These United States: Their new album was just released and I can’t wait to hear the new songs. Fun, bright, and rowdy sounds and literate lyrics. – Drink a whisky.

Deer Tick: I’ve been listening their album ‘War Elephant’ almost everyday this summer. I wasn’t going to buy their new one, ‘Born On Flag Day’ until I got tired of ‘War Elephant’. Then I realized, I might never get tired of ‘War Elephant’. So I bought ‘Born On Flag Day’ so I can sing along with their new songs. The new songs are as good as their past ones. The ghost of Hank Williams is those songs. – Drink a longneck.

The Knew: My Denver favorites. Monolith always finds great local bands to support the festival. With the Knew, they prove it again. These boys are like goldfish; they seem to grow in their sound to fit the room they play. That’s not true. I saw them play the Lion’s Lair this summer and they couldn’t even stay on the stage there.  So I guess they are too big for most stages. Red Rocks is way bigger. I expect their sound to match. Asses will move and hands will clap. – Drink water or Gatorade.

Hollywood Holt: Hip Hip & Rap is not always interesting for me to watch as live performances. But if all artists performed like Hollywood, that would change. He matches – probably exceeds – in execution what he has in talent. It is a riot it watch. First time I saw him, he made me convinced I wanted to get a tattoo across my ribcage by the second song. – Drink a Red Bull.

The Features: It is rock and roll. Some probably call it garage rock. That makes sense. So long as the garage is full of muscle cars. There is horsepower in those chords. Buckle up. – Drink tall boys.

Donnybrook Writing Academy took time between her mani/pedi and seaweed body wrap to give us the lowdown on this weekend:

This is probably what every freaking blogger is going to say, but I’m ridiculously stoked to see Passion Pit. I’m hoping it will feel like a reenactment of their video for “The Reeling;” I plan on bringing ripped paper confetti!

Of course I want to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs because I want to compare haircuts with Karen O, and like I said on Twitter a while back, I want to have her babies–impossible, strangely-dressed lesbian babies.

Of Montreal, because I want to see something epic and Cirque du Soleil style–the only time I’ve seen any incarnation of them was just Kevin Barnes solo acoustic at SXSW, and I want to see the whole shebang, the huge crazy show they put on now. I’m just wondering what they’re going to do with Red Rocks.

Dandy Warhols of course, because I’ve always loved seeing them.

And on a biased note, I’m incredibly excited to see These United States play the WOXY stage at 3:30. I’ve seen them so many times at this point, and their new album Everything Touches Everything has become a soundtrack to my life as of late; and each time I see them they get even more crazy ridiculous live. They’re turning into such a rock band. Their latest WOXY session (the last one in Cinci) demonstrates the energy of their live show.

Antlers, Pirate Signal, Starfucker, Deer Tick (only because Bri Wi loves them), Cotton Jones, Health, and Thao. I do NOT want to see Rahzel because when we saw him (YEARS AGO) he was a total dick and yelled at the crowd the whole time.

A Walking Disaster took time between slinging iPods and buying custom kicks to see what we must see this weekend:

WALE..so that maybe he will do his whole set while he is twittering….aside form P.Diddy himself I don’t know who tweets more than this guy.

The Denver Post Reverb Contingent of John Wenzel and Ricardo Baca have come to join forces and put us on notice for this weekend:

John Wenzel-

Phoenix
Are they dance pop geniuses? Overrated Strokes rip-offs? Who cares? Reviews of Phoenix’s recent live shows have been glowing, so we’re expecting big things from this skinny, fashionable French group.

Jim McTurnan and The Kids That Killed The Man
Fans of McTurnan’s last band — the dearly departed power-pop maelstrom Cat-A-Tac — already know his penchant for infectious melodies and big, bold riffs. His latest project features a backing band as fine as any in town (featuring members of Born in the Flood, the Pseudo Dates and Fell) and more of McTurnan’s defiantly wounded, propulsive tunes.

The Thermals
Proving the classic guitar-drums-bass trio is still alive and kicking (you in the crotch), this Portland indie-punk mainstay brings its slashing chords and bouncy, maniacal energy to every single show it plays, and Red Rocks will likely be no different.

Of Montreal
If Kevin Barnes really is the new Bowie, as some critics have proclaimed (well, Spin anyway), then his band and its ridiculous, LSD-flecked stage show are the new Spiders from Mars, and indie synth-pop is the new glam.

Five Monolith confections. By Ricardo Baca, pop music critic, The Denver Post; executive director, The Underground Music Showcase.

The Grates. Love these Aussies. Patience fronts this indie pop group, and she’s a total spazz. I love that about her.

Deer Tick. Is this the best band playing Monolith this year? Absolutely.

The Dandy Warhols. I used to love these kids from Portlandia. Now I only kind of love them. Still, there is love in my heart for them and their snark.

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. Looking at the pictures and listening to the music, it’s easy to get excited about this large, neo-psych band.

Monotonix. These Israelis might just give you your most memorable Monolith memory. They don’t play for the crowd. They play the crowd – amongst the crowd.

Some Love Music took time off from his drumming duties to give us his insight for this weekend:

my top 5 (right now, that is. truthfully I know I’ll be running around trying to see every freaking band):

HEALTH: They are a churning, burning, ever learning fiery beast that will utterly consume you. Their records don’t do the HEALTH experience justice. They’ll be in their element indoors, which should be both a terrifying and an exhilarating statement.

The Knew: Because everyone wants to have their face melted off. And these dashing gentlemen will do just that.

Frightened Rabbit: Did you hear The Midnight Organ Fight? Of course you did. This is why you need to see them. They didn’t write one of the best records in ten years for you to not notice them.

The Antlers: Since you’ll be seeing Cymbals Eat Guitars at 5:40, see the band that is reinventing the Walkmen’s sound, but bringing in elements that are, at the same time, more distressing and more inviting. (no slam to The Walkmen thou, luv ’em).

We Were Promised Jetpacks: These kids make you dance and cry.

Everything You Need to Know About This Weekend!

BUY TICKETS IN PERSON WITH MINIMAL SERVICE FEES
Still want to buy your tickets in person for minimal ticket fees? Buy your Festival tickets in person this Friday, Sept 11 at the Gothic!  Bring cash and only pay a 50 cent service fee!  This is your last chance to buy VIP Passes. And, this your last chance to buy 2-Day and Single Day Festival Tickets at the current price level! So, head down to the kick-off party this Friday and save!