Weekend Preview: New Year’s Eve 2011

So, we’re not going to do our traditional Weekend Preivew today. Instead, we’ll be focusing in depth on the many New Year’s Eve events in Denver. As you can see, we all have a difficult decision to make.

The Foot w/ Monroe Monroe, Vices I Admire, and In The Whale @ Marquis Theater

Doors at 7 PM, $10 – $12, 18 and over.

This is the one I’ve chosen to attend. Not only do I consider Monroe Monroe, Vices I Admire, and In The Whale great bands and great friends, but The Foot is on the road so much that when they are in town, it feels special. It’s also a hell of a deal! If you pre-purchase tickets at http://thefootnyeparty.bandcamp.com for $10 and NO SERVICE CHARGE, you receive an immediate digital download from each band AND a physical copy of each band’s latest EP at the show! Crazy, right?

Bop Skizzum w/ Eldren,  Lizzie Huffman, and In Due Time @ Moe’s Original BBQ and Bowl

Doors at 8 PM, $15, 16 and over.

It kills me to miss this show, but there’s only one of me. Fortunately, I’ll have Aimee Giese there to contribute photos and a recap to Everyday (In the Mile High)! New singer Julie Almeria brings a pretty different vibe to Bop Skizzum, so check them out if you’ve seen them before with Erin and let me know what you think! There are very few bands out there that have managed to be as prolific and tight in such a short amount of time as Eldren has. They are definitely in my top 5 favorite local bands. I’ve also been meaning to see Lizzie Huffman, but it never seems to work out. Someday… Don’t forget the free champagne toast at midnght for those attendees of legal drinking age!

“Purple Reign” w/ Chadzilla & The Asteroids @ Gothic Theatre

Doors at 8:00 PM, $25 – $40, 16+.

Straight outta Las Vegas, Purple Reign is the best of the Prince tribute bands. The best choice for the over-40 set or those of you kids who wish you grew up in the 80’s.

Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk w/ Orgone @ Cervante’s Masterpiece Ballroom

Doors at 8:00 PM, $35, All Ages.

It’s gonna get stupid funky at Cervantes! But I feel like I just saw Dumpstaphunk at Cervante’s a few months ago…

Prince Paul w/ DJ Vajra and Cobraconda @ Beauty Bar

Doors at 9 PM, Presale tickets $23 – $30, 21 and over.

If you are an alcoholic, then this is your show! Your ticket gives you access to an OPEN BAR with premium well, wine, draft beers, and Red Bull!!! The event has a Lucha Libre theme, so bring your Lucha masks.

New Years Eve @ Illegal Petes Lodo

Doors at 9 PM, FREE, ALL AGES.

Mike Howard (Mr. How Weird) will be spinning records and there will be happy hour drink prices all night long. It may not be one of the more high-powered NYE events, but it’s the only one that is FREE and ALL AGES. Besides, Illegal Pete’s deserves some love for all they have done to promote the local music scene through it’s Thursday night free concerts, Starving Artists program, and Eat & Greet events. And Illegal Pete’s owner Pete Turner’s Greater Than collective helped get the latest Snake Rattle Rattle Snake and Ian Cooke releases made. So, even if you can’t make it on NYE, stop into an Illegal Pete’s sometime in 2012 and tell them “Thanks!”.

Pretty Lights w/ Zedd and Paul Basic @ 1st Bank Center

Doors at 7:30 PM, $60 + Service Charge, ALL AGES, SOLD OUT.

Derek Vincent Smith follows up sold out performances at Red Rocks and Fillmore Auditorium earlier this year with a Sold Out show at 1STBANK Center.

OTHER EVENTS

WEEN w/ Kid is Qual @ Fillmore Auditorium – Doors at 8:00 PM, $75 + Service Charge, 16+

Slim Cessna’s Auto Club w/ Munly and the Lupercalians and Casey James Prestwood @ Bluebird Theatre – Doors at 8:00 PM, $29 – $35, 16+

The Knew w/ Dendrites, FaceMan, Strange Americans, Broken Spirits, and others @ Hi-Dive – Doors at 8:00 PM, $10, 21+

G Love & Special Sauce w/ The Lumineers @ Fox Theater (Boulder) – Doors at 8:30 PM, $35, ALL AGES, SOLD OUT.

