The inaugural Icelantic Winter on the Rocks went down in Red Rocks concert history as being the first winter concert ever held at the gorgeous amphitheater in Morrison. C=T contributor, El Güero, weathered the fierce elements Friday night and when I asked him if he thought there would be a second Winter on the Rocks, he knew that the gluttons for punishment in the crowd would be around to sell out any future shows at Red Rocks.

Atmosphere – Rhythm of Rain [mp3]
Common (ft. Nas) – Ghetto Dreams [mp3]

Friday morning Denver was full of blowing snow, a prelude to the sparkling cold night ahead at Red Rocks’ first ever Winter Show. The freezing weather didn’t keep the kids home though, the show was sold out and crowded with partiers bundled up in coats and hats and ski jackets. A few kids were too enthusiastic to stay fully dressed and danced around shirtless, but the rest of us huddled tight and zipped up.

The event was planned to a Colorado audience, knowing both that we could tough out the cold and that Atmosphere and Common would pull in a big enough crowd. Though from Minnesota, Atmosphere is a Colorado favorite and a Red Rocks veteran.

Common’s smart East Coast style has helped shape hip hop since the early 90s, while openers Grieves and Budo are comparatively new but have been making their name underground and recently with the Rhymesayers, including Atmosphere.

After a long wait between sets and a lot of false starts as his backup musicians warmed up, Common came rushing out, running back and forth delivering an energetic and charismatic performance. He rapped smoothly and effortlessly, sharing his enthusiasm with everyone in the amphitheater while the stage could barely contain him and he seemed to want to jump over the railing into the audience.
Pulling a girl out of the crowd and on stage, he flattered and flirted to setup a freestyle he based around her name, the night and the weather while she sat beside him looking excited embarrassed and proud all at once.

Atmosphere appeared onstage almost casually compared to Common’s high energy showmanship. His raps started like a conversation, addressing the audience almost like a friend, sharing a space and a moment in time. The bond between him and everyone watching was palpable, and the emotion in his voice was clear and genuine.

Red Rocks is an iconic venue for Colorado, but never more than this night. There were hints of Aspen or Snowmass up top where booths and promoters flogged their swag and a giant sculptural fireplace drew in people looking for a little heat, while snow fell lightly past the bright lights behind the performers. There’s no doubt this was just the first of many more years of winter parties.

Word/photos by El Güero

Atmosphere

Common

Winter on the Rocks

C=T contributor, el Güero, made his way to the Republic of Boulder for a SOLD OUT Avicii show at the very inviting Boulder Theater Friday the 13th.

Daft Punk – Derezzed (Avicii Remix Vocal Edit) (FullPauta) by FullPauta.

Words, video and photos by el Güero

The packed Boulder Theater was impossible to navigate with a sold out crowd bouncing to the energetic tunes of Avicii and Jontron’s House for Hunger Tour. Jontron built up the crowd’s energy but everyone was there to see Avicii; the press of people behind held the dancers up front locked in a bouncing, jostling wave. Avicii came on around 11:30, ages after a girl next to me complained “…he was supposed to be on at 11! I want to see Avicii!!!”

The Swedish DJ came out wearing a low key beanie but his smiling face showed he was clearly as happy as anyone watching him. With each big bassline drop he waved his hands in time to the music, visibly sang along to his favorites and did as much to rock the house as his pop friendly chart toppers.

Avicii ::: Boulder Theater 1.13.2012

He’s My Brother She’s My Sister came tappin’ to the Larimer Lounge last night. The quintet consists of a real life brother sister Rachel and Robert Kolar. The unsigned band from Los Angeles brought that “old time” rock n roll to the stage and appeared to having a rollicking time in the process. The dualing vocals by the siblings played well off each other and playful demeanor made for a light hearted experience. The added cello by Satya Bhabha and tap dancing by Lauren Brown proved to be vital elements of the night and perhaps the unsung heroes.

He’s My Brother She’s My Sister-Escape Tonight [mp3]

This is it. 2011 has come to a halt and making way for a year where the 2012 calendar mysteriously ends. Let’s make it a good year and remember the year in Denver music for 2011. It’s impossible for me to get out to every show. I do my best to get out to the shows that seem “interesting” to me and more often than not skip acts that I’ve seen previously. It’s always fun to catch bands on the upslope like at Hi-Dive or Bluebird and later find out that they have a summer show already scheduled at Red Rocks (we’re looking at you Foster the People).

