Subject: Entertainment

• Bulgarian Rhapsody

  August 13, 2009

• What's Jack White's next supergroup going to be? A few ideas.

  August 13, 2009

• Ronnie James Dio made a fine replacement for Ozzy in Sabbath. Who are some other notable surrogates?

  August 13, 2009

• Green Day

  August 13, 2009

• Papermoons

  August 13, 2009

• Sunn O)))

  August 13, 2009

• John Common wants you to make him a movie

  ​If you like music -- especially the music of John Common -- and have an interest in making film, there's a project you should know about. In the wake of his successful Common Box Project, a collaborative project that asked visual artists to create a piece of assemblage box art inspired by the music from his new record, Common is seeking to pull off something similar with film. The end result will be a non-competitive festival of short films that will coincide with the release of his lates

  August 13, 2009

• Last night: Sunn O))) at the Bluebird

  Sunn O))) rise (Tom Murphy)​SunnO))), Eagle Twin and The AccüsedBluebird TheaterThursday, August 13th, 2009Better Than: Some commentators on SunnO))) would have you believe. The two-piece Eagle Twin kicked off the show in high spirits. Although mining similar artistic territory as Isis, Twin brought its own take on experimental metal. With the sometimes staggered, sometimes storming percussion and the sculpted guitar distortion channeled into elastic rhythms coupled with the gravelly, hist

  August 14, 2009

• Over the Weekend: Atmosphere at Red Rocks

  ​ Atmosphere, Aesop Rock, Murs and Eyedea & Abilities Red Rocks Friday, August 14 Red Rocks giveth, and Red Rocks taketh away. The sprawling amphitheater is so storied at this point that it tests performers playing it like few venues in the country -- and not everyone passes. That was certainly the case on Friday night, when two of the four top acts on the bill traveled through the fire unharmed and even enhanced by the experience, while the other pair wound up a little crispy around the

  August 17, 2009

• Over the weekend: Green Day at Pepsi Center

  Billy Joe Armstrong engages the crowd (Aaron Thackeray)​Green Day, Franz Ferdinand Pepsi Center Saturday, August 15, 2009Better than: Hanging out with eleven-year-olds at an indoor recreation center. The members of Green Day and their crew tried with all their might to summon the spirit of an old school punk show in the vast spaces of the Pepsi Center on Saturday night. From the first chords of the opening tune, "Songs of the Century/21st Century Breakdown," frontman Billy Joe exhorted the cr

  August 17, 2009

• The melodramatic rock of Aloft in the Sundry is a scene kid's guilty pleasure

  August 20, 2009

• Over the Weekend: Mos Def and Talib Kweli at the Gothic Theatre

  Letitia Salazar​Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Jay Electronica, DCQ, Spoke-In-WordzGothic TheatreFriday, August 21, 2009Better Than: anything Lil Wayne or Drake could pull offMos Def hasn't headlined a nationwide tour since the Lyricist Lounge tour in 2000, where he recruited folks like Bernie Worrell (of Parliament-Funkadelic), Dr. Know (of Bad Brains) and Will Calhoun (of Living Colour) to form the band, Black Jack Johnson. After that tour he took a break to focus on his acting career. But now the Mi

  August 24, 2009

• Over the weekend: The Flaming Lips at Red Rocks (bonus review)

  It was a series of firsts last night for Adam Perry: In was his first show at Red Rocks and his first time seeing the Flaming Lips. Given the profound, momentous nature of that combination, we thought we'd share his experience, and as a result you get a bonus review of the show today.Adam Perry​The Flaming Lips, Explosions in the Sky, Stardeath & White DwarfsRed Rocks AmphitheatreSunday, August 23, 2009 Better Than: Anti-depressants "Last night I had a horrible dream/ wakin' up at Red Roc

  August 24, 2009

• 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 all the things we're listening to this week. Feel free to chime in with picks of your own after the jump.

  August 27, 2009

• Black Eyed Peas' credibility killed in spinning class

  ​ The Black Eyed Peas' credibility, a mainstay in the genre since 1998's Behind the Front, died on Sunday, in a spinning class at the 24-Hour Fitness by my house. It was eleven-years-old. The credibility, once as strong as any hip-hop group's, has been in poor health since 2003, when Fergie showed up. It had suffered a number of setbacks since then, including injuries caused by the release of 2004's "Where is the Love" and 2005's "Let's Get it Started." It was hospitalized earlier this y

  August 30, 2009

• Pissed Jeans grabs top spot at Wax Trax again

  ​Pissed Jeans' King of Jeans grabbed the number one spot on Wax Trax's top seller list the second week in a row while Arctic Monkeys' Humbug, released last week on Domino, came in second for the week ending August 30. Dead Weather, Modest Mouse and Jay Reatard rounded out the top five while the Rocky Mountain Low and Local Anesthetic compilations continue to stay in the top ten. See the full breakdown after the jump.

