Karl Denson

Spring snow brings extended ski season

Never mind those epic closing-day celebrations last weekend at Vail, Copper Mountain, Breckenridge, and Powderhorn: All four resorts have announced they'll be spinning the chairlifts again this weekend and reopening Friday, April 19 through Sunday, April 21, to make the most of massive dumps of late ... More >>

The ten best concerts in Denver this weekend

CHUCK RAGAN @ SUMMIT MUSIC HALL | SAT, 4/13/13 Chuck Ragan first made his mark as the frontman of Hot Water Music, one of the more highly influential punk acts to emerge in the '90s. Fueled by youthful exuberance and inspired in part by the music that surrounding the skateboarding culture of the tim ... More >>

Slightly Stoopid's Miles Doughty on playing at Red Rocks on 4/20 and couch-lock ganja

Next week, stoners across the Front Range will converge upon Red Rocks to celebrate 4/20. Two acts will be on hand to help raise a toast roast commemorating the occasion, and you can hardly find a pair of more fitting acts, the hemp-hop icons of Cypress Hill, and their SoCal-based punk rock, reggae ... More >>

Closing time: An end-of-season ski and snowboard splash-down countdown

The 2012-2013 ski and snowboard season begins winding down this weekend -- with the first round of closing-day parties at Ski Granby Ranch, Powderhorn and Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort -- despite the fact that snow conditions are actually quite good, with more snow in the forecast. Here's a r ... More >>

The best concerts in Denver this weekend

YO GABBA GABBA! @ PARAMOUNT THEATRE | SUN, 2/24/13 Sesame Street couldn't handle mixing kids' programming with Katy Perry cleavage, but Yo Gabba Gabba! gets it right every time. Perhaps it's because one of the show's creators, Christian Jacobs, is MC Bat Commander of the Aquabats. After becoming a f ... More >>

The ten best concerts in Denver this week

ELECTRIC SIX @ LARIMER LOUNGE | TUES, 2/19/13 Electric Six has been bringing the party to the unwary for a decade. The group's songs combine '80s rock, disco and New Wave into a cranked-up, ultra-catchy sound all its own, with lyrics that mix a David Lee Roth-esque bravado with surreal barrages of i ... More >>

New shows: Lotus three nights at Boulder Theater, Crystal Castles at the Gothic and more

A perennial favorite in Colorado, Lotus is making its way back to the Centennial state for a trio of shows at the Boulder Theater, while Crystal Castles is set to return for a date at the Gothic Theatre and Anthrax tops the Metal Alliance tour, a stacked bill at the Summit Music Hall this April that ... More >>

The Head and the Heart at CU Boulder, 11/1/12

THE HEAD AND THE HEART @ COORS EVENT CENTER | 11/1/12 President Obama's speech last night at the University of Colorado's Coors Event Center marked the umpteenth time the Commander in Chief has stopped in the Centennial State this campaign season -- just last week, he was touting his record in Denv ... More >>

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe at Ogden, 10/31/12

KARL DENSON'S TINY UNIVERSE @ THE OGDEN THEATRE |10/31/12 Things witnessed last night at the Ogden Theatre, in no particular order: Rosie the Riveter breakdancing with a samurai; a priest making out with Little Orphan Annie; Milli Vanilli's Rob and Fab sharing a smoke outside; and a drunk monk. On ... More >>

Halloween in Denver: Where to go, what to do

While a lot of people began celebrating Halloween this past weekend, there are still a ton of parties to check out, where you can show off whatever clever costume you dreamed up this year (we're going as either King Diamond -- or one of the baseball furies, depending how our make-up turns out). Keep ... More >>

The ten best concerts this week: 10/29-11/2

Happy Monday, amigos. Hope you didn't go too hard this past weekend -- though, judging from the pics from Rockbar's last call, some of you apparently did -- because there's at least four truckloads of shows (including Ryan Adams acoustic set at Boulder Theater tonight) going down this week, which me ... More >>

New Colorado Concerts: Kreayshawn at the Fox, Sleigh Bells at the Boulder Theater and more

See also: - Alanis Morissette, State Radio, Adventure Club and more - Bruce Springsteen, Waka Flocka Flame, Chevelle and more - Gov't Mule two nights in September, Primus in November and more - The Who, New Order, the Script, Minus the Bear, Cursive and more - Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Odd Future ... More >>

