Something Like Sound

If Saturday got me down, Sunday got me back up again. Although the clouds hung low in the sky and menaced us throughout the afternoon, the tired, hungover patrons (and bands) of the Underground Music Showcase refused to let it dictate how the day was going to go.

Upon arrival Jake and I headed down to TS Board Shop for The Pseudo Dates, a great upbeat group. Their set can best be described as a lively combination of punk, surf, and a touch of 80′s pop. It certainly put a smile on my face (both with their music and singer/bassist Suzi Allegra’s punk-rock sense of fashion).

From there I decided we had to see Hawks of Paradise. I had seen this group open for Akron/Family on St. Pattie’s day, and remembered it as a pretty good set. Well, their set at the UMS was definitely memorable (musically, their brand of rock music played well with the upbeat attitude I was forming). What came as a bit of a surprise was the end of their set, when they announced, rather nonchalantly, that the preceding songs were their last… ever.
Edit: I read on Reverb this morning that they might not actually be breaking up, way to go guys.

Jake missed the Houses set at the Hi-Dive on Friday night, so we stuck around the C*****s outdoor stage (that’s right, I’m independent, none of this sponsor-toting crap until I see some dollars rolling my way from you Cartoys). What I said about their Friday set can pretty much be applied to their Sunday set (especially since they were very similar, both were quite enjoyable and had fairly well sized crowd attendances).

1090 Club

Achille Lauro

We stayed a little longer at the outdoor stage to see friends-to-the-blog, 1090 Club. Their set was solid, but I felt a little bad because the crowd really thinned out (next time, Denver, next time support this band). Although I soon found myself walking over to catch Achille Lauro. I must say, they have a unique way of doing things: half the time they’ve got their synths and patches going, the other times they’re playing like a traditional 4-piece. Taken as a whole, I was definitely not bored, and had to stay on my toes to keep up with what was happening next.

After a quick stop by Persian Gourmet for some delicious falafel (my new favorite food; take note everyone who wants to buy me dinner), it was back to the main stage for what was shaping up to be an incredible set from Everything Absent or Distorted. Although this was another band that I had seen earlier in the festival, that certainly did not take any of the thunder out of their set.

Armed with a healthy variety of instruments (3 guitars, 1 bass, 1 accordion, 1 banjo, 1 drum-kit, 1 trombone, 2 keyboards, and various other random noisemakers), EAOD played one of the most ruckus sets I have ever seen; perhaps the word that best describes it: swashbuckling. A whiskey-fueled frenzy of energetic sound, EAOD did not go quietly into the night. As they finished their set, they decided to play another song, a cover of The National’s “Abel,” a fitting temporary closing (until they officially call it good in November).

“My mind’s not right”

-The National

At this point I was truly tired. The combination of my fatigue and the incredible set from EAOD had me convinced that it would be best to end  on a high note. Stay tuned for a proper “Reflections on the UMS” post, complete with suggestions for next year’s festival.

Here comes the second, just like the first, a little bit louder and a whole lot worse.

Saturday

Joseph Pope III (Rock The Cradle, 3 pm): I haven’t had a chance to catch his solo act yet, but I have enjoyed what he has added to The Wheel.

Elin Palmer (South Broadway Christian Church, 4pm): After seeing her play Friday night, I’m impressed (and also a little intrigued to learn more about Sweden). I might not show up to this one (since I did just see her), but you definitely should check it out.

In The Red (TS Board Shop, 5:30 pm): As a band on the local Suburban Home Records, I’ve heard alot about these guys, but haven’t heard them live yet.

Astrophagus (Hi-Dive, 6:30 pm): A band that combines beautiful and trippy soundscapes with guitar and trumpet. It’s like the ’59 sound remixed.

Wardens (Hi-Dive, 8:00 pm): I met the lovely ladies from Wardens Friday night, and I said I’d be there. Plus these girls came all the way from Brooklyn.

Danielle Ate The Sandwich (Hornet, 8:15 pm): Ukulele madness! You gotta love Danielle’s unique style

Dualistics (Skylark, 9:30 pm): Get ready to rock out, plus hear some new tunes from this group.

Bad Weather California (Hi-Dive, Midnight): Another excellent closer for the evening, Bad Weather will certainly not let Saturday go quietly into the night.

Sunday

The Pseudo-Dates (TS Board Shop, 3:30 pm): Another band I met during the festival. These guys seem like a fun bunch, so why not check them out (what else would you be doing at 3:30 on a Sunday?)

Hawks of Paradise (Goodwill Parking Lot, 4:30): Last time I saw these guys was opening for Akron/Family, and I remember it being very loud (in a good way).

1090 Club (Goodwill Parking Lot, 6 pm): I already did a write up on these guys, read that.

Andrea Ball (Hi-Dive, 8:15 pm): I had “Beat Beat Pound” stuck in my head today (again), maybe she can get it stuck in yours too.

Bowerbirds (Hi-Dive, 10 pm): This group is making the trek all the way from North Carolina to croon us Colorado folk, don’t miss it.

St. Patrick’s Day this year was an enjoyable experience here at Something Like Sound. It was a day of music, merriment, and waffles. Before diving headfirst into the review of the show, I’d like to take a moment to tell you about one of Denver’s newest eateries, Lakeside Waffles. This joint is great, they’ve got $5 waffles with fresh fruits and other toppings, and they taste great (probably the best waffles I’ve had in a long time). Either way, they are located right next to the Oriental (on 44th and Tennyson).

As far as the show went, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Up first was Hawks of Paradise, a local rock group with a loud/steady sound. Following the Hawks, was a truly unique experience, another local group named Pee Pee. Even as they were setting up the stage I could tell that it would be an interesting experience. All together Pee Pee currently consists of 10 players (including a woman who plays singing saw). Their performance was truly impressive and enjoyable. A flurry of orchestral sound, jazz improvisation, and pop sensibility, Pee Pee moved from dance beats to jam-sessions with the drop of a hat.

Up next it was my most anticipated part of the night, Young Coyotes. Zach and Adam were spot on that night as they pounded through song after song. They played through most of the material from their newly released EPs, while also throwing in some new songs as well. Perhaps it was the acoustics of the room, or maybe just my own biases, but I felt as though it was one of the better sounding sets I’ve ever seen these guys put on.

Finally it was time for Akron/Family. At this point in the night I wished I had done something to alter my consciousness, because (unknown to me), Akron/Family is sort of a hippie-jam-band. This is by no means a bad thing, it just wasn’t what I was expecting. Moving from subtle, quiet sounds to earth shattering choruses, Akron/Family used dymanics to their advantage. Perhaps the best part of their set was when the musical collective Pee Pee joined Akron/Family on stage for an all-out rock-jam. I’m fairly certain there were at least 15 people on stage as the crowd began to bounce and move to the beats of the improv.

Video of Young Coyotes performance will be available soon, check back on the blog. (We’ve also got video of Akron/Family with Pee Pee that will go up too).

Photos courtesy Patrick Beseda