What has kept me from seeing The Boxer Rebellion up until last evening was always out of both mines and their control. Failing labels, money, illness... Finally though I was able to make it to see them, and they absolutely did not disappoint.
Starting their set with my second favorite song, Semi-Automatic then onto songs that should be hits if people had better taste in music, The Runner, Diamonds... the crowd stood there oddly silent as they weren't quite sure if this was the band they had come to see, maybe they expected a band a little less rehearsed than the one on stage, rough around the edges. By the third song they began to realize that this band is road tested, and has long since worked out the kinks.
The middle of the set was primarily filled with songs off the new record Promises and everyone seem to really take to them, finally loosening up and moving in unison, then finally jumping and frolicking. The band was pristine in their playing, giving all the emotion they had to dispense, making sure that no one would leave thinking they were going through the motions. Pier's Hewitt is a powerful drummer in the vain of Jon Bonham. Adam Harris finger picked bass lines are so tasty, and Todd Howes guitar, man if I could rip off any modern guitarist it would be him. Nathan Nicholson's vocals are so sincere and angelic. This band has no faults.
They closed their encore with The Gospel of Goro Adachi, which starts with the subtle pulse of a kick drum, building towards the roaring crescendo that ends the night and leaves everyone giddily applauding.
I waited afterward to chat with them, have them sign my CD and make sure they knew how important I believe they are. Such sweet and humble guys, they were all so gracious and appreciative that anyone had bothered to come out on a Wednesday night to see them. For me it was a no brainer.
In the end I could have stayed there all night, asking them silly, geeky band questions, but I knew they had to move on. They must roll on through onto the next city on their itinerary, taking advantage of being stateside blessing all those unassuming ears who aren't aware just yet of how brilliant this band really is.
My Body Sings Electric and Della along with others will be playing a show at the Marquis on Friday April 29th. Show Starts @ 7:30 make sure you get tickets ahead of time here!
Take to the Oars, Monroe Monroe, and Young Cities are playing a free show at Casselman's on Thursday April 28th. Doors are 8 so don't wait till the last second and make sure you get in early. Word is there will be a surprise Headliner??
Those fun loving boys in Air Dubai have released a new track today titled "Soul & Body" that you can listen to and download for free here. I definitely love the song and am excited about hearing more new music from them. You should also most definitely catch them live on May 20th at the Bluebird. Through Sunday you can get Early Bird tickets for only $5 so don't be a slacker and get on the ball!
For those keeping track, Thursday is my 4th favorite band. Ever since I randomly picked up a copy of Full Collapse right around the time it was released, these fine gentlemen have amazed with every new record. No Devolucion is quite different from any other Thursday record in the sense that it did not take a lot of loud guitars to make the album sound like Thursday. The ever increasing use of Andrew Everding and his keyboards has finally been featured with prominence on this new record. Not that the record doesn't contain those wonderful Thursday guitar sounds from Tom Keely and Steve Pedulla, and the awesome bass work of Tim Payne, but it just adds this depth to the music that they have been hinting at since City by the Light Divided. Geoff Rickly still is one of my favorite lyricist and vocalist, and does not disappoint here. Tucker Rule does what Tucker Rule does, Rock The Skins and he does it well. Thursday is one of those few bands that have a stud at every position within the band, and it makes for some fantastic music. Track 8 "Empty Glass" is stunning in its simplicity, but I love it soooo much. I would say its it between this record and The Boxer Rebelions The Cold Still for my favorite album so far this year.
I love the Foo Fighters! In fact I actually prefer the Foo Fighters over Nirvana which always causes people to give me a crooked look, but I don't care. As much as I like Nirvana I like the Foo Fighters even more. For their newest record Wasting Light, the Foo Fighters deliver another awesome batch of tunes. There was an effort by the band to make a heavier record, and seems like Wasting Light and One by One would be excellent companion pieces. For the recording a few familiar faces were brought in to get the job done. Butch Vig who of course produced Nevermind was brought in, as well as on again off again member Pat Smear. On the track "I Should Have Known" former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic even made a contribution. The record was recorded in Dave Grohls garage using an analog unit and it really adds some rawness to the sound but in the end it still has that Foo Fighters sheen. All in all I love the album, front to back as has come to be expected with the Foo's.
With all the great music being released by our local bands, it starts to get hard to keep track of everything, and you risk letting something special fall through the cracks. American Volume by Take to The Oars is one that I am glad I didn't overlook. The record took over a year to record, but represents a band that can swing with the best of them. Take to the Oars formerly Vonnegut has brought a collection of tunes to the table that get my very excited about the bands future. They have been out their grinding, playing local shows, and make new friends every step of the way. Count me as one of those new friends!
ALDM: Tell me a little about how the band formed?
TTTO: Take To The Oars evolved out the Denver band "Vonnegut" which started in 2005. Mike Trujillo joined the band in 2007 (and moved his family here from Wyoming to do so) and JP joined in the summer of 2008, so we are coming up on 3 years of this solid line up and we are stronger now then we have ever been. In June of 2010 we officially changed our name to give us a fresh start and to help identify the evolution of our music.