311 at Red Rocks, with Slightly Stoopid, 8/19/12

311 @ RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE | 8/19/12 When 311 made their long-awaited entrance, frontman Nick Hexum told the crowd, "We're going to start this off like sex: nice and slow, so it lasts long" -- and slow and mellow it was. As undoubtedly devoted as the fans were, the first few songs of the set were ... More >>

Ru with a view: A mainstage travelogue from our Westword Music Showcase emcee, Ru Johnson

Because I live in the club district, for me, the Westword Music Showcase started around 5 p.m. the day before and went on through the evening. Outside my window, the workers toiled and clanged away throughout the night, building the production. By morning, there was a complete stage, and the heat wa ... More >>

2012 Westword Music Showcase schedule

Alright, it's here! Finally! The waiting is over! The eighteenth annual Westword Music Showcase. You've probably already printed it out, cut it out, copied and highlighted the schedule, but just in case you haven't, here's the most up-to-date version of today's lineup for the Showcase. All of the TB ... More >>

The weekend's best live bets: The eighteenth annual Westword Music Showcase 2012

Welcome to the weekend! You made it. And of course, this is not just any weekend. It's the Westword Music Showcase weekend! Whoo freaking hoo! So with that in mind, here's a rundown of what you have in store tomorrow afternoon/evening on the main stage. Be sure to check out this page for a full rund ... More >>

Party down with these headliners at the Westword Music Showcase

See also: Twelve types of Denver musicians

Karl Denson on musical roots, moving on after Lenny Kravitz and creating Beastie Boys tribute

Karl Denson (due on the main stage at this weekend's Westword Music Showcase) is hard to pin down. The saxophonist and bandleader may have strong roots in the traditional jazz of giants like John Coltrane and Wayne Shorter, but that hasn't stopped the musician from exploring funk, R&B, hip-hop and m ... More >>

2012 Westword Music Showcase schedule

Okay, time to officially start getting excited now. The annual Westword Music Showcase is a little more than a week away. Did you pick up your tickets yet? If not, you can still get them at the discounted rate. Prices go up day of the show. By now, you've already seen the lineup of who's playing the ... More >>

Don't sleep! Today only: Get a ticket to Showcase and the official after party for $23

Today only, in the Voice Daily Deals, you can get a ticket to this year's Westword Music Showcase with Girl Talk, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe's tribute to the Beastie Boys, Battles, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, Baywood and 150 of the hottest local acts, PLUS a ticket ... More >>

Westword Music Showcase: Karl Denson's Tiny Universe presents a Tribute to the Beastie Boys!

If you haven't picked up your tickets to the Westword Music Showcase yet, here's another reason to get on it: Karl Denson's Tiny Universe presents a Tribute to the Beastie Boys at this year's Showcase. This is going to be absolutely sick! Page down to see what you have in store. If this isn't the be ... More >>

Weekend's best live bets: Lucero, Flipper, the Ting Tings, Say Anything, Jewel and more

Ah, yes, welcome to the weekend! Don't you just love living in the Mile High City? Besides the glorious weather we're enjoying right now, we have yet another weekend filled with a ridiculous number of enticing options: Lucero kicks off its two-night stand at the Bluebird, in addition to an in-store ... More >>

Neal Evans of Soulive on doing Snowlive there: "Boulder goes off"

​Over the last two years, Soulive has set up shop at Brooklyn Bowl for the band's annual Bowlive residencies, which have also featured guest appearances from heavies like by Maceo Parker, John Scofield and Ivan Neville. With this weekend's Snowlive, Soulive will be at the Fox Theatre for a thr ... More >>

Ten Best Electronic Shows of 2011

How does one go about defining the best electronic music shows of the year? A lot goes into it, trust me. There is the production aspect, which looks upon the lighting choreography and the overall visual spectacle. Then, there is the actual music, which volleys between producers and DJs, both of whi ... More >>

Photos: MiM0Sa at the Fillmore, 10/29/11

MiM0Sa showing his O face at the Fill-morgue​MiM0SA at THE FILLMORE AUDITORIUM | 10/29/11Tigran Mimosa celebrated Halloween at the Fill-Morgue with a full venue of ghouls, girl scouts, slutty devils and rabid fans. With openers Sleepyhead, GinZ and Kastle readying the filling the floor, the Fi ... More >>

Win tickets to celebrate Halloween at the Fill-morgue with MiM0SA and Karl Denson

