The Baltic

A lot of people in their mid-teens probably cut their teeth playing punk or surf or garage rock. The young guys in the Baltic, though, sound as though they’ve absorbed the expansive spirit and introspective sounds of post-rock bands like Sigur Rós, particularly on “Green Girl.” They don’t fill every…

Brave Song Circle

Although Dustin Morris and Lauren Gale, both polished multi-instrumentalists, make up the core of Brave Song Circle, the band’s new full-length, Unconditional — marked by expansive harmonies, innovative guitar work and some impressive songwriting — sounds grander than the work of two people. Even on the record’s bare-bones acoustic tracks,…

Win tickets to see Pink Martini

Pink Martini is playing a pair of local shows this weekend, one at the Arvada Center on Sunday evening, and one the next night at Chautauqua Auditorium. We’ve got a pair of tickets to each show up for grabs. If you and a guest would like to be our guests,…

The ten best EDM shows in Denver in July

GLOBAL DANCE FESTIVAL @ RED ROCKS | FRI-SUN, 7/19-7/21 Going strong for ten years, Global Dance Festival is the premier summer event for EDM fans. Changing things up in the past few years, Triad Dragons has expanded offerings to include acts like Beats Antique, EOTO, Big Gigantic and Empire of…

The five best metal shows in Denver in July

MAYHEM FESTIVAL @ FIDDLER’S GREEN | SUN, 7/7/13 Established in part by Kevin Lyman, one of the founders of the Warped Tour, this traveling showcase features a stacked lineup that caters to metal fans, with side activities for your downtime throughout the day. With a roster including acts as diverse…

The ten best hip-hop shows in Denver in July

MAC MILLER @ OGDEN THEATRE | TUES, 7/30/13 Following in the footsteps of fellow Pittsburgh native and Taylor Allderdice graduate Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller is well known for making feel-good music. His breakout mixtape K.I.D.S. (Kickin’ Incredibly Dope Shit), an homage to the notably dark Larry Clark film, and followup…

The five best jazz shows in Denver in July

GLENN TAYLOR ORCHESTRA @ DAZZLE | TUE., 7/23/13 Rarely is the pedal steel used outside of country music, but Glenn Taylor is one of the few who takes the instrument to completely different places, especially when he’s playing with folks like Ron Miles or Matt Skellenger. While Taylor explores jazz,…

Farewell, Yerkish. We hardly knew ye.

After a storied run that saw several lineup changes over the years, including the exit and return of an original member and a name change from Yerkish to Lexigram and then back again, Yerkish has finally reached the end of the road. The outfit is reportedly ending on a good…

The ten best debut metal albums

You only get one chance to make a first impression, as they say, and these bands sure made the most of their opportunity. Some of these inaugural releases launched new subgenres, while others have yet to be matched in more than two decades. Keep reading for a rundown of the…

Shannon and the Clams at the Larimer Lounge, 6/30/13

SHANNON & THE CLAMS @ LARIMER LOUNGE | 6/30/13 Before the last song of the Shannon and the Clams’ set, a woman up front yelled out for “Troublemaker,” inspiring Cody Blanchard to flash a smile. Turns out, that’s exactly what the band had saved for last, and that’s when Shannon…

The best concerts to see in Denver this week

THE AVETT BROTHERS @ RED ROCKS | FRI & SAT, 7/5-7/6 The country is awash in Americana fever as scores of rock-radio favorites dabble in the sounds of yore. Though it might be cute, many of the current banjo-picking types fail to elevate their style beyond gimmick. A huge exception…

The ten best concerts in Denver this weekend

THE OH HELLOS @ BLUEBIRD THEATER | FRI & SAT, 6/28-6/29 Last fall, the Oh Hellos released their first full-length, Through the Deep, Dark Valley. And while that album’s got some solid tunes like “The Valley” and “I Was Wrong,” it’s “Hello My Old Heart,” a track from their self-titled…

The best EDM in Denver this weekend

BLOND:ISH @ NORAD | FRI, 6/28/13 Blond:ish is proof that you can’t judge a book by its cover. DJs Anstascia and Vivie-Ann might superficially resemble a dozen interchangeable, pretty blonde club spinners who seem more invested in their hairdressers than their record collections, but the hair and funky clothing are…