Andy Thomas

Tin Horn Prayer keeps its live show lighthearted to balance the darker moments of its music

About three years ago, Scooter James was at a point where he'd done a few shows with Pinhead Circus, the well-regarded punk band he formed in 1988, but wasn't really set on pursuing music full-time anymore. Then he saw his friends in Tin Horn Prayer, and the band just completely inspired him. "They ... More >>

Two albums in, Tin Horn Prayer is a side project no more

John Elway the man doesn't want Elway the punk-rock band to use his name

John Elway.​John Elway's got a lot on his plate right now, what with the Denver Broncos coming off their worst season in ages and an NFL lockout preventing his new coach, John Fox, from being able to work with players new and old. But somehow, he's found time to inform members of a punk-rock b ... More >>

John Elway demands that Elway change its name, because, well, it was his name first

There's only room for one Elway in this town.​Had to see this coming, right? I mean, it was only written on the wall in giant, ten-foot, orange letters. Just two weeks after we published our profile of Elway, the affably, ambitious punk quartet formerly known as 10-4 Eleanor, received a "hey w ... More >>

2011 Westword Music Showcase Ballot

​Seventeen years! It's hard to believe we've been doing the Westword Music Showcase for that long. I can still remember being at the first one in LoDo nearly two decades ago. And when I think back, it seems like that cold, rainy Sunday night was just a few years ago.

Tonight: Rocky Votolato at the hi-dive

Singer-songwriters are a dime a dozen these days. It's like they're being churned out on a never ending assembly line, manufactured with the same blueprint: rough-hewn voice, tattered button-up shirt, handsome face, guitar. Rocky Votolato is like the original of those copies of copies, and he has th ... More >>

Moovers and Shakers: Our favorite Denver music releases of 2010

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 >>

All right, unscrupulous theives: Enough with the taking of stuff that doesn't belong to you!

​The band 200 Million Miles, in case you haven't heard, got burgled last week. Twice. In one week. And none of the items have been recovered. According Zale Hessler, who spoke with our friends at the A.V. Club, first the thieving bastard(s) reportedly broke into drummer Carl Sorensen's car an ... More >>

Of Montreal, Kayne West and Air Dubai 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?" So 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 ... More >>

Illegal Pete's to feed Starving Artists coming through Denver

​So this is a rad perk for touring acts coming through Colorado. Suburban Home Records honcho Virgil Dickerson and our own Andy Thomas have teamed up with Illegal Pete's to establish the aptly dubbed Starving Artists Program, which is exactly what it sounds like: Setting up weary bands on the ... More >>

Frogs Gone Fishin's trailer gets robbed forcing band to cancel tour

Flickr/Kyle McDonald​I'm convinced that there's a special place in hell reserved for bottom feeders who steal other people's stuff, particularly musical equipment. If there's any sort of justice in the universe, it's in a grimy, rat-infested, shit smeared hole also occupied by those who rip of ... More >>

American Tomahawk, Chromeo, Black Milk 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?" So 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 ... More >>

While we chill, musicians put the "labor" in Labor Day this weekend

​Ah, Labor Day weekend: Time for us to chill and do nothing like it's our job. Our musician friends, however, well, they'll be putting the "labor" in Labor Day. To that end, there's a ridiculous number of options if you're looking to do something compelling and music related, and we've writt ... More >>

Cee Lo Green's inescapably charming (and shamelessly profane) kiss off tops our playlists

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

Have you seen this black resonator guitar?

Aaron Thackeray (click to enlarge)Andy Thomas and his Johnson, electric-acoustic, black, resonator guitar​Andy Thomas is bummed. Can't say that we blame him. See that beautiful black resonator he's playing here? She's a beauty, yeah? Well, "was" a beauty is more accurate. Seems some unscrupulo ... More >>

Danielle Ate the Sandwich, Otis Taylor and Trace Bundy top our weekly playlists

​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?" So 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 ... More >>

Solar Bear's Captain's of Industry: Backbeat presents an exclusive advance listen (CD release party tomorrow!)

​ Call us homers if you must, but sometimes we just can't get over how unbelievably badass the music scene is in this town. Sure, like any other place, we have a seemingly endless supply of crappy also rans and probably-never-will-be's, but for every five of those, we have a Solar Bear, an ac ... More >>

Kinetix on recording at the Blasting Room, getting to perform at the Fillmore and offering up a stoner-approved rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody"

​ In this week's paper, we ran excerpts of Andy Thomas's recent conversation with the members of Kinetix in Rough Mixes. That Q&A barely scratched the surface. After the jump, you'll find not only Thomas's exchange with band in its entirety but the transcript from Dutch Seyfarth's recent chat ... More >>

Nathaniel Rateliff, Kinetix and Broken Social Scene top our weekly playlists

​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?" So 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 ... More >>

Backbeat presents: An exclusive advance listen of the new Lion Sized album Cough Up Your Teeth

Tod Kapke​ If you haven't had a chance to read Andy Thomas's excellent piece on Lion Sized in this week's paper, we're pleased as punch to let you that the band is back with a brand new album called Cough Up Your Teeth, which you can hear in its entirety after the jump and then pick up tomorr ... 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 >>

Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of April 5, 2010

​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?" So 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 ... More >>

Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of March 8, 2010

​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?" So 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 ... More >>

Heavy Rotation: Pretty Lights, Liars, Gorillaz top our weekly playlists

Pretty Lights. Photo by Aaron Thackeray​ ​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?" So whether you're looking for recommendations, trying to get a feel for our individual sensibilities, o ... More >>

Suburban Home Records new label services division inverts traditional record company role

​With more and more bands going the DIY route and foregoing labels, Suburban Home Records is branching out and expanding their business model. No longer just a traditional label that signs bands, makes records and sells them, Suburban has just launched a Label Services wing. It's a way to appl ... More >>

Does Westword encourage the arts -- or just shelter loser college boys?

Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of February 8, 2010

​As music critics -- and people who generally think about, talk about, listen to and make music -- the most common question we get asked (and ask each other, for that matter) is, "What are you listening to right now?" The pervasiveness of this query is precisely what inspired Heavy Rotation. ... More >>

Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of January 25, 2010

​As music critics -- and people who generally think about, talk about, listen to and make music -- the most common question we get asked (and ask each other, for that matter) is, "What are you listening to right now?" The pervasiveness of this query is precisely what inspired Heavy Rotation. ... More >>

Up Close: Melita's

​This week at westword.com/restaurants, Andy Thomas introduces former DJ Adriana Aguilar, aka Miss Audry, who joined her mother, Maria Gibson, in taking over Melita's Greek Cafe & Market at 1035 Lincoln. Photos by Mark Manger at westword.com/slideshow.

Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of January 11, 2010

​As music critics -- and people who generally think about, talk about, listen to and make music -- the most common question we get asked (and ask each other, for that matter) is, "What are you listening to right now?" The pervasiveness of this query is precisely what inspired Heavy Rotation. F ... More >>

The Gamits reunite for new album and possible tour

Six years after disbanding and breaking hearts across the front range, the Gamits are back together. Although this version of the band is not the same lineup that was on stage at the Bluebird in December 2004, the players will be familiar to longtime fans. ​This time around, frontman Chris F ... More >>

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

Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of December 7, 2009

​As music critics -- and people who generally think about, talk about, listen to and make music -- the most common question we get asked (and ask each other, for that matter) is, "What are you listening to right now?" The pervasiveness of this query is precisely what inspired Heavy Rotation. For t ... More >>

Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of November 23, 2009

​As music critics -- and people who generally think about, talk about, listen to and make music -- the most common question we get asked (and ask each other, for that matter) is, "What are you listening to right now?" The pervasiveness of this query is precisely what inspired Heavy Rotation. For t ... More >>

Hearsay bits: Meese reads, Aloft in the Sundry gives it away, Life In Electric car crash, Paper Bird on NPR and Vices I Admire moves its listening party

​Of Meese and Spin: You know what we love about life? We learn something new every day. Today, for instance, we learned that the members of Meese are literate -- well, at least Nathan Meese, anyhow. And we also learned that Spin files the band under up-and-comers. We discovered this thanks to a Sp ... More >>

Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of November 9, 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. For the benefit of those who happen to be curious, we've compiled a list of all the things we'r ... More >>

The Denver Boot: Danielle Ate the Sandwich at the Bluebird

​A few weeks ago, Danielle Ate the Sandwich took part in a stellar, sold out bill at the Bluebird, headlined by Gregory Alan Isakov and featuring Eleanor and our own Andy Thomas. Our pal Lance Stack from TheFlatResponse.com was there and brought along his mikes and recorders and captured the sets. ... More >>

Over the Weekend: Gregory Alan Isakov at Bluebird Theater

​ Gregory Alan Isakov, Elenor, Danielle Ate the Sandwich, Andy Thomas Bluebird Theater October 17, 2009 Better Than: A full tank of gas and the lonely, open road before you. A local artist sold out the Bluebird for his vinyl release show, which is impressive. This probably says more about ... More >>

Freeloader: Win tickets to see Gregory Alan Isakov at the Bluebird on Saturday

​Gregory Alan Isakov has made quite a name for himself since first making his way down from the People's Republic some years back. Although he's been headlining rooms like the Boulder Theater and the Fox Theatre in his hometown for sometime now, he's steadily built up a loyal following in Denver p ... More >>

Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of October 12, 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 ... More >>

Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of October 5, 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 ... More >>

Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of August 24, 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 ... More >>

Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of August 3, 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 >>

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 >>

Soundbites: Cheap Girls, Bon Iver, Frank Turner, Papermoons and Lemuria

Welcome to another edition of Sound Bites, our economy-sized album reviews. This week, Andy Thomas weighs in on five recent national releases from Bon Iver (pictured left), Cheap Girls, Frank Turner, Papermoons and Lemuria after the jump.

Mile Hi-Fidelity playlist - 12.30.08

After taking a week off to celebrate buying/receiving stuff for/from our loved ones, Andy Thomas and I returned to the airwaves last night (a day early in honor of drinking our faces off during Night of the Rookie Livers this evening) and played a bunch of great stuff -- as much as we could fit in, ... More >>

Rumor confirmed: Blackout Pact to record followup to Hello Sailor. Really.

Looks like the rumor first floated last week by my cohort Andy Thomas on Mile Hi-Fidelity is true. (Not that I ever doubted you for a minute, man.) The original members of the Blackout Pact are indeed reconvening to record a followup to their stellar 2005 Astro Magnetic debut, Hello Sailor. When the ... More >>

Mini Reviews

Mini Reviews