Frank Zappa

Paer

Paer
Self-released

Here's what we're all listening to right now. What's rocking your world this week?

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it's not surprising that the most common (and favorite) topic of conversation among us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and, boy, wouldn't you know it, off we go, on and on about t ... More >>

Here's what we're all listening to right now. What's rocking your world this week?

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it's not surprising that the most common (and favorite) topic of conversation among us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and, boy, wouldn't you know it, off we go, on and on about t ... More >>

How a Frank Zappa fixation fostered an appreciation for classical compositions

Gateway Acts is an ongoing series on Backbeat in which we examine the music that served as an entry point for our burgeoning musical obsessions, a gateway drug that tuned us in and turned us on. Today, A.H. Goldstein reflects on his Frank Zappa fixation. Some of my earliest musical memories revol ... More >>

Backbeat's top five spins: This is what we're listening to this week. What's on your playlist?

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it's not surprising that the most common (and favorite) topic of conversation among us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and, boy, wouldn't you know it, off we go, on and on about t ... More >>

Backbeat's top five spins: This is what we're listening to this week. What's on your playlist?

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it's not surprising that the most common (and favorite) topic of conversation among us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and, boy, wouldn't you know it, off we go, on and on about t ... More >>

Backbeat's top five spins: This is what we're listening to this week. What's on your playlist?

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it's not surprising that the most common (and favorite) topic of conversation among us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and, boy, wouldn't you know it, off we go, on and on about t ... More >>

Zappa Plays Zappa at the Fox, 12/14

ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA @ FOX THEATRE | 12/15/12 "Still, nothing sounds like that," Dweezil Zappa marveled after his band had made its way through "Who Are the Brain Police," the feedback-laden, surreal anthem from the 1966 Mothers of Invention album Freak Out!. Dweezil and the rest of the Zappa Plays Za ... More >>

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 >>

Backbeat's top five spins: This is what we're listening to this week. What's on your playlist?

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it's not surprising that the most common (and favorite) topic of conversation among us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and, boy, wouldn't you know it, off we go, on and on about t ... More >>

Dweezil Zappa on his father's music and the degree of difficulty of playing his songs live

Dweezil Zappa is on a mission, and it's a pretty personal one. Since 2006, the son of the late guitarist/composer/bandleader Frank Zappa has toured the world, playing his father's music in an effort to attract and educate a new generation of listeners. In leading the Zappa Plays Zappa project, Dweez ... 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 >>

Alice Cooper will bring all of his personalities to town this week

See also: Slide show: Alice Cooper at the Paramount Theatre

Backbeat's top five spins: This is what we're listening to this week. What's on your playlist?

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it shouldn't be surprising to find that the most common (and mutually favorite) topic of conversation among us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and, boy, wouldn't you know it, off ... More >>

The Doors' Robby Krieger on playing with the Roadhouse Rebels and his new album

When the Roadhouse Rebels come to Oriental Theater this Sunday night, the act, which features Robby Krieger of the Doors and Particle keyboardist Steve Molitz, they'll be joined by an all-star cast of players, including Oingo Boingo/Mutaytor bassist John Avila, the Black Crowes' Rich Robinson and dr ... More >>

Zappa Lives On

IZ

Cognitive Dissonance
Infinite Seven

RIP Don Van Vliet, aka Captain Beefheart

​The music world is a little less surreal this week. Don Van Vliet, better known to fans as Captain Beefheart, died from complications tied to multiple sclerosis in California on Friday. He was 69 years old. Beefheart is survived by his wife of forty years, Jan Van Vliet -- and by a musical le ... More >>

Top Five moustaches in honor of Movember

It's November Movember, which means it's time to get your moustache on for charity. The above video pretty much sums up everything you need to know, but if you prefer reading, then know this: Grow a mustache, raise awareness for prostate and testicular cancer. Simple enough right? Movember.Com has ... More >>

Air Dubai, Lil Wayne and DJ Krush 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 >>

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 >>

Mile High Music Festival: Keller Williams on his dream collaborations and never playing the same set twice

