Jason Heller

MP3 Freeloader: The Fire Drills

Letters to the Editor

From the week of August 26, 2004

Letters to the Editor

From the week of September 30, 2004

Letters to the Editor

From the week of October 14, 2004

Best Mid-Week Club Night

Off the Wall
hi-dive

Letters to the Editor

From the week of May 26, 2005

Letters to the Editor

From the week of June 2, 2005

Letters to the Editor

From the week of June 9, 2005

Soilent Green

Friday, July 29, Rock Island, 303-443-2227.

The Fire Drills

Cheap Lies EP
Self-released

Nationalistic 2005

The rest of the planet generated some good CDs this year, too.

This Just In…

The latest nightlife news.

Letters to the Editor

From the week of April 6, 2006

Letters to the Editor

From the week of March 9, 2006

Letters to the Editor

From the week of February 16, 2006

Moovers and Shakers 2005

Backbeat scribes weigh in on their favorite new releases from the past year.

Sea Fare

Gordon Bok dives deeply into his music.

Let Us Prey

Alan Clements uses Spiritually Incorrect to skewer modern hype.

Feast Your Eyes on This

DAVA brings art to all five senses.

Nationalistic

Backbeat scribes weigh in on their favorite national releases from 2004.

Moovers and Shakers

In 2004, Mootown's best and brightest gave us something to write home about.

Author, Author

Suzan-Lori Parks speaks in many voices

Now Hear This

Suzan-Lori Parks speaks in many voices

The Show(case) Must Go On!

Suzan-Lori Parks speaks in many voices

The Home Team

Local artists put out a wealth of good music this year. Step right up and read all about it.

That's a Wrap-Up

Backbeat writers sound off on a few of their favorite musical things from 2002.

Local Color

Backbeat writers weigh in on local CDs

Hit Pick

Backbeat writers weigh in on local CDs

Hit Pick

The Maybellines, with Dear Nora and Jason Heller

THE YOUNG AND THE CRESTFALLEN

The Maybellines, with Dear Nora and Jason Heller

The Onion closures in L.A., S.F. to have no effect on Denver branch

Unfortunately, The Onion, which lives up to its slogan of being "America's finest news source" by turning headlines into joy buzzers, isn't immune from the downturn in print journalism. In a recently released memo, Onion CEO Steve Hannah confirms plans to shut down papers in Los Angeles and San Fr ... More >>

Seems like old times: Jason Heller back in Westword and Off the Wall returns to the hi-dive

If your ear's to the streets, by now you've heard that the esteemed Jason Heller has resigned his current post (though he'll still be freelancing for the national section of that paper) and will be returning home to this fishwrap in just two weeks. We're beyond stoked, as I'm sure you can imagine. A ... More >>

The Westword.com blog shortcut, May 20 edition

Photo by Denny DoesKevin Devine. Let us infotain you. Today in Backbeat Online: • Q&A with Kevin Devine. • This Just In: blink-182 reuninon tour hits Fiddler's in September. • Undercover and underage at LIFEspot. • Seems like old times: Jason Heller back in Westword and Off the Wall return ... More >>

MP3 Freeloader: Tonight, Fell at Bender's Tavern

Tonight at Bender's Tavern, the men of Fell (profiled this week in Jason Heller's excellent feature story) are unleashing the band's second disc, A Farewell to Echoes, on the world. To mark the occasion, here's a free download of the title track from that disc, a slow-burning minimalist slice of moo ... More >>

A band-by-band guide to the 2009 Westword Music Showcase

Tonight at Bender's Tavern, the men of Fell (profiled this week in Jason Heller's excellent feature story) are unleashing the band's second disc, A Farewell to Echoes, on the world. To mark the occasion, here's a free download of the title track from that disc, a slow-burning minimalist slice of moo ... More >>

Today's Featured Event: Fashion throwdown and more at DAM's Untitled #23 (Old School)

Kick it old school with Team Firefox, Westword's own Jason Heller, the Postman and DJ Wigdan Giddy. ​On the last Friday of every month during the summertime, the Denver Art Museum hosts a huge party featuring its normal exhibits, plus surprises in fashion, music, crafts, food and drink ... More >>

Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of August 17, 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 ... More >>

Freeloader: Win tickets to see the Dodos tonight at the Bluebird

Charlie Villyard​More Freeloader tickets. Today: The Dodos at the Bluebird. Heard of 'em? They're great. If you haven't, here's what Jason Heller had to say about them in this week's issue: Unlike their sonic brethren the Animal Collective on the East Coast, San Francisco's the Dodos keep it simpl ... More >>

Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of December 7, 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 t ... More >>

Moovers and Shakers rounds up our favorite local releases of the year

​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 t ... More >>

Crestfallen slated to reunite for Gamits CD release party

Oh, and speaking of reunions, we've received word that these dudes are getting back together one more time for old time's sake. In case you don't recognize the faces in the above clip or you haven't deduced from the handy headline: We're speaking of Crestfallen, featuring our own Jason Heller. If ... More >>

The Fire Drills tap former 29th Street Disciples frontman Ben Roy to take over frontman duties

​This item's a little close to home, but the news is too noteworthy not to share: The Fire Drills have a new frontman. The outfit, which features longtime Backbeat contributor Jason Heller, has tapped renowned funnyman and former 29th Street Disciples frontman Ben Roy to take over lead vocals. ... More >>

Moovers and Shakers: Our favorite Denver music releases of 2010

​This item's a little close to home, but the news is too noteworthy not to share: The Fire Drills have a new frontman. The outfit, which features longtime Backbeat contributor Jason Heller, has tapped renowned funnyman and former 29th Street Disciples frontman Ben Roy to take over lead vocals. ... More >>

Our 55 favorite musical releases of 2010

​This item's a little close to home, but the news is too noteworthy not to share: The Fire Drills have a new frontman. The outfit, which features longtime Backbeat contributor Jason Heller, has tapped renowned funnyman and former 29th Street Disciples frontman Ben Roy to take over lead vocals. ... More >>

The Gamits light your eyes on fire this week

​Quick: What type of glasses do you usually see at a Gamits show? If you guessed aviators, horn-rimmed or browline, you win a substantial amount of geek points for knowing the names of the three nerdiest types of glasses. Also, you should probably get down to the Gamits show this weekend, beca ... More >>

Teaser for Jason Heller's first novel, Taft 2012, revealed

​In advance of the January 17 release of Jason Heller's first novel, Taft 2012, Quirk Books has offered up a gorgeously constructed film teaser. A glimpse into the fictional candidacy of a long-dead William Howard Taft, resurrected and running in next year's actual presidential election, the ... More >>

Shag reunion set for December 23 at Beauty Bar

Shag reunion on 12/23 at Beauty Bar​Here's a nice little Christmas present. Remember Shag (the club night, not the bar)? It's returning for one night (two, if you count shhh-ag -- more on that in a minute) at Beauty Bar on Friday, December 23. In the mid '90s before Lipgloss, there was Quid, o ... More >>

Jim Norris Rockbar benefit tonight at 7 p.m.

​Tonight, the first in a series of benefits that have been organized for 3 Kings Tavern co-owner Jim Norris takes place at Rockbar. Jeri Theil, who's spearheading the event with the help of Shannon Boyles and Karen Cuda, has given us the full lineup for tonight's benefit (see below) and more i ... More >>

Chit Chat reunion at hi-dive tonight

​Voted best club night by Westword in 2007, Chit Chat's weekly soul night at Old Curtis St. was essentially the city's best house party. Headed up Jason Heller and Big Al, the two took turns spinning '45s of deep classic soul cuts, R&B, early funk, vintage mod and Northern soul. The duo, along ... More >>

Give ’Em Heller

​Voted best club night by Westword in 2007, Chit Chat's weekly soul night at Old Curtis St. was essentially the city's best house party. Headed up Jason Heller and Big Al, the two took turns spinning '45s of deep classic soul cuts, R&B, early funk, vintage mod and Northern soul. The duo, along ... More >>