Ten of Colorado’s Best Latin Music Acts
Colorado’s Latino musicians have been blending genres, breaking down musical barriers and defining much of Denver’s culture, often without recognition.
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Devildriver’s Dez Fafara Is Still Getting His Groove On
Between 1993 and 2003, metal vocalist Dez Fafara fronted Coal Chamber, one of the groups synonymous with the nu-metal movement. He spent that time decked out in cutesy Goth make-up and black string shirts. Honestly, he looked like a Hot Topic mannequin, for better or worse.
Lordi Rocks in Monster Costumes That Evoke Kiss but Are Much Scarier
It’s been two-and-a-half decades since monster-themed Finnish hard rock band Lordi formed. While they might not have set the United States on fire, the group is big news in Europe.
Datsik Is Bringing the Bass to North America’s Dubstep Capital
Troy Beetles, popularly known as Datsik, feels like a fortunate young man. Since the release of his first tracks in 2009, he’s gradually seen his prominence increase within the dubstep scene and, later, the wider and more lucrative world of EDM.
Ten of the Best Denver Hip-Hop Artists to Watch in 2017
The metro Denver hip-hop and rap scene has been booming for a long time now, although there’s always that nagging feeling that people further afield should be paying more attention. We have artists here that span the various nooks and crannies that make up the genre, creating intelligent and fascinating music. Here are ten artists that could well make a big noise this year, ordered alphabetically.
Talib Kweli Won’t Let Lies Spread Unchecked
Brooklyn hip-hop artist and social activist Talib Kweli has built a career on incisive, intelligent lyrics with his thought-provoking rap. Surrounded by a family of university educators, Kweli came to the public’s attention in 1996 when he appeared on the album Doom by Cleveland group Mood. It was in 2002, with the release of his debut solo album Quality, that he saw his reputation blossom nationally.
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Talib Kweli: “We Were Spoiled by Obama”
Talib Kweli’s voice is generally soft and laid-back, but it can ignite in an instant. When he talks about Trump, the rapper burns.
The 5 and Dimers Bring Authenticity to a Shallow Country World
It’s the oldest story in the book: Two local musicians are booked to play background music at an antiques fair in Littleton, there’s chemistry between the pair of them, and, hey, presto, a new country/Americana outfit is born.
Hazel Miller Provides a Joyful Alternative to Trump’s Inauguration
For many Coloradans, the idea of watching the televised programming is painful. They need alternatives, and thankfully, we have some. One of those is the People’s Inaugural Ball, taking place at the Boulder Theater on Friday night.
Cody Johnson Was a Prison Guard. Now He’s an Outlaw Country Singer
Cody Johnson quit his job as a prison guard to try his hand in country music. Turns out, it was a good choice.
Did Donald Trump Resurrect Dressy Bessy From an Obama-Inspired Eight-Year Nap?
Following an eight-year break, the indie rockers in Denver’s Dressy Bessy returned at the beginning of 2016 with a new album, Kingsized, and they proceeded to pick up where they’d left off, touring the country twice and working their collective asses off.
Denver Metal Band Khemmis Prepares for World Domination
Perhaps the most notable band on the metal spectrum to have emerged from the Denver region in the past couple of years, Khemmis has stormed the national consciousness with a brutally intense combo of Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Neurosis. Yet even the bandmembers were surprised when, at the end…
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Country Singer Randy Rogers Hates Happy Songs
Outlaw country singer Randy Rogers would never risk writing happy tunes.
Meet Virgil Dickerson, the Most Important Player in Denver Music in 2016
At Westword, Virgil Dickerson has been heralded as the most significant figure in Denver music in the past year. When you consider everything Dickerson has been involved in, that’s not a surprising turn of events. Nonetheless, the man himself was surprised.
Verses the Inevitable’s Daniel Hertel Turns His Struggles Into Songs
Daniel Hertel of blues-rock band Verses the Inevitable
Are Protest Songs and Good Songs Mutually Exclusive?
“Protest songs in response to military aggression, Protest songs to try and stop the soldier’s gun, But the battle raged on.” Against Me! – “White People for Peace” From the onset of human endeavor, people have been at war. We as a race have done terrible things to each other…
In Flames Isn’t Going Down
It’s been 27 years since Swedish metal-heads In Flames formed out of the ashes of death-metal troupe Ceremonial Oath, the brainchild of ex-guitarist Jesper Strömblad. In the years that have passed since then, the group has put out twelve studio albums and one EP. Meanwhile, band members have come and gone, and in the case of Björn Gelottem, switched from drums to lead guitar.
Open Music Session: Hang Rounders Brings the Honky Tonk
Last month, the November 2016 Open Music Session welcomed Hang Rounders, a Denver band that insists it’s both country and Western, and is undeniably American roots music at its finest. There is some bluegrass and folk amid the heart-wrenching ballads and barnstorming dance anthems, but there’s a dash of reggae, too.
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Fifteen Classic Protest Songs
They say the personal is political, and the political can be popular music. There’s a long history of mainstream music expressing discontent with government and society. But when we step away from our Facebook soapboxes to join a march, “Fortunate Son” isn’t exactly the most seamless rallying cry for the…
Wesley Watkins Is Back With the Other Black
“The Other Black comes from the idea that music should help,” says Denver musician Wesley Watkins. “People are very afraid of the unknown. I’ve spent a lot of time as an outcast in my life, in the black community, specifically in Denver, but just in the community. I’ve had some very unconventional things happen to me in my life, and with all this election and everything I really want to encourage people to love themselves, so that they can start to love others.”
Ten of the Best Guitarists in Denver — 2016 Edition
While New York, Los Angeles and Nashville have long been home bases to the world’s most talented guitarists, but around Denver there are plenty of top-notch musicians who haven’t fled for more coastal climes. To select our city’s greatest players, we polled our music writers and considered technical proficiency, style, originality and more. We’ve rounded up ten of the best guitarists in Denver, appearing here in alphabetical order. Let us know who we missed.
Ra Ra Riot Keeps Rolling With the Changes
It’s been eight months since New York indie rockers Ra Ra Riot released Need Your Light, the band’s fourth full-length studio album, and since then, 2016 has been a constant stream of touring, press responsibilities and more touring. Ten years into its existence, Ra Ra Riot has got the recording/touring…