The Royal w/ Special Guest @ Lost Lake – Show at 10:00 PM, $5, 21+

Something Underground w/ The Current and Strip The Stars @ Soiled Dove Underground – Doors at 8:00 PM, $25 – $30, 21+.

The Samples w/ Desciples, O.T.I.S., and Matt Nasi Band @ Herman’s Hideaway – Doors at 7:00 PM, $28 (GA) – $163 (VIP for 4 people), 21+.

Young Dubliners w/ Special Guests @ Little Bear Saloon (Evergreen) – Doors at 7:00 PM, $50, 21+.

Jane’s Addiction w/ Special Guests @ Belly Up Tavern (Aspen) – Doors at 9:00 PM, $265 (GA) – $575 (Reserved – Sold Out), All Ages.

Paper Bird w/ The Devil Whale, Joshua Novak & Pink Hawks @ Oriental Theater – Doors at 8:00 PM, $20 – $65, 16+

Railroad Earth w/ Special Guests @ Ogden Theater – Doors at 7:00 PM, $55, 16+, SOLD OUT.

Yonder Mountain String Band w/ Special Guests @ Boulder Theater – Doors at 8:00 PM, $74, 21+, SOLD OUT.

Gauntlet Hair w/ Pictureplane, Kevin Costner Suicide Pact @ Larimer Lounge – Doors at 8:30 PM, $10 – $15, 21+.

Soul Daddy Open Mic & Dance Party @ Walnut Room – Doors at 8:00 PM, FREE, 21+.

The Motet w/ Euforquesta @ Aggie Theater (Fort Collins) – Doors at 8:00 PM, $25, All Ages.

Itchy-O Marching Band w/ Action Friend @ 3 Kings Tavern – Doors at 9:00 PM, $10, 21+.

S.L.U.T. w/ The Other Russia @ Lion’s Lair – Doors at 9:00 PM, $10, 21+.

The Hollyfelds @ w/ Vibes on Velvet, The Jekylls @ Skylark Lounge – Doors at 9:00 PM, $8, 21+.

Handicapping Hometown for the Holidays

Hometown For The Holidays

The Top 10, I mean Top 12 thanks to a 4-way tie for 9th place, has been revealed for this year’s Hometown for the Holidays competition sponsored by KTCL 93.3 FM. Now, it’s up to the radio listeners (those who signed up at RateTheMusic.com prior to December 9th) to vote for their favorite acts from the Top 12. The top three vote-getters will perform at the Hometown for the Holidays concert at Casselman’s on Saturday, December 17th and the band with the most votes will receive $3,000 worth of recording time at The Blasting Room plus pricless bragging rights. Visit Area93.comto hear the Top 12 songs. Here are my predictions of each band’s chances of making the Top 3:

The Heyday – “Somebody to Someone”
The Heyday has made it into the Top 3 for three out of the last four years, so you’d have to consider them a heavy favorite to repeat this year. “Somebody to Someone” might not be as strong overall as last year’s “Fools Go Fallin'”, but the chorus is a knockout punch. I’m a little concerned that the track is more country-rock crossover than they typically play on KTCL, but I still expect The Heyday to do well in the voting. ODDS: 2 to 1 (50% chance)

The Photo Atlas – “Tell Me Again”
This one is tough to gauge. The Photo Atlas are well respected within the local music community. They’ve won a Westword Music Showcase award in each of the last two years, and may already be familiar to KTCL listeners (or Burnout Paradise video game players) thanks to their modest hit “Red, Orange, Yellow”. “Tell Me Again” is pretty poppy for the band. Ultimately it’s going to come down to whether listeners love or hate Singer Alan Andrews’ unique high, vibratto vocals. ODDS: 3 to 1 (33% chance)

Fierce Bad Rabbit – “You”
The Fort Collins based Fierce Bad Rabbits is a very strong contender in this year’s competition. “You” is ladened with the same kinds of hooks found in last year’s local hit “All I Have Is You”. But the song may be too “adult alternative” to attract the kinds of people that are likely to vote. If they can mobilize their FoCo followers through social media, they’ll have a huge advantage. ODDS: 3 to 1 (33% chance)