ALDM: What was the recording experience like for American Volume?
TTTO: it was a long and drawn out process. we started about June of 2009 and didn't finish until fall of 2010. The songs changed for the better throughout the months and new songs were added so, even though at times it was frustrating, we're glad it took as long as it did. We can honestly say this album sounds exactly like we wanted it to. We are very proud of it, but itching to get back into the studio again.
ALDM: Did you have any secret weapons in terms of gear?
TTTO: We borrowed some nice custom les pauls and ran through a variety of different amps depending on the sound we wanted, but the coolest additions were having our friends come in and sing over some of the choruses (vanishing act, stones & sticks) and to have Kyle Simmons from "Boys" help us on Monster Eats Pilot. It really gave the album a communal feel and allowed us to have some fun in the studio.
ALDM: What is your proudest moment on the record, its obvious you invested a lot of time and love into it.
TTTO: Thanks for saying so. The song "Bar Talk" was something we had been sitting on for awhile and until this album, we had never managed to record it in a way it deserved to be heard. So that was huge for us. All of the songs are like our little babies, so it's hard to pick favorites, but I think some stand outs are Monster Eats Pilot and Stones & Sticks....those songs really reward multiple listens and we always wanted our music to have that affect.
ALDM: How has the live experience been evolving for you guys?
TTTO: It starts with the little things like making more eye contact, analyzing set list flow, and playing off each other more, but mostly it comes down to just being excited about what we are doing. Every show is a chance to show off what we feel like is our best stuff to date and to truly connect with people. A lot of being in a band is pretty unglamorous, but getting on stage makes everything worth it. It's a luxury to be able to play and pursue music and we try not to ever take that for granted.
ALDM: Can share a little bit of your SXSW experience? Maybe a highlight n lowlight?
TTTO: Sure. We played 3 shows down there, attended countless others, and connected as a band. Our Friday night Illegal Pete's Starving Artist Showcase was definitely a highlight. Not only did we have a great show, but we shared the night with a lot of our favorite Denver bands. There was definitely a lot of team work and camaraderie that went into pulling that showcase off and we were proud to be a part of it. The venue was at capacity the whole night which says a lot for what Denver is doing right now. As far as a "lowlight" goes, the long drive home after 4 days of giving it large amounts was quite difficult. The parking situation was pretty grim down in Austin as well, but overall it was a grand success.
ALDM: How do you think the folks out there received you as well as our other local bands?
TTTO: We played for a lot of new faces down there. You have to remember that they have 1000 options at any given time on who they want to see, so it meant a lot to us to be able to play 3 great shows. we made new friends, sold some merch, gave away some merch, and got our music out to a lot of new people. The response to the live show was really positive so that is the most important first connection. Denver bands in general crushed down there. we supported as many Denver shows as we could and the mile high city was well represented.
ALDM: Can share your thoughts on the Local scene here in Denver. It seems stronger than ever before and the bands really seem to look out for one another generally.
TTTO: It truly is the strongest it's been in the 5 years that I have been here. I think we have something really special going on in our city. There is a lot of mutual support and love between bands. More importantly, fans are really responsive to the scene and it shows when you see packed local shows. Together the bar gets set higher, and the scene continues to grow. Most promoters give opening slots of national touring acts to local bands whenever they can and I don't think that happens as much in other cities. there are a lot of eyes on the denver music scene and for good reason!
ALDM: What lays ahead for Take to the Oars?
TTTO: We are finalizing plans for our first video, writing and working on a few new songs to record this summer, planning another short tour, and just going to continue to claw and push forward as fast as we can. We are working with the Vinefield Agency and have a manager now, so that has been two incredibly helpful additions. We are playing a FREE show with The Epilogues, Monroe Monroe, and Young Cities on April 28th at Casselman's so that should be huge!
If you would like to be their newest friend you can do so through their facebook page here. Make sure you catch these guys live and make sure that you buy their record American Volume! You can do so by clicking the link below American Volume - Take To The Oars
Time to play catch up! So as I have mentioned before The Smashing Pumpkins my ALL TIME FAV BAND! are in the process of releasing songs for a project called Teargarden by Kaleidyscope. The basic idea is to release 44 songs one at a time, and essentially there will be a new track every month until its complete. This new incarnation of the Pumpkins, which I am thrilled about by the way, features drummer wiz Mike Byrne, Bassist Nicole Fiorentino(Veruca Salt, Twilight FM), guitarist Jeff Schroeder(Lassie Foundation) and of course Billy Corgan. The band has released eight tracks so far, and just a week and a half ago released their ninth titled Lightning Strikes. The track is phenomenal and reminds of all the things I love about the Pumpkins. Loud guitar, amazing drums and killer hooks. Please check it out and keep checking back, I am sure the best is yet to come.
You can listen and download any of the songs for free below!
