gold.

Which artist has had the biggest impact on you? ABBA is my all-time favorite band. They fleshed out my understanding of the form of a pop song.

Which album has had the biggest impact on you? There are several albums that could hold the title of having the biggest impact on me, but if I had to choose one, it might be Cafe Tacuba's Reves.

File-sharing: Godsend or the death of music? I wouldn't say file-sharing is the death of music, but it may be overpopulating it a bit. It definitely makes selling records more difficult, but sometimes I consider it a godsend. I would rather have free exposure to more people than make money off of a handful. I'd like to think the people who find music via file-sharing will buy it if they like it.

Who's on your iPod right now? I possess no iPod. If I did, it would most likely be playing "Colleen," the first track on Joanna Newsom's new EP.

Parting shot: Go swimming this summer and recycle.

COWBOY CURSE
NOMINATED IN INDIE POP
5 P.M., ACOMA CENTER

Website: www.myspace.com/cowboycurse

Personnel: Ben Bergstrand (vocals/guitar), Tyler Campo (bass/vocals), Erin Tidwell (drums/vocals).

Native or transplant? 2/3 transplant: Ben is from Kentucky and Ohio — two states that nobody really gives a shit about. Tyler is from Connecticut and is a Yankee elitist snob. E is a native and even smells like the Rocky Mountain Columbine, Colorado's state flower. It's kinda freaky.

Releases/discography: Nod Up and Down (to the Simulcast Singing) (2006); Welcome to Cowboy Curse (2004); Cap Gun Memo (2003).

What three adjectives best describe your music? Beautiful, violent despair?

Favorite place to play a show: Does playing a painfully slow, out-of-tune version of "Crazy Train" at Guitar Center count? Our whole set is awesome, actually, from our blistering "Come As You Are" to Tyler's bass work on "Aenima." You'll be blown away!

Favorite place to hang out/drink: Timmy T's Sante Fe Lounge. Sorry, it's members only.

Best artist/band to come out of Denver (that's not yours/you): The Clarinet Guy on the 16th Street Mall — sometimes he can even play while sleeping!!!

Best song to come out of Denver (that you didn't write): Um, not "Cable Car" or "How to Save a Life" — but those songs are really out of L.A., anyway.

If you were a street in Denver, which street would it be and why? Hmmm... 14th Avenue. It's nice in some parts, shitty in others. Lots of people know about it, but very few people actually give a shit about it.

If you had to choose one act to represent Denver, who would it be and why? In all seriousness, Red Cloud, because they have great lyrical content, they're passionate players, they put on great live performances, they behave semi-respectably about town, and they have always been very supportive of other bands in town and don't play into the bullshit hype that has been very pervasive and divisive to our music scene. Then again, Red Cloud has too much scruples to accept such a title as Supreme Denver Representatives, and they'd decline, and we'd have to ask Bright Channel, and, for the same reasons, they'd decline, and then we'd ask Tarmints, and the same thing would happen, and it would just be a goddamned mess to even get into choosing one band to represent such a diverse city. We wish Coloradans would spread their roots a little more to support all the bands, artists and good things Denver has to offer.

Which artist has had the biggest impact on you? I guess we can be serious here, too. Wilco — obviously musically, but it's more the drama surrounding the album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and the documentary I Am Trying to Break Your Heart. It just goes to show you that everything can be falling apart — people can try to crush you from inside and out and you can still make a great album your own way, give it away for free on the Internet, have the same major buy it TWICE after telling you it's crap, and it can still go multi-platinum, to boot! Maybe there is some hope after all.

Which album has had the biggest impact on you? Knee Deep in the Hoopla - Starship. You do remember what they built that city on, don't you?

File-sharing: Godsend or the death of music? Hmmm. According to the Bible, GOD will send DEATH in the form of the apocalypse, so those terms are wishy-washy.

Who's on your iPod right now? You're kidding, right? Would you like a listing for all 80MB? Don't put this question on the survey next year!

