Music

IMAGINE DRAGONS @ FILLMORE | 3/23/13 Imagine Dragons’ show at the Fillmore was all about the drums. Bass drums. Chemical drums. Kettledrums. And the drumming of fans stomping their feet. The beat of “Rocks” may have been one of the most fun songs because of the mad drums being played,…

LOW @ LARIMER LOUNGE | FRI, 3/29/13 Since its inception in 1993, Low has created a body of work characterized by a fragile intensity. Although often lumped in under the banner of “slowcore” with a group of bands of similar sonic leanings, like Red House Painters, Galaxie 500, Tarnation and…

Carly McKinney, otherwise known as “Carly Crunk Bear” is “no longer employed” by the Cherry Creek school district, according to our Latest Word blog. The teacher, as you might remember, made headlines at the end of January for comments and photos on Twitter she’s alleged to have made/posted. Diplo, as…

CONSPIRATOR @ OGDEN THEATRE | SAT, 3/23/13 Conspirator is an apt name for this supergroup of sorts, which comprises members of several well-known acts. Exploring the ethereal realms of EDM, the quartet — Aron Magner and Marc Brownstein of the Disco Biscuits, KJ Sawka of Pendulum and Chris Michetti of…

RAY OKPARA @ BETA | FRI, 3/22/13 Unlike most DJs out of Germany, Ray Okpara leans more toward the house end of the tech-house spectrum — and that’s to the benefit of his legions of fans all over the world, because Okpara has polished a streamlined, minimal-leaning version that’s still…

Sonic Bloom, the jam-tronic festival that now has its roots firmly planted in the Georgetown community at the Shadows Ranch plantation, just announced a few of this year’s headliners, which includes ZILLA, PhuturePrimitive, Orchard Lounge and VibeSquaD, among other acts. Slated to run from Thursday, June 13, through Sunday, June…

Update 6/24/13: The poll is now closed. Thanks for voting! Update 3/21/13: The poll is now open. Let the voting begin! The road to the nineteenth annual edition of the Westword Music Showcase is officially being paved. While we’ve already announced some of the acts appearing on the Main Stage…

After a seven year-run at 2401 Blake Street, the Blake Street Tavern moved a block south to its current bigger location at 2301 Blake Street, which was once home of Polly Esther’s. Since the move almost three years ago, the venue has tried several different themes in the basement, including…

Hoot and Howl has closed. The restaurant/live music venue, which just celebrated its grand opening this past October, was housed in the former Twisted Olive space at 8270 East Northfield Boulevard in the shops at Northfield Stapleton. Hoot and Howl’s adjoining sibling restaurant Sal’s Street Food has also gone dark…

I remember the first time seeing Boldtype,” recalls drummer Manny Lopez. “That was when I was in Gina Go Faster. I was dating a girl at the time who remarked, ‘Wow, all their songs — everybody knows the words, and everybody seems to be singing along.’ I said, ‘You’re right.’…

Cephalic Carnage was started in 1992 by singer Lenzig Leal and guitarist Zac Joe. Since then, the self-styled “hydro-grind” outfit has carved a niche for itself as a brutal, complex act that seamlessly welds together elements of death metal, grindcore and jazz with fierce musicianship. But as imposing as it…

Unlike most DJs out of Germany, Ray Okpara leans more toward the house end of the tech-house spectrum — and that’s to the benefit of his legions of fans all over the world, because Okpara has polished a streamlined, minimal-leaning version that’s still overflowing with house’s soul and funk influence…

Who knows why some albums are a success and others go unsung? Las Vegas band Imagine Dragons hit one of those pockets of luck with its latest album, Night Visions. While the new album may seem like a breakthrough, the group has been working hard for years — touring extensively,…

Conspirator is an apt name for this supergroup of sorts, which comprises members of several well-known acts. Exploring the ethereal realms of EDM, the quartet — Aron Magner and Marc Brownstein of the Disco Biscuits, KJ Sawka of Pendulum and Chris Michetti of RAQ — incorporates numerous genres into its…

Billy Bragg formed the rock band Riff Raff in 1977, during the height of punk rock in England. Four years later, when making music didn’t turn out quite like he thought it would, Bragg did a brief stint in the military. Fortunately, he later returned to songwriting, but instead of…

A prominent figure in the late-’40s and early-’50s cool-jazz movement, alto saxophonist Lee Konitz performed on Miles Davis’s Birth of the Cool and performed with Lennie Tristano and Warne Marsh around that same time. While a number of players were copping Charlie Parker’s sound, Konitz took a different approach, opting for more…

400YEN, a five-track release from Alphabets, plays like the soundtrack to a robot-noir film. The title tune, a stylistic permutation of psychedelic DIY traptronica, is densely packed with gritty 808 bass frequencies and claustrophobic synth flickers that evoke a sense of place in the form of streetlights reflecting on the…