The Fifteen Best Shows in Colorado This Week

The outdoor concerts may be over, in spite of the summer weather going on in Denver right now, but there are plenty of shows to keep you busy. We can strongly, strongly advise seeing Flatbush Zombies, either in Fort Collins or Denver. Polica is wonderful. There are plenty more, observe:…

Quiz: The Sixteen Most Surprising Cameos By Musicians in Movies

Anthony Kiedis, Point Break (1991).Not all cameos are equally coveted: A good cameo creates an undeniable rush (I know that person!) that widens the eyes and forces the viewer to blurt out the musician’s name when he or she appears on the big screen, like Anthony Kiedis in Point Break…

Why the Hell Do I (Still) Love Metro Station?

I had to go alone. I mean, it was partially by choice — I had an extra ticket, but I was too embarrassed to ask anyone if they wanted to go with me. Ultimately, I went to Summit Music Hall last night to see Metro Station by myself because I…

Behind the Vital New Jazz Program at Metro State University in Denver

It’s been a busy month for the Department of Music at Metropolitan State University. Its accreditation was renewed by the National Association of Schools of Music, and it added a new Jazz and American Improvised Music Performance concentration (also accredited). We interviewed Peter Schimpf, associate professor and chair of the…

See How Nas Created His Masterpiece

Photo by Danny Clinch/Sony LegacyNas in 1994.By Ian S. Port One rhyme in particular crystallizes the genius of Nas’ 1994 classic, Illmatic. It comes in the song “One Love,” which takes the form of a letter to a friend in prison: “Congratulations, you know you got a son,” Nas raps…

J. Roddy Walston on the Identity of the South

Courtesy of ATO RecordsBy Roy Kasten Onstage — his hair whipping like a battlefield banner, his piano splintering, his gnarled voice bellowing and his band crushing out something like rock, something like the blues — J. Roddy Walston is surely a force, but not really a force of nature, as…

Iceage Has Evolved Beyond its Knife Era

Iceage (due this Sunday, October 26, at the Hi-Dive) from Copenhagen, Denmark made a splash when it first started playing in the U.S.A. over three years ago. Synthesizing the raw energy of hardcore with the moodiness of post-punk, Iceage was and still is an electrifying live act. Even then, though,…

Six Reasons I Won’t Like Your Band On Facebook

Every week, we get thousands of notifications on Facebook, and because our lives are privileged and lonely, we pay attention to them. Everyone has commented on everything. It is everybody’s birthday today. Everyone but you has had a baby and is also celebrating their four year anniversary with a decent…

Sam Smith, Sleater-Kinney, Jenny Lewis All Announce Denver Shows

As part of his first ever American arena tour, British singer-songwriter Sam Smith stops at the 1STBANK Center on Monday, January 26. Tickets ($35-$75) go on sale on Friday, October 24 at 10 a.m. A reunited Sleater-Kinney, who just announced its first new album in ten years is due in…

Rufus Baxter Knows Loss

[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…

The Ten Best Shows in Colorado This Week

The undisputed heavyweight champion of grunge, Pearl Jam, makes a stop in Denver this week. There will be some pop punk in Colorado Springs and some jazz in Golden. And more! The rest of our picks follow…

Some of Denver’s Most Challenging Music Finds a New Audience at DU

This edition of Concrete Mixer found a rare showing and audience at Newman Center for the Performing Arts for the Convocation for the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver. Past editions of this event featuring live musique concrète have been held at The Walnut Room because of…

Ten Musical Projects Ikey Owens Made Great

When Isaiah “Ikey” Owens passed away last week, the musician and producer left behind a massive legacy. Most recently the Long Beach, California native was on tour playing keyboards and piano with Jack White — but he was also a member and founder of Free Moral Agents and was known…

The Thirteen Best Shows in Denver This Weekend

The Rock and Roll Marathon will prevent you from driving anywhere in downtown Denver tomorrow, with a roster of athletes stuffed with several hundred extras who couldn’t run the canceled Boulder marathon a few weeks ago. Embrace it and cheer them on near one of the several stages, where bands…