As disappointed as I am the The Depreciation Guild are no more, I take some comfort in knowing that Kurt Feldman who was the main man behind TDG, and who is also the drummer for The Pains Of Being Pure at Heart, is still making some awesome music somewhere. I picked up the first TPOBPAH record after listening to The Depreciation Guild and really enjoyed it. So when TDG broke up and I heard that Kurt and TPOBPAH were going to make a new record I was encouraged. When I found out that it was gonna be produced by Flood and Moulder, the same genius minds that helped construct great albums for Nine Inch Nails and The Smashing Pumpkins, I was elated. The sound of Belong is big, but the tunes are still excellent and well crafted. The combination of TPOBPAH and Flood and Moulder's production makes for a potent combination. You will not be disappointed by this album at all. Make sure you check it out!
What a wonderful night at The Bluebird! Beautiful weather, great music, and the debut of The Epilogues excellent new video for The Fallout! Every band was on point last night from Between Fate on through The Epilogues!! Ya thats four exclamation points I've used so far, but thats how great this night was so !!!! My Body Sings Electric are making me love them more and more every time I see them, and Input had a pretty kickass set that mixed it up a little. As for the video...AMAZING!! They know what they are doing over there at Montauk Media, and for the second time in a row have been worthy collaborators with those fun loving boys in The Epilogues. FUN FUN FUN, got to meet some new peeps, and brought yet another Epilogue virgin to their first show. As soon as the video is available I will post it, but for now here is the teaser!
More times than not when a band develops a good buzz they fail to capitalize on it. The reasons are endless for why that is, but I suppose in many circumstances the band isn't worth the hype. Churchill is not one of those bands. They snuck on to the scene a couple years back and earned themselves a trip to the final round of Hometown for the Holidays where they lost to another great band you may have heard of, The Epilogues. They did get their name out there though, and with people starting to pay attention, the expectations of a great record were mounting. Fortunately, we get to talk about how excellent that record is today and how this brilliant band is setting the bar just a little higher, and not how they failed. Long Live Churchill!!
ALDM: Tell me about how Churchill formed?
CH: Mike and I had been playing music together since college and in 2008 he and I moved to Denver to really get a 'band' going. For the first year we had several different people playing different shows with us. It wasn't until after the first EP that we had the official lineup of Joe Richmond, who I had done a solo project with a few years before, Bethany Kelly, who we met playing music at a church, and Tyler Rima. We had Tyler playing bass for us within the first week we met him. It was all pretty random actually. I think we were all just in the right place at the right time.
ALDM: What sort of growth has the band experienced since placing third in Hometown in 09'? I hear a more confident sound.
CH: Yes, I think Hometown was definitely a huge boost of confidence for us. Before that we were just making music that we liked to play and really had no idea how people respond to it. There was the constant question of 'maybe we should add electric guitar and be a rock band, or maybe we should tone it down and be more folky'. After hometown, it was like a light bulb went off above our heads and we were all thinking, "wow, people actually dig the music we're making". From that point on I think we started to to get a lot more comfortable with our instrumentation, and we realized that there doesn't have to be any rules when it comes to the music we make.
ALDM: What was the song writing process like foe Happy/Sad?
CH: This last year was one of the most difficult years of my life which, interestingly enough, made for a pretty easy year of songwriting for me. In almost all of the songs on Happy/Sad there are references to contrasting emotion; loss, gain, pain, pleasure, and obviously happiness and sadness. there were a lot of late nights where I was alone writing these songs. Thankfully though, I would bring these songs to the rest of the band and they always knew exactly how to express the emotions through their parts. The songs became so much more than the down-tempo sad love songs they were when I had written them. Everyone has the best interest of the song in mind and so I know when I bring a song to the band they somehow always know exactly what to do.
ALDM: The male/female dynamics of the vocals work so well within the band. How is that worked out?
CH: The song 'Burn It Down' was written exactly for that purpose. It's a conversation between two people, so that made it pretty easy. 'We Used To Be Happy' is a song from the female perspective so it made a great fit for Bethany to sing. I think we are still learning and finding the places where it's necessary, it's difficult because I think we're all so afraid of overdoing anything, whatever that is. I think maybe we are just afraid of being pinned to any genre or 'format', and somehow that works for us.
ALDM: In your live performance I see tremendous growth as well. How do you feel about your most recent performances?
CH: Good and bad, haha. I think we all are getting better and more comfortable on stage, but we also know that we have a long way to go. It's funny, after most of our shows we generally feel pretty good and then we'll listen to a recording or watch a video and all of our reactions are 'yikes' or 'wow, that did NOT sound like I thought it did!' At the end of the day though, we just remember that music is fun to play, before every show we have a meeting and remind ourselves that it's fun and there's no point in playing music if we don't have fun. That takes all the pressure off.
ALDM: The new album was just released, but where do you see Churchill down the road in terms of sound and songwriting?
