Rufus Baxter Is Very Cool

[jump] Editor’s note: Each week, illustrator Noah Van Sciver shares his ongoing story of an 80’s rocker on a road trip through his past with the readers of Backbeat. You can see more of Van Sciver’s work in his new book YOUTH IS WASTED. Rufus Baxter: Part Ten Rufus Baxter:…

Rubedo Is the Voice of the Music Culture of Today

You might hear Rubedo anywhere. In its four and a half years of existence, the Denver trio has played at bars in San Diego and rallies in Civic Center Park. It has played a dance music festival in the shadow of an NFL stadium and an art festival on the…

Meet Denver Supergroup Miss America by Wheary

For Joseph Pope III, who’s played in a number of local acts like Born in the Flood, the Wheel, Fairchildren and is now the front man of Miss America by Wheary, songwriting is like falling in love. “It’s like you’re in this honeymoon period, and you’re just so infatuated and…

Everything Outkast Is Cooler Than

Outkast, now just a handful of shows away from what looks a lot like the end of its performing career, has made something of an art form out of cleverly describing its own level of “cool.” Though the Atlanta duo is far from the first rap group to do so,…

The Drake Vs. Lil Wayne Show Is Spectacular

First of all, whoever decided to present Drake and Lil Wayne in a staged performance competition was fucking brilliant. Taking two radio hip hop stars and giving them equal stage time by weaving their sets together meant the energy during a two-hour set last night at Red Rocks never dissipated;…

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About the Mishawaka

The Mishawaka was homesteaded in 1916, which makes it one of the oldest venues in Colorado. It sits 23 miles from Fort Collins, in Roosevelt National Park, nestled between the raging Poudre river and a canyon wall. It has hosted legends such as Leon Russel, George Clinton, Bela Fleck and…

The 2014 Goldrush Music Festival Schedule

Goldrush Music Festival has always featured a meticulous lineup of local and national artists working with unusual sounds and approaches. This year is the biggest in the four-year history of Goldrush, with headliner Wolf Eyes joining a slew of other exceptional noisemakers on three stages at Larimer Lounge and the…

The Rescue of the Mishawaka

The Mishawaka is tucked between a mountain face and a river in a canyon west of Fort Collins, where it has stood as a music hall for 96 years and an outdoor amphitheater for close to thirty. Despite its storied history, the venue often referred to as the Mish has…

The Ten Best Rock-and-Roll-Themed Pinball Machines

Internet Pinball DatabaseI am a devoted video-game fan and a constant cheerleader for them to be considered art, but honestly, I would give up most of the compelling stories and high-definition graphics in the world for simple pinball machines. They’re crafted and mechanical, and when built with a loving hand,…

Photos: AFI Played the Best Opening Set of the Summer

Yesterday, Linkin Park headlined Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater. That band has aged surprisingly well, as rap-rock goes, but it brought a mighty opener in AFI. No one’s following that band and coming out looking good. Photographer Aaron Thackeray, however, was able to capture some incredible shots of AFI, particularly front man…

Usher, Chrissie Hynde, Little Big Town Announce Denver Shows

Usher brings his UR Experience to the 1STBANK Center on Tuesday, December 2 with August Alsina and DJ Cassidy opening. Tickets ($39-$154) go on sale on Monday, September 15, at 10 a.m. Chrissie Hynde visits the Paramount Theatre as part of her 25-city North American tour in support of her…

The Best Concerts in Denver this Week

Kind of a quiet week, as week’s in Denver’s live music scene go. There are a few good shows before the weekend, though, including Drake and Lil Wayne’s co-headlining tour and Midge Ure at Soiled Dove. Rest up: The weekend’s a doozy, with big shows from Rubedo, Miss America and…

The Eight Worst Albums Ever: Let’s Give Them a Second Chance

Reviewing music is, at best, an inexact science. You may say, “I don’t like The Mountain Goats because John Darnielle’s voice is annoying.” I would respond with, “Fuck you, his voice isn’t annoying at all, you just don’t get it.” That’s pretty much divisive music discourse in a nutshell. But…

The Breeders – Summit Music Hall – September 5, 2014

Siblings are the best. Siblings are people who understand your weirdness because they too, are usually a product of the same upbringing. They are often the only people to agree with you when the rest of the world seems not to. They are also often the best partners in both…

Rufus Baxter Makes a Deal With God

[jump] Editor’s note: Each week, illustrator Noah Van Sciver shares his ongoing story of an 80’s rocker on a road trip through his past with the readers of Backbeat. You can see more of Van Sciver’s work in his new book YOUTH IS WASTED. Rufus Baxter: Part Nine Rufus Baxter:…