W♥M

Dark Horses at Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, London (03/31/14)

Tour Dates 04/07/14 – Hamburg – Prinzenbar 04/09/14 – Stockholm – Bebaser Medis 04/11/14 – Copenhagen – Beta 04/12/14 – Aalborg – Studenterhuset 04/14/14 – Koln – Blue Shell 04/15/14 – Munich – Kranhalle 04/16/14 – Vienna – Arena 3 Raumbar 04/19/14 – Berlin – Privateclub 04/21/14 – Zurich – Ed Dorado Read More Dark Horses Brighton's Dark Horses will be releasing a debut album, Black Music, on April 2nd, 2013, on Last Gang Records. The album was produced by Death in Vegas' producer, Richard Fearless … Transcendental pop-punk band, Dark Horses, ventured north from Brighton last Monday to play at London’s Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen. Touring Europe in promotion of their forthcoming album, Hail Lucid State, Dark Horses is a band with an exceptionally unique ability to gently put their audience at ease as they guide them into an ethereal world of oblivion. Dressed in black leather, front-woman Lisa Elle immediately set the precedent by encouraging the crowd to, “Lean back into the sound and let it hold you tight.” Dark Horses Shrouded in fog and heavy red lighting with a stream of black and white images flashing on a large screen behind them, Dark Horses literally set the stage in a landscape of mystery. Kicking off the set with their latest single, “Live On Hunger”, Elle’s relaxed echo of sultry vocals is built on layers of droning guitars and synthesizers, accented by slaps of tambourine. The trance-punk witchcraft of sound combined with the hazy visuals, gives the viewer the illusion that they’re being taken to peek behind the looking glass – into a world unknown to most and best captured in David Lynch films. The set and one encore included additional captivating and cocoon-weaving hits like “Traps” and “Boxing Day”. If you’re in Europe, I highly recommend slipping into one of the Dark Horses’ gigs and letting the black magic envelope and overwhelm you. kira ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ darkhorsesmusic.com

Prince at KOKO, London (02/16/14) - Second Show

photo: koko.uk.com Second Show - Setlist Let's Go Crazy Endorphinmachine She's Always in My Hair The Love We Make Take Me With U Raspberry Beret Guitar Plectrum Electrum FixUrLifeUp When Doves Cry Nasty Girl (Vanity 6 cover) Sign “☮” the Times I Would Die 4 U Pop Life Housequake The Most Beautiful Girl in the World A Love Bizarre / Love Mr. Goodnight Breakfast Can Wait The Screams of Passion (The Family cover) 17 Days 777-9311 (The Time cover) Funknroll Lost & Found (Lianne La Havas cover) Something in the Water (Does Not Compute) Purple Rain Train in Vain (The Clash cover) Play That Funky Music (Wild Cherry cover) Bambi Crimson & Clover (Tommy James & the Shondells cover) Stratus (Billy Cobham cover) Cause & Effect Screwdriver Dreamer How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore U Got the Look information from setlist.fm Read More Prince Prince has decided to drop the lawsuit. According to tmz.com, because "the bootleggers have now taken down the illegal downloads and are no longer engaging in piracy." …

Step aside William and Harry, there’s a new Prince in town! His Purpleness, backed by band 3rdEyeGirl, has been popping up all over London in a series of surprise shows.

Alluding to events on his Twitter feed or announcing day-of, his Purple Majesty is pulling out all stops to build the hype and create frenzy around where he’ll appear next.

Last Sunday morning, Prince announced three surprise shows at Camden venue, KOKO. No pre-sale ticket, price unknown, and the KOKO website stated, “We have no further details at this point in time”, but to all Prince fans the message was clear: Get to the venue & queue up!

Upon my arrival, it was hard not to chuckle as the queue already exceeded eight blocks. I was immediately greeted by a man with a swirly mustache and a Sharpie; he asked for my hand and wrote: 1,269. This was brilliant, as it created a calm in the massive line, and allowed people to freely leave and return with food and drink. Differing from Prince’s previous London hit-n-run shows of £10, it was announced that this one would be £70 cash at the door; this deterred few.

As the hours passed, pizzas and beers floated throughout the queue in a neighbourly way. People sang, and when others discovered I was a born and bred Minnesotan, they hugged me like kin. As the first show concluded, people exited the venue skipping, giddy, and smiling with a childlike glee that only radiates from paying witness to something profound.