Dum Dum Girls ::: Hi-Dive ::: 02.21.11

Arcade Fire ::: 1st Bank Center ::: 04.09.11

the Vaccines ::: Ogden Theatre ::: 05.30.11

Foster the People ::: Bluebird Theater ::: 06.08.11

Hindershot ::: Broadways ::: 06.18.11

Force Publique ::: Opal ::: 06.18.11

Empire of the Sun ::: Red Rocks ::: 07.14.11

King Mob ::: illiterate Gallery @UMS ::: 07.23.11

Mombi ::: illiterate Gallery @UMS ::: 07.23.11

Zoé ::: Bluebird Theater ::: 08.11.11

||| SAUNA ||| @ LARIMER LOUNGE 08.26.11

MAN CUB ::: DENVER AFTERDARK ::: 08.26.11

TV on the Radio ::: Ogden Theater ::: 09.21.11

Cut Copy ::: Ogden Theatre ::: 10.04.11

Portishead ::: 1stBank Center ::: 10.27.11

Future Islands ::: Larimer Lounge ::: 11.09.11

This past Friday evening’s Breathe Carolina show functioned as a victory lap for the local kids that have been picked up by a major (read my friend Ricardo’s great article on them from the Denver Post/Reverb here). C=T contributor, Molly Müeller, traded her comfy Capitol Hill surroundings for  LODO for one night.

Breathe Carolina – Blackout (stereohype Remix) [mp3]

It was a frigid, snowy pre-holiday evening, a perfect night to venture to LODO for a night of poppy, danceable and thus warm sweaty night of electro-pop with some Denver boys who are causing a big scene all over the place. This show was special for Breathe Carolina because it brought them back to their friends and family just in time for the holidays and gave them a chance to gift a live performance to their loyal hometown fans.

The mood was festive and the stage backdrop included two gigantic candy canes; similar to the ones you’d expect to be part of a Santa scene at the local mall. The crowd was very diverse as this was an all-ages show; there were people from the mid-40s all the way down to the 16-year-olds dressed in outfits that made them look like they raided my closet sometime around 1983. As I sat at the bar waiting for the show to start, Breathe Carolina’s Kyle Even came out to a group of parental types and put wristbands on all of them. Afterwards he sweetly took a moment to pose for a picture and wish me a Merry Christmas.

There were three opening acts beginning with The Spin Cycle, a one-man dance party featuring Denver’s Josh Andrews. He got the crowd going with a Mac laptop and some keyboards, finally warming up the freezing venue.The sound was pretty impressive for a one-man show. When needed, he apparently does backup work for the headliners Breathe Carolina. As an extra surprise, Josh pulled out an electric guitar and did a beautiful rendition of The Beatles “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” That pretty much satisfied everyone.

Next up was MOD SUN, a hippie or metal-head looking guy whose real name is Dylan Smith. Accompanied by B Rolla from the Baha Men (yes,he did sing an excerpt from the infamous song “Who Let the Dogs Out?” to prove his street cred) and DJ Pat Brown, MOD SUN raps catchy songs that most of the crowd seemed to love. At the end of the set, MOD SUN sincerely asked “Did you all have a good time tonight? My job is to get you ready for BC!” and mentioned he would be by the merch stand if anyone wanted to come say hello.

The third act was Kill Paradise, a dancepop duo from Denver consisting of Kyle Cocozzella and Bryce Hoops. After shouting “Make some noise, Denver!” they played “Fall From A Star” and the whole floor bounced for the rest of their high-energy set. They dedicated a song to Breathe Carolina and thanked them for putting them on the bill. This was a fun performance and I plan to keep an eye on these guys.

