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.

Freshies – November 2011

Here’s a list of the freshest tracks on the Denver music scene:

Monroe Monroe: “Adore”
The five-song “Hello Moon” EP will be released on December 10th. “Adore” will be the opening track. Frontman Bella Abbetacola played the un-mastered CD for me in his car, and I can’t wait to hear the final cut on a good set of headphones!

The Photo Atlas: “Move It Darling”
A sneak preview from their next album. Keyboards are up front and Joshua Taylor is pounding the skins on this one!

Yonnas Abraham: “SUICIDE”
The 2nd track to be posted by the BLKHRTS and Pirate Signal frontman ahead of his“Sextape” Release Party on December 16th.

Air Dubai: “Summer Solstice”
You’ve heard “Soul & Body” and “Lights Down”. Now that the first snow has hit Colorado, “Summer Solstice” seems like a timely choice to feature off of the newly released “Day Escape” EP. You can check out the whole thing at airdubaimusic.com.

Dirty Rotten Rhymers: “Shoes So Dope”
I still don’t think “arches” rhymes with “park bench”, but there are plenty of rhymes that are on point!

Della: “Love Me, Leave Me”
Della will be celebrating the release of their new CD “Love Me, Leave Me at the Marquis Theater on November 10th. Get the details here and check out the title track.

ManCub: “The New Sound”
ManCub has re-worked their own track “Sound” into a new track “The New Sound” (I immediately thought of This is Spinal Tap when I wrote this: “There was already another group in the East End called The Originals, and we had to renam ourselves The New Originals”. But, I digress…). This is one of my favorite tracks the duo has released as it features more bass tones than I’m used to hearing from them.

All Capitals: “Hypochondriac”
This track is from their recently released EP “The Time Is Now”. “Hypochondriac” sounds like Guns ‘N Roses filtered through The Strokes. Tasty!

The Fray: “Heartbeat”
The band fronted by Caleb Slade’s big brother has released a new single from their upcoming third album, Scars And Stories, which finds them sounding more and more like Coldplay (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

Places: “This Fire”
This song is like honey dripping down your earholes! The album is due out on December 13th. Listen and download (name your price) on NoiseTrade.

Note: Some of these tracks have been posted to SoundCloud as part of Reverb’s “Steal This Track” feature. So, make sure to head over to their Facebook page and show them some love.

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.

Weekend Preview: September 30th – October 2nd, 2011

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

Friday, September 30th

• Post Paradise w/ Vices I Admire, Common Anomoly, and Take to the Oars @ Hodi’s Half Note (Fort Collins): Fort Collins’ own Post Paradise plays high-energy (think OK Go) alt-rock and tosses in a cellist. So, remember to drink your beer with pinkys out! Admission includes a download card of their new CD. But, of course, I’m attending mostly because Vices I Admire and Take to the Oars are on the bill! 8 PM, All Ages, $5.
• The Swayback w/ManCub @ Larimer Lounge – The best value of the night!!! 9PM, 21+, FREE
• Illuminaughty @ Casselman’s Bar – ForeverKid (Ross Ryan) is on this electronica lineup, as well as Omega, Seth Ambruz, and more. 8PM, 21+, $12.
• Further @ Red Rocks – Jerry’s dead! But that won’t stop hippies from converging on Red Rocks for the first night of a 3-night run. 7:30 PM, All Ages, $55.
• Electric Six @ The Bluebird Theater – Tonight! I’m gonna take you to a gay bar… and the Bluebird Theater. 9:00 PM, 16+, $15.
• Kissing Party CD Release Party @ Hi-Dive – 9PM, 18+, $7.
• Kinetix w/MTHDS @ Cervante’s Masterpiece Ballroom. 9PM, All Ages, $10.
• In The Whale w/ Colfax Speed Queen @ 12 Volt Tavern. 21+
• Bonnie and the Beard w/ Petals of Spain @ three20south (Breckenridge)

Saturday, October 1st

• Sun Red EP Release Party w/De Dos Del Sol, Colfax Speed Queen and Safe Boating is No Accident @ Hi-Dive: I haven’t seen any of these bands yet, but I’ve been enjoying their music – particularly that of Sun Red, which has a Jimmy Gnecco vibe. 9:30 PM, 18+, $7.
• The Centennial Fall Music Showcase @ The Banana Stand – Nate Meese puts on cool backyard house parties. 6:30 PM, 21+, Donations (space is limited).
• Serious Moonlight @ Illegal Pete’s Downtown – 10PM, All Ages, FREE
• The Rapture w/ Snake Rattle Rattle Snake @ Marquis Theater – 8PM, All Ages, $25.
• Journey w/Foreigner and Night Ranger @ Comfort Dental Amphitheater – Don’t stop believing that you don’t miss Steve Perry. 7PM, All Ages, $40.
• Ladytron @ Ogden Theater – 9PM, 16+, $22.
• Bush w/Chevelle & Filter – Holy grunge gonads, Batman! 6:30 PM (I guess they have to go to bed early), All Ages, $35-45.

Sunday, October 2nd

• Dick Dale w/ Fingers of the Sun @ Gothic Theatre – Dick Dale is still alive?!? He must have outlived all of the Del-Tones! 7 PM, 16+, $25.
• Chris Robinson’s Brotherhood @ Boulder Theater – The Black Crowes frontman flies solo (sort of). 7 PM, All Ages, $25 .
• Bring Me the Horizon @ Summit Music Hall – Moved from the Fillmore to the Summit. Yeah, things are tough all over… 6 PM, All Ages, $25.