Aretha Franklin

Denver's ten best jukeboxes

More and more, you've probably noticed an influx of Internet jukeboxes, the kind that offer a seemingly endless assortment of songs, cropping up in bars. But there are still a handful of spots rocking old school CD jukeboxes that require a bit of taste-making. Here's the ten best, including this yea ... More >>

Three local film fests are lighting up screens in Denver and Boulder

Film on a Roll

The ten best concerts this weekend: Dec. 14-16

It feels like we say this every week, and we probably do, but we're continually astounded by how good we have it here music wise. If you haven't noticed, this time of year, the number of touring acts decreases dramatically, generally in line with the music industry itself, which pretty much slows to ... More >>

The ten best concerts this week: December 10-14

We're blessed to live here, you know. If you haven't already come to this conclusion on your own from feeling the ever-present sunshine and observing the wondrous sunset paintings we're treated to each evening, all you have to do is take a look at the brimming concert calendar. Whereas the live musi ... More >>

Ten essential albums of the 1960s

If someone wanted to learn more about the sixties, but didn't know where to start, these are the albums we'd recommend. While they aren't necessarily the best selling, or the most critically acclaimed, they are certainly the ones that float to the surface all these years later, providing a rough blu ... More >>

The ten best concerts this weekend: Oct. 26-28

Welcome to the weekend, amigos! Ah, yes, we finally made it. Is it just us, or has this seemed like the longest week ever? Ah, maybe it's just the weather. Whatever the case, it's in the rearview now, and it's time to blow off some steam. Drinks are on the horizon and there's a full slate of great m ... More >>

Train at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 9/19/12

TRAIN @ RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE| 9/19/12 Train, the San Francisco band that has been the darlings of radio rock for over a decade, played to a capacity crowd at Red Rocks last night, and if the multigenerational audience's hoots and screams were any indication, the guys will be welcome back anytime. ... More >>

American Idol is now more focused on judges than contestants

Mickey Hart Band at Ogden Theatre, 5/17/12

MICKEY HART BAND @ OGDEN THEATRE | 5.17.12 Maybe it was the energy in the room, this veneration coming off the crowd in adoring waves. Maybe it was the clapping, like an old-time spiritual keeping time with sacred rhythm. Whatever it was, the Ogden felt something like a church service last night fo ... More >>

Black Star

Friday, May 11, Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom, 303-297-1772.

American Idol Live Show: 3 of 13 men shine during the first live round

The first of the live rounds, last night's episode of American Idol was a welcomed return to true form. We saw all of the male contestants in the Top 24 perform, including the thirteenth contender who was brought back to compete live, Jermaine Jones, the appropriately dubbed "gentle giant" with a st ... More >>

As Black History Month comes to a close, we reflect on the influential Sounds of Blackness

Black History Month 2012 has been a doozy. Beginning with the tragic and shocking death of Don Cornelius to dealing with equally troubling news of Whitney Houston's passing as the month wore on. Most interesting about this time is the ways in which the music healed us. When Whitney died, DJs played ... More >>

Meet Su Charles, the latest American Idol hopeful from Denver

Denver, meet Su Charles (aka SuCh), the latest American Idol hopeful from our city. Aside from having an exceptional voice, Charles has quite an inspiring story. The child of Haitian immigrants, Charles was born in Boston to a pastor and a school teacher. Raised in Long Island, New York, Charles beg ... More >>

Aretha Franklin is the greatest vocalist of all time

Aretha Franklin is the greatest soul singer to ever live. She's the reason we have Mary J. Blige, Cee-Lo Green, Adele, you name it. The singer, born Aretha Louise Franklin in March 1942, paved the way for all of the artists who followed. The Queen of Soul sang on a slew of hits such as "Natural Woma ... More >>

J. Michael Melton, exec chef of Zydeco's, on destroying candy bars and shi*tin' and spittin' up

Lori Midson​ J. Michael Melton Zydeco's 1730 Wynkoop Street 303-293-2887 www.zydecosdenver.com This is part one of my chat with J. Michael Melton, exec chef of Zydeco's. Part two of our interview will run in this space tomorrow. I got the gift of the Southern double name," drawls J. Michae ... More >>

Denver Post editor Greg Moore tweets Charlie Sheen roast & other Post adventures in Twitter

Greg Moore.​Earlier this month, John Paton was named CEO of MediaNews Group, and his arrival is already having an impact on staffers at the Denver Post, the firm's flagship paper. Paton is a big believer in social media, and we hear his presence has accelerated the Post's use of Twitter by eve ... More >>

The Shrapnelles

Thursday, April 7, Rhinoceropolis, 303-641-9809.

Georgia Sigala: City Council District 1 showdown, part 8

Georgia Sigala​Over the past several years, northwest Denver has been the site of heated clashes over new development, struggling schools and other hot-button issues -- and the political pot got stirred into a frenzy when Denver City Council District representative Rick Garcia split for a gig ... More >>

Q&A with Bill McKay of Leftover Salmon

​ Whether burning down the house with Leftover Salmon, heating up the keys for the Fox Street Allstars, or catching fire with his own outfit, Papa Bill McKay commands attention. In addition to playing with some of Colorado's finest roots acts McKay played in an early incarnation of the Derek ... More >>

When music meets movies: Ten Great Hollywood Decisions

​All right, a few weeks ago we offered up our take on the ten worst moments of crossover disaster, ill-advised efforts to mate movies with music. Now it's time to look at the flip side of the coin, the ten movies in which music and Hollywood made great bedfellows, outstanding cinematic turns that ... More >>

Remembering Westword's endorsement of... George Clinton?

Delegating Denver #47 of 56: Tennessee

This Just In…

The latest nightlife news.

Reuben Wilson

Thursday, February 8, Mount Vernon Country Club, Golden, 303-526-0616.

Kettle Joe's Psychedelic Swamp Revue

Friday, December 8, Quixote's True Blue; Saturday, December 9, Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom, 1-866-455-2263.

Christina Aguilera

Back to Basics (RCA)

Westword Music Showcase 2006

Be there or be square!

The BellRays

Have a Little Faith (Cheap Lullaby)

What a Drag

Local "ladies" put on a variety show like no other.

Dr. John

Thursday, February 16, Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom, 1-866-464-2626.

Listen Up

Fast reviews of recent releases

Who Needs Sturgis?

Thunder in the Rockies is ready to exhaust riders.

Love and Happiness

An insider's guide to being the perfect wife.

Smells Like Indie Spirit

Music that made the world safe for the word "alternative" again.

This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Judgment Day

Backbeat contributors offer up their favorite recordings of 1999.

More Songs of the Century

Part two of a pre-millennial trek through a hundred years of pop music.

Year-End Close-Out

We've got 1998's best albums in stock, but they're going fast.

Daze of Future Passed

Playlist

Do the White Thing

Playlist

Hallelujah Chorus

OHIO OR BUST

THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM: GREAT IDEA OR SIGN THAT THE END IS NEAR?

THRILLS

COLE MINING

NO ONE DIGS INTO HER MUSIC LIKE SINGER-SONGWRITER PAULA COLE.

SHE AIN'T HEAVY

SHE'S THE BRAND NEW HEAVIES' N'DEA DAVENPORT, A SOUL SONGSTRESS FOR THE NINETIES.

THRILLS

THRILLS