Hot IQs

A look back at past Best New Band winners

Best of Denver 2013: A look back at the Best New Band winners from the past decade

Our annual Best of Denver issue hits stands today. It's a painstaking issue to put together each year, and one that everybody looks forward to. This edition in particular, though, is even more significant as it's the thirtieth edition. It's also a minor milestone for Backbeat, as it marks the tenth ... More >>

Soccer moms of the world, unite: New Kids on the Block are coming to 1STBANK Center!

So this one summer before New Kids on the Block made all the girls (who are all middle aged moms now -- meditate on that for a minute) swoon like no other, the dudes did an in-store at the mall in Cheyenne. I was there. My best friend was a DJ at the station presenting the meet and greet, and so we ... More >>

Free money! Denver bands have unclaimed SoundExchange royalties. Are you on the list?

The bad news is you didn't win a gazillion dollars last night in Powerball -- some lucky jerk in Michigan did, apparently. The good news is, however, you may still have some cashola coming your way that you weren't expecting. Think of it as finding a crisp twenty in the pocket of pants you haven't w ... More >>

Fire Season on the band's debut EP, American Gladiators and "dad tolerance"

Fire Season (due tomorrow at Wax Trax) is best described as a power- pop band with a singer who sounds like he retired from a decade or two of serving as a drill sergeant -- or might have been raised by wolves. Sam Braakman's voice has character, a Scott Kelly-esque edge in otherwise upbeat, angular ... More >>

Mile Highlights: Denver/Boulder area concert news, local radio playlists and top album sales

​Here's what's happening in music on the Front Range this week: On the concert front, shows from Neil Diamond, Garland Jeffreys and Sophie B. Hawkins were announced; BLKHRTS, American Tomahawk and Driftwood Fire got spins on local radio; and new releases from Drake, Kate Bush and Sigur Ros wer ... More >>

Mile Highlights: Denver/Boulder area concert news, local radio playlists and top album sales

​Here's what's happening in music on the Front Range this week: On the concert front, shows from Dierks Bentley, Mickey Hart Band and Dirty Nasty were announced. On local radio specialty shows, Snake Rattle Rattle Snake, The Congress and The Epiloguesall got some spins. Meanwhile, at our local ... More >>

DeVotchKa's new video for "The Man From San Sebastian" directed by Vincent Comparetto

​Have you seen the new DeVotchKa video yet? Talk about the ideal artistic pairing. Directed by Vincent Comparetto, the clip perfectly captures the vibe of the song. I mean he just nailed it. It's like Comparetto climbed into my head and pulled out the exact type of imagery I picture each time ... More >>

Mile Highlights: Shows announced/on sale this week, local radio playlists and top local sellers

Here's what's good in the Mile High City this week: On the concert front,The Go-Go's are coming to the Ogden Theatre, Fleet Foxes are coming to the Fillmore, and Arvada Center has added shows to its summer lineup. Meanwhile, on local radio, Bad Weather California, Science Partner and Veronica got ... More >>

Mile Highlights: Shows announced/on-sale this week, local radio playlists and top local sellers

​ Here's what's good in the Mile High City this week. On the concert front: The Flaming Lips have announced a co-headlining date with Primus this August at Red Rocks. Kenny Chesney is also at the Rocks in July, and Panic! at the Disco is due at the Ogden in June. Meanwhile on local radio, Air ... More >>

Tonight: Snake Rattle Rattle Snake video premiere party at Forest Room 5

Still courtesy of Snake Rattle Rattle Snake via The Culture Farm​ Tonight at Forest Room , in conjunction with the fine folks at Speaker Snacks, the members of Snake Rattle Rattle Snake are hosting a low-key viewing party for their new video, Dead Men's Words, directed by local director extra ... More >>

Denver Does Denver: Find out Who's Doing Who

Denver Does Denver sounds more salacious than it is -- though we're sure there's a sexualized metaphor in there somewhere that was intended. If you haven't heard about it, Denver Does Denver, slated to take place tomorrow night at the Meadowlark, is a rad little show put together by the fine peeps a ... More >>

Astrophagus, Wentworth Kersey and Houses got spins this past week on local radio. See who else got played.

​Here what the area's local-centric specialty radio shows were spinning this week. We're currently tracking the playlists a number of different shows including, Radio 1190's Local Shakedown, KTCL's Locals Only, KBCO's Local Edition*, The Colorado Sound, which originates at KRFC and is re-broad ... More >>

Meese calls it quits, last official show this Saturday at the Bluebird

​ Looks like it's the end of the road for Meese. Well sort of. This Saturday, May 22, at the Bluebird, the band will be playing its last official show -- or delivering its final Broadcast, as it were -- as Meese with the Northern Way.

