Hit Pick

It’s hard to believe that seven years have passed since Qualm first inflicted a stage with its breakneck teenage punk rock. Now wiser, tighter and (kinda) all grown up, the band will be celebrating the release of its new album, A Long Story Short, on Saturday, June 29, at Tulagi in Boulder. Now in their early twenties, the members of Qualm have simmered their mix of short-fused fervor and brooding melody, recalling the passion and intelligence of more progressive pop-punk groups like Lifetime, Propagandhi and Dillinger Four. With local legend Pinhead Circus (Qualm singer/guitarist Justin Hackl was an auxiliary member of that band) now defunct, Qualm stands to inherit the mantle of Elder States-band of Denver Punk. Lord, help us all.