The weekend is quickly approaching us and so is the second annual Mile High Music Festival. The festival starts early (11:15 AM early) which means you have a couple of decisions to make. You can make the most out of your festival and your money by showing up early, or you can just sleep in, eat brunch, and show up at your leisure. For those brave souls that are willing to make it to Commerce City so early, you will be rewarded by one of Colorado’s troubadours , Gregory Alan Isakov. Your next bet is to stick with the singer-songwriter theme and check out the oily beau hunk, Matt Nathanson, because he songwriting skills maybe honed in for teenage girls, but the guy knows how to write a poppy tune.  Duke Spirit is playing around the same time, but worth being in two places at one once. I don’t agree with how early they’re playing. Their music is tuned better during a nighttime setting. One of my favorite draws of the weekend is UK export (sounds more of like a Southern roots rock band), Gomez. They been around for close to eleven years and didn’t catch on until recently , when their music was placed on Gray’s Anatomy. Shortly rounding out this set will be Ani Difranco. She’s a veteran of the scene, and when growing up, I had a friend that use to play Untouchable Face anytime we use to take his Chevy to the levy (seriously). To continue supporting Colorado artists for the day, what would not seeing Big Head and the Monsters (the staple on KBCO that will never leave). I saw them tons of times many moons ago, and their live shows are electric. Todd Park Mohr is a monster (no pun intended) on the guitar and his song composition is something that has always struck a chord in my liking of the band. It’s after this set where I would probably grab a bite, relax, have a couple of beers, and enjoy the Misters that will hopefully pollute the fields at Dick’s. The only quandary that I see for the day is the scheduling of the Black Keys and Ben Harper & the Relentless 7. I’ve seen the Black Keys recently, and probably one of my favorite shows of last year, but I would like to see the new dynamic of Ben Harper’s band on stage. Although I’m not a fan, but I’m told that Tool puts on a SHOW, so I shall stick around to see what they’re all about. I can guarantee that I WON’T BE STICKING AROUND FOR WIDESPREAD. My jam band days are behind me, but I am LOOKING FORWARD TO PHISH AT RED ROCKS!

Gregory Alan Isakov-Evelyn [mp3]
Matt Nathanson-Come On Get Higher (live in Denver)[mp3] (via Fuel Friends)
Ani DiFranco- Untouchable Face (live) [mp3]
UNKLE-Mayday (feat the Duke Spirit) [mp3]
Gomez-Tijuana Lady [mp3]
Big Head Todd and the Monster-After the Gold [mp3]
The Black Keys-Set You Free [mp3]
Ben Harper & the Relentless 7- The Word Suicide[mp3]
Tool-Lateralus [mp3]