Johnny Marr

Johnny Marr at the Gothic Theatre, 4/21/13

JOHNNY MARR @ GOTHIC THEATRE |4/21/12 The moment everybody seemed to be waiting for during Johnny Marr's set last night came at the end when the iconic echoing guitar part rippled through the air signaling the beginning of "How Soon is Now?" There was just something about the vividness, the clarify ... More >>

The twelve best concerts in Denver this weekend

LUCERO @ BLUEBIRD THEATER | THURS, 4/18/13 Outside of perhaps the Hold Steady -- which shares a proclivity for Bruce Springsteen -- nobody plays straight-up rock these days as convincingly as Lucero. Led by Ben Nichols's gravelly croak, Lucero borrows liberally from the Boss and Lynyrd Skynyrd on so ... More >>

Johnny Marr on the importance of developing his personal style

Johnny Marr on how he created the sound for "How Soon is Now?" without effects pedals

Johnny Marr is an iconic and influential guitarist best known for his work in The Smiths, which broke up in 1987. His guitar phrases and his genius for crafting textured and tonally rich rhythmic leads has influenced countless rock guitarists of the last quarter century. After leaving The Smiths, Ma ... More >>

Ten acts that clearly worship The Smiths

Few bands in history have cast a longer shadow than The Smiths. They've inspired countless imitators and spiritual successors since they called it quits in 1987. While skinny indie kids moaning about the hardships of life are a dime a dozen, tracking down the successful artists influenced by Morriss ... More >>

New Denver shows: Steely Dan, the Geto Boys, Brad Paisley, Selena Gomez, Ride Festival

Steely Dan is making its way back to Colorado for a show at Red Rocks this August, and there's a bunch of other new shows to let you know about, including Brad Paisley at Fiddler's Green, the Geto Boys at Summit Music Hall, Ride Festival and Selena Gomez. Keep reading for the full rundown on these s ... More >>

Worst of Coachella 2013: Weekend one

Daft Punk Fake-Out Friday and Saturday, all anyone could talk about was if Daft Punk was going to show up during Phoenix's set. Why? Because we were fucking teased. On the main stage before the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, a long commercial for their new album played, and then we found out that members of the d ... More >>

New Order at Coachella, 4/13/13

NEW ORDER @ COACHELLA | 4/13/13 While over at the main stage the bulk of the Coachella crowd was enduring Phoenix with the hope that Daft Punk would come out -- they instead got R. Kelly -- a smaller but perhaps-more-enthusiastic crowd got a first-rate greatest hits set from New Order last night. ... More >>

Coachella 2013 YouTube schedule and lineup

If you're one of the fortunate ones who's going to Coachella this weekend, feel free to go ahead and skip to the end of this post, where you'll find the full lineup and schedule. If, however, you're a flat broke music lover who'll be attending Couchella, as some clever dude somewhere has coined it, ... More >>

New Denver shows: Kid Rock's $20 tour, Muse at Pepsi Center, 311/Blues Traveler at Red Rocks

Ever the equal opportunity rocker, Kid Rock is bringing his Best Night Ever tour to Fiddler's and every seat in the house is $20. "Everyone knows the economy is still hurting people across the country," he says, "but I didn't want that to be a reason why everyone couldn't get out and enjoy themselve ... More >>

New Denver shows: Maroon 5 and Kelly Clarkson, Fall Out Boy and Warren Haynes

Brace yourself for the return of Fall Out Boy. The dudes are evidently back to save rock and roll. Maroon 5 and Kelly Clarkson, meanwhile, are teaming up for a co-headlining date at Fiddler's Green for the Honda Civic Tour, and Warren Hayes is set to collaborate with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra ... More >>

New Denver shows: Keith Urban, Lamb of God, John Mayer, Ke$ha and Pitbull and more

The biggest show announcement this week actually came last week -- talking about Prince at the Ogden, of course -- but there's a whole bunch of other new shows to let you know about this week, including Keith Urban at Red Rocks, Lamb of God at the Boulder Theater, John Mayer at Red Rocks and Ke$ha a ... More >>

New Denver shows: P!NK, Matchbox Twenty, Goo Goo Dolls, Barenaked Ladies, Guster

It's March 2013 -- at least according to the calendar. If you went by the concert calendar for the past few weeks, however, you'd swear it's the mid to late '90s. P!NK, Matchbox Twenty and Goo Goo Dolls, Barenaked Ladies, Ben Folds Five and Guster, Darius Rucker. If you're already nostalgic for the ... 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 >>

New Denver shows: Fun., Tim McGraw, O.A.R., Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and more

We already told you about a pair of killer shows at Red Rocks this summer, a double bill featuring two generations of shock rockers, Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson, and another featuring the National and Local Natives, but there's a bunch of other new shows this week to tell you about, including a ... 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 >>

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 >>

OMFG! Turbonegro is coming to Denver! So's Bassnectar and Soundgarden. See who else...

