Subject: Jon Solomon

• This Weekend: Monolith Festival @ Red Rocks, Saturday, September 15

  September 18, 2007

• Monday Hang Over: Rock, Jazz, Football

  December 17, 2007

• Ingrid Michaelson Q&A

  January 12, 2008

• Over the Weekend ... The Pink Hawks, BRMPPL, Married in Berdichev and Slight Harp @ Rhinoceropolis

  February 4, 2008

• Over the Weekend...the Fluid Back After Fifteen Years! @ Larimer Lounge

  June 16, 2008

• Last Night...Wolf Eyes and Aenka @ hi-dive

  June 25, 2008

• Live Review: The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band at Fox Theatre

  July 7, 2008

• Meet Us on Alameda ... But Not at Valverde Yacht Club

  July 30, 2008

• Over the weekend: From Skylab to Suite 200, we've got you covered

  August 18, 2008

• Over the Weekend: Modern Drunkards (and other assorted drunkards) do Denver

  September 2, 2008

• Gang Gang Dance and Marnie Stern at Larimer Lounge

  November 10, 2008

• Turkeygate: Sarah Palin's Colorado connection

  By now, you've heard of Turkeygate, the Sarah Palin TV interview in which a turkey farm employee sends a couple of gobblers to their gruesome deaths behind the former vice-presidential candidate. But you might have missed the Colorado connection. To find out more, check out Jon Solomon's hilarious interview in our Backbeat blog.

  November 26, 2008

• Pre-turkey day debauchery

  With the holidays officially kicking tomorrow, what better way to start of turkey day with a hangover from a lot of partying tonight. Here are a few Thanksgiving eve suggestions:Rockbar (3015 E. Colfax Avenue) will be dubbed Plymouth Rockbar for its Thanksgiving eve kegger. We're talking five kegs of beer and only $5 a cup. DJs Michael Trundle and Soup will be at the decks. La Rumba (99 West 9th Avenue) will host the return of the Tore Up Record Up with live music from Whiskey Throttle, and DJs

  November 26, 2008

• Mezcal cabaret application decision due soon

  After dueling meetings with business and neighborhood groups last week, Mezcal's application for a cabaret license went before a hearing officer with the Denver Department of Excise and Licenses on Monday. Supporters of the application -- which would allow owner Jesse Morreale to regularly feature live music, including mariachi bands (including the great Mariachi Vasquez), rather than just offer music at ten special occasions a year -- far outnumbered opponents. The city is expected to make a d

  January 7, 2009

• Reno Divorce at the Ogden Theatre

  I was shuttling between the hi-dive and the Larimer Lounge on Friday night, so unfortunately, I didn't catch Reno Divorce and Slim Cessna heating things up for Reverend Horton Heat at the Ogden. But from the sounds of it -- Jon Solomon was at the show -- both acts tore it up, and although it took the Rev and company a couple of songs to get their legs, they were dependably on point as well. Check out a few songs from Reno's set after the jump.

  February 2, 2009

• Last Night's Show: Broken Spindles, Born in the Flood, Iuengliss at hi-dive

  Photo: Jon SolomonBroken Spindles, Born in the Flood, IuenglissThursday, February 26, 2009hi-diveBetter than: Eating chips and looking at a borrowed book of David Byrne's weird photography of furniture, which is what I would have been doingHere's what was weird about this show: Broken Spindles stole all the press. The band features one of the members of the Faint, and that got played up. Promotional materials for the show consisted of Broken Spindles flyers -- featuring Joel of The Faint! -- wit

  February 27, 2009

• Nobody Does It Better

  Rooting for the home team.

  December 20, 2007

• Last Night: Lily Allen at the Ogden Theatre

  Jon Solomon Lily AllenThursday, April 9, 2009Ogden TheatreSome lyricists bury a song's meaning in metaphors or subtleties, which sometimes leaves a lot more room for interpretation. Lily Allen, on the other hand, shoots from the hip. She's blunt and she'll tell you what's what in plain English, whether it be about bad relationships, fame, drugs or God.

  April 10, 2009

• The Denver Boot: Ghost Buffalo's final show - 05.12.09

  A Week ago this evening, the members of Ghost Buffalo played what was presumably their last show ever, at 3 Kings Tavern. While it's barely been even a week, it's safe to say that we already miss them. If you feel like we do, then you'll love this week's edition of the Denver Boot. After the jump we posted the set in its entirety -- well, minus a little editing on our part, in which we clipped the false start at the beginning of one of the songs -- for free download. Thanks to our pal and freque

  May 19, 2009

• Moovers & Shakers 2008: Backbeat scribes weigh in on their favorite local releases of the year

  December 18, 2008

• Mini Reviews

  October 9, 2008

• Moovers and Shakers 2007

  Backbeat scribes sound off on their favorite local releases of the year.

