Concert Review: Lampedusa: Concerts for Refugees 10/6/16 at the Boulder Theater

Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Buddy Miller, and the Milk Carton Kids kicked off their 11-stop “Lampedusa: Concerts for Refugees” tour with a tremendous, intimate performance Thursday night at the Boulder Theater. Seated together on stage, the artists swapped stories, played one another’s songs, and joked with the audience giving the show a balanced atmosphere of lightheartedness while still addressing the more serious purpose of the tour: shedding light on the continuing global refugee crisis of over 65 million people forcibly displaced from their homes.  After spending time in Ethiopia last year with the Jesuit Refugee Service, Emmylou Harris took it upon herself to champion this critical cause and even named the tour after the Italian island Lampedusa off the Sicilian coast that serves as a waypoint for refugees from North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia wanting to enter Europe. 

Taking turns playing songs by themselves and at times together, Emmylou Harris was as ravishing and fantastic as I’ve ever seen her, Earle sounded terrific especially in a beautiful performance of “Pilgrim,” Buddy Miller’s guitar playing was magnificent, and the Milk Carton kids were an excellent complement to their storied counterparts, bringing a gorgeous acoustic sound and sprinkling in witty banter that had the audience and fellow artists laughing throughout the entirety of the evening.  Hearing this lineup together on stage was truly a treat and a unique experience that will likely never happen again in quite the same manner.  This short tour through the month of October is surely one not to be missed and is a terrific opportunity to support an organization working to address a serious and deadly humanitarian crisis.

            -Kevin Powers

Wrap-Up for Ian Cooke Live at Twist and Shout 12/02

Local artist Ian Cooke performed a solo set last Friday.  He started off the set playing keyboards and switched to his signature instrument, the cello.  His lovely voice and complex melodies sounded excellent in our room.  We were celebrating the release of his new album Fortitude and 70 fans joined us for this stripped down version of Cooke’s live set.  Cooke plays with a band for larger shows, but I have to admit I enjoy his solo work even more because it really shows off his talent.  The crowd was eager to hear new music and to give thanks to Ian after the show.  I had a chance to meet his parents and I can see where he got his pleasant demeanor and charm.  The Greater Than Collective brought a keg of beer from Great Divide Brewery, so it went from a fun little in-store to a super fun party.  People enjoyed free music and free beer - I couldn’t ask for a better way to end our 2011 in-store season.      

 -Natasha

Snake Rattle Rattle Snake live at Twist and Shout 8/16/11

Last night we had the pleasure of hosting an in-store performance with one of my favorite local bands Snake Rattle Rattle Snake.  In celebration of their new release Sineater 150 loyal fans packed our vinyl room for a great free show.  The band played a few songs while the crowd enjoyed a keg of beer from our friends at Great Divide.  The whole evening was an exiting time for us because we have been looking forward to this in-store for months.  Few bands get as much praise yet still maintain a humble and sweet demeanor.  This band may have a rockstar quality but they were a true pleasure to work with. The music has a hint of darkness with some truly danceable rhythms and this new album captures all of the energy in their live performances.  The band will be touring soon and I hope that you all are able to catch this exciting new band.  I see big things in Snake Rattle Rattle Snake's future, and I look forward to the day where I can say "I told you so!".

http://www.snakerattlerattlesnake.com/

-Natasha

Adam & Natasha's 2011 UMS Wrap-ups

ADAM:  

Despite my plans to see a whole mess of bands at this year's UMS, I only managed to make it down Saturday night and didn't get to check out anyone I hadn't heard before (boo).  However, what I did see just reinforced my belief that Snake Rattle Rattle Snake and Bad Weather California are not just two of the best bands in Denver but two of the best bands around, period.  SRRS played an hour long set to about 1,000 folks on the main outdoor stage.  The crowd consisted of both fans who sang along with their favorite songs and newcomers who were quickly won over.  Frontwoman Hayley Helmericks belted out strong vocals while the rest of the band backed her up with heavy dance-rock grooves.  If you've been meaning to check them out, be sure to stop by for their free performance right here at Twist and Shout on August 16.