Churchill – “Change”
Churchill has to be commended for this savvy song choice. By choosing a song that features Bethany Kelly rather than Tim Bruns, “Change” automatically stands out as the only female-featured vocal. Plus, this song is absolutely gorgeous and capitilizes well on the success of KTCL artists like Florence and the Machine. Churchill made the Top 10 last year (and the Top 3 in 2009) and “Change” may very well put them in the Top 3 this year. ODDS: 2 to 1 (50% chance)

Saints – “Dark Country”
I first heard this song on “Locals Only” last month and wrote down the name of the band so that I wouldn’t forget it. Some of their songs have an Oasis vibe, but “Dark Country” is more Jakob Dylan meets Franz Ferdinand. While the song has a funky, chill vibe to it, it doesn’t really go anywhere. There is no difference in the music betwen the verses and the chorus, and unfortunately not even the dynamic outro can save it. ODDS: 10 to 1 (10% chance)

Reno Divorce – “Lover’s Leap”
“Lover’s Leap” is another song that stands out from the rest as being the only pure punk rock song in the competition. Fans of Social Distortion, Bad Religion, and Rise Against will vote for this song in droves and they’ve done a good job of mobilizing their fan base to vote. Still, you have to wonder why the band has failed to crack into the Top 3 after being in the Top 10 for three out of the last four years. Maybe there is some backlash for sounding too much like Social D. ODDS: 3 to 1 (33% chance)

My Body Sings Electric – “Doctor”
Like The Heyday, My Body Sings Electric was in the Top 3 last year. Their new single “Doctor” is indie-pop perfection. If they don’t make it into the Top 3, I’ll eat my hat. ODDS: 3 to 2 (66% chance)

Eldren – “Sleepy Walker”
I was a little perplexed by this decision. “Sleepy Walker” is a fairly new song and hasn’t been “road tested” much. But, I have come around to the shrewdness of the decision. It’s a short (not even 2 and a half minutes long) pop nugget that is alternately bouncy and dreamy. Eldren’s primary disadvantage is their newness. But one listen is all that most people need to become believers in this band. ODDS: 5 to 2 (40% chance)

Beats Noire – “Castaways”
Talk about a “wild card”. Beats Noire is the only band I’ve never heard of before. Hell, before the results were announced, they had fewer than 200 Facebook fans. This song’s Gorillaz-like vibe is pretty on point, but I think they would have been better served by editing the song down from its almost 4 minutes running time by removing the jazzy-piano interlude in the middle that just kills the song’s momentum. ODDS: 4 to 1 (25% chance)

Monroe Monroe – “Summon The Sound”
I don’t know whether the tally of 2010’s votes were published, but I’d be surprised if Monroe Monroe hadn’t finished in 4th place. “Squeeze” was one of the best songs to come out of Denver in 2010. I’m not sure that “Summon the Sound” was the best choice of songs to submit (I’d have gone with “Love Language (Wild Hearts)”). Still, Monroe Monroe has some good momentum going. ODDS: 3 to 1 (33% chance)

The Swayback – “What Death Cares About”
The Swayback are another perrenial favorite. I’m sure they will do well in the voting, but this song just doesn’t do it for me. ODDS: 3 to 1 (33% chance)

In The Whale – “Heels”
Nobody does more with less (members) than In The Whale. These guys have never met a gig they wouldn’t play. And whenever they start playing, newcomers get this look on their face like “are these guys serious?”. But, it isn’t long before Nate and Eric make converters out of them. “Heels” is less The Black Keys and more Clutch. It may be a little too hard rock for KTCL. And one of the things that makes In The Whale so charming and likeable is their nerdy exteriors. But, this will be lost on radio listeners. ODDS: 5 to 1 (20% chance)

There you have it. My Body Sings Electric and Churchill will fight it out for 1st place and The Heyday will round out the Top 3. Who do you think the Top 3 will be?

Freshies – December 2011

Here’s a list of the freshest tracks on the Denver music scene for December, 2011:

Eldren: Sleepy Walker
This bouncy, over-to-soon track is Eldren’s submission for the KTCL Hometown for the Holidays concert.

Vices I Admire: Hero
This video of the new single “Hero”, from the band’s upcoming Venom & Pride EP, features performances from The Bluebird Theater, Hodi’s Half Note, and Moe’s BBQ North.

