Filmmaker Shannon Kelly was getting his commission to make a film for display at Denver International Airport around the time he first and last saw a band whose music seemed to fit his cinematic vision: Pteranodon. Kelly had been a film student at CU and rubbed shoulders with the likes of…
Ladysmith Black Mambazo returned to Denver last night and performed for a full house at the L2 Church on Colfax, presented by Swallow Hill Music. The South African vocal ensemble has been entertaining audiences around the world for more than five decades, traversing the globe and historical milestones. Over this…
Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom celebrated its fourteenth anniversary on January 15, which featured a performance by Everyone Orchestra to celebrate. Everyone Orchestra is an improvised band that features a list of revolving musicians and includes such luminaries as Oteil Burbridge (Dead & Company, Allman Brothers Band), Michael Kang (String Cheese Incident), Michael Travis (String…
“This is the most interesting thing we do all year,” Murder By Death frontman Adam Turla said a few songs into the Indiana-bred band’s 28-song, two-hour set at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park on Saturday night. And that’s saying a lot, as the indie-Americana quintet with a twisted gothic…
Formed in Los Angeles in 1994, electro-metal band Orgy earned themselves some serious international fame when they put out the Candyass album in ’98, and the subsequent single, a cover of New Order’s “Blue Monday.” Following a third album in 2004, Punk Statik Paranoia, the band went away for six years. Frontman Jay Gordon kept busy…
Todd Rundgren headlines the Oriental Theater tonight while Tony Lucca is at the Walnut Room tomorrow and Orgy and Cut Chemist are town on Wednesday. See our picks for the next four days below. MONDAY, JANUARY 18 Todd Rundgren $40, 8:30 p.m. Oriental Theater Monday Night Menagerie $15, 7 p.m. Cervantes’…
When Todd Rundgren toured last year in support of his latest electronica-driven effort, Global, he only brought DJ Dam Funk (who manned a laptop and a keyboard) and two female singer/dancers on the road with him. The shows, including one at the Bluebird Theater in August, were largely made up…
Over the past five years, Tucker Gumber has been to more than 90 festivals. And he has come away from them with a simple message for festival promoters: Step it up, guys. “Every festival has something that they can do a little better,” says the 32-year-old Colorado native, speaking by…
For an inspirational setting to record their forthcoming album (release date TBA) , Dragondeer dug deep into the heart of California’s Topanga Canyon. The idyllic area, located in the Santa Monica Mountains, has long been a safe haven and a place of respite for storied musicians like Bob Dylan, Neil…
There’s an impressive assortment of music in town this weekend, including SunSquabi at the Ogden Theatre, Ladysmith Black Mambazo at L2 Church, Cervantes’ 14th Anniversary with Everyone Orchestra, and Car Seat Headrest at hi-dive. See the full list of our picks below. FRIDAY, JANUARY 15 SunSquabi $17/$20, 9 p.m. Ogden Theatre…
The Blue Rider is the kind of band that must be experienced live. That’s not to diminish the band’s records, which are captivating in their own right. But through speakers, Blue Rider sounds a bit like you’re playing an obscure Doors record at the wrong RPM. It’s loud and convoluted,…
When Denver band One Flew West set out to make the music video for the single “Had It All” (which debuted this week) the band got help from an unexpected place: students at University of Colorado Denver. The Cam Records course is a requirement of the music business program at…
Bassnectar heads up Bass Center 2016 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Friday, July 29, and Saturday, July 30. In addition to extended Bassnectar sets, Flux Pavilion, Flying Lotus, Lupe Fiasco, Minnesota and Dabin will perform on Friday, and Wu-Tang Clan, Porter Robinson, AlunaGeorge, G Jones and Thriftworks will perform…
The death of David Bowie last Sunday night has inspired a glittery torrent of online appreciations and remembrances. Facebook quickly became the venue where we could face the strange change of a world without the cultural icon, but once we’ve finished reading the heartfelt reflections and ogling old photos of Bowie…
When you think about Boulder, do you think about modern post-punk? Probably not. But in 2013, the four members of Male Blonding got together in drummer Andrew Bair’s house bedroom—with no specific agenda in mind—and that’s what they made. That day they wrote “Still Parts,” a song that appeared on the…
Although its name is menacing, the Ominous DJ night has become one of the most inclusive musical events in Denver, and may soon loom large beyond the city’s subcultures. The monthly alternative dance party, which rolls out at Tracks nightclub, is an extravaganza of music and visual elements, as well…
This weekend hip hop star G-Eazy graduated from the smaller venues he played last time he hit Denver, and instead brought his lackadaisical flow and slick hair to the 1STBANK Center. The 26-year-old’s second album, When It’s Dark Out, debuted near the top of the the Billboard hip hop/R&B charts,…
Will Toledo didn’t christen his musical project Car Seat Headrest because he wanted to prove his tunes were strong enough under the burden of the world’s worst band name. No, the moniker alludes instead to early recording sessions during which the high-school-age Will wailed into a computer while sitting in…
Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom and its little brother, Cervantes’ Other Side, have been a hallmark for Denver concertgoers for well over a decade now, and these stomping grounds show no signs of slowing their roll. With fourteen years under their belt of hosting world-famous musicians, local up-and-comers and everyone in between, Cervantes is throwing…
For diehard fans of a veteran band, there are few things more demoralizing than when the classic lineup gets fractured, due to in-fighting or other circumstances, leading to two (or more) versions of the band on the touring circuit. It happened with Black Flag, Saxon, Sweet, LA Guns and Queensryche, and that’s exactly…
This week’s shows includes a diverse section of acts including blues guitarist Sonny Landreth, alt-pop singer Austin Jones, jazz trumpeter Wallace Roney, country singer Aaron Watson as well as classical ensembles the Brooklyn Rider and Takacs Quartet. See the full list of our picks below. MONDAY, JANUARY 11 Takács Quartet…
The Meadowlark punted the inaugural edition of its new weekly DJ night, Thursday Kicks, by featuring guest spinner Jello Biafra. Biafra, former frontman of punk legends Dead Kennedys, played a set of all-vinyl punk and garage rock, mixing in favorites and oddities. All photos by Kenneth Hamblin. Read more about…