Parting shot: Haven't you already seen King Rat and Swayback, like, a thousand times? You should be watching Cowboy Curse at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 16, at the Acoma Center. You should vote for Cowboy Curse on the Indie Pop ballot because a Vote for Cowboy Curse is a Vote fur Amuricuh! The rest o' them bands are hippies and freedom-haters! Look at Tyler Hayden's hair (hippie) and them Hot IQs with their subversive lyrics (freedom-haters). Man, don't even get us started on that Nathan & Stephen or EAOD... Something just ain't right about havin' that many folks in one band; it's like them al-Qaeda terror cells.

DENT
NOMINATED IN HIP-HOP
6 P.M., DC 10

Website: www.myspace.com/dentsmusicissaulgood

Native or transplant: Native, the Nutty North!

Releases/discography: The Blunt Sessions (2007); Confi'DENT LP (Summer 2007); Make Yall Feel It (Mix CD-2006); Low Budget Soul (2006); Hip-Hop Love Jazz (2005 UK); Platinum in the Shower EP (2005).

What three adjectives best describe your music? Heavy, groovy, energetic.

Favorite place to play a show: The Fillmore.

Favorite place to hang out/drink: The Roxy, 2549 Welton Street.

Best artist/band to come out of Denver (that's not yours/you): Well, let's say outta Colorado. I'm a fan of Distrakt, the Procussions, D.O. & O.G., Bumpy Chill, just a few. Colorado has a lot of dope headz. It's time to Wake Up!!

Best song to come out of Denver (that you didn't write): Man, I dunno, there's a lot of hot music out here, a lot to choose from. It's up in the air.

If you were a street in Denver, which street would it be and why? Humm. Probably Federal, 'cause that's a classic Denver street, and it goes north to south all through the city.

If you had to choose one act to represent Denver, who would it be and why? As far as hip-hop goes in Denver, there are many artists who are creating their own network; we all need to continue playin' our part to truly build a stronger scene, support each others' movements. We're all from CO and all in the same struggle. It's time to build.

Which artist has had the biggest impact on you? I'm going to say Big Daddy Kane. Without him, there would be no raw, smoothed out, mack daddy, gangsta true wordsmith MCs. He posed it all and blessed the rap game.

Which album has had the biggest impact on you? Illmatic - Nas.

File-sharing: Godsend or the death of music? Humm. Send it thru; I need all the new heaters I can get, just as long as it don't mess up my computer.

Who's on your iPod right now? I just got an iPod recently. I've been listening to a lot of my records that I've burned on MP3 to my iPod.

Parting shot: "Everybody wants to be somebody; nobody wants to grow."

DISTRAKT
NOMINATED IN HIP-HOP
5 P.M., DC 10

Website: www.myspace.com/distrakt

Personnel: Omar Jones, EMU SP1200.

Native or transplant? Native.

Releases/discography: Distraktions (2006); Calculate Depth Thru Introspect (2002); See Thru the Dirt (1999).

What three adjectives best describe your music? 1) Better Best 2) Soulful 3) Catchy.

Favorite place to play a show: The Black Sheep in Colorado Springs.

Favorite place to hang out/drink: Wire Short Studios.

If you were a street in Denver, which street would it be and why? Broadway, because of all of the vintage antique stores.

If you had to choose one act to represent Denver, who would it be and why? There are so many great acts in Denver to choose just one.

Which artist has had the biggest impact on you? Quincy Jones.

Which album has had the biggest impact on you? Listen - Johnny "Guitar" Watson.

File-sharing: Godsend or the death of music? Godsend.

Who's on your iPod right now? Distrakt catalogue dated back to '89 to '07 of unavailable and available songs.

Parting shot: Thank you for the opportunity.

DJ BEDZ
NOMINATED IN DJ DANCE: HIP-HOP - CLUB/ TURNTABLISTS
2 P.M., DC 10

Website: www.myspace.com/djbedz

Personnel: Just myself — although Radio Bums is the crew. Por favor, believe it.

Releases/discography: I've done upwards of one hundred mix CDs (and when I say "mix CD," I actually mean that the songs are mixed and scratched together). My most recent batch of CDs features Whoo Kid, Brown Boy, Xzibit, Paul Wall, Carmelo Anthony and Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock as hosts. Go to Independent Records and buy one, please — otherwise, the Recording Industry Association of America will win. And nobody wants that to happen.

What three adjectives best describe your music? Technically proficient, intricate and clean.