Churchill: Change
Churchill is really stepping up their game! Bethany Kelly’s vocals are featured on this lush, jangly track. The video is professionally shot by Velare Imaginarium’s Tim Twinem.

The Yawpers: Jesus Car
This is what it would sound like if Lindsay Buckingham remade Ministry’s “Jesus Built My Hot Rod”.

Varlet: Eastern
Motown girl-group vocals against an indie/folk backdrop.

Yonnas Abraham: Blanco
Nearly all of the SEXTAPE tracks have been released. “Blanco” is the latest. Check out the rest at http://soundcloud.com/mynameisyonnas.

ForeverKid: Party Donor
ForeverKid (a.k.a. Ross Ryan of Life in Electric and Boys) offers up a remix/mashup based mainly on LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem”.

Weekend Preview: December 1st – December 4th, 2011

Here’s what’s going on in Denver this weekend. I am totally undecided as to which of these shows to attend… That’s a great position to be in!

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

• Stache Bash Benefit Show featuring Fierce Bad Rabbit w/ The Don’ts and Be Carefuls, Young Cities, and The Outfit @ Hi Dive – A great lineup benefiting the Blue Star Connection organization, which donates their time through the power of music to children and young adults who have cancer and other life threatening situations – 8PM, 21+, $10.
• Churchill w/ You, Me, and Apollo and Danielle Ate The Sandwich @ Hodi’s Half Note (FoCo) – 8PM, 18+, $10.
• Fairchildren @ Lost Lake – The band featuring Meese brothers Nate and Patrick kick of a December residency tonight. 9PM, 21+, $?.
• Set in Motion w/ Gary Bragg Band, Ali Grayson, & Sugar Magnoli @ Toad Tavern (Littleton) – 7 PM, 21+, $?.
• Kid Rock w/ Ty Stone @ Fillmore Auditorium – Upjump the boogie! 7PM, 16+, $47.
• eTown: Big Head Todd and the Monsters w/ Nicole Atkins @ Boulder Theater – 7PM, All Ages, SOLD OUT .

Friday, December 2nd, 2011

• Be The Ant w/ Eldren and Colfax Speed Queen @ Summit Music Hall – I’ve always wanted to see Colfax Speed Queen. Could this be the night? Everybody knows I love Eldren and Be The Ant. 8 PM, 21+, $5.
• Rocket Summer w/ The Heyday @ Marquis Theater – The Heyday?!? Geez, this is a really hard decision! The twenty dollar ticket price is a little steep. 7PM, All Ages, $20.
• Churchill w/ You, Me, and Apollo @ Walnut Room – Then again, I’ve never seen Churchill either… 7PM, 21+, $12.
• The Queers w/ Lola Black, Reno Divorce, Knock-Out, Potato Pirates @ Gothic Theater – 7PM, 16+, $12.
• Social Distortion w/ Suedehead and Chuck Ragan @ Ogden Theater – This is the first of three straight nights at the Ogden Theater, and the only night with available tickets. 8PM, 16+, $30.
• Fire In The Asylum w/Devoutcast, Fire Aweigh, Extreme Turbo Smash @ Moe’s Original BBQ and Bowl – 9PM, 16+, $5.
• Hell’s Belles w/ MF Ruckus @ Fox Theater (Boulder) – The premier all-female AC/DC tribute band – 9PM, $18, All Ages.

Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

• I Fight Dragons w/ The Photo Atlas and Monroe Monroe @ AF Rays (Greeley) –  Remind me never to accept an invitation to a dinner party on a Saturday ever again! 9PM, 18+, $13.
• Sun Red w/Popcult and Attic Attack @ Meadowlark Lounge – Well, at least I don’t have to try and choose between this show and the I Fight Dragons show! 9PM, 21+, $?.
• El Toro de la Muerte w/ In The Whale, Mercuria and the Gemstars @ Summit Music Hall – 8PM, 21+, $5.
• Achille Lauro w/ Red Fox @ Hi-Dive – Lizzie Huffman had been scheduled to appear, but has canceled due to personal circumstances. 9PM, 21+, $6.
• Mickey Avalon w/ ManCub and Boyhollow @ Bluebird Theater – 9PM, 16+, $25.
• Scott Kelly (Neurosis) w/ Munly (Slim Cessna’s Auto Club) and Bob Wayne @ Hi Dive – 10PM, 18+, $12.
• The Epilogues w/ Common Anomaly and Flashbulb Fires @ Road 34 (FoCo) – 9PM, 21+, $8.
• Colorado Composer Collective featuring Greg Garrison – Five Denver area composers have composed works to feature Leftover Salmon bassist Greg Garrison along with strings and brass. What a cool idea! 8PM, 21+, $13.
• Social Distortion w/ Suedehead and Chuck Ragan @ Ogden Theater – 8PM, 16+, SOLD OUT.
• Me Talk Pretty w/ Madina Lake, Hell or Highwater, and more @ Gothic Theater – 6PM, 16+, $13.

