Nate “Igor” Smith For five magical days in August, Cave-In-Rock, Illinois hosted one of our favorite events, The Gathering of the Juggalos. Our photographer, Nate “Igor” Smith, took thousands of pictures at the Gathering, but some of the folks he captured stood out more than others. There was the naked…
If the opening chords of “Welcome to the Jungle” don’t trigger some sort of Pavlovian reaction, one in which you suddenly have the urge to shotgun a beer and do a little shimmy from side to side, then you probably don’t know where you are right now. Relax. Don’t panic…
In the wake of the showerless grunge exfoliation of the early ’90s, a slew of post-grunge bands emerged with diluted ditties filled with watered-down lyrics, all seemingly revolving around suffering through romance. Based on the endless stream of crap these bands churned out, these test tube babies were clearly breastfed…
Over the last decade or so, mixtapes have revolutionized the rap game and altered how marketing in general is approached. Not only have the rappers received substantial acclaim, the DJs have, too. Although there are numerous DJs — guys like Statik Selektah, Trap-A-Holics, DJ Khaled, DJ Scream, Big Mike, Nu…
Roots & Rhythm frontman James Speiser and KUVO DJ Erik Troe both know a few things about blues and jazz, so it’s no surprise that the two came up with the concept for Blue Roots Denver, a Denver-produced program that features local blues and jazz musicians. The pilot for the…
Right now I’m between a rock and hard place,” declares Jay Jaramillo, who was recently laid off from his job at Denver Health. “And there’s a part of me that wants to take my music by the horns and just run with it.” That wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing…
Prior to being discovered by Gabe Roth of Daptone Records, who released his superb 2011 debut, No Time for Dreaming, Charles Bradley spent a good chunk of his time impersonating James Brown in Brooklyn clubs. Bradley delved into some fairly dark themes on Dreaming, including heartbreak and the death of…
The hints of an epic journey are easy to find on I Am the Wind, the latest release from Matthew Moon. The record’s twelve tracks all speak of wanderlust; whether Moon is describing nature, deep spiritual transformations or personal relationships, the constant theme here is movement. No wonder, considering these…
Since the release of his 2008 debut, Possible Beginnings, alto saxophonist Aakash Mittal has grown considerably, both as a player and as a composer. He and his quartet have always fused Eastern Indian music and jazz, but on Ocean, which features trumpeter Ron Miles, Mittal pushes things forward with songs…
With The Green Invasion, BurntMD proves that he has most of the tangible tools needed to be a prime-time rapper: a distinctive, gritty voice; a seasoned flow that seems to change every few lines; constant intensity; and detailed, mostly well-written lyrics with unexpected rhymes and schemes. He’s even earned the…
Goer returns from a brief hiatus with a more contemplative, polished approach to its cavernous, post-Radiohead, lo-fi electro-indie pop. The percussion work on opener “Fill Your Cravings,” for instance, incorporates more jazz and trip-hop than the frenetic style found on previous EPs Cove and Like Minds. The use of delay…
Even though rappers and producers share a symbiotic dependence on one another, there’s been an ongoing debate in rap music about who plays the most pivotal role: the one providing the words or the one providing the music. While the MCs obviously get the most shine, would Guru’s words have…
Clearview Films has come a long way since filming its first video in 2009. Shooting over 150 videos since its inception, Clearview has been working hard to make a name for itself in the video game. We tapped Antonio Valenzuela, who’s worked with Clearview on various projects, to catch up…
My Bloody Valentine (due this Monday, August 19, at the Ogden Theatre) started as a post-punk band in the early ’80s, but by 1987, the group embarked on journey of sonic experimentation that resulted in some of the most influential music of the 1990s and beyond. The outfit’s genre-defining 1991…
With plans to expand into the former Kitty’s East space next door, the 2UP recently reopened after being closed for a two-week renovation, which is part of a two-phase construction plan. The second part of the plan involves expansion. The addition, which will increase the size of the arcade/bar by…
Music is life — or at least it is for us. When we’re not writing about it, we’re thinking about it, talking about it or listening to it. These are the things that were in heavy rotation for us this week. What are you listening to? What should we be…
One of the more highly charged bands of the last decade or so, Gogol Bordello (sharing a bill at Red Rocks this Thursday, August 15, with Queens of the Stone Age) has become legendary for its vigorous live sets. The outfit, which injects punk into gypsy music, was started in…
Bad Weather California has reached its natural conclusion. Although the outfit still has a string of dates left to play, including a tour kickoff show is this Thursday, August 15, at the hi-dive, celebrating its brand new EP, Back Seats — due out this week on Fire Talk — Chris…
After hosting Adore Tuesdays at the Living Room for nine months, former Backbeat scribe Ru Black is launching a new Tuesday-night soul series tonight at Epernay Lounge, 1080 14th Street, in the Theatre District. Dubbed the Blueprint, the series is set to kick off this evening with singer, songwriter and…
Excision is making his way back to the Centennial State to rattle the windows at 1STBANK Center for the inaugural Boom Festival featuring Deltron 3030, Funtcase vs Cookie Monsta, Brillz, Ill.Gates and Robotic Pirate Monkey on Friday, November 15. Tickets ($30-$39.75) are on sale now. Continue on to see what…
Daniel Hill and Drew Ailes are covering the annual Gathering of the Juggalos in Cave-in-Rock, Illinois for our sister publication, The Riverfront Times. Nate “Igor” SmithCody Morin, juggalo and Make-A-Wish recipient. We first heard about seventeen-year old Cody Morin on our way in to Cave-In-Rock, Illinois, site of the fourteenth-annual…
Is it the end of the year already? Of course not. It’s only August, silly. Still, no reason you can’t start making plans for New Year’s Eve right now, particularly if you’re fond of Big Head Todd and the Monsters. If so, might want to snag a babysitter now. After…
