Jonny Barber

A Colfax-themed comp featuring songs about the world's greatest avenue? Uh, yes, please!

It's amazing that somebody hasn't already thought of this: A Colfax-themed compilation filled with songs about...wait for it... Colfax. Leave it to local music man and ColfaxAvenue.com webmaster Jonny Barber to beat everybody to the punch. This gem features tunes by Five Iron Frenzy ("Where Zero Mee ... More >>

Not-Nifty Fifties

Elvis Presley would have been 78 today. Here are six of the best Colorado stories involving The King

Last fall on the 35th anniversary of his death, we rounded up all of the best local Elvis Presley stories we could find. We spoke with Nick Andurlakis of Nick's Cafe, and he told us all about how Fool's Gold Loaf, Elvis's favorite sandwich, was concieved, and he regaled us with a first hand account ... More >>

With Forty-Five...Plus One this Saturday, Alf from KTCL is giving his DJ set a whole new spin

Speaking of new ways of doing old things, our old pal Alf, the longtime host of KTCL's Locals Only show, is getting his Big Gig pre-game on this Saturday night by taking a very well worn activity and giving it a new -- wait for it -- spin. Uh-huh, see what we did there? Spin, as in records. Get it? ... More >>

Bob Pietrafeso on Elvis's last Denver concert in April 1976 and how The King was all nervous

Thursday, August 16th marked the 35th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. The iconic singer spent a great deal of time in the Centennial State and had many adventures. In honor of the King, Backbeat is sharing some of these stories. See also: - Nick Andurlakis on Elvis's beloved Fool's Gold Loa ... More >>

Jonny Barber to record Elvis's ten original Sun Records singles tonight at Memphis' Sun Studio

See also: - Jonny Barber brings Elvis back to life in honor of Elvis week - Velvet Elvis's Top 10 favorite Elvis songs in honor of the King's passing - Jonny Barber putting Velvet Elvis to rest with one last gig Jonny Barber knows what it's like to walk in Elvis's footsteps. Literally. The former V ... More >>

Retired Denver Police Captain Jerry Kennedy on the time Elvis bought him a Lincoln Mark IV

Today marks the 35th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. The iconic singer spent a great deal of time in the Centennial State and had many adventures. In honor of the King, Backbeat is sharing some of these stories. See also: - John Bucci on being the proud owner of the church pew Elvis once sa ... More >>

Nick Andurlakis on Elvis's beloved Fool's Gold Loaf sandwich and how it was conceived

Today marks the 35th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. The iconic singer spent a great deal of time in the Centennial State and had many adventures. In honor of the King, Backbeat is sharing some of these stories. See also: - Retired Denver Police Captain Jerry Kennedy on the time Elvis bough ... More >>

Rock-A-Billies opening second location next month in Slam Bar space in Greenwood Village

After opening Rock-A-Billies in Arvada nearly two year ago, Jimmy Nigg is gearing up to open a second location in the Slam Bar space in Greenwood Village early next month and plans to have a grand opening the weekend of September 14. Since Slam Bar isn't open for lunch, he's using that time to do so ... More >>

Retired Denver police officer Bob Cantwell on the time the King's "nurse" made a house call

This Thursday, August 16, marks the 35th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. The iconic singer spent a great deal of time in the Centennial State and had many adventures. In honor of the King, Backbeat is sharing some of these stories all week. See also: - Bob Kortz on tracking down a black dia ... More >>

Elvis Week: Bob Kortz on tracking down a black diamond for The King in the middle of the night

This Thursday, August 16 marks the 35th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. The iconic singer spent a great deal of time in the Centennial State and had many adventures. In honor of The King, Backbeat is sharing some of these stories all week. See Also: - Jonny Barber brings Elvis back to life ... More >>

Jonny Barber brings Velvet Elvis back to life this Thursday at Nick's Cafe in honor of Elvis week

See Also: - Velvet Elvis's Top 10 favorite Elvis songs in honor of the King's passing - Jonny Barber putting Velvet Elvis to rest with one last gig - Elvis Presley once flew to Denver in pursuit of Fool's Gold - Gym Elvis helped Denver Police Department build to be torn down Next Thursday will mar ... More >>

Dandy Warhols, Cake, Fiona Apple among new shows, Alabama Shakes, Nicki Minaj top sellers

Here's what's hot this week in music on the Front Range: On the concert front, new shows from the Dandy Warhols, Cake, Fiona Apple and more were announced; Musketeer Gripweed, Hot Robots, and Broken Tongues got spins on local radio; and recent albums from the Alabama Shakes, Nicki Minaj, the Shins a ... More >>

Walgreens claims another Denver landmark: Gym built by Elvis for DPD to be torn down

Update 3/30/12: Photo of Nading-Presley Memorial Gym plaque added. Jonny Barber is troubled. Last week, the former Velvet Elvis, the Mile High City's expert Elvis channeler and resident Elvistorian received news that the building that used to house the Nading-Presley Memorial Gym, which The King ... More >>

