Founded in 2008, Ghost B.C. created a bit of mystique for itself right from the start. The sextet is essentially anonymous in its elaborate costumes, with singer Papa Emeritus II decked out like a satanic pope, and his cardinals, The Ghouls With No Name, performing in uniform brown robes whose…
Only 25 years old, London-based house DJ/producer Maya Jane Coles has come into her own over the past several years, winning fans on both sides of the underground/mainstream divide with a slew of twelve-inch EPs and singles on highly respected dance-music labels such as 20:20 Vision and Mobilee and remix…
When Trent Reznor dissolved his high-profile band Nine Inch Nails a few years back, there was instant speculation about what he would do next. In 2010, he scored the soundtrack to The Social Network; that same year, he formed How to Destroy Angels with his wife, former West Indian Girl…
This weekend, stoners from across the Front Range will converge upon Red Rocks to celebrate 4/20. Two acts will be on hand to raise a toast roast commemorating the occasion, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a more fitting pair to do the roasting: the hemp-hop icons in Cypress Hill,…
While in high school during the late ’90s, guitarist Kyle Zender and drummer Hill Baker bonded over the likes of Miles Davis, Frank Zappa and King Crimson. It’s not surprising, then, that some of those influences (and possibly some newer stuff like El Ten Eleven) have seeped into their work…
“Happy” starts off Hi-Strung’s new album as though some sort of standoff were about to go down. It’s like spaghetti-Western music interpreted by Siouxsie & the Banshees working with Lene Lovich. “Weird” shifts gears with whimsical but well-composed lyrics that evoke Todd Rundgren or the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and…
Fade’s Audio Racketeering has some unique personality traits, taking cues from both Dirty South pimpology and modern dance pop — a combination that produces some engaging results and others that are poorly conceived, badly mixed and just boring. As a rapper, Fade is serviceable — which is to say, he…
On its latest effort, the Booty Snatch EP, Robotic Pirate Monkey displays a noticeable maturity. On “Tides of Babylon,” which opens the album, the Boulder-based trio delves into reggae and infuses the track with its signature bass-heavy sound, layered with island-style vocals. The album peaks with the anticipated drops of…
I know it’s hard to imagine now, especially with the temperature outside and the blanket of snow currently covering the Front Range, but summertime is just around the corner, which means the festival season is just getting ready to kick off. We know this because we’re in the middle of…
As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it’s not surprising that the most common (and favorite) topic of conversation among us is the same: “What are you listening to right now?” Stick a quarter in us, and, boy, wouldn’t you know it, off…
Few bands in history have cast a longer shadow than the Smiths. They’ve inspired countless imitators and spiritual successors since calling it quits in 1987. While skinny indie kids moaning about the hardships of life are a dime a dozen, tracking down the successful artists influenced by Morrissey and Marr’s…
Johnny Marr is an iconic and influential guitarist best known for his work in the Smiths, which broke up in 1987. His guitar phrases and his genius for crafting textured and tonally rich rhythmic leads has influenced countless rock guitarists of the last quarter-century. Since leaving the Smiths, Marr hasn’t…
Update, 4/18/13: Congratulations, @saintinelpetre. You and a guest will be our guests at tonight’s show. Check your email for details on how to claim your tickets. Thanks, everybody else, for the entries and for reading Backbeat! This Thursday evening, Lucero kicks off a three-night stand at the Bluebird. We’ve got…
A year after opening the 1UP in LoDo, owner Jourdan Adler took over the former home of Pete’s Monkey Bar last June and put his second arcade-themed bar, the 2UP, in that space. While the 2UP might be smaller than its downtown counterpart, that could change if Adler gets the…
This Saturday is poised to be the most celebrated day in our state’s history, what with it being the first 4/20 since Amendment 64 was passed and all. Some of music’s most heralded indulgers are being shipped in just to help the local stoners celebrate in style, from Slightly Stoopid…
We all dream of finding fame and fortune in our chosen fields, but when people actually do get rich and famous, they often discover that money can’t buy happiness, or love, or whatever it is the Beatles were singing about. What’s the answer, then? God? Meditation? E-meter auditing? When musicians…
This Friday, Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan is teaming up with DJ Premier to celebrate 4/20 at the 420 Extravaganja this Friday, April 19, at HoodLab. This show marks the first time Raekwon and DJ Premier share a bill. We spoke with Raekwon about the prospect of performing with one…
Steely Dan is making its way back to Colorado for a show at Red Rocks this August, and there’s a bunch of other new shows to let you know about, including Brad Paisley at Fiddler’s Green, the Geto Boys at Summit Music Hall, Ride Festival and Selena Gomez. Keep reading…
Over the weekend, Suicidal Tendencies played to a packed house at the Summit Music Hall. Before that, we had a chance to chat with the band’s founding frontman, Mike Muir, the sole continuous member of the group, about how he first got into punk, how his group has successfully straddled…
Independent concert promoter Soda Jerk Presents has forged a new partnership with the team at the EXDO Event Center, Managing partner Andrew Feinstein and his crew, which involves Soda Jerk Presents exclusive concert booking rights for the 22,000 square foot building at 1399 35th Street in RiNo. “It’s a part…
Christopher Victorio Karen O’s Outfit Karen O’s wardrobe on Friday night was bad ass. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ frontwoman appeared on the main stage in a technicolor cape draped over a suit that looked like it was made of mercury. The vibrant collage was topped with a headpiece that Liberace…
Daft Punk Fake-Out Friday and Saturday, all anyone could talk about was if Daft Punk was going to show up during Phoenix’s set. Why? Because we were fucking teased. On the main stage before the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, a long commercial for their new album played, and then we found…
