Bluebook, on the other hand, which I caught at the Larimer Lounge last night, looks to have considerably more experience on stage. I'm delighted to report that Julie Davis and company -- or Bela Karoli, as the outfit is evidently also known -- are even more compelling live. It appears, however, that I may have been a bit hasty in my assessment that Bluebook's brittle backdrops are fashioned from "frosty synths." As it turns out, while the band boasts an accordion player, that's as close to any synth tinkering that I spied. Near as I can tell, the synth sounds I thought I detected are actually being generated by a violin. The "percolating percussion," on the other hand... that turned out to be an apt description of the rhythmic underpinnings of the upright bass runs and trap kit played with bare hands. Combined with the voices of Davis and accordionist Brigid McCauliffe, it was masterful.
Unfortunately, I didn't stick around to catch Hello Kavita. I brought along a friend who never goes out to shows, and towards the end of John Common's set, he looked as though he'd reached his threshold. For what it's worth, though, despite experiencing some technical difficulties, Common was in top form. Not a bad way to end the evening.
This morning, I woke up to the sounds of "How to Save a Life." Couldn't believe my ears. Looks like The Band that Shall Not Be Named was finally added to regular rotation on KOSI 101. As the song faded, Murphy Houston pointed out -- for the benefit of those just returning from a remote three-year-plus sabbatical -- that the group is, um, local and that it's up for a Grammy or two next month. Denise Plante followed that up by mentioning that the outfit has appeared on Colorado and Company, the pay-to-play morning gabfest she currently hosts on KUSA. Sigh. Welcome to the bandwagon, folks. What took you so long? I'm guessing that selling two million records and being nominated for a prestigious award finally got your attention.
Really, though, who am I to throw stones? I'm certainly no programmer, for chrissakes. Hell, my iPod playlist is as erratic as a Colorado winter. Take this morning, for instance. "I Went to Vegas and All I Got Was the Lousy Overdose," from Love Me Destroyer's forthcoming The Things Around Us Burn -- which kicks ass, BTW, and of which you can hear samples of here -- was sandwiched between "Fuhrerbunker" by Nighshark and Margie Joseph's "It's Growing."
On a final note, if you're still undecided on where to go tonight, here's some ideas that are as can't miss as sex on a wedding night. Kick the night off early by catching Rachael Pollard at Chielle (3333 E. Colfax) at 8 p.m. From there, the options become plentiful and more difficult to choose from than deciding on paper or plastic. Only Crime gets felonious with New Mexican Disaster Squad, Letters From The Front and 29th St. Disciples at the Marquis Theater, while Ian Cooke plays his "Vasoon" at Old Curtis Street, and Kingdom of Magic explores supernatural grooves at hi-dive. -- Dave Herrera