After Snake Rattle, I headed around the corner to the Hi-Dive for Bad Weather California's 10PM set.  I've seen BWC play several times in the past few months, including an in-store at Twist as well as opening up for the Meat Puppets, with whom they just completed a West Coast tour.  I swear, they get better every time.  Led by the energetic singer/guitarist Chris Adolf, BWC plays catchy rock tunes with a rootsy flavor, like a cross between the Flying Burrito Bros. and the Minutemen.  A Bad Weather California show is always a good time and they are worth catching whenever they play.  Earlier in the day, BWC pedal steel guitarist Adam Baumeister played a solo set as his one man band Littles Paia.  This set of John Fahey-inspired psychedelia was yet another UMS highlight.

Also worth mentioning is the DJ set by Patrick Brown at Sputnik.  Patrick spun an eclectic mix of worldly funk that put a smile on the face of even the most jaded hipster and I'm not just saying that because he's my boss.

NATASHA:

 I was at the UMS Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Normally for music festivals I try to approach them with a manic pace where I MUST see everything I can, but this year I had a casual approach.  Thursday I met up with a group of old friends and just tagged along to see what they were gravitating towards.  It was a good way to stop myself from going to see bands I was already familiar with.  Friday was the night to really tie one on so I started drinking booze a bit early which threw off my game.  I had one of those nights where I kept hitting the end of sets, and I only had my own drunk self to blame.  Saturday I was really able to get into the groove and I hit up as many bands and full sets as I could see.  Sunday might have been my favorite day because I was with a great group of people with similar music tastes to mine and we hit up some great performances all day and night.

I can rave all day long about how I love the Denver music scene, but this event brought it into the light.  There are bands I have seen many times who always put on a great show like Porlolo, Ian Cooke, Jen Korte, John Common, Snake Rattle Rattle Snake, or Fairchildren and they all killed it. Then there were the bands I had never seen live and they converted me into a new fan, like Mancub, the Don’ts and the Be Carefuls, Fierce Bad Rabbit, Tim Hussman, Churchill, Birdy, Candy Claws and much more.  I saw some favorite national acts like Sage Francis and discovered new faves like Colourmusic.  I felt proud of Denver and extremely grateful to the people I know who worked so hard.  I would like to thank Kendall Smith, Ben Desoto, Lisa Gedgaudas, Colin Bricker and all of the amazing folks that put the UMS together.  The only bad point about it was that it had to end.  I am already looking forward to next year! 

Paul Custer's UMS Wrap-Up

This years UMS was loaded with talent and variety. Everyone I’ve talked to had a blast and saw entirely different artists. Below are the 6 bands that did it (most) for me: 

Gauntlet Hair – Caught these Rhinoceropolis veterans at the Hi-Dive Thursday and left bewildered in the best way possible. Though they don’t love the comparison to Animal Collective, I couldn’t help but find a couple of small similarities (mainly the mixture of analog and digital drums and the frantic vocals.) But the likeness ends there, as Gauntlet Hair definitely couldn’t be further from the Beach Boys. Recently signed to Dead Oceans I highly recommend checking them out if you’re looking for a band that is incredibly unique, obsessed with rhythm and pushing boundaries. 

Accordion Crimes – Denver’s answer to Steve Albini and the DC Hardcore scene. The elements are simple: trashy guitar, a lockstep rhythm section and the unbridled vocals of a bespectacled everyman. For all of its simplicity in elemental makeup the band’s songs are packed with ideas. And, rather than beat you over the head on full blast, they deftly vary the dynamics and provide the perfect amount of dissonance.   

Hindershot – Good old-fashioned indie rock. I know that description will elicit many a groan (from myself included) but these guys are just that straightforward. Their set at Club 404 was fun – filled with hooks and plenty of smart changes and devoid of forced earnestness or cloying preciousness.  