  August 31, 2009

• Q&A with Regan "Busdriver" Farquhar

  Photo by Brian TamborelloBusdriver with Busdriver.​ Boasting may seem like a hip-hop requirement, but it's actually possible to play the rap game without overdosing on self-love every other line. For proof, direct your gaze to the following Q&A with Regan Farquhar, who performs as Busdriver. The subject of a Westword profile published in advance of his Saturday, September 5 at the Bluebird Theater, Farquhar actually has to be coaxed into giving himself a compliment during the conversation

  September 2, 2009

• When it comes to hip-hop, Busdriver refuses to stick to a designated route

  September 3, 2009

• Even without her memorable moniker, Danielle Anderson isn't someone who's easy to forget

  September 10, 2009

• Monolith Q&A: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

  ​With early support from one of the country's most important independent radio stations, KEXP in Seattle, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart -- appearing at Monlith this weekend -- struck a chord with fans of earnest, dreamy, lush pop music. Though often compared to C86-era and Sarah Records bands, Pure at Heart make music that clearly draws on aesthetics evolved since that time and its songs are not awash in layers of delay as some of its critics have hinted when comparing the group unfavor

  September 9, 2009

• Good for Laughs

  September 10, 2009

• Jay-Z grabs top spot at Independent Records

  ​Blueprint 3, Jay-Z's highly anticipated follow-up to his two previous Blueprint albums, grabbed the top spot at Independent Records while Raekwon's latest effort, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 came in second for the week ending September 13. Insane Clown Posse's Bang! Pow! Boom!, which was the top seller last, moved down to the third slot while Trey Songz and Twista round out the top five. See the full breakdown after the jump.

  September 14, 2009

• Kissing Party

  September 17, 2009

• The prospect of love brought Jen Korte to Denver. Heartache kept her here.

  September 17, 2009

• This weekend's featured events: Get out and savor the last weekend of summer

  ​Here are just a few of our favorite things to do while the sun still shines: A good place to start is with something nice to eat, and you'll get your wish at Sabor, a public beer, wine and food tasting hosted by the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the USHCC National Convention and Business Expo meeting in Denver. Tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. in the outdoor galleria at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, nearly thirty local restaurants will be dishing up their best to

  September 18, 2009

• I Love Luthier

  October 1, 2009

• Q&A with Flawless of Fresh Breath Committee

  ​Back in 2008, we named Boostwell Crew the best hip-hop crew in Denver. Headed by SP Double, the crew consisted of local emcees and producers, Flawless, Fo Chief, ManDaMyth, Catch Lungs, EMB, Purpose, Procise, Kontrast and a few others. Shortly after the recognition, a number of members left the crew and launched the Fresh Breath Committee (FBC). Lead mostly by Flawless, FBC is a collective of like-minded solo artists, who, at first, came together to support each other but quickly realized the

  October 7, 2009

• Q&A with Justin Sullivan of New Model Army

  ​These days, a real punk band (sorry, Green Day) can almost never find its way onto the pop charts. But back in the day (see: mid-'80s), England's New Model Army released political punk that didn't merely sell to left-wing extremists. Almost thirty years ago, frontman/mastermind Justin Sullivan, who has been compared to punk legends like Joe Strummer and Dick Lucas, named New Model Army after Oliver Cromwell's successful (at least for a while) 17th century antiroyalist forces; Sullivan's intel

  October 7, 2009

• Meet the New Model Army, same as the Old Model Army

  October 8, 2009

• The Fresh Breath Committee aims to breathe new life into hip-hop

  October 8, 2009

• Box Elders

  October 8, 2009

• What's the best dive bar in Denver?

  Club 404, one of Denver's top-ten dives.​What's your favorite dive bar in Denver? Drew Bixby, our Drunk of the Week columnist, features nearly a hundred great lounges, taverns and saloons in his book Denver's Best Dive Bars: Drinking and Diving in the Mile-High City, due out November 3. But while Bixby includes a list of the city's ten best dives, he doesn't pick a favorite. That's up to you! Post your nomination for the very best dive bar in the metro area below, and we'll count the vo

  October 8, 2009

• Should Lance Armstrong's new team be sponsored by marijuana?

