A.H. Goldstein

Last Night: DNC Media Party at Elitch Gardens

Live Review: Summit Jazz Weekend at Four Points Sheraton

Rise Against at the Fillmore

Photo: Aaron Thackeray Rise Against's Tim McIlrath Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, Thrice, the Gaslight Anthem Thursday, November 13, 2008 Fillmore Auditorium Better than: Taking in a punk show in an arena setting. Finding the optimal spot to take in the sound at the Fillmore Auditorium can be a tr ... More >>

Oasis at Broomfield Event Center

Oasis, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Matt Costa Monday, Dec. 8 Broomfield Event Center Better than: Seeing a band that's past its prime play in a high school auditorium. Circa 1997, an Oasis concert would have filled a venue the size of the Pepsi Center, with its official capacity estimated between ... More >>

The Black Crowes at the Fillmore Auditorium

The Black Crowes, Vetiver Saturday, Dec. 13 Fillmore Auditorium Better than: Revisiting the sounds of '60s soul and '70s rock with a middling bar band. "I swear I've heard that riff before." That was the recurring thought as I watched the Black Crowes and Vetiver perform Saturday, as the solos, the ... More >>

Mile Hi-Fidelity playlist - 12.17.08

Man, what an unbelievably fun show we had last night on 101.5 FM. Eryc Eyl, Tom Murphy and A.H. Goldstein joined me in the studio for the first of a two part Moovers & Shakers special edition of the show. Over the course of two hours, as we discussed and played some of our favorite music from th ... More >>

Mile High Makeout: The spirit of Christmas present

As many of you know, I got an early Christmas present on Wednesday night when I had the honor of being a guest on Dave Herrera's amazing new radio show, Mile High Fidelity, on 101.5 FM. Though it had been many years since my passionate college-radio days, I fell immediately back into the groove. And ... More >>

You will hate me for this...

Nothing I could possibly say would add to this video in the slightest, so let me just say thanks to fellow Westword scribe A.H. Goldstein for putting this horrible thing on my MySpace page, inspiring me to share it with you all. Push play and bask in the incredible power of Sonseed. -- Cory Casci ... More >>

Heavy Rotation, our top five spins for the week of April 13, 2009

As music critics, the most common question we get asked (and ask each other, for that matter) is, "What are you listening to?" The pervasiveness of this query is precisely what inspired Heavy Rotation, our latest feature. For the benefit of those who happen to be curious, we've compiled a list of al ... More >>

Westword's favorite national albums of the year

As music critics, the most common question we get asked (and ask each other, for that matter) is, "What are you listening to?" The pervasiveness of this query is precisely what inspired Heavy Rotation, our latest feature. For the benefit of those who happen to be curious, we've compiled a list of al ... More >>

Moovers & Shakers 2008: Backbeat scribes weigh in on their favorite local releases of the year

As music critics, the most common question we get asked (and ask each other, for that matter) is, "What are you listening to?" The pervasiveness of this query is precisely what inspired Heavy Rotation, our latest feature. For the benefit of those who happen to be curious, we've compiled a list of al ... More >>

Although Chicago is home to Rise Against, the band has strong ties to Colorado

As music critics, the most common question we get asked (and ask each other, for that matter) is, "What are you listening to?" The pervasiveness of this query is precisely what inspired Heavy Rotation, our latest feature. For the benefit of those who happen to be curious, we've compiled a list of al ... More >>

Heavy Rotation, our top five spins for the week of April 20, 2009

As music critics, the most common question we get asked (and ask each other, for that matter) is, "What are you listening to?" The pervasiveness of this query is precisely what inspired Heavy Rotation, our latest feature. For the benefit of those who happen to be curious, we've compiled a list of a ... More >>

Over the weekend: UMS Festival

Julie Davis of Bela Karoli (A.H. Goldstein)​Last night, the four-day UMS festival wrapped, and most of our crew made it out for at least part of the fest. And while we rarely agree on anything, we're all pretty much in agreement that Danielle Ate the Sandwich absolutely stole the show with one of ... More >>

The Denver Boot: Achille Lauro at the Bluebird Theater

Nearly two weeks ago, Achille Lauro opened up for Akron/Family at the Bluebird. Achille Lauro was dependably stellar as always. "In terms of the opening three bands, however, Achille Lauro's set stood out," wrote A.H. Goldstein in his review of the show. "The outfit's meditative and eloquent guitar ... More >>