​ The name Keller Williams is instantly recognizable to just about every music fan, whether they are jamband aficionado or not. Combining a complex variety of guitar effects and looping pedals, Keller Williams more or less reinvented the whole modern one-man band movement of the last fifteen ... More >>

The Good Grime Soundsystem

Grim Times
Self-released

The Weekend Show Down: Monotonix mixes up a molotov of rock

Aaron ThackerayMonotonix at last year's Monolith festival​ There's nothing like experiencing the sweat, thump and catharsis of a great show. But it can be tough to decide which one to go to when you live in Denver, the land of embarrassing musical riches, the land of too many shows and too li ... More >>

Ghostand Observatory, Jonathan Tyler on 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 >>

Top 10 weirdest musician movie roles

​It's not unusual for musicians to try out acting or vice-versa, but sometimes those roles take unusual turns. Now, with "I Kissed a Girl" songstress Katy Perry (who, interestingly, recently called Lady Gaga's new "Alejandro" video "blasphemous") gearing up to play Smurfette in the upcoming ad ... More >>

Dweezil Zappa keeps his father's music alive at the Paramount

​ Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa 06.07.10 | The Paramount Theatre Dweezil Zappa stressed again and again how thoroughly his band had done their homework. At several points during Monday's two and a half hour show, he explained how the seven-member ensemble had dissected the original stereo mixes ... 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 >>

Q&A with Steve Terebecki of White Denim

White Denim is to modern psychedelic post-punk what Alice Donut was to punk rock -- weird and unafraid to let their varied musical freak flags fly. Across the Austin trio's latest record, Fits, you can hear elements of old progressive rock, garage rock, jazz, splintered blues, as well as aesthetic n ... More >>

Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of December 21, 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 ... More >>

Q&A with Adrian Belew

​Adrian Belew has lead something of a charmed existence as a musician for the last thirty years, from his first high-profile gig as a guitarist for Frank Zappa in 1979 to his later work with Talking Heads, Trent Reznor, David Bowie and King Crimson. Though possessed of preternaturally able technic ... More >>

Last Night: Prog Nation at the Buell

Big Elf​Progressive Nation Dream Theater, Zappa Plays Zappa, Big Elf, Scale the Summit August 25, 2009 Buell Theater Better than: Reliving high school memories by flipping through a yearbook. Let me admit to a strong bias up front: I spent at least three of my teenage years with a diet almost excl ... More >>

Nostalgia and nausea: Putting together the perfect '80s mix

You've had the experience. You're driving in the car or Pandora-ing or even - gasp! - listening to the radio when that song comes on - the one you can't believe you forgot all about. Instantly, you're transported in time and space - back to that kegger during your freshman year when you got so ... More >>

On the Road Again

Frank Zappa travels to hell and back.

Frank Zappa's Lumpy Money release delayed

Hard-core Frank Zappa fans will have to wait a little longer for revamped versions of two of the late composer's seminal works from the '60s.An ambitious box set combining rare studio tracks and new mixes of both Lumpy Gravy and We're Only In It for the Money, creatively dubbed Lumpy Money, will not ... More >>

The Westword.com blog shortcut, November 25 edition

Betcha can almost taste that dead bird... Today in Backbeat Online: • "Anthem" by Born in the Flood (pictured) climbs One Tree Hill. • The Flobots score a Music Choice nomination. • The release of Frank Zappa's Lumpy Money is delayed. • Thirteen things that took less time than Guns N' Ros ... More >>

Clouds

Tuesday, October 28, Larimer Lounge, 303-291-1007.

Dosh

Saturday, June 7, hi-dive, 720-570-4500.

More Carnage

Various Artists

OHM+: The Early Gurus of Electronic Music: 1948-1980 (Ellipsis Arts)

Make Believe

Friday, October 7, hi-dive, 720-570-4500.

Man Man

Saturday, April 2, Climax Lounge, 303-292-5483.

Blood Brothers

Crimes (V2)

Flick Pick

Head

Frankly Classical

Frank Zappa’s legacy goes from classic to classical.

Legendary Feat

The story of a good but flawed band gets polished up in the retelling.

Playlist

The Prize Patrol

The biggest musical winners from 1996.

LETTERS

FRANKLY SPEAKING