When the announcement dropped this week that Guns N’ Roses will headline Coachella 2016, a rumor that had been flying around for a few months was finally confirmed—and set pulses racing. The trio of Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan will play together under the GnR name for the first…
Editor’s Note: The Denver Bootleg is a series chronicling the history of local music venues by longtime Denver cartoonist Karl Christian Krumpholz. Visit Krumpholz’s website to see more of his work…
In January 2014, the gothic-Americana band Murder by Death played the reputedly haunted Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, but singer-guitarist Adam Turla didn’t have any paranormal experiences. So when the quintet returned for three shows in early January 2015 — just before its seventh album, Big Dark Love, was released…
This Thursday, January 7, marks the launch of a new weekly event at the Meadowlark called Thursday Kicks. The first Thursday of the month will be called “Teenage Kicks,” which will feature all-vinyl punk and garage rock music. The second Thursday in the series is calld “Nightshift,” an all-vinyl night…
Nearly a year ago, David Bowie made an unannounced trip to the intimate 55 Bar in New York City’s West Village to hear an innovative jazz group led by saxophonist Donny McCaslin and featuring keyboardist Jason Lindner, bassist Tim Lefebvre and drummer Mark Guiliana. Bowie dug what he heard and…
Whether you’re a fan of Brock Lobster and the Donkeys, stumping for Peyton’s rights, or are one of the 100,986 new transplants with loyalties elsewhere, the football playoffs are here. In case you haven’t noticed, Denver has a passion for football, especially the blue and orange. But Denver isn’t just…
To celebrate its ten years of existence, 3 Kings Tavern is throwing a free show featuring the musical projects of the club’s staff. This event will also mark the last day at the club for Jim Norris, who opened 3 Kings with Jeff Campbell and Martin Killorin in January 2006…
The String Cheese Incident played a jamming three-night string of shows at 1stBANK Center in Broomfield. The Colorado band remains Denver favorites and stalwarts of progressive bluegrass. Check out photos from the final night on January 2, 2016. All photos by Brandon Marshall. …
Itchy-O just finished a epic three-night stand at 3 Kings Tavern to welcome in the new year. What is as impressive as the musicianship and performance, however, is the sheer size of the group. Arcade Fire has nothing on Itchy-O, whose members seemed to swell with each passing show. Some…
The fog was so thick it was almost suffocating. Members of the band Itchy-O seemed to multiply, roaming the crowd. One wandered, head down, with a giant megaphone strapped to his back. Another, holding a keyboard, danced to his own drone-y creations. One, without instrument, walked slowly, touching passerby. He…
After long period away, the last twelve months have been busy for hip-hop duo Blackalicious, with Chief Xcel and Gift of the Gab finally following up on The Craft and putting out their first new album in ten years, Imani Vol. 1. This is where things get wacky though. Harry Potter himself,…
After a busy week of New Year’s shows, things ramp up again this week shows by MartyParty, the Wailers and Blackalicious. See more picks below. MONDAY, JANUARY 4 Chris Robinson Brotherhood $65, 9 p.m. Belly Up Aspen TUESDAY, JANUARY 5 Electronic Tuesday free-$15, 8 p.m. Cervantes’ Other Side WEDNESDAY, JANUARY…
Though Denver’s world musicians may fly under the radar, the city is home to a wealth of artists who offer a vivid listening experience apart from the usual banjos at a bluegrass festival or the late-night raves on the effervescent EDM scene. Below is a small sample of Colorado world…
Local avant-garde marching band Itchy-O rang in the New Year at 3 Kings Tavern on South Broadway Street on December 31, 2015. The 32-piece masked drum corps is in the midst of a three-night stand at 3 Kings Tavern with opening support from Church Fire. You can catch the remaining…
Thankfully, New Year’s resolutions are like most rising EDM producer’s beats: Shortly after being revealed to the world they are forgotten about and never again talked about. That’s not a jab at rising producers (we support you and your efforts – take a joke, sheesh) but more a stab at…
Decadence New Year’s Eve returned to the Colorado Convention Center for two over-the-top nights featuring premier names in EDM. The first night, December 30, featured the Floozies, Jack U and many more. See all of the photos from Night One here…
This week, Westword music contributors took a moment to call out and shout out the standouts of their year in music, whether their concerns skewed local or national, niche or general, personal or quantifiable. In this week’s print edition and on the web, you can find reflections on jazz and…
Afrika Bambaataa is one of the architects of hip-hop culture as we know it. He was there when DJ Kool Herc and Kool DJ Dee were throwing the parties that were the foundation stone of hip-hop in New York City in the 1970s. The term hip-hop was coined by Cowboy…
Editor’s Note: The Denver Bootleg is a series chronicling the history of local music venues by longtime Denver cartoonist Karl Christian Krumpholz. Visit Krumpholz’s website to see more of his work…
While there are some high-priced New Year’s Eve events happening next week, we put together a number of concerts and club events priced under $40, including local acts like DeVotchKa, Slim Cessna’s Auto Club and the Knew as well as national bands like BoomBox, the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Face to…
In 2015, Westword Music covered a vast range of Denver music, from blockbuster national tours to homegrown superstars. We celebrated growth and successes, debated development and its effect on local artists, and mourned the too-frequent losses of beloved figures in the music community. Here are the ten stories you loved the…
Editor’s Note: Westword’s resident jazz expert, Clubs Editor Jon Solomon, picks his favorite jazz albums of the year. ADVENTURES IN JAZZ While there were a number of great straight-ahead jazz albums released this year, some of my favorites (the top ten are listed below) were more on the adventurous side,…
