Name: Larimer Lounge
Address: 2721 Larimer St, Denver, CO, 80205
Telephone: 303-291-1007
Price range: $$

April 2018

The Soft Moon

$13.75 – $15.75

Wednesday 4/4; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM; Boy Harsher, Voight. This Event is 16 and Over. The Soft Moon: 'Criminal', The Soft Moon's fourth studio album, is a confessional work. Through the stark lens of shame and guilt that has followed Luis Vasquez since a violent childhood growing up within the humming ambient sprawl of 80s Mojave Desert, here he documents the gut-wrenching sound of going to war with himself. Battling with his own sanity, self-hatred, insecurity, self-entitlement and grappling with the risk of these things transforming him into a person he despises, Vasquez has laid his feelings bare with this: his confession and most self-reflective work to date. "Guilt is my biggest demon and has been following me since childhood. Everything I do strengthens the narrative that I am guilty" Vasquez reflects. "The concept of 'Criminal' is a desperate attempt to find relief by both confessing to my wrongdoings and by blaming others for their wrongdoings that have affected me." 'Criminal' marks a striking and important chapter in his self-exploration, both artistically and emotionally. As a young musician living in Oakland, Vasquez began to try and process the narrative of his difficult upbringing veiled through musical exploration. Taking krautrock's motorik beats and Post-Punk deconstructions and honing them into a hushed percussive incantation, The Soft Moon's self-titled debut album took shape. The album was released in late 2010 by Captured Tracks and was praised by critics and emulated by contemporaries. In 2012 the apocalyptic conceptual work of Zeros emerged, shortly followed by Vasquez moving to Venice, Italy in 2013, acting as a catalyst for 2014's release, Deeper. While previous albums were primarily instrumental records, where Vasquez's voice was diffused amidst the music as another instrument, Deeper marked the beginning of a new musical direction where vocals and lyrics became something more than a mere presence. Deeper was a descent into the womb of childhood trauma, anxiety and fear, and although Vasquez survived this dark exploration of himself, he did not return alone. Working once more with Maurizio Baggio, who produced Deeper, at La Distilleria in Bassano Del Grappa, Italy, 'Criminal' sees Vasquez further explore putting his lyrics at the forefront and letting his raw emotions flow. The album begins with a confrontation with his true self through the torrid bass lines and searing vocals of "Burn"; a song evoking a loss of control akin to demonic possession, stating: "Eyes, reflecting the person that I am, and it burns". In this track Vasquez's guilt bores deeper and deeper into a condemnation that ultimately is: "Fire, hell is where I'll go to live, so I burn". "Burn" is followed by the caustic bass, mechanized rhythms, and numbing emulsions of "Choke, " a song about the amplifying and anesthetizing effect of cocaine, a drug whose darker side Vasquez is not unfamiliar with. The next track "Give Something" is a subterranean love song from the deepest depths, with harrowingly despondent lyrics, seeking hope in a sea of shame. The album continues its thematic inner conflict in the Industrial/EBM percussion and distorted high attack bass of "Like a Father", a song reflecting Vasquez's anger towards the father that abandoned him. "This head is a problem/You're the ghost of my problem/Something's got to give" pleads Vasquez as revving guitars invoke chainsaws before the song's final lines search for closure: to kill the father within himself. The album closes with title track "Criminal"; a despondent resignation to guilt; bereft, broken, and bruised, with lyrics that confess: "It's the way I cross the line, it's the way I open, it's the way to my decline, it's the way I'm broken". The song, like the album itself, is Vasquez's way of holding himself accountable and seeking redemption for the abuse he inflicts on himself, and acknowledges roots in the abuse which, inflicted upon him as a child, broke him. 'Criminal' will be released on February 2nd 2018 with a new home on New York label Sacred Bones. Boy Harsher: BOY HARSHER is a dark electronic duo that produces gritty dance beats infused with ethereal vocals, creating a sound that is eerie, intense and incredibly danceable. Augustus Muller develops the underbelly of sound with minimal beats and grinding synths, where Jae Matthews whispers, screams and chants on top. Together, the music created is somewhere between industrial, drone and confessional storytelling. Muller and Matthews both have a strong background in film and their cinematic approach translates effectively in both their recordings and live performance. Boy Harsher started in early 2013 under the name Teen Dreamz. The project was based on short stories written and read by Matthews then live scored by Muller. As the project matured the instrumentals became more dance influenced and Matthews' delivery became more dynamic and spontaneous. In January of 2014 Teen Dreamz took on the moniker Boy Harsher. Yr Body is Nothing, Boy Harsher's debut LP, was released by Atlanta's DKA Records in June of 2016. The LP has been described as a "darkly beautiful and very emotional new record" by Gorilla Vs. Bear and as "highly danceable fantasy narratives of desire and nuanced discomfort" by Decoder Magazine. The album was recorded at home in Northampton, Massachusetts with additional recording and final mixing done at Dollhouse Studios by Peter Mavrogeorgis. The first pressing quickly sold out and a 2nd pressing was released January 2017 ahead of Boy Harsher's US tour. Their first EP was mostly recorded at home in Savannah using small collection of cheap synthesizers. These recordings were fleshed out in the studio under the guidance of veteran engineer and producer Peter Mavrogeorgis at Dollhouse Studios. After a short, but productive mixing and mastering session Boy Harsher completed their EP Lesser Man. Lesser Man was originally released by Savannah's Soft Science on small run cassette. St. Paul's Night People re-released Lesser Man in April. Boy Harsher currently resides in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Bingo!

