Josiah Hesse

Record Store Day 2013: A comprehensive guide

This Saturday is 4/20. You know what that means? Uh-huh. Time for all of us Coloradoans to celebrate our favorite annual holiday. That's right. Record Store Day! Record Store Day has come a long way since it kicked off in 2007. The third Saturday of April has morphed into an international holiday of ... More >>

Natasha Leggero on Sarah Silverman, Russell Brand and poorly dressed comics

A bitter pill wrapped in a sweet cherry coating, comic Natasha Leggero is a double threat of intoxicating charm and tabloid cruelty. With her Audrey Hepburn-style and merciless observational humor, she's known to raise the I-can't-believe-she-just-said-that bar during her regular appearances on Chel ... 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 >>

Reader: Most papers have an editorial section; Westword has Lisa Frank's diary

Dear Diary: Both Josiah Hesse and Bree Davies had tough weeks. Adam Carolla called Hesse an "asshole" from the stage of the Paramount because of an earlier interview Hesse had done with the comic; Bree got hit with snow because, well, because she lives in Colorado. And they both got a blizzard of c ... More >>

Reader: Adam Carolla doesn't worship at the politically correct Church of Liberalism

"I gave an interview to some asshole out here, from some crunchy newspaper," Adam Carolla said from the Paramount stage Wednesday night. "He's probably here somewhere tonight." And he was: Josiah Hesse was in the audience as Carolla proceeded to launch a Big Mock Attack directed at Hesse's discussio ... 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 >>

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 >>

Backbeat's top five spins: This is what we're listening to this week. What's on your playlist?

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 >>

Backbeat's top five spins: This is what we're listening to this week. What's on your playlist?

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 >>

Backbeat's top five spins: This is what we're listening to this week. What's on your playlist?

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 >>

Moovers and Shakers 2012: Backbeat writers praise the year's best local albums

See also: Backbeat writers sound off on the year's best national albums

Backbeat writers sound off on the year's best national albums

See also: Moovers and Shakers 2012: Backbeat writers praise the year's best local albums

Backbeat's top five spins: This is what we're listening to this week. What's on your playlist?

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 >>

Backbeat's top five spins: This is what we're listening to this week. What's on your playlist?

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 >>

Backbeat's top five spins: This is what we're listening to this week. What's on your playlist?

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it shouldn't be surprising to find that the most common (and mutually 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 ... More >>

Hell's Belles, with Dirty Femmes and MF Ruckus, at Oriental Theater, 11/2/12

THE DIRTY FEMMES AND HELL'S BELLES @ ORIENTAL THEATER | 11.02.12 Last night the Oriental was invaded by a sentimental army of superfans, with performer and audience meeting on an equal plain of adoration for music that was at least two decades old. Jen Korte's Violent Femmes tribute band, the Dirty ... More >>

Reader: Your vote counts even more on local races than national ones

Yesterday, Westword contributors Josiah M. Hesse and Chris Utterback went head to head over the upcoming election on the question of whether it's worth your time to vote, with Hesse saying no and Utterback saying yes. Below, one reader marks his ballot for Utterback's view by offering an argument wi ... More >>

Your vote matters: Why you should head to the polls on election day

Editor's note: Election day is near, and if you haven't voted early, you have decisions ahead of you, not the least of which is whether to vote at all, as Josiah Hesse postulates in "Your vote doesn't matter: Why there are better things to do on election day." Hesse's colleague, Chris Utterback, tak ... More >>

Your vote doesn't matter: Why there are better things to do on election day

Editor's note: Election day is almost here, and if you haven't voted early, you have decisions ahead of you -- including whether to vote at all, according to Westword contributor Josiah Hesse. Disagree? Chris Utterback takes the opposite position in "Your vote matters: Why you should head to the pol ... More >>

Backbeat's top five spins: This is what we're listening to this week. What's on your playlist?

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it shouldn't be surprising to find that the most common (and mutually 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 ... More >>

Backbeat's top five spins: This is what we're listening to this week. What's on your playlist?

