Q&A with Regan “Busdriver” Farquhar

Boasting may seem like a hip-hop requirement, but it’s actually possible to play the rap game without overdosing on self-love every other line. For proof, direct your gaze to the following Q&A with Regan Farquhar, who performs as Busdriver. The subject of a Westword profile published in advance of his…

The Denver Boot: Lion Sized at the Larimer Lounge – 08/02/09

In honor Lion Sized’s show tomorrow night at the hi-dive with the Still City and the Great Panic, and thanks to our pal Lance, and, well, because it’s Freeloader Friday and we’re cool like that, we present you another sparkling edition of the Denver Boot for your downloading pleasure. After…

Q&A with John Osborne of KingBilly

“This is the best ever job that doesn’t make any money” says Donny Fallgatter, frontman for Nashville’s young country rockers Kingbilly. It’s unlikely that KingBilly will be broke for much longer, though. Riding high with the popularity of its latest music video on the popular country music channel GAC and…

Q&A with Travis Egedy of Pictureplane

A native of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Travis Egedy, who performs under the name Pictureplane, has been rapidly gaining the attention of popular underground bands from around the country for the last few years, most notably HEALTH who took Pictureplane on a national tour in March 2009. HEALTH was also…

Q&A with John Eriksson of Peter Bjorn and John

Although John Eriksson, who stars in this week’s Westword profile of his band, Peter Bjorn and John, was trained to be a classical percussionist, and spent years as a member of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, he’s come to appreciate the perks of being a rock star — particularly the…

Q&A with Mack Maine, president of Young Money Entertainment

Mack Maine, is always moving. When I first meet him standing amid the ruins of the Young Money stage set he will not be still; he’s too busy and that’s a good thing — too busy crafting clever rhymes, to “build his brand.” Maine’s Doofus cum Cyrano de Bergerac verse…

Q&A with Bob Crawford of the Avett Brothers

Arena rock is making a comeback. Thanks to bands like My Morning Jacket, Wilco and North Carolina’s the Avett Brothers, the spirit and tradition of the ’70s is swelling and helping to conjure up images of rock and roll when it was at it’s purest, most visceral and most likely…

Q&A with Natasha Kahn of Bat For Lashes

The panoramic songwriting of Natasha Khan of Bat For Lashes has gained the attention of critics and peers alike and lead to her recurring opening gigs on the 2008 Radiohead tour. Drawing on her rich imagination for inspiration, Khan’s songs tap into the language and imagery of collective myths, ancient…

The Denver Boot: Achille Lauro at the Bluebird Theater

Nearly two weeks ago, Achille Lauro opened up for Akron/Family at the Bluebird. Achille Lauro was dependably stellar as always. “In terms of the opening three bands, however, Achille Lauro’s set stood out,” wrote A.H. Goldstein in his review of the show. “The outfit’s meditative and eloquent guitar lines, deepened…

Q&A with Jason Hann of EOTO

It’s been almost two years since jam juggernaut String Cheese Incident called it quits in 2007. Since then, things have slowed for some of the former members, while others have picked up the pace with new projects. The latter holds true for the String Cheese rhythm section of Jason Hann…

Q&A with Brandon Whalen of My Body Sings Electric

While the Warped Tour has grown up and is now it’s fifteenth summer, most of the bands and fans are as young as ever. Unlike most of the poorly selling dinosaur exhibits posing as rock concerts traipsing across the country these days, the Warped Tour year after year gets more…

Q&A with Jared Piccone of Innerpartysystem

Innerpartysystem knows all about the DIY approach. Since their formation, the members have spent countless hours dissecting technology, transforming it to suit their needs. Their light show, for instance, aside from a few stock lasers, was all hand built. Any fan that has seen the act more than once has…

Tip Sheet: Arliss Nancy

Speaking of Mile Hi-Fidelity, here’s another show favorite. Those who tuned in more than once likely heard “Wrong or Right” by this band, which we spun quite a few times. If you’re drawn to the raw, emotionally-charged song stylings of Lucero, then Fort Collins-based Arliss Nancy is going to strike…

The Denver Boot: Hot IQs final show at Larimer Lounge

Without question, Hot IQs, which took the stage for the last time this past weekend at the Larimer Lounge, made its mark on the Mile High City and will be sorely missed. Starting life as the Royal We, the outfit grew ably into its own as songwriters and left us…

Does Denver have a burgeoning urban/top 40 sensation on its hands?

Yes. It appears so. Meet Hunter Brown, an eighteen-year-old artist from Denver, who’s already amassed an impressive pedigree. Over the past three years, Brown has worked Dr. Dre associate Kirv (aka Kevin Irving) and collaborated with fellow Denverite, Frank E of the aptly dubbed Red Hot Beats productions  — yet…

Q&A with Krispy Kream of the Knux

Don’t let the tight jeans and thick-rimmed glasses fool you. The brothers who make up The Knux were raised about as far away from the suburbs as you can get: New Orleans’ Ninth Ward. Still, Krispy Kream and Rah Almillio (aka Kentrell and Alvin Lindsey) found their sound by listening…

Q&A with Kyle Evev of Breathe Carolina

It started out as a simple phone interview for a feature commemorating Breathe Carolina’s participation in this year’s Warped Tour, which rolls into Invesco Field at Mile High on Sunday, August 9. But it turned into something considerably more unexpected when, during our conversation with BC’s Kyle Even, his partner…

Tip sheet: Meet Shel, our new favorite band

What in the hell are they putting in the water up in Fort Collins? Seriously? Seems like every ten minutes or so our neighbors to the north are churning out another batch of noteworthy artists. Meet Shel, the latest FoCo outfit to cast us under its spell. Comprised of four…

Over the weekend: Phish at Red Rocks, 8/02/09

Reviews: Night I | Night II | Night III | Night IVPhish’s last night at Red Rocks Amphitheatre was made complete with one very special guest, Bill Kruetzman. The former drummer of the Grateful Dead was not expected and to bring him out for six songs to close out the…

Over the weekend: Phish at Red Rocks, 8/01/09

Reviews: Night I | Night II | Night III | Night IVPhish’s return to the stage after five years on the lamb has them reenergized, focused and most importantly, sober. The effects of these changes have greatly enhanced the Phish experience. Phish 3.0 was on glorious display this past Saturday…