Browsing Category
National Music
1053 posts
Rad Radar: Ratatat
Ratatat first appeared on my “rad radar†when they opened a Faint show at The Ogden a few years ago. Opening acts can be hit-or-miss sometimes, but I retrospectively regret arriving late that particular night. The NYC-based instrumental act quickly became a hit with hipsters and even hip hippies via festival bookings including Bonnaroo. Widespread appreciation of the duo was overdue, though, until doing bootleg hip hop remixes on the sly side project tip finally culminated in cutting tracks “Alive†and MGMT co-production “Soundtrack to my Life†with Kanye protege Kid Cudi.
June 7, 2010
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.
May 29, 2010
Talking Points: Henry Rollins
Henry Rollins has got more stories than Grandpa Simpson. Not only that, whereas Simpson seems permanently cursed with verbal diarrhea, people all over the planet eagerly part with greenbacks to hear the ex-Black Flag frontman yak. Rollins' Frequent Flyer Tour rolls into The Boulder Theater this Tuesday.
May 17, 2010
Artist to Watch: Jonsi Birgisson
Hearing Jónsi's "Go" in the privacy of one’s own home, like with any other record featuring Jónsi’s unmistakable voice, simply pales in comparison to hearing the songs from "Go" performed live in a setting like Denver’s palatial Paramount Theatre.
April 28, 2010
Aural Pleasure: DJ MLe
What will MLE play in Wunderland? Disappear down the rabbit hole this Friday and find out. I'll be there, celebrating my umpteenth annual Unbirthday and singing with MLE's buddy Ishe.
April 19, 2010
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.
April 17, 2010
Aural Pleasure: MGMT
Sure, the psychedelic poptronica of their Oracular Spectacular debut set a new benchmark for 21st century pop music. Its slow-burner success was never calculated, though. In fact, Spectacular's gradual omnipresence could best be described as a happy accident.
April 11, 2010
Artist to Watch: Cymbals Eat Guitars
Cymbals Eat Guitars, a Brooklyn-based quartet that draws influences from a range of iconic alternative groups, took the stage at the Hi-Dive on April 1st.
April 5, 2010
CD Report Card: Black Francis – NonStopErotik
Living up to his Pixies heyday is a perpetual challenge for man of many names Black Francis. Even his most rabid fans are constantly judging new work against classic, time-tested Pixies' platters. That's not to say his post-Pixies output hasn't produced occasional gems. Svn Fngrs, a Cooking Vinyl EP he cooked up in 2008, is an excellent example. NonStopErotik drops today.
March 30, 2010
CD Report Card: Bright Eyes & Neva Dinova – One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels
I will never forget the first time Bright Eyes blew my mind. Several of us, including VailPM.com founders Ryan and Nevada, were in Park City, Utah for Robert Redford's annual Sundance Film Festival. I had helped book Bassnectar at a club event called Mind Bender that also featured lucid dream guru Stephen LaBerge and author Daniel Pinchbeck.
March 22, 2010
Beatport Floorfillers: Bassnectar – Timestretch
If you thought Bassnectar was some sort of ceviche recipe, consider yourself officially out of touch with the underground. Lorin Ashton, long eclipsed by his strikingly accurate moniker, is an extremely versatile DJ, capable of juggling a plethora of genres within a single, continuously-mixed set. His sublime sunrise sets at Burning Man have soundtracked some of the finest, most memorable moments of my entire life.
March 14, 2010
Aural Pleasure: Kraddy
Glitch Mob, a collective of California producers he has since parted ways with, was largely responsible for the popularization of a cutting-edge hybrid of electronica and hip hop called “glitch hopâ€. Glitch refers to the producers’ propensity for intentional glitches or “stutter editsâ€.
March 9, 2010