Murder by Death

If the Art Institute of Colorado is looking for a house band, it might want to think about doing some recruiting at the Bluebird this Friday. As art rock as art rock gets, Murder by Death has often been compared to Johnny Cash and Tom Waits. Really, though, the act sounds like a more thoughtful Pixies with a terrific cello player. (If the band channels Johnny Cash at all on its latest release, Red of Tooth and Claw, it channels him covering Nine Inch Nails.) If the name didn't tip you off already, let's just say that Murder by Death is not the type of group that will leave you feeling uplifted or positive about anything — which is just as well. Not everyone can be Andrew W.K.