Concerts

Kurt Elling and Eliane Elias, both Grammy-nominated vocalists, headline this year’s JazzFest Denver at Dazzle this weekend. Elling’s warm baritone can stretch over four octaves and he honed his chops by listening to Mark Murphy, Jon Hendricks and other crooners before him. The guy’s a mad scatter, as well as…

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if the members of Alan Alda are joking. Engaging the threesome is like stepping straight into a steady barrage of inside jokes, tongue-in-cheek pop-culture references and friendly sarcasm. Levity is clearly part of this group’s inner workings. But the casual tone shifts abruptly to earnestness…

Not long ago, Runsfasterscared signed with Forgotten Empire Records — a good match for the band, considering the label’s focus on over-the-edge experimental metal. Apparently, the marriage has been a good one: The Pueblo-based five-piece has been grinding away in the studio and is set to release a new full-length…

Martin Sexton is a singer’s singer. Whereas most male vocalists are tethered by timbre to a particular style, Sexton bends his voice with the fluid flexibility of a skilled instrumentalist, adapting to fit his frequent stylistic tangents with aplomb. An instrumental analogy is apt, as Sexton is equally likely to…

The big question about underground hip-hop supergroup the Mighty Underdogs is this: Does the whole equal the sum of its parts? After all, when you add together MCs Gift of Gab (Blackalicious) and Lateef the Truthspeaker (Latryx) with producer Headnotic (Crown City Rockers), you’d expect the result to be something…

Joanne Germanotta, who goes by Lady GaGa, has the young Madge’s shtick down cold. Note the Entertainment Weekly interview in which she declared herself to be “great at art” and determined to make “important” music even as she claimed that the line “I wanna take a ride on your disco…

This Santa Cruz-based trio warps time and space by mining the traditions of bluegrass, Appalachian folk and a smidge of ragtime to produce throwback roots music that deserves the country designation far more than anything coming out of Nashville. Guitarist Cooper McBean, upright-bassist Lucia Turino and guitarist/lead vocalist Pete Bernhard…

Often compared to reverb-savvy pop acts of the ’60s with a healthy dose of the drone-heavy noise rock pioneered by the Velvet Underground, Calgary’s Women go beyond that well-worn template. A casual listen to the group’s self-titled debut places it firmly in line with the aesthetic of ambitious, retro, lo-fi…

Scenesters regularly debate whether or not this fair city has ever produced a signature musical approach, as opposed to the kind associated with borrower bands that just happen to be based here (read: the Fray). In fact, there have been a number of Mile High styles over the years, including…

While vocalist Ayo Awosika might have steeped herself in the music of jazz singers Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Carmen McRae, she delves into more of a soul/folk amalgam on her new EP. As the title suggests, the disc is filled with songs coming from the singer’s heart, especially on…

With a furious brevity that makes even Jodie Foster’s Army seem self-indulgent by comparison, Dethbox’s debut seven-inch boasts an unlikely nineteen tracks, most clocking in at under thirty seconds. Largely a skate-punk/hardcore litany of misanthropic sentiments, Oofda!! is not without its moments of obvious humor and inspired angsty extravagance. “Hatexedgexonxthexstraightxedge”…

Take a walk on the dark, grimy side of Colorado’s electronic underground with DCR All-Stars Volume 1, a six-track introduction to Dirty Circuit Records. The strongest cut is the last, Rumblejunkie’s “Bumps in the Night,” a tight, accomplished mix of snappy breakbeats, sharp-edged synths and growling sub-bass, all topped off…

As a native of Israel and now a citizen of this country, Kelli Rudick has infused her roots and experiences into a groundbreaking style as a guitar soloist. With broad influences ranging from Steve Reich to Mozart, she’s a completely self-taught musician excelling in composition, guitar, array mbira, nail violin…

Calling Chick Corea one of the most important keyboard players in the history of jazz is almost an understatement. His style — influenced by Latin music and classical composition as much as bebop and blues — is uniquely ornate and melodic, and he’s constantly challenging himself by playing in new…

It’s hard to imagine a more fitting place for the music of Ten and Tracer than the vastness of space. So it’s quite fitting that his Saturday, March 21, appearance is at Equinox, a show in Boulder’s Fiske Planetarium (2414 Regent Drive). The abstract, alien soundscapes are made up of…

I’ve never quite understood Scotch whiskey, which probably shows my lack of experience (and adventure). Jameson, Maker’s Mark — I’m all over that stuff, but try to pour me some Macallan, and I’ll think it’s the booze version of sweetbreads or something. And somehow, I just got in my head…

Other than maybe being the opening act for someone like Jay-Z or Kanye West, what could be better than opening for the Denver Nuggets? The folks at Jewell Tyme Music (home to artists F.O.E., 800 the Jewell, Karma and others) will join Paradox, Maddnis and Sista Soul as pre-game hosts…

Just received word that the five members of Houses will be roaming around on the 16th Street Mall tonight, playing guitars, singing and entertaining the mall-walking troops. While we’re not entirely sure which five members of Houses will be on hand — the act is comprised of Andrew James Hamilton,…

Why someone didn’t think of this sooner is anyone’s guess. And if Southwest Airlines hasn’t given this guy a raise yet, for chrissakes, what are y’all waiting for? Seriously. We’re switching our next flight to Southwest in hopes of coming across David Holmes, the world’s foremost (and perhaps only) rapping flight attendant…

In what has to be one of the most creative, clever and possibly insane marketing stunts I’ve ever witnessed, the BDRMPPL have promised to hand-deliver their latest release, a split 7-inch with fellow electro-nutjob Pictureplane, to anyone in Denver who wants it. And all this for the low, low price…

If you’ve already downloaded the Young Coyotes’ two EPs and are itching for more music, lucky you. The act’s Daytrotter Session was just posted for free download. The songs are dependably raw, and the write-up is surprisingly enlightening. We’ve been covering these guys since the beginning and thought we knew…