By now the crowd was dying for some Breathe Carolina and like a present under the tree, David Schmitt and Kyle Even delivered the holiday goods (assisted by DJ Kyle David, Luis Bonet playing a rad 80’s throwback “Keytair”, Joshua Aragon on bass, synth, keyboards etc. and Eric Armenta on drums). Storming the stage and only getting started with screamo-tinged “Wooly,” BC’s party was ON. Kyle Even dived into the crowd during “Last Night (Vegas)” and everyone in the vicinity was happy to carry, touch and/or be crushed by him just to show their love. After the third song, David Schmitt brought Josh Andrews (first act on the bill) onto the stage and introduced him as one of his best friends. By now the energy is palatable and they boys barreled into “Sweat It Out” after asking every single person “in this fucking place” to get off their feet. Following up like a true party host, David inquired “Denver, what the fuck is up? You guys sweaty? Everyone sweaty? You all look pretty and shit.” Just what any music fan wants to hear when it’s below freezing outside and chestnuts roasting on an open fire just isn’t your thing.

Breathe Carolina played songs from all of their releases, including the “It’s Classy, Not Classic” favorite “Lovely”, Hello Fascination’s single by the same name and, of course, everyone’s favorites from the most recent release, “Hell Is What You Make It.” Halfway through the show I wanted to join the floor and dance the night away but, unfortunately, my friends are smokers and I had to hold down the fort. For “I.D.G.A.F (I don’t give a fuck),” the venue was adorably filled with nothing but middle fingers. You gotta love that holiday spirit!

The band members kept hugging each other and were genuinely happy to be playing in Denver. Radio darling, “Blackout”, was the second-to-last song and at this point I made it to the middle of the floor. The band busted out a mini-remix while a mini-mosh pit formed near me. Luckily, I emerged unscathed and honestly the song sounded better live than on the radio or recording.

The performance was topped off with “Mile High Christmas”, a special song about dancing in the Denver snow and a Rudolph with eyes as red as his nose (with BC in the house even the reindeer know how to party.) The show wound down as the BC boys threw a ton of free t-shirts into the crowd and lovingly handed out appreciation. Everyone was full of smiles and, at least for this Denver girl, it was a great night of Denver-based electro-pop energy. No better way to start a holiday weekend.

Word/Photos by: Molly Müeller

Oklahomans, Other Lives, stopped by the Hi-Dive to support their latest album, “Tamer Animals,” which they did their best to capture on the dark setting. The quintet fulfilled their last date of their US tour before they set out again in February which will see them playing the big stage for Radiohead.

The sold-out crowd finally caught on to what C=T has been championing for the last two years. My friend that accompanied me to last night’s show agreed that the sound was “familiar” to that of UK contemporaries, Travis and Coldplay. That’s not such a bad thing, after all, the string contributions and the soft vocals worked effortlessly together to create a polished Americana sound with no frayed edges. Their atmospheric landscapes are woven perfectly to create the imagery of a blissful Oklkahoma sky as far as the eye can see. If you missed them this go around, they will be back in March at the 1stBank Center in Broomfield opening up for Radiohead and you can purchase your concert tickets here

Other Lives – For 12 [mp3]

Tour Dates

02.06.12 – Jackpot Music Hall – Lawrence, KS
02.07.12 – Ciceros – St. Louis, MO
02.08.12 – Waiting Room – Omaha, NE
02.09.12 – 7th Street – Minneapolis, MN
02.10.12 – Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL
02.11.12 – The Basement – Columbus, OH
02.13.12 – Ninth Ward – Buffalo, NY
02.14.12 – Drake – Toronto, ON
02.15.12 – Sala Rossa – Montreal, QC
02.16.12 – Great Scott – Boston, MA
02.17.12 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY
02.18.12 – Kung Fu Necktie – Philadelphia, PA
02.21.12 – Red Palace – Washington, DC
02.22.12 – Brillobox – Pittsburgh, PA
02.23.12 – The Southern – Charlottesville, VA
02.24.12 – Local 506 – Chapel Hill, NC
02.25.12 – TBD / Pour House – Nashville, TN / Charleston, SC
02.27.11 – American Airlines Arena – Miami, FL ^
02.29.11 – St. Pete Times Forum – Tampa, FL ^
03.01.11 – Philips Arena – Atlanta, GA ^
03.03.11 – Toyota Center – Houston, TX ^
03.05.11 – American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX ^
03.07.11 – Frank Erwin Center – Austin, TX ^
03.09.11 – Scottrade Center – St. Louis, MO ^
03.11.11 – Sprint Center – Kansas City, MO ^
03.13.11 – 1st Bank Center – Broomfield, CO ^
03.15.11 – Jobing.com Arena – Glendale, AZ ^

