Planes Mistaken for Stars

Denver's ten best jukeboxes

More and more, you've probably noticed an influx of Internet jukeboxes, the kind that offer a seemingly endless assortment of songs, cropping up in bars. But there are still a handful of spots rocking old school CD jukeboxes that require a bit of taste-making. Here's the ten best, including this yea ... More >>

A look back at past Best New Band winners

Best of Denver 2013: A look back at the Best New Band winners from the past decade

Our annual Best of Denver issue hits stands today. It's a painstaking issue to put together each year, and one that everybody looks forward to. This edition in particular, though, is even more significant as it's the thirtieth edition. It's also a minor milestone for Backbeat, as it marks the tenth ... More >>

Il Cattivo on the time frontman Brian Hagman got ran over by some angry dude at a party

Il Cattivo formed when veterans of the punk and metal scenes in Denver came together to form a band that wasn't trying to fit distinctly in an already established rock subgenre. The five piece band sounded like it had been influenced by post-punk crossover bands like the Cult but also the metallic, ... More >>

Fugazi is a benchmark, a signpost and an example of how it could and should be done

Gateway Acts is a new ongoing series on Backbeat in which we examine the music that served as an entry point for our burgeoning musical obsessions, a gateway drug that tuned us in and turned us on. Today, guest columnist and Flattery Festival founder Ian O'Dougherty (Uphollow, Ian Cooke, TaunTaun, E ... More >>

Dirty Few at 3 Kings Tavern, 1/17/12

DIRTY FEW @ 3 KINGS TAVERN |1/17/12 Earlier in the night, you wouldn't have guessed that so many people would have shown up so enthusiastic for a local band, many of them knowing the words to all the songs. But Dirty Few from the beginning hyped people up with its own antics to pump itself up for t ... More >>

Marie Litton of PrettyMouth on how heartache and hard times tend to give you perspective

"My voice is a bit twangy," says Marie Litton. "It works with dark, quiet music -- but bands don't like to play quiet. The band I have now is perfect for my voice, but it took me a long time to find them." After fronting the locally-renowned Ghost Buffalo for six years (with ex-husband and former Pl ... More >>

The ten best concerts this weekend: Oct. 19-21

Ah, yes, welcome to the weekend! And what a glorious weekend it's going to be. Have you seen the forcast? What's more, the Broncos have a bye-week this week, which means there's no reason at not to get out in the sunshine during the day and then treat yourself to some shows at night. As always, we'v ... More >>

Free money! Denver bands have unclaimed SoundExchange royalties. Are you on the list?

The bad news is you didn't win a gazillion dollars last night in Powerball -- some lucky jerk in Michigan did, apparently. The good news is, however, you may still have some cashola coming your way that you weren't expecting. Think of it as finding a crisp twenty in the pocket of pants you haven't w ... More >>

Famed Mastodon cover artist Paul Romano at Marion Street Tattoo this Saturday night

See Also: - Emily Francis brings together art and music at Marion Street Tattoo Gallery - Emily Francis Prepares for Takeoff Fans of art and metal, take note: Famed artist Paul Romano, best known for his illustration and design work on albums by Mastodon, Chiodos, Earth Crisis and Trivium, among c ... More >>

Our complete guide to the June 23 Westword Music Showcase

See also: Twelve types of Denver musicians

Denver's ten best jukeboxes

Just as music collections say a lot about people, a jukebox can do the same for a bar; it often reflect the place's personality. A lot of times, variety is key to a well-stocked jukebox, and 3 Kings Tavern, this year's winner in the Best of Denver, had that with balls, to boot. Here's a look at the ... More >>

Hunter Pritchett, exec chef of Luca d'Italia, on bum piss and fried fish

Hunter Pritchett Luca d'Italia 711 Grant Street 303-832-6600 www.lucadenver.com This is part one of my interview with Hunter Pritchett, exec chef of Luca d'Italia. Part two of my chat with Pritchett will run in this space tomorrow. Hunter Pritchett and his kitchen crew are thumbing through an Ita ... More >>

Denver's best music releases of 2011

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 Radiohead, Roger Waters, the Descendants and Los Lobos were announced. Nautical Mile, Tennis, Churchill and Dressy Bessy got spins on local radio. And new and recent releases from Tom Waits, Wale a ... More >>

Labor Day: Let's recap the ten best concerts of the summer

Summer's about sweating after dark.​From Lil Wayne's on-stage clowning and Katy Perry's cooing, to a perspiration-and-PBR soaked reunion of Planes Mistaken for Stars, and even those teenage, Danish punks Iceage melting the audience Rhinoceropolis, the summer of 2011 was as good as any for live ... More >>

Review: Planes Mistaken For Stars at 3 Kings, with Fire Drills and Kingdom of Magic, 8/13/11

Aaron Thackeray. See more photos from last night. PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS REUNION at 3 KINGS TAVERN | 8/13/11With special guests Kingdom of Magic, the Fire Drills and Vamos! Right before Planes took the stage, you could see the anticipation on the faces of many people who had been looking forwar ... More >>

Review: Against Me! at the Warped Tour, 8/5/11

Against Me! at the Denver stop of the Vans Warped Tour​AGAINST ME! at WARPED TOUR | 8/5/11Without delving into the history of the Vans Warped tour, it can be argued that a lot about it has changed. What started as a tour meant to showcase punk-rock rebellion, has now become a major cog in the ... More >>