Q&A with Conrad Keely of ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead

​The past two years have served as a period of transition for ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of the Dead. After splitting with Interscope Records in 2008, the Austin-based sextet started their own label and drew on its own funds to record and release its latest effort, Century of Self, which ... More >>

Name your price for Light Travels Faster comp

Photo by Hayley Spain​ If you make it out to Moe's next Thursday, October 29, you can catch a bill of Light Travels Faster, Night Owl and Portamento. If you like Light Travels faster (and you probably will; our A.H. Goldstein said the band has a "dense, textured and harmonically rich sound [th ... More >>

Over the weekend: Weed Diamond, Green Typerwriters and Pacific Pride at hi-dive

A.H. GoldsteinPacific Pride​Pacific Pride, Weed Diamond, Green Typewriters November 27 hi-dive What it was like: Making the most of a menu of three or four chords. The stark sounds of Pacific Pride's CD release show at the hi-dive on Friday seemed especially fitting this weekend. Following the su ... More >>

Moovers and Shakers rounds up our favorite local releases of the year

A.H. GoldsteinPacific Pride​Pacific Pride, Weed Diamond, Green Typewriters November 27 hi-dive What it was like: Making the most of a menu of three or four chords. The stark sounds of Pacific Pride's CD release show at the hi-dive on Friday seemed especially fitting this weekend. Following the su ... More >>

Backbeat writers weigh in on the year's best national releases

A.H. GoldsteinPacific Pride​Pacific Pride, Weed Diamond, Green Typewriters November 27 hi-dive What it was like: Making the most of a menu of three or four chords. The stark sounds of Pacific Pride's CD release show at the hi-dive on Friday seemed especially fitting this weekend. Following the su ... More >>

Over the (long) weekend: Paper Bird, These United States, Dovekins at the hi-dive

A.H. GoldsteinPaper Bird​ Paper Bird, These United States, Dovekins Thursday, December 31, 2009 hi-dive Better than: Going to a New Year's concert that didn't feature kazoos and Jefferson Airplane covers. It was easy to overlook the elements of chaos that marked Paper Bird's New Year's set a ... More >>

Manchester Orchestra at The Gothic Theatre: Southern fried loud-soft-loud

The Features. Photos by A.H. Goldstein​ Manchester Orchestra • The Features • Biffy Clyro • O'Brother 03.18.10 | The Gothic Theatre A teaming crowd had packed the floor of the The Gothic Theatre by the time Manchester Orchestra took the stage. No one seemed more surprised by this than ... More >>

Presenting the 2010 Westword Music Showcase Ballot

​ This past February, when we started putting together the 2010 Westword Music Showcase, we posted an item asking you how we could improve our annual music festival, this year set for Saturday, June 19, in the Golden Triangle (if you haven't already purchased your tickets, you can still buy d ... More >>

Westword Music Showcase 2010: Backbeat scribes' travelogue

​ Here's our massive, multi-page report/travelogue of the Westword Music Showcase from (in order) Tom Murphy, Cory Casciato, A.H. Goldstein, Jef Otte, Jon Solomon and Brain Frederick. Let us know in the comments what you saw and loved, saw and hated, or missed and hated yourself for missing. ... More >>

UMS Night Two Travelogue: Pink Hawks at the Skylark, Achille Lauro at Club 404 and more

A.H. GoldsteinNon from Oklahoma City set up shop on the sidewalk​ UMS Travelogue, Night Two 7.23.10 | Baker District/South Broadway I started my tour of South Broadway relatively late in the evening, heading south from the 404 Lounge at around 9:45 p.m. Turns out I still had plenty of time t ... More >>

UMS Night Three Travelogue: The Heyday, Hideous Men at Indy Ink and more

A.H. GoldsteinThe Heyday​ UMS Travelogue, Night Thee 7.24.10 | Baker District/South Broadway It's said that love and hate are two sides of the same coin. I can't say if that's true in all cases, but it certainly sums up my feelings about music festivals. All the things I love about them are ... More >>

UMS Day Three Travelogue: Jim McTurnan at the hi-dive, Mercuria at Fentress Architects and more

A.H. Goldstein​ UMS Travelogue, Day Three 7.24.10, Baker District/South Broadway I decided to change my pattern for my third crawl along Broadway for the UMS. I'd started late on Thursday and Friday nights, checking out the first venues at 10 p.m. at the earliest. I wanted to get a head star ... More >>

