An integral part of jazz is the swing feel, and drummers are often the ones stoking that fire, helping to propel the song along with the other players involved. While the saxophonists, trumpeters, pianists and guitarists all get their fair share of attention, the importance of a great drummer can’t…
MON | JUNIP at SUMMIT MUSIC HALL | 10/14/13 Formed in 1998, Junip fuses an acoustic folk sensibility with a meditative psychedelia driven by synthesizers. Before the Swedish outfit took off, guitarist and singer José González had a bit of a successful solo career with songs that were used in…
In the past few years, it has become fashionable for non-rap artists to cover rap songs, and it’s often with an overwhelming irony. Most of the time, though, the best covers are ones that take the tune seriously enough to create something that expands on the original in a creative…
This past Wednesday night, after playing a show at the Summit Music Hall, Filter made its way over to Brothers Bar & Grill to grab some food and drinks. Drummer Jeff Fabb, who has a rather large tattoo adorning his neck, was denied entry, which irked frontman Richard Patrick, who…
FRI | GARY CLARK JR at OGDEN THEATRE | 10/11/13 Austin-bred guitar prodigy Gary Clark Jr. is focused on reconnecting the blues with its roots. The electric bluesman not only cites Jimi Hendrix as an influence, but with his slender frame, long fingers and soaring bellow, he might remind folks…
JAMES HOLDEN @ NORAD | SAT, 10/11/13 James Holden has been a household name in tech house since 1999, when he released “Horizons” at the tender age of nineteen. Since then, he’s gained recognition worldwide by launching the esteemed Border Community label in 2003 and using that platform to release…
So we were looking something up on Ticketmaster the other day, and it turns out the site is quite a treasure trove of fan reviews. Kind of like the Yelp of music, only without all the vitriol. Who knew, right? Granted, some of the criticism is misdirected, from complaints about…
Nearly a year after Quixote’s relocated into the former Bender’s location on 13th, owner Jay Bianchi has opened up a new place. This one’s called The Donkey O.T. (get it?), and it’s at 1630 Federal Boulevard, which was the home of Atmosphere Ultra Lounge since June, 2012. Since the bar…
One of the things that made the Grateful Dead so special was its ability to flawlessly transition from one song into the next, often taking the audience, as well as band members, completely by surprise. Masters of improvisation, these musicians had such great non-verbal communication on stage that they could…
Heartbreaking news for fans of the kiddie pop (or more like parents of those fans): The Jonas Brothers have canceled their tour. (Cue: chorus of deflated sighs.) According to the official release, the band, originally due at Bellco Theatre on Friday, November 1, as part of its nineteen-city tour, is…
Update, 10/17/13: We have a winner. Congrats to Brad Mann. Brad and a guest will be our guests at the show. Thanks to everybody else for the other entries. It just wouldn’t be October without DeVotchKa’s annual Halloween extravaganza. This year, the beloved Denver act is holding court at the…
Ian Cooke has always been known for his stunning lyrical imagery, and while he’s dropped a handful of interesting video accompaniments in the past, he’s never attempted anything like this before. In a project spanning two years, Cooke collaborated with local artist Adam Singer and bandmate Ian O’Dougherty to produce…
Every week now for the past five years or so, resident genius Noah Van Sciver has gifted us with 4 Questions, his always entertaining and brilliantly illustrated comic strip. If you pick up the paper each week, you know it’s always a must-read within the pages of Backbeat. And now,…
Since immigrating from Russia in 1992, Ivan Ovchinnikov — better known by his stage name, Scum — has grown into one of the best-selling horrorcore artists in the country, through relentless touring and with Lyrikal Snuff Productions, the label he founded more than a decade ago. In that time, Scum…
A bunch of storied bygone Denver bands are getting back together for a night of mesmerizing music-making. On Friday, November 15, at the hi-dive, Machine Gun Blues, Red Cloud, Monofog, Red Orange Yellow and Horace Van Vaughan are slated to reconvene to help the beloved South Broadway bar celebrate its…
Like any other town, Denver has its share of cover bands, and those bands often tend to get overlooked, because, well, they’re playing somebody else’s music. Thus, our latest feature, Cover Band of the Week (or, perhaps more accurately, every few weeks, because let’s be honest: There’s a finite number…
Music is life — or at least it is for us. When we’re not writing about it, we’re thinking about it, talking about it or listening to it. These are the things that were in heavy rotation for us this week. What are you listening to? What should we be…
All performers, no matter who they are or how talented they may be, had a time before they were famous when they were still coming into their own. For some, that time can be awkward or even cringe-inducing to reflect on, while for others, the progression seems more natural. Take…
For many jam band fans, traveling and seeing concerts goes hand in hand. Often when a favorite band announces its tour, folks will scan the tour dates and choose which dates to go to depending on which venue they are booked at. From giant outdoor summer sheds to intimate houses,…
Shawn Lee’s music can be heard in everything from snowboard films and video games to documentaries and TV series. Over the course of his career, the Wichita, Kansas, native has released dozens of albums, both on his own and with Ping Pong Orchestra. Tonight, he stops by the Marquis with…
With new bassist Kim Shattuck in tow, Pixies are slated to headline the Fillmore Auditorium on Thursday, February 13, with Best Coast. Tickets ($49.50/$55) go on sale this Friday, October 11, at 10 a.m. Keep reading to see what other shows are on sale this week, what songs are being…
This band with costumes would be GWAR,” says Victoria Lundy, who plays theremin for the Inactivists, offering one of the most astute assessments that’s been uttered yet regarding Denver’s strangest and most eclectic underground rock band. For a decade now, the Inactivists have amused, confounded, offended and even inspired other…
