Word to the wise: if your Internet (or computer) is of the slower variety, let this vid load awhile before playing it. (VEVO is notoriously bulky.) But the picture quality is pretty good. 
Feb 092010
Jan 292010
I love Brandi Carlile’s voice in this song. I especially like the rawness of her voice in the last verse. Sometimes those imperfections reveal passion, and those are the best moments.
The idea of having story in our lives is also a big theme with me right now.
Dec 042009
Expanded commentary from my article on Examiner.com…
I like different music for different reasons. I like music that makes me think and ponder; I like music that evokes images and emotions. I like music that challenges my ears.
And then there is music that is just plain “soul food”, like a greasy plate of fried chicken, corn on the cob, and chocolate pie–without the calories. Music that’s just good for the soul.
That’s what I heard from Tab Benoit at the Little Bear Saloon last night (which I also wrote about here). Hailing from southern Louisiana, Benoit plays a unique blend of Cajun blues-rock that flat-out dares you not to stomp your foot, or at least smile. The temperature in Evergreen, Colorado last evening was 2 above zero, but it was sizzling inside.
It was the first time I’d seen Benoit play, and in his easygoing, spontaneous style, he’s a true-blue musician (pun intended). Twice in a half hour he broke a guitar string playing a solo, and didn’t miss a beat. He just finished the solo, and the song, on the five good strings. And he enjoyed himself; you could see it on his face. He was all about the music. I’m not a blues musician; he made me wish I was.
If you want a taste of some soul music, and you happen to live in Denver, you have a chance tonight. Tab Benoit is still in the area, playing at the Gothic Theatre downtown this evening. Get some tickets, and go see him.
Nov 092009
I have to admit–Regina Spektor is a bit of anomaly to me.
I showed up at her concert here in Denver last Saturday night, at the Fillmore Auditorium. I wrote a full concert review on Examiner.com, so I won’t repeat all that here–just go read the review when you’re done here. The house was packed, and I felt like a sardine standing there among so many excited fans. Regina put on a great show, and I truly enjoyed the performance.
But I actually spent most of my time in that concert hall–and a lot of time afterward–marveling at just how popular she is. Not everyone knows Regina Spektor, but those who are fans are really fans. And I’m left sort of scratching my head at what it is about Regina that packs places like the Fillmore with ecstatic twenty-somethings who can sing her wordy, quirky songs word for word.
It isn’t that I don’t like her, because I do–a lot. I just wonder why everyone else likes her.
I mean, if you think about it–and if you don’t know Regina Spektor, you wouldn’t think about it at all, but if you did–there doesn’t seem to be anything about her success that is according to formula. Russian-born and classically trained, she doesn’t really fit the image of a modern-day pop star. She wears a dress–I mean, one that actually covers her–and she sits at a real piano with a couple of string players and a drummer, and she writes and sings these quirky songs with lots of staccato vowels that remind me of a little girl making up funny-sounding stuff while playing in a sandbox. Sometimes she even purses her lips a little when she sings so it sounds a little bit like Shirley Temple. And people just eeet-eet-eet-eet it up.
Truth be told, I think if Regina Spektor had tried to make a go of this ten or fifteen years ago, she probably wouldn’t have got very far. She would have had to pick a genre instead of blending seven or eight of them together, and she probably would have had to let someone else pick her clothes (or lack thereof) and write her some formulaic pop songs–or maybe she wouldn’t have made it at all.
But these days, it’s the very fact that Regina Spektor defies categorization that seems to make her so popular. She is what she is, and she’s very good at it. And there’s no doubt she has stage presence. I mean, just coming out on the stage with that winning smile, courtseying to the cheering crowd–she had me at “Thank you soooooo much!”