Night Sweats – It’s rare to see a band that pull off Goth-rock convincingly, but Night Sweats from Salt Lake City blew away the small crowd at Club 404. Their sound was massive and militant in its precision. Bauhaus, Suicide and Joy Division references are admittedly lazy comparisons but I can guarantee fans of any of these bands will find a lot to love about Night Sweats.

Legendary River Drifters – Bluegrass played by punks? Metal heads revitalizing Appalachian folk? A front woman who can wail on the mic AND play the saw? Yes to all of the above. Their set at Three Kings was a joyous old time revival and packed with inspiration.

Mark Mallman – For me, the highlight of the festival and a must-see performer. We’ve jokingly coined him the “Modern Day Meatloaf” but there is so much more to The Mall Man. With piano solos that rival Jerry Lee Lewis and an insane amount of energy (he holds the record for the longest song EVER performed which clocked in at 78 hours!) Mark Mallman shows are a religious experience. His set at the Skylark was no exception as he decimated the eager crowd with some choice cuts from his catalog. He even threw in an astounding cover of Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” for good measure.

Paul Custer 

Berstler's UMS Wrap-Up

There are very few things better than tromping around South Broadway for four days, beer in hand, listening to new bands, and seeing some Denver regulars.  With SO MANY performances to see, it was nearly impossible to not find a time or place to dig on great music.  The 2011 UMS was a total win that, dare I say, could have been longer.  I had such a blast that I can't help, but want more UMS!  However, I can be grateful for what we got this year and just look forward to next year.  In the meantime, here are my simply put performance praises.

Thursday 7/21:

Gauntlet Hair at Hi-Dive – These guys were pretty damn fun.  They had a bit of a time getting their groove, but pulled it together long enough to make a danceable set.

Wire Faces at Hi-Dive - I chanced upon this show coming back from Club 404, where Kitten was supposed to be.  I was pleasantly surprised at how put together and talented these chaps are.  It was a great, energetic set, and I recommend checking this band out.

Royal Bangs at Hi-Dive – It took these guys a while to get warmed up, but the last three songs of their set were pretty good.

Hujje at Delite – These two guys put together a great dirty electro set that was worthy of a bigger dance floor.  It was good ole bangin' club music.

Friday 7/22:

Epilogues at Goodwill – This band is blowing up recently for a reason.  They have catchy, alt rock songs and a lot of energy on stage. 

Chimney Choir at Irish Rover – This cute bluegrass three-piece put on a great performance that was perfect to kick back a pint with. Lively fiddle playing with strong wailing vocals.

Band Bajha Brass at Skylark– HOLY WOW! This group was amazing!!! Bollywood-inspired music with a small horn section, including a tuba, a bass, two drummers, a keyboardist and some outstanding vocals! This group had the whole of Skylark moving.  Easily one of my favorite performances of the UMS!

Kingdom of Magic at 3 Kings – These guys put on an awesome, trippy set of psych-metal.  Considering the tempo of their style, I was excited to see the energy these guys performed with. 

Gardens & Villa at Hi-Dive – Another reason the UMS was amazing!  They successfully used a recorder in their indie rock set. Win.

Cat Naps (formally When I Was 12) at Irish Rover – I think this band put on my favorite performance of the UMS.  They are an adorable four-piece of indie pop-rockers from Philadelphia.   The music was light-hearted with a bite, dual female vocals and a lot of playing with accent instruments like the xylophone among others.  It was just damn fun!  And now I have a new band to obsess about. Check out their new EP here: http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/06/the-key-studio-sessions-catnaps-formally-known-as-when-i-was-12/  

ManCub at Delite – Smooth electronic dance.  ManCub put on a great set that drew an excited crowd.

Saturday 7/23:

Tulip Wars at 3 Kings – Cute Canadian band that played bluegrass-influenced rock.  They were talented and the lead singer, despite the lack of a crowd, seemed to have fun just talking to who was there. 

King Mob at Illiterate – They were fun and dancey.  I like that the lead singer owns his unique sound.

I Sank Molly Brown at Hi-Dive – drum-heavy rock with great vocals.  These guys are talented!