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

​ Here's what's hot this week in music on the Front Range: On the concert front, new shows featuring the Avett Brothers, James Taylor, Blues Traveler and Gogol Bordello were announced; Gauntlet Hair, Hindershot and Fierce Bad Rabbit got spins on local radio; and recent albums from Van Halen, Dr. ... 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 Phil Lesh, Trey Anastasio, Rusko (Snowball Fest), NEEDTOBREATHE and Dr. Dog were announced; Ian Cooke, Bare Bones and Slim Cessna got spins on local radio; and new releases from Drake, the Rolling Stones ... 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: Guns N' Roses is at 1STBANK Center in December, and in January, Wilco's at the Fillmore and the Jayhawks are due at the Ogden. Air Dubai, Gauntlet Hair, Ian Cooke and Jonny Barber & the Living Deads all got some spins on local rad ... 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 Mastodon, Stephen Stills and Trans-Siberian Orchestra were announced. On local radio specialty shows, Saints, Kinetix, the Fluid and Dave Beegle all got some spins. Meanwhile, at our local record s ... More >>

Velvet Elvis's Top 10 favorite Elvis songs in honor of The King's passing 34 years ago today

​Today's a historic day, in case you were wondering. Not only is it the 34th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death, but today will mark the day that the Velvet Elvis, one of the country's top Elvis "emulators," comes to rest as well. In honor of the occasion, we asked the Velvet Elvis himself, ... More >>

Jonny Barber putting Velvet Elvis to rest with one last gig and a candlelight vigil next week

​Since birthing Velvet Elvis on Elvis Presley's birthday in 2004, Jonny Barber has gone on to sing at both Graceland and Sun Studios, he's met members of The King's band, as well as Larry Geller, Elvis's hair stylist and spiritual adviser, and he's had the pleasure of hearing first hand storie ... More >>

Michael Hancock campaign on poll numbers, negative attacks -- and "Jailhouse Rock"

Big pics below.​Yesterday, we shared pics of mayoral frontrunner Michael Hancock belting out "Jailhouse Rock" with Jonny Barber & the Living Deads at Jonesy's EatBar over the weekend -- see the shots below. Don't interpret the song choice as his fantasy about where he'd like to send rival Chri ... More >>

Michael Hancock sings "Jailhouse Rock" at Jonesy's: Who's he want behind bars? (PICS)

Big pics below.​A recent poll shows Michael Hancock with a ten-point lead over Chris Romer in the Denver mayor's race. That kind of thing makes politicians feel like singing -- and sing Hancock did, belting out "Jailhouse Rock" with Jonny Barber & the Living Deads at Jonesy's EatBar over the w ... More >>

Rockers, Rollers & Riders kicks off this weekend at City Hall with Mighty 18 Wheeler and Hotgun

This Sunday, May 29, City Hall is slated to kick off its new weekly Rockers, Rollers & Riders concert series with the Mighty 18 Wheeler and Hotgun, which features members of the Informants, Railbenders and GT & the Sidewinders. If you haven't heard about it yet, the weekly shows, Rockers, Rollers & ... More >>

Spiv back in action with a new "monster" of a drummer taking a seat behind the kit

​Look who's back among the living. No, not Elvis, silly. Good guess, though. While Chris Barber (er, Jonny Barber, sorry) has indeed been keeping the spirit of the king alive for years as the Velvet Elvis, it's Spiv, another of his popular, longtime endeavors that has been resurrected.

Welcome back to the new Deadbeat Club

Film on the Rocks 2010 schedule announced

​ Update: This morning, the Denver Film Society announced the full lineup for this year's Film on the Rocks. See which acts are slated to perform after the jump. The Film on the Rocks 2010 schedule has been announced. Looks like the Denver Film Society is kicking things off with a bang this ... More >>

Elvis may be everywhere, but tonight he's at the Oriental.

Elvis is 75 today. Er, he would be, rather, if he wasn't, like, you know, dead and stuff. Things like this tend not to escape your attention, especially when you live with an Elvis fanatic (having Elvis's image permanently etched on your flesh does qualify you as a fanatic, right?) who circles the d ... More >>

Hearsay bits: Mama signs distribution deal with Steve Vai's Digital Nations imprint and more

​Mama mia!: Mama, the outfit led by frontman Jeff Leonetti and Jonny Barber (aka Chris Barber, frontman of Spiv and the Velvet Elvis), has signed a distribution deal with Steve Vai's Digital Nations imprint. The label, an offshoot of Vai's Favored Nations, will handle worldwide distribution of Bay ... More >>

Freeloader: Brand new tracks from Mama

​Although Mama has still (frustratingly) yet to play live with the lineup that recorded the excellent Bayoutopia, the ferocious hard rock act fronted by the inimitable Jeff Leonetti (aka Leonomadic), is reportedly hard at work on a new album. The record, Toxikinesis, takes its name from the superh ... More >>