Email Author Tom Murphy

2011 Stories by Tom Murphy

• Tollund Men

  published August 25, 2011

  The intentionally low-fidelity approach to the rich soundscaping of this cassette helps personify the project's namesake. Sonically, think... More >>

• Mister Heavenly

  published August 25, 2011

  Everyone in Mister Heavenly comes from higher-profile bands, such as Man Man, Islands and Modest Mouse. But Ryan Kattner, Nicholas Thorburn and... More >>

• The Christines reunite, August 27 at the hi-dive

  published August 25, 2011

  By happenstance, this week has somehow shaped up to be a throwback/reunion of sorts to the best parts of local music from 1990s, with two... More >>

• Force Publique's James Wayne and Cassie McNeil shed light on their dark, synth-pop sound

  published August 25, 2011

  When I was really young, my mom used to collage all of our furniture," Cassie McNeil recalls. "I grew up in the mountains above Lyons, in a... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Review: Kimya Dawson and Aesop Rock at Summit Music Hall, 8/21/11

  published Aug 22, 2011

  KIMYA DAWSON & AESOP ROCK at SUMMIT | 8.21.11Toward the end of her set, Kimya Dawson brought Aesop Rock back to the stage for one of the most powerful performances in Denver this year. Although "Walk ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Review: Stiff Little Fingers at Summit Music Hall, 8/20/11

  published Aug 21, 2011

  STIFF LITTLE FINGERS at SUMMIT | 8.20.11"This is an old Irish folk song," announced Stiff Little Fingers frontman Jake Burns before the very last song of the show. After an entire set of some of the b... More >>

• Josh Grier of Tapes 'N Tapes on the important role of humor and handling the critical backlash

  published Aug 18, 2011

  Shortly after graduating from Carleton College and moving to Minneapolis, Josh Grier and some friends started the band Tapes 'N Tapes (due tonight at The Bluebird Theater with the Chain Gang of 1974).... More >>

• Tyrannosaurus Sex

  published August 18, 2011

  "Carnival of Souls," the lead track on this EP, with its ominous evocation of early, all-analog synth pop, would be perfect for a John... More >>

• Stiff Little Fingers

  published August 18, 2011

  Belfast's Stiff Little Fingers were teenagers who played mostly traditional rock-and-roll fare in the late 1970s before they discovered punk.... More >>

• Tapes 'N Tapes

  published August 18, 2011

  Starting out in Minnesota with no specific agenda, Tapes 'N Tapes effectively absorbed the DNA of much of '80s underground rock and'90s indie... More >>

• Critic's Choice: REALMAGIC, August 18 at the hi-dive

  published August 18, 2011

  Before some of us knew that Drew Englander made music, we knew him for his beautifully mysterious visual art. His imagery seemed to play around... More >>

• Review: Planes Mistaken For Stars at 3 Kings, with Fire Drills and Kingdom of Magic, 8/13/11

  published Aug 14, 2011

  PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS REUNION at 3 KINGS TAVERN | 8/13/11With special guests Kingdom of Magic, the Fire Drills and Vamos! Right before Planes took the stage, you could see the anticipation on t... More >>

• Kyle Morton of Typhoon on Nabokov, inspiration and Tender Loving Empire

  published Aug 10, 2011

  Founded in Salem, Oregon, in 2005, Typhoon (due tonight at the hi-dive, with Lord Huron and Sour Boy Bitter Girl) started out as a recording project but quickly evolved into a sprawling live affair ... More >>

• Jimmy Tamborello of Dntel on getting his start making electronic music and the tools he used

  published Aug 09, 2011

  Jimmy Tamborello. While the name might not register immediately, you've probably heard his work with the Postal Service, an outfit that also features Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard. On his own thro... More >>

• Greencarpetedstairs

  published August 11, 2011

  Neil Ewing has spent the past several years exploring the odds and ends of experimental hip-hop and experimental electronic music of various... More >>

• God Is an Astronaut

  published August 11, 2011

  Swedish writer Erich Von Däniken is alive and well, lecturing on the influence of extraterrestrial contact on ancient civilizations. His... More >>

• The Grownup Noise

  published August 11, 2011

  Artists mining the territory between chamber pop and Americana aren't exactly a rarity right now — and everyone writing pop music worth... More >>

• Critic's Choice: The Still City, August 13, at the hi-dive

  published August 11, 2011

  Maybe Brian Knab, Brandon Roth and Ryan Murphy wanted to be Laymen Terms back in their days living in Monument and failed at it miserably. But... More >>

• With its massive sound, Spires won't be playing small rooms for long

  published August 11, 2011

  Spires is a brand-new band, by traditional standards. The band made its debut just after the first of the year, which, in the blogosphere,... More >>

• Review: BLKHRTS at Old Curtis St. Bar, 8/6/11

  published Aug 08, 2011

  BLKHRTS at OLD CURTIS ST. BAR | 8/6/11In advance of this show, BLKHRTS spread the word that there would be a sacrificial ceremony to kick off its tour. Considering the names of the opening acts and th... More >>

• Top five 120 Minutes videos

  published Aug 04, 2011

  After debuting on March 10, 1986, 120 Minutes became a showcase for non-mainstream music of various stripes until around the year 2000 when it first got shuffled to the side in favor of reality progra... More >>

• Review: Iceage at Rhinoceropolis, 8/2/11

  published Aug 03, 2011

  ICEAGE at RHINOCERPOLIS | 8/2/11When Iceage, from Copenhagen, Denmark, took the stage (or floor in this case) at Rhinoceropolis last night, there was a palpable air of anticipation and excitement, and... More >>

• Top five Headbanger's Ball videos

  published Aug 03, 2011

  Headbanger's Ball started on April 18, 1987, and ran for nearly eight years. With little regard for a narrow definition of what constituted metal, the show's programmers seemed to embrace it all. So y... More >>

• Lizzy Allen of Vitamins tells us how she ended up singing backing vocals for the Flaming Lips

  published Aug 03, 2011

  With her classical training and her background singing country music, Lizzy Allen brings impressive chops to her role in Vitamins, which got its start in Greeley. And tonight at Red Rocks, she'll be p... More >>

• Flashlights will shine at the Marquis on August 5

  published August 4, 2011

  Flashlights started in the basement of Ethan Converse's house in Four Mile Canyon shortly after he graduated from college, when he and Sam... More >>