Favorite place to play a show: The Pepsi Center.

Favorite place to hang out/drink: The Loft.

Best artist/band to come out of Denver (that's not yours/you): Is there a time frame on this question? If not, it's hard to argue with the Denver members of Earth, Wind & Fire. Honorable mention goes to that one guy from Tag Team. Whoomp, there it is, baby.

Best song to come out of Denver (that you didn't write): "Constance" - Mr. J Medeiros/Procussions. I know the Pros don't live here any longer, but you can't fade a song written about the Philippine prostitution epidemic over an amazingly produced beat.

If you were a street in Denver, which street would it be and why? I'm sure this is going to be the clique answer, but I'll run with Colfax. It's a long, hard, culturally diverse adventure where all your dreams can come true. Pow! Chalk one up to the obvious, poorly used sexual innuendo.

If you had to choose one act to represent Denver, who would it be and why? I think I'd choose Playalitical. He's not only talented on the mike, but behind the boards as well. He has the ability to make different-sounding songs, so he's the Denver hip-hop artist least likely to suffer from being pigeonholed should he be able to break out nationally. He also has a unique vocal sound, and I think not sounding like everything else out there is an important quality in giving some identity and definition to Colorado.

Which artist has had the biggest impact on you? Ice Cube. He's the outright epitome of political sensibilities/anti-establishment overtones blended with inner-city street sense and raw anger. And he's a lyrical virtuoso, very naturally talented. The man was just born with the "it" quality.

Which album has had the biggest impact on you? It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back - Public Enemy. This album really solidified, in my young mind, what a powerful tool for social change hip-hop could be. For me, it was the album that best articulated the frustrations of impoverished minority groups during the post-Reaganomics era. On top of that, it was musically a huge milestone for sampling and creative use of sound in the context of hip-hop production. Chuck D and the Bomb Squad were about twenty years ahead of their time, respectively. It's an amazing piece of music, both culturally and musically.

File-sharing: Godsend or the death of music? It's great; I love it. It's taken the power away from the record companies and given musicians the ability to promote themselves independently through a direct and effective means. Music revenues might suffer in the short term, but there's a lot more music being heard by a wider range of people — and that can only be a good thing.

Who's on your iPod right now? Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Parliament, Aretha Franklin, Bill Withers and a whole bunch of random Motown and '80s R&B.

Parting shot: C'mon, ask around, the Radio Bums got this whole town locked down. Go, Nuggets!

DJ PSYCHO
NOMINATED IN DJ DANCE: HIP-HOP - CLUB/TURNTABLIST

Website: www.myspace.com/djpsychorb

Native or transplant? Denver Native!

Releases/discography: Capone Carmelo Kustoms Vol. 1 and 2; Hard 'N' Da Paint (featuring Ron Artest); Quit Actin Brand New (featuring Rhymefest).

What three adjectives best describe your music? Eclectic, rhythmic, classic.

Favorite place to play a show: The Bluebird Theater.

Favorite place to hang out/drink: The Purple Martini.

Best artist/band to come out of Denver (that's not yours/you): Melissa Lujan.

Best song to come out of Denver (that you didn't write): "Over My Head (Cable Car)" - The Fray.

If you were a street in Denver, which street would it be and why? Raleigh Street, because I grew up on 14th and Raleigh, and that's where my first memories of music began.

If you had to choose one act to represent Denver, who would it be and why? I would have to say Melissa Lujan. She has the talent and a solid team behind her.

Which artist has had the biggest impact on you? Wow — this is tough, because there are too many amazing artists that have influenced my life, but I will say that Nas has had the biggest impact on me.

Which album has had the biggest impact on you? Illmatic - Nas.

File-sharing: Godsend or the death of music? As a professional DJ, it's so nice to have limitless access to music, but I can understand how it's hard for bands to have their music bootlegged so often.

Who's on your iPod right now? I'm a starving DJ; I can't afford an iPod.

Parting shot: "Shampoo is better."

DJ VAJRA
NOMINATED IN DJ DANCE: HIP-HOP - CLUB/TURNTABLISTS
3 P.M., DC 10

Website: www.myspace.com/djvajra

Personnel: Just me.