My point is, we’re living in a time when we kind of don’t want things to fit in a neat little box anymore. We like stuff that can’t be labeled, that crosses boundaries and genres. And more and more, that includes music. It’s the perfect cultural climate for someone like Regina to come on the stage and just be who she is. And there’s something about her personality that makes people relate–especially the girls, but really all of us, in a way. It’s a blend of the geekiness we all wish we weren’t ashamed of with the boldness we wish we had, set in a young woman who seems surprisingly normal. Her songs are sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, and sometimes highly introspective–and we sing along because we wish it was us who thought of them. It’s a connection I don’t think would ever happen if she were shoved into the bigger-than-life superstar image. And so, a generation inundated with hype finds themselves falling in love with an understated kind of music remarkably similar to what our parents (and–gasp!–grandparents) used to listen to…because it’s presented in a fresh way that appeals to the postmodern sensibilities of our time.
So maybe we love Regina because we see ourselves in her. Maybe it’s as simple as that.
If you’re a Regina Spektor fan…what is it that you love about her?
Nov 062009
As usual, there is much live music to choose from in Denver this weekend, including lots of local talent. Here are a few of the more promising prospects, to help narrow the search.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6
The Rouge, a local indie band with a growing following, will be playing at the Marquis Theater tonight at 7:30 PM, along with The Still City, Snake Rattle Rattle Snake, and Churchill. This is all-ages event! Tickets are $10 each, available from Soda Jerk Presents. The Marquis Theater is located at 2009 Larimer St. in Denver.
Swallow Hill presents Solas, touted as one of the best Irish/Celtic bands around, at the L2 Arts and Culture Center, 1477 Colombine St. in Denver. Also appearing is Alaskan bluegrass band Bearfoot. Tickets are $25 for Swallow Hill members, $27 for non-members, available from Swallow Hill. Show starts at 8:00 PM.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7
Regina Spektor has made quite a splash in the music scene in the past couple of years with her unique brand of acoustic alternative music. She’ll be appearing Saturday at the Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St. in Denver. Tickets are $32, available from livenation.com. Service charge may apply. This is a show for ages 16 and up; start time is 8:00 PM.
Local Americana-folk band Jonny Woodrose & the Brokenhearted Woodpeckers is having a CD release party at Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St. in Denver. Also scheduled to appear are Tailored Rags, The Widow’s Bane and Murcureria. Cover charge is $7.00; show starts at 9:00 PM. (Jonny Woodrose is scheduled to start playing around midnight. Count on ages 21 and up for this show.)
Also remember…this weekend is the start of Denver Arts Week! Support the arts by supporting your local musicians.
Oct 232009
Danielle Anderson, who goes by the stage moniker Danielle Ate the Sandwich, is an indie musician from Ft. Collins, Colorado. Known for her quirky stage presence and for featuring a ukelele in her music, Danielle is attracting a growing fan base both locally and nationally through her recordings, live performances and her homemade videos on YouTube.
Danielle Ate the Sandwich will be playing tomorrow night, Oct. 24 at the Meadowlark, 27th and Larimer in Denver, along with Andrea Ball and Dan Craig. Show starts at 8:00 PM.
A couple of days ago, Danielle graciously agreed to chat with me for a few minutes…
OOMPH: So, let’s start with an offbeat question…how did you come to play the ukelele?
Danielle: It was left on my door step by a friend as a “stop being a grump” present after the coffee shop I loved and worked at had to close down.
OOMPH: [laughing] And you just picked it up? Literally?
Danielle: Yeah, very literally. I think it was left as more of a toy, and we didn’t expect that I’d pick it up and really start playing it and that it would eventually kind of replace my guitar!
OOMPH: When did you get interested in music, and how did it become a full-time type of gig for you?
Danielle: I had been writing songs in secret, in my bedroom, since highschool, but never really had the courage to play them out loud in front of people until my second year of college, which would be 2005/2006. I would play open mic nights a lot and eventually got asked to do some legit shows. I didn’t consider myself a full-time musician until this year. The big boom came after having a video featured on youtube’s homepage. This led to a lot of national attention as well as local attention. In January I quit my job as a seamstress at an alteration shop, partly because I wasn’t happy there, and partly because I wanted to see if I could make it playing just music. I could and I have been and it’s been unreal! I’ve been interested in music my entre life, but 2009 was defintely the year it all came together and really started to make sense.
OOMPH: So how did your video get featured on YouTube? Chance, or something else?