Thursday, 4/5; Doors: 4:00 PM / Show: 6:00 PM. This event is 21 and over. Win tickets to the devil makes three at red rocks on 5/25!

Free

Austin Basham & Hollow Coves

$12.00 – $15.00

Thursday, 4/5; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM; Tmule; This Event is 16 and Over. Indie Folk band formed in Brisbane, Australia in 2013.

The Commonheart

$5.00 – $12.00

Friday 4/6; Doors: 8:00 PM / Show: 9:00 PM; Ghost Tapes, Dayton Stone and the Undertones. This Event is 18 and Over. With gritty vocals over rock riffs and horns, The Commonheart delivers an emotion-packed, soulful sound that lights up any stage. Frontman Clinton Clegg is a powerhouse who commands full attention with his limitless onstage energy and vocal range. The new album "Grown" is a remarkable display of each member's talent interlacing heavy blues, soul, and gospel influence across trumpet, saxophone, keys, guitar, and singers. The Commonheart's sound is a true testament to the past while completely holding its own as one of today's most promising acts. Ghost Tapes. Dayton Stone and The Undertones.

Acid Mothers Temple

$13.00 – $15.00

Monday 4/9; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM; Yoo Doo Right, Emerald Siam. This Event is 16 and Over. Acid Mothers Temple: Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O.; Formed in 1995 by Makoto Kawabata at the same time as the Acid Mothers Temple Soul Collective. The group released its debut album in 1997 on PSF Records (Japan), and it was selected as one of the year's best albums in the The Wire magazine (UK). In 1998 the group played their first tours of the US and Europe. Since then the group has released a huge number of albums on labels from many different countries. As of 2017, the group has released around 80 albums. Every year since 1998, they have toured extensively in the US and Europe, and more recently have started performing around Asia and in Japan too. The group has performed in collaboration with many musicians including psychedelic originators Gong and Guru Guru, Simeon (Silver Apples), Nik Turner (Hawkwind), and the Occitanian trad sinder Rosina de Peira. Japanese collaborators have included Afrirampo, Tatsuya Yoshida (Ruins), Maso Yamazaki (Masonna), Seiichi Yamamoto (Boredoms), Jun Kuriyama (The Ox), and many others. To begin with the group had a floating line-up with contributions from many members of the AMT Soul Collective. But as tours became more frequent, the group began to coalesce around a core touring line-up. Other bands were created with Acid Mothers Temple as part of their name (AMT & The Cosmic Inferno, AMT SWR, AMT & The Space Paranoid, Acid Mothers Gong, Acid Mothers Guru Guru, etc.), but AMT & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. has continued to function as the mothership and main lineage for all our activities. In 2016, 21 years since the group's founding, there was a major shift in the line-up and "Next Generation" was added to the name. We now view the first 20 years as chapter one in our story, and we are now turning the page to start chapter two. The current touring line-up is: Makoto Kawabata (the sole original member), Hiroshi Higashi, Mitsuko☆Tabata, Nani Satoshima, and Wolf. http://acidmothers.com. Emerald Siam: Arising out of the ashes of beloved Denver noise rock band, Overcasters, the gents of Emerald Siam present their brand of big, loud, droning, danceable space and psych rock, catapulting audiences ears and souls forward, forward to the precipice of the abyss. Emerald Siam began at the end of 2012 with the shared vision of guitarist/vocalist Kurt Ottaway and bassist Todd Spriggs. Over the last year, Emerald Siam has added, guitarist Billy Armijo,meld both their shared and disparate influences into a swirling mass of jarring reverbed guitars, thumping bottom end, deep swirling organ tones, and a monster beat. To date, Emerald Siam has been incredibly lucky to have shared the stage with the likes of The Warlocks, Crystal Stilts, Dead Meadow, A Place to Bury Strangers, Wovenhand, Mystic Braves, Weekend, Tjutjuna, The Fresh & Onlys, The Wytches, Dum Dum Girls, Disappears, Myrrors and many others. The band is presently in the studio working on their debut album and single.