Turbonegro is finally coming to Colorado! Granted, it's with the new frontman -- whose name I haven't even bothered to learn yet because, well, he's got some big shoes to fill taking over for Hank von Helvete -- but it's still Turbonegro! Last time I saw these dudes, they literally rocked my face of ... More >>

New Denver shows: Rush, Rodrigo y Gabriela, the Postal Service, Death, Danzig and more

Bunch of new shows to let you know about this week, including Rush, who's coming to the Pepsi Center in August, plus new dates featuring the Postal Service, Rodrigo y Gabriela with the Colorado Symphony, Death, Danzig and Deer Tick. Keep reading for the full rundown of all those shows, including tic ... More >>

New Denver shows: Bruno Mars, Foals, Purity Ring, Band of Horses, Drive-By Truckers

There are a number of excellent shows to let you know about this week, including Bruno Mars, Foals, Purity Ring, Band of Horses, Drive-By Truckers, all of which go on sale this week, plus dates from Leftover Salmon, Spiritualized, Bob Mould, Boris, the Rocket Summer and Peelander Z, which are on sal ... More >>

New shows: Fall Out Boy, Vampire Weekend, Arctic Monkeys, Johnny Marr and more

A bunch of great shows announced this week: Fresh off a string of well received comeback shows, Fall Out Boy is back with a new record and a tour that will hit Denver in June. Vampire Weekend is due at Red Rocks with Of Monsters and Men, while fun. has announced a date of its own at Red Rocks with T ... More >>

Ten best concerts in Colorado this weekend, Friday, August 31, through Sunday, September 2

Welcome to the (long) weekend! As the summer heat continues, so do the shows. There's a great variety to choose from over the next few days, a healthy mix of imports and exports. We have them all listed in our massive concert calendar. If you're feeling industrious, print that bad boy out and break ... More >>

Wymond Miles on his time in Denver, Pinkku and his new album,Under the Pale Moon

See Also: Tonight: Wymond Miles at the hi-dive Wymond Miles is better known to the rest of the world for his scintillating guitar work in the San Francisco psych-garage pop band the Fresh & Onlys. But Miles grew up in Aurora, and during the second half of the '90s and going on for around a decade, ... More >>

Derek Miller of Sleigh Bells: "I just wanted it to sound like a gang of ferocious women."

Since forming in 2008, Sleigh Bells (due tomorrow night at the Ogden Theatre) have issued three records, a debut EP on M.I.A.'s N.E.E.T. Recordings in 2009, followed by two full-length albums, 2010's Treats and its latest offering, Reign of Terror. The band's combination of heavy, expansive guitar r ... More >>

The Smiths' Louder Than Bombs turns 25 years old today

Tony Wilson (the Andy Warhol of Manchester, England) once made the hackneyed statement "Morrissey is a woman trapped in a man's body," to which the dandified frontman of the Smiths eventually replied, "Tony Wilson is a man trapped in a pig's body." The two were friends and icons of the Manchester mu ... More >>

R.E.M. calls it quits after 31 years and fifteen Colorado shows

​After three decades together, the guys in R.E.M. announced today in a statement on the band's website that they're throwing in the towel.

SXSW Tip Sheet: Colorado bands

BLKHRTS Ball at Glob, 01/08/11

​ BLKHRTS With The Pirate Signal, Lust-Cats of the Gutters Flashlights and PDRBLK 01.10.11 | Glob Yonnas Abraham has often referred to BLKHRTS as a "gang" and flippantly pointed out how formidable and imposing the crew -- which also includes King FOE and Karma - is. From only minor cameos, t ... More >>

Wilco pushes forward with a more layered sound - including trumpets, a harpsichord and even a "Beach Boys moment"

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 >>

Last Night...R.E.M., the National and Modest Mouse @ Red Rocks

Modest Mouse

We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Epic

The Beatdown

Rarities comp samplers are a rare treat that can’t be bought.

Raised on Radio

Rooney's power pop infiltrates a valley of angry young men.

Johnny Marr and the Healers

Boomslang(Artist Direct)

Still Pissed Off After All These Years

The The's Matt Johnson refuses to go quietly into the night.

Beck

Midnite Vultures
(Geffen)

Playlist

PLAYLIST