  December 20, 2007

• Mini Reviews

  July 3, 2008

• Mini Reviews

  May 15, 2008

• Mini Reviews

  May 8, 2008

• Mini Reviews

  April 10, 2008

• Mini-Reviews

  January 24, 2008

• Mini Reviews

  Mini Reviews

  January 10, 2008

• Critics' Picks for 2007

  Backbeat scribes sound off on their favorite releases of the past year.

  December 27, 2007

• Moovers and Shakers 2007

  Backbeat scribes sound off on their favorite local releases of the year.

  December 27, 2007

• Letters to the Editor

  Letters from the week of 11/29/2007

  November 29, 2007

• Sound Bites

  Brief reviews of recent releases

  October 18, 2007

• Listen Up

  Fast reviews of recent releases

  April 19, 2007

• Listen Up

  Fast reviews of recent releases

  March 8, 2007

• Over the weekend: Gene Ween at the Walnut Room and b.side in Boulder

  Walnut Room set shot by Jon Solomon (click to enlarge)Gene Ween Saturday, May 10, The Walnut Room Sunday, May 11, The b.side lounge Better than: Hearing Gene Ween play a bunch of solo songs you don't recognize. Gene Ween (aka Aaron Freeman) perhaps best summarized the dynamic of his trio of Colorado shows early on during his first performance at the Walnut Room in Denver on Saturday. "You're listening to the roots of the song," he told the capacity crowd at the cramped venue, after a stripped-d

  May 11, 2009

• The Westword.com blog shortcut, May 11 edition

  Photo by Jon SolomonGene Ween, music machine. Welcome to the working week. Today in Backbeat Online: • Over the weekend: Gene Ween at the Walnut Room and b.side in Boulder. • Rumors of Tickle Me Pink's breakup completely unfounded. • Wentworth Kersey gives away new CD at St. Mark's. • Tech N9ne top seller at Independent Records. • Bob Dylan grabs top spot at Twist and Shout. • Over the weekend: Napalm Death at Marquis Theater. • DJ Quote put Yung Berg on blast. Today in Cafe Soc

  May 11, 2009

• Last Night: Ghost Buffalo at 3 Kings Tavern

  Ghost Buffalo, one last time as seen through the lens of Jon SolomonGhost Buffalo, Eyes and Ears, Brian Hartley, Sonic Vomit Tuesday, May 12, 2009 3 Kings Tavern Better than: The death of a person -- that just sucks. Out of the death of a band, at least there came a great show The night was bittersweet. And how could it not be? After six years of shows and tours and records, Ghost Buffalo has, for good reason, become an integral part of the Denver scene. The truth is now upon us, though. Ghost

  May 13, 2009

• Last Night: Mogwai at the Bluebird

  Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite as seen through the lens of Jon SolomonMogwai, Women Tuesday, May 12, 2009 Bluebird Theater Better than: Listening to layered and nuanced instrumental music as background. Instrumental music is not dead. For all the prominence of vocal-driven music in the modern pop scene, a careful and dynamic approach to the subtleties of instrumental music can still draw a loyal fan base -- and a considerable crowd. The durability of such a carefully constructed sound was on full

  May 13, 2009

• Bocumast Records showcase tomorrow night

  The Natural Selection's Samuel Glover getting all kinds of fierce.Bocumast Records, the authors of this very intriguing Westword Music Showcase-related quiz, not to mention the recording home of distinguished outfits such as Iuengliss, Astrophagus, BDRMPPL and the Natural Selection, is hosting a most excellent showcase of its own on Saturday, June 6, at the Meadowlark. The lineup includes the acts mentioned above, as well as Wire Faces, Aenka (which features our own Jon Solomon on guitar),

  June 5, 2009

• Last night (well, yesterday): Dr. Know at Wax Trax

  So before its show last night with the Freeze and Pitch Invasion at 3 Kings Tavern, Nardcore legends Dr. Know played an especially sweaty, late afternoon, show gratis in the back room of Wax Trax. We stopped by and as you can see from the picture above of Brian Hagman from Black Lamb, we were among a cast of other faithful devotees who knocked off early yesterday to catch the set. See the show through the lens of Jon Solomon.