Sure Sure

$12.00 – $15.00

Wednesday, 4/11; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM; Goodnight Freeman, Kerstan Wallace. This Event is 16 and Over. Sure Sure is an experimental pop band from Los Angeles, California. The highly collaborative group, composed of Chris Beachy (keyboardist, singer), Charlie Glick (guitarist, singer), Kevin Farzad (drums, percussion) and Michael Coleman (producer), has been releasing music since 2014. Perched on a hill in Highland Park, they've converted their house into a studio – a myriad of instruments positioned throughout the first floor, with cables snaking up the walls to the recording console upstairs. Sure Sure's recordings and infectious live show have quickly solidified them as one of the most exciting up and coming bands in LA. Their sound is characterized by a glowing warmth, ear-worm melodies, and driving rhythms, like if the Talking Heads, Tame Impala and Steely Dan raised their love child together under the California sun. Ever since their 2016 single "New Biome" caught fire on Spotify, the band has been garnering a rapidly expanding audience. In the summer of 2017 they began a new release cycle, putting out the heartbreak-pop tune "Friends, " dance-tastic "Hands Up Head Down" and others, reaching #1 on the Hype Machine charts and gaining praise from Grizzly Bear, Rostam of Vampire Weekend and other staples in the indie music community. In January 2018, Sure Sure will be embarking on their first national tour of the US, in support of Hippo Campus. You can call the boys at (323)739-0630 if you have any questions, comments, or just want to say hi. Goodnight Freeman: Goodnight Freeman was started by brothers Chad Hadersbeck and Joe Schliewe. After years of pursuing music independently, they finally got the opportunity to play together when Joe moved to the same town as Chad in 2010. They got started playing open mics in the Deep Ellum area of Dallas, TX. The Free Man Cajun Cafe was the place that kickstarted their new musical journey. Every Tuesday night, they got together with the talented musicians of Deep Ellum and shared drinks, laughs and music. It was always a good night at the Free Man. Hence the name, Goodnight Freeman. Open mics turned into bigger shows, like the House of Blues, but eventually the mountains became irresistible. Once in Denver, they found a home playing open mic at the Meadowlark on a regular basis. But they wanted to branch out and create a fuller sound. After playing more shows under their duet moniker, Dinosaur Vacation, the hunger to get a full band together took over and they began searching for drums and bass. 2015 was filled with many different lineups but one has finally stuck. Stay tuned. Kerstan Wallace.

Bingo!

Thursday, 4/12. Doors: 4:00 PM / Show: 6:00 PM. This event is 21 and over. Win tickets to see marshmello at red rocks on 6/3!

Free

Mitis

$15.00 – $18.00

Thursday, 4/12; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM; Prxzm, Party Nails. This Event is 16 and Over. Mitis: The passion for music fueling Joe Torre, the man behind the stage name of playful Greek mythological origins, has followed anything but a linear trajectory. A classically trained pianist since the age of 12, Joe performed in the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City and Kimmel Center in Philadelphia as a young teenager. His classical background informs every part of the MitiS production process, adding unique melodies and musicality to the entertainer's set. In turn, Joe took the industry by storm, quickly establishing himself as a thought-leader in EDM. But don't let visions of Beethoven or Mozart clad in coattails and pounding away at the ivories cloud your view of the artist. Easy-going and unaffected, the entertainer explains his preference for the creativity garnered from his natural surroundings and a cold Corona. As a native of Media, PA, Joe always sought inspiration from the scenes of his childhood - forests, creeks, and the ocean expanse just over an hour east. As a new father, his son - and the namesake of Born Records, a subsidiary of MitiS Entertainment, LLC - also provides the musician with endless joy and motivation. Most recently, MitiS's Joe Torre ranked first in Vibe Magazine's weekly lineup in the Friday Rewind and was named EDM Culture's Next Superstar in Magnetic Magazine. Prxzm: Electro synth-pop duo made up of Nick and Emma.

Nina Diaz with Full Band

$15.00 – $17.00

Friday, 4/13; Doors: 8:30 PM / Show: 9:30 PM; Wild Moccasins, Get Along, Happy Hour from 3pm - 8pm! This Event is 16 and Over.

