Something Like Sound

Thursday was hot and lazy; it was the perfect day to do nothing except sit on the lawn and listen to live music. The jazzy-rock styling of Petals of Spain filled the air as the sun began its descent.There were quite a few DJs in between the bigger sets; this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, however those slots could have been filled by other bands from more diverse genres. Chali 2na took the stage with his live band to perform some post-Jurassic 5 hip-hop. His set was energetic and got the crowd moving and dancing along. Following Chali 2na there was yet another DJ (however this time more people actually were keen on dancing/participating) before a “hybridigital” set from Shiny Toy Guns. Initially I thought that the STG set would be a full-band affair, but instead it played out more like a DJ set with a few live instruments thrown in for good measure. Despite the lack of a full band, STG hybridigital was the best set of the evening, complete with dancers in strange costumes.

Petals of Spain

Chali 2na

one of several DJs who performed

Shiny Toy Guns- Hybridigital

The real rock stars of the day were the hard-working members of the DU Grilling Society who provided delicious free food throughout the festival.

To see a full gallery of photos click here.

It’s warm outside, so that means it’s time to go out and hit the shows. Here are a few that feature stellar poster-art and great lineups.

Vampire Hands with Woodsman & Tjutjuna (5/26 at Hi-Dive):  This $6 show pairs 2 of Minneapolis’s finest experimental rock bands with 2 of Denver’s best. Expect to hear new material from both Woodsman and Tjutjuna since both groups have new releases coming out soon (or already out).

DU May Days Musicfest feat. Shiny Toy Guns & Chali 2na (5/27 at Driscoll Greens): Nothing says awesome quite like “free.” The DU May Days Musicfest is great for several reasons: 1. The bands (the lineup is pretty solid and keeps getting better every year). 2. Free food (usually better than what you’d expect). 3. It reminds CSM students that we haven’t been in school for the past month and that DU still has another couple weeks to go.

Danielle Ate The Sandwich, Ian Cooke, & Candy Claws (5/28 at D-Note): Arvada won’t know what hit them after this show. It’s an invasion of sorts: Fort Collins folk singer-songwriter Danielle Ate The Sandwich will bring her unique ukulele styling while fellow Ft. Collinites Candy Claws play their unique style of ambient-indie-dream-pop. Ian Cooke’s amazing cello work will tie everything together quite nicely.

Hot Congress & Long Spoon block party (6/5 at Meadowlark & Larimer Lounge): This mini-music-fest showcases some of the best in what Denver’s music collectives have to offer. The lineup is ridiculously stacked and the evening’s events will feature prize giveaways and food vendors. For more information and a more in-depth preview of the block party visit the Hot Congress website.

Westword Music Showcase (6/19 in the Golden Triangle neighborhood): Westword just announced the full lineup for their annual music showcase and it is shaping up to be the don’t-miss event for June. They’re basically taking over an entire neighborhood for a day of great music and entertainment. Added bonuses this year include cheap tickets (only $15 in advance), more all-ages venues and a VIP option.