Weekend Preview: December 16th – December 18th, 2011

Here’s what’s going on in Denver this weekend. The events I plan on attending are in RED. Come say Hi!

Friday, December 16th, 2011

SEXTAPE

• Yonnas Abraham “SEXTAPE” @ Conceited Bastard Art Gallery (738 Santa Fe Dr, Suite A) – After releasing a song a week for 8 weeks in a cycle known as “A Prequel to SEXTAPE”, Yonnas Abraham is ready to reveal what is perhaps his most ambitious project. The night will include a photography exhibit, a live model in a glass box, an all-star band performing “SEXTAPE” and “Prequel to a SEXTAPE” in its entirety, and free food and booze. Not to be missed. 9PM, 21+, $10. Also, there will be a REVERB sponsored after-party at 3 Kings Tavern DJ’d by Savior Breath. 21+, FREE.
• Serious Moonlight w/ Attic Attack @ Illegal Pete’s Lodo – Come here Alan Andrews complain about Colorado going soft-rock while he plays his acoustic Americana jams. Donny Rose of Attic Attack will be stoked just to be out of the house! 10PM, All Ages, FREE! After party at Donny’s house (ask him for directions).
• In The Whale Video Release Party @ In The Whale House (1805 Irving Street Unit C) – Ugly sweaters, new video for their HftH entry “Heels”, and a dog named Porkchop. That’s all I need to know. And, Yes, I WILL hit all three of these events in one night! 10PM, All Ages, FREE (but float the band a couple bucks for beers, ya cheap bastard).
• Micah Schnabel (of Two Cow Garage) CD Release w/ Tin Horn Prayer @ Hi-Dive – 10PM, 21+, $7.
• P-Nuckle w/ The A-OK’s and Special Guests @ Gothic Theater – 8PM, 16+, $12.
• KBPI Mistletoe Jam – Plan B featuring Wayne Static and Special Guests @ Fillmore Auditorium – 7PM, 16+, $10.67.
• The Fox Street Allstars w/ Broken Tongues @ Cervantes’ Other Side – 9PM, All Ages, $8.

Saturday, December 17th, 2011

Hometown for the Holidays

• Channel 93.3’s Hometown for the Holidays @ Casselman’s – Congratulations to The Heyday, My Body Sings Electric, and Churchill! 8PM, 18+, FREE
• Colfax Speed Queen w/ Sun Red @ Wax Trax Records – Sun Red is one of my favorite new bands. Do yourself a favor and come check them out for free in the afternoon. 3PM, All Ages, FREE
• John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light w/ Achille Lauro @ Larimer Lounge – A very cool lineup. Wish I could make it… 9PM, 21+, $13.
• Bonnie & The Beard w/ The Ghost Towners @ Berkeley Inn (38th & Tennyson) – 9PM, 21+, FREE
• Be Brave w/ Calibrate Me and Special Guests @ Marquis Theater – 7PM, All Ages, $15.
• Garage A Trois w/ Zobomaze @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom – 9PM, All Ages, $15.
• Salt N Pepa w/ Wheelchair Sports Camp @ Gothic Theatre – 9PM, 16+, $50. Did I read that right? FIFTY BUCKS?!? Damn…
• Matisyahu w/ Dubskin @ Ogden Theatre – 9PM, 16+, $30.

Sunday, December 18th, 2011

• Sleeptalk w/ The Patent Pending and Special Guests @ Marquis Theater – 5PM, 21+, $10.

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

Weekend Preview: September 9 -11, 2011

Thursday, September 8th

• Open Mic Night @ The Summit Music Hall – Melissa McIntyre is performing at around 9:30 and Chris Heckman from The Epilogues will join her for a song!  Plus no cover and $1 PBR’s!  21+
• Serious Moonlight @ Lazy Dog/Brick House – An indie-folk band featuring members of The Photo Atlas. 21+, Free(?)
• Paper Bird @ The Boulder Theater – Paper Bird is one of Colorado’s best Americana bands. All Ages, $17.50 – $19.50 (Under 21)
• PopCult @ Larimer Lounge – Fans of The Fray/Coldplay will love these guys. 21+. $10
• My Darkest Days @ Marquis Theater – Canadian rock for strippers. All Ages, $15
• King Rat @ Bender’s Tavern – Denver’s godfathers of punk. 21+, $10
• STS9 @ Ogden Theater – SOLD OUT

Friday, September 9th

• Back to School Bash w/ Regret Night, Kill Paradise, The Photo Atlas, Caramel Carmela, and Break Through Beautiful – This is the only thing worth going to on Friday night.  Trust me! All Ages, $10
• STS9 @ Red Rocks – The first of a 2-night stand. All Ages, $52

Saturday, September 10th

• DMX @ Gothic Theater – 16+, $35 ($40 D.O.S.)
• MSTRKRFT @ Ogden Theater – 16+, $25 ($30 D.O.S.)
• Justice League of Street Food’s Fall Helmet Bash @ 3507 Ringsby Ct – Denver’s best food trucks gather for a party including entertainment and booze from 5-10 PM. Wear a hat or helmet! All Ages.

Sunday, September 11th

• The Epilogues w/ Aloft in the Sundry, Be Brave, and Petals of Spain @ Hi-Dive – If you don’t come, the terrorists win. 18+, $6 (Are you kidding me! That’s a great deal!)

Concert Recap: InnerPartySystem’s Last Show Ever?

Die Tonight, Live Forever? 1,800 miles away in the early morning hours of August 28th, Hurricane Irene was doing Denver a favor. Following an announcement that InnerPartySystem would go on indefinite hiatus, the band announced two final shows: at Denver’s Bluebird Theater on August 28th and “the last show” in New York on August 31st. But the weather prevented them from travelling to Denver on the 28th and the show had to be rescheduled for September 5th – making the Denver appearance the last ever scheduled performance by the band

Several of Denver’s music elite showed up to say goodbye to a band that enjoyed a large following here. Among the crowd were members of The Epilogues, The Photo Atlas/Serious Moonlight, 3OH!3, and Take to the Oars. Also on hand were KTCL DJ’s Nic Cage and Nerf. Before launching into “American Trash”, singer Patrick Nissley made a point to thank KTCL for being such a strong supporter of the band.  During that same song, it appeared for a moment that Cobraconda’s Spencer Foreman was planning to dump a trash can full of ice over Nissley’s head from behind, but Foreman thought better of it. IPS’s biggest hit “Don’t Stop” was saved for last, during which the band was joined on stage by several of their fans and friends. As the song ended and the stage cleared, I saw drummer Jared Piccone unplug one of Nissley’s synthesizers and hand it to a fan in the pit – perhaps a sign of acrimony between band members?

Denver’s bad boys of rap Cobraconda opened the show. Prior to hitting the stage, they debuted their video for “BBHM$” (Bitch Better Have My Money). As the group promised on their Facebook page, the video was an R-Rated revelry of cocaine, alcohol, and oral sex (which may or may not have been simulated). Most of the crowd stood with their mouths agape unsure of how to react (particularly those who were on a date). Others gasped and whooped it up. The duo then hit the stage and pounded through a tight set that was punctuated by back-to-back tracks designed to get the hometown crowd going: “Never Going Back to Cali” (sampling 2Pac’s “California Love”) and “Everyday (In The Mile High)” (sampling Rusko’s “Everyday”). They closed out their set with fan favorites “K.I.S.S.I.N.G.” and “El Camino”. Judging from the amount of band merchandise I saw in the crowd, they picked up several new fans as a result of this coveted opening slot.