UMS Night Four Travelogue: Snake Rattle Rattle Snake at 3 Kings, Treeverb at the hi-dive and more

A.H. Goldstein​ UMS Travelogue, Night Four 7.24.10 | Baker District/South Broadway I have never seen so many neon Wayfarer sunglasses in my life. Ever. It was like I walked into 1982 the second I walked onto Broadway -- the hot sun blistered people's skin but their eyes were blocked by their ... More >>

UMS Night Four Travelogue: The Photo Atlas, A Tom Collins and Nathaniel Rateliff on Goodwill Stage and more

A.H. GoldsteinNathaniel Rateliff brought a hushed intensity to his performance on Sunday​ UMS Travelogue, Night Four 7.24.10 | Baker District/South Broadway The heat was stifling when I showed up to watch Photo Atlas play the main stage in the Goodwill parking lot, and the crowd seemed too s ... More >>

UMS Night Four Travelogue: The Polkanauts at Club 404, Alan Alda at 3 Kings and more

A.H. GoldsteinThe Polkanauts at Club 404​ UMS Travelogue, Night Four 7.25.10, Baker District/South Broadway The mood was more understated from the beginning. As the fourth and final day of the UMS got underway on a stifling Sunday afternoon, the sense of weariness felt almost palpable. After ... More >>

Nathaniel Rateliff, Gregory Alan Isakov, Danielle Ate the Sandwich at the Gothic Theatre, 10/8/10

A.H. GoldsteinNathaniel Rateliff last night at the Gothic Theatre.​ Nathaniel Rateliff, Gregory Alan Isakov, Danielle Ate the Sandwich 10.8.10 | Gothic Theatre The capacity crowd that filled the Gothic Theatre to busting on Friday night had no problem staying calm for three hours, for the co- ... More >>

Tonight: Nathaniel Rateliff plays Leonard Cohen songs at Lost Lake Lounge on East Colfax

A.H. Goldstein​Hankering for something exceedingly cool to do tonight? Yeah? Write this down: Lost Lake Lounge (3602 E. Colfax). That's the place to be for what should be just a stellar evening of live music. Hot on the heels of his show at the Gothic a few weeks ago, Nathaniel Rateliff is i ... More >>

Nathaniel Rateliff at Lost Lake Lounge, 10/21/10

A.H. Goldstein​ NATHANIEL RATELIFF 10.21.10 | Lost Lake Lounge Nathaniel Rateliff struck a delicate musical balance in his tribute to Leonard Cohen Thursday at the Lost Lake Lounge. His two-part solo performance spanned several albums and eras from Cohen's storied musical career. Armed simpl ... More >>

The National, Bassnectar, Sleigh Bells, the Slits filled our playlists this past week

​As people who think about, talk about, listen to and make music, the most common question we encounter is, "What are you listening to right now?" Whether you're looking for recommendations, trying to get a feel for our individual sensibilities, or are just curious, we've compiled a list of al ... More >>

Ween at 1STBANK Center, 10/31/10

A.H. Goldstein​ WEEN 10.31.10 | 1STBANK Center The scene captured the sheer surrealism of Ween's Halloween show at the 1STBANK Center in Broomfield: Toward the end of the band's three-hour performance, Mickey Melchiondo -- aka Dean Ween -- belted out "The Blarney Stone" with gusto, his vocal ... More >>

Pretty Lights, Ween and Jay-Z filled our playlists this week

​As people who think about, talk about, listen to and make music, the most common question we encounter is, "What are you listening to right now?" Whether you're looking for recommendations, trying to get a feel for our individual sensibilities, or are just curious, we've compiled a list of al ... More >>

Keith Rabin, Jr., of Gravity Defied Theatre talks economics and f-bombs

Danny Harrigan and Keith Rabin Jr... what.​The founders of Gravity Defied Theatre had their work cut out for them when they founded the troupe in 2008. In addition to facing the standard pitfalls and challenges of starting a new theater company, founders Keith Rabin, Jr., and Danny Harrigan ha ... More >>

Aloe Blacc, Harry Nilsson, Kid Cudi fill our playlists this week

​As people who think about, talk about, listen to and make music, the most common question we encounter is, "What are you listening to right now?" Whether you're looking for recommendations, trying to get a feel for our individual sensibilities, or are just curious, we've compiled a list of al ... More >>

