Stella Luce

Eastern Europe isn’t as far as from the Front Range as it might seem. Not only does Colorado have the gypsy-inflected DeVotchKa, but Wovenhand has also tapped into a little Old World mysticism on its latest album. Fort Collins’s Stella Luce isn’t as well known as those bands, but its…

Munly & the Lupercalians

Jay Munly’s presence can be a bit frightening at times. And with some of the Lupercalians wearing black robes and cone hats and others wearing burlap hoods at their shows, the whole experience treads on the verge of being downright creepy — probably not something you’d want to take your…

Drop 6

There are several factors working against Drop 6 that make its latest album laughably bad. For starters, Grip the Wheel takes the worst parts of classic rock and pop punk and throws in a singer that sounds like James Hetfield running up a flight of stairs. The song “Alcohant” takes…

Otem Rellik

Toby Hendricks, who performs under the Otem Rellik moniker, sounds more than comfortable in his own skin, despite the melancholy and emotional intensity expressed across this album. But if the stark “Empty Coffins” is any indication, that doesn’t mean he’s toned down any of his edge. “The Four Sided Secret”…

Guitar hero: An evening with Richard Thompson at the Boulder Theater

Richard Thompson probably isn’t the first name that comes to mind when listing the greatest guitarists of all time, but it should be. In his seventh decade of existence, Thompson is a respected figure among those who appreciate superb musicianship informed by a rich imagination. Thompson first came to prominence…

U.K. DJ Itchy Robot on October 1 at Milk

The U.K.’s Itchy Robot is a man who’s got a knack for nomenclature. His own nom de tune may be one of the best names for a dubstep DJ/producer ever — something about it captures the essence of dubstep nearly perfectly. Turning to his song titles, you’ll find such memorable…

YouTube is a secret mother lode for mash-up makers and remixers

Click “play” on that video. What do you hear? Why, it’s the classic Oasis track “Wonderwall,” sans any musical backing. Now, upon hearing that, you will have one of two reactions — you will ask yourself, “Why do I care about this?” or you will say, “Wow! I could totally…

B.B. King, DJ Shadow, Os Mutantes shows announced

Master bluesman B.B. King, who seems to visit these parts a couple times a year, returns to the Boulder Theater on Saturday, January 22. Tickets ($77.50 general admission, $96.50 reserved, $124.50 gold circle) go on sale this Saturday, October 2, at 10 a.m. , When DJ Shadow hits the Ogden…

Band philanthropy: Itchy-O reaches its Kickstarter fundraising goal

Itchy-O Marching Band from Mixtec Media on Vimeo. Over the weekend, local impromptu electro-percussion act the itchy-O Marching Band hit its fundraising goal of $3,000. The funds, which have different pledge rewards, are being allotted to the recording of a five-song EP and a short documentary about the band. It’s…

Last Night(s): Furthur at Red Rocks 9/24/2010-9/26/2010

FURTHUR 9/24/2010 – 9/26/2010 | Red Rocks Amphitheatre In some way or another, the surviving members of the Grateful Dead have kept things alive for the last fifteen years. Bassist Phil Lesh has been the hardest touring, with his ever-evolving lineup of Phil and Friends. Guitarist Bob Weir also took…

Last Night: The Cult electrifies the Ogden Theatre – 9/25/10

THE CULT With The Black Ryder 9/25/2010 | Ogden Theater, Denver Sydney, Australia’s the Black Ryder opened the show with an impressive array of songs that seemed to overt take some overt cues from modern psychedelic rock bands like Brian Jonestown Massacre and early Verve. But Aimee Nash’s undeniable mystique…

Photos: Strung Out at the Ogden Theatre, 9/26/10

SoCal punk stalwarts Strung Out played the Ogden Theatre last night with Rufio, We Are The Union and Synthetic Elements. Aaron Thackeray, our resident shutterbug, was on hand and shot these photos. Below are a few highlights. And if you missed it on Friday, read this interview with Strung Out…

Last night: School of Seven Bells – 09/24/10

SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS With Active Child and DJ Peter Black 09.24.10 | Larimer Lounge, Denver Peter Black kicked off the evening with an hour-long set of remixes he’s done for various artists, including songs by Chris & Cosey, Blonde Redhead and Glasser. Black moved in time with the music…

Last night: Skylab lifts the Coliseum into deep space – 09/25/10

SKYLAB Ferry Corsten, Bad Boy Bill, DJ Irene, Dieselboy and Wolfgang Gartner 09.25.10 | Denver Coliseum The lineup at Skylab this year was impressive, featuring names that have been in the electronic-music scene for a long time, including hard-house diva DJ Irene and one of the mainstays of Chicago house,…

Last Night: Matt and Kim light up the Ogden Theatre – 9/24/10

Matt and Kim • So So Glos • Picture Plane 09.24.10 | Ogden Theatre, Denver The hyper-positive drum-and-keyboard duo of Matt and Kim: From playing DIY art spaces to packing grand old joints like the Ogden Theatre, you have to wonder how much bigger the Brooklyn-proud (we’ll get to that…

Katy Perry proves too hot for Sesame Street

Katy Perry is inappropriate for children. That’s the message that went out today when the Sesame Workshop, who produce the long-running Sesame Street, announced they’d be nixing the pop tart’s already completed guest appearance with Elmo. The reason? The video caused an uproar when it was prereleased on YouTube, thanks…

Crimson & Gold to open near the University of Denver

When brothers Kevin and Craig Caldwell took over the former Aroma Cafe at 2017 South University Boulevard near the end of 2009, they’d hoped to reopen the spot as the Crimson & Gold Tavern in the spring. But in February, they were denied a liquor license; turns out the address…

Critic’s Choice: Lady Parts, September 24 at the hi-dive

Chamber pop has been done to death at this point. But with Lady Parts, Katie Gold and Becky Christian have taken the idea to another realm. Using classical and electronic instruments, the duo writes songs that seem to come right out of a William Morris or George MacDonald fantasy novel,…

School of Seven Bells

Named after a mythical pickpocket academy in South America, School of Seven Bells is made up of former members of some noteworthy experimental bands such as Tripping Daisy, Secret Machines and On! Air! Library! With this latest project, the trio creates a sound that sometimes recalls the spacious krautrock leanings…