Ryan Adams

Ten acts that clearly worship The Smiths

Few bands in history have cast a longer shadow than The Smiths. They've inspired countless imitators and spiritual successors since they called it quits in 1987. While skinny indie kids moaning about the hardships of life are a dime a dozen, tracking down the successful artists influenced by Morriss ... More >>

The ten biggest assholes in rock

Feuds, tantrums, threatening to kill the president -- if you've been following rock music for the past few decades, you know that dickish behavior comes with the territory when your job involves a stage and adoring fans. Here we've assembled the reprehensible cream that has risen to top, highlightin ... More >>

Five more concert buzzkills

So a couple of weeks ago, we laid out what we thought was the complete compendium of the biggest concert buzzkills. Turns out, though, we left a number of entries out, and so with your direct input (Whiskey Bulldozer and Surf's Up), we went back to the drawing board, literally, and came up with five ... More >>

The twenty best concert quotes of 2012

We go to concerts for the music, but the best moments are often unrehearsed. For some bands, a show is just a series of songs -- the moments between, nothing but time to be killed until the music begins again. But we don't go to concerts to kill time-- and, truly, we don't go to hear songs, either, ... More >>

Getting stoned with comedian/musician Chella Negro

After years of performing her soul-folk songs around the Denver music scene, Chella Negro hooked up with this town's blossoming comedy community when she joined the all-female sketch group LadyFace. Proudly public about her affection for ganja, Negro was the ideal candidate for our Getting Stoned ... More >>

The thirty best concerts of 2012

While 2012 will be remembered as they year that Red Rocks hosted the most shows in its history, it's also going to go down as one of the best years for concerts in Colorado in general. As we reflected on all the incredible shows we took in this past year, there were an astounding number of what we'd ... More >>

Dave Matthews to perform for free Sunday in Aurora for Obama/Biden grassroots event

Update: Campaign reps alerted us to an error in the initial release: Dave Matthews will be appearing solo. Our post has been amended to reflect this. There's four days until the election. Only four. We know this first because, well, at least a dozen helpful Obama for America volunteers reminded us ... More >>

The Head and the Heart perform for free tomorrow in Boulder for Obama/Biden event

Okay, so while the election is reducing some little girls to tears, we're nowhere near sick of all the attack ads and gladhanding leading up to the big day next week. Kidding. That's sarcasm, in case you missed it. We're as sick of all that crap as you are, Ms. Abigael Evans of Fort Collins. But eve ... More >>

Ryan Adams at the Boulder Theater, 10/29/12

RYAN ADAMS @ BOULDER THEATER Half of the fun of seeing Ryan Adams live, apparently, is getting to hear all his banter. He has a fascinating duality: One minute he's completely enthralling the crowd with a heartfelt ballad, and then he bookends the tune by casually offering up a hilarious one-liner ... More >>

Gotta Vote: Ryan Adams playing free acoustic set tonight at Boulder Theater for Obama/Biden

While Mitt Romney may have Kid Rock, Rodney Atkins and, uh, Meat Loaf (!) in his corner, El Presidente has Ryan Adams in his, and, well, musically, that's pretty much a trump card if ever there was one. Adams is throwing his muscle behind the Obama/Biden campaign this evening by playing a free acous ... 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, week of October 1-7

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it shouldn't be too surprising to find that the most common (and our mutually favorite) topic of conversation among all of us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and, boy, wouldn't yo ... More >>

Joe Sampson

Kill Our Friends
Fellow Creature Recordings

Noah Van Sciver goes to Bruce Conner & Richard Peterson at MCA

This past Friday night, MCA Denver opened its Search & Destroy exhibition, which displayed everything from the works of photographers Bruce Conner and Richard Peterson to old copies of MRR to posters and large-scale Black Flag art. Backbeat cartoonist Noah Van Sciver was there and brings back his in ... More >>

Review: Ryan Adams at Temple Buell, 2/4/12

RYAN ADAMS @ TEMPLE BUELL THEATRE | 2/4/12 Show just ended a little over an hour ago. We'll have a full review for you in the morning, along with an illustration from the illustrious Mr. Noah Van Sciver. Be sure to check back in then. In the meantime, page down for the full setlist from the show. ... More >>

