Last week I neglected to mention the ballot for the third annual Westword Music Awards Showcase, set to take place at eight LoDo venues on Sunday, September 21. Fortunately, there's another copy in this week's issue (see page 103), and duplicates will appear in each edition through September 18. Vote for your favorite Colorado acts in thirteen different categories; you'll be glad you did.
The Hillbilly Hellcats, nominated in the rockabilly/roots bracket, have been through some changes lately, but they've finally settled on what leader Chuck Hughes hopes will be a stable lineup: original Hellcats bassist Lance Bakemeyer and new drummer Tim Theis. Rock with them on Thursday, September 4, at the Old Chicago at 1415 Market Street.
Or else do the following. On Thursday, September 4, Human Waste Project (from, appropriately, Los Angeles) gets Sick at Herman's Hideaway, and Cowboys & Angels, yet another Kenny James side project, joins Judge Roughneck and Toddy and the Assorted Beverages at the Boulder Theater. On Friday, September 5, Buzz Bomber and the M80s play for the benefit of Denver Safehouse at Cricket on the Hill; Carolyn's Mother nurses Mr. Woodman at Herman's; and the Acid Bugs, Jack Jensen and Allister Cobian get musical during an art exhibition at the 8 Oz. Fred Gallery, 26 Broadway. On Saturday, September 6, New York-based singer-songwriter Sam Shaber ventures to Cricket on the Hill; Preacherman and the Congregation raise the roof at the Boulder Theater, with Wojo; Alien Sleestaks, a Redd Kross cover band (!) made up of folks from bands like Sissy Fuzz and Abdomen, land at the Lion's Lair, with the Emirs; and the two-day Heal the Earth Celebration kicks off, featuring such hard-edged artists as Paul Winter, R. Carlos Nakai and Peter Kater. On Sunday, September 7, Israeli pop act Esta appears at the Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center, 350 South Dahlia. And on Tuesday, September 9, Life of Agony has fun, fun, fun at the Bluebird Theater, with Dogma; Backspackle patches up Area 39 in the company of 30 Foot Fall and Big Wig; Local H is letter-perfect at the Mercury Cafe; and Black Lab is kicked out of bed for eating Cracker at the Fox Theatre. Mmmm-mmmm good.
--Michael Roberts
Backbeat's e-mail address is: [email protected]. While you're online, visit Michael Roberts's Jukebox at www.westword.com