Why jazz legend Wayne Shorter fills his home with books and toys

Wayne Shorter, who headlines the UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival on Friday, April 25, doesn’t have typical days. The 80-year-old saxophone legend, who was a member of the Miles Davis Quintet and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, says it’s all an adventure. The day we speak with him, Shorter tells us he is…

What to expect from the Glitch Mob’s weekend in Denver

The Glitch Mob’s new stage setup is called the Blade, and it consists of three structures that resemble turbines. “We collaborated with Martin Phillips. He took a liking to us early on,” says bandmember Josh “Ooah” Mayer. Known for co-creating Daft Punk’s famed Pyramid for the Alive tour in 2006…

Is Record Store Day worth it?

Record Store Day is once again upon us, with its candy-colored vinyl and improbably in-store performances and endless lines. Like anything that becomes popular, the holiday is starting to develop detractors among music fans who see it as everything from a pain in the ass to a gimmicky, patronizing tourist…

How the teens of Residual Kid earned famous fans and national tours

The members of Residual Kid (due Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5, at the Hi-Dive) from Austin, Texas are all fifteen-years-old or younger. Despite their youth, it is impossible to ignore their sheer power of the songs — they’re something more than you’d expect out of three guys who…

Gary Numan on inspiration, money and staying hungry

Gary Numan (due Friday, April 4, at The Gothic Theatre) is most widely remembered for his 1980 hit song “Cars.” That song was merely the most popular in an influential career that had a direct impact on artists as diverse as Prince, Beck, Lady Gaga and, of course, Nine Inch…

The six best jazz shows in April

BRAD MEHDLAU TRIO @ BOULDER THEATER, SUN, 4/6 Over the last two decades pianists Brad Mehldau has recorded and performed in various formats (his latest effort, Mehliana: Taming the Dragon, is a duo recording with drummer Mark Guiliana), but he seems most at home with his trio, which includes long-time…

AnomalyCon performer Keldari Station on what makes good science fiction

AnomalyCon (running March 28 to 30 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center) started as a steam punk and alternate history-themed convention but has since expanded to cover science fiction generally. In its fourth year, the convention is featuring guest speakers, artists, writers and performers that have either direct ties to…