Flight of the Conchords and Karen Kilgariff Thursday, May 15, 2008 Ellie Caulkins Opera House Better Than: Making an ass of yourself. The idiots were out in full-force last night at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, a remarkable concert venue that I had never been to and feels like, I…

The BellRays, Architects, The Knew, The Dicky Jaguar Band Thursday, May 15, 2008 Larimer Lounge Better Than: Bothering to get any sleep last night. So, you say you want to be a rock star, eh? Well, think twice. As the members of the BellRays can attest, the rock star lifestyle…

Yet another Denver band has officially been spoken for, and for once, the rumors were actually true: Breathe Carolina has indeed inked a deal with Rise Records, the Oregon-based imprint that previously released the debut recordings of Fear Before the March of Flames and Drop Dead, Gorgeous…

Photo by Aerin Film School, Monofog, Fucking Orange Saturday, May 10, 2008 hi-dive Better Than: That time I saw Mind Bomb at 7 South. Yikes. While I was ultimately pleased with the music I heard Saturday night at the hi-dive, I was initially less than certain that I’d walk out…

Detroit Cobras, Super 400 and Yerkish Friday, May 9 The Falcon You’d never know that Yerkish was missing a guitar player. Down an axeman, Nate Huisgen pulled double-duty — not an easy task considering the band’s complex song structures that border on math-rock. But with his creative approach, Huisgen relied…

Phil Lesh and Friends Friday, May 9, 2008 Fillmore Auditorium Better Than: Crying into your beer at Sancho’s Broken Arrow next door because you couldn’t find a ticket. Walking into the sold-out Lesh show was interesting; there was an ice-cream truck parked out front, people selling various psychedelic paraphernalia and…

Photo by Tom Murphy Nudity with Temples and Outer Neon Friday, May 9, 2008 Glob Glob Glob, Colorado Springs Better Than: Most of the neo-classic rock out there. Tight Bros. From Way Back When only played Denver once during its entire career, and that was on June 15, 1999 at…

Laura Veirs and Liam Finn Friday, May 9, 2008 The Walnut Room Better Than: Six Months in a Leaky Boat. Digital looping pedals, which have been around for at least the past two decades, have made it fairly simple for one musician to sound like multiple musicians. A guy can…

Betcha didn’t know that Dylan played the piano for a stripper in Central City once. Okay, so maybe some of you did, but I certainly didn’t. Not until I stumbled across this Times Online article touting unreleased photos of the young troubadour taken by his friend Barry Feinstein (none were…

Wilco Thursday, May 8, 2008 Pikes Peak Center, Colorado Springs Better Than: The last time I saw Wilco at the Fillmore. The first time I heard the live version of Wilco’s “Handshake Drugs” from Kicking Television I was floored by the guitar solo in the middle and the pure sonic…

Just received word from Live Nation (natch) that the world’s tastiest sweetheart” will be bringing her, um, Sticky & Sweet tour to the Pepsi Center on Saturday, November 1Tuesday, November 11. (My bad. Thanks for pointing out the error, Carlos). Tickets for Madge’s first-ever trip to the Mile High City…

C’mon, you didn’t really think you’d make it through Thursday without a Flobots’ (still numero uno at Twist & Shout and currently holding down the third slot on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart, BTW) update, now, did you? On Tuesday, May 20, the outfit’s label, Universal Republic, is slated to unleash…

“Hey, you guys like magic?” It was Saturday night, and I was standing outside Scruffy Murphy’s, 2030 Larimer Street, with Chris Shelby, Dave Lamoth, Braden Rauen and Andy McQueen of sixtysixdays, a local Irish-rebel-music band taking a smoke break before starting their first set of the evening. We were catching…

Fresh off of an overheated performance at Coachella launching its latest tour, DeVotchKa continues to garner great national exposure. Next Friday, May 16, NPR will be broadcasting the act’s Washington DC show at 9:30 Club live for its All Songs Considered program. Then, three nights later, the eve before its…

So, the one and only Metropolitan Tom Waits, once a mainstay around these parts, has announced his summer tour plans. Guess what… no Denver date!! Two freaking shows in Phoenix (two!!), and he’s even making his way to St. Louis, but nothing for us?! Waits explains the glaring oversight routing,…

Click here for more photos by Brian Folkins. The Hollyfelds and Three Miles West Friday, May 2, 2008 The Walnut Room The Hollyfelds are a country band – a fact that co-lead singer Eryn Hoerig made sure to point out. Although this was pretty obvious after the band’s first song,…

Cut Copy and Black Kids Saturday, May 3, 2008 Larimer Lounge Better Than: Seeing New Order. A lot better. It’s a rare thing to see a tour bus parked in front of Larimer Lounge. Vans with trailers are a lot more common. They don’t hand out buses to just any…

Kool Keith, ManeLine and the Americans Saturday, May 3 2008 The Oriental Theater Better than: Trying to get a cab home from the Oriental Theater. How often do you imagine meeting someone famous? Do you wonder if they’ll be nice, or a complete jackass? Likewise what about a band or…

Destroyer and Josh Queen Saturday, May 3, 2008 The Walnut Room Friday night’s gig at the Walnut Room marked a bit of an anniversary for opener Josh Queen. His first Denver show after moving here from North Carolina a year ago was at this intimate club. Armed with just a…

Photo: Claudia López Bad Weather California, Velella Velella and Hearts of Palm Friday, May 2, 2008 hi-dive Better Than: being profoundly and painfully alone on a Friday night With apologies to the Geto Boys: Damn, it feels good to be in Denver! I know I’ve beaten this dead horse so…