Danielle: I think it was chance. There were a few people who said they were in cahoots with YouTube, telling them about me and my videos, but I’m not sure if I believe them. I think it was chance, considering a featured video on any given day can range from Weezer’s new video to one of a cat tackling a baby. Know what I mean?
OOMPH: Yes, I do. One of my questions was going to be how the Internet has helped propel your career. I think you answered that one.
Danielle: Yeah, in addition to what I’ve said…I think it would have been possible for me to climb my way up the local music scene ladder, but because of my success on YouTube it’s been a quick jump. I’m also able to tour nationally and have people show up. I think it’s interesting to a lot of people that I’m doing it my own way. A lot of new musicians are doing it themselves with no label or team of experts and apparently it’s possible to do that. [EDITOR’S NOTE: This statement is evidence of my claims in this previous post.]
OOMPH: What musicians would you say have most inspired you?
Danielle: Everything I’ve heard has inspired me, good or bad. I didn’t really listen to a lot of singer/songwriters while I was growing up, but Regina Spektor was a woman who did her own thing and really inspired me to do mine. I also liked Simon and Garfunkel and listened to them before I really wrote my bulk of songs. I’m currently listening to a lot of 60s folk and getting into those iconic singer/songwriters, and I can’t say they’ve inspired my past songs, but they will inspire the next set of them–and aside from the songs, they’ve served as role models. I can look at the people behind the songs and aspire to be like them and say what they said. And of course, I don’t want to be exactly like anybody, but it’s nice to know that who I am has a big part of who my songs are, just like they were a part of who their songs were. Make sense?
OOMPH: Yes it does–everyone gleans off the ones before, in my opinion, and it works into who they are.
Danielle: Yeah, agreed.
OOMPH: The next question sort of ties in…is there anyone in your personal life that has particularly encouraged/inspired your music career? Mentor, teacher, anyone like that?
Danielle: Veronica May is a singer/songwriter currently living in San Diego. She used to live in Fort Collins, and I would watch her play and see how much fun she had and how much fun others had watching her. I think she unknowingly gave me the push I needed to be brave enough to start sharing my songs.
OOMPH: This might seem like an odd question…but what sorts of things make you mad? What, if anything, would you say you are fiercely passionate about? And do you ever let that kind of thing come out in your songs?
Danielle: Occasionally. I wouldn’t consider myself much of a political person and I usually think political bands are very alienating. I get upset about equal rights and gender stereotypes, war… religion gets me going some days. But I usually try to take those out of the big general scope of the universe and bring them into my universe. I hope that adds a little bit of softness to the tougher issues. I’m not trying to yell or scream how I think things should be. I’m writing the songs to try and understand the way things work.
OOMPH: What do you hope people will get from your music? What do you want them to take away from a concert?
Danielle: Danielle ate the Sandwich live is a very different thing from just listening to the songs. I think I want the songs to speak to people in an individual way. I want them to listen to the words and appreciate them. I like the idea of people singing along as well. I never really think of myself as an emotional healer or that I could be so lucky to have the power to affect people, but the fact that I do is pretty stinkin’ amazing. When I imagine people listening, I think of them all alone and close to speakers, feeling something different because of what I’ve done. Maybe I make them feel worse or maybe better, I guess I just want the songs to do something for people. At a concert, I’d want people to have fun and laugh and then most importantly…shut up and listen. I like that I have a weird, awkward rambly stage presence, but take performing the songs very seriously. I try to shake up the mood a bit. I hope that makes people pay more attention.
OOMPH: Any future plans–recordings in the works, tours? What are you working on?
Danielle: I hope to start recording some new songs this winter and hopefully have a third album out by the spring. I think next year will be a year full of touring. I’ll go on month tours instead of week tours like I”m been doing. I’ll work hard, of course, and try to write some more good songs. I just want to be wonderful! I think Marilyn Monroe said that.
Don’t forget to catch Danielle Ate the Sandwich on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Meadowlark at 27th and Larimer. You can purchase Danielle’s music from danielleatethesandwich.net.