Motorcycle Potluck Records Launch Party

$8.00 – $10.00

Saturday, 4/14; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM; Bud Bronson & the Good Timers, Allout Helter, Jack's Smirking Revenge, Flight Kamikaze. This Event is 21 and Over; Bud Bronson & The Good Timers: Bud Bronson is the raging hellfire of a Friday night. Bud Bronson drives an '88 Ford Bronco and never gets his oil changed. Bud Bronson lives in his parents basement, but his parents are out of town for the weekend. Bud Bronson's palm is a coozie. Bud Bronson has postponed all hangovers until after death. Bud Bronson does not care for Chuck Norris jokes. Bud Bronson is old enough to know better, but too young to care. Bud Bronson is the sum of man's most carnal, indulgent, primal desires, and he will not apologize for having a good time. Allout Helter. Jack's Smirking Revenge. Flight Kamikaze.

PJ Morton

$20.00 – $25.00

Wednesday, 4/15; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM; Other Black, Moonglade. This Event is 16 and Over. PJ Morton is a Grammy, Stellar & Dove Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, & multi-instrumentalist & Maroon 5 keyboardist. In addition to boasting collaborations with Adam Levine, Lil Wayne, & Busta Rhymes, his critically acclaimed 2013 offering, New Orleans, earned a 2014 GRAMMY® Award nomination in the category of "Best R&B Song" for "Only One" [feat. Stevie Wonder]. In addition to figuring prominently on Maroon 5's multiplatinum Overexposedand V, Morton has written and produced for everybody from BJ The Chicago Kid, Jermaine Dupri, and Jazmine Sullivan to Monica and India.Arie. Among many other accolades, he has published his literary debut Why Can't I Sing About Love? in 2009, and become music director for Solange following the release of her critically acclaimed opus A Seat At The Table. In April 2017, he released his 5th studio album & first offering for his own Morton Records, Gumbo from the funkified grooves of "Claustrophobic" [feat. Pell] to the unifying and undeniable message of "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" [feat. BJ The Chicago Kid & The Hamiltones]. In 2018, this album was Grammy nominated for Best R&B Album and his single, First Began was nominated for Best R&B Song. Other Black: The journey begins. A vast but barren landscape unfolds before us. Hopeless, without direction. Still. Cold. Dormant. In the distance the vague shape of a lone astronaut can be seen. Lost in thought he wanders, seemingly without purpose. Hands in his pockets and head in the infinite mist, he's shocked as he stumbles away from his reverie and into a glorious mountain range painting the horizon. It is here that he encounters a wily outfit. And it is also here that he is mystified to hear they've all met before. So, with no recollection of these individuals, he chooses to enjoy their company for a while and over time, he starts to recall, at one point this is was his family. It was his drive to change their collective struggle that separated them for a time. It was his voyages across space and time that left them stranded in this barren landscape. It was his experience with the universe that stole his identity. It was the reminder of One that led him to awaken, aimlessly wandering a barren planet and it is his reconnection with this family that reunites him with his true purpose. Now, united once more, Other Black sets out to enlighten, encourage, and empower the universe. It is their dynamic personality and their everlasting drive that brings individuals of all walks to laugh and cry with our band of merry pranksters. Once again, Hope reemerges for the galaxy. Moonglade: Moonglade is a Denver-based band that blends pop, soul, funk, rock, and jazz styles to create an entirely new sound. The versatility of the group is a direct product of the diverse skill-sets and experiences brought to the table by its members. The five young musicians have all studied jazz at both collegiate and professional levels. For them, creating music is the most divine form of expression, allowing greater human connections to be made without words, and healing all who participate.

The Arturo Complex

$8.00 – $10.00

Tuesday, 4/17; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM; Lavender jukebox, sky pond. This event is 21 and over. Lavender Jukebox. Sky Pond.

Bingo!

Thursday, 4/19; Doors: 4:00 PM / Show: 6:00 PM. This event is 21 and over. Win tickets to the devil makes three at red rocks on 5/25!

