Coming from roughly the same Montreal scene that produced bands like the Dears, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Stars, the Besnard Lakes recorded with members of those bands on its Polaris Prize-nominated 2007 album, The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse, at singer/guitarist Jace Lasek’s Breakglass Studios. Starting out as…
The Parlotones is not a household name in North America, but it is one of the best known bands out of South Africa. With hit singles in its native country, the Parlotones started to make waves outside South Africa with its second album, 2005’s Radiocontrolledrobot. Hailing from Johanesburg, the Parlotones…
After Sleep broke up in 1998, singer/guitarist Matt Pike formed High on Fire with drummer Des Kensel and bassist George Rice. Initially evoking more of a doom rock sound, High on Fire evolved into being more of a straight ahead metal band without either dumbing down the music or taming…
Where does a band go after winning the O2 Silver Clef Award and being presented that award by its rock-and-roll heroes, Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen? What more could your band ever hope to hear after Roger Taylor called your project “probably the greatest live act in the…
Richard Thompson probably isn’t the first name that comes to mind when listing the greatest guitarists of all time, but it should be. In his seventh decade of existence, Thompson is a respected figure among those who appreciate superb musicianship informed by a rich imagination. Thompson first came to prominence…
Toby Hendricks, who performs under the Otem Rellik moniker, sounds more than comfortable in his own skin, despite the melancholy and emotional intensity expressed across this album. But if the stark “Empty Coffins” is any indication, that doesn’t mean he’s toned down any of his edge. “The Four Sided Secret”…
Where does a band go after winning the O2 Silver Clef Award and being presented that award by its rock-and-roll heroes, Roger Taylor and Brian May of Queen? What more could your band ever hope to hear after Roger Taylor called your project “probably the greatest live act in the…
With an Edith Piaf-esque warble, Kal Cahoone’s vocals could be heard warming the music of Roger Green and Munly with its Old World charm. Cahoone’s most prominent role in a project up to now was in the Latin-flavored Americana of Tarantella. Her strong presence could be intense at times, but…
THE CULT With The Black Ryder 9/25/2010 | Ogden Theater, Denver Sydney, Australia’s the Black Ryder opened the show with an impressive array of songs that seemed to overt take some overt cues from modern psychedelic rock bands like Brian Jonestown Massacre and early Verve. But Aimee Nash’s undeniable mystique…
SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS With Active Child and DJ Peter Black 09.24.10 | Larimer Lounge, Denver Peter Black kicked off the evening with an hour-long set of remixes he’s done for various artists, including songs by Chris & Cosey, Blonde Redhead and Glasser. Black moved in time with the music…
Many people heard the Cult after its breakthrough album, Love, which contained the classic single “She Sells Sanctuary,” was released in 1985. But the Cult increasingly became a worldwide phenomenon with its following two albums, Electric and Sonic Temple…
Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino met as students at Pratt Institute, and when they started playing music together after becoming immersed in the New York DIY music scene, they quickly became known for their infectiously energetic live shows…
With a dreamy, uplifting sound reminiscent of bands like Lush, Curve and Stereolab, School of Seven Bells creates deeply atmospheric music that explores the inner reaches of the human psyche with a surprisingly colorful yet concrete flair. Sisters Alejandra and Claudia Deheza came from the experimental band On!Air!Library!, while guitarist…
Renowned Scottish post-rock band Mogwai played a sold out, three-day residency at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York in April 2009. Filmmakers Vincent Moon and Nathanael Le Scouarnec were on hand to capture the finest moments of that residency in stark but emotive black and white…
Birthed from the DIY music scene in New York City, Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino didn’t start out trying to have a proper band. But at their first show, respected underground promoter Todd Patrick gave the then-unnamed duo a fairly obvious moniker that managed to stick. For the past few…
On II’s opener, “Allison,” Alan Alda steps away from its proggy indie-rock sound for a few moments to allow Luke Goodhue to croon about a bittersweet memory. “Logarithms,” meanwhile, finds the band striking melodic atmospheres bolstered by muscular rhythms. The song’s dark tone is a bit of a departure for…
Named after a mythical pickpocket academy in South America, School of Seven Bells is made up of former members of some noteworthy experimental bands such as Tripping Daisy, Secret Machines and On! Air! Library! With this latest project, the trio creates a sound that sometimes recalls the spacious krautrock leanings…
Chamber pop has been done to death at this point. But with Lady Parts, Katie Gold and Becky Christian have taken the idea to another realm. Using classical and electronic instruments, the duo writes songs that seem to come right out of a William Morris or George MacDonald fantasy novel,…
RUSKO M80 Dubstation 09.21.10 | Ogden Theatre, Denver Last night, the first of Rusko’s two sold-out shows in Colorado had the Ogden bursting at the seams, with glow bracelets (as opposed to the glow sticks popular at ’90s raves) dotting the crowd. Denver has earned a reputation for being one…
Treeverb • Ross Etherton and the Chariots of Judah 09.17.10 | 3 Kings Tavern, Denver Three years ago, Bright Channel and Red Cloud were two of the highest-profile underground bands in Denver — not to mention the most interesting and consistently compelling live acts in town. Despite having widely disparate…
Performing for the last several years under the moniker Otem Rellik, Toby Hendricks has certainly paid his dues. Living in Fort Collins, he’s developed his craft largely through experimenting at open mikes and performing at shows with indie rock bands. Although his own vocal delivery is heavily influenced by Sole…
Referencing François Truffaut’s frequent protagonist in “Antoine Doinel,” Rubedo strikes a somber and wistful chord early on with Kyle Gray’s understated vocals, which recall the slight quaver of Mercury Rev’s Jonathan Donohue. “Revelation of the Sun” is a roller coaster of intensity and tranquility, with a hint of Pink Floyd’s…
