Kenny Chesney

Depending on whom you ask, Kenny Chesney represents everything that’s wrong with country music today: His songs stretch the once-tried-and-true country conventions so far that with the exception of the twang in his voice and the pedal-steel guitars, it scarcely resembles country, at least the kind once made by the…

Watsky

Watsky is a San Franciscan poet/rapper, now based in Los Angeles, who first gained recognition as a slam poet. As a performer, he’s about as diverse as they come: serious, silly, cocky and heartfelt — sometimes all at once. His cross-genre appeal is demonstrated by his impressively varied resumé: winner…

The Newsboys and the New Boyz duke it out in a Tennessee court

The Lord notwithstanding, there were a couple of awesome things about growing up in the Calvinist parochial school system. JK — there was nothing awesome about growing up in the Calvinist parochial school system, but some aspects of it were more bearable than others. For example, sitting in chapel for…

Bonnie and the Beard

It’s a shame the HBO series Carnivàle was canceled in ’05, because Bonnie and the Beard’s new album, Cascavel, would have made an excellent soundtrack for the gothic dust bowl of romanticized madness. Thick with a whiskey-and-humidity aesthetic, Cascavel is an appropriate release for the relentless triple-digit afternoons we’ve been…

Wymond Miles reflects on life in Denver

Around a decade ago, Wymond Miles was part of a core group of underground bands in Denver whose loose affiliation included the likes of 16 Horsepower, Tarmints, Space Team Electra and the Czars. In his late teens, Miles became involved in the experimental-rock band Annik, but by the end of…

Zoologist

No need to check your equipment if you’re listening to this record at night: Those are crickets you hear on the recording — or an electronic analog of crickets. Did John Gross and Todd Novosad sample animals for virtually all of the sounds here? Possibly. It’s also entirely possible that…

Mid Wes_T & Ze

Apothic Nights, Vol. 1 is a collaboration between a pair of underdogs from two different crews: Mid Wes_T from Da Krew and Zé from Diamond Boiz. The sharp production makes for an easy listen, but the sounds hit a little harder than the rhymes; the beatmaking, handled largely by TC…

The Pretty Sure

There is nothing subtle about the Pretty Sure’s new EP. From frontman Arlo White’s gritty, basement-show vocals to the showstopping guitar to the je-ne-say-what lyrics (“I’ll be a werewolf for you, mama”) that permeate the entire album, this quartet betrays a distinctly Black Lips attitude and blues-punk aesthetic chased with…

SP Double at Gothic Theatre, 7/14/12

SP DOUBLE @ GOTHIC THEATRE | 7.14.12 See Also: – SP Double has come a long way, and it shows – Mr. Midas on Son of the Crack Era, hip-hop unity and the downfall of King Midas – Morning Star is striving to make his rise in the Denver rap…

Owl City at Bluebird Theater, 7/15/12

OWL CITY @ BLUEBIRD THEATER | 7.15.12 See Also: Q&A with Adam Young of Owl City Last night we were all invited to worship at the church of Owl City. The service? Held at the Bluebird Theater, sold-out and led by singer-songwriter-guitarist-keyboardist, Adam Young. Besides following along to Young’s multiple,…

Liars at Bluebird Theater, 7/13/12

LIARS @ BLUEBIRD THEATER | 7/13/12 See Also: Liars dance to the beat of their own drum After one of many short pieces of connecting music that resembled a science fiction movie synth sound backed by a big bass pulse, Julian Gross came in with the urgent, curiously toy-like, drum…

Photos: 2012 Westword Music Showcase awards party

Westword threw a party Thursday, July 12 at the Bluebird Theater to give out awards to our 2012 Westword Music Showcase winners, followed by a BLKHRTS show. Emily Driskill brings back these rowdy photos of musicians, bands, fans and more from the evening…

The 2012 Westword Music Showcase Awards, via the Interwebz

Westword threw a party Thursday, July 12 at the Bluebird Theater to give out awards to our 2012 Westword Music Showcase winners, followed by a BLKHRTS show. If you missed out on the free booze and great music, catch up with us through Twitter and Instagram below. See Also: -…

Great American Techno Festival lineup revealed

See Also: – First annual Great American Techno Festival to hit Great American Beer Festival – The Great American Techno Festival aims to give beer geeks a place to dance – Denver’s Ten Best Dance Clubs Technoheads, mark your calendars! The lineup for the second annual Great American Techno Festival…

Grizzly Rock grand opening this Saturday

See Also: Grizzly Rock opening in former After the Gold Rush/Club Arriba spot Voice Places: The Grizzly Rose Voice Places: The Grizzly Rock When Grizzly Rose owner Scott Durland took over the former After the Gold Rush space last year, he was originally hoping to open Grizzly Rock in its…