After six hours in the queue, I was in! Seven people deep, centre stage with the glittering Prince symbol standing before me. What happened next is hard to describe unless you’ve seen Prince, and then you just know. You are basking in the presence of a star. Beyond the fog machine, the strobe lights, and all the glam, the small man on the stage fills the room with a presence that is bursting. The man is unstoppable.

Playing a perfect mash-up of new funk songs and classic favourites, Prince brought the house down with When Doves Cry, Raspberry Beret, and Purple Rain. The connection, energy, and mutual appreciation between musician and crowd felt like we were founding a new language. With only 350 people queued for the third show, Prince chose to combine the second and third shows, playing for well over three hours with too many encores to count.

This marked a night I will remember for the rest of my life. If you’re in London, keep your ear to the street, your eye on Twitter, and get to one of these shows! It is worth its weight in Pounds and you’ll be repaid with an experience that will leave you gleaming and longing for another taste of royalty.

Prince at KOKO, London (02/16/14) Note: Prince does not allow photographs at his show, picture shown here is the venue's exterior

kira ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

San Cisco at The Gothic Theatre, Englewood (08/06/13)

Read More San Cisco We've covered San Cisco live five times (three in Minneapolis, one in Los Angeles, and one in Sydney). Yes, we love them, so it's nice to catch them again last night at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis. ...… Australian pop wunderkinds, San Cisco, rolled through Colorado last week for the second time in six months. Having previously supported The Vaccines in February at Denver’s Bluebird Theater, this show marked San Cisco’s first headlining tour at a venue of equal size, The Gothic Theatre. Describing Denver as bassist, Nick Gardner’s favorite city in America, the band welcomed a healthy crowd to the venue for a Tuesday night. Although acting in the role of the headliner, the show felt very much like an opener, with the entire set and encore pushing just 45 minutes. Opening with “Lyall”, the band moved swiftly through their set hitting classics (i.e., “Golden Revolver” and “Awkward”) to close their performance with “Fred Astaire”. The concert felt rushed and the band overall exhausted and eager to exit the stage. With the exception of a couple hits, the audience mirrored the band’s momentum with equally low enthusiasm. Marking the last week of their US tour, the band will return home to rejuvenate before heading out on their European tour in October. 10/01/13 Strom, Munich 10/02/13 MTC, Cologne 10/03/13 Privatclub, Berlin 10/04/13 Prinzenbar, Hamburg 10/06/13 Haunt, Brighton 10/09/13 Temple at the Institute, Birmingham 10/10/13 Rescue Rooms, Nottingham 10/12/13 Thekla, Bristol 10/14/13 Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds 10/15/13 Classic Grand, Glasgow 10/16/13 Deaf Institute, Manchester 10/17/13 Scala, London     kira ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ sancisco.com

Doe, a deer

Read More Deerhunter Deerhunter's Microcastle is one of those albums it took me a while to figure out how to actually review, which means it's a good thing they gave us an absurd amount of lead time on it …

DEERHUNTER
blogspot.com

Atlanta-based indie punks Deerhunter are back on tour in promotion of their fifth studio album.  Recorded entirely on an 8 track, Bradford Cox (frontman) known for putting on theatrical performances donning sundresses and fake blood describes the new album, Monomania, as “nocturnal garage” music.

Surely not a performance to be missed, check out one of Deerhunter’s many North American tour dates:

08/11: Richmond, VA @ Sound City Bands
08/22: Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Live
08/23: Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
08/24: Los Angeles, CA @ FYF Fest
08/25: Monterey, CA @ First City Festival
08/26: San Francisco, CA @ Great American
08/27: Sacramento, CA @ Hawlow’s
08/28: Acarta, CA @ Humboldt State
08/30: Vancouver, WA @ Rickshaw
08/31: Victoria, BC @ Sugar
09/02: Seattle, WA @ Bumbershoot
09/04: Portland, OR @ MustFestNW
09/06: Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban
09/07: Denver, CO @ Bluebird
09/09: Minneapolis, MN @ Fineline
09/10: Chicago, IL @ The Metro
09/11: Cleveland, OH @ Beachland
09/12: Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert
09/13: Columbus, OH @ Skully’s
09/14: Detroit, MI @ Meadow Brook
09/16: Boston, MA @ Royale Nightclub
09/18: New York, NY @ Webster Hall
09/19: New York, NY @ Webster Hall
09/20: Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
09/21: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
09/22: Chapel Hill, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
11/09: Austin, TX @ Fun Fun Fun Fest
11/16: Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club