^ w/ Radiohead

Springfield, Missouri was in the house last night at the Hi-Dive with Ha Ha Tonka and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yelstin. Bloodshot’s Ha Ha Tonka are evolving into a more polished act leaving the rough edges behind on their latest album, “Death of a Decade.” But not entirely. The quartet’s performance proved to be a raucous occasion with plenty of hand slapping and shit kicking. The infectious grins and serious guitar licks in a set that experienced no lulls. My only qualm, more of a suggestion is maybe they guys could explore the electric mandolin a little more. In fact, they need to run with it all together. I believe it was “Lonely Fortunes” or the title track off of the new album, but my first live experience with the proud sons of Missouri made me want to kick myself for not catching them sooner. Catching “Made Example of” was worth the trip alone. I had the pleasure of interviewing them (check it here) years ago when my friend Todd Roeth did a photo shoot that captured the guys brilliantly. Last night marked the first night of the supporting role opening up for SSLYBY and soon with Tea Leaf Green. If you missed them here in Denver, don’t fret. They’ll be playing Colorado five times next month.

Ha Ha Tonka-Usual Suspects [mp3]

Tour Dates

Ha Ha Tonka 12.01.11 UT Salt Lake City
Urban Lounge
with Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin
Ha Ha Tonka 12.02.11 ID Boise
Neurolux
with Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin
Ha Ha Tonka 12.03.11 WA Seattle
Tractor Tavern
with Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin
Ha Ha Tonka 12.05.11 BC Vancouver
Biltmore Cabaret
with Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin
Ha Ha Tonka 12.06.11 OR Portland
Mississippi Studios
with Someone Loves You, Boris Yeltsin
Ha Ha Tonka 12.08.11 CA San Francisco
Hotel Utah Saloon
with Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Ha Ha Tonka 12.09.11 CA Los Angeles
Bootleg Bar
with Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin
Ha Ha Tonka 12.10.11 CA San Diego
Soda Bar
with Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin
Ha Ha Tonka 01.11.12 CO Breckenridge
three20south
with Tea Leaf Green
Ha Ha Tonka 01.12.12 CO Aspen
Belly Up Aspen
with Tea Leaf Green
Ha Ha Tonka 01.13.12 CO Avon
Agave
with Tea Leaf Green
Ha Ha Tonka 01.14.12 CO Denver
Bluebird Theater
with Tea Leaf Green
Ha Ha Tonka 01.15.12 CO Fort Collins
Hodi’s Half Note
with Tea Leaf Green
Ha Ha Tonka 01.18.12 IA Iowa City
The Mill
with Tea Leaf Green
Ha Ha Tonka 01.19.12 WI Madison
High Noon Saloon
with Tea Leaf Green
Ha Ha Tonka 01.20.12 IL Chicago
Lincoln Hall
w/ Tea Leaf Green
Ha Ha Tonka 01.21.12 OH Cincinnati
20th Century Theater
w/Tea Leaf Green

I wasn’t expecting to see one of the year’s best shows last night. Sometimes it happens unexpectedly on a Wednesday night when you just wanted to hear a couple of your favorite songs live. Samuel T. Herring’s stage presence belongs on a Broadway stage along with the greats and should the whole music thing workout, I’d hope that he would explore that avenue. Herring’s charisma knows no bounds and last night’s riveting performance by the Baltimore trio captured the hearts of the capacity crowd at the Larimer Lounge. Herring’s resemblance comes across as a young Brando meets Dan Lauria (the dad from “the Wonder Years”) meets “Mad Men.” When Herring hushed “Do You Believe in Love,” to the crowd, the eyes of many hungry lovers couldn’t help but question the thought. A large chunk of the performance was taken from their newest and latest brilliant album, “On the Water.” The videos I captured from last night don’t do the performance any justice and if you’re in one of the cities on their tour schedule, make sure and catch them .