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it shouldn't be surprising to find that the most common (and mutually 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 ... More >>

Our top five spins this week, September 24-30

In this very special edition of Heavy Rotation, you not only get a through-the-keyhole view of our musical proclivities, but you also get a few words from us on our top pick of the week. Keep reading to find out what Mark Sanders considers musical comfort food, why Kelsey Whipple can't think of Spac ... More >>

Reader: I worked in the service industry, but eventually had to grow up

Last week, Josiah Hesse and Amber Taufen faced off in a point/counterpoint on tipping, and readers have continued the debate.

To tip or not to tip? That's up for debate.

The five most listened-to songs and albums of the week, August 20 through August 27

Well, lookie here. What you do know? It's the return of Heavy Rotation. Longtime readers of Backbeat will remember this feature as one in which we shared our weekly listening habits in hopes of giving you some insight into our individual sensibilities. It's been dormant for a while, but starting tod ... More >>

Reader: Scientology gets a free pass, while "news" outlets focus on Mormons

The Book of Mormon may seem gut-bustingly revolutionary, but creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are building on a tradition of god-mocking that is as old as belief itself, Josiah Hesse reveals in his pop-history of religious satire. From Chaucer and Voltaire to Kevin Smith and Bill Maher, comedian ... More >>

Reader: There are more pressing problems than bike fashion

Cruiser bikes have been all over Denver this summer, and so have critics of Josiah Hesse's "Cruiser bikes suck: They attract Philistines and ruin cycling for the rest of us." But as it turns out, those commenters were just getting rolling. Even as the USA Pro Challenge starts today, showing exactly ... More >>

Photos: Jack White played a last-minute show this afternoon on Colfax

Before his sold-out concert tonight at Red Rocks, Jack White played a last-minute outdoor show this afternoon outside Isdajo Automotive. The show was announced via the Third Man Records Twitter account just thirty minutes before the first song, but enough people saw it to attract quite an audience f ... More >>

Eleven memorable lines from the Laugh Track Comedy Festival

The Laugh Track Comedy Festival had a strong debut last night at the Bug Theatre, featuring eleven local and out-of-state comics that slaughtered the audience with a blend of hyper self-loathing and irreverent politics. The festival continues through Saturday nigh, delivering a seemingly endless la ... More >>

Reader: You don't need to ride a cruiser to break the rules

With his post on why cruiser bikes suck, Josiah Hesse seemed to be cruisin' for a bruising. And the hits just keep coming:

Split Decision: Are DJs musicians?

See also: Global Dance Festival Survival Guide Split Decision: Is vinyl obsolete? Split Decision: The Legend of Zelda Symphony With upwards of 20,000 kids descending on Red Rocks this weekend for Global Dance Fest 2012 -- a music festival made up mostly of DJ's -- it seemed like a good time to p ... More >>

Reader: Flip flops piss me off

An abundance of cruisers -- which Josiah Hesse derides in his "Cruiser bikes sucks" post -- aren't the only sign that this town has been overtaken by hipsters. There are also all the flip flops.

Reader: Josiah Hesse is cruising for a bruising

Cool or crap? Yesterday two Show and Tell writers offered a point/counterpoint on cruiser bikes. But while Britt Chester has been cruising with his "Cruiser bikes rule" piece, Josiah Hesse's "Cruiser bikes suck" seems to have hit a brick wall...of criticism.

Cruiser bikes suck: they attract Philistines and ruin cycling for the rest of us

Editor's note: Cruiser bikes have become a fixture in Denver, especially on Wednesday nights when weekly Cruiser Rides take over the streets. In fact, it's hard to imagine a time when there wasn't one on every corner. But the culture that comes with cruisers can be polarizing, and Westword contribut ... More >>

Cruiser bikes rule: they will save the world and make your butt look great

Editor's note: Cruiser bikes have become a fixture in Denver, especially on Wednesday nights when weekly Cruiser Rides take over the streets. In fact, it's hard to imagine a time when there wasn't one on every corner. But the culture that comes with cruisers can be polarizing, and Westword contribut ... More >>

Reader: Midnight Cowboy qualifies as true tragedy porn

"Commercial media looks at things in terms of heroes and villains," Sapphire said before she came to town this week to tout to tout her new novel, The Kid (a semi-sequel to Precious -- the Hollywood adaptation of her '96 novel, Push). "And we all know that the psychological reality of people is much ... More >>