Read More Bradford Cox Bradford Cox, singer of Deerhunter, has a solo project: Atlas Sound. Based out of Atlanta, Georgia, this singer suffers from Marfan Syndrome (which is a genetic disorder "characterized by disproportionately long limbs …

LONNIE HOLLEY
dust-digital.com/lonnie

Lonnie Holley will be opening up for some select dates for Deerhunter & Bill Callahan, in support of his latest work called Keeping A Record Of It, coming out September 3, 2013.

Fans of Bradford Cox (singer from Deerhunter) should not be surprise to see Holley on tour because Cox guests on Keeping A Record Of It on "From the Other Side of the Pulpit" and the title track.

08/22 Las Vegas, NV - Hard Rock Live ^
08/23 Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom ^
08/26 San Francisco, CA - Great American ^
08/27 Sacramento, CA - Harlows ^ #
08/28 Arcata, CA - Humboldt State ^
09/04 Portland, OR - Music Fest North West ^
09/07 Raleigh, NC - Hopscotch Festival
09/07 Raleigh, NC - Hopscotch Festival
10/03 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church *
10/04 Providence, RI - Columbus Theater *
10/05 Boston, MA - The Sinclair *
10/06 New York, NY - Webster Hall *
10/08 Ithaca, NY - The Haunt *
10/09 Pittsburgh, PA - Carnegie Lecture Hall *
10/10 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom *
10/11 Detroit, MI - Trinosophes *
10/17 & 10/18 Columbus, OH - Wexner Center

^ = w/ Deerhunter
* = w / Bill Callahan
# = w / Avey Tare's Slasher Flicks

DEER WIDOW
deerwidow.bandcamp.com

The Deer Widow record release show just happened last Friday in Flint, Michigan, but don't let that stop you from picking up their debut 10", which will be available to the general public next week, August 10th on Save Your Generation.

The key thing about Deer Widow is that the band feature members, singer/guitarist Chris Thibodeau, drummer Jeff Buffmyer, and bassist Nick Mayberry, from various bands (Kid Brother Collective, Empty Orchestra, Dead by Sunday, Silence the Wake, The Conqueror Worm, Downers of the World Unite, and The Most Dangerous Animal), so you know they've been around the block.

Five-track listing was mixed and mastered by Marc Hudson.

kira + vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com

Jim James w/ Cold Specks at the Ogden Theater, Denver

Tour Dates 06/14/13 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival 06/15/13 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival 06/18/13 Celebrate Brooklyn! Perf. Arts Fest 06/19/13 Celebrate Brooklyn! Perf. Arts Fest 06/20/13 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon 06/21/13 Northampton, MA Calvin Theater 07/13/13 Forecastle Festival 07/27/13 Newport Folk Festival Read More Jim James No Jacket Required. But Jim James wore one anyway, and a skinny tie, and gave the audience at First Avenue in Minneapolis a sensory-spinning two hour set of Sax …

London-based gothic-gospel band, Cold Specks, played in Denver for the first time in promotion of their debut album, I Predict a Graceful Explosion, out on Mute Records. Marking their third week on tour with headliner, Jim James, they opened to a sold-out crowd at Denver’s Ogden Theater.

COLD SPECKS

Toronto-born frontwoman Al Spx’s vocals are a husky entanglement of pain and haunting undertones. Self-dubbed genre “doom soul”, Spx channels the darker elements of PJ Harvey partnered with the gruffness of Tom Waits and accented with the witching allure of music from the deep South.

Spx assumed the stage clad in an all-black ensemble with matching cape. To hear Spx sing, is to be emotionally tasered, the heart gasps while the lyrics shiver up and down the spine. Spx’s vocals are back dropped by keys, drums, guitar and a variety of horns. Cold Specks played ten songs, which included heart-wrenching hits like: “Blank Maps”, “Elephant Head”, “Holland”, and “Lay Me Down” (a personal favorite). Spx wrapped up her set through a display of what her voice is truly capable of with a cappella number “Old Stepstone”, which left the crowd in glazed awe.

