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DJ IQ: Denver’s Kostas boasts Global Dance anthem
Kostas Kouremenous has been searching The Mile High City high and low for the perfect set of pipes. Kostas isn't a plumber, though, he's a producer—a DJ and dance music producer, to be exact. Although he's had his fingers in many different Denver pots over the years—a shoe store, a modeling agency and a number of nightclubs now (Amsterdam, Pure, Lotus, DC10, Zen)--partnering with Triad Dragons' Ha Hau on Global Dance Festival at Red Rocks was his single most in-the-black business decision to date.
Aural Pleasure: Broken Bells
Broken Bells, a collaboration between Shins' singer James Mercer and aural harlot Danger Mouse, breaks its Mile High cherry tonight at The Gothic Theatre. Best known as one half of Gnarls Barkley, DM—born Brian Burton--is easily one of the most sought-after producers in the game. The left field is his field of expertise, though, as evidenced by his track record: Beck, The Black Keys, Gorillaz, Sparklehorse and Beatles/Jay-Z mash-up masterpiece The Grey Album.
Aural Pleasure: The Glitch Mob
The Glitch Mob ain't no one-trick pony. “Glitch hopâ€, a genre they're often credited with inventing (or at least popularizing), may have put them on the map, but they refuse to churn out cookie cutter, assembly line club bangers. Drink the Sea, their first fully original full-length, is bound to confound expectations. On the one hand, there are certainly distinctive characteristics that make the record recognizably Glitch Mob. On the other, Sea sees them abandoning many of their signature bells and whistles—most notably the stutter edits suggested by their moniker.
Body Language: Festival de Vida @ Guerilla Garden
Each month, we here at 303 accost two strangers on the street for our “303 Style†back pages. You might have noticed April Charmaine on page 72 of May's Music Issue. In her interview, Charmaine mentions she's a choreographer and dance teacher at Sol Vida. Festival de Vida, a student dance recital Sol Vida is curating at Guerilla Garden (3821 Steele), just happens to be happening today.
Hindsight: Beats Antique @ The Boulder Theater
I can't pinpoint the specific moment Beats Antique appeared on my radar, but I can guarantee Bassnectar is to blame. Several years ago, he added his signature whomp to their tune “Roustaboutâ€, then invited them to join his traveling circus for a Left Coast jaunt or two. Burn night with Suze Q was definitely my first time experiencing their “live†act, normally consisting of two producers/DJs--one of which who peppers sets with both violin and sitar-sounding guitar--and a tribal belly dancer named Zoe Jakes.
Festival Window: Winter Music Conference
Winter Music Conference may seem like a misnomer to many, due to its Sunshine State stomping grounds, but Colorado Conference goers were nearly cock blocked by Old Man Winter for the second year in a row. Denver was blanketed in a solid foot of snow when I left; Miami's umpteenth annual mixologist mixer was on fire when I arrived. Beat dieters from around the world rendezvoused en masse for seven days in heaven. Superstar DJs were in abundant supply. Supermodels came out of the woodwork. And dancefloors were demolished left and right.
Festival Window: South by Southwest
Austin is music industry magnetic zero this week. Bands, brands, managers, bloggers, photographers, label reps, DJs, journalists, hipsters, musicians, assistants, publicists, groupies, roadies, street teams, retailers, talent scouts and publishing houses are all represented by themselves or someone else in the Lone Star city.
Aural Pleasure: Mickey Avalon
Mickey Avalon started slinging herb for his mom at the tender, albeit superstitiously unlucky age of thirteen. Although it sounds eerily similar to a plot-line from the brilliantly twisted Showtime dramedy Weeds, art has since imitated life (and not vice versa). When Avalon took the dreaded gateway drug route, though, she cut him off. Translation: mommy fired his @$$ for graduating to smack. Mickey ended up turning tricks for dope in his most desperate years. These days, he turns phrases for dough. And now his old lady works for him…as one of his managers.
Jazz Hands: Erik Deutsch
If what's left of my memory serves me correctly, Erik Deutsch and I first met in the hallway of Hallet Hall during my freshman year at CU Boulder. Hallet was allegedly named “Biggest Party Dorm in the Nation†by Playboy Magazine around that time, and its residents were determined to retain the title. On an average night, one might encounter a full bar, more than one four-foot bong and even a nitrous tank.