Future Islands-Before the Bridge [mp3]

Tour Dates

11/10 Salt Lake City, UT, Kilby Court^
11/11 Boise, ID, Neurolux^
11/12 Seattle, WA, The Vera Project^
11/13 Portland, OR, Mississippi Studios^
11/15 San Francisco, CA, Bottom of the Hill^
11/16 Santa Barbara, CA, Muddy Waters^
11/17 Los Angeles, CA The Echoplex^
11/18 Long Beach, CA, Alex’s Bar^
11/19 San Diego, CA, The Casbah ^
11/20 Phoenix, AZ, Rhythm Room^
11/23 New Orleans, LA, Circle Bar ^
11/25 Birmingham, AL, The Bottletree^
11/26 Atlanta, GA, The Earl^
11/27 Carrboro, NC, Cat’s Cradle^
11/28 Wilmington, NC, The Soapbox^
11/29 Charlottesville, VA, Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar^
11/30 Lancaster, PA, Lizard Lounge^
12/01 New York, NY, Bowery Ballroom^&
12/02 Philadelphia, PA, Kung Fu Necktie^
12/03 Baltimore, MD, Ottobar^
12/09 Minehead, UK, ATP Nightmare Before Christmas
 
* w/Javelin
^ w/ Ed Schrader’s Music Beat
& w/ Zomes

Future Islands ::: Balance ::: Larimer Lounge 11.09.11

Future Islands ::: Give Us the Wind ::: Larimer Lounge 11.09.11

C=T contributor made a last minute show down the 36 corridor to take in a behemoth light infused Halloween show this past Monday. SPIN cover boy, Skrillex, led the charge, but the lineup proved to be solid enough to create the steady flow of UNTZ UNTZ UNTZ.

Continuing their Mothership Tour which has already been to 33 cities across North America, Skrillex and 12th Planet were joined by Skream & Benga for a sold out show Halloween night at the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield. The Center was full of barely dressed kids having a blast and mean angry security guards ready to toss em out.

Back inside they wrapped up and announced Skrillex. First out was the enormous white hexagon columned Skrillcell stage, then the man himself appeared inside. Playing the part of a real life rock god, Skrillex’s music soared with epic waves and crushed the crowd with wobbly devastation. The stage itself was an equal part of the magic, lit up with 3d projection that wrapped every surface in shimmering hypnotic electric light and surrounded by enormous animated avatars which mimicked his own body movements. The crowd was fully packed- I snuck out midway through the set and the halls were empty, every person in the auditorium was jammed in to hear the headliner’s set. Skrillex pulled every trick to get his giant buildups, even sneaking in some fluffy vocal trance between his own monster tracks before laying the shattering breakdowns which had every hand in the air and all the kids on the side dancing. – El Güero

Nero – Promises (Skrillex) by Skrillex

Kaskade + Skrillex ‘Lick It’ by Skrillex

Nero – Me and You (Steve Angello Remix) by CherrytreeRecords

C=T sent contributor El Güero down to Colfax to take in a night of floor bumpin’ beats with MiM0SA leading the charge.

MiM0SA-Sanctuary [mp3]

The Fillmore was packed with young bass fanatics the Saturday before Halloween, everyone was costumed up and full of energy. I saw a ton of Where’s Waldos, some clever use of light ropes on black backgrounds to make glowy stick men, and a lot of people who just looked like they were dressed as ravers. Made me a little nostalgic seeing all the kids getting lightshows and hittin’ the Vick’s.

Sleepyhead opened, laying down some solid tracks that ranged from standard wobbly dubstep to to eclectic tribal sounds while the room filled up. Ginz (James Ginzburg – http://www.multiverse-music.com/) followed, with, well let’s face it – moar dubstep. By now the place had gotten pretty crowded and it was really feeling like a party, the energy a dubstep loving bass hungry crowd puts back is always super impressive, especially seen from the side where the sea of arms pumping is like a pulsing wave.

Kastle came next and had mixed success keeping the energy going that Sleepyhead and James Ginzburg had built up, he was on the mic a lot trying to get the crowd going, but then he played a lot of vocal heavy UK Garage, which never plays well in the big room. Before Mimosa came on was an unheard of break of what felt like ages, (was about 20 minutes).
They played some Burial, which I love ordinarily but *snore* and a track by Die Antwoord which got everybody hyped and really got into the set, almost enough to stop complaining about where’s Mimosa.

Mimosa came out in a blaze of light, the entire wall behind him had been dead and dark and suddenly light up with leds and bright floods aimed out at the crowd. The energy (and the volume) tuned up about 100% instantly and he blasted the auditorium with a wall of bass. Well worth the wait. Happy Halloween — El Güero

MiM0SA

Kastle