Gangcharger creates beauty from harsh noise

Q&A with Ethan Ward of Gangcharger

Tom MurphyGangcharger's Ethan Ward at the Meadowlark​Gangcharger started out as something of a side-project Ethan Ward did with a few friends. Few probably saw or remember the earliest incarnation of the band, but when it started up full force at the end of 2008, even if you didn't like the ac ... More >>

Dialed In: This week's local music radio playlists

​Here what the area's local-centric specialty radio shows were spinning this week. We're currently tracking the playlists a number of different shows, including Radio 1190's Local Shakedown, KTCL's Locals Only, 99.5 the Mountain's Homegrown Show*, the Colorado Sound, which originates at KRFC and i ... More >>

Accordion Crimes

A Higher Quality Version of This
Self-released

The Denver Boot: Hot IQs final show at Larimer Lounge

​Without question, Hot IQs, which took the stage for the last time this past weekend at the Larimer Lounge, made its mark on the Mile High City and will be sorely missed. Starting life as the Royal We, the outfit grew ably into its own as songwriters and left us with a slew of outstanding songs, f ... More >>

The Westword.com blog shortcut, August 6 edition

​Would you like to sniff the cork? Today in Cafe Society: • Grapes and grilling tonight at Strings. • Guess where I'm drinking? • Martini Ranch and Hiccups III dry up. • And the new, New York Times restaurant critic is... • Tonight's shochu dinner at Elway's Cherry Creek could be th ... More >>

Line-up for this weekend's Hot IQs BBQ is, well, hot!

​Just caught a whiff of the line-up for this weekend's Hot IQs barbecue, and we must say it is absolutely, positively killer, friends. Besides being IQs' very last show ever -- unless, of course, the band plays the seemingly inevitable reunion show in a few years from now -- the line-up equates to ... More >>

The Westword.com blog shortcut, July 31 edition

Mark Manger​ Today in The Latest Word: -A few hundred pages inside the NFL. -Southwest's prices will probably go up. -Boobs! I dare you not to click that. -Top ten Apatow joints. -101.5 the Pole? Trust me -- click that. Today in Cafe Society: -Boulder Beer Festival. -Half-price cheesecakes. ... More >>

Missed connection: Discount Cinema and Joy Subtraction

​Even the lowliest of local bands are used to getting a little groupie action now and then. But it turns out Denver-area musicians don't need to sift through their adoring audiences for a shot at romance; sometimes it's right there onstage. Emily Carter, bassist of Lakewood electro-rock outfit Dis ... More >>

Mile Hi-Fidelity playlist - 06.24.09

"Ah, man, I love this song!" I must make this remark a lot during the show. Last night, as I was marveling out loud about one of the tunes -- I'm not sure which one, but I think it might've been "Skinny" by Scaffolding -- Andy pointed out the obvious: I should love them, since I pick what we play ea ... More >>

Dialed In: This week's local music radio playlists

Here what the area's local-centric specialty radio shows were spinning this week. We're currently tracking the playlists a number of different shows, including Radio 1190's long-running Local Shakedown, KTCL's Locals Only, the Colorado Sound, which originates at KRFC and is re-broadcast all over Col ... More >>

MP3 Freeloader: Hot IQs final show, tonight at the Bluebird

As previously reported, tonight's the night when Hot IQs retire their jerseys after an estimable six year run. A distinguished, iconic band that earmarked an era, the outfit is immortalized in the pantheon of local music alongside other dearly departed, homegrown legends such as the Fluid, the Czars ... More >>

The Westword.com blog shortcut, June 19 edition

On the road again.... Rollin', rollin', rollin'. Today in Cafe Society: • Update: Pad Thai on the go.... • Toke of the town: Mary Jane's Pizza. • First report from the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. • A free donut for dad. • Huebner off The Bachelorette, back on pizza. • Barbecue this w ... More >>

Dialed in: This week's local music radio playlists

Here what the area's local-centric specialty radio shows were spinning this week. We're currently tracking the playlists a number of different shows, including Radio 1190's long-running Local Shakedown, KTCL's Locals Only, the Colorado Sound, which originates at KRFC and is re-broadcast all over Co ... More >>

Young Coyotes

Hair Rock

The Swayback Raises the Bar

Long Gone Lads, this trio’s long-awaited album, is a painstaking work of art.

The Band Show

Denver bands make love, not war, at Stand By Your Band II.

Band-Aid for a Broken Heart

Think Globally, Dress Locally

Locality garbs Denver just in time for spring.

The Beatdown

Dan Rutherford has his finger on Mootown's musical pulse.

The Beatdown

The Golden Triangle was really golden during the Westword Music Showcase.

The Beatdown

South by So What? Not this year, thanks to Vaux and other Denver bands.

Best Debut Release by a Label

An Argument Between the Brain and the Feet
Morning After Records

Best Band Name Change

The FlashBangs

The Beatdown

Singling out some exceptional singles.

The Beatdown

Putting Denver on the musical map.

Letters to the Editor

From the week of November 18, 2004

The Beatdown

Giving KTCL’s Project Next a whole new spin.

The Beatdown

Usually, the Morning After is all about regret. This one is filled with optimism.

The Beatdown

Sights and sounds of the Westword Music Showcase