CH: Like I said before, we are afraid of being pinned to any genre, the new songs we've been working on are all over the map, from distorted bass and bluesy rock, to electronically driven ultra pop with mandolin solos. Right now we are just throwing any and all ideas in the pot to see what kind of new sounds we can make. The songwriting has been more collaborative as of late, too. Instead of bringing fully finished songs to the band, I'm bringing bits and ideas and we are just seeing where it takes us. We have a goal of having at least 30 finished songs before we start recording again. I'm really pumped about it, I honestly have no idea what 'our sound' will be, haha. But I promise it will still be Churchill.
ALDM: I've asked this question to other bands. How do you feel about the current music scene in Denver?
CH: I think it's the best music scene there is. Not only are there tons of great bands and singer/songwriters, there is an amazing sense of community. Everyone is always at everyone else's shows and hanging out. It's not a cut throat town where you have to put someone else down to get ahead. I think everyone just wants to see the scene get bigger and better. Needless to say, we love it here.
ALDM: Also, describe the camaraderie between the bands (yourself, the epilogues, Air Dubai ect...)
CH: Well, we wouldn't be where we are today without the other bands in Denver. When we first started out, Pat and Nate Meese from The Centennial did everything they could to help us and as we met more Denver bands, they all did the same thing. Everyone wants to be a part of the growth of the scene and so every one is always willing do whatever they can to help the 'new guys'.
ALDM: I am sure this will be a big year for Churchill. What can we expect from you guys in 2011?
CH: We're all itching to get on the road, so we're hoping to get on a few tours in the next year and play our music to people who haven't heard it yet. We're going to keep creating, keep writing, and keep working hard. I guess we'll just see where that takes us! And of course, we'll be playing in Denver again so keep your eyes open for the next time we play in town!
Check out Churchill's facebook here You can also buy Happy/Sad below, just do it! Happy Sad - Churchill
There is something to said for being consistent. Rise Against is a few albums into their career now and though they don't tend to stray far from their heavy punk sound, they are incredible song writers with a deft ear for coming up with a great hook and a solid melody. Endgame seems a little heavier then their previous work, but that might just be my interpretation. We can also feel a little hometown pride seeing as how the album was recorded locally at The Blasting Room in FOCO. What I can say for sure is that you are never going to waste your money when buying a Rise Against record. It's always worth the time and money!
Danielle Ate The Sandwich is a project that may catch you off guard with its charming stripped down tunes, but the impression those songs leave with you cannot be escaped. Their creator Danielle Anderson is a very unique person in the best sense of the word. Her sense of humor, playfulness and charm infect every song on both her records. This is the case in her live sets as well, she makes you glad you took the time to stop and listen. She has garnered some notoriety with her outstanding videos on Youtube, but at the core, Danielle is just a great songwriter happy to be doing what she does.
ALDM: Can you tell me a little bit about how you got started with music, and maybe some of your songwriting influences?
DATS: I was always encouraged to be active in band and choir from grade school through high school. My family is very musical, so I’ve always been around music. As far as songwriting goes, I have notebooks dating back to sixth grade full of songs and poems and what not, but I didn’t really think of myself as a songwriter until I was in college. I had always been writing songs, but never had the courage to share them with other people until I was older. And my influences are very general-I listened to the radio and a lot of terrible pop music when I was younger. In high school I listened to Sarah Machlachlan, Paula Cole, Simon Garfunkel, Ben Folds Five and Incubus. In college I got in to Regina Spektor, Joanna Newsom, Sufjan Stevens and Death Cab for Cutie. A couple of years ago I started listening to Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. I’m not sure if everything I listen to is considered an influence, but there you have it.
ALDM: You have a splendid voice, its not overpowering, but very warm and trust worthy if that makes sense lol. Have you always been comfortable with your voice or did you go through some phases before finding a comfort range?
DATS: I did have to learn to use it and love it. I was in choir as a kid, but wasn’t ever really a soloist, just a part of the group. I feared solos and having people really hear me. Me and my friends started a band in college called Backdraft:the Musical. We played small shows and open mic nights and that was my first experience singing original songs in front of people as a lead singer. It was TERRIFYING. When I started playing on my own and singing my own songs it was just as scary, even more so, because it was JUST ME and I was singing MY WORDS and THOUGHTS. I had to get the confidence to use my voice. I finally did, after a few rough performances and fits of nervousness. In the four or five years I’ve been singing I’ve tried to grow in to my voice, but it changes and matures as I assume it always will. I was a late bloomer, a shy kid and a sort of self conscious teen. Now I’m a freak and I love it!
ALDM: Your albums are great because you can just press play and let them go until they end, there's no filler or songs you would want to skip over. When you pick songs for an album is there a process or do you just wait till you have enough for an album and put it out.
DATS: Thank you! I’m always wondering what songs people skip and think of as “the stinkers”, so thanks for saying they’re all good. Two Bedroom Apartment is the first album I really planned out. The previous two were made because I just wanted to do it. The songs were there and I wanted to share them. For Two Bedroom Apartment, I went in the studio with 12 songs that I really liked and they all worked out and then we re-recorded “We Are Hot Dogs.” My manager told me people usually go in to the studio with 17-25 songs and record all of them and pick from the lot and maybe some day I’ll do that, but usually every song I write I’m proud of and I want to be album worthy. I’m not intending to write hit songs or filler songs. Some may be more popular than others but they all mean a lot to me. I’m their mother, ya know?