Native or transplant? Transplant: originally from Indiana, but Colorado is my real home.

Releases/discography: Cuts & Drums Vol.1; Hydef mixtape; Saul Good the Mixtape.

What three adjectives best describe your music? Fun, funky and fresh.

Favorite place to play a show: I've played all over the world, but I can honestly still say the Fox Theatre.

Favorite place to hang out/drink: Round Midnight on Tuesdays.

Best artist/band to come out of Denver (that's not yours/you): Fast4wrd.

Best song to come out of Denver (that you didn't write): ): "LiFEY for tha' WiFEY" - Fast4wrd.

If you were a street in Denver, which street would it be and why? Hopefully, my career will run as long as Colfax! (I'm probably the seventeenth artist to answer with that street.)

If you had to choose one act to represent Denver, who would it be and why? If you are an artist who is only concentrating on being the best in Denver, then that's as far as you will ever get.

Which artist has had the biggest impact on you? All artists impact me in some way, be it positive or negative, but I'll say DJ Q-Bert.

Which album has had the biggest impact on you? Fear of a Black Planet - Public Enemy.

File-sharing: Godsend or the death of music? If you like an artist, you should support them by paying for the music.

Who's on your iPod right now? Music that helps me sleep while sitting upright.

Parting shot: Get involved with something that will affect the world in a positive way. PEACE!!!

DRAG THE RIVER
NOMINATED IN COUNTRY/ALT COUNTRY

Website: www.dragtheriver.com

Native or transplant? Honorary natives.

Releases/discography: It's Crazy (2006); Hobo's Demos (2006); Live at the Starlight (2005); Chicken Demos (2004); Hey Buddies... EP (2004); Closed (2002).

What three adjectives best describe your music? Country and Midwestern.

Favorite place to play a show: They were all fun.

Favorite place to hang out/drink: Probably 3 Kings.

If you were a street in Denver, which street would it be and why? Tower.

If you had to choose one act to represent Denver, who would it be and why? Magic Cyclops, cuz he'd do a good job.

File-sharing: Godsend or the death of music? Who knows?

Who's on your iPod right now? No one in our band has one.

ERICA BROWN BAND
NOMINATED IN BLUES

Website: www.ericabrownband.com

Personnel: Erica Brown (lead vocals); Scott Rivera (lead and harmony vocals, drums); Rich Sallee (bass, background vocals); Jim Ayers (keyboard, Hammond organ, background vocals).

Native or transplant? All transplants except Rich!

Releases/discography: Rough Cut Stone (2003); Body Work (2000); new CD in works.

What three adjectives best describe your music? High-energy rockin' blues. (Sorry, I'm working on my counting skills; they shouldn't have let me do this! - Erica)

Favorite place to play a show: Anywhere people listen and appreciate!

Favorite place to hang out/drink: It's different for all of us (of course, not all of us drink, but some of us make up for the others).

Best artist/band to come out of Denver (that's not yours/you): Wow — there's too many to pick just one!

Best song to come out of Denver (that you didn't write): It's a toss-up: "One Word (Peace)" - the Subdudes, and Sam Mayfield's cover of "Tonight's the Night" or ANYTHING by Dianne Reeves!

If you were a street in Denver, which street would it be and why? I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you!

If you had to choose one act to represent Denver, who would it be and why? Denver is so diverse, I don't know if that's a fair question!

Which artist has had the biggest impact on you? This year? Me, personally, Bob Margolin.

Which album has had the biggest impact on you? I can't list just one! All of us would have different ideas.

File-sharing: Godsend or the death of music? There was a time when all music was basically free. The more folks hear you and like you, the more they'll support you anyway!

Who's on your iPod right now? What's an iPod? Is that like an eight-track?

Parting shot: The road is like a good man: long and wide, and sometimes he takes me home... Wow, there's a blues song in there somewhere!! (Can I say that in a national magazine??)

EVERYTHING ABSENT OR DISTORTED (a love story)
NOMINATED IN INDIE POP

Website: www.myspace.com/everythingabsentordistorted

Personnel: All eight of us sing and rotate around multiple instruments; those eight players include Robert Rutherford, John Kuker, Trevor Trumble, Jody Pilmer, Andy Maher, Joe Grobelny, Ryan Stubbs and Bryce Merrill.

