So another Underground Music Showcase is in the bag. I’m exhausted, but it was completely worth it. Here is the last round of highlights.
I couldn’t make it in to the UMS until 4pm or so, but I managed to catch the last few minutes of The Whicker and Pine at Illegal Pete’s. This band has grown considerably in size and sound since I last reviewed them here.
The Whicker and Pine
I had a band interview during the five o’clock hour, but I still managed to grab a few minutes of The Outfit at the Hi-Dive (great band, high energy), along with Rachel and the Kings at the Main Stage, who are always in fine form.
The Outfit
Rachel and the Kings
One of the highlights of the night–for that matter, one of the best moments of the UMS in general–I basically stumbled on when I was having dinner at the Punch Bowl Social. The Dirty Femmes (the Violent Femmes tribute act fronted by Jen Korte) absolutely knocked it out of the park. I later found out that original Violent Femmes member Gordon Gano was actually sitting in on violin for the set. Too many people in the space for me to grab a good picture, but trust me, this is a tribute band worth seeing.
Folk act I’m With Her put on one of their best shows at South Broadway Christian Church. Best to see them at a show soon–the act officially ends with the close of summer as Haley E. Rydell (shown left) will be moving to (gasp!) Minnesota.
I’m With Her
Indie-rockers Petals of Spain had a fun performance over at Illegal Pete’s. This is where I discovered that the gorilla I hi-fived on Night One was one of the bandmates in costume.
Petals of Spain
The final performance on the Main Stage was definitely worth seeing. Denver’s own Nathaniel Rateliff closed the stage down with the reunion of an early Denver act he fronted, Born In the Flood, featuring the Meese bros. on guitar and drums. UMS director Kendall Smith came out beforehand to thank all the UMS team, sponsors and volunteers–and then to the delight of the crowd, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper came onstage to introduce Born In the Flood.
Gov. John Hickenlooper introduces the band.
Born In the Flood
Born In the Flood
Shows on the last night of the UMS continued past midnight. After four days, I was too exhausted to stick around that long, but I had to stay and see my friend John Common take the stage at the Irish Rover with his band Blinding Flashes of Light.
John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light
ACTS I WISH I’D SEEN
Natalie Tate
Covenhoven
Megan Burtt & The Cure For Love
Chimney Choir
Something Underground
SHEL
John Wirtz
Wire Faces
Residual Kid
In the Whale
Rob Drabkin
All told, I’ve been to this festival three years running, and this year’s was the best by far. Kudos to Kendall Smith, the team of volunteers, the Denver Post and OpenAir CPR for all they did to make the weekend awesome. If you are not from Colorado and are an indie music lover, you owe it to yourself to make plan’s for next year’s UMS. If you live in Denver, you have no excuse. Just saying.