A handful of years ago, it seemed as though bands lumped into the so-called post-punk revival category were dominating the listening diet of trendy bohemian types everywhere. At first listen, Force Publique can sound like a latter-day version of the same, except that the band expertly blends the kind of…
It’s probably no surprise that a Christian metalcore band hails from Tampa, Florida. Sure, a quick and superficial listen to the band’s songs will prompt eye rolls from anyone who hates “screamo” and its offshoots. But at least these guys seem to care about being taken seriously outside the context…
Michael Nau and Whitney McGraw used to be members of the acclaimed indie-pop group Page France, and what was once called the Cotton Jones Basket Ride was a side project. When the members of Page France parted ways in 2008, Nau and McGraw continued as a duo, making music that,…
During the last decade, few artists burst onto the music scene as fully formed as Interpol. Turn on the Bright Lights, from 2002, was deeply devoted to post-punk and new-wave antecedents, yet it was authentic enough in execution to render it wholly singular and visionary. Similarly, the New York foursome’s…
Portland indie rockers the Decemberists, long known for their encyclopedic lyrics and mournful delivery, met the rising indie zeitgeist halfway with this year’s The King Is Dead. The album, the band’s most pop-friendly to date, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart. That marks the culmination of…
A new band featuring Bobby Jamison and AJ Hathaway — who used to be in the ferocious and fiery Tarmints and the final incarnation of Twice Wilted — Downwire released this debut album as a recording project. The dirty, brooding guitar over the top of expressive yet heavy tribal drumming…
A master class in power chords and heavy needling, Heighliner’s debut trudges through metal, skips through pop punk and ambles through prog in ten tracks. Because the band is instrumental-only, it’s easy to focus on the guitars. Going without a vocalist typically demands that bandmembers find a way to make…
The construction of this EP is probably the best way to enter it. Clay and Barry are brothers; Clay writes the lyrics, and Barry writes the songs and sings. There are folk songs hung on varying degrees of static, and they sound like they were recorded inside a giant barrel…
A feature-laden compilation from Spoke in Wordz, Power of Wordz is one of the more innovative projects to come out of the hip-hop community so far this year. Essentially a collaboration between Spoke and his favorite artists, Power shines on the strength of the MC’s rugged flow over diverse production…
Throughout his career as a producer and DJ of house music, Wally Callerio has been affiliated with dozens of record labels in addition to launching his own Dufflebag Recordings. This underground artist has been hooked on house since the days of Doc Martin’s “Unlock the House” sessions in the early…
FaceMan’s second show was on September 12, 2009. The attention of most indie-rock fans in the Mile High City was directed elsewhere that day — at Red Rocks and Monolith, to be specific. But for some, it wasn’t the Pitchfork-approved indies up in Morrison that were the most remarkable. That…
Looks like Paper Bird is bringing its talent for folksy harmonies and rootsy string work to the world of fine arts. The folk outfit is pairing with Ballet Nouveau Colorado for Carry On, a performance piece running later this month that taps into “themes of memory, dream, innocence, illusion, and…
With a cold and blustery day in front of us and the new Fleet Foxes song just released, we’ve been thinking a lot about what type of folk song we really enjoy. So much, in fact, that we’ve put together a handy flow chart for picking the right type of…
Fun fact you probably didn’t know already: It’s really fucking cold outside. How cold? Well, eleven degrees below zero at last check. This is hunker down with hot chocolate and delivery Chinese food weather. Work can wait until you don’t need an ice pick and a Sherpa to navigate your…
Though our rather tepid winter has finally been knocked on its ass by below-zero temperatures, it’s hardly an excuse to stay inside. Even if school closed or you found it impossible to get into the office today, think of the warmth a little womp-womp could provide…
There is something special about a monthly challenge where the only goal is to get musicians to write and record new songs. Like National Novel Writing Month and Album Writing Month (which also happens to be in February), the goal of the RPM Challenge is to push musicians to get…
Country superstars George Strait and Reba McEntire have sold close to 125 million records. combined. In his career, which spans more than three decades, Strait has had more number-one singles than Elvis, and his latest effort, Twang, debuted at the number-one slot on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. Reba, meanwhile,…
As you might have heard, Kool Herc (aka Clive Campbell), father of the breakbeat and master hip-hop visionary, was hospitalized over the weekend. Since news of his illness and subsequent trouble covering medical costs first dropped on DJ Premier’s blog, there has been an outpouring of support from the hip-hop…
The last time we covered the beat battle thrown by the organizers from PMG, there was no clear winner because a fight ensued that shut down the event. Last night, the final round took place between B. Fields, TC Crook and Davey Boy at Twisted Olive. It was a rather…
It is somehow strange to think that Plain White T’s have been around for almost fourteen years, but it’s true — the dudes best known for the teenage heartstring-puller “Hey There Delilah” have been together since 1997. Last year saw the release of the Illinois-based act’s sixth studio album, The…
LADY PARTS With Doo Crowder, Samantha Doom Blows Up the Band, Maudlin Magpie 01.28.11 | Mercury Cafe Lady Parts hosted its CD-release party over the weekend amongst a group of musical friends, including Doo Crowder, who opened the evening’s proceedings with a further evolution of his solo act. He had…
Philadelphia-based musician RJD2 played the Gothic Theatre last night, January 29, 2011. (The zombies performing during the RJD2 is MTHDS, of Denver.) Kate Levy brings back these photos: RJD2 at the Gothic Theatre…