Photo Atlas at Hi-Dive – Definitely one of the better rock performances I saw at the UMS.  These guys professionally laid down a rockin' set that had everyone in the place moving.  

Night Sweats at Club 404 – This Salt Lake group was the best thing I saw at 404. They played out this New Wave and indie sound that was hard not to fall in love with.  I can't wait to see these guys again!

Patrick Brown at Sputnik – Oh PB, I love ya!  Thanks for spinning an amazing set of dancable world music. It made my night! 

Dendrites at TS Boards – AWESOME! Considering this HUGE band was half-crammed into a nearly toppling over truck and the other half was in the crowd, these guys put on quite the show!  Denver Ska at its finest. The whole crowd was shakin’ their asses.

Chavez y Chavez at Delite – fun electro!

Mr. Pacman at Club 404 – Crowded - from what I could hear, was pretty damn fun.

Magic Cyclops at Skylark – From what I could tell while being intoxicated outside of the Skylark, these guys were putting on a really loud, energetic set.  

Sunday 7/24:

Oliver Vanity at TS Boards – Considering the oppressive heat and the lack of a crowd, these guys tried to make the best of it.  Their fans got them popsicles.  Cute.

Khaira Arby and Her Band at Goodwill – AMAZING! Easily one of my favorite performances of the UMS.  All the way from Timbuktu, this world-renowned group kicked out the best afro-beat set that I have ever had the pleasure to watch and hear.  PLUS, she danced with a bowl, yay!

False Colours at Skylark – These guys were VERY energetic, and had some great catchy emo-like rock to throw at us.  They reminded me of early Finch albums.  Great performance.  

Ideal Fathers at Indy Ink – Loud, talented Screamo/Punk band.  They were consistently loud and hard, despite the afternoon heat turning Indy Ink into a sauna.

Galaxies at Delite – Despite the name, this is just one guy with A LOT of instruments and a great presence.  This guy had a lot of fun, dancey, experimental music to share and an amazing ability to interact with his audience.

Wheelchair Sports Camp at TS Boards – HOLY CRAP! I didn't initially intend to see these guys, assuming the name was just some ironic indy titling.  Luckily, I had a friend there.  This group was phenomenal! Comprised of a badass turntablist, a sax player, a drummer and an MC of approximately three and a half feet in a wheelchair.  Yes, that's correct.  Despite the initial novelty of the line-up and name, this group was amazingly talented. The lead's unique vocals with a sax and some great scratching made this band stand out on talent alone.  

Flashlights at Club 404 – This duo was a nice indie electro come down for my UMS experience. 

I can't stress how much fun the UMS was this year!  The crowds were enthusiastic, even in temperatures over 100 degrees, the venues were great and easily accessible, and the whole vibe was just festive. Thanks to everyone at the Denver Post who makes it happen.  I can't wait til next year! 

Berstler.  

63 Bands in 72 Hours

Some people go to large music festivals to see the headliners, or to see one of their favorite bands. I tend to look at them more like a big all-you-can-eat buffet, where I have the opportunity to try out a bunch of bands all at once. So when I went to the Underground Music Showcase this year, I tried to sample as many bands as I could. Me being me, I mainly looked to see as many local bands as I could, but since the vast majority of the 300+ bands that were performing were local, that still meant a lot of picking and choosing.

So I tried to play it smart this year. I had the schedule pulled up on my smartphone, and had a preliminary list of bands I might want to check out typed into the phone as well. I also brought along my camera, so I could take pictures of all the bands I saw, which would help me remember what the bands sounded like. Then, I plunged in.

1. Fierce Bad Rabbit - Skylark Lounge, 9pm Thursday

I was familiar with their work, but hadn't seen them live before. Very impressed - great catchy rock tunes. Wished I could stay for the whole set, but other bands were waiting.

2. Serious Moonlight - Irish Rover, 9pm Thursday

I was half-expecting a Bowie cover band, but no. I found out later it's a side project of a lot of other local musicians (including Alan Andrews from Photo Atlas). As it was, I was stuck way in the back, and got only occasional glimpses of band members. I liked what I heard, thought.

