Denver Music

Music Features

The women behind Dangerous Nonsense find comfort in doing things backwards

By Tom Murphy

People come up and say, 'I've never seen anything like that before. When are you playing again?'" marvels bassist Harmony Star about how audiences often react to her band, Dangerous Nonsense. "We... More >>
Dawn Safari

By Britt Chester

With its refreshing take on percussion and production, the music on Dawn Safari's Mask isn't what you'd expect during the height of bass's fame. Rather than building up to massive drops, this... More >>
Farmington Hill

By Jon Solomon

Durango's self-proclaimed country-fried indie-rock act Farmington Hill sums up Road to Nowhere as "music suitable for both a raucous Saturday night and the accompanying Sunday hangover." Sure... More >>
Justin Francoeur

By Jon Solomon

It's fairly clear from the opening cut of Justin Francoeur's debut, Moving Through Universes, what an ambitious undertaking the disc was: "Gravity" starts off with a rock groove and gradually... More >>
The Seven Hats

By Tom Murphy

There is something otherworldly and old-worldly about the songs on the Seven Hats' Scientific American; they'd be right at home on a Guy Maddin soundtrack. Julie Davis's voice, while in the... More >>
Folk-friendly foursome Dawes is collecting both attention and influences

By Andy Hermann

We're still a small band," Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith insists. "We've still got a long way to go before we're like, 'This is a secure position for us.'" Perhaps so, but Dawes has certainly... More >>
Chimney Choir channels the spirit of exploration on its new album, (compass)

By A.H. Goldstein

The members of Chimney Choir want to show their audience just how messy the creative process can be. "People just see the final product when an album is released. That's not really how it is for... More >>
The punk lovers of Straight Outta Luck share the stories behind their disastrous first tour

By Tom Murphy

Straight Outta Luck formed in 2009 when Missouri transplant Ryan Jacobs met up with Natalie McFall, a veteran of the punk scenes in Fort Collins and Denver. Although he was initially reluctant to... More >>
Andy Hackbarth

By Jon Solomon

Andy Hackbarth was hailed as a classical-guitar virtuoso in his early twenties; in 2006, he left Colorado for Nashville, where he honed his songwriting skills to catch up with his playing. His... More >>
Little Goose

By A.H. Goldstein

Little Goose sounds much more powerful than a typical power trio during the best moments of Classic Gent. Thanks to expansive pedal effects and emotive vocal runs from guitarist/singer Eric... More >>
Allout Helter

By Tom Murphy

"Assume the Imposition" gets things going on Allout Helter's new album with a bracing dose of aggressive rhythms and pointed invective aimed at those who are smug in their ideological framework... More >>
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats

By Dave Herrera

At this stage of his career, particularly in Denver, Nathaniel Rateliff is a man who requires absolutely no preamble — his reputation precedes him. Nonetheless, this limited-edition... More >>
John Grant on addiction, HIV and how his struggles affect his songs

By Dave Herrera

In 2010, John Grant's debut solo album, The Queen of Denmark, was named album of the year by Mojo, and it earned universal praise across Europe. Here in the States, meanwhile, the record was... More >>
3rd Eye Girl's Donna Grantis on the chemistry necessary to play with Prince

By Tom Murphy

Prince became a household name after the release of his third album, 1982's 1999. Over the years, his perfectly realized blend of rock, pop, funk and jazz has proved equally popular with... More >>
Negative Degree traveled through punk's past on the way to the hi-dive

By Tom Murphy

In recent years, while way too many bands were opting for a more stripped-down form of rock and roll via the garage/surf route in an attempt to make music from a more pure and primal place,... More >>