The Black Keys returned to Denver last night and took over the Pepsi Center for an hour of pop-infused rock and blues. The Black Keys have rocketed from playing small clubs to playing arenas in the past couple of years, mostly driven by the highly deserved success of their 2010…
Update: Time’s up! We’ve picked winners for the vinyl and taken down the album stream. Go hear it in person tonight at the Gothic. Original post follows. Snake Rattle Rattle Snake spent years working on its sophomore album, Totem. For this week’s Backbeat feature, we talked to the band’s members…
Michal Menert is called the Godfather of Pretty Lights Music by his fans. When he is on stage, he sports a Henley Fedora hat and a suit jacket. On special occasions, a three-piece full suit will come out complete with a vest. “If I’m going to make music that I…
There’s a lot of distinct sounds echoing through a vast warehouse hidden at the end of residential street in Englewood: the scraping of wood against metal, the gut-wrenching thud of bodies hitting plywood, the rolling of wheels on concrete, and on a raised stage, the voice of the lead singer…
Many months ago I was hired by a national music magazine to write a feature on Old Man Gloom, a supergroup of sorts featuring members of Converge, Cave In, Zozobra, Doomriders, Isis, Mammifer and more. I agreed and called the appropriate PR person to get a copy of their upcoming…
Bright Channel was one of the most widely respected bands in the Denver underground scene during its relatively short existence. From February 2002 through the fall of 2007, the trio flooded small bars and large venues with its colossal sound. Though it would probably today be called a shoegaze band,…
Back in June, it was announced that part of the Ruby Hill Park revitalization project was to turn part of the space into a 7,500-person ampitheater. In a public-private partnership, the City of Denver and Levitt Pavilion Denver (one of several philanthropy projects supported by the Levitt Foundation, which has…
On November 15, Austin Wintory will return home to conduct the Colorado Symphony Orchestra in a program devoted to “Comic-Con”-themed music, including his own compositions for the universe of video-games, where he’s found his greatest success. At 30, Wintory is already an accomplished veteran and trailblazing composer. He received the…
Early on a Tuesday night at Syntax Physic Opera, Paper Bird is taking advantage of its sound check to play a bit of a new song, “Parade.” It is one of several things the band will debut tonight; another is the writer of the song, Carleigh Aikins, on lead vocals…
It’s late on a Sunday night in the basement of a warehouse in RiNo. The members of Snake Rattle Rattle Snake are here, preparing to rehearse songs from their new album, Totem. But the ambience needs some work before they can get to the music.They have some new paintings, including…
The Run the Jewels tour comes to Denver next week. By now, you’ve had a few weeks to play the duo’s magnificent Run the Jewels 2 on repeat. While the chemistry between Mike and El is an undeniable draw, the Run the Jewels movement has also bloomed into something of an ensemble project, with a coterie of behind-the-scenes cohorts also contributing to the album.
Colorado is now a week removed from a bitter campaign season. Some things changed (Senator-Elect Cory Gardner), some things stayed the same (Governor John Hickenlooper) and some things are eternal, like the millions spent on attack ads, distressingly low voter turnout and Paul Noel Fiorino. The unaffiliated former dancer was…
Pollstar is the most well-known trade publication for the live music industry, so its annual awards are worth taking seriously. So congratulations to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Brown Note Productions, the two Colorado representatives on this year’s ballot. Telluride is up for Music Festival of the Year, and Brown…
When I was first asked if I wanted to cover a Weedmaps event at which Afroman was the featured guest, thirteen-year-old Taylor died a little bit on the inside. I was taken back to the good old days of middle school, and recalled the first time I ever smoked weed,…
Surfside 7 has been a staple in the Fort Collins bar and music scene for the past fifteen years. The Old Town haunt is a favorite for local musicians and thirsty patrons alike, but after the new year, they’ll have to find the venue in its new location, “just around…
Nickelback headlines Red Rocks on Monday, July 6 as part of its 61-city 2015 North American tour. The band’ seighth full-length studio disc, No Fixed Address, is due in stores and digitally next Tuesday, November 17. Tickets ($25-$99.50) go on sale on Saturday, November 15 at 10 a.m. Motion City…
In 1973, Gram Parsons went on tour with his band, the Fallen Angels. That tour, which only lasted six weeks, has become something of a legend for fans of authentic country music. Local musician Casey James Prestwood, and his backing band The Burning Angels, paid tribute to the tour, song…
The hi-dive is the kind of place where you’ll be chatting with your friend near the bar and turn to see that the guitar player from the stage has decided to play his solo right behind you. It’s the kind of place where a band will hand out inflatable swords…
John Dwyer is a pioneer. He forged his way through the wilderness of the West so we could drive across it years later with ease. We may not think of him as we careen down I-70, but his footprints are there. We couldn’t have done it without him. That may…
[jump] Editor’s note: Each week, illustrator Noah Van Sciver shares his ongoing story of an 80’s rocker on a road trip through his past with the readers of Backbeat. You can see more of Van Sciver’s work in his new book YOUTH IS WASTED. • BACKBEAT’S GREATEST HITS • -…
Once again, we bring you a selection of live music events happening in or around Denver, selected not completely randomly from the many excellent choices. Go out and watch some bands. It’s good for the body and soul. See also: Denver’s Ten Best Small Venues…
Chimney Choir is in the middle of an indiegogo campaign to help fund the recording of its new album. But instead of posting Facebook statuses asking friends and strangers for a few bucks, the band, true to their experimental pop nature, decided to get creative. See also: Seven of Denver’s…