3. Gauntlet Hair - Hi-Dive, 9pm Thursday

At any festival such as this, there are what might be termed "must-see acts". But these acts often end up being "can't-see acts", because the venue gets packed. That was the case here. What I heard was pretty intriguing, but I was stuck around the corner from the stage, and couldn't hear very well (and couldn't see at all). So I leaned around the corner, took a photo, and moved on.

4. Don'ts and Be Careful's - Hornet, 9pm Thursday

This was a band that I'd heard some material by, and thought they were just-OK. After seeing them perform live, I'd nudge them up a bit. Solid performance, and the crowd was clearly enjoying themselves.

5. Wire Faces - Hi-Dive, 10pm Thursday

While I was walking between bands, somebody strongly suggested I check this band out. I'm glad I did. Cool indie-ish rock. I later found that the lead singer of Fierce Bad Rabbit used to be in the Jimi Austin with a couple members of Wire Faces. The scene can get a bit incestuous at times...

6. Seismic Event - Hornet, 10pm Thursday

This band is hard to describe without sounding like I'm deriding them. They're VERY straight-ahead pop. You can picture hearing their songs on TV shows and romantic comedies. But they're very good at it, and I'm quite a pop fiend, so I enjoyed the set. Which I guess makes them the "weird" band at the festival by not being weird in the slightest. (Not a single hipster beard or mustache in the group!)

7. Monroe Monroe - Skylark Lounge, 10pm Thursday

I've seen this band a few times now, and they're never less than good. Some straight-ahead rock with a side of urgency and a slight dollop of complexity. Another good set from them.

8. Nathan & Stephen - 3 Kings, 11pm Thursday

Formerly Hearts of Palm, which was formerly...Nathan & Stephen. It gets kind of complicated. Anyway, it was sort of a reunion show, and it was ragged but tons of fun for all involved.

9. Oh No Oh My - Hornet, 11pm Thursday

One of those bands that I thought might be local until they mentioned that they weren't. When they said they were from Austin TX, I contemplated yelling "Go back to South By Southwest!", but didn't. Mainly because they weren't bad at all.

10. Ha Ha Tonka - 3 Kings, midnight Thursday

Another non-local band (Missouri) but they've gained quite a few fans here in Denver, partially because local band Meese toured with them. A goodly number of those fans showed up for this late night show. There were some major issues during sound check, and once they were finally solved, the MC decided it was time for a lengthy intro. (Hint - after a lengthy sound check at midnight, nobody is interested in lengthy intro, let alone an ostensibly "witty" one.) Five minutes into the set, however, all of that was forgotten, and a good time was had by all.

-By Alf Kremer

Check out his full review 63 Bands in 72 Hours >>> link here: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150315893182246

Rose Hill Drive Wrap-up

Rose Hill Drive returned to Twist and Shout for the third time. We have watched this superb Boulder based band grow from impressive teenagers with a pile of bad- ass gear to a confident pro band in league with the big boys. In my estimation they could stand shoulder to shoulder with a band like, oh, Kings Of Leon any day. They played about 35 minutes of songs from their gritty new album “Americana”, which we sold a bunch of during the course of the event. The band has an edgier sound now, which really adds a modern vibe. The largest crowd they’ve played to at Twist and Shout ate it up. The years of touring and sharing the stage with bands like The Who, Van Halen and Stone Temple Pilots has given the band a stage presence that matches their ever expanding chops. For those of you who have come to all three instores with Rose Hill Drive, you will be able to say, I saw them when…