The stark and haunting beauty of Cold Specks was in great contrast My Morning Jacket frontman, and jam-rock legend, Jim James’ subsequent set. On tour in promotion of his debut solo album, Regions of Light and Sound of God, James ascended the stage. Outfitted in a suit and skinny tie and haloed by a dancing kaleidoscope orb of light, James kicked off his set with “State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U)”.

James encompasses the definition of a showman

James has perfected his ability to look weightless, by gliding across the stage like he has grease on his heels. On saxophone in “Know Til Now”, James slid across the stage to meet the crowd head-on barking some sultry horn. This was followed by “Dear One”, which included a massive drum solo and James leaping in the air to mimic chest-bumping the drummer. With moppy hair entangling with his beard and hanging over his guitar, James made many stops at jam session station. During set breaks, James imitated Gene Simmons’ tongue stardom moves and had the audience participate in guttural mantras which reverberated off the walls of the Ogden.

Other songs included heartfelt “New Life”, spacey-psych “All is Forgiven”, My Morning Jacket cover “Wonderful (The Way I Feel)”, and uplifting “Of the Mother Again”. James encompasses the definition of a showman; he swooped in, twisted and cooed and the audience ate it up like it was their last supper. What a delicious feast of music.

Jim James at the Ogden Theater, Denver (05/09/13)

kira ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ jimjames.com ♥ coldspecks.com

Devendra Banhart at The Gothic Theatre, Englewood (05/05/13)

Read More Devendra Banhart Back in 2004, Acid-folk god Devendra Banhart compiled a collection of folk music for some magazine. Much like Nostradamus before him, he managed to predict some of the leading lights of modern folk music … Devendra Banhart kicked off his US/Canadian tour in Colorado last weekend, performing his second stop at Englewood’s Gothic Theatre. Touring in promotion of his 8th full-length album, Mala, Banhart will spend the next two months on the road. Heavily influenced by his Venezuelan upbringing, Banhart weaves psych-folk music that slips back and forth between English and Spanish. Channeling a mash-up of T. Rex and Jim Morrison, this lyrical Don Juan produces an array of songs that are both playful and heart palpitating. Banhart assumed the stage solo and began his set with five songs from previous albums: “A Sight to Behold”, “The Body Breaks”, “Little Yellow Spider”, “At the Hop” and “Hey Mama Wolf” (which hosted a long pause that coaxed the audience to howl in unison). Banhart displayed a combination of nervousness and glee at the beginning of his set, which he quantified by explaining, “I’m playing knowing my mother is here; where’s my mom?” Scanning the entire venue, the crowd watched as a joyous and proud mother stood up on a chair and waved vigorously from the back of the audience. Banhart’s band joined him for his sixth set number and first song off Mala (“Golden Girls” followed by “Für Hildegard von Bingen”). Purring through his lyrics, Banhart makes for an alluring presence which sent many spectators to loudly proclaim their undying love. Banhart played nearly twenty songs, dabbling in both past and present gems, which included: “Shabop Shalom”, “Bad Girl”, and “Never Seen Such Good Things”. Banhart closed out his encore performance with Crippled Crow hit “I Feel Just Like a Child” and graciously thanked the crowd, “Gracias! Gracias!” If you have an opportunity to see Banhart at one of his many upcoming shows, you too will be giving thanks. 05/09/13 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern 05/11/13 Santa Barbara, CA Soho Restaurant 05/12/13 Pioneertown, CA Pappy And Harriet's 05/14/13 Santa Ana, CA The Observatory 05/16/13 Los Angeles, CA The Fonda 05/18/13 Santa Cruz, CA Rio Theatre 05/19/13 Napa, CA Uptown Theatre Napa 05/21/13 San Francisco, CA Regency Ballroom 05/23/13 Portland, OR McMenamins Crystal 05/25/13 Quincy, WA Gorge Amphitheatre 05/26/13 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom 05/30/13 Minneapolis, MN Mill City Nights 05/31/13 Chicago, IL Park West 06/01/13 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall 06/03/13 Toronto, ON The Danforth Music Hall 06/05/13 Montreal, QC Virgin Mobile Corona 06/07/13 Boston, MA Wilbur Theatre 06/08/13 Washington, DC Sixth & I Historic 06/10/13 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer 06/12/13 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer 06/28/13 Brighton, UK Old Market Theatre 07/04/13 Munich, Germany Muffathalle 07/06/13 Gdynia, Poland Festival Grounds 07/11/13 Amsterdam, Netherlands Paradiso 07/13/13 Paris, France Trianon 07/14/13 Switzerland Montreux Jazz Lab 07/17/13 Manchester, United Kingdom The Ritz 07/18/13 London, United Kingdom Barbican Centre 07/19/13 Dour, Belgium Festival Grounds 07/25/13 Lucca, Italy Piazza Napoleone 07/26/13 Rome, Italy Ippodromo Delle 08/02/13 Oporto, Portugal Casa da Musica 08/03/13 Lisbon, Portugal Centro Cultural de Belem Devendra Banhart at The Gothic Theatre, Englewood (05/05/13) kira ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ devendrabanhart.com

