Thin Lizzy

The 50 worst rock/pop lyrics: The Complete list

Well, here we are, at the end of the road of lyrical idiocy. As our countdown to crappiness finally culminates, we've trained our eye on some of the greatest lyricists in rock, who during select moments, greatly disappointed us with their valueless verse. These lyrics are all bad on their own terms, ... More >>

The 50 worst rock/pop lyrics of all time: 40-31

The countdown of total crappiness continues. Yesterday we laid out the back half of the of the top fifty worst rock and pop lyrics of all time, and today we present the other half, which is populated by Poison's "Unskinny Bop," the Rolling Stones' "Cocksucker Blues" and a bunch of other ill-conceive ... More >>

The ten best concerts in Denver this weekend

10. SNOW THA PRODUCT @ ROXY THEATRE | SAT, 2/16 It may at first seem easy to dismiss Snow Tha Product as another Iggy Azalea or Kreayshawn-level gimmick because of her gender and unconventional appearance, but it gets harder and harder the more you listen to her. Make no mistake, Snow can ride a bea ... More >>

Warhawk: Metal name, soulful sound

Bronze talks music mettle and heavy metal

#WMS 2012 recap: Broadways

Every year, for the Westword Music Showcase, we enlist our army of Backbeat wordsmiths to host various stages, and, in addition to their emcee obligations, we ask them to pull double duty (or triple-duty in some cases) and also write up the acts that appear on their individual stages. Brad Lopez hos ... More >>

The Best of SXSW Music: Saturday 3/17/2012

So, we come to it: the end of all things. Four days of madness, Doritos, Skrillex and finally, St. Patrick's Day. Before we bid SXSW 2012 farewell, allow us to share our favorite moments from SXSW day four. Later, we'll let you know which shows weren't so hot. Find our favorites below, and if there ... More >>

Ten authentic Irish drinking songs

Finding an Irish soundtrack for a St. Patrick's Day celebration doesn't take a lot of exhaustive research. Generic "Best of Ireland" compilations abound in outlet stores, on iTunes and even on racks in gas stations, collections that feature anonymous artists playing generic versions of traditional C ... More >>

Review: The Darkness at Summit Music Hall, 2/16/12

THE DARKNESS @ SUMMIT MUSIC HALL | 2/15/12If you are one of the four original members of The Darkness, a band that hit its peak in 2003 but never seemed to care, where in the set do you strategically place "I Believe In a Thing Called Love"? Saving your monster hit for last makes you a tease, but pl ... More >>

Review: Speedwolf at The Marquis Theater, 12/16/11

Tom MurphySpeedwolfSPEEDWOLF at the MARQUIS THEATER | 12/16/11Speedwolf vocalist Reed Bruemmer feigned surprise at the end of the band's set last night and asked the audience if they actually wanted to hear the band cover KISS. Of course everyone did, so the guys closed the record-release show with ... More >>

Review: Judas Priest at the 1STBANK Center, 11/5/11

Eric GruneisenRob Halford of Judas Priest: Still going strong after nearly 40 years. More Judas Priest Denver photos.JUDAS PRIEST, THIN LIZZY, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY At the 1STBANK CENTER | 11/5/11Somewhere early in the set, Rob Halford told us that the band was going to play material from all roughly ... More >>

Paper Diamond, Lizzie Huffman, SBTRKT, Judas Priest and more on tap this weekend

​Have plans this weekend? If not, there's ample choices: Tonight, Paper Diamond's at the Ogden, Lizzie Huffman is celebrating the release of her new CD at the hi-dive and Rich Robinson is at the Soiled Dove Underground. On Saturday, Judas Priest is at 1STBANK Center, SBTRKT is at the Bluebird ... More >>

Review: Yellowcard at Summit, 6/15/11

YellowCardRock.com​YELLOWCARD at SUMMIT | 06.15.11"Key talked with the audience quite a bit between songs, like he was catching up old friends on the band's life over the last few lost years."

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

Here's what's good in the Mile High City this week: In concert news, INXS is coming to the Ogden in July, Lil Wayne's coming to Comfort Dental in August and Steve Earle is due at the Ogden in September. On local radio, Force Publique, Signal Path and Bop Skizzum got some spins. Meanwhile, at our l ... More >>

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

Here's what's good in the Mile High City this week: In concert news, INXS is coming to the Ogden in July, Lil Wayne's coming to Comfort Dental in August and Steve Earle is due at the Ogden in September. On local radio, Force Publique, Signal Path and Bop Skizzum got some spins. Meanwhile, at our l ... More >>

Judas Priest coming to 1STBANK Center on November 5 with Black Label Society

Robert Halford is the best muthafuckin' singer aroound!​All right, fire up the Camaro, boys. Judas Priest is coming to town -- in an arena. Normally when the dudes come to town, they're playing a shed down south. Not this time around. On Saturday, November 5, the Priest is gonna be at 1STBANK ... More >>

Tesco Vee of the Meatmen on punk in Michigan, Meatmen album covers and Touch and Go

The Meatmen​ In the late 1970s, Tesco Vee was an elementary school teacher in Michigan who lead something of a secret life, first as a fan of punk rock and then as the frontman of one of the most notorious and hilarious bands of that era -- the Meatmen (due this afternoon at Twist & Shout for ... More >>

