Something Like Sound

I was honestly a little surprised at the crowd that showed up for a show just a week before Christmas. However, when considering that it was the last time anyone would be seeing Hello Kavita and Roger, Roll live, the cozy atmosphere at the Hi-Dive made sense. Both of those groups played stellar sets filled with old and new favorites, songs that helped shape music in Denver for several years. Sarah Slaton opened the night and blew me away with her beautiful rendition of “The First Noel.”

Sarah Slaton

Roger, Roll

Hello Kavita

Click for more photos | Sarah Slaton | Roger, Roll | Hello Kavita

While I have been a bit of a hermit for the last month, I did manage to make it out for a show at the Bluebird last weekend. Now that I’m done with finals, I finally found time to sort through the photos today. Politic certainly had the best lighting setup, although Monroe Monroe was definitely my favorite new act of the evening.

Monroe Monroe

Politic

Vices I Admire

Click for more photos | Monroe Monroe | Politic | Vices I Admire

There’s nothing quite like a Friday night in Boulder. Mississippi-based Colour Revolt played the intimate Club 156 on the CU-Boulder campus with local openers Paean and Fellow Citizens.

Paean

Fellow Citizens

Colour Revolt

Click for more photos | Colour Revolt | Fellow Citizens | Paean

The Friday before Halloween brought a ghoulish bunch out to the Skylark for a party from underground collective Rot Congress (aka Hot Congress). With morbidly renamed bands such as “Lil’ Slayer” and “The Killing Party,” it was a night filled with excellent music and costumes.

Lil' Slayer (Lil' Slugger)

Ghouls Walk By (Girls Walk By)

Bury My Bones

Fingers of My Son (Fingers of the Sun)

Click for more photos | Hot Congress

Last weekend had me at the Meadowlark for the Love146 benefit show. Here are some of the better shots I got that evening.

Bonnie Gregory

Julie Tiehen

Red Fox Run

Click for more photos | Julie Tiehen | Red Fox Run | Love146

Friday night found me at the Hi-Dive for an all-local lineup featuring Joshua Novak, Kissing Party, and Candy Claws.

It seems like every time I see Candy Claws their set changes. This time the group worked from a well-timed backing track that was roughly matched with psychedelic projector visuals.

Kissing Party brought a more 80′s-punk sound to the stage (in addition to some of the thickest fog I’ve ever seen/inhaled). After my coughing subsided, I enjoyed the set from a safer distance.

Joshua Novak was in full form as he played with a backing band consisting of several prominent local musicians (including Patrick and Tiffany Meese of The Centennial).

Click for more photos | Candy Claws | Kissing Party | Joshua Novak

When I walked in Casselman’s Bar & Venue off Walnut St in LoDo, it was definitely a change from the sticky beer floors, the 1o foot wide stages, and graffiti covered bathroom stalls that I was used to. I’m not saying I was uncomfortable, I’m just saying it was an adjustment. I mean, they had a man in the bathroom to turn the water on for you and smell you to see if you needed cologne. But once I had scoped out my environment and found a group of hipsters to stand near (notice I said “near,” they still haven’t accepted me as their own), I grabbed a Newcastle Brown Ale and prepared myself for Vinefield Agency’s lineup for the night.

Rachel James Project

The next band reminded me that this was a showcase, which in my mind is the concert equivalent of that sampler you order when you want to please everyone in your party of six, a little bit of hot wings, chicken strips, avocado egg rolls, mozzarella sticks, etc. Sitting behind her piano Rachel James played with passion and sang the pop melodies that make her so appealing. Even with the absence of their usual guitar edge, the Rachel James Project provided the energy to follow a much more rock-sound without missing a beat.

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It was a Hot Congress invasion on the Windy City Wednesday night as Achille Lauro came through to play Martyrs’ as part of their midwestern summer tour. The group, as always, brought a unique blending of styles which resulted in a set that turned out to be rather danceable (a couple ballroom-style-danced during most of the songs). My personal favorites “No Brakes,” “Summertime,” and “Unicorns and Consent” made appearances in addition to a new song called “Technicolor Heartache.” Denver-based poet Ken Arkind opened with an extended version of his poem about Los Angeles titled “Maggie.”

For more Achille Lauro and Ken Arkind visit Hot Congress. While you’re there, download Hot Congress #1, a compilation featuring both artists. To see more photos from the show click here.

Schubas on a Saturday night. It really can’t get much better than well-mixed live music in an intimate venue with friends. A friend of mine drove down from Madison in the afternoon and was itching to go downtown for a show. Since Silversun Pickups/Against Me! would’ve broken the bank, we headed to Schubas to catch recent-friend-of-the-blog Blake Zweig open for Dignan and Brooke Waggoner. The evening played through with a good mix of soft and loud songs over a rather wide swath of styles.

Blake played an acoustic set in a similar fashion to when I saw him play at home. Dignan kicked the energy up a notch and had me moving along to the beats. Brooke Waggoner closed out the night by giving new meaning to the word “crescendo.” Enjoy these photos from that night and find links after the shots.

Blake Zweig

Dignan

Brooke Waggoner

Click for more photos | Blake Zweig | Dignan | Brooke Waggoner

There are few things that make me happier than a good drive, good people, and good music. Fortunately for me I experienced all three when I was invited into the backyard of one Blake Zweig, a singer-songwriter whose tunes are as thought-provoking as they are soothing to the soul. Supported by cellist Seth Woods, the duo played in preparation of their upcoming east coast tour.

The sun was setting as lightning bugs began to flash and birds called out their last songs of the evening. It was, as it turns out, the second longest day of the year.

Click for more photos | Blake Zweig | Seth Woods

Bonus video (after the jump) (continue reading…)