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats at the Bluebird Theater, Denver (04/25/13)

Local Denver folk-rocker, Nathaniel Rateliff, debuted his new musical endeavor last Thursday at the Bluebird Theater accompanied by soul outfit, The Night Sweats.  Opening for The Fray frontman’s solo project, KING, this marked the band’s first live performance and single release celebration.

The Night Sweats, a seven-piece ensemble (drums, keys, bass, guitar, trumpet, and alto & bass sax), took the stage first decked out in full suits.  In classic soul style, they began to play and sway in an introductory number as Rateliff sauntered onto the stage.  Hearing Rateliff’s traditionally gentle and alluring vocals morph into that of a bellowing soul god with “Trying so Hard Not to Know” the night immediately shifted from exciting to epic.  Channeling the dance moves of James Brown, Rateliff spastically skittered across the stage bringing a soul revival to the Denver theater.

NATHANIEL RATELIFF

A wise man in the crowd was overheard to say, “There is great happiness in the unexpected.”  That well-summarizes the audience’s reaction to Rateliff, for both those familiar and unfamiliar with his previous projects. 

With each song played, you could feel the energy in the crowd build with desperate frenzy to sample more.  “What’s your name?” a woman frantically called out in the middle of their set.  Other debut songs included “I Need Never Get Old”, “Howling at Nothing” and “Look it Here”.

The band’s five-song set brought the house down with closer “Son of a Bitch”.  The number begins soft with The Night Sweats silent on their instruments and providing only a backdrop of handclaps and humming (think Thurston Harris “Little Bitty Pretty One”).  In line with Rateliff’s signature heartfelt lyrics, he preaches, “I’m going to cover myself in the ashes of you and nobody’s going to give a damn.”  Unlike Rateliff’s other projects though, this is where the band explodes and Rateliff wails, “Son of a bitch!  Get me a drink!”  The song continues on this churning rollercoaster between quiet handclaps and energy bomb refrains, causing a convulsive wave of glee throughout the audience.

If you’re in Colorado, definitely make it your business to catch Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats at one (or both) of their two upcoming shows.

05/17/13 @ The Boulder Theater in support of The James Hunter Six

05/24/13 @ Mishawaka Amphitheatre in support of Dawes

Nathaniel Rateliff at the Bluebird Theater, Denver (04/25/13)

kira ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ nathanielrateliff.com

Shovels & Rope at the Bluebird Theater, Denver (04/24/13)

Tour Dates 05/04/13 Asheville, NC The Grey Eagle 05/05/13 Atlanta, GA Masquerade 05/10/13 London, UK Dingwalls 05/12/13 Glasgow, UK Stereo 05/18/13 Gulf Shores, AL Public Beach 05/24/13 Yosemite, CA Camp Mather 05/26/13 Quincy, WA Gorge Amph 06/01/13 Ozark, AR Mulberry Mountain 06/04/13 New Orleans, LA Tipitina's Uptown 06/05/13 Mobile, AL Alabama Music Box 06/09/13 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium 06/14/13 Newport, KY Southgate House 06/15/13 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music 06/16/13 Columbus, OH The Bluestone 06/19/13 Washington, DC 9:30 Club 06/21/13 Boston, MA Royale Nightclub 06/22/13 New York, NY Terminal 5 07/10/13 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue 07/12/13 Madison, WI Barrymore Theatre 07/13/13 Louisville, KY Louisville Waterfront 07/14/13 Iowa City, IA Englert Theatre 07/16/13 Memphis, TN Minglewood Hall 07/20/13 Indianapolis, IN Vogue 07/23/13 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live! 07/24/13 Port Chester, NY Capitol Theatre 08/03/13 Chicago, IL Grant Park

Touring in promotion of their 2012 debut album, O’ Be Joyful, Shovels & Rope played to a sold out crowd last night at Denver’s Bluebird Theater.

