Though often cited as being instrumental in forging the mid-’90s, post-hardcore aesthetic that was the second wave of emo, many of the Get Up Kids’ latter-day critics forget that the band wrote pop songs worth imitating. And it just so happens that the airwaves of the last decade have been…
“It’s so simple when you open your mouth,” singer-guitarist Rob Gault croons in “Simple,” among the gems on this consistently beguiling EP — but that’s not necessarily true. Because he and his drum-playing brother, Lewi, moved to Denver from Scotland, listeners will expect vocals that recall actor James Doohan sputtering…
As if the title of the Dropskots’ new full-length, More Seriouslyer, weren’t a tipoff, the band makes no bones about the fact that it has a sense of humor about itself and its music. But there’s a telltale, shit-colored lining to the outfit’s bright goof-punk. The album’s standout track, “Miseria,”…
On the Dreaming Machines’ self-titled debut, Arnie Swenson and Kurt Bauer use various instruments from around the world to create some intriguing tempo-less excursions. Their second effort, Speed of Flying Creatures, covers similar territory, with the two musicians using worldly instruments such as the shakuhachi flute and the Chinese san…
The debut EP from Panal S.A. de C.V. is an all-instrumental affair that blends electronic pop with experimental rock. Recalling the expansive progressions and sunlit melodies of Melrose-era Tangerine Dream from the first track, Cortometraje also contains undercurrents of post-Brotherhood New Order in the keyboard arrangements on tracks like “Linda…
Like the Smiths and Teenage Fanclub before them, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart write songs that appeal to the spirit of innocence, exuberance and emotional fragility of young adulthood. The New York band’s sparkling guitar work, headlong pacing and propulsive rhythms recall the music of C86 bands such…
DJ Anthony Pappa has evolved from his progressive roots into a somewhat deeper, more techno-inflected sound on his recent releases — still polished and melodic, but with a slightly edgier and perhaps somewhat darker vibe. Whatever idiom he’s worked in, he’s been a consistently solid jock throughout his career while…
With early support from one of the country’s most important independent radio stations, KEXP in Seattle, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart — appearing at Monlith this weekend — struck a chord with fans of earnest, dreamy, lush pop music. Though often compared to C86-era and Sarah Records bands,…
New York City native Joe Bithorn plays the role of George Harrison in Rain, one of the most popular and well-known Beatles tribute bands in the country (appearing September 22 to 27 at the Buell Theater. Raised with a steady diet of classical, jazz, blues and psychedelic rock influences, Bithorn…
It’s no secret that the Pirate Signal is one of the dopest hip-hop groups out of Colorado, so why do we act surprised when they continually prove it? Early this morning, lead vocalist Yonnas fired off two new tracks via Twitter, possibly from the group’s upcoming album, and made the…
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros are definitely one of the more buzzed about underground bands to come to Colorado this summer and deservedly so. With a briskly selling headliner show at the Planet Bluegrass Wildflower Pavillions in Lyons on Friday September 11 and a hotly anticipated appearance at Red…
Just got word of a free album from Beauty Flash, a local electro-pop act made up of the dynamic married duo of Colleen and Patrick Lee. The act started out as a fun side project of the Beebs, but its turned out to have some legs, and here they are…
As we reported in July, the Pixies will visit the Fillmore Auditorium Monday, November 16 as part of a nine-city US tour celebrating the twentieth anniversary of act’s 1989 watershed album Doolittle. The original line-up of Black Francis, Kim Deal, Joey Santiago and David Lovering will play Doolittle in its…
Once we saw this flier, there was no question as to whether it would be our flier of the week. I mean, come on! If you think there’s any way we could resist that image of a disco ball transformed into a UFO, clearly you have no idea how we…
The indie rock world has more than its share of rags-to-riches, flannel-to-Fendi stories – glimmering groups who seem to go from the basement to the buzz bin overnight. Bad Veins – the Cincinnati-based duo of multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Benjamin Davis and drummer Sebastien Schultz – fits the mold, rocketing from its first…
If you have an iPhone or iPod touch and really like the Heyday, start jumping up and down with excitement because the band is now available in convenient app form. The free app (is there any other kind?) will keep fans up to date on Heyday concert dates and news,…
Insane Clown Posse’s Bang! Pow! Boom!, released last week on Psychopath, grabbed the top spot on Independent’s charts while new releases from Trey Songz and Whitney Houston came in second and third for the week ending September 6. Twista’s Category F5 was knocked down to the fourth slot after hanging…
Cross Canadian Ragweed’s Happiness and All Other Things, released last week on Universal South, grabbed the top spot at Twist & Shout while the Black Crowes latest effort, Before the Frost came in second for the week ending September 6. Drive-By Truckers’ The Fine Print, Whitney Houston’s I Look to…
Pissed Jeans nabbed the top slot at Wax Trax for the third week in a row while Pictureplane’s Dark Rift moved up to the second slot from the seventh spot last week. The Fine Print, Drive-By Truckers new collection of oddities and rarites, debuted at number three, Apples in Stereo’s…
Get Your Going, Murder Ranks and Caroliner Rainbow Sunday, September 6, 2009 3 Kings Tavern Better Than: Anyone but the performers could have hoped for. With Get Your Going you never really know what you’re in for, and on this night, a big black podium sat in the middle of…
Ween, Meat Puppets Red Rocks Amphitheatre September 5, 2009 Better than: Seeing Gene Ween play a solo show. Ween’s live shows have always seemed better suited to smaller stages, where the soaring, sharp guitar tones of Dean Ween (aka Mickey Melchiondo, Jr.) and the tongue-in-cheek vocal stylings of Geen Ween…
Fell, Astrophagus, Peña September 4, 2009 Larimer Lounge Better Than:Watching one of your friends squirt out a kid and get lame. Barely better. More up-front bias from Columbia boy (that’s me!). I like noisy shows in sparse bars. They remind me of the good ol’ days at Mojo’s some three…