Sunday, December 4th, 2011

• I Fight Dragons w/ SkyFox and Mr. Right – 8PM, 16+, $15.
• Deas Vail w/Sick of Sarah and Now, Now @ Hi Dive – 9PM, 18+, $10.
• Social Distortion w/ Suedehead and Chuck Ragan @ Ogden Theater – 8PM, 16+, SOLD OUT.

Weekend Preview: November 25th – November 26th, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! Here’s what’s going on in Denver this weekend. Events I plan on attending are in RED. Come say “Hi”!

Friday, November 25th, 2011

• Nathanial Rateliff (featuring Fairchildren) w/ Snake Rattle Rattle Snake, Bad Weather California, A Tom Collins @ Gothic Theatre – Check out this lineup! It’s like a Underground Music Showcase holiday party! Every musician and music lover in Denver should be at this show. 8PM, 16+, $15.
• Leftover Salmon w/ Head for the Hills @ Ogden Theater – Already sick of leftover turkey? Then try some Leftover Salmon! The same lineup will play at the same place and the same time Saturday night. 8PM, 16+, $35.
• Youth Lagoon w/ Young Magic and Flashlights @ Larimer Lounge – Youth Lagoon made quite a splash at the Hi-Dive this year opening for Gardens & Villa. 8PM, 21+, $13.

Saturday, November 26th, 2011

• Petals of Span w/ Eldren and The Foot @ Hi Dive – I think Wesley Watkins play for all of these bands. 😉  9 PM, 18+, $7.
• Varlet (Album Release Party) w/ Special Guests @ Larimer Lounge – 9PM, 21+, $10.
• Crooks Coat w/ Colfax Speed Queen and The Outfit @ Moe’s Original BBQ & Bowl – 9PM, 16+, $5.
• Reunion Drive w/ Set In Motion, Tyler Wells, and Special Guests @ Buffalo Rose (Golden) – 7PM, 21+, $6.

Concert Review: Nightmare on Blake Street

Friday night’s Nightmare on Blake Street event at the Summit Music Hall featured a Haunted House, a costume contest, and great performances by My Body Sings Electric, The Pirate Signal, Eldren, Shoot to Please, and Valedictorian. The Haunted House was a little weak and I heard one of the actors got punched pretty hard. It also reeked of gas fumes from a prop chainsaws. UPDATE: I’ve seen some pretty cool pictures from inside the Haunted House lately showing stuff I never saw. I must have rushed through it…

As a hoodied victim hung from the rafters, the zombified My Body Sings Electric performed a high energy set featuring hits “Outside”, “Step Into The Light, their newly completed single “She Wants To Be A Doctor”, and a Thrice cover – who is playing the Summit on Sunday night while MBSE is in Fort Collins supporting Air Dubai/The Epilogues. At the end of the set, they were joined on stage by contest winner Brady Berryman sporting his Justin Timberlake “Dick in a Box” costume.

The members of Eldren dressed in a variety of costumes: Nasir and Tyler wore red and blue bodysuits, respectively, which left little to the imagination. Also onstage were a hot dog, an astronaut, Beetlejuice and Lydia, and Bill and Hillary Clinton. They also performed a cover – MGMT’s “Brian Eno”. Eldren is so prolific, their 45-minute set didn’t include a single song from their two EP releases.

The Pirate Signal put on a solid set, but seemed a bit out of place in the lineup and had a somewhat difficult time maintaining the crowd.

See the full photo album here.

Weekend Preview: October 27th – October 31st, 2011

OK, Kids! It’s Halloween weekend! And, since Halloween is on a Monday, here’s a special EXTENDED weekend preview!