  Lance Armstrong at rest.​Mason Tvert is brilliant at making any subject about marijuana -- but he's really outdone himself this time. In his latest media jeremiad, the head of SAFER (Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation) goes after bicycle racer Lance Armstrong for becoming the new spokesman for Michelob Ultra, a brew that's aimed at "health-minded drinkers" -- because beer is the new wheat germ, right? Tvert's gripe: Beer is more dangerous and "cancer-causing" than his favorite smok

  October 9, 2009

• Over the weekend: Jolie Holland at the Walnut Room

  Adam Perry​Jolie Holland, with Matt Bauer The Walnut Room Saturday, October 10, 2009 Better Than: Walking from Market St. Station to Walnut & 31st in the cold No one shines like Brooklyn-based indie-folk goddess Jolie Holland. Just as Neil Young was the depth and edge of CSNY, Holland was the stand-out talent in the Canadian, all-girl, alt-folk group the Be Good Tanyas, and for the last half-decade has excelled on her own. Last fall, Holland drew a large crowd to the Boulder Theater on th

  October 12, 2009

• Play fast? Love dragons? Zack wants to talk, shred

  ​If you like playing in "the realm of 32nd notes" in time signatures such as "13/16 and 5/8" and have a great love for all things Dungeons & Dragons when it comes to lyrics, get thee to Lakewood, where "Zack" awaits you as his musical soulmate. Also, you should not be a druggie, since Zack's songs require "110% of your focused attention," which druggies clearly can't offer. You also won't be able to check out his tunes on MySpace, since he plays "faster than the resolution of their audio c

  October 12, 2009

• 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 all the things we're listening to this week. Feel free to chime in with picks of your own after the jump.

  October 13, 2009

• Fright Nights

  October 15, 2009

• Shine a Light

  October 15, 2009

• Damon & Naomi

  October 15, 2009

• Let's get real: Who are Denver's top ten reality TV stars?

  October 15, 2009

• Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of October 19, 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 all the things we're listening to this week. Feel free to chime in with picks of your own after the jump.

  October 21, 2009

• Uncle Monk

  October 22, 2009

• Sole at the hi-dive

  October 22, 2009

• Music as a weapon: Make it stop for chrissakes! This is torture, man.

  SoKabs (via Flickr)​Did you see this yet? We just caught a link to this on Twitter (thanks, MyBodySings), a list of artists whose music was used "during the detention and interrogation of" to torture "prisoners at Guantanamo and other US facilities"? The list, published by the National Security Archive and reportedly culled from recently declassified documents, contains an range of music, from the Barney Theme Song and Meow Mix Jingle to Limp Bizkit and Matchbox Twenty. We see where they're go

  October 22, 2009

• Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of October 26, 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 all the things we're listening to this week. Feel free to chime in with picks of your own after the jump.

  October 28, 2009

• Q&A with Jonson Kuhn of Jonny Woodrose & the Broken Hearted Woodpeckers

  ​In the short time Jonny Woodrose & the Broken-Hearted Woodpeckers have been together, the outfit has grown from being a bit of a joke band vehicle for singer Jonson Kuhn's humorous storytelling into one of the most engaging and fun Americana bands in the scene. The project's early shows consisted of Jonson playing guitar and singing songs, but it quickly evolved into a full, four-piece band including guitarist Charles Kern, drummer David Vanderiet and bass player Brian Payne. Consciously

  November 3, 2009

• Wondering what to get that special little someone for Christmas? Wonder no more. The Indie Rock Coloring Book is here!

  ​Ever notice just how much more advanced kids are these days? They just seem so much cooler than we were growing up. We were at a barbecue not too long ago, for instance, and heard the wee son of a friend -- seriously, the kid hadn't even hit puberty yet -- raving about the new Bon Iver record. Yeah, Bon Iver. What's that all about? At that age, we were listening to the sort of craptastic, cringe-worthy things that can't even be explained away as guilty pleasures. So what gives? Cooler parents

  November 4, 2009

• Tech N9NE top seller at Independent Records

  ​Tech N9NE's K.O.D., released last week on Strange Music, nabbed the top spot on Independent Records' charts for the week ending November 1. Michael Jackson's soundtrack to the film This is It and Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 came in at second and third, while Swollen Member's Armed to the Teeth and Z-Ro's Cocaine rounded out the top five. See the full breakdown after the jump. 

  November 5, 2009