Mile Highlights: This week's concert news, local radio playlists and top album sales

We're blessed to be living in the best city in America.Here's what's good in the Mile High City this week: In October, St. Vincent is due at the Boulder Theater, followed by DeVotchKa who also appear there later in the month, as well as the Ogden, and Why? at the Gothic Theater. On local radio, Bop ... More >>

Planes Mistaken for Stars reunion slated for August 13 at 3 Kings Tavern

Jim Narcy​Another must-see date to circle in blood red ink: Saturday, August 13. Trust us: you will NOT want to miss this show. Planes Mistaken for Stars is getting back together for a reunion show at 3 Kings Tavern. Planes was one of the most kickass and ferocious bands to ever call Denver ho ... More >>

DeVotchKa's new video for "The Man From San Sebastian" directed by Vincent Comparetto

​Have you seen the new DeVotchKa video yet? Talk about the ideal artistic pairing. Directed by Vincent Comparetto, the clip perfectly captures the vibe of the song. I mean he just nailed it. It's like Comparetto climbed into my head and pulled out the exact type of imagery I picture each time ... More >>

Westword Music Showcase 2011

The Westword Music Showcase celebrates seventeen years, a lifetime for some of 2011's performers

Il Cattivo pools its bad habits and makes great music

Emily Francis brings together the world of art and music with Marion Street Tattoo Gallery

​ After reading the above headline, you're probably thinking: Denver needs another tattoo parlor and art gallery like it needs another dispensary, right? Hold on. This one's a little different. For starters, it's being run by Emily Francis, a cherished member of the local music scene.

Denver musical acts to watch in 2011

Tonight: Snake Rattle Rattle Snake video premiere party at Forest Room 5

Still courtesy of Snake Rattle Rattle Snake via The Culture Farm​ Tonight at Forest Room , in conjunction with the fine folks at Speaker Snacks, the members of Snake Rattle Rattle Snake are hosting a low-key viewing party for their new video, Dead Men's Words, directed by local director extra ... More >>

Lost Lake Lounge plays host to evil twins Il Cattivo and Glass Hits

Flier by Brian HoffmanClick to enlarge​Ever since the halcyon days of Star Trek (the original series), pop culture has loved the idea of the evil twin. And in our top flier this week, we are given a prime example of evil twin-ness. Using what appears to be a paunchy Stacy Keach as a model, ou ... More >>

The last days of The Treehouse: Is Denver losing another iconic piece of the underground?

​In what appears to be the last days of The Treehouse, the downtown warehouse where dozens of bands have formed, practiced, lived and crashed over the years, a few of the last guys are sitting around reminiscing. In six years, some good stories are bound to come out of a place, like the one a ... More >>

Song of the Day: "Airplanes" by B.o.B. featuring Hayley Williams

​ If you haven't already been acquainted, meet B.o.B. (aka Bobby Ray, due at the Ogden with Lupe Fiasco on Thursday, April 29TONIGHT!), a dude that, if his record company has its way, will be well on his way to reaching ubiquitous status by the end of summer. Our friends at the Voice put toge ... More >>

Dialed In: This week's local music radio playlists

​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*, 99.5 the Mountain's Homegrown Show*, the Colorado Sound, which originates at KRFC and ... More >>

Google improves its music search capabilities

​Been on Google lately? Notice something different? We noticed it the other day, but didn't think much of it until we came across this item on Billboard.com. Evidently, the search engine provider has broadened its search capabilities to now provide links to songs that are capable of being streamed ... More >>

Snake Mountain commemorates the closing of an underground Denver institution with a new record

Might as well be local: Off With Their Heads

​Over the past few years, Denver has seen a huge upswing in the sheer volume of touring bands coming through town. It's been great. But a weird phenomenon has been popping up: touring bands that play Denver almost as often as local bands do. What's even weirder about this phenomenon is the fact ... More >>

MP3 Freeloader: Hot IQs final show, tonight at the Bluebird

As previously reported, tonight's the night when Hot IQs retire their jerseys after an estimable six year run. A distinguished, iconic band that earmarked an era, the outfit is immortalized in the pantheon of local music alongside other dearly departed, homegrown legends such as the Fluid, the Czars ... More >>

Mile Hi-Fidelity playlist - 06.17.09

Turned in an economy version of the show last night. No guests, no co-host. Not much to report really. Just one guy, one mike and two dozen handpicked tunes. Where was my faithful sidekick, you ask? Why Mr. Thomas had a show last night at the Larimer Lounge, as he dutifully reminded me via text yest ... More >>

Cue the Cricket

One of Denver’s most storied stages may soon be silenced.

Sweet Emotion

Sometimes sad songs say so much.

Emily Francis Prepares for Takeoff

This lady has helped keep Planes Mistaken for Stars airborne.

Band Aid

The F-Troop

This year’s Showcase was quite the earful.

Best Transplanted Band

Git Some

Best Frontwoman

Marie Litton
Ghost Buffalo

The Beatdown

Get out of Denver, baby, go!

Endgame

Scorcher (Cloister)

The Beatdown

The lowdown on the Music Showcase awards.