Oct 192009
This is expanded coverage from my recent post on Examiner.com…
Taking a cue from my own weekend picks, I went to the Hi-Dive Saturday night to catch Elin Palmer’s CD release concert. I was in the mood for something different, and that’s what I got.
Palmer is Sweden-born and Denver-raised, a prolific local musician who has recorded and traveled as a background violinist with artists such as The Fray, DeVotchKa and M.Ward. She’s now branching out with her own blend of indie music infused with traditional folk music from her Swedish roots.
First up at 10:00 PM was local artist, Andrea Ball, whose 30-minute set began on a weak footing but gained momentum toward the end–meaning I wished she had done her last song first. (I became a fan, nonetheless.)
Next was Norwegian Sissy Wish (the only non-local act present), who showed up late because of the “damn GPS” and caused a half-hour delay between the first and second acts. Her electronica set trended the opposite direction of Ball, beginning strong and losing traction–meaning I wish she had stopped after three songs. At least her set was interesting to watch; Wish wore a vest made of old cassette tapes (remember those?), and her instrumentation was basically a flat table filled with wires and devices that looked like a mad scientist’s lab.
Elin Palmer took the stage with her band around midnight, playing a nyckelharpa (a rare Swedish folk stringed instrument), and switching to accordian and guitar as the evening progressed. Accompanied by varying arrangements that included bass, cello, violin, keyboard and drums, her skill and range as a musician was obvious. Every song contained unique musical textures, creative arrangements, and smooth harmonies. She even sang a song in Swedish, and closed the show with a quirky cover of Buddy Holley’s “Everyday.”
Regrettably, Palmer’s set lasted only about 30 minutes–possibly because a cello had been damaged earlier in the day, which might have resulted in some songs being cut from the list. Also, at times Palmer seemed a bit uncomfortable and distracted at times–perhaps a result of the mishaps of the evening, or possibly that she is still finding her feet as a solo artist. Hard to tell for sure when it’s the first time you’ve seen her perform. Even with these negatives, the music was enjoyable–definitely something you don’t hear everyday.
This was my first encounter with Elin Palmer’s music, but it’s apparent she is well-connected and well-liked; she had a good turnout of enthusiastic fans. She is an artist worth watching, and her record is worth a listen. If she can fill the shoes of a solo artist, she has both the talent and potential to go far.
OOMPH Scale: 7.0
Oct 092009
I’ve had a house full of the flu this week, and I am not feeling too hot myself…but this is something I’ve wanted to get going, and somehow I found the time to start.
On Fridays, whenever it’s feasible, I plan to post “weekend picks” for live music in the Denver area. Among the many, many bands and artists who have shows around town (even during the week), I’m going to try and select a few weekend shows that look promising. This won’t be a comprehensive list, but if you’re in Denver looking for some live music on the weekend, this feature of the blog should (hopefully) increase the likelihood that you’ll be catching a good show.
So here’s the first go-round. Obviously I won’t be at all these, but if you go see one of these acts, be sure to leave me a comment afterward and tell me how you thought the show went. (By the way…you’ll also be able to see this list posted on my page at Examiner.com. And the list will likely get longer as the weeks go by, giving you more to choose from.)
Ready?
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9
Danielle Ate the Sandwich
Walnut Room, 3131 Walnut Street, Denver
Quirky, funny, and entertaining, Ft. Collins folk singer Danielle Anderson has gained a considerable following with a ukelele and a good dose of attitude. Appearing with Dan Craig, Benyaro and Dovekins. Tickets are $12, available from The Walnut Room. Show starts at 8:30 PM. Ages 21+.
Hot Buttered Rum
Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder
They’re acoustic-bluegrass; no, more like rock; well, make that jazz…you just have to hear them play. They’re actually in town for two nights; Friday’s show is for all ages, and Saturday’s is 21+. Tickets are $16.50 advance purchase, or $20 day of show, available from Fox Theatre. Shows start at 9:00 PM nightly.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
Tempa and the Tantrums
Blue Moo’d Lounge, 5950 S. Platte Canyon Rd., Littleton
Blending blues and soul, the passionate lead singer of this local band is reminiscent of greats like Aretha Franklin or Janis Joplin, and is getting plenty of attention lately. $5 cover charge, show starts at 8:00 PM. All ages until 9:00.
