The B-52's (Band)

Prince at the Ogden Theatre, 5/13/13, reviews and setlists of both the early and late shows

PRINCE @ OGDEN THEATRE | 5/13/12 | EARLY SHOW In a bold move during his first show at the Ogden Theatre last night, Prince played "Purple Rain" three songs in. But instead of the version we all know and love, Prince played piano and the band subtly backed him up. Even without the signature guitar so ... More >>

Yoko Ono on being involved in the avant-garde and using art and music for social change

Before Yoko Ono even met John Lennon, she was an active and influential figure in international avant-garde art and music. In the 1950s, she went to school at Sarah Lawrence College, during which time she rubbed shoulders with the likes of La Monte Young. Her mentor was the godfather of minimalism, ... 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 >>

Techno pioneer Kevin Saunderson on how dance music has gone from an analog to a digital world

Widely recognized as one of the originators of techno and a giant in the evolution of electronic-music culture, Kevin Saunderson (along with childhood friends Derrick May and Juan Atkins) began creating and performing his own unique style of kinetic, heavily percussive, sample-based dance music in D ... More >>

Fresh hops, Freshcraft and fresh beer in this week's beer calendar

Wynkoop Brewing Company is gearing up for the Great American Beer Festival and recently tapped a couple of its rarest but most outstanding beers. Orville is a blend of a couple of unusual beers: a pale ale fermented with brettanomyces in four wooden barrels for six weeks, and the same beer fermented ... More >>

Parting words: A Q&A with Sauna before its farewell show tonight at the Larimer Lounge

See Also: - Sauna Farewell Show at Larimer Lounge, 8/17/12 - After a whirlwind year, members of Sauna look back at 2011 - Best of Denver 2011: Best Band That's Still in High School - 2011 - Sauna's "Glitter Party" video premieres on Stereogum Sauna played its first show just before Christmas in 20 ... More >>

Five best concerts in Colorado this weekend

See also: - Brennen Bryarly goes Into the Night as option4 - Parting words: A Sauna Q&A before its farewell show - Sharon Van Etten Q&A: "I get nervous sometimes that my songs are too personal" - Q&A with Brendan Perry of Dead Can Dance - Q&A with Derek Vincent Smith of Pretty Lights Welcome to the ... More >>

Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Odd Future, Atmosphere and XX lead this week's shows

See Also: - Afghan Whigs, Amanda Palmer, Aimee Mann and Seether lead this week's shows - Mumford and Sons, Brother Ali, Henry Rollins and Melvins Lite lead this week's shows - Morrissey, Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube, Dinosaur Jr., Jackson Browne lead new shows - Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, Shinedown, Godsma ... More >>

Squeeze's Glenn Tilbrook on the band's new album and working with Chris Difford

While Squeeze (due at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield on Wednesday, July 4) has had a few hiatuses in its almost forty year history, singer and guitarist Glenn Tilbrook says the band sounds more energized these days. So energized, in fact, that the group has even started work on a new album, a p ... More >>

B-52s and Squeeze on the Fourth of July at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield

While the Denver Botanic Gardens summer concert series schedule hasn't been released yet, the folks at Swallow Hill, who help present the shows, have announced that the B-52s, who are celebrating their 35th anniversary this year, and Squeeze will be at the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield on Wedn ... 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 >>

Thank these three Italian directors for slasher films, Martin Scorsese and Clint Eastwood

Film has inspired popular culture for decades, but some people don't actually know where the inspiration for their favorite films comes from. Today, Columbus Day, Metropolitan State College of Denver film studies professor Vincent Piturro will celebrate Italian heritage -- and in a way that he hopes ... 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 Paul Simon, Amos Lee and Matisyahu were announced. On local radio specialty shows, Whiskey Bottles, Petals of Spain and Hot IQsall got some spins. Meanwhile, at our local record stores, new and rec ... More >>

If you missed getting a physical copy of SAUNA's The Teen Angst Tape, it's now available digitally

​If you've had a bit of an itch for SAUNA's cassette tape that was released in June but never bothered to pick up a physical copy, we've got good news for you: It's available for free or name-your-price right now. With the weather starting to get a little chilly, this release is filled with en ... More >>

Review: The Don'ts and Be Carefuls at Hi-Dive, 9/9/11

Tom MurphyThe Don'ts and Be Carefuls​THE DON'TS AND BE CAREULS at the HI-DIVE | 9/9/11 The Don'ts and Be Carefuls did something at this "Triple EP Release" show that you just knew the band had in it but you might not expect to see: they fused the exuberance and innocence of its original sound ... More >>

2011 Westword Music Showcase: Backbeat scribes' travelogues

Every year, we enlist our Backbeat writers to host various stages at the Westword Music Showcase, and in addition to their emcee obligations, we ask them to pull double duty and write up the acts that appear on their individual stages. Click through to read travelogues from Thorin Klosowski, Ru John ... More >>

Beavis and Butt-Head and four other '90s shows that deserve a revamp

​Ever since MTV announced in February that Beavis and Butt-Head would return to television, we've been getting more and more stoked for the comeback of these cherished cartoon cretins. In anticipation of the re-do, which is slated for this summer, we take a look at four more '90s TV shows that ... More >>

Pretty Lights, Ween and Jay-Z filled our playlists this week

​As people who think about, talk about, listen to and make music, the most common question we encounter is, "What are you listening to right now?" Whether you're looking for recommendations, trying to get a feel for our individual sensibilities, or are just curious, we've compiled a list of al ... More >>

Marco Benevento on his latest album, circuit bent toys and Brad Mehldau

​As half of the Benevento-Russo Duo, Marco Benevento played bass lines with his feet and held down organ and Wurlitzer parts with separate hands. But in the trio format, he's completely at home behind the piano, which he says is totally his ax. The forward-thinking Benevento makes captivating ... More >>

Bad

Bad
Self-released

Pride and Joy

Playlist Roulette: Ten "love songs" for your super sweet Valentine's mixtape

Courtesy of shankar,shiva's FlickrIn the last two days I have overheard three different people discussing their carefully crafted Valentine's Day date playlists. Once I stifled the gag reflex, I started to wonder when the hell dates started requiring customized, more importantly, premeditated soundt ... More >>

The Rear Inn's karaoke menu is a little behind the times

Beyond Playlist: Church of Misery and more

​Church of Misery Houses of the Unholy (Rise Above/Metal Blade) The Japanese knack for musical mimicry reaches a new peak on the latest by Church of Misery, which sounds so much like the best hard-rock album from 1975 (or 1985) (or 1995) that listeners can be excused for checking their calend ... More >>

Built to Spill, Brother Ali, Colbie Caillat shows announced

​Built to Spill, who headlined this year's Westword Music Showcase, will come through town again, this time with Disco Doom at the Bluebird Sunday, September 20. Minneapolis-based rapper Brother Ali makes stops at the Ogden Theatre Tuesday September 29 and the Fox Theatre on Wednesday, September 3 ... More >>

Beautiful Like A Rainbow

The legendary Cyndi Lauper headlines the True Colors Tour.

The B-52's