Free

Borgo (Album Release)

$10.00 – $12.00

Thursday, 4/19; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM; Mile High Soul Club, Leon & the Revival. This event is 21 and over. "Be Kind is a colorful, catchy, and seriously soulful body of songs, with intricate instrumentation and songwriting" "At times, if you listen to the lyrics closely, beyond the seemingly upbeat tone of the album, you'll hear a man on the brink of an existential crisis. What is the meaning of the world, if any? How can we cut the noise and get to the true meaning of life? Between the feel-good dance songs, the slow-rendering ballads, and the kaleidoscope of musical instruments, we hear Borgo finding the answer to these questions, and we're lucky enough to come along for this musical ride." Mile High Soul Club: Started in 2008 by Rockabilly and Ribs founder DJ DogBoy, and Lipgloss co-founder, Tyler Jacobson, Mile High Soul Club has become the epicenter for Denver's flourishing soul underground. Known internationally as one of the bright spots of America's current soul scene, Mile High Soul Club is a monthly party at Syntax Physic Opera in Denver where resident DJs, guest DJs and live bands specialize in making the dance floor move with a quality mix of Soul, Funk, Northern Soul and R&B. In 2012, the duo of DJ DogBoy and Tyler Jacobson became a trio with the addition of DJ Steve Cervantes. MHSC has opened for such notable acts as Nick Waterhouse, Lenny Kravitz, Charles Bradley, JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound and many more. Leon & The Revival: Leon and the Revival emerged in 2015 when members of established Denver bands Reverend Leon's Revival and The Royal began to collaborate on a new project that showcased the members' shared love of classic soul and R&B music from the 1960s and 70s. Influenced by Otis Redding, Van Morrison, Darondo, Solomon Burke, Ann Peebles, Rateliff and the boys, and James Brown. The Revival fuse multiple musical styles into a high-energy, deeply satisfying live musical experience. A veteran band before their first performance, members of the group have performed at South by Southwest, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Denver's Underground Music Showcase, Hi Dive, Lion's Lair, The Gothic, and several Denver basements. Although the band's sound is firmly rooted in traditional soul music, Leon and the Revival infuse their songs with modern touches: driving guitar and keyboard work and melodic, effects-laden basslines. Frontman Paul Leon Ramsey describes his inspiration for the Revival's live shows: "When I was a kid, my dad's cousin told me that when my dad was a teenager, he used to sneak out of the house on Friday nights to sing at the juke joint on the outskirts of town. As he told me the story, I watched my father blush (for the first and only time). That secret still ignites my imagination. Our shows are an interpretation of what the juke joint out on the country roads of Sherman, Texas might have been; the image of folks dancing and giving themselves over to the music just enough to make them blush and grin decades later."

Birch Street + The Guestlist

$10.00 – $12.00

Friday, 4/20; Doors: 8:00 PM / Show: 9:00 PM; Sixty Minute Men. This event is 21 and over. Birch Street has quickly become one of Country/Rock's more celebrated up-and-coming acts, and are poised to follow in the footsteps of the many recent acts to take their talents to a National audience. But behind their rapid ascent lies a tight-knit quartet of long time friends with their own unique flavor of Rock and Roll blended with Blues and Country. Though the final product is an balanced blend of Country and Rock, it is the individual influences of each member that gives Birch Street a universal appeal to audiences with elements of Country, Pop, and Classic Rock, being found in their songs. Their meaningful lyrics and musicianship evoke and transform the traditions of these genres in such a way that is celebrated by traditionalists and modern appreciators alike. Birch Street has roots not unlike most bands: a few high school friends, a few Craigslist ads, a referral or two…but the band maintains that it is not how they came together, but what they've done and continue to do together that matters. In just over 2 years, the band has gone from opening local showcases to National touring and headlining some of their hometown of Denver's best venues, most notably selling out AEG Live's Bluebird Theater. These successes have led the band to share the stage in Colorado with such acts as Charlie Daniels' Band, J Roddy Walston & The Business, The Delta Saints, JB & The Moonshine Band, Cody Jinks, and Zach Deptuty: a diverse group of successful acts that demonstrates Birch Street's universal appeal. In early 2015, Birch Street entered the studio to record what would be their most ambitious undertaking yet: a 5-song EP with an additional single to showcase the band's maturation since their last recording. With a projected release for early 2016, Birch Street has their sights on improving upon their already impressive 2015 tour schedule (projected 125 shows) with Nationwide touring to support the release. The Guestlist: The Guestlist has a hard time with genres. Mostly stemming from roots in the blues, they have crossed many different genres and styles. Josh starting writing songs after the passing of his father in 2011. He wrote 40+ songs in a garage in the mountains of Colorado, came out of his reclusive state and formed Ashen Embers. After they put out an album, two members left to travel longterm and Josh developed serious medical issues that have not ceased but have inspired many songs. After calling the band quits, Josh began to play solo. He then joined back with Cameron Wyman from Ashen Embers on bass. Cameron's friends from jazz school began jumping on board with the band like Zach Holcomb, a local coffee roaster and freelance jazz pianist. Then they had chosen a drummer from school, Tate Ignelzi. Ignelzi has been involved in several projects including : Drumming/producing with John Runnels, Signel-Z, Lily Fangz, and D-stylz. The band quickly started playing shows after the four first heard Josh's tunes in late 2013. Then, they added Eric Estrada on trumpet and Kyle Videtzky playing the saxophones. Tate, Cameron and Josh live in a shanty ramblin' house ("The Bloodswamp") in downtown Denver that is scheduled to soon be demolished. They put on shows in the backyard where they built a crumbling, wooden stage next to graffiti'd walls, an abandoned house and a strangers boat. They have noise complaints to prove it. With their new studio album coming out in the late spring, The Guestlist is pushing boundaries of the group's sound. They have partnered with multiple different names in Denver's rapidly expanding music scene (soon to be disclosed), and are trying to spread the passion they feel about life, music, class, as well as politics across the rocky, white and purple mountains and beyond. Sixty Minute Men: We are the Sixty Minute Men - a funk, soul, rock, and blues outfit hailing from Boulder, CO.