ALDM: Can you tell me a little bit about "Two Bedroom Apartment" in terms of your inspiration for the songs?
DATS: Most of the songs for 2BA were written after I had graduated from college and was feeling disoriented and not sure where I was suppose to go and what I was suppose to do. I had also broken up with my boyfriend for a few months and my grandfather died a year or two earlier, but I was still thinking about it a lot. I thought about moving to Canada, I thought about death and what happens to us after, I asked my mom about her father, who I never knew because he died before I was born. I was in a transition phase, I guess. Changes in routine, location, relationships and all that. I don’t think I was too sad, even though my inspirations all are pretty blue, and I don’t want it to be a depressing album, but I want it to talk to people and be lots of different things to them. I’ll always be a little bit serious and hopefully a little bit light and clever.
ALDM: How has it been carving out a space for your music locally, especially with the rise on quality of local rock music?
DATS: It’s been pretty easy to carve out a space for my music locally. I think I’ve been extremely well embraced. I love that there are so many places to play and bands to play with. I do sometimes feel like a lone wolf. I don’t do well in bars and feel strange opening for rock bands, but at the right venue with the right sound I feel very happy to live where I live and play all the places I get to play! Some days I feel like my music isn’t “cool” or “hip” and I want it to be something other than what it is, but most days I’m really proud of it and myself and am happy to play my straightforward, not ambient, non affected, regular sounding songs in front of people.
ALDM: Do you ever consider expanding your sound(not that you need to) or are you pleased with the way it is? I thought your Lady Gaga cover kicked ass by the way!
DATS: I don’t imagine my sound will change too much. I have no plans to start rockin’. And as far as expanding the band, I am playing more and more with a bass player and violinist. I also love the idea of having several different setups and variations so every show is a little different. I always want to be strong and remembered as the singer and the songwriter. That’s selfish of me and vapid, but I can’t help but want to take credit for what I do and at the end of the day what’s most important to me about my songs are what they say and how I sing them. (I’m a diva, huh?)
ALDM: What does 2011 have in store for Danielleatethesandwich?
DATS: TOURS! All over the U.S., maybe Canada and I hope to go across the sea sometime soon. I want to make lots of youtube videos and reach new audiences. I may go in to the studio again, but won’t release an album. To be honest, I just let it come to me. Right now I’m worried it’ll be a slow year, but all the success I’ve had has found its way to me, so I’m going to be patient and let it find me if I deserve to be found. Know what I mean?
As Danielle said she will be doing some touring soon, and below are some of the dates, as well as links to her albums on Itunes, and a video from her Youtube channel which I highly recommend you check out!
2/25 Sacramento, CA @ Coffee Garden 2/26 SF, CA @ The Brainwash Cafe 2/28 Turlock, CA @House of Java 3/2 Portland, OR @ Twin Paradox Coffee 3/3 Seattle, WA @ Piecoras Pizza 3/4 Hood River, OR @ Gorge Ukele Fest 3/5 Hood River, OR @ Gorge Ukele Fest 3/16 Santa Fe, NM @ Backroad Pizza
Mogwai records have always been diverse, and there have always been moments and songs that resemble the tunes in Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will, but this is the most they have probably veered from what could be considered typical Mogwai. Even still, it's very much a Mogwai record. Very visual, very immersing, and still full of that glorious fuzz, although those moments are a little rarer these days. It's not that the band is softening, but rather looking for new paths to wander. I haven't listened to a Mogwai record that I didn't like, and this album is certainly no exception. They could make virtually any kind of record you could think and i would still listen, and...most likely still be as impessed.
Below is a video "Mogwai Fear Satan" from their recently relaesed film Burning, as well as link to buy their albums, of which you should by all!!
I always love it when a new Bright Eye's album is released. Connor Oberst is such an amazing lyricist in my opinion, and the quality of the music and songwriting in the Bright Eye's records is always high. In The Peoples Key, it feels like a sequel to 2005's Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, which was a pretty different record in the bands canon. The record is conceptual, but not overtly Art-y, the songs hang together very well. There are moments where there is talk of UFO'S, space and time, but the songs don't really play up the idea of some grand space rock opera. They are just good. In fact I will put it out there and say that I think they are great! I hold the previous Bright Eye's albums in really high regard so its hard to say that this record is my favorite, but it is certainly up there, and may even be their strongest and most cohesive record yet.
Below is the official video for the song "Shell Games" from The Peoples Key, as well as links to buy the album along with some of the previous records.
I was already pretty excited about new records from Mogwai & Bright Eye's this week, but the surprise release of the next Radiohead album is a kickass cherry on top! The new record will be released on Saturday February 19th digitally through the site thekingoflimbs.com. A physical release is scheduled for May 9th, and on the site a variety of packages are available to purchase. They have returned to a more traditional approach of releasing their music instead of the "pay what you want" model they used for In Rainbows, which is fine. Most people will pay for quality.