  May 21, 2009

• Westword Music Showcase Awards Wrap Up

  David BarberJohn Baxter and Matty Clark in the fleshThe picture above pretty much tells the tale of last night's Westword Music Showcase Awards -- drunk and debaucherous. Everyone (well, we think everyone -- we didn't exactly take a formal poll or anything) had a pretty swell time. Hugs were smiles were plentiful, as was the booze that flowed freely before the ceremony kicked off. There were a few miscues, but all in all everything went off without a hitch. Special thanks to all the folks who gr

  July 14, 2009

• Last Night: Black Francis at the Walnut Room

  Jon Solomon​Black FrancisWednesday July 29, 2009The Walnut RoomBetter than: Seeing him at a much bigger venue. Black Francis (aka Frank Black aka Charles Thompson) doesn't tour in a van. Dude's been riding around the country in a big-ass tour deluxe tour bus, which seemed really out of place parked outside of the Walnut Room. He's also got a roadie to set up his two white Vox amps, his SWR acoustic and his two Telecasters. It seemed a tad over the top for just one guy, but then again that one

  July 30, 2009

• Over the Weekend: Sonic Youth at the Ogden Theatre

  Jon Solomon​Sonic Youth Friday, July 31, 2009Ogden TheatreThree songs into Sonic Youth's muscular set, Kim Gordon sang, "I want you to levitate me/Don't you love me yet?" during "Sacred Trixter." Although her feet might have still been on the ground, those first three songs, which also included the opener "Stereo Sanctity" and "No Way," had enough juice to start levitating some people musically during the sold out show. As far as people loving Gordon yet, well, it's hard not to love one of the

  August 3, 2009

• Over the Weekend: Is the name "Sonic Youth" still working for you guys?

  Photo by Jon SolomonThurston Moore of Sonic Youth.​ The weekend is over, but the memories linger. Check out our reviews of the still-loud-but-no-longer-so-youthful Sonic Youth at the Ogden Theatre, as well as Akron/Family at the Bluebird -- and read a Q&A with A/F's Dana Janssen here. There's a slew of slide shows on our site, too, including snaps from the first night of Phish's recent Red Rocks run. True, that didn't technically take place over the weekend. But time's a relative thing, e

  August 3, 2009

• Heavy Rotation, our top spins for the week of August 3, 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 4, 2009

• Martini Ranch and Hiccups III dry up

  The Arizona-based Martini Ranch USA, which owns Martini Ranch clubs in Scottsdale and San Diego, abruptly closed its Denver space at 1317 14th Street at the end of July. "Right now it's in negotiations with the chain ownership and a remodel," Jason Witkes, the venue's marketing coordinator, told Jon Solomon, our clubs editor. We're willing to be it won't reopen as the Martini Ranch, remodeled or not. This space around the corner from Larimer Square, now a hot dining destination, is a valuable p

  August 6, 2009

• Over the Weekend: The Flaming Lips at Red Rocks

  Jon Solomon​The Flaming Lips, Explosions in the Sky, Stardeath & White DwarfsRed Rocks AmphitheatreSunday, August 23, 2009Better than: The last time the Flaming Lips played Red RocksI know it's not the most manly thing to admit, but I was almost cried a few times during the Flaming Lips set last night. I mean, hell, it's was kinda of hard not to cry once the the band kicked into the triumphant "Race for the Prize" with canons blasting confetti all over the place and huge balloons flying ov

  August 24, 2009

• Last Night: Juliette Lewis at the Fox Theatre

  Jon Solomon​Juliette Lewis, the Ettes, American BangFox TheatreTuesday, October 6, 2009Better than: Lewis' show with the Pretenders and Cat Power this past August. I wasn't expecting much before seeing Juliette Lewis open for the Pretenders and Cat Power during a ninety-degree afternoon last August at the Botanic Gardens at Chatfield. Sure, some friends had pumped the actress/singer up, saying she put on a phenomenal show at the Marquis two years ago. I still wasn't completely sold, but a few

  October 7, 2009

• Over the Weekend: The Bottesini Project at Notably Fine Audio

  Jon Solomon​The Bottesini Project Friday, October 16, 2009Notably Fine AudioBetter than: Any other local collective improvisation group.   One of the great things about Bottesini Project shows is the uniqueness of each performance. Since the shows are based completely based on collective improvisations, there's a freshness and vibrancy about the performances that's not found in rehashed jazz standards or playing tunes that have been completely mapped out. While the idea of free jazz might

  October 19, 2009

• Over the weekend: The Pogues at the Ogden Theatre

  Jon Solomon​The Pogues Friday, October 23, 2009Ogden TheatreBetter than: expected. Much better. "Sorry it's taken us awhile to get here," guitarist Philip Chevron said during the Pogues' first show ever in Denver. "Almost thirty years in fact, but we finally got here." But holy Jesus, the epic two-hour set these guys delivered was more than worth the wait. There had been some less than favorable accounts of frontman Shane MacGowan's at a few other dates on the current American tour, but MacGow

  October 26, 2009