Events I plan on attending are in RED. Come say “Hi”!

Thursday, October 27th, 2011

• Radiation City w/ Popcult and Medic @ Larimer Lounge – That’s a lot of dreamy pop rock for one night! 8:00 PM, 21+, $10.
• Portishead w/ Thought Forms @ 1st Bank Center – Can’t say I’m super familiar with Portishead – but I like everything I’ve heard and I’m sure I will regret not going to this. 8:00PM, All Ages, $40-50.
• Trevor Hall w/ Cas Haley and Rob Drabkin @ Ogden Theater – 8PM, 16+, $25.
• Tin Horn Prayer w/Jesse Manley Band, …and the black feathers, and Pinetree Refugees @ Walnut Room – 7PM, 21+, $10.

Friday, October 28th, 2011

• Nightmare on Blake Street featuring My Body Sings Electric w/ The Pirate Signal, Eldren and MORE! @ Summit Music Hall – Definitely the “go-to” gig of this Halloween season!!! 7PM, All Ages, $8.
• Air Dubai w/ The Epilogues and In The Whale @ Belly Up (Aspen) – Killer lineup (if you’re in Aspen or you’re not going to Nightmare on Blake Street). 10PM, All Ages, $15.
• Joe Mondragon and A-OK’s Halloween Zombie Apocalypse Party @ Moe’s Original BBQ and Bowl – 9PM, 16+, $5.
• Devotchka w/Churchill @ Ogden Theater – 9PM, 16+, $34.75.
• Skyfox w/ Crimson Red and MORE @ Gothic Theatre – 8PM, 16+, $10.
• Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe @ Boulder Theater – Denson and Tiny Universe featuring Anders Osborne will be performing the Rolling Stones’ classic Sticky Fingers in its entirety! 8PM, All Ages, $36.
• Cold War Kids w/ Young Man @ Fox Theater (Boulder) – The same lineup at the same time on Saturday night too! 9PM, All Ages, $25.

Saturday, October 29th, 2011

• Air Dubai w/ The Epilogues and The Photo Atlas @ Black Sheep (Colorado Springs) – 8PM, All Ages, $10.
• Denver Does CBGB’s @ Hi-Dive – Several of Denver’s elite bands pay tribute to the bands who got their start at the legendary NYC rock club CBGB’s – 9PM, 21+, $10.
• Reno Divorce w/ The Repercussions and MORE @ Marquis Theater – 4 out of 5 punk rockers agree: If you like Social Distortion – you’ll like Reno Divorce. 7:30 PM, All Ages, $12.
• Devotchka w/ Zombies vs Vampires @ Ogden Theater – 8PM, 21+, $42.
• MiMOSa @ Fillmore Auditorium – 7PM, 16+, $35.
• De La Soul w/ The Black Sheep @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom – 9PM, All Ages, $34.50

Sunday, October 30th, 2011

• Air Dubai w/ The Epilogues and My Body Sings Electric @ Aggie Theater (Fort Collins) – 8PM, All Ages, $10
• The Motet @ Bluebird Theater – Boulder’s best funk tribute band performs the music of The Grateful Dead. 9PM, 16+, $25
• Method Man @ Ogden Theater – 8PM, 16+, $30.

Monday, October 31st, 2011

• Air Dubai w/ The Epilogues, Monroe Monroe, and ManCub @ Bluebird Theatre – Are you fucking kidding me with this lineup?!?!?! 8PM, 16+, $15.
• Inca House Halloween Party – The official Air Dubai after party featuring performances by The Photo Atlas (as Def Leppard) and Cobraconda (as Dr Dre and Snoop Dog).
• Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe @ Fillmore Auditorium – Denson and Tiny Universe featuring Anders Osborne will be performing the Rolling Stones’ classic Sticky Fingers in its entirety! 7PM, 16+, $25.

Single Preview: My Body Sings Electric “She Wants To Be A Doctor”

Since April, I’ve participated in a few Kickstarter projects to help musicians get some studio time. It’s usually a win-win situation: the band gets money, and the “backer” gets some cool rewards – usually in the form of band merchandise. For larger contributions, some bands offer rewards that are more personal – such as the “Thank You” video that Monroe Monroe made for me (found here) for backing their project. One of my rewards for backing My Body Sings Electric’s Kickstarter project was exclusive access to the single that my contribution helped to get recorded.

