The Bottesini Project

On the Bottesini Project’s outstanding self-titled debut, leader and saxophonist Paul Riola recruited high-caliber musicians like Tortoise guitarist Jeff Parker and drummer Scott Amendola to play on tunes that were largely improvised. For its followup, Naima’s Grass Pajamas, Riola assembled a new cast of players, among them Wilco guitarist Nels…

The Damned

Although there’s video of the Damned titled Final Damnation, which includes footage of a 1988 reunion show in London, it was hardly the last straw for an act that got its start during London’s burgeoning punk movement in the late ’70s. Just the same, there were a few rough patches…

Q&A with Philip Chevron of the Pogues

This week’s preview of the Pogues’ show this Friday at the Ogden Theatre only scratched the surface of our interview with guitarist Philip Chevron, who also talked at length about Just Look Them Straight In The Eye And Say… Pogue Mahone!!, the five-disc box set of b-sides, outtakes and live…

Flaming Lips grab top spot at Bart’s CD Cellar

The Flaming Lips latest effort, Embryonic, debuted at the number one spot at Bart’s CD Cellar for the week ending October 18. Bob Dylan’s Christmas in the Heart, released last week on Columbia, came in second and Built to Spill’s There Is No Enemy came in third, while the Avett…

Jay-Z top seller at Independent Records again

Jay-Z, who’s been dominating Independent’s charts for the past two months with The Blueprint 3, was on top again for the week ending October 18. Mario’s D.N.A., released last week on J Records, debuted at second while Drake’s So Far Gone came in at third. The Flaming Lips’ Embryonic and…

Off-duty cop working door at Hai Bar over the weekend

A uniformed off-duty cop was working the door at Hai Bar, at 3600 West 32nd Avenue, on Saturday night. It wasn’t entirely surprising, considering the altercation that occured at the 3,000-square-foot lounge below Sushi Hai two weeks ago, when a fight allegedly broke out and spilled out to the street,…

Flaming Lips top seller at Twist and Shout

The Flaming Lips’ two-disc Embryonic, released last week on Warner Brothers, debuted at the top spot at Twist & Shout for the week ending October 18 while the Monsters of Folk’s self-titled debut and Emmitt-Nershi Band’s New Country Blues grabbed the second and third slots. Bob Dylan’s Christmas in the…

Over the Weekend: The Bottesini Project at Notably Fine Audio

The Bottesini Project Friday, October 16, 2009Notably Fine AudioBetter than: Any other local collective improvisation group.   One of the great things about Bottesini Project shows is the uniqueness of each performance. Since the shows are based completely based on collective improvisations, there’s a freshness and vibrancy about the performances…

Tegan and Sara, 30 Seconds to Mars, Everclear shows announced

Canadian twin sisters Tegan & Sara hit the road the last week in October in support of their sixth studio album, Sainthood, which drops on Tuesday, October 27. After European and Canadian dates, the sisters are slated to swing by the Ogden Theatre next year on Sunday, April 4. General…

Built to Spill top seller at Twist and Shout

Built to Spill’s latest effort, There is No Enemy, released last week on Reprise, grabbed the top spot at Twist and Shout for the week ending October 11. Rosanne Cash’s The List, which features some cameos from Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello and Jeff Tweedy, claimed the second slot, while Monsters…

Erik Applegate

Denver-based jazz bassist Erik Applegate has strong enough chops to have performed with jazz heavies like Milt Jackson, Harold Mabern and Tom Harrell, but on Red Skies, his debut as a leader, Applegate shows he’s a skilled and well-versed composer, as well. Over the course of his six originals here,…

Liam Finn & Eliza Jane

On Liam Finn’s outstanding 2007 debut, I’ll Be Lighting, the New Zealand-based singer-songwriter played nearly every instrument save for drum tracks and some bass help from his father, Crowded House and Split Enz alum Neil Finn. Liam’s vocals definitely recall his old man’s, even more so on Champagne in Seashells,…

Avett Brothers on top again at Bart’s CD Cellar

The Avett Brothers’ I and Love and You grabbed the top spot at Bart’s CD Cellar again for the week ending October 11. Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 3 and Alice in Chains’ Black Gives Way to Blue nabbed the second and third slots while Mariah Carey’s Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel…

Jay-Z back on top at Independent Records

After holding on the top spot for a weeks in a row and then moving down to the fifth spot last week, Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3 is back on top at Independent Records for the week ending October 11. Mariah Carey’s Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, which grabbed the top spot…

Air top seller at Wax Trax

French electronic duo Air grabbed the top spot at Wax Trax with its latest effort, Love 2, which was released last week on Astralwerks. A Place to Bury Strangers’ There is No Enemy and Built to Spill’s There is No Enemy, both issued last week, nabbed the second on third…

Avett Brothers top seller at Bart’s CD Cellar

The Avett Brothers’ I and Love and You, released last week on American Recordings, grabbed the top spot at Bart’s CD Cellar for the week ending October 4. Jay-Z’s The Blueprint 3 and Alice in Chains’ Black Gives Way to Blue nabbed the second and third slots while Mariah Carey’s…

The Joy of Sax

Tenor saxophonist and composer Fred Hess is comfortable playing songs by Lester Young, Ornette Coleman and pretty much everyone in between, as he’s shown on the thirteen albums he’s released over the past seventeen years. While most of those were done with smaller groups, the local musician’s latest disc, Hold…

Marty Jones & the Great Unknowns

Onetime Westword contributor Marty Jones knows a few things about boozing and singing, so it’s no surprise that he’d dub his new five-song EP Drink & Song. While fronting his previous band, the Pork Boilin’ Poor Boys, he penned quite a few tunes about imbibing, and he also booked bands…

Mariah Carey grabs top spot at Independent Records

Mariah Carey’s Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, released last week on Island, grabbed the top spot at Independent Records for the week ending October 4. Black Give Way to Blue, Alice in Chain’s first album with new singer William DuVall, and Dethklok’s Dethalbum II claimed the second and third slots,…