Another great week of music on deck. New albums from Mogwai and Bright Eye's come out on Tuesday. I will have a review and spotlight on each. I also will put up an interview I did with Danielle Ate The Sandwich. Make sure you check out the feature I did on The Epilogues, and the review of The Boxer Rebellions Cold Still below.
You couldn’t really put The Epilogues into one stylistic category because their influences seem to be endless, and although I am sure a few of them stand out, their sound is THEIR sound. The best bands don’t need to hide their influences, or refute the notion that they are just as likely to be inspired by another musician just like the rest of us. In fact the best can take those things they love most about their influences and reformulate them in a fresh way, which is what The Epilogues have done.
The Epilogues first record The Beautiful, the Terrifying is brilliant and the only criticism I had was that I wished it were longer. It left you wanting more. So I decided to see them live and was impressed yet again. They had amazing energy, a cool live setup, and that sound translated so well in a live setting. I raved to any family member or friend that would indulge me in the opportunity to talk about them. When I emailed the band to ask if they would be interested in me filming a few shows, and maybe putting some sort of documentary about them together, I had prepared myself for a brush-off. They responded very positively and we arranged to have dinner and talk. They exceeded my expectations by being the absolute, most genuine and kind people you are likely to meet.
Over a year later they are still the same group of kindhearted guys, only word is spreading exponentially about how great they are. They have been winners of 93.3’s Hometown for the Holidays and Westword’s local music competition. They have been put into regular rotation on 93.3 and frequently end up #1 on their top 8 at 8. They put out a kick-ass split with another great band The Photo Atlas, and an excellent video for the song Hunting Season that was directed by Dillon Novak of Montauk Media. This past year they played Red Rocks and The Mile High Music Festival on top of staying active playing gigs around town, touching base with old fans, attracting new ones, taking the time to talk with everyone. They are gaining more and more confidence with every new experience, and the peeks we get of material from their upcoming album leave us salivating.
I am a mere music lover who was inspired so much by The Epilogues to do my part in not only spreading the word about them, but our entire local scene. There are other people with more credibility, like Kyle Galanaugh of the band Politic who will stump for them as well. He says,
“The Epilogues are doing what they LOVE. And I love them for it and hope their bold sound inspires other local acts. I know they have inspired Politic”
Or how about Nerf of 93.3 who has been a huge champion of the band who said this:
“The Epilogues are a band that get better with every song they write. It's been exciting to say the least watching them grow from a band packed with potential, to a band ready, willing and able to deliver on a national and international stage. With all bands, it's not enough to be good, relevant, and ready... it takes a song... THAT song. The one that will cut through the clutter and make the band matter instantly to anyone who hears it. The Epilogues have that song with Hunting Season, and have more in the chamber. Our audience is eating it up and asking for more, and I'm happy to give them second helpings. Anyone who has seen them live knows that the band is for real, and I'm more than happy to back them 100%”
Well said!
These guys are my friends, and as much as I would love to continue to see them locally on a frequent basis, it is time to share them with the rest of the country, and ultimately the world. The Epilogues are Denver in all their individuality and brilliance!
p.s. Chris… I am still waiting for my acoustic version of The Fallout! ☺
Buy all their releases below on Itunes. You won't regret it!! Also make sure you check them out Feb 26th @ The Gothic, click here for tickets.
What a difference a year makes. I first got acquainted with Churchill during 93.3's 09' Hometown for the Holidays. I saw them play the big finale and found that their sound was very charming and thought they could really go to some really big places. Just over a year later I have seen them a few other times watching them grow and mature, gaining more confidence in their craft. All of this culminating in their release Happy/Sad.
I feel the tracks "Miles" and "We Use to Be Happy" are as good as most things I hear on the radio if not better, but to be clear, there isn't a song I would skip on the entire album. It is a very complete piece of work and the emotional weight that the songs carry will keep you deeply engaged. This record will no doubt open a lot of doors for the band, and provide them chances to continue to make great music in the future, but for now a great deal of satisfaction and accomplishment can be felt by the band, and for the listener the opportunity to let the music to take us over.
You can be the album from Itunes below, as well as check out the bands facebook here
One of our better local bands, Tickle Me Pink has decided to call it a day. This s really too bad, I thought they added something really great to our music community and I think their presence will be missed. That said, I hope their future projects and endeavors are fruitful and they find what is they are looking for! Here is their statement from facebook:
Fans, friends, and family,
It brings us great sadness to deliver this message today. After almost six years as a band, we have decided to part ways. Through great success and tragedy alike, we’ve found ourselves unable to continue collectively as “Tickle Me Pink.” This decision was not easy, but it was made as a band. There are no bitter feelings between any of us, just a simple desire on all our parts to move forward in different ways.