My Body Sings Electric (photographer unknown)

The song is called “She Wants To Be A Doctor”. It is 3:14 long and around 160 BPM. It begins (and ends) with dueling stereo guitars – Jeff Fedel in your right ear and Nick Crawford in your left ear – reminiscent of the intro to “Jealous Teeth” by their Inca House Collective brothers The Photo Atlas. The overall sound is similar to that of their previous album “Changing Color”. Crawford’s and Fedel’s guitars complement each other and stay distinct in the mix throughout the length of the song. The rhythm is about as straightforward as MBSE gets, but Jason Bower’s punchy bass and Ben Scarboro’s kick drum and hi-hat shine through (particularly in the chorus and the bridge). Brandon Whalen’s vocals are strong and clear and employ multi-tracked harmonies.

As for the lyrics, it is a boyfriend’s lament about how his girlfriends no longer have time for him. One wants to be a doctor and “bury herself inside of books that I can’t even read”. The other wants to be a model and “dance around in pretty clothes that she can’t afford to keep”. While one is trying to better herself internally through learning and the other externally through her appearance, the boy has stopped caring about both his brains and looks and can barely get motivated enough to leave the couch. Whether his malaise is borne out of his own laziness or in response to the decreased attention; whether to feel sorry for him or yell through the song at him to get up off his ass and make something of himself is for the listener to decide.

It’s a catchy song. Easy to dance to, easy to learn the lyrics. They’ve played it live a couple of times and will most likely play it again at the “Nightmare on Blake Street” event that they are headlining on October 28th at Summit Music Hall with The Pirate Signal, Eldren, and more. If you’ve never backed a Kickstarter project, it’s pretty exciting to be an “investor” in the bands you like. By the way, my contribution also made me eligible to have a song written about me by My Body Sings Electric. It will be very interesting to see if the band is able to capture my “essence”. Ha ha!

Weekend Preview: September 22 – 25, 2011

Here’s what’s coming up this weekend!  The shows I plan on attending are in RED.

Thursday, September 22nd

• Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk w/Zobomaze @ Cervante’s Other Side: I’m a sucker for New Orleans funk, and Ivan is Aaron Neville’s son and the nephew to the other Neville Brothers. They have 2 bass players, and you know how much I like a big bottom (just seeing if you’re paying attention)! Zobomaze is a local band that plays pscyhedelic, mostly instrumental funk. 8 PM, All Ages, $20 DOS.
• Fruit Bats w/Vetiver & Fairchildren @ Bluebird Theater: The Fruit Bats and Vetiver are folk/rock label-mates on Sub Pop Records. They will both also be performing free sets at Twist & Shout Records starting at 6 PM. Denver’s own Fairchildren (featuring members of Miss America and The Centennial) will kick things off at The Bluebird. 8 PM, 16+, $15
• Gomez w/Kopecky Family & Greylag @ Ogden Theatre: 8 PM, 16+, $28

Friday, September 23rd

• Serious Moonlight w/Popcult @ Illegal Pete’s DU: The next Illegal Pete’s tour kicks off with two seriously awesome up-and-coming acts. Serious Moonlight is an American act who’s usual live lineup features all four members of The Photo Atlas plus Cooper on the steel guitar and AtticAttak’s Donnie Rosentrater on keys. Popcult features former members of Chain Gang of 1974 and Fear Before (The March of Flames) and play polished dreamy pop tunes. 10 PM, All Ages, FREE!
• Steve Earl & The Dukes @ Ogden Theatre: 8 PM, 16+, $30
• The Dwarves w/ Nashville Pussy @ Bluebird Theater: 8 PM, 16+, $20