Minor Disturbance poets get back to their roots at Yellow Feather

A.H. Goldstein​Denver's Minor Disturbance youth Slam Team made history for the local poetry scene earlier this year when they appeared in Brave New Voices, the HBO special that followed the 2010 National Slam Team championships held in L.A. Denver's team won fourth place in the global competit ... More >>

Johnathan McFarlane on wanna-be celebrity hype, Festivus Film Festival

Festivus Film Festival founders Tim DeMasters and Johnathan McFarlane want to offer films for the rest of us.​When Johnathan McFarlane and his partner Tim DeMasters created the Festivus Film Festival four years ago, they had trouble attracting audiences to all of the screenings at the Oriental ... More >>

Paper Bird at the Oriental, 12/31/10

A.H. Goldstein​ PAPER BIRD Dovekins • Pee Pee 12.31.10 | Oriental Theatre The New Year's Eve traditions on display at the Oriental Theater went beyond the noisemakers and the balloons. For the second year in a row, Paper Bird shared the bill with the Dovekins to ring in the New Year. The y ... More >>

Faceman's First Waltz at the Bluebird, 2/4/11

A.H. Goldstein​FACEMAN'S FIRST WALTZ FaceMan Bop Skizzum • The Knew • The Outfit • Chadzilla • Boulder Acoustic Society • The Vitamins • Medicine Man • Bonnie and the Beard • Chris McGarry and the Insomniacs • Panal • Martin Gilmore • The Construct • K Buzz and the Bras ... More >>

Last Night: Whirlwind Company, the supergroup of live poetry

A.H. GoldsteinJon Sands exhorts the crowd during the Whirlwind Company poetry performance on Wednesday.​Watching the Whirlwind Company deliver their energetic brand of live verse at the Mercury Café on Wednesday night felt a bit like being in the crowd for a Cream show. Indeed, taking in the ... More >>

2011 Westword Music Showcase: Backbeat scribes' travelogues

Every year, we enlist our Backbeat writers to host various stages at the Westword Music Showcase, and in addition to their emcee obligations, we ask them to pull double duty and write up the acts that appear on their individual stages. Click through to read travelogues from Thorin Klosowski, Ru John ... More >>

UMS Travelogue: Fairchildren, Achille Lauro, Bonnie and the Beard, Hollyfelds and more

A.H. GoldsteinAchille Lauro​UMS on S. BROADWAY | 07/23-24/11I started out Saturday with the Yes We Cans' appearance at Moe's Barbecue at 3 p.m., a staid set that seemed to reflect the early hour of the gig. With ballads composed of minor chords and heavily reverbed guitar effects, the Colorado ... More >>

Review: Ian Cooke at Curious Theatre, 12/16/11

A.H. GoldsteinIan Cooke and his band at the Curious Theatre for his Fortitude release party.IAN COOKE @ CURIOUS THEATRE | 12.16.11Ian Cooke made a wise choice in choosing the Curious Theatre to debut songs from Fortitude, his new full-length. The release show, which featured supporting performances ... More >>

Denver's best music releases of 2011

A.H. GoldsteinIan Cooke and his band at the Curious Theatre for his Fortitude release party.IAN COOKE @ CURIOUS THEATRE | 12.16.11Ian Cooke made a wise choice in choosing the Curious Theatre to debut songs from Fortitude, his new full-length. The release show, which featured supporting performances ... More >>

Ten things to do for $10 this weekend, January 6-8, 2012

$10​Kill holiday burn-out this weekend and save that found-money you've got after returning those knock-off electronics. Simply take these ten suggestions for weekend entertainment, all of which will cost you a Hamilton or less. And for our full guide to what's-going-on-Denver, simply peruse t ... More >>

Review: Places at the Marquis Theater, 1/7/12

A.H. GoldsteinPlaces at the Marquis Theater PLACES @ MARQUIS THEATER | 1/7/12 No one seemed more surprised by the turnout at the Marquis Theater on Saturday night than the seven members of Places. The CD release show for the septet's new album No More Wasted Days drew a capacity crowd, and the aud ... More >>

Review: FaceMan's Waltz at the Bluebird Theater, 2/3/12

A.H. GoldsteinFaceMan at the Bluebird Theater last night.FACEMAN'S WALTZ @ BLUEBIRD THEATER | 2/3/12The sound became expansive and the stage felt crowded fairly early in FaceMan's set at the Bluebird Theater on a snowy Friday night. After a brief introduction from the Flobots' Stephen "Brer Rabbit" ... More >>