Weekend's best live bets: Ryan Adams, Lotus and more

Update: The Ryan Adams show originally slated for tonight the Temple Buell has been postponed until tomorrow night. The Dr. Dog show has also been postponed, but a new date has not been announced. What's a little snow? Blizzard schmizzard. There's too much great music this weekend to stay at home. ... More >>

(Updated) Ryan Adams survival guide: Things to know before you go

Pax-Am Records Update (12:53 p.m.): So check this out: A couple more things you should know here. First of all, the show has been postponed until tomorrow night due to inclement weather (shocker, we know). Secondly, whatever sensationalist malarkey you've read about Ryan Adams being some sort of up ... More >>

Ryan Adams

Friday, February 3, Buell Theatre, 303-893-9582.

Poets Row

Exquisite Corpse
Self-released

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 Neil Diamond, Garland Jeffreys and Sophie B. Hawkins were announced; BLKHRTS, American Tomahawk and Driftwood Fire got spins on local radio; and new releases from Drake, Kate Bush and Sigur Ros wer ... 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 >>

Record Store Day, the Black Friday edition

​Record Store Day was originally started a few years ago as a once-a-year celebration for some 700 independently owned record stores in the U.S., including Twist & Shout and Wax Trax, but the organizers have also included today, Black Friday, as another chance to for music fans to get their ha ... 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 moe., the Bag Raiders and Jane's Addiction were announced; Monroe Monroe, Elway, Shel and Fierce Bad Rabbit got spins on local radio; and new releases from Florence and the Machine, Drake, Childish Gambin ... 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 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 >>

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: Brad Paisley's at the Pepsi Center in January, Salt-n-Pepa's at the Gothic in December and Donavon Frankenreiter comes to town in March. Air Dubai, In the Whale, Jen Korte and Saints got spins on local radio. And new and recent re ... 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, Mute Math is coming to the Gothic in January and Kid Rock's at the Fillmore in December. On local radio specialty shows, Crimson Red, ManCub, the Foot. and DeVotchKa all got some spins. Meanwhile, at our loca ... More >>

Behold Nathaniel Rateliff's beautiful "Shroud"

All right, before when send the Backbeat blog into sleep mode for the long weekend and we commence to chilling hardcore with our kinfolk, filling our bladders with beer flavored beer and our bellies with unreasonable amounts of barbecue, we thought we'd leave you with another delightful clip we st ... More >>

Oasis at Broomfield Event Center

Oasis, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Matt Costa Monday, Dec. 8 Broomfield Event Center Better than: Seeing a band that's past its prime play in a high school auditorium. Circa 1997, an Oasis concert would have filled a venue the size of the Pepsi Center, with its official capacity estimated between ... More >>

Delegating Denver #37 of 56: North Carolina

The Disorienting Post Modernity of Rutlemania and Other Assorted Goodies

Two Headed Turtle, September 28

Ryan Adams Is As Prolific As Ever

This troubadour's artistic inclinations still know no bounds.

Ryan Adams Isn’t Taking it Easy

Ryan Adams

Easy Tiger
Lost Highway

Another Order of Joe

Another Order of Joe

Cred Sheet

Stuff you need to know about to avoid cultural ostracism.

Willie Nelson

Songbird
Lost Highway

Westword Music Showcase 2006

Be there or be square!

Down-Home Delights

Ten of the best from Nashville and elsewhere.

Teletunes

Indie rock meets prime time in a post-O.C. world.

Ryan Adams & the Cardinals

Jacksonville City Nights (Lost Highway)

Ryan Adams & the Cardinals

Cold Roses (Lost Highway)

Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter

Tuesday, April 26, Bender's Tavern, 303-861-7070.

Discmania

Backbeat writers revisit their favorite albums of the year.

Ryan Adams, Jay Farrar

Gold (Lost Highw), Sebastopol (Artemis)

Whiskeytown

Pneumonia (Lost Highway)

Ryan Adams

Heartbreaker (Bloodshot Records)

Town Without Pity