Concerts

This time last month, Matt Morris was on stage with Justin Timberlake, performing in front of millions on the Hope for Haiti Telethon. And that was on the heels of appearing on Letterman — a thrilling gig for any artist, much less an unknown one. But right now, the thirty-year-old…

It’s Friday night at Paris Wine Bar (1549 Platte Street), and every seat in the place is occupied. People pack the aisle, too, making it tough to get to the back room, which was part of the adjoining Paris on the Platte coffeehouse until late last year, when the wall…

A few years back, there was a charming dance-pop band called the Hot House, and after the band broke up, its bass player, Bree Davies, moved to Brooklyn for a while. When she returned, she formed Night of Joy with guitarist Valerie Franz, who shared her unique taste in —…

Cursive was one of the bands that helped put Omaha, Nebraska, and Saddle Creek Records on the map. Starting in 1995, in the post-hardcore milieu that would serve as the roots of modern emo, Cursive always seemed to make music that never really fit in a specific genre outside of…

When newspaper heiress Patty Hearst began robbing banks with the Symbionese Liberation Army, she was said to have been suffering from Stockholm syndrome, a situation in which hostages bond with their captors. More than thirty years later, Dave Schools of Widespread Panic teamed up with the Jackmormons’ Jerry Joseph to…

There isn’t a thing remotely original about Fanfarlo — but that’s kind of what makes the band so endearing. Led by warble-voiced multi-instrumentalist Simon Balthazar, the group luxuriates in the kind of ebullient, upward-spiraling pop that the Arcade Fire has popularized. But there’s a ragged edge to Fanfarlo’s fluttering coo…

Rose’s Pawn Shop may forever attract cheap punchlines about the aptness of its name; after all, the group sports more instruments than the back room of a run-down secondhand shop. But a fair listen to the music should put a dead stop to any assholery. Amid the banjo, upright bass,…

Last year was a good year for the Knew. In addition to garnering a slot at last fall’s Monolith, the players also jetted to New York, where they performed at CMJ. And now, with an impending trip to Austin for this year’s South by Southwest festival and the release of…

As with guitarist Dale Bruning’s Classical Connections—Vol. I, the songs on the followup, Classical Connections—Vol. II, were culled from archived live recordings of two Dazzle sets back in November 2006 (save for the solo opener, “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows”). Both volumes find Bruning and special guest Ali Ryerson dipping into…

Anyone who’s enjoyed a Leftover Salmon show over the years should be very familiar with standout keyboardist Bill McKay. While “Papa Bill,” as Salmon frontman Vince Herman sometimes refers to him, tinkles the keys infectiously in just about any genre, he drops jaws when he unleashes one of his legendary…

The Hollagramz side of this split cassette release (called “Crystal Side”) starts off like some kind of long-lost ’90s house track as envisioned by William Orbit exercising some restraint; that’s followed by a track whose circular waves of sound evolve into something resembling a crypto remix of a Low Life-era…

Ken Kadonaga started the Boulder-based Adventure Records in 2001 as a way to promote local musicians, visual artists and charities. Since then, the label has released five compilations under the title Cuvée (a wine term meaning blend or special lot), featuring bands such as DeVotchKa, the Motet, Cabaret Diosa and…

In local circles, Casey James Prestwood might be best known for his stint in the punk-inflected rock band Hot Rod Circuit or for his time as a pedal-steel player in Drag the River. But a few years ago, Casey started working on solo material and released his debut album, The…

How to explain Heyoka? Well, it’s like you jumped in your time-traveling Delorean for a trip to the future, only to discover that alien overlords rule the Earth. But you don’t despair, because they are totally cool and chilled-out overlords who brought lots of great, trippy alien drugs that make…

The former Grand Slam Sports Bar space at 9660 East Arapahoe Road in Greenwood Village will celebrate its grand re-opening as Slam Bar on Friday and Saturday, February 26 and 27. Jaima Manley, the bar’s general manager, says the place has been completely redone, and this weekend’s naughty- and nice-themed…

So it looks like President Obama is keeping his promise regarding the importance of the plebian voice, at least in the way of intellectual property reform. Back in September our country received its first ever copyright czar (coolest government title ever, BTW) Victoria Espinel and now, just a few months…

For now, the sign next to the Bulldog Bar’s door reads, “Bar Closed. Remember the Alamo!” While the sign’s a nod to the bar’s earlier incarnation, Mr. Von’s Alamo, the bar at 3602 East Colfax Avenue is slated to re-open next Friday, March 5 as the Lost Lake Lounge. Matt…

All right, so yesterday, we revealed some of the headliners for this year’s Westword Music Showcase. And now today, we’re revealing another, ahem, super duper headliner that we’re sure is going to make you jump for absolute joy and start counting the days down to June. You know how in…

Of all the things that could be replaced by robots, did you ever think patchouli-scented, dreadlock-sporting drum circlers would ever be one of them? Well, thanks to the pioneering work of Patrick Flanagan and the magic of the Nintendo Wiimote (see, it’s not just for getting old people to play…

Music podcasts are a difficult breed. With the current outdated copyright law, most podcasts can’t utilize full songs in their recordings, making anyone but the best sound like boring music nerds. Of course, we love boring music nerds, but being able to speak eloquently or interestingly about music is a…