To all of our fans and friends who have supported us throughout our career, we are eternally grateful. A special thanks to the Blasting Room staff for such successful recordings, and to 93.3 for playing our music with such dedication.
As a way of expressing a thank you to all of our fans, we will be playing a final farewell show at Summit Music Hall in Denver, CO on March 5th. We hope to see you all there.
Here is a link to a really good interview done by Pitchfork with The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, as well as a clip of the song "Belong" from their upcoming album coming out in March.
I think if someone were to make a movie about my life, I would want them to use only music by The Boxer Rebellion. They had me from the very first strums of "We Have This Place Surrounded" from their first album Exits, which is one of my favorite songs along with"Semi-Automatic" from Union. A lot of bands have their sounds described as being "cinematic" and thats kind of too bad, because if there was ever a band that rightfully deserved that description it's The Boxer Rebellion. Their road has been filled with so many twist and turns, some of which would have ended lesser bands, but they keep plugging away make great record after great record, slowly gaining fans and recognition. The Cold Still is the latest chapter in this amazing band's journey, and I would be surprised if it wasn't a record that shot them into the stratosphere where they belong. The album from beginning to end is a fantastic work, on par and with their prior work, and many ways a step to another level. This may have a little something to do with Ethan Johns producing the record (Kings of Leon, Ryan Adams), but I can tell you that with or without Ethan these songs are brilliant! His expertise has done something very positive on this record though, and he certainly deserves credit for helping TBR make a record that is going to be hard to top this year. Just listen to it and you will see what I mean.
Please support The Boxer Rebellion and buy their record below!!! Here are also a couple of their prior videos which are amazing! The Cold Still - The Boxer Rebellion
This is THE album I have been looking forward to the most the past couple of years! These guys are in my top five favorite bands. Here is a mini documentary about the upcoming album The Cold Still, which will be released tomorrow via Itunes. Tomorrow I will put up a review of the album, if you have a chance you can check out short clips of each song here. Also check out their excellent website here! They will also be performing on David Letterman on Wednesday, make sure you catch them!
Music is supposed to sound good! And boy O' boy does Politic sound good! Their record Break the Silence, which was released last year has been played through in it's entirety many times on my IPOD, and I am pretty sure that it will have that same effect on anyone who listens to it. Almost every band has an interesting back story and Politic is no exception as Kyle Galanaugh will tell us below, but I think we are lucky that things unfolded as they did, because if they hadn't we may have never been graced with such a great record. A great record, from a great band that is only getting started!
ALDM: What was the inspiration for starting Politic after your solo efforts?
KG: Well, I had a good time doing the solo thing, however, I really didnt like it when people asked, "Whats the name of your band"? My response was..."Um...me?" ha Also, I was not totally happy with my solo record "Bergen Park". I had initially had the "sound of Politic" in mind, however that idea in my mind never came to life in the recording. Most of the reason I decided to form Politic was because of Matt Thomason (drums). After Matt stepped away from my solo project for a couple of months, he came back and we decided to have a totally fresh start. What better way, then, to change the name AND the style of the sound? So we did. And I could not be more happy with the new direction.
ALDM: Did you have a sound in mind when you started, and was the finished product anything like what you had imagined?
KG: It was EXACTLY what I had imagined. Almost too exact! The reason is because of Matt and Andrew Berlin from The Blasting Room Studio's in Fort Collins, CO. Leading up to the recording of "Break The Silence" I have never had anyone relate with me so well (musically) than Matt. We worked through the ideas and bounced them off of Berlin, who would add his thoughts and give some additional direction. At the end of the day we walked out of the Blasting Room dying to go back in and record some more. We had a great time doing it and we are very happy with the outcome.
ALDM: How does the band take a beautiful album, and transfer that over to a live experience?
KG: A lot of practice and brainstorming. The first thing we had in mind for the live show was lights. Accept for The Epilogues, no other local band really had a light show. My best friend Jake Jones runs the light show and helps design the scenes. We try to switch things up regularly and never let the fans get the chance to become bored. Politic really tries to put everything we have into every show. Our Bass player Chad DeShazo and guitarist Jordan Burgen add the perfect unity and stage presence Matt and I had in mind for the bands' live show. We are VERY thankful we found Chad and Jordan! The best thing about the group is that we are all best friends. And I really feel that bleeds onto the stage and people can see it in the performance.
ALDM: What is the process foe you and the band when writing a song?
KG: It usually goes like this... Kyle writes the music... Matt rips the music apart... Kyle rewrites the music... Matt loves the music... Kyle writes the lyrics... Matt says his "mom" wont like the lyrics... Kyle re writes the lyrics... Matt like the lyrics...Politic has a new song!
ALDM: What direction do you see Politic going in as the band evolves?
KG: With the music industry the way it is it is very hard to say. However, we are all on the same page with the band. We plan to head back to the studio next summer and push out some new music within the next year or so. We will be playing music and doing everything we can under one condition... People still love the music and want more. At the end of the day music is a gift. Not for the band, but for the fans. It's all about making people feel good on a Monday morning.