Tonight: Guilty Pleasures with DJ Tonyo at Lost Lake Lounge

​A "guilty pleasure" can mean a lot of things: to a music listener, it is usually in reference to an artist you wouldn't be caught dead listening to in public. But tonight, DJ Tonyo and crew bring their version of the guilty pleasure to Lost Lake Lounge, and we must say, he shouldn't be embarr ... More >>

Dawes at the hi-dive, 11/15/10

Dawes photographed by Matt Jacoby​ DAWES With Moondoggies • Romany Rye 11.15.10 | hi-dive Los Angeles's Romany Rye started the night off and set the tone for this three-band bill. Every band brought a similar sound centered on excellent vocals. The five-piece belted out four-part harmonies ... More >>

Meet nine-year-old Ezra Lux, your new favorite metal blogger/critic

​Behold nine-year-old Ezra Lux, possibly the world's first (and greatest) pre-teen metal blogger. Over at his barely a month old metal blog Crud Wizard (which is also the best name for a metal blog we've heard in a long, long time), Ezra is dropping some serious wisdom, such as this gem of an ... More >>

UMS Night Two Travelogue: Houses at hi-dive, Git Some at 3 Kings and more

Joshua Langlais​ UMS Travelogue, Night Two 7.23.10 / Baker District, South Broadway I started out with Papa Bear at the Irish Rover, where the band's uber sincere Neutral Milk Hotel vibe proved a good start to the evening. The band boasts a small horn section, and I happened to be right in t ... More >>

The Hold Steady

Wednesday, July 7, Ogden Theatre, 303-832-1874.

A half dozen prison songs for Charlie Sheen's "Aspen vacation"

​With Charlie Sheen's upcoming jail sentence for domestic abuse getting whittled down by the minute, the Two and a Half Men star may wind up with a slap on the wrist for slapping his wife. The latest report says that Sheen could possibly serve his 30-day sentence for felony menacing, misdemean ... More >>

Suburban Home announces limited pressing of Drag the River anthology

​Drag the River has always been about giving fans the biggest bang for their hard-earned buck. If you ever stumbled into a bar that has a Drag record in the jukebox, for instance, you've probably noticed that if you select the last track on the album, you're treated to the entire album. Genius, ri ... More >>

Monolith Q&A: Monotonix

​Know for some insanely explosive shows, Israeli rock monsters Mononotix often move their shows into the crowd, creating sweaty pits of madness. On Where Were You When It Happened?, the band's first full-length, released this week on Drag City, guitarist Yonatan Gat says the band captured some of ... More >>

MP3 Freeloader: Tonight, Houses EP release party at the Meadowlark

Lulu Devil​With the release of its Spring EP this past April, Houses has quickly become one of Denver's most exciting bands, both live and on record. If there's any outfit that personifies the exuberance and exhilaration of living in the Mile High City, it's Houses. So it's fitting then that the g ... More >>

Stream Jon Snodgrass and Cory Branan's new split

Jon Snodgrass and Cory Branan have completed work on their split LP/cassette. Notice we didn't mention anything about CD? That's right, this release will not be available on disc. Inexplicably, however, it will be available on cassette. (?) Before you head over to Suburban Home Records to pick up yo ... More >>

The effect of non-musical influences

photo by Aaron ThackerayBlitzen Trapper last year at MonolithEver find yourself disliking a band for reasons that have nothing to do with the music? Maybe you heard that the frontman eats meat. Maybe you saw an interview in which the drummer referred to herself in the third person. Maybe the ar ... More >>

The Basement is way tight — really

Air guitar title eludes the mighty Magic Cyclops

Westword Spiral Podcast Double Shot: Jon Snodgrass & Andrea Ball

Harvey Knuckles Scores a Knockout

This Fort Collins foursome’s new record nods to ZZ Top — literally.

Mini Reviews

More Carnage

Lullabies For the Deranged

Wallow in the mire of the year's best scuzz rock.

Moist Boys

The Sound of Urchin shoots its musical wad.

Rye Coalition

Curses! (Gern Blandsten)

Pop Rocks

Ten albums that will snap and fizz in your earbuds all winter long.

Year Long Disaster

Wednesday, December 21, 15th Street Tavern, 303-572-0822.

Young Dubliners

December 1-3, Little Bear, 303-674-9991.

Diamond Nights

Friday, November 18, Walnut Room, 303-292-1700.

Torn in the USA

The Boss is a legend to some and a laugh to others. To me, he's been both.

Love as Laughter

Laughter's Fifth (Sub Pop)

Fetching Idea

Disc Dogs teaches Rover the rules

For the Record

For national releases, 2003 wonked as much as it rocked.

Perfect Rx

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists find that just a spoonful of anger helps the medicine go down.

Fall Guys

When it comes to the power and passion of punk rock, there's no substitute for Stuntdoubles.

Irish It Were Summer

The summer kicks off with some green-hued music at Conor O’Neill’s Summer Outdoor Music Festival.

Graham Slams

New-wave pioneer Graham Parker is still squeezing out the sparks.

PLAYLIST