Critic's Notebook

Guitar wizard Dick Dale, one of the innovators the surf-rock sound back in the ’60s, died on Saturday night, at age 81.

About two years ago, guitarist David Torn, saxophonist Tim Berne and drummer Ches Smith were playing a gig at the Vortex Jazz Club in London.

A heavy beat pulsates through the room. By sheer reflex, your body starts to respond, head bobbing, hips and feet moving to the groove. It’s the unmistakable allure of soul music.

Breaking out of Denver can be tough for local bands, but the metal quartet Khemmis has been doing just that.

At 23 years old, Melz Staccz, born Melanie Fox-Siler, wants to be known as the top female rapper in Colorado.

While other rappers throw Benjamins into the air and wax their Ferraris, MC and B-boy Mike Wird waxes about the virtues of healthy living and eco-friendly shelters known as earthships.

The band Plastic Daggers, a noise and punk-rock duo, has been rattling Denver venues since 2015.

Meet Colorado’s hip-hop mom, Bea “Shep” Shepard, who has been cooking for rappers since the ’90s.

Francois Baptiste and 3Deep helped Colorado’s hip-hop scene blow up in the ’90s in Boulder; he’s still helping the culture grow.

On March 1, Lost Lake Lounge will bring country back to East Colfax.

A dozen years before Wei Wu shared a Grammy win Sunday night as part of the cast of Mason Bates’s opera The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, the Beijing-born opera singer’s first experience in America was as an understudy with Central City Opera.

The members of Sixty Minute Men spend a fair amount of time punching the clock, though their music allows them to slip away from the grind.

Frontwoman Teresa Suárez Cosío is willing to take on anything you throw at her.

The Blackouts played their awkward first concert at Tooey’s.

Miggy Camacho, the man behind Motown Thursdays at Goosetown Tavern, has teamed up with Colorado Punk Army to present The Kids Are Alright, a new monthly all-ages punk showcase at the venue.

Nels Cline rediscoverd his love of music collaborating with Julian Lage.

Ray Reed’s had some success, and he’s ready to bring other hip-hop artists along for the ride.

Author of a collection of poetry, songs and art called Good Morning, Aztlán, Louis Pérez of Los Lobos spoke with Westword before the band returned to the Stanley.

Jello Biafra will headline the annual Neal Cassady Birthday Bash.

Some drinks don’t taste quite right.

Some folks will love how kitchy it is; others might throw up in their mouths.

James Sharp wanted to connect with the world and with people through his love of music and to share the joy it brought him with others.