ALDM: What is your favorite piece of gear?
KG: Mine is the Line 6 Delay pedal:) Matt's is anything he can hit the crap out of. Chad loves the laser and Jordan loves white pants!
ALDM: What are the 2011 plans for Politic?
KG: PLAY PLAY PLAY! Write music and explore outside markets. Also I am getting married in July. Samantha is Politics' biggest fan so that wont change the direction of the group. In fact if I were to back off music she would have my head on a stick.
ALDM: I see bands in Denver really helping each other out, often taking turns supporting each others shows. What do you think of this camaraderie? Do you feel that Denver's current music scene is the strongest its ever been?
KG: The support within local bands is awesome. I love to see local acts helping each other. However there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes that the public does not see. NOT with the bands as much as the "business". This local scene is controlled by 10 or less people. 5 of the 10 people are awesome. (Scott Cambell with AEG for instance.) The one thing that I personally have noticed is the disturbing amount of blacklisting and favoritism in the scene. Some of the big wigs in Denver will actually go out of their way to try to ruin a small local bands dream. And to be honest maybe that local band deserved it, but at the end of the day IS THE BANDS MUSIC GOOD?! That is the question. Whether you like the band as people or not, you have to ask yourself that question. So I would answer the question... No it is not the strongest it has ever been. In fact i would even say it is weaker than i have seen it in years. Bands are more concerned with writing the "HOOK" to please the local radio station, than just write music they truly love. The moment someone compromises their passion to please someone else, the clock starts ticking to the end.
You can check out the bands official site here, or their facebook here. You can also purchase their album, as well as watch them perform some of the track "Borderline" below. Break The Silence - Politic
What is the value of Rock radio today? Early Rock radio was so alluring because of the fresh sounds and rebellious nature of the disc jockeys that played them. During this time, those without access to new music saw Rock radio as a beacon, and radio played facilitator in promoting bands and music that might have not been heard otherwise. Still, even in that period where disc jockeys became heroes and asserted their influence with conviction, there were bands that were not going to ever be heard simply because of one persons taste.
The business goals of radio today are the same, but the dollars are bigger, and there is much more music today than ever before. Out of all the music available, radio will only focus on a couple dozen songs that their audience almost unanimously agrees they like, and almost without exception these songs come from major label recording artist. This model ensures listeners, but leaves out a lot of musicians that make music at the same quality level, and often times at levels above major label recording artist.
The once laudatory praise directed at radio, has been replaced by the feeling that radio has gotten stale and predictable. The best disc jockeys and programmers do their best to try and fight this notion, but the bottom line of the business makes it incredibly difficult. The rest of the DJ’s buy in to the idea that a song has to be a “Hit” to make the cut. But what is a hit? Isn’t Britney Spears “Baby One More Time” a hit? How about The Red Hot Chili Peppers “Scar Tissue”? Where is the correlation between those two songs? They have a good melody? Lets say that’s it, why don’t they play M83’s “Kim and Jessie”? That song has a great melody. Maybe the problem is that with only a couple dozen slots available in the rotation, The Red Hot Chili Peppers get played because people know them, but people know them because at one time some disc jockey played them on the radio. I love the Chili Peppers, but I love M83 also.
So what is the value of Radio? It depends on the taste of the radio stations and disc jockeys you like, but overall I think the value of radio is drastically diminished in terms of credibility even if the value of radio in terms of dollars remains high. I would love it if they played more songs and took more chances, but I guess when it comes to making money, you go for the sure thing, and take as few risk as possible. One thing I know for sure is that one person’s musical taste + position of power does not make a song great. Great songs are still going to be great even if they aren’t played on radio.
Our Endless Numbered Days is the first Iron & Wine album that I ever listened to and I loved it's simplicity. Their second album The Shepherd's Dog moved from a simple solo record into full band mode. Those tunes were still pretty awesome, but I wasn't sure where their third album would go. My first thought of Kiss Each Other was this sounds like a cross between The Beach Boys and The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour with Sam Beams voice, and its sounds really good! Not expected, but awesome none the less. Buy all of Iron & Wine Albums they are worth it!
I noticed the difference between this CWK album and the others in the opening seconds, and for a moment I had reservations about whether this would be an album I would like. I tend to trust the artist I like though and so I kept listening, and in the end i really loved it. The first couple CWK albums charm was the soulful quality of the music and the raw production style. Mine is Yours is still very soulful, but the production has slid to a more polished presentation. Honestly I like it both ways, the first couple albums were great just the way they are, and so is this new album. Too many people equate advanced production with some sort of effort to sell out, but if you listen without making any judgements you realize it is still the Cold War Kids and most of the things you love about them are still present. Nathan Willett's vocals still exhibit their unique flair, but it seems like he's tried to be more focused and technically sound. The guitars still have that great clean and bluesy tone. Each of the songs can stand on their own, much like in past albums. If you've never listened to Cold War Kids before, I would still suggest listening to Robbers & Cowards first, but this album is an excellent addition to their already solid career.
