Carnegie Hall

Sound the Horns

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 >>

Jay-Z's come a long way from the Marcy Projects

What do you know about Jay-Z? Born Shawn Corey Carter in December 1969, the Brooklyn corner boy from the Marcy Housing Projects, who used to flip kilos of coke as fast as he flipped rhymes, turned his life of trial and tragedy into one of triumph and success, making a ton of money and marrying the g ... More >>

(Updated) Ryan Adams survival guide: Things to know before you go

Pax-Am Records Update (12:53 p.m.): So check this out: A couple more things you should know here. First of all, the show has been postponed until tomorrow night due to inclement weather (shocker, we know). Secondly, whatever sensationalist malarkey you've read about Ryan Adams being some sort of up ... More >>

Crazy Good

Pax-Am Records Update (12:53 p.m.): So check this out: A couple more things you should know here. First of all, the show has been postponed until tomorrow night due to inclement weather (shocker, we know). Secondly, whatever sensationalist malarkey you've read about Ryan Adams being some sort of up ... More >>

Mile Highlights: This week's concert news, local radio playlists and top album sales

We're blessed to be living in the best city in America.Here's what's good in the Mile High City this week: In October, St. Vincent is due at the Boulder Theater, followed by DeVotchKa who also appear there later in the month, as well as the Ogden, and Why? at the Gothic Theater. On local radio, Bop ... More >>

Meet Marnie Ward, creator of the Tree Line and winner of the Colorado Cocktail Contest

Mark MangerMarnie Ward mixes her winning drinki at the Colorado Cocktail Contest.​What does Colorado taste like? Sunshine and cherries and whiskey, according to Marnie Ward, who created "Tree Line," the winner of the inaugural Colorado Cocktail Contest. "I love to go to the farmers' markets th ... More >>

DeVotchKa's Nick Urata on the band's new album and its cinematic approach to songwriting

Gary Isaacs​ With DeVotchka's forthcoming album, 100 Lovers, the Denver quartet has released possibly it's finest album to date. Frontman Nick Urata says they spent about a year making the album in Tuscon, and let the songs cook a bit longer and ferment than on previous efforts, which might e ... More >>

Jake Hyman of Freelance Whales talks about subway busking and road testing songs

​Based out of Queens, New York, Freelance Whales (due tonight at the hi-dive with Minature Tigers) play the kind of atmospheric, experimental pop music that is often lumped under the umbrella genre title of "chamber pop." That's probably because the band actually seems to take care to craft so ... More >>

Grant Gordy's folk songs rely on a global palette of sounds

​Based out of Queens, New York, Freelance Whales (due tonight at the hi-dive with Minature Tigers) play the kind of atmospheric, experimental pop music that is often lumped under the umbrella genre title of "chamber pop." That's probably because the band actually seems to take care to craft so ... More >>

Curious Theatre Company makes beautiful music in Opus

​Based out of Queens, New York, Freelance Whales (due tonight at the hi-dive with Minature Tigers) play the kind of atmospheric, experimental pop music that is often lumped under the umbrella genre title of "chamber pop." That's probably because the band actually seems to take care to craft so ... More >>

Q&A with Pete Wernick, aka Dr. Banjo

While our profile on Pete Wernick in this week's issue primarily focused on the duality of his roles in his bluegrass/jazz group Flexigrass and with the traditional bluegrass act Long Road Home, Wernick also discussed a number of other things including: what good bluegrass is, his introduction and t ... More >>

Q&A with Joe Bithorn of Beatles tribute band Rain

Joe Bithorn as George Harrison​New York City native Joe Bithorn plays the role of George Harrison in Rain, one of the most popular and well-known Beatles tribute bands in the country (appearing September 22 to 27 at the Buell Theater. Raised with a steady diet of classical, jazz, blues and psy ... More >>

Top 10 Reissues of 2008

Over the next couple of weeks, Backbeat will feature some Top Ten lists from around the Village Voice Media chain. Click here for previous year-in-review coverage from Backbeat and VVM. It's time to rank the best of what went around and came around again. BILLY JOEL The Stranger (Columbia/Legacy ... More >>

Return to Forever

Chick Corea’s breakthrough act is back after nearly three decades.

God Save the Queen.

Chick Corea’s breakthrough act is back after nearly three decades.

Memories

From the magic of midnight burritos to the culinary miracles at O’s, 2007 gave us lots of food for thought.

Another Order of Joe

From the magic of midnight burritos to the culinary miracles at O’s, 2007 gave us lots of food for thought.

Another Order of Joe

From the magic of midnight burritos to the culinary miracles at O’s, 2007 gave us lots of food for thought.

DIY Guy

Joseph Arthur wants to write his own legend.

Now Playing

Brief reviews of current shows

Now Playing

Brief reviews of current shows

Now Playing

Brief reviews of current shows

Listen Up

Fast reviews of recent releases

Day-by-Day Picks

From the week of November 10, 2005

Listen Up

Fast reviews of recent releases

Black History Speaks

Shadow Theatre's Paul Robeson restores an American giant.

Soul Survivors

The Soul of John Black gets by with a little help from its friends.

With Strings Attached

Violin virtuoso Joshua Bell heats up Colorado’s winter.

Lost at Scene

After spearheading the post-punk revival, GoGoGo Airheart is still on its own island.

Break Like the Wind

Spinal Tap tapped, the Folksmen turn it way down from 11.

Patsy Cline Lite

A single-note version of the singer barely does her artistry justice.

A Beautiful Lady

Shadow Theatre shines a light on this wrenching retelling of Billie Holiday's downfall.

Lost Soles Soars

Tapping into his own past, dancer Thaddeus Phillips makes magic.

Bridge to the Future

A generation of Denver jazz stars has one thing in common: Neil Bridge.

Townes Van Zandt

Texas Rain: The Texas Hill Country Recordings, The Best of Townes Van Zandt (Tomato)
A Gentle Evening With Townes Van Zandt (Dualtone)

Union Man

There'll be no sorrow for O Brother multi-instrumentalist Dan Tyminski.

Backwash

The time is nigh for the release of Billy & Liza’s collaborative CD.

The Musings of Miles

Almost ten years after his death, jazz fans remain fascinated by the man who gave birth to cool.

Shearer Delight

The voice of Flanders is the voice of reason, absatively posilutely.

Biting the Big Apple

Come to think of it, a Subway Series might be a good thing.

An Unharmonious Ending

PeakArts founder Karen Romeo may be a victim of the Boulder arts community's haughty ego.

The Art of Politics

DAM director Lewis Sharp shows that there's more to the job than knowing what to hang.

Rock and Roll for Dummies

A recently exhumed handbook reveals the secrets to playing music and staying happy.

Lady, Sing the Blues

Odetta is happy to find trouble everywhere she goes.

Etc.

Outstanding in His Field The recordings of Alan Lomax dig up the roots of American music.

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Outstanding in His Field The recordings of Alan Lomax dig up the roots of American music.

HERE'S PROGRESS FOR YOU

Outstanding in His Field The recordings of Alan Lomax dig up the roots of American music.

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Outstanding in His Field The recordings of Alan Lomax dig up the roots of American music.