Soul Music

Alabama Shakes at the Ogden Theatre, with Michael Kiwanuka, 3/9/13 (reviews, photos)

ALABAMA SHAKES @ OGDEN THEATER | 3/9/13 There were too many musical threads to count during Alabama Shakes' dynamic and dizzying performance at the Ogden Theatre. During the most heart-rending moments of "Be Mine," for example, vocalist and guitarist Brittany Howard summoned the spirits of James Br ... More >>

Brent Cowels and Tyler Kellog of You Me And Apollo on the influence of soul and Motown

You Me And Apollo from Fort Collins started out as the solo project of Brent Cowles when he was seventeen. Over the course of the last handful of years, Cowles has turned what was essentially a bedroom recording project into a full-fledged band. In 2011, Cowles released Cards With Cheats with a nasc ... More >>

You Me & Apollo brings its lush, emotional pop to the hi-dive

Director of fashion documentary Versailles '73 on the runway show that changed history

Forty years ago, New York fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert set out to produce a runway show called Le Grand Divertissement à Versailles in 1973, a fundraising catwalk to save the dilapidated Palace of Versailles in France. But the fashion show -- which positioned American designers Oscar de la Ren ... More >>

3 things to do for free in Denver this week, January 14-17

Just because the temperature's dropping doesn't mean you have to hole up inside and browse the dregs of Netflix for something new on instant watch. We've got three events this week that are definitely worth braving the cold for -- and they're all free. From a Motown night with free fried chicken and ... More >>

3 things to do for free in Denver this week, December 24-27

If holiday presents and apocalypse preparation left you broke, don't worry. Denver is giving back this week, with lots of free events. From an Improv-a-Thon to a tribute to the godfather of soul to a pop-up shop and dance party, here are three of the best ways to celebrate the season while avoiding ... More >>

Motown Tuesdays at Beauty Bar is all about some good times, good, classic music and good food

Noah Ray's grandmother probably never guessed that her waffle recipe would be served up at a bar -- yet, for some reason, it's a natural fit alongside fried chicken and Motown. After only a month and a half, Beauty Bar's newest venture already has a following of sweaty dancers and casual, chilled-ou ... More >>

Five world-changing albums that wouldn't have existed if blog buzz determined greatness

One day, historians will look back and marvel at how blogs changed the music industry -- that is if they can avoid being distracted by the next big thing long enough to think analytically about history. Where just a few critics used to shape the tastes of music fans across country, now an army of bl ... More >>

Beauty Bar's Motown Tuesday serves sweet soul music, with a side of chicken and waffles

Imagine this on a Tuesday night, when the week is still young: something old-school and just for the hell of it, a place where you can get funky and dance like you're fifteen again, in another time and century. That's what Motown Tuesday, the weekly dance night at Beauty Bar, is all about. See als ... More >>

Mile High Soul Club keeps the Meadowlark sweaty with classic Motown and vintage soul

See Also: - Hey, DJ! Q&A with Tyler "Danger" Jacobson - Photos: Mile High Soul Club at the Meadowlark - Denver's ten best dance clubs The soul mavens behind Mile High Soul Club grew up on a diet of Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves and Motown 45s played by their parents. "My parents listened to '60s ... More >>

R.I.P. Donald "Duck" Dunn, 11/24/41 - 5/13/12

He was the backbone, part of the nerve center of a great rhythm and blues band that made the music of a bygone era live, breathe and jump again. But Donald "Duck" Dunn's musical accomplishments went far beyond the scripted praise he earned from John Belushi playing the fictional Jake Blues in the 19 ... More >>

DJ Beufie spins at Funky Buddha on April 14

As Black History Month comes to a close, we reflect on the influential Sounds of Blackness

Black History Month 2012 has been a doozy. Beginning with the tragic and shocking death of Don Cornelius to dealing with equally troubling news of Whitney Houston's passing as the month wore on. Most interesting about this time is the ways in which the music healed us. When Whitney died, DJs played ... More >>

Marvin Gaye: The face and voice of black music

Born Marvin Pentz Gaye, Jr. in 1939 in Washington, D.C., the singer also known as the Prince of Soul was the original panty-dropper. But while Gaye had a smooth, controlled voice that combined with an inherent sexiness for a swoon factor that was simply off the charts, he was far more than a mere se ... More >>

Lalah Hathaway brings her edgy, silky style to the Vail Soul Music Festival

Win tickets to see Lalah Hathaway and others at this weekend's Vail Soul Music Festival

See Lalah Hathaway this Friday at the Vail Soul Music Festival​If you don't already have plans and you're looking for something cool to do this weekend, we've got tickets to see Lalah Hathaway, Chaz Shepherd, Anthony David and more at the Vail Soul Music Festival this weekend. We've got two pa ... More >>

Musiq Soulchild

Thursday, June 30, City Hall Amphitheater, 303-832-8628.

Five questions with George Clinton

Bettye LaVette

Thursday, August 26, Soiled Dove Underground, 303-366-0007.

Graffiti Black on his muses, inspiration and the four categories of Colorado hip-hop

​Hailing from Montbello, Graffiti Black is a 23-year-old producer, writer and graphic designer known for creating sharp and distinct sounds that are both vibrant and accessible. He flips familiar elements and samples with flair and an experienced ear. Artists such as Innerstate Ike, Mr. Midas, ... More >>

Night Owl at Old Curtis Street

Ben Sollee

Friday and Saturday, December 18 and 19, Bluebird Theater, 303-830-8497.

From Akon to Usher, today's R&B is a shadow of its former self

Boyz II Men, Stevie B and Break EFX at the Ogden Theater

Photo: Chad FahnestockBoyz II Men, Stevie B and Break EFXFriday, November 28, 2008Ogden TheaterBetter than: Listening to the recorded soundtrack from the ten-year high school reunion of any graduating class from the 1990s.The reactions varied wildly. When I told people that I was covering the Boyz I ... More >>

Al Green is still as soulful as ever

Tag Team

Tower of Power Holds Its Charge

Three decades on, the Oakland ensemble still knows what is hip.

More Power

Beres Hammond

Thursday, January 11, Gothic Theatre, Englewood, 1-866-468-7621.

Soul Asylum

Jamie Lidell

Jamie Lidell

Multiply (Warp Records)

Detroit Cobras

Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28, Lion's Lair, 303-320-9200.

Best Jukebox

Lion's Lair

Van Hunt

Van Hunt (Capitol) The Soul of John Black (No Mayo)

Soul Survivor

Through injury, adversity and obscurity, Orlando Terrell struggles to keep his music alive.

Best Place to Sing Along Drunkenly to Marvin Gaye

Streets of London Pub

What Was Going On

At long last, the spotlight replaces the Shadows that obscured the Funk Brothers.

Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

Ooo Baby Baby: The Anthology (Motown)

Rolling Out the Starz

Denver's film fest looks forward and back.

Musiq Maker

On his latest album, the Soulchild grows up.

Critic's Choice

W.C. Clark

You Can Feel It All Over

India.Arie taps into a soulful past to create her own kind of wonderful.

On the Records

Backbeat contributors reflect on the releases that helped them survive the year 2000.

The Twilight Singers

Twilight (Columbia)

Mos Def

Black on Both Sides
(Rawkus)

Green's Day

Al Green no longer separates church from state of mind.

THE GOODS

THERE WEREN'T THOUSANDS OF FIRST-RATE RECORDS RELEASED IN 1995. BUT THERE WERE NINETY.

OUR MOTOWN

STAX OF WAX

SO FINE

THE MOST MEMORABLE ALBUMS OF 1994.