Native or transplant? The band is a Colorado native and was formed in Denver/Boulder. We have Denver and Colorado natives in the band as well as former Texans, Alabamans, Illini, Nebraskans and Wyomingites. John Kuker currently lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and spends way too much time on I-25 driving to and from Denver.

Releases/discography: The Soft Civil War EP (2006); upcoming debut full-length.

What three adjectives best describe your music? Proustian, apocalyptic, homoerotic, Sisyphian, empyrean, pyrrhic and circumlocutory.

Favorite place to play a show: Mile High Stadium (the old one).

Favorite place to hang out/drink: Sputnik or the Pig (our practice space, a former Italian restaurant in the Highlands).

Best artist/band to come out of Denver (that's not yours/you): Neutral Milk Hotel (They get in on a technicality, as Jeff Magnum was living in Denver while recording In the Aeroplane Over the Sea with Robert Schneider at a now-demolished space on Speer Boulevard — see below.)

Best song to come out of Denver (that you didn't write): "Holland 1945" - Neutral Milk Hotel.

If you were a street in Denver, which street would it be and why? Anything from the City Beautiful movement, but probably Speer, since it turned an eyesore into a grand boulevard, though it was somewhat of a joke at the time for being Mayor Speer's personal driveway for him and his country club friends. Striving to preserve and enhance Denver's meager waterways, Mayor Speer walled Cherry Creek and began landscaping it with trailing vines, shrubbery and trees. Small triangular parks were created along Speer Boulevard, where the diagonal boulevard intersected downtown streets. Two larger tracts were acquired for Sunken Gardens Park, in front of West High School, and Alamo Placita Park, at First Avenue. To honor the man who made the town eyesore into the scenic centerpiece of a grand boulevard, the city council, in 1910, renamed Cherry Creek Drive as Speer Boulevard. Speer Boulevard led to Washington Park via the Downing-Marion Street Parkway. East Sixth, Seventh and 17th avenues extended the plan into east Denver. Most of the parkway plan has been implemented, although subsequent mayors have failed to complete a few remaining segments such as a proposed South Platte River Parkway.

If you had to choose one act to represent Denver, who would it be and why? The Bearded Lady. She's a little rough around the edges, but she's got heart.

Which artist has had the biggest impact on you? Robert Rauschenberg.

Which album has had the biggest impact on you? Falco 3 - Falco.

File-sharing: Godsend or the death of music? It may be the death of the music business, but it's mother's milk to music.

Who's on your iPod right now? It's actually an old yellow Sony Discman. And it's the National's Boxer right now.

Parting shot: Whiskey, of course.

FLOBOTS
NOMINATED IN FUNK/SOUL
7 P.M., DC 10

Website: www.myspace.com/flobots

Personnel: Brer Rabbit (vocals); Jonny 5 (vocals); Andy Guererro (guitar, vocals); Mackenzie Roberts (viola and vocals); Kenny Ortiz (drums); Joe Ferrone (trumpet); Jesse Walker (bass).

Native or transplant? Six natives, one transplant.

Releases/Discography: Platypus (2005); Fight With Tools (coming in September).

What three adjectives best describe your music? Adam...Cayton...Holland.

Favorite place to play a show: Anywhere but Albuquerque.

Favorite place to hang out/drink: Vitamin Cottage.

Best artist/band to come out of Denver (that's not yours/you): Born in the Flood.

Best song to come out of Denver (that you didn't write): "I hate waiting for my girlfriend to get ready when we're goin' out" — Ben Kronberg.

If you were a street in Denver, which street would it be and why? Santa Fe Drive. Sometimes it's a street. Sometimes it's a highway. Either way, it proves more difficult to classify than it should.

If you had to choose one act to represent Denver, who would it be and why? It would have to be Fall Out Boy. They're not from Denver, but wouldn't that be the bees' knees if they represented us? Wicka wicka.

Which artist has had the biggest impact on you? Bach.

Which album has had the biggest impact on you? How to Save a Life is putting us on stage at Red Rocks this summer.

File-sharing: Godsend or the death of music? Doesn't matter. People can do whatever they want as long as it keeps us the hell away from Albuquerque.