Jamie Mitchell

As guitarist and pedal-steel player for 4H Royalty, Jamie Mitchell undoubtedly knows his way around the alt-country. That fact is also in evidence early on his seven-song disc Love Songs of the Profane, which kicks off with “Hotel Room” and is similar to A.M.-era Wilco. Mitchell injects twangy guitar into…

Various Artists

The four tracks on the Friends From the Bar EP actually do sound like an attempt to capture a meeting at a bar somewhere — in Berlin, maybe. If there is an overarching style here, it seems to be one that synthesizes house, ambient and downtempo. Kaster Cordalis’s “Soul Romance”…

WhyGyp

The weed-laced sagacity of Whygee’s delivery and Gypdahip’s crisp, deep-crate samples are a natural pairing. Don’t wander into their joint release, called Please Forgive Us, looking for Top 40. As WhyGyp, the duo juggles a sound that’s both progressive and classic: golden-era schooling by A Tribe Called Quest and De…

The six best jazz shows in April

BRAD MEHDLAU TRIO @ BOULDER THEATER, SUN, 4/6 Over the last two decades pianists Brad Mehldau has recorded and performed in various formats (his latest effort, Mehliana: Taming the Dragon, is a duo recording with drummer Mark Guiliana), but he seems most at home with his trio, which includes long-time…

Why employers should hire touring musicians

In 2014, you should’ve already figured it out by now: Your dumpy, forgettable band with few fans should be touring. The need to turn your local bar band into a mobile poverty-stricken disaster unit is of utmost importance. It’s your chance to see beautiful rolling landscapes, fall in love with…

The nine best concerts in Denver from March 31 to April 3

Maybe you saw Neutral Milk Hotel last night in Boulder; if not you have another shot at it tonight in Denver. If the line “putting fingers in the notches of her spine” sends ice through your veins as consistently as it does ours, we can strongly recommend finding your way…

What’s in your fanny pack? We asked ravers at Ultra Music Festival

Once ridiculed as the hilariously embarrassing accessory of choice for fat American tourists, the fanny pack is now a practical piece of party gear for hot, young EDM fanatics. At music fests such as Miami’s Ultra, it has become a ubiquitous carry-all for scantily clad ravers with no pockets. Easy,…

Ten tips for finding love at an EDM fest

10. Believe and Be Found by Love Despite EDM fests being sweaty mob scenes, our new pal Stacey believes wholeheartedly in the chance to find love amid the uhntz-uhntz-ing masses. “One day, love will find me,” she swears. “I’m trying. It’s why I’m here.” Is Ultra, held last weekend in…

The 9 best concerts in Denver this weekend

It is Texas time in Denver. All we’d need is the Geto Boys and Gary Clark Jr. to hit the spectrum of Lone Star exports: St. Vincent brings her shock of white hair to town tomorrow, the Toadies’ Rubberneck victory lap hits Englewood and songwriting genius Joy Ely makes the…

Ryan Tedder made (more than) $2.5 million last year

That’s the big takeaway from Billboard’s current cover story on Colorado-bred Ryan Tedder: He made $2.5 million in 2013 on royalties alone. The lion’s share of it came from songwriting credits on songs performed by Beyonce, Ellie Goulding, Maroon 5, Demi Lovato, The Fray (hey!) and his own band, OneRepublic…

The best EDM in Denver this weekend

FRI | RYAN CROSSON at NORAD | 3/28/14 Ryan Crosson exemplifies techno at its finest, whether your measuring stick is based on the heyday of Detroit techno or on the sub-genre’s modern-day residency in Berlin. Crosson made a name for himself in both cities; after sharpening his needles alongside artists…

The Best of Denver 2014: Music category winners

Westword’s annual Best of Denver issue is on newsstands now. Within it, you’ll find several hundred of our favorite things about this city, everything from best handcrafted signs to best tater tots. Go find yourself a copy to earmark and keep in your car or bicycle basket or whatever. It’s…

AnomalyCon performer Keldari Station on what makes good science fiction

AnomalyCon (running March 28 to 30 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center) started as a steam punk and alternate history-themed convention but has since expanded to cover science fiction generally. In its fourth year, the convention is featuring guest speakers, artists, writers and performers that have either direct ties to…

The ten best Denver album covers of the past year

Editor: Westword’s 2014 Best of Denver issue is on news stands now. You can peruse several hundred categories to find your next meal, night out or whatever thing you’re into. And while we’re thrilled with the results, we encountered plenty of debate while determining our favorites across this great city…