Concerts

While he certainly had the gall to win it all, our boy Magic Cyclops returns to Denver without the US Air Guitar crown. His interpretation of Thin Lizzy’s “Thunder and Lightning” at the US finals in San Francisco last week earned him a score of 15.4, which put him a…

If you were listening to the radio yesterday morning, you know that the rush hour commute was an especially deadly one. “4 motorists killed in crashes on area roads,” reads the headline in today’s Rocky Mountain News. The brief goes on to list Nathan Woods as being among the fatalities,…

With nearly 150 shows under his belt since he began making music under the Chain Gang of 1974 moniker a year and a half ago, two EPs of recorded material (both available for free download) and fans by the truckload, Kamtin Mohager has steadily been gaining momentum that shows no…

Eyedea & Abilities, ManeLine, Calm Monday, August 11, 2008 Marquis Theater Better Than: Succumbing to three hours of sleep in thirty-six hours. Due to some weird issue with cameras at the door, I had to go home and get my second-string machine and missed Isolated Generation entirely and part of…

The above photo was obviously taken long before the members of the Swayback found out they’d be working with Andy Johns. Wherever they are right now, though, you’ve got to assume they’re experiencing a similar sense of jubilation knowing that in a week and a half they’ll be heading to…

This morning, a representative from the Larimer County coroner’s office confirmed that Tickle Me Pink bassist Johnny Schou’s death was caused by an accidental opiate overdose. The results of a toxicology report, says Chief Deputy Coroner Diane Fairman, indicate that heroin was found in Schou’s bloodstream; no other substances were…

Monolith’s just around the corner (32 days and 23 hours from now, to be exact) and, well, we’re as giddy about this year’s edition as Olympic enthusiasts undoubtedly are to see Michael Phelps win an unprecedented eight medals. We were already way stoked on this year’s line-up, but we’re even…

Duncan Barlow (far left) and d.biddle. If you happen to run into Duncan Barlow around town this week, be sure to congratulate him on his new gig. Next Monday, the d.biddle frontman and Lion Sized bassist will be picking up stakes and heading to Jacksonville, Florida, where he’s accepted a…

Photo: G.Wigler U2’s breakthrough June 1983 performance at Red Rocks, captured on the band’s Live at Red Rocks and Under a Blood Red Sky, is slated to be released on DVD on Tuesday, September 30. The disc will include five previously unreleased songs and a director’s commentary, all presented in…

Teeth Mountain,Christian Meth, GDFX, Hunter Dragon and Spellcaster Sunday, August 10, 2008 Rhinoceropolis Better Than: Ending the summer dreading homework. Christian Meth, a duo featuring Jacob from Sterile Garden doing tape loops, sampling and vocal manipulation through pedals and John Krueger playing what looked like a large didgeridoo through a…

Blue Million Miles, Overcasters, Bad Luck City Saturday, August 9, 2008 hi-dive Better Than: The line-up for the average CD release show. For whatever reason, a lot of CD release shows include one band of the same or higher status than the band releasing the album and one of lower…

Yuzo Nieto and the Hand that Rocks the Dreidel, Oblio Duo, the Archers, Hunter Dragon and Fridge Magnet Friday, August 8, 2008 Old Curtis St. Better Than: Getting beer spattered on me at another show. Unfortunately, by the time I made it to Old Curtis St., Tom Ventura (ex-bass player…

It’s almost quitin’ time. What are you doing tonight? If it doesn’t involve pounding beers at the Bluebird with your friends until you’re Otis-drunk and seeing the most badass rock show of the year, cancel your plans right now! Seriously. Tonight, the venerable rock and roll warlords known as Machine…

Locals Only Julox has one of the most recognizable voices in the Colorado hip-hop scene, and he’s actually one of the hardest working emcees here as well. Since the release of his album Catfishm Shrimp, -n- French Fries in January, the rapper has dropped a group project called “Dirty Ridin’”…

Action Packed Thrill Ride, Sofo, Chuck P and Antz, Mon Marie Thursday, August 7, 2008 Lion’s Lair, Denver The Lion’s Lair can be an interesting place to be any night of the week at pretty much any hour. And by “interesting,” I mean in that Chinese curse kind of way…

The Roland TR-808 Drum Machine is a legendary piece of musical gear, instrumental in the formation of several styles of music including rap and techno. It’s best known for its impossibly low, deep kick, snappy snare and obnoxious cowbell sounds, but all of its sounds are near iconic. Ironically, the…

Abracastabya Wednesday, August 6, 2008 The Black Sheep, Colorado Springs Better Than: Melissa Bays leaving town without being sent off properly. Everyone who has been to the Black Sheep in at least the past year or so knows Melissa Bays — even if they don’t know her name. She was…

See a slideshow at westword.com/slideshow. Witchcraft, Dead Child, Kingdom Of Magic Wednesday, August 6, 2008 Marquis Theater Better than: Whatever passes for OzzFest these days. The cyclical nature of music has, by this point, become unsurprising. What was once edgy and rebellious eventually becomes comodified, then loses it’s luster and…

Alkaline Trio, Agony & Irony (Epic). Matt Skiba was once told he had two to three years before his voice would be completely gone, thanks to acid reflux. With the amount of apathy he shows on his band’s latest album, long-time fans may wish it was. This release may not be…

Those familiar with Yuzo Nieto’s other projects won’t be expecting his music with Yuzo Nieto and the Hand That Rocks the Dreidel (due this Friday, August 8 at Old Curtis Street). It’s definitely not the wildly experimental free jazz of Pink Hawks or the earnest, visionary folk of Pee Pee…