Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

Vitamins with Gauntlet Hair, Woodsman and Hearts in Space @ Larimer Lounge, Doors 8:00, $10

Vitamins has booked an amazing tour send off show.  Not only will tonight's audience at Larimer Lounge get to enjoy the fabulous psych rock and seductive female vocals of Vitamins, but also the music of three other hot Denver bands.  Gauntlet Hair is currently making a run for the national scene and will be coming out with their self-titled debut in October.  They have released one single from the album and it is an idine-pop gem full of sunny sounding reverb.  Woodsman is another Denver psych/experimental rock group that has gotten some national attention of late.  Their name is out there due to their constant touring so seeing them in their hometown is a rare opportunity.  Hearts in Space is a local indie/psych rock group that is hot off of their awesome UMS performance.  They rocked the Hi-Dive at UMS and we can only expect the same tonight! I can't wait!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Crystal Stilts with Overcasters, Force Publique and Double Shadow @ Larimer Lounge, 7:00 PM Doors, $15

Larimer Lounge is featuring a killer lineup tonight.  All four acts are awesome, three are from Denver, and all of them, while containing a thread of experimental similarity are quite different.  The headliners, Crystal Stilts, are a noise-pop group that remind me of a modern day version of The Smiths.  Their catchy guitar riffs are placed alongside lo-fi psychedelic vocals making the group experimental yet classic.  Overcasters are a local rock group with heavy guitar parts and an awesome live show that includes a lot of lights.  Force Publique is also from Denver and have an incredibly unique sound.  I would describe it as dub-rock because it is bass heavy and electronic but it has hints of rock and each song is composed with vocals, a chorus and verses unlike a typical electronic song.  Double Shadow is a DJ group that spins vinyl old-school style and has been tearing up Beauty Bar a few Saturdays per month.  This is an all-star night for Denver plus it includes Crystal Stilts, a group that shouldn't be missed, so take a chance and go out on a Monday!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Here We Go Magic with Aroara and Achille Lauro @ Larimer Lounge, 8:00 PM, $13

Tonight come see Here We Go Magic at Larimer Lounge.  This band is an indie-rock/pop/folk group out of New York.  The band's music sounds happy and fanciful with warming vocals- so you are guaranteed to have a fun night (maybe)!  Aroara is a band I have never listened to, but they feature some members of Broken Social Scene, so I'd imagine they are a group of talented performers of the indie genre.  Achille Lauro is the local band of the lineup and they describe themselves on their myspace as "the soundtrack to the devils stolen sex tape, a livid and confessional mix of Post-Rock guitar swagger and soulful dance music, punctuated by too many influences to mention, something akin to MIA fronting a garage band Radiohead attempting to recreate the soundtrack to the film Amelie."  Sounds pretty crazy.  And for that reason, I'll be there.  Plus its always a treat to check out and support a local act!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Junip with Acrylics @ Larimer Lounge, Doors 8:00pm, $20

Junip is a band whose ranks include Jose Gonzalez, the Swedish born Argentinian folk musician.  Junip plays acoustic, melodic and enjoyable tracks.  They released Fields last year and the album is well-crafted and relaxing and easy to listen to all the way through.  Jose Gonzalez is an extremely talented musician and no one should miss this opportunity to see him live in a small venue!  It's a little pricey, so do what I am trying to do and hide in the bathroom after Happy Hour and emerge only when it's safe.

Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30, 2011

The Unified Field- A Sonic Bloom Pre-Party @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, Doors 7:30pm, $25 for 1 day, $45 for 2 days

The Sonic Bloom Festival will take place June 24-26, 2011 in the Colorado foothills.  Sonic Bloom is an all electronic festival and will be featuring artists like EOTO, VibeSquad and MartyParty.  The pre-party this weekend should be almost as great of a time.  As summer approaches, this may be one of your last chances to wield a glow stick a get down and dirty (literally sweaty) indoors.  Each night features around 10 artists, so I guess you are paying for quantity.  Saturday night San Francisco DJ/Producer Eskmo will play.  He has been playing electronic music since 1999 but has recently changed his style adding more bass and vocals.  His music is of the glitch-hop genre with a tinge of dubstep.  Seeing him perform live should be interesting. I am curious to see how he juggles the new vocal tracks- will he sing live while DJing or use pre-recorded vocals?  I guess we'll find out on Saturday!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Sleepy Sun, Lumerians & Hearts in Space @ Larimer Lounge, Doors 8:00pm, $13

Wednesday night at Larimer Lounge should be a good show.  Sleepy Sun is a band I am only somewhat familiar with, but they wear face paint on stage.  Who wouldn't want to see that?  They are San Franciscan and take after their city's psychedelic roots creating a fuzzy acid-rock sound inspired by Led Zeppelin.

Hearts in Space is a local psych-rock band that has been improving and growing as of late.  They completed a residency at Lost Lake in February and headlined their first show a few weeks ago at The Oriental.  The four piece band has two vocalists that each lend something different to the band's sound.  While Jordan Hubner's vocals are melodic and harmonious, Ezra Darnell's are commanding and his stage presence striking.  And he has a really cool guitar.  Come and check them out tomorrow night, 9:00pm at Larimer Lounge!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Pinback with Judgement Day and El Ten Eleven @ The Gothic Theatre, Doors 8:00 PM $20

Californian sunny sounds are pretty trendy these days, but San Diego rockers Pinback have been at it for ten years.  Their music is less surf rock and more indie but is still distinguishable by dominant guitar parts, just like a surf rock song would be.  This makes for a clean and attractive sound.  I have yet to see them live, but if I miraculously came across a crisp, clean $20 bill, I would be there this Friday.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Bad Weather California with A Tom Collins, Shady Babes and Pina Chulada @ Larimer Lounge, Doors 8:00 PM $10

I only know two things about Bad Weather California: 1. They are from Denver, 2. They supposedly put on a wicked live show.  This Saturday is my chance to find out and if the rumors are true.  I will defnitely be there because I cannot miss a Shady Babes show (on at 10:00 PM).  This band, made up of members from another awesome Denver band, Pacific Pride, plays surf pop/rock and always makes for a good time.  Recently they played with No Joy and Tennis and both of these shows are among my fondest memories of the past year.  Oh, and its only $10. $5 if you buy a day before.  See you there!

Bare Bones, an up and coming local alt-country act, is as unique as they come.  Take a Texas country boy who has rock and roll dreams and serious lyrical talent and pair him with a classically-trained violinist who can take his songs over the edge into an emotional abyss with her high-pitched, drawn out bow work that pulls at a listener's heart.  Here we have the beginnings of Bare Bones, Blake Brown and Frieda Stalheim.  The two met while working at a museum in Denver and decided to start a new project that would encompass all of their musical talent.  Both are veterans of the Denver music scene, but this seems to sit well and come naturally to them.  They added three other members to the band, a drummer formerly of Nathaniel Rateliff and The Wheel, a bassist currently in Snake Rattle Rattle Snake and a steel guitar player whose other project is called Hearts in Space.  The band is now an all-star team.  The steel guitar is the newest addition and has proved to be the icing on the cake.  The band sounds fuller, deeper and layered and plays an incredible live show.  They played last Friday at Larimer Lounge with The Cave Singers and will surely have many shows in the near future.  For now, check out the self-titled E.P. available on itunes or just take a listen at www.barebonesmusic.net.