Hope Sandoval, Juliette Lewis, the Sounds shows announced

Former Mazzy Star singer Hope Sandoval will be hitting the road next month for the first time in eight years on the heels of her forthcoming album, Through the Devil Softly, due September 29 on Nettwerk. Sandoval her band the Warm Inventions visit the Bluebird Thursday, October 1. Tickets are…

Second Ray LaMontagne show added

Ray LaMontangne fans who didn’t score tix his sold-out solo acoustic show (the opening East Coast dates feature LaMontagne with an orchestra) on Tuesday, November 17, at Ellie Caulkins Opera House will get another shot to see the singer-songwriter on Wednesday, November 18. Tickets, which run $30 to $45, go…

Danielle Ate the Sandwich’s new YouTube goodness

Ah, does somebody have a case of the Mondays? Not to fret. Here’s a new video from Danielle Ate the Sandwich singing “Ooh Child” (which always reminds us of Boyz in the Hood every time we hear it). Thanks to Danielle’s sweet delivery, the hopeful tune will surely help brighten…

Monolith adds more than a dozen local DJs

Just received word from Monolith curator Matt Fecher that the annual fall festival, headlined this year by the Mars Volta and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, has just added more than a dozen local DJs to its lineup. Nationally renown turntablist DJ Vajra heads the roster, which also includes Mu$a, who…

Over the weekend: Nobunny at Denver Creative Co-Op Studio

Nobunny, Thee Goochi Boiz, Lust Cats of the Gutters, Shanty Vamps, the Manxx Friday, August 21, 2009 Denver Creative Co-op Studio Better than: A persistent case of scabies I didn’t get to the show Friday night in time to catch opening act The Manxx, but I certainly didn’t leave thinking…

Over the Weekend: Mos Def and Talib Kweli at the Gothic Theatre

Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Jay Electronica, DCQ, Spoke-In-WordzGothic TheatreFriday, August 21, 2009Better Than: anything Lil Wayne or Drake could pull offMos Def hasn’t headlined a nationwide tour since the Lyricist Lounge tour in 2000, where he recruited folks like Bernie Worrell (of Parliament-Funkadelic), Dr. Know (of Bad Brains) and Will…

Over the weekend: The Flaming Lips at Red Rocks (bonus review)

It was a series of firsts last night for Adam Perry: In was his first show at Red Rocks and his first time seeing the Flaming Lips. Given the profound, momentous nature of that combination, we thought we’d share his experience, which means you get a bonus review of last…

Over the Weekend: The Flaming Lips at Red Rocks

The Flaming Lips, Explosions in the Sky, Stardeath & White DwarfsRed Rocks AmphitheatreSunday, August 23, 2009Better than: The last time the Flaming Lips played Red RocksI know it’s not the most manly thing to admit, but I was almost cried a few times during the Flaming Lips set last night…

Over the weekend: The Avett Brothers at the Ogden Theatre

The Avett Brothers, Sally Ford and the Sound Outside Saturday, Aug. 22 Ogden Theatre Better than: Most of the shows I’ve seen this summer. I never thought I’d see a full-fledged hootenanny on the stage of the Ogden Theatre. But during choice moments of the Avett Brothers’ Saturday set, an…

Over the weekend: Bat for Lashes at the Bluebird Theater

Bat For Lashes, Other Lives Bluebird Theater Saturday, August 22, 2009 Better Than: See bands with technical ability but no imagination. Openers Other Lives started out with a lush, orchestral, folk-inflected pop song that reminded me a bit of Arab Strap, without the bile and the Scottish accents. It would…

Deke Dickerson at Tambien/Rockbar Third Anniversary

It’s not often that you get to see a bunch of motorcycles and tattoos in Cherry Creek, but there’s a better than average chance you’ll see ’em at Tambien (250 Steele Street) during Rockabilly and Ribs on Sundays. The place has been packing the folks in for with some fine…

Single File getting silly on the Warped tour

From the looks of the video above, we gather that the Single File dudes have found plenty of ways to entertain themselves on the Warped Tour this year, from doing swell bracelet tricks to rapping about the virtues of flipping burgers versus flipping copies at Kinkos. (?) Bassist Joe Ginsberg…

Katey Laurel chosen as a finalists in Vintage Voices competition

Way to go, Katey Laurel! She was just named as one of seven finalists in the Nine West Vintage Voices competition. In an effort to promote its Vintage America collection, the boutique ladies shoes retailer has launched a contest to discover the next vintage American voice. The finalists, selected through…

Last night: Burn Sand Burn, Circle Number Dot and Wetlands at the hi-dive

Burn Sand Burn, Circle Number Dot and Wetlandshi-diveThursday, August 20Better Than: more soul-killing boredom Now, my tastes generally run pretty poppy (I like Dressy Bessy), and to that end, Wetland’s prog-metal is not really my style. But like those great prog bands of yore, Wetlands, who opened the show, play…

Polytoxic gets back together again. And again. And again…

With eight shows coming up over the next four months, it’s safe to say Polytoxic, which from all appearances supposedly parted ways some time ago, is still very much an on going concern, despite the fact that Chadzilla is now keeping time with Slim Cessna’s Auto Club and CR Gruver…

Pretty Lights at City Hall this Sunday

Just heard that Pretty Lights, the burgeoning superstar otherwise known as Derek Vincent Smith, is slated to perform this Sunday, August 23, at the newly minted City Hall. Without question, this will be this weekend’s hottest ticket. Oh and speaking of tickets, they’re on sale right now for a measly…

Coolest CD case ever has theremin built in

These days, it takes a special CD case to merit much more than a glance from me. Truth is, I usually rip the disc, glance at the packaging and then throw it in a closet, never to be seen again (okay, never to be seen until my fiancee makes me…

Wentworth Kersey gets glowing review on Pop Matters

While we don’t necessarily need it to validate our art or to motivate us to continue creating compelling art — although truth be told, a good many of us, if we’re being honest, still crave the recognition — we have to admit, it’s always nice to be recognized for what…

Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne, who headlines KS-107.5’s Back to School Jam over Young Jeezy, Drake, Soulja Boy and Jeremih, is in an uncommonly vulnerable position. After the enormous success of last year’s Tha Carter III, a recording that managed to make weirdness irresistible, Wayne, apparently stoned on hubris, announced that he’d follow…

The Avett Brothers

The music made by North Carolina brothers Seth and Scott Avett, joined on this bill by Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside, is about as trendy as a Model-T. But their talent is undeniable, with the best of their material giving sentimentality a good name. Take the Western-themed “Murder in…

The Octopus Project

With a penchant for dense synthesizers, organic melodies and dressing up in what may well be their grandparents’ suits and dresses, Austin’s the Octopus Project looks and sounds like a beeping, bleeding contradiction. But that quirky paradox has helped the coed group rise above the indie-dance trends of this fading…