Rocket Power

$8.00 – $10.00

Monday, 4/23; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM; Stray the Course. This event is 21 and over. Rocket Power was started at the end of 2017 by TJ Marriott and David Tegano. TJ and David tossed around the idea of starting a band to play all of their favorite songs from their days in middle school and high school. David played in a band called "Called As The Now" throughout high school with Chris and Greg. He decided to reach out to his old band mates to see if they'd be interested in starting a new band with him. Over the next few weeks, the boys practiced together and solidified the instrumentals of the new group. Now it was time to find a lead singer. TJ knew one of his good friends from college was a semi-professional musician that used to sing and play acoustic guitar at bars around Summit County Colorado. TJ reached out to Kyle Coy and asked if he wanted to be a singer for his new band. Kyle was incredibly stoked to relive his glory days of jamming out to pop-punk and alternative rock and began to practice with the crew. Today, the five piece band is ready to perform live and make a name for itself in the Denver area. Get ready for their first show on April 23rd at Larimer Lounge. Stray The Course: Formed in 2011 as a power trio under the name Assault on the Commonplace. Founding members Ben Baroch (bass), Cooper Travis (drums), and Ronnie Toplyn (guitar/vocals) cut their teeth while finishing up their college studies. However, it wasn't until February of 2017 upon the addition of 2nd guitarist/vocalist Steve Nelson that the band found its full potential and emerged as Stray The Course. Their sound is a unique combination, harboring the fast lead lines of 'Rise Against', the inward facing dark lyrics of 'My Chemical Romance' and the raw energy of 'Green Day' at the height of their power. They allow songs to take a pure emotion and let it run its natural course (and occasionally stray from it). With moments of elevated energy, and depth of reflective remorse, their lyrics outline an emotional roller coaster. Stray The Course's debut EP is set for release in late 2017.

One Shot Dot

$10.00 – $15.00

Tuesday, 4/24; Doors: 8:30 PM / Show: 9:30 PM. This Event is 16 and Over.

Bingo!

Thursday, 4/26; Doors: 4:00 PM / Show: 6:00 PM. This event is 21 and over. Win tickets to see marshmello at red rocks on 6/3!