-Paul Epstein

photos by Tony White whitegardenphotography.com

Wrap-up for Foster the People live at Twist and Shout 6/8

Foster the People played a semi-acoustic set yesterday to a crowd of 170 fans.  The crowd was full of excited music lovers, many of whom were dancing along to the songs.  Mark Foster's lead vocals were surprisingly enriched by his acoustic guitar.  This band is mainly known for having an indie-electro sound so it was really cool to see the stripped down version of the summer hit "Pumped Up Kicks." The band played a four-song set and stayed for the large line of fans who were anxious to get anything signed by the band.  One girl even had an app on her phone for autographs, which just goes to show this was a young hip crowd.  There were new customers as well as a lot of regulars.  Most folks had already purchased the album but ended up picking up boutique items and lots of other good stuff while here.  The band was super friendly and so gracious to give us all so much time when they had a sold out show later at the Bluebird Theater.  This was one of those in-stores that just made everyone here happy.  I couldn't get their songs out of my head all night and I love when that happens.
-Natasha

Steve Earle - Twist and Shout May 5, 2011

This was our third in-store with Steve Earle and as soon as he entered the store with trusted road manager and sound engineer he seemed at ease and friendly. He is comfortable talking about normal stuff like baseball, guitars, burritos and TV, but he is equally at home with geo-politics, chaos-theory or union history; he is a thoughtful, intelligent, interesting man. Armed with his never-absent diet Dr. Pepper he took the stage at 7:05 p.m. for a spine-chilling 45 minute set that leaned heavily on his new album I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive, but also included songs from all phases of his career like “Jerusalem,” “Copperhead Road” and the unreleased cover of the Hank Williams song that is the title of his new album. As usual he had plenty on his mind. He talked about the death of Osama Bin Laden, the immigration issue, New Orleans - you name it, he had an opinion and he wasn’t ashamed to share it. That ultimately is Steve Earle’s greatest strength; he has a conscience and it isn’t compartmentalized from his art. He walks the walk and talks the talk. I for one am glad we have him - there aren’t enough like that anymore. The crowd ate up every second of it, staying after to have him autograph and shake hands, his audience totally gets what is great about this guy. We had over 300 people for the event and sold 46 deluxe and 115 regular versions of the new CD. In addition we sold 6 copies of his Record Store Day 7” and 16 copies of his new novel. I can honestly say we love Steve Earle.

- Paul Epstein

Photo by John Hendrickson from http://www.heyreverb.com/

Ryan Bingham Live at Twist & Shout 2/25/11

When one of my employees came in and said “There’s a bunch of cars in the lot with Wyoming license plates” I knew something was up. Usually when we have an in-store everybody shows up at the last minute. For this up-and-coming country star though, people were here at least an hour before show time. By the time the unassuming Mr. Bingham strolled on stage and looked kind of bemused by the size of the crowd there were close to 300 people packing the vinyl room. Ryan did not disappoint. He played about a half hour of his world-weary country blues. I really didn’t know what to expect, but by the time it was over I realized this guy was the real deal - in a Townes Van Zandt kinda way. He has real presence, although absolutely no pretensions whatsoever. His songwriting and laconic delivery shine as the star of the show. He was tremendously nice to the many people who stayed around to get stuff autographed. Unfortunately for us, all the fans seemed to own all three of his excellent albums already - so sales were a bit peckish, but when an artist plays with this much heart and soul and his fans come out in such force, we would be foolish to complain.
-Paul

Bobby Long 2/10/11 Wrap Up

Bobby himself mentioned how cold it was in Colorado from the stage several times. In spite of that fact about forty warm souls braved the cold for a quick 20-minute shot of a singer/songwriter you will undoubtedly hear more and more about. It is hard to describe this unassuming Englishman’s music, but he most reminds of Nick Drake. He is soft-spoken and his music has an emotional gravity that is rare today.

When we look at the relative success of an event like this compared to, say, a Widespread Panic in-store with three or four hundred people fighting to get in and every one of them buying up a storm, sometimes we wonder if it is worth it. But, as I was wondering this aloud last night, Chuck Morris (legendary promoter, band manager and Denver institution) said “shit I remember having Lyle Lovett (someone he managed for many years) at The Oxford Hotel playing for 10 people. This guy (Bobby Long) is gonna be huge and you were on the ground floor with him. This is great!” Thanks for the perspective Chuck! We will continue to bring in the up-and-comers as well as the sure things - cause that’s what we do.

-Paul Epstein