Regret Night
D-Note, 7519 Grandview Ave., Arvada
Local alt/rock/pop band Regret Night has a reputation for putting on a lively stage show. Also appearing are TShirts 4 Tomorrow and All Bets Off. According to the band, this is a free show, but donations are accepted. Show begins at 9:00 PM. All ages.
Oct 052009
This is a re-post from an article I wrote on Examiner.com two weeks ago. Saw this girl play at the D-Note again tonight. Definitely a standout. OOMPH Scale: 8.5 –J
Open stage nights at the local club are typically the place for the more unpolished local talent to show their stuff–the more amateur types who sing and play for fun but don’t really have aspirations of music careers. However, every so often, open stage nights also good places to find the undiscovered talent, the “diamond in the rough.”
Monday night at the D-Note in Olde Town Arvada, one of those diamonds showed up.
After a string of musicians ranging from the okay to the mediocre, 21-year-old singer/songwriter Brooke Shellberg (who goes by “Brookefield H.” onstage) set up her keyboard, took the stage, began to play and sing–and captured and commanded our attention throughout her four-song set. With vocalizations reminiscent of Norah Jones and a jazzy quirky style, she was the surprise of the evening.
It wasn’t that the performance was perfect; “diamond in the rough” is a trite expression, but a fitting description in this case. By her own admission, Brookefield H. is just getting started playing out solo, and it takes time and experience to own the stage and get comfortable with it. But when the awkward moments are erased by nearly flawless vocals and creative original songs, you know that all that’s needed is a little artist development and a bit of experience to make the diamond shine.
Brookefield H. is new to Denver. She has no CDs to sell, no demo, no press kit–just a great voice, a current, memorable style, and a lot of promise. She is working on getting more dates in local venues in the days to come; meanwhile, if you show up at D-Note on Monday nights, you’re likely to see her take the stage from time to time. If you do, you’re in for a treat. Brookefield H. is just beginning the journey, but she is one to watch.
Oct 012009
From my recent article at Examiner.com, with some enhancements…see the YouTube video below!
Listen to him play for a half minute, and you’ll know 32-year-old guitarist Josh Blackburn is not a novice. Listen to him for an hour, and you’ll wonder why he’s doing solo gigs, playing cover songs at the Baker Street Pub, instead of touring the country with a band.
Listen to him play for a half minute, and you’ll know 32-year-old guitarist Josh Blackburn is not a novice. Listen to him for an hour, and you’ll wonder why he’s doing solo gigs, playing cover songs at the Baker Street Pub, instead of touring the country with a band.
His opening set last night, September 30, at the Baker Street Pub in the Denver Tech Center, showed just how much of a range this guy has. Armed with only an electric guitar, a few effects, a loop pedal, and a surprisingly rich gravelly voice, he played everything from alternative to classic rock to Stevie Ray Vaughn–and Stevie Wonder. (Try to imagine “Superstition” played only on an electric guitar!) Yet he made it all sound believeable, as though there were a full band present.
Several times through the set, Josh wowed the crowd with powerful lead guitar solos, which he played over multiple guitar loops created on the spot. He took numerous requests from the crowd, and turned down a few. “No, no M.C. Hammer,” he said at one point, grinning. “I can’t touch that.”
The audience loved it.
No, Josh Blackburn isn’t a novice. He isn’t even a newcomer–he’s been playing in and around Denver for four years, and before that he played in bands and recorded with industry professionals. He isn’t really starting up; he’s starting over, with a new crowd, making new fans. The good thing (for us) is that Josh is playing fairly steadily these days, so there are a lot of opportunities to catch his act around town. He’s a regular this fall at all the area Baker Street Pub locations (he’s at the Boulder location on 28th Street all this weekend), and numerous other places in the area. Check his MySpace page for his current schedule, then do yourself a favor and go see him play.
Josh Blackburn might not be new to this scene, but he is definitely one to watch.
OOMPH SCALE: 8.5