Free

The Brevet

$12.00 – $14.00

Thursday, 4/26; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM; Edison. This Event is 16 and Over. The Brevet: When the feedback-laden, distorted-as-all-hell guitar intro to The Brevet's new single, "Locked & Loaded, " grinds to a crawl and lead singer Aric Chase Damm's gritty vocals kick in, there's a moment where—if you've got an ounce of soul in your body—your foot starts tapping almost involuntarily. The "woah-oh-oh" hook that hits next is the kind you feel in your bones, the eminently danceable kind that makes you want to shoot straight up, kick your chair back, and move. Every second "Locked & Loaded" begs for movement, an earworm that simply refuses to quit. And making the tune all the more impressive, in a testament to the group's raw creativity and artistic ability, is the fact that The Brevet engineered and produced the track at the group's recording space in Westminster, CA—where they'd also recorded their first two albums. As the lead single off the band's upcoming record, LEGS, "Locked & Loaded" performs a crucial task: Not only is it a representation of the band's new sound and of what fans can expect from the forthcoming album; it is an indication of how far the band has come since their previous release, American Novel—a groundbreaking, highly acclaimed LP, released in a series of chapters. American Novel, the group's sophomore album, was preceded by the Brevet's debut record, Battle of the Heart, and earned the band features and beaming reviews in such notable publications as Paste magazine, the Los Angeles Times, the Deli, Substream, OC Weekly, and many more. Per Substream's Stephanie Roe: "There are just some moments in life that could use an extravagant soundtrack to make it feel complete. The Brevet are here to help you do just that." American Novel also opened the door for The Brevet in the form of some amazing opportunities: Songs from the record have been featured in movies like An Open Secret, The Good Lie, and Ashby; on TV shows such as Growing up Fisher, NCIS New Orleans, 90210, and even American Idol; and on TV networks like the MLB Network and the SEC Network (ESPN). While the band has certainly enjoyed the exposure, as well as the accolades they've received from critics and fans alike, they're particularly excited for the release of their upcoming single—because, to Damm, it sets the stage for a tighter, more mature, redefined Brevet. It represents a band who, having already achieved significant commercial success, is free to be as creative as they want, driving their music in a wholly new direction. Damm, who helms the band as its primary creative force—though, of course, his fellow members contribute to the writing, engineering, and production process—says, of the band's new sound:, that "Locked & Loaded" We're writing in a way we want to write now. I'm not trying to follow trends; I just want to write from my heart." Edison: A lysergic twist on the modern folk freak scene, often heartbroken but always upbeat as they traverse the american landscape looking for kicks and kindred spirits for a footstompin good time - backed with bonafide musicanship. Edison - singer/guitarist Sarah Slaton, multi-instrumentalist, Dustin Morris, and Grammy-nominated guitarist, Maxwell Hughes (formerly of The Lumineers) - is an indie rock trio from Colorado which has quickly emerged as a musical force. Although they've only been a band since late 2014, they've already built a substantial national fan base thanks to their high-energy live shows and tireless touring efforts. In addition to countless club gigs, they've earned attention at such music industry conferences as SXSW, CMJ Music Marathon and Folk Alliance International. "We've been on the road nonstop for over a year", Slaton notes. "We didn't have a lot of releases out there so we decided to hit the road and meet as many people as we could and foster those relationships." That strategy worked, winning the band a devoted national audience as well as support slots with the likes of Iron & Wine, Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness, Langhorne Slim and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats. Edison released their debut LP "Familiar Spirit" (09-16-16) after signing with Rhyme & Reason Records.

The Solid Ocean (EP Release)

$12.00 – $15.00

Friday, 4/27; Doors: 8:00 PM / Show: 9:00 PM; The Midnight Club, Evinair, Happy Hour 3pm - 8pm! This Event is 16 and Over. The Solid Ocean: The Solid Ocean is a band from Denver, Colorado that draws it's influence from many of the sounds made popular in the 80s that are resurfacing in music today. They play a unique blend of indie dance rock that is meant to get the audience moving. The Solid Ocean became a band when Joey Lowery and Christian Garcia came together under similar interests and influence. Soon after, they added Bailey Sutton to complete the group. The Solid Ocean is composed of: Joey Lowery: lead vocals, rhythm guitar; Bailey Sutton: Lead guitar Christian; Garcia: drums, percussion, backup vocals. The Midnight Club: Originating from Denver in late 2015, high school students Owen Coleman, Harry Springer, Miles Bragg, and Sean McCarthy formed the Alt-Pop-Rock band - The Midnight Club. Influenced by their heroes of 1970s rock 'n' roll, The Midnight Club flaunt powerful melodic lead vocals, soaring guitars, and an edgy retro style tailored for the 21st century. Early on, The Midnight Club quickly grabbed their hometown's ears by winning the coveted opening slot for Denver's Alternative Rock Radio station, KTCL 93.3's Big Gig 2016. Additionally, the band went on to headline packages with fellow Denver bands at The Gothic Theater, Marquis Theater, Summit Music Hall, and most recently Sold Out their headline shows at the popular clubs, Lost Lake Lounge and Larimer Lounge. Behind their local success, the band took to the studio to write and record their debut single "CloseYour Eyes" mixed by Mark Needham (The Killers, Imagine Dragons, Walk The Moon), which debuted at #6 on the Alternative Specialty Radio chart (FMQB SubModern)! The Midnight Club are gearing up to release their second single, "Scream, " on March 9th, which was recorded and produced in Los Angeles with former Rooney member, Taylor Locke (Cullen Omori, Geographer, Bloodboy). Corsicana: Corsicana is the project of Denver musician Ben Pisano. Indie rock with ambient, shoegaze, post-rock, and electronic influences. Happy Hour 3pm - 8pm! Happy Hour 3pm - 8pm! Specials include $5 Beer & Shot $3 wells $1 off everything else! Also, catch a free show with Sputnik Slovenia (aka Jim Yellnik) from 6pm - 8pm!

