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.

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”.

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.