Update 10/28/11: Contest is officially over. Thanks for all the entries. Congratulations goes out to Jess Dealme. You and a guest will be our guests this weekend. Please send an email for info on how to claim your tickets. ​Psst... Hey, there. How are you? Snow putting a damper on your mornin ... 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 Tech N9ne, Lucinda Williams and Jimmy Buffet were announced. On local radio specialty shows, Monroe Monroe, Air Dubai, Spires and Popcult all got some spins. Meanwhile, at our local record stores, new a ... More >>

Big Gigantic at the Fox Theatre, 1/28/11

​BIG GIGANTIC with Fresh2Death and Raw Russ The Fox Theatre | 1.28.11 Big Gigantic played the second stop of its Colorado kick-off tour at the Fox Theatre last night in Boulder. The new lights, the openers and the special guest made this stop especially unique. The sold out theater's walls wer ... More >>

Madeleine Peyroux, Dark Star Orchestra, Stockholm Syndrome shows announced

​It was avery slow week for concert announcements, which usually happens around this time of year, but there were a few new shows added. Jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux returns to the Boulder Theater on Wednesday, April 13. General admission ($30) and reserved ($40-$47.50) tickets go on sale nex ... More >>

Public Enemy, Drive-By Truckers, Sepultura shows announced

​After hitting South Africa and Australia in December and January, legendary hip-hop act Public Enemy makes its way to the Ogden Theatre for a co-headlining bill with Karl Denson's Tiny Universe on Saturday, February 19. Jurrasic 5's Chali 2na opens the show. Tickets ($25) for the 16 and over ... More >>

MTHDS to their madness: Heighten your senses with MTHDS at the Bluebird

STS9, the Heavy and Dimmu Borgir shows announced

​After selling out a two-nights at Red Rocks and a show at the Boulder Theater earlier this month, STS9 has announced its return to the area for a three-night stand at the Fillmore Auditorium from Wednesday, December 29 to Friday, December 31. While tickets for the New Year's run go on sale to ... More >>

Photos: Electric Avenue Festival at Five Points

MTHDS freaking out some audience members.​As you might have read here on Backbeat, Electric Avenue Music and Arts Festival is going on this weekend (it wraps up tonight.) Last night, photographer Eric Gruneisen stopped by the festival in Five Points and brings back these photos: Electric Avenu ... More >>

This weekend: Cervantes' Electric Avenue Music and Arts Fest

​ Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom may have changed owners last fall, but things are clearly still kicking at the venue, and there's still plenty of music in the streets. Last year, before changing hands Cervantes' hosted the Dancing In the Streets, a three-day festival that took place at 26th ... More >>

Further, Band of Horses, Uproar Festival shows announced

​Phil Lesh & Bob Weir's group Further, who helped kick off things at the 1stBank Center in March, return to the area for a two-night stand at Red Rocks on Friday and Saturday, September 24 and 25. The two Grateful Dead members will be joined by RatDog keyboardist Jeff Chimenti, Benovento-Russo ... More >>

See which local acts got love on local radio this week

​Here what the area's local-centric specialty radio shows were spinning this week. We're currently tracking the playlists a number of different shows including, Radio 1190's Local Shakedown*, KTCL's Locals Only, The Colorado Sound, which originates at KRFC and is re-broadcast all over Colorado ... More >>

Mile High Music Fest Live Reviews: Day One

Aaron Thackeray See photos of Day One's fans on the slideshow page. It's here: The second edition of the Mile High Music Fest is underway, and our gaggle of writers and photogs are shvitzing their way around the grounds to bring you ongoing, as-close-to-live-as-my-fingers-allow coverage of Denver ... More >>

Greyboy's Anatomy

With their first album in nearly a decade, the soul-jazz Allstars are back in the groove.

DJ Greyboy

Thursday, June 29, Fox Theatre, Boulder, 303-443-3399.

The Greyboy Allstars

Thursday, March 2, Fox Theatre, Boulder; Friday, March 3, Aggie Theatre, Fort Collins, 1-970-482-8300; Saturday, March 4, Gothic Theatre, 303-788-0984.

Best Instigators of an Impromptu Conga Line

Log
LoDo Music Festival

Needle and the Spin

Acid-jazz legend DJ Greyboy is remixing his roots.

Poetry in Motion

Saul Williams is a thought-provoking Renaissance man who has a way with words.

Best Jam Band and More Label

Sci-Fidelity Records

Bumpa Crop

From Moroccan-flavored psycho-trance to furious superfunk, Critters Buggin cross space and time zones with their music.

Thrills for the week