Something Like Sound

It’s high time that I sat down and pointed you in all directions at once. All over the web there are great, free & legal downloads from some of Colorado’s finest (bands, that is… the police don’t really have much out there). Just click on the images to go to the places.

Savoy – Self-Titled EP: The entire thing is free on the group’s website. Unfortunately we missed their set at Monolith, but fear not! They’re doing a show November 21 at the Bluebird.

Hello Kavita – To A Loved One 2 song sampler. It’s been a while since we’ve heard from these guys, but they’re finally releasing another record on October 23 at the Hi-Dive, with Houses and It’s True! Even just listening to the 2 sample tracks, I’m excited for what these guys have in store.

Arliss Nancy – Dance To Forget: Fort Collins own answer to Lucero, this record is technically a $5 donation, but you could get it for free if you really like. Click back a few pages to see our review.

Rob Drabkin – On These Heavy Feet: Rob’s still got this link up for people to download his full length. He did it as a way of saying “Thank You” for all the cool stuff that his fans have helped him with this summer.

Dualistics – Last Call single: Featuring the sharp new song “Last Call” and a great b-side “Sabbatical,” this is a must download for fans of solid rock music. The file also contains a few tracks from this group’s self-titled EP.

Pretty Lights – Discography: Pick up Filling Up The City Skies and Taking Up Your Precious Time for free from the Fort Collins-based group. Definitely listen to “Solamente.” Also, just announced, the new Pretty Lights record Passing Behind Your Eyes will be available October 6.

Drag The River - Live at the Starlight: This long-out-of-print record is still being offered as a free download by our friends at Suburban Home Records. It’s a great live album and a bit of CO music history.

Rabbit Is A Sphere – Discography: It was sad to see these guys go on indefinite hiatus, but you can still enjoy their music and a high-quality bootleg via the link.

M. Pyres – Consider Me, Ghost and other FTU albums: Matt Sage of Fort Collins is quickly becoming a lo-fi phenomenon (if there can even be such a thing). Give Consider Me, Ghost a listen, then stay tuned for Apart The Echo, which is coming soon.

Young Coyotes – Basement EP: Possibly one of my favorite recordings released this year, Young Coyotes have their first EP (which was recorded… in a basement) for free on their website.

Cowboy Curse – Nod Up And Down: I first heard this band at the UMS this year. Definitely check out their song “Negative Space.”

Alright, that’s enough for now, I’ll let these build up a bit then do another one in another month or so.

Thursday

John Common (Michaelangelo’s Coffee & Wine Bar, 7:45 pm): One of Denver’s more infamous musicians, John Common is always up to something. Whether it’s the People’s Kazoo Orchestra, or a John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light show, he’s sure to surprise you.

Maxwell Hughes (The Irish Rover, 9:15 pm): I remember seeing this guy’s guitar slap-style at open mic nights up in Fort Collins when I was in high school, it’s really quite entertaining to watch and listen.

Everything Absent or Distorted (Hi-Dive, 11 pm): Since the recent news that these guys are calling it quits soon, be sure to catch them while you still can.

(ok, now you have to choose, I’m going to suggest 2 different sets that go down at the same time)

The Photo Atlas (3 Kings Tavern, 11:55 pm): I’ve always been a big fan of TPA, mainly because they combine my two favorite things: peanut butter and chocolate dancing and punk rock.

Langhorn Slim and the War Eagles (Hi-Dive, 11:55 pm): Just added to the line-up as the main headliner for Thursday, these guys are sure to pack out the Hi-Dive (even if it is a Thursday night).

Friday

Hello Kavita (Indy Ink, 8:15 pm): Ever since the Westword Music Showcase, I’ve been itching to see these guys again. I think they’re Denver’s answer to Wilco, without the ridiculous costumes that Jeff Tweedy is wearing these days.

I just realized the rest of the bands I am going to suggest are at the Hi-Dive, take no offense other venues.

Elin Palmer (Hi-Dive, 8:45 pm): Beautiful folk tunes are what Elin Palmer is all about, listen to her set from the Westword Showcase at The Flat Response to know what I”m talking about (click here).

