Tina Turner

ZZ Ward on the influence of hip-hop and blues and how they both come from the same place

ZZ Ward released her debut album, Til The Casket Drops, in 2012. Growing up, she honed a talent for writing bluesy R&B songs. Her knack for that can be heard prominently on that disc, and well as her proclivity for hip-hop, which is even more prevalent on her Criminal EP and her Eleven Roses mixtap ... More >>

Video: Chris Brown publicist skit was a perfectly timed advance for Rihanna breakup/reunion

While most of the world celebrated the resurrection of old J.C., there were several weird developments -- both real and satirical -- in an even more implausible resurrection: that of Chris Brown's career. After becoming the most hated man in show business, Breezy has defied logic by continuing to br ... More >>

The ten best concerts this weekend: Dec. 14-16

It feels like we say this every week, and we probably do, but we're continually astounded by how good we have it here music wise. If you haven't noticed, this time of year, the number of touring acts decreases dramatically, generally in line with the music industry itself, which pretty much slows to ... More >>

The ten best concerts this week: December 10-14

We're blessed to live here, you know. If you haven't already come to this conclusion on your own from feeling the ever-present sunshine and observing the wondrous sunset paintings we're treated to each evening, all you have to do is take a look at the brimming concert calendar. Whereas the live musi ... More >>

The ten best concerts this weekend: Oct. 26-28

Welcome to the weekend, amigos! Ah, yes, we finally made it. Is it just us, or has this seemed like the longest week ever? Ah, maybe it's just the weather. Whatever the case, it's in the rearview now, and it's time to blow off some steam. Drinks are on the horizon and there's a full slate of great m ... More >>

Peaches at Summit Music Hall, 10/13/12

PEACHES @ the SUMMIT MUSIC HALL | 10.13.12 With champagne, campy German dancers and enough fake boobs to smother an elephant, Peaches' show at the Summit was a roofied cocktail of grimy beats and erotic theater. Putting on a show that was both grand in scope yet refreshingly minimal in its DIY simp ... More >>

Idol recap: The Top 5 take on '60s and Brit Pop; Skylar Laine and Hollie Cavanagh shine

Last night's episode of Idol saw the top five performing '60s hits and Brit pop. For some, it was a swing and a miss; for others -- hot damn! Hollie Cavanagh had an energy on last night's show that leads the pack this week. She's no Tina Turner , but "River Deep Mountain High" may have been ... More >>

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 >>

Tina Turner: A dynamic performer with the most supreme legs to ever walk a stage

​Tina Turner is the Queen of Rock and Roll, the baddest in the land with the most supreme pair of legs to ever walk a stage. Her voice contains a sandpaper grit that helped smoothed the edges of black culture and her own very rough life. Born in unincorporated Nut Bush, Tennessee, as Anna Mae ... More >>

Rihanna "Birthday Cake (Remix)" with Chris Brown: More like distubia

​Okay, after hearing the full version of Rihanna's "Birthday Cake (Remix)" featuring Chris Brown, we're in utter shock. If Tina Turner heard this damning pop, which essentially gives Brown a pass for what he did to Rihanna three years ago, we're pretty sure she'd be shaking her head like us -- ... More >>

Happy birthday, Rihanna. "Turn Up the Music," but no "Birthday Cake" for you, Chris Brown!

Update: Chris Brown's "Turn Up the Music" remix featuring Rhianna added below. Happy 24th birthday, Robyn Rihanna Fenty. We remember your first record, "Pon De Replay." Nice, disposable dancefloor pop. It was urban enough to get people dancing in high school, but not sexy enough to fertilize anythi ... More >>

Beyoncé's "Party" will make you forget B's last video, plus a breakdown of this week's charts

Forget "Countdown" -- Beyoncé is here to party.​What do you do if you release a music video and get slammed with plagiarism accusations? If you're Beyoncé, you release another video. And then another. First Beyoncé released a video for "Countdown," her third official single (after "Run The ... More >>

Five infamous monuments named after musicians of questionable moral character

Kurt Cobain​How do you honor a musician when awards and certifications aren't enough? By naming something in his honor, of course -- be it a bridge, a street, an asteroid or even a whole day after the guy. But in naming something after a musician, it's easy to forget that while in some cases t ... More >>

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

Tuesday, March 16, Boulder Theater, 303-786-7030.

Over the weekend: Jolie Holland at the Walnut Room

Adam Perry​Jolie Holland, with Matt Bauer The Walnut Room Saturday, October 10, 2009 Better Than: Walking from Market St. Station to Walnut & 31st in the cold No one shines like Brooklyn-based indie-folk goddess Jolie Holland. Just as Neil Young was the depth and edge of CSNY, Holland was the ... More >>

Top Ten Latin Music Albums of 2008

Over the next couple of weeks, Backbeat will feature some Top Ten lists from around the Village Voice Media chain. Click here for previous year-in-review coverage from Backbeat and VVM.Americans who still think of Latin music as mariachi bands and gyrating Ricky Martins and Shakiras might want to le ... More >>

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Mini Reviews

Now Playing

Capsule reviews of current shows

Look of the Day -- Traci Kern

Delegating Denver #47 of 56: Tennessee

Grammy Suckfest Celebrates Half Century of Lameness

This Is Your Life

African American Lives 2 remembers America's past.

The Late Ike Turner Speaks

Sound Bites

Brief reviews of recent releases

Good Company

Everything Old Is New Again is renewed by great performances.

Leon Russell

Wednesday, May 31, Bluebird Theater, 303-322-2308.

Nashville Pussy

Get Some (Spitfire)

Dan Treanor and Frankie Lee

African Wind (Northern Blues)

The Gossip

Tuesday, November 9, Fox Theatre, 303-443-3399.

Aria Ready?

Upstart opera company clears its throat

Hit Pick

Erica Brown

Critic's Choice

The DT's

Critic's Choice

Bellrays

Endless Lionel

Lionel Richie is back. Make your plans accordingly.

The Janis Fund

When it comes to Janis Joplin's music, there's not all that much to rediscover.

Rough and Ready

Riff Raff at The Ralph Waldo Emerson Center.

Playlist

What's Ike Got to Do With It?

Ike Turner doesn't say he's innocent, but he swears he's not as guilty as you think.

It Was Twenty Years Ago

Rock of New Ages

Leading the Attack

England's Massive Attack is still making the Nineties more interesting.

A Star Is Boring

Pussy Whipped

The pulchritudinous charms of Nashville Pussy.

Feedback

Thrills for the week

Quiz Show

Before you declare yourself a Grammy expert, let Backbeat test your skills.

Feedback

COURTING DISASTER

NO ALTERNATIVE

A LOOK AT THE MODERN-ROCK SONGS DENVER RADIO IS DOING TO DEATH.