The best concerts in Denver this week

TUES | WU YEAR’S EVE at CERVANTES | 12/31/13 More than just creating a free-associative style that would be emulated ceaselessly throughout the ’90s and to this very day, the Wu-Tang Clan engineered an aesthetic and model for profitability with only a spiritual guide, the GZA, a mastermind producer, the…

JAS Aspen Snowmass 2014 lineup

Man, oh, man, does time fly. It seems like JAS Aspen Snowmass just happened, and now here we have the lineup for the 2014 edition. This year’s roster of acts includes Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue (due at the Ogden Theatre tonight), Diana Krall, Steve Winwood, who are slated to…

Winners picked to see the Sword at the Bluebird

Update, 12/27/13: Contest is over. Congrats to Darkcabal and mtnmc1. You and a guest will be our guests at the show this Monday. Check your email for details on how to claim your tickets. Thanks for all the entries and for reading Backbeat! What better way to finish what was…

The best EDM in Denver this weekend

FRI | BAUUER at BETA | 12/27/13 Sure, it’s ancient history now, but remember earlier this year when you couldn’t escape the “Harlem Shake” phenomenon. In case you need a refresher, “Harlem Shake” is what happened when a thunderous trap record on Diplo’s Mad Decent imprint put the nation in…

The best concerts to see in Denver this weekend

STRING CHEESE INCIDENT at 1STBANK CENTER | 12/28-12/29, 12/31 String Cheese Incident will be presenting its twentieth-anniversary celebration with various openers during its New Year’s run at 1STBANK Center. The group has Bootsy Collins joining forces on Saturday, December 28, confetti rockers Flaming Lips on Sunday, December 29, and the…

Win tickets to see Brother Ali at the Fox Theatre

Brother Ali is slated to close at the year in Boulder with a two-night stand at the Fox Theatre that kicks off on Monday, December 30, and culminates with a New Year’s Eve performance on Tuesday, December 31. We’ve got tickets to the show on Monday, and would love for…

What we’re all listening to right now

Music is life — or at least it is for us. When we’re not writing about it, we’re thinking about it, talking about it or listening to it. These are the things that were in heavy rotation for us this week. What are you listening to? What should we be…

Ring in 2014 to Ewan Pearson’s dreamy soundtrack

Although there’s definitely a place for speed on electronica-driven dance floors, some DJs and producers tend toward slower tempos — an increasingly unusual choice in a scene where garage- and glitch-oriented subgenres seem to rule the day. Artists like Ewan Pearson prove that you don’t have to rely on speed…

Decadence NYE celebrates with an amazing lineup

In addition to hometown hero Pretty Lights, who just played a rare, highly anticipated warm-up date at the Ogden a few weeks ago, Decadence NYE (December 30 and 31 at the Colorado Convention Center) boasts an absolutely unreal lineup of top-shelf acts including Bassnectar, Beats Antique, Keys N Krates, Tiësto,…

Public Enemy at Summit Music Hall, 12/21/13

PUBLIC ENEMY at SUMMIT MUSIC HALL | 12/21/13 One of the most powerful moments of Public Enemy’s set came when Chuck D told us they were reaching back to It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back for the next song. It was hard to say what was…

The best concerts in Denver this week

YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND at BOULDER THEATER | 12/27/13 Yonder Mountain String Band is a fast-paced act that manages to blow your mind with its excellent technicality while toying with your emotions with heartfelt lyrics. Together the four members work in musical harmony, with animated lead singer and mandolin player…

Ten metal gems you might’ve missed in 2013

So much metal. So little time. Three decades into extreme metal’s history, bands are still finding ways to squeeze something fresh out of its carcass. Unfortunately, most people, even metal fans, don’t have the bandwidth to accommodate it all and a few big albums can clog up the works pretty…

The best EDM in Denver this weekend

SAT | PURITY RING (DJ SET) at CASSELMAN’S | 12/21/13 A Canadian duo made up of Corin Roddick and Megan James, Purity Ring has made a name for itself with syncopated rhythms and dreamy, pop-oriented soundscapes. James, who designs and stitches the clothes that the pair wear on stage, lays…

The best concerts in Denver this weekend

FRI | ONEREPUBLIC’S DENVER ACOUSTIC CHRISTMAS at OGDEN | 12/20 Over the last few years OneRepublic has made its acoustic Christmas shows an annual event that helps local charities. This year’s show, which also features Gungor, is a benefit for Colorado flood relief. VIP ticket includes ticket to the show,…