The Charleston-based band is comprised of husband and wife duo Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst.  Flip-flopping between the drums, guitar, tambourine and keys, the couple aims (and succeeds) at making as much sound as two people possibly can.  Although well-equipped with two microphones, the pair elects to affectionately sing many of their songs into the same mic.  Approaching close to 200 shows each year, Shovels & Rope churns out their raspy and raw harmonies like a well-oiled rockabilly machine.

“We’re so happy to be here with all y’all Rocky Mountain people!” Hearst declared upon taking the stage.  Trent’s un-tuned guitar delayed the first few minutes of the show, to which Hearst joked “Did your guitar wander off to a dispensary?  You just can’t leave these guitars unsupervised.” 

The band kicked off their set with the sultry, slithering number “Tickin’ Bomb”.  From there they launched into “The Keeper”, which was blissfully accented by Hearst shimmying on the drum kit and smashing her tambourine against the cymbal.  With Trent’s family in the audience, he dedicated their tenth number (“When I”) to his mother; the song’s loving lyrics state: If you’re crying, than I hope you’re overjoyed/ and if you like it, let me give you what I have/ cause I’ve got your back, and I always have.

Brimming with enthusiasm and gazing adoringly at one another throughout their entire set, the couple played other songs which included: “O’ Be Joyful”, “Magdelina”, “Hail Hail”, and big hit “Birmingham”.  Both taking a bow at the end of their 17 song set, they returned to the cheering demands of the crowd for three more.  “This encore is all about coming back soon”, Hearst said before launching into “Lay Low”.  Portland-based opener, DENVER, returned to help Shovels & Rope close out the show with a cover of Son Volt’s “Windfall” (see photo).

Like their album title, Shovels & Rope promises (and delivers) a show that leaves the crowd nothing less than absolutely joyful.  O’ BE JOYFUL, indeed!

Shovels & Rope at the Bluebird Theater, Denver (04/24/13)

kira ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ shovelsandrope.com

Alt-J (∆) at the Bluebird Theater, Denver

Tour Dates 06/10/13 Millvale, PA Mr. Small's Theatre 06/11/13 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues 06/12/13 Indianapolis, IN Deluxe 06/16/13 Aarhus, Denmark Adalan 06/22/13 Hilvarenbeek Beekse Bergen 07/06/13 Arras, France Citadel Of Arras 07/07/13 Werchter, Belgium Festivalpark 07/14/13 Lisbon, Portugal Passeio Maritimo 07/18/13 Tonsberg, Norway Slottsfjell Festival 07/27/13 Perth, Aus Challenge Stadium 07/30/13 West Melbourne, Aus Festival Hall 07/31/13 Moore Park, Aus Hordern Pavilion 08/24/13 Reading, UK Richfield Avenue 08/29/13 Oakland, CA Fox Theater 09/01/13 Vancouver, BC Orpheum 09/03/13 Portland, OR McMenamins Crystal 09/05/13 Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium 09/07/13 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue 09/10/13 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music 09/11/13 Toronto, ON Echo Beach 09/13/13 Boston, MA Bank Of America 09/18/13 Washington, DC 9:30 Club 09/23/13 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle 09/24/13 Lake Buena Vista, FL House Of Blues 09/27/13 Houston, TX House Of Blues 09/28/13 Austin, TX Stubb's Bar-B-Q Read More alt-J Mercury Prize-winner Alt-J (∆) stopped by Minneapolis at the Varsity Theater last night, April 1st, as part of their sold-out tour in support of their debut album, An Awesome Wave. ….

British indie-rock quartet Alt-J (∆) wrapped up their US tour last night at the Bluebird Theater in Denver.  Touring in promotion of their debut album, An Awesome Wave, these highly coveted tickets for the band’s first performance in the Mile High City sold out back in December.