Saturday, September 24th

• John Common & Blinding Light w/ Eldren and Glowing House @ Soiled Dove Underground: Wow, what a lineup! John Common’s lush, emotional pop songs remind me a lot of  Damien Rice’s work with Lisa Hannigan, especially when Common harmonizes with Jess DeNicola. You all know how I feel about Eldren and their ability to be the “Next Big Thing”. Denver’s Glowing House gets the party started with stomp-along folk-rock. 8 PM, 21+, $10-15
• Serious Moonlight w/Popcult @ Illegal Pete’s Pearl Street Boulder: 10 PM, All Ages, FREE!
• Come As You Are: A Tribute to the 20th Anniversary of Nirvana’s Nevermind @ Hi-Dive: $8 PM, 21+, $8
• Big Sam Funky Nation w/ Ultraviolet Hippopotamus @ Cervante’s Other Side: 9 PM, All Ages, $10
• Low w/ Mercuria and the Gemstars @ Bluebird Theater: 9 PM, 16+, $20
• Slim Cessna’s Auto Club w/ Old Man Markley @ 3 Kings Tavern: 9 PM, 21+, $12

Sunday, September 25th

• Blue October w/ IAMDYNAMITE and Ashleigh Stone @ Ogden Theatre: 8 PM, 16+, $35
• Candlebox w/ Cowboy Mouth @ Bluebird Theater: 7:30 PM, 16+, $35
• Periphery w/The Textures and The Human Abstract @ Marquis Theater: 7:30 PM, All Ages, $12

Album Review: Eldren Volumes I & II

Eldren is arguably the “buzziest” band in Denver right now – an amazing accomplishment considering they played their first show less than 9 months ago.  But, their brand of psychedlic rock pop music and theatrical performances are picking up new and loyal followers at every turn.  That’s not to suggest that Eldren came out of nowhere.  At the center of the group is the songwriting team of Nasir Malik and Tyler Imbrogno.  Malik honed his singer/songwriter/guitarist chops with Denver bands Falls Ruin and Death Hickey Blues (alongside singer/songwriter Sam Lee and current Eldren violinist/guitarist Josh Lee) before meeting Tyler Imbrogno in the Summer of 2010.  Prior to that, Imbrogno was busy writing and performing in Dayton, Ohio – evidence of which can be found on MySpace and clearly foreshadows the musical style from which Eldren’s music would be born.

Eldren I was released in June 2011 and Eldren II just two months later.  Each EP features four tracks – many of which are mini-suites within themselves.  The music deftly combines the eclectic and spacey weirdness of  The Flaming Lips with the keyboard-driven pop sensibilities and vocal harmonies of Supertramp.  Eldren I’s opening track “Sunrise Spectacular” is as intensifying and bombastic as any Styx opener between The Grand Illusion and Paradise Theater, while its closing track “On The Fence” finds Eldren at the height of their Flaming Lips worship, with a rhythm guitar part that is immediately evocative of “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Part 1”.  Eldren II ‘s “Best Friends” is good enough to be on MGMT’s last album, and “Space Day” is a Syd Barrett inspired trip through the cosmos that takes a brief pit stop through Led Zeppelin’s “Going to California”.

This isn’t to suggest that Eldren is derivative. They are talented enough as composers and musicians that it feels more like homage than grand theft.  Their compositions are as unique and diverse as the band members themselves (currently rounded out by bassist Steve Holloway, drummer Rick Walker, and flutist/vocalist Susie Renee Quinn), who deliver confident performances that belie their short time together.  When a song kicks into high gear, it’s as glorious as any performance by more experienced bands – Arcade Fire comes to mind – largely due to the wide array of instruments and vocalists Eldren has at their disposal.

Eldren’s lyrics mainly focus on innocence, love, hope, and friendship.  Eldren I’s “Oh My God” takes the listener on a quiet journey of self-awareness, where the thoughts of a boy and a girl seamlessly flow from the mundane (the length of your hair) to the serious (life and death) and ultimately find solace in the idea of growing old together.  The lyric “Look at your face/It’s so hairy/Your name should be Larry/Hairy Larry” is a representative example of the child-like wonderment that runs through many of their songs.

By all indications, the best is yet to come.  The band has a romping song in regular rotation at live shows called “Cabaret” which sounds like an entire Broadway musical performed over a span of five-and-a-half minutes.  Word on the street is that “Cabaret” is part of another set of songs that the band is readying for release.  A source close to the band described Malik and Imbrogno as being totally in sync during the process of writing new material, and that they know how to bring out the best in each other.  The collaboration has already yielded so much in so little time.  “Where do we go from here?” – I’m anxious to find out.

Eldren’s music can currently be downloaded free from their website at http://www.eldrenmusic.com, and you can find them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/EldrenMusic.