Infected Mushroom, Karl Denson, Riff Raff Shows Announced

Infected Mushroom brings its new Animatronica stage production to the Ogden Theatre on Saturday, April 11. General admission tickets($28) go on sale on Friday, January 9 10 a.m. and there are limited number of early bird tickets available this weekend for $20. Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe returns to the Boulder…

The Perils of Hearing Your Song on Commercial Radio

[jump] Editor’s note: Each week, illustrator Noah Van Sciver shares his ongoing story of an 80’s rocker on a road trip through his past with the readers of Backbeat. You can see more of Van Sciver’s work in his new book YOUTH IS WASTED. Last Week’s Episode of Rufus Baxter!…

Slim Cessna’s Auto Club Rang in 2015 With a Gothic Sermon

In a New Year’s concert filled with country-gothic murder ballads and tent-revival doomsday sermons, Slim Cessna’s Auto Club singer Munly Munly put on the creepiest performance of the night. Duded up in all black, Munly played the slightly unhinged sidekick to Slim Cessna’s country preacher on Wednesday, stalking around the…

Ten Ways Decadence NYE Is Like a Carnival

Decadence, a two night electronic music festival at the Colorado Convention Center, has grown into a New Year’s Eve tradition in Denver in recent years. About fifty DJs take one of four stages over the two nights, but the music is only part of the “Decadence experience.” With dancers on…

Anvil, John Doe, Nicholas Payton Shows Announced

Maybe you’ve seen the documentary on Anvil, the Canadian metal band that formed in 1978 and reportedly influenced bands like Megadeth, Slayer and Metallica. The Independent Spirit Award-winning documentary The Story of Anvil helped bring the band out of near obscurity after founding members Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner…

The Delusions of a Hair Metal Guitarist

[jump] Editor’s note: Each week, illustrator Noah Van Sciver shares his ongoing story of an 80’s rocker on a road trip through his past with the readers of Backbeat. You can see more of Van Sciver’s work in his new book YOUTH IS WASTED. • BACKBEAT’S GREATEST HITS •- 50…

Why Strings & Wood Concerts Are More Than Just Concerts

Attending a five-year anniversary party, you naturally have some expectations. You expect, as you walk down the steps to the Soiled Dove Underground, to find an air of celebration. People doing shots at the bar. Friends hugging. A raucous, excited crowd chatting away as a enthusiastic performer plays on stage…

D Note’s January 3 Closing Will Leave a Hole in Olde Town Arvada

In early 2013, the D Note in Olde Town Arvada celebrated its tenth anniversary with a two-night party. The evening also marked the changing of hands of the restaurant/music venue, as Dave and Mernie Rosenberg bought the space from the DeGraff family. Now, nearly two years after taking over the…

You Me & Apollo Says Goodbye at Hodi’s Half Note

The Fort Collins based band, You Me & Apollo ended its career on Saturday night by singing the Beatles balled “With A Little Help From My Friends,” and they had plenty. The sold out show at Hodi’s Half Note in Fort Collins was completely sold out. “It was an emotional…

SPELLS Headlined the Perfect Rock and Roll Show

SPELLS set up on the floor along the south wall of the hi-dive. Wearing matching Christmas sweaters, which each member later took off, the band set the mood for what turned out to be a rowdy and light-hearted performance. Their set was perfect way to end an entire night of…

Crash 45 Was One of Denver’s Strangest, Friendliest Bars

Crash 45 ended its three-year run on Saturday, December 20. It was a place you could see experimental music, bike clubs, “burners” and b-movies. Its very unassuming facade hid the array of metal art inside. When you stepped inside on the final night, the staff cheered you in welcome and…

Live-Blogging Bummeroo: The Online Music Festival

Bummeroo, Denver’s first online music festival, occurred on YouTube this weekend. You can read all about the idea here, but basically artists uploaded sets to a YouTube playlist and, as described on the Facebook page, “u can enjoy it from the comfort of yr bed as they are uploaded or…

Rufus Baxter Turns Down a Gift

[jump] Editor’s note: Each week, illustrator Noah Van Sciver shares his ongoing story of an 80’s rocker on a road trip through his past with the readers of Backbeat. You can see more of Van Sciver’s work in his new book YOUTH IS WASTED. Last week’s episode of Rufus Baxter…