Churchill is releasing its debut full-length, Happy/Sad, tonight at the hi-dive. It’s been a long time coming — the band has been around for more than two years, and this album has been in the works for half that time. The album, partially funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign, is…
Lady Gaga’s back with “Born This Way,” which was officially released to much fanfare on her web site. It’s a ridiculous, home-run swing of a pop anthem, replete with about a thousand keyboard tracks and a full-choir chorus that gets an a capella breakdown the last time through. Gaga, somewhat…
Monster Jam is back in Denver this weekend, bringing with it some thirty tons of flying truck. You know the basic idea here — overgrown toys flying over dirt and crushing old junked sedans — but there’s structure to a Monster Jam show that many may not be acquainted with…
During last Friday’s Larians show at Astroland in Boulder, someone stole well over $700 in cash from the venue. The space needed $850 for February’s already overdue rent, and donations were solicited on Facebook. By Monday, $1,000 had come in from 25 donors. We talked to founder Zack Roif, a…
If middle-school boys ran the world, everyone would drive monster trucks everywhere. And just because most people get old and lame doesn’t mean the dream is dead. Welcome to the Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam, which includes six monster trucks, all with badass names like Grave Digger and El Toro…
When the Broadway production of the explicit rock musical Spring Awakening first came to town in December 2009, the folks at Denver Center Attractions were a little worried. Although spokeswoman Genevieve Miller says the play “deals with the issues in a really thoughtful way,” the organization didn’t want to risk…
The 53rd ceremony to determine the absolute best music! It’s Grammy time, people, when we all leap off our couches to buy that Lady Gaga album from 2009 once we all realize it’s the best album of 2010. But seriously: the only people paying attention to who wins are people…
Brian Jacques, author of the Redwall series, died over the weekend of an aortic aneurysm. He was 71 years old. Jacques, who also wrote short stories and the Castaways of the Flying Dutchman series, holds a special places in the heart of a certain type of nerd who grew up…
For those of you who work from your laptops (ahem), getting an Internet connection is a daily requirement. There are two companies who will provide Internet to your home/apartment here in Denver and a few types of places you’re likely to seek out if you’re looking to walk out your…
There was a mini-rash of adorable teen stars rapping Nicki Minaj last week when Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez both paid homage to “Super Bass.” Not sure how either came to the conclusion that attempting to rap would be good for them in some way, but they aren’t the first…
Bethany Cosentino and Nathan Williams are too good to be true. She makes surf pop as Best Coast; he makes surf punk as Wavves. They used to date when they were younger and stupider; now they’re famous and back together, happily tweeting out a new relationship. It’s like a stoner…
Locus takes itself out from under the loose, ugly modern-rock umbrella with unexpected instruments — strings and tribal drums, mostly. The band is much better off leaning in that direction. When the players go for straight-up dead lifting with the guitar and testosterone-fueled vocals, as they do on “Vices,” they…
Lou Barlow is no fool. His sad-man side project, Sebadoh, released some of the first great lo-fi rock albums some twenty years ago, and he’s not about to stand idly by while the I Love the ’90s train rolls through contemporary pop culture. This tour coincides with the re-release of…
Sasquatch became the second major summer festival to announce its lineup last night. The George, Washington (kills us every time) indie-fest is always heavy on the hipster bait, but this year is egregious. The top of the bill looks like this: Foo Fighters, Death Cab for Cutie, Modest Mouse, Wilco,…
The Super Bowl is the biggest TV event of the year. And not just for the actual game — it affords the host station a massive audience for the post-game show (Glee this year) and other stations the opportunity of 106 million potential channel surfers in America alone. Animal Planet…
There will never be more people watching a musical performance at one time than during the Super Bowl, so it’s a good thing they always pick legends. In order, starting the year after Nipplegate: Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Prince, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, the Who and the Black Eyed…
Red Bastard comes to Boulder this weekend for some of the character’s final shows before creator Eric Davis heads to Cirque du Soleil. A huge part of the Red Bastard show is engaging the audience in sometimes uncomfortable ways. Interacting with the audience in ways that range from challenging to…
Thrifty Astronaut, the musical project of Nick Jones from Fort Collins, released the album Caffeine Heartache last fall. Jones, sitting on some extra demos, decided to ask a handful of Colorado bands to contribute remixes to release with the leftovers. “Almost none of what I got back was anything like…
Red Bastard is a self-described “monster” of cartoonish proportions, dressed in red spandex. Still, Eric Davis, who created and performs the character, has a piece of advice for people going into the show: “Don’t be scared.” You would be forgiven for being a bit scared, however: Red Bastard is famously…
South Broadway craft and clothing staple Fancy Tiger has new digs, and the store is celebrating with a free grand reopening tonight. The evening will start much like Fancy Tiger’s other First Friday Denver Made showcases, featuring local jewelry, bath and beauty products and a print line. Later, DJ Andy…
What kind of mini-golf course requires you to sign a liability waiver? Well, traveling art/mini-golf/drinking lounge Smash Putt! Miniature Golf Apocalypse, for one. “We want to make sure everybody stays safe and nobody sticks their hands into the robot drill press,” says Jeremy Franklin-Ross, part of a group of artists…
Rihanna released her video for “S&M” this week and suddenly everyone has decided it’s smut. The video is being met with widespread blushing, including an “inappropriate” flag on Youtube and a potential re-edit from MTV. But, as Rihanna herself pointed out, she’s actually less naked in this video than she…