#WMS 2012 recap: Vinyl Main

Every year, for the Westword Music Showcase, we enlist our army of Backbeat wordsmiths to host various stages, and, in addition to their emcee obligations, we ask them to pull double duty (or triple-duty in some cases) and also write up the acts that appear on their individual stages. Josiah Hesse h ... More >>

Reader: The Royal Tenenbaums deserves a spot in Wes Anderson lineup

In honor of the Classic Film Series dedicated to Wes Anderson that started at the Mayan this week, Josiah Hesse served up the top five Wes Anderson one-liners. "Don't worry about me, I'm on mescaline" from The Royal Tenenbaums made the cut -- but isn't included in the Mayan series.

Is vinyl still a viable format or as obsolete as pager technology in the age of smart phones?

Today, the Denver Record Collectors Spring Expo is taking place at Ramada Plaza in Northglenn (I-25 and 120th). For a $2.00 admission, you can sort through a treasure trove of vinyl from over forty dealers from all over the country. While there will also be CDs, posters and other stuff available at ... More >>

Record Store Day 2012: The hunt for Junta -- the scene from Wax Trax and Twist & Shout

See Also: • A comprehensive guide to Record Store Day 2012 activities • In honor of Record Store Day this Saturday: Ten records we treasure. • Wax Trax celebrating 33 1/3 birthday in April Like Rob Flemmng's Championship Vinyl in the book High Fidelity, it was "mostly young men." But for th ... More >>

Reader: Celebrating Easter as a non-believer -- it's better with all eggs and candy

Some spent Easter morning at a sunrise service at Red Rocks. Some celebrated with a big family feast. Some ignored the holiday altogether. And thousands of the faithful flocked to the University of Denver, where The Thorn 2012, a passion play that's been compared to "Cirque de Soleil meets The Pas ... More >>

Review: The Dirty Femmes at hi-dive, 4/7/12

THE DIRTY FEMMES @ HI-DIVE Like any relationship, a live band needs to first find common ground with its audience, and then and work from there. This is made extremely easy when you're whole set is duplicating material the audience is already familiar with. The crowd will burst with enthusiasm beca ... More >>

The Legend of Zelda Symphony: Debating the merits of tonight's symphony excursion

Tonight at Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver will be graced with the four-part Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses tour, where audiences will see the legendary Nintendo game soundtrack scored by a collection of classically trained musicians. But is this just another gimmick to get people out to ... More >>

Tinyamp, tiny store: Watch something grow tonight at Ironwood

The beautiful South Broadway shop Ironwood, with its plant-strewn, new-Victorianiana steampunk vibe, isn't very big. But it's no doubt large enough to hold the musicians of the new, diminutive local Tinyamp Records, or at least some of them -- members of Amphibian, Calliope of the Future and Year of ... More >>

Photos: Tiny Titwrench Dance Party at the hi-dive, 11/19/11

Josiah HesseKalyn Heffernan of Wheelchair Sports Camp at the hi-dive this past Saturday for the Tiny Titwrench Dance PartyTINY TITWRENCH DANCE PARTY at HI-DIVE | 11/19/11On Saturday night, the fine folks at Titwrench threw their Tiny Titwrench Dance Party at the hi-dive. Piper Rose hosted the party ... More >>

Photos: Tiny Titwrench Dance Party at the hi-dive, 11/19/11

TINY TITWRENCH DANCE PARTY at HI-DIVE | 11/19/11On Saturday night, the fine folks at Titwrench threw their Tiny Titwrench Dance Party at the hi-dive. Piper Rose hosted the party which featured Wheelchair Sports Camp, Biggawatt, the Haircut, DJ Pam, DJ Pyramid and DJ Time Lord. Josiah Hesse was on ha ... More >>

Review: Denver does CBGB at the hi-dive, 10/29/11

Josiah Hesse​DENVER DOES CBGB at HI-DIVE | 10/29/11While the rest of the world celebrated Halloween weekend 2011, down at the hi-dive this past Saturday night it was 1976. Less a Halloween show and more akin to a Civil War reenactment or a Renaissance Festival, the night offered romanticized t ... More >>

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