After the wrap-up of a successful Westword Music Showcase we find ourselves one month from the Underground Music Showcase.  UMS is even bigger than WMS- it will be showcasing around 325 bands in 25 venues (all along South Broadway) over 4 days.  The showcase will be from July 21-24 and four day passes are only $30 ($40 day of).  Worth it!! Here I'll be discussing bands that  I suggest seeing during the showcase.  Obviously I still recommend all of the bands I wrote about for WMS (all of whom are playing UMS minus Chromeo).  If I write about a band again that means I really like them and you should definitely be at their UMS show.

Bare Bones

Photo Credit: Gary Isaccs

Bare Bones, one of Denver's darkest yet heartfelt alt-country acts is only getting better with time.  They have been playing in Denver for over six months and will finally be playing the Bluebird, opening up for Alberta Cross, on September 1st.  The show at the Bluebird is well deserved; Bare Bones is an amazing live band.  Blake Brown, the lead singer, shows us his emotions with no inhibitions- his music truly reflects himself and he has put everything he has into writing and performing it.  The band is made up of crazy talented musicians and if you are a fan of music- specifically live music- this is a must see show at UMS.

Vitamins

www.theums.com

Vitamins is a rock band that is new to Denver, but not new to music.  They recently relocated from Greeley, CO to Denver.  The move has given them more exposure and they have played many shows in Denver over the past few months.  Their music is distorted, psychedelic rock with continuous catchy drum beats and swooning guitar solos during long instrumental segments of songs.  What makes Vitamins stand out from the rest of the bands in this genre is the vocals.  The vocals are beautiful and feminine and, other than some echoing loops, are not distorted like some of the instrumentation.  This will be a great show at UMS, so don't miss it!  For now check out the song "Sequined Dress".

Gauntlet Hair

www.myspace.com/gauntlethair

Gauntlet Hair are growing up, or shall we say blowing up.  They have gone from the underground scene at Rhinoceropolis to opening up for the hyped up indie Duo, the Dodos, on a national tour.  The tour ended in June and the group is now home in Colorado finishing up work on a debut full-length.  The album is much anticipated as the experimental rock outfit has been riding the waves of a single release, "I Was Thinking...", from the Spring of 2010.  Their performance at UMS should be a great preview of the new and experienced Gauntlet Hair as well as provide us a glimpse into the workings of the new album.

American Tomahawk

American Tomahawk is the solo project of Adam Halferty who has played in the live version of 3OH3! and worked with the group Young Coyotes.  For about a year he has been working on this project which shows him in a true light and at his artistic best (and thankfully it is more similar to Young Coyotes than to 3OH3!).  His first album, Contradiction Generalities Future Criminals, was welcomed into the Denver indie scene as refreshing pop with meaningful and melancholy lyrics.  He is now at work on a second album out of Los Angeles, but we'll always love him in Denver and are glad to have him at UMS.  I have yet to see him live but would guess by his background and definite talent that he will blow us away.

Pacific Pride

www.myspace.com/theepacificpride

Pacific Pride played WMS,but were added to the bill late so I didn't have a chance to write about them.  Therefore I'll write about them first for UMS.  Pacific Pride is an alt-rock group who dabbles in the experimental via a rotation of members (their lineup is sometimes the exact same as Shady Babes, who will also be playing UMS). Their shows are energetic and always a good time.  Sometimes there is even a bear mascot dancing around on stage.  For a taster, check out the song "Left Right" or the bands promotional video for their upcoming tour.  If you want to see what Pacific Pride is all about before UMS, I'll see you this Saturday at the Hi-Dive for their tour sendoff show.