Reckless Kelly Puts Business Before Pleasure

“In this day and age, an artist should never go on stage without understanding their business,” says Jay Nazz, drummer with Austin country-rock band Reckless Kelly. Let’s let those words sink in for a minute, because not only are they potentially artistically apocalyptic when you think of the countless talented…

Journey Is Safe but Never Dull

To many people, the word “Journey” inspires thoughts of everything that can go wrong with rock and roll: bland lyrics, bubblegum-pop melodies, chugging riffs and technical ability given priority over soul. To others, the band represents everything great about music: anthemic choruses, bubblegum-pop melodies, chugging riffs and technical ability given…

888 Drops the Screaming and Revisits the 1980s

Those who remember the Denver screamo band Drop Dead, Gorgeous, which ceased to exist in 2011, might struggle to reconcile the intense punk noise that band created with the delicate synth-driven music that a few of the bandmembers make with their new project, 888. Sort of. Because if you explore…

Melissa Etheridge Rediscovers Her Soul

As we sit right in the middle of the silliest political silly season in living memory, L.A. rocker Melissa Etheridge, never one to keep her thoughts to herself (thankfully), is aghast at what is unfolding. Somehow, though, she finds some hope in the chaotic circus playing out in all of…

Dirty Heads Make a Clean Start With Self-Titled Album

In recent years, packed local performances by bands like Soja and Iration have proven that contemporary reggae fused with indie rock into a jam band-esque package is incredibly popular in these parts. Put those bands on at Red Rocks during the summer months, and you can practically guarantee a full…

Open Music Session: The Take Gives Back at Open Media Foundation

On Friday, August 5, the Open Media Foundation hosts its next monthly free Open Music Session event, which will feature musical guests Me Me Monster, the Corner Girls and Kenny Lee Young, as well as comedian Miriam Moreno. Last month, the July 2016 Open Music Session welcomed indie rockers the Take. The…

Vic Mensa Saves His Flow for the Stage

Chicago rapper Vic Mensa, real name Victor Kwei Mensah, is one of the most respected new names on the circuit. From his beginnings with the group Kids These Days to his collaborations with Chance the Rapper in the collective Savemoney, right through to his recent team-up with Damon Albarn’s virtual…

Ten More of the Best DJs in Denver – 2016 Edition

It’s been a couple of months since we published our list of “Ten of the Best DJs in Denver Right Now,” but the electronic music scene in Denver is so rich and vibrant that we were never going to do it justice with just ten entries. A follow-up was always…

Warren Haynes Can’t Get Enough of Red Rocks

Having played with the likes of the Allman Brothers Band, Gov’t Mule, and Grateful Dead spinoff band the Dead for many years now, guitarist Warren Haynes is like a figure from a jam-band fan’s wet dream. Naturally, the North Carolina native is also a bit of a favorite among Colorado…

The Broke Music Fan’s Guide to Denver: Fanzines

Fanzines have helped form part of the popular musical landscape since, well, popular music began. In the modern era, pretty much anyone can start an online zine with minimal, if not zero, costs. Why wouldn’t you get some of that action? Who knows? You might get into a few shows…

Lita Ford, the Babys and the Sweet Resurrected at Hudson Gardens

Lita Ford, the Babys and the Sweet — the three sets of musicians that made up Sunday night’s killer bill at the Hudson Gardens, the fourth show in this year’s summer concert series, have stories coming out of their collective wazoos. From splits and reunions to abusive relationships to the…

The Broke Music Fan’s Guide to Denver: The Internet

While we would never recommend illegally downloading somebody’s art, the Internet is still a veritable garden of riches for the broke music fan. If you’re reading this, you’re online already. All you have to do is navigate. 1. Youtube. Youtube is a solid place to start to get your fix…

Florence + the Machine Brought the Love to Denver

The Pepsi Center is a cavernous place to watch a concert. There are arenas like it all around the world. Basketball jerseys hang from the incredibly high ceiling, concrete stairs run top to bottom, and the sound can echo all around the joint. On Thursday evening, however, Florence Welch’s voice…