Bela Karoli (Hi-Dive, 9:30 pm): What’s not to love about avant-pop-chamber music? This is another group that everyone needs to see more of, and here’s your chance.

The Wheel (Hi-Dive, 11 pm): This man is on a roll (no pun intended), but seriously… The Wheel just won at the Westword Awards, and always manages to improve on their live show.

Houses (Hi-Dive, 11:55 pm): We just heard this week that Houses finished recording the Summer EP, so here’s to hoping for hearing some of that sweet tunage during the UMS (they’re also playing 5:15 pm on Sunday in the Goodwill parking lot).

Remember, for tickets (which are uber-cheap) and a full lineup, hit up www.theums.com

It was a couple months ago Dave Herrera at Westword contacted us to get our input on this year’s showcase. We sent in our picks and the festival finally came. Due to the shear massiveness of writing reviews for the acts we saw, each band gets 30 words… ready, go!

Astrophagus (1 pm, Curious Theater): Think Miles Davis meets Radiohead, minus Thom Yorke’s whiney voice. These guys built an amazing wall of sound with synths, guitar, drum loops, and trumpet. Expect to see them at UMS.

Houses (2 pm, Curious Theater): Ever since lead singer Andy Hamilton sent me their EP, I haven’t listened to anything else. With all 7 members, Houses had a big sound, but a relaxed attitude. Expect to see our EP review soon.

Hello Kavita (3 pm, Curious Theater): I remember walking in thinking “Who kidnapped Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) and brought him to Denver?” These guys put on a top-rate performance, and are putting finishing touches on a new album.

Achille Lauro (4 pm, Curious Theater): “I feel like we’re in a Talking Heads video,” said bassist Jon Evans of the Curious’s interesting set-up. The group proceeded to create instrumental harmonies until we left early for Cursive.

Cursive (4:15 pm, Verizon Outdoor Stage): Having only heard The Ugly Organ once, and their new single “I Couldn’t Love You,” I had an enjoyable time watching this Omaha-based band’s incredibly intense performance.

BDRMPPL, CacheFlowe, luengliss, Josephine & the Mousepeople, Married in Berdichev, Pictureplane, and Slight Harp (5pm, Curious Theater): Perhaps one of the most interesting things I’ve ever seen, this group of about 10 musicians from all the groups listed filled the stage with synths, laptops, modulators, and all kinds of electronics to perform their unique styles of trip-hop/remix music live.

Bela Karoli (featuring The Wheel) (6 pm, Curious Theater): This avant-pop group had a little trouble with feedback, but once it was under control everything went beautifully. At the end of the set The Wheel came out and played a couple songs to the then-packed house.

Meese (6:55 pm, Verizon Outdoor Stage): This local group is releasing a new album on a major label at the end of the month. Quite honestly I got a little bored during their hour-long set, the generic pop sounds didn’t really strike me as memorable.

Built To Spill (8:25, Verizon Outdoor Stage): When I woke up on the day of the fest, I had “I Would Hurt A Fly” running through my head (basically, I love Built To Spill). Although they didn’t play that song, they did most of my favorites, including “In Your Mind,” “Strange,” “Sidewalks,” “Kicked It In the Sun,” and had a strong closing with “Carry The Zero.” Seeing these legends of indie-rock reminded me how much I love guitar and how good their music is after all these years.

Well, that was it, we took the bus home and slept. As you can see, we spent most of our time at Curious, this was mostly because that’s where most of the great up-and-coming acts I’d only heard about were playing. Our friends Young Coyotes, The Photo Atlas, Epilogues, Andrea Ball, etc. also had sets that day, but I wanted to expand my boarders. Special thanks again to Dave Herrera at Westword for getting us better connected with Denver music, we all look forward to seeing what’s in store for next year.

One last thing. Our buddy Lance from The Flat Response was there taping at both Curious and the Verizon Outdoor Stage for most of the day, if any of his recordings turn out, we’ll let you know where you can listen to them.

Words by Tim Weilert, Photos by Bengsoon Chuah