Similar to the April Fool’s Day Alt-J performance we reviewed back in Minneapolis, the band played their entire album almost song for song, with the audience chanting every word to hits like “Matilda”, “Breezeblocks”, and “Taro”.  The band performed in front of a gigantic tarp painted to resemble their album cover art depicting the Ganges Delta.  The band again performed their smash-up of Dr. Dre’s “Slow Dre” and Kylie Minogue’s “Slow” and returned to the stage after the crowd’s frantic stomping for an encore to cover College’s “A Real Hero”.

The quality of the band’s sound was present and charged with the alluring beauty of frontman Joe Newman’s voice, but the energy and audience interaction were significantly lacking.  Although still powerful at the musical core and equipped with the band’s signature heart-achingly lovely harmonies, the performance last night was a good representation of tour exhaustion.  It was an awesome wave, but a brief one.  Leaving little room for audience applause, Alt-J raced through their set and encore in just over an hour.

After some much needed rest, Alt-J will return to Denver in September to perform at the larger Fillmore Auditorium venue; get your tickets now or never.

Alt-J at the Bluebird Theater, Denver (04/03/13)

kira ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com/altJ.band

Poliça with Night Moves at the Bluebird Theater, Denver (04/22/13)

Tour Dates 04/24/13 Minneapolis, MN First Ave 05/10/13 Atlanta, GA Chastain Park 06/07/13 New York, NY Randall's Island 06/29/13 Owensboro, KY Yellow Creek Park 07/27/13 Camden, NJ Wiggins Park 08/09/13 Somerset, WI Somerset Amph 08/16/13 Hasselt, Belgium Kempische Read More Poliça Undoubtedly one of the hottest Minneapolis band is Poliça, even though their rise to fame seems to have happened practically overnight. The band recently announced that they've signed to Mom+Pop Music….

Weathering the Denver snowstorm, crowds packed themselves into the Bluebird Theater to see Minneapolis acts Poliça and opener Night Moves.

NIGHT MOVES

This marked Night Moves’ second tour through Denver in the last six months, previously performing with Lord Huron at the Larimer Lounge last October.  Coming straight from a live set at CPR’s Open Air, Night Moves took the stage first in promotion of their Domino debut release Colored Emotions.  The band’s big beachy guitar vibes surge throughout each song, while John Pelant’s sweetened howl shakes with sincerity over every lyric.  A mash-up of psychedelic folk and woozy-pop, it’s clear that the foursome’s influences run the gamut of the musical spectrum.

Originally formed in high-school, the three core members of Night Moves have had sufficient time to cultivate their rich sound.  Kicking off their set with one of the album’s staples “Country Queen”, Mark Ritsema (adorned in a large glittering disco ball necklace) played slide guitar and supported Pelant on vocals.  Micky Alfano, on bass, had an intimate jam out session with Pelant for the band’s closing number, “Headlights”.  And grinning from ear to ear and appropriately wearing a t-shirt that just proclaimed BANG! was Jared Isabella on the drums.  Other tracks played included the album’s namesake “Colored Emotions” and “Border on Border”.

Next up was headliner Poliça.  Sporting a bright new hair color, Poliça frontwoman, Channy Leaneagh, ascended the stage through a cloud of fog.  Boulder born Leaneagh uses synthesizes to manipulate her vocals and create a lush velvety soundscape.  Drew Christopherson and Ben Ivascu on drums (double drum kits!) build on that pre-established environment by rhythmically pounding the song forward and rattling the floor.  On bass, Chris Bierden, also backs up Leaneagh on vocals, adding to the depth of the overall driving sound.  Most memorable about the Poliça experience though is visually basking in Leaneagh’s intoxicating and trancelike way of sashaying her body across the stage.

On tour for their second time at the Bluebird,  Poliça played many hits off their 2012 release Give You the Ghost; tracks included: “Halloween”, “Dark Star”, “Happy Be Fine”, and “Lay Your Cards Out” and “Wandering Star”.  Additionally, the audience warmly embraced Poliça’s brand new single “Tiff” (released last week and featuring Justin Vernon) and the wonderfully unexpected closing cover of Keith Sweat’s “Nobody”.  

Leaneagh openly expressed feeling “Super sentimental and really weepy right now”, regarding the fast approaching end of their tour with friends Night Moves.  Catch them if you can at their last and sold out home performance in Minneapolis tonight.

Poliça with Night Moves at the Bluebird Theater, Denver (04/22/13)

kira ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ thisispolica.com ♥ nightmovesmpls.com