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever

$12.00 – $15.00

Saturday, 4/28; Doors: 8:30 PM / Show: 9:30 PM; Turvy Organ. This Event is 16 and Over. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever: In early 2016, the release of Talk Tight put Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever on the map with glowing reviews from SPIN, Stereogum, and Pitchfork, praising them as stand-outs even among the fertile landcape of Melbourne music. Chock full of snappy riffs, spritely drumming and quick- witted wordplay, Talk Tight was praised "for the precision of their melodies, the streamlined sophistication of their arrangements, and the undercurrent of melancholy that motivates every note." (Pitchfork) Born from late night jam sessions in singer/guitarist Fran Keaney's bedroom and honed in the thrumming confines of Melbourne's live music venues, the band began to take shape as audiences got moving. Sharing tastes and songwriting duties, cousins Joe White and Fran Keaney, brothers Tom and Joe Russo, and drummer Marcel Tussie started out with softer, melody-focused songs. The more shows they played, the more those driving rhythms that now trademark their songs emerged. Since then, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever rode that wave from strength to strength. Touring around the country on headline bills and festival slots all the way to BIGSOUND, they entrenched themselves with their thrilling live shows. Meanwhile, they were prepping their next release. The French Press EP levels up on everything that made Talk Tight such an immediate draw. Multi- tracked melodies which curl around one another, charging drums and addictive bass lines converge to give each track its driving momentum. Honed through their live shows, this relentless energy carries the record through new chapters in the band's Australian storybook. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever's songs have always had all the page-turning qualities of a good yarn and The French Press EP is no different. Somewhere between impressionists and fabulists, lyricists Fran Keaney, Tom Russo and Joe White often start with something rooted in real life -- the melancholy of travel on 'French Press, ' having a hopeless crush on 'Julie's Place' -- before building them into clever, quick vignettes. The result is lines blurred between fiction and reality -- vibrant stories which get closer at a particular truth than either could alone. On 'French Press, ' it's a Skype call between two brothers -- one gallivanting overseas, the other sitting in tedious comfort in some air-conditioned office. The freedom of one, having cast off physical and emotional ties and wrestling with liberation versus feeling lost, versus the grim routine -- but also security -- of the latter, all pivoting on a series of double meanings: The journalistic French press versus the coffee pot which symbolizes drab office culture, the disconnect people crave in escaping their homes versus the disconnect from everything they knew and cared about. And finally, the disconnect of a Skype call over a shoddy internet connection. On first single 'Julie's Place, ' it's being young and dumb but full of bravado. It follows a lovesick narrator at a house party out in the country, as afternoon turns to night. Sprinting guitars mimic singer Fran Keaney's pangs of heartache, his awkwardly sensual lyrics calling to mind the chaos and confusion of being around someone you can't get off your mind. 'Fountain of Good Fortune' attacks selfishness, myopia, being content with living well even though everybody around you is doing it tough. It's a sentiment familiar to anyone living in the shadow of Boomer Australia, where a desperate middle class elected two conservative governments in a row. Blending critical insight and literate love songs, The French Press EP cements Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever as one of Australia's smartest working bands. Turvy Organ: Turvy Organ Started by Ilya Litoshik in the summer of 2010 Austin, Texas. Over the years Turvy Organ would add many elements through found sounds, cassette tapes and dollar "CASIO'S," that make it the Psychedelic Indie Rock group it is today. After moving to Denver CO, Ilya LItoshik teamed up with Paul Simmons and Adam Simmons from Common Anomaly, Beau Schwarz, a writer from Florida and Zoe Simmons from Pockets.

May 2018

Chastity Belt

$13.00 – $15.00

$13.00 – $15.00

Wednesday, 6/27; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM. This Event is 16 and Over. Ocean Alley: "They've been building momentum with a lot of hard work."- Richard Kingsmill "Their slow, grooving, soulful rock is soothing and euphoric" – The Music Ocean Alley are riding high since the release of their most recent single "The Comedown". They followed a run of sold out shows across Australia & New Zealand and high rotation add on Triple J in Australia with huge sets at Falls Festival, Rhythm & Alps and Bay Dreams to bring in the new year. Watch 'The Comedown' here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCyzTKoHLsE Following on from their 2016 full length debut Lost Tropics, Ocean Alley have worked hard on the road over the last 18 months and beyond, taking their eclectic brand of psychedelic rock across the world, with sold out shows in the UK, Netherlands, Germany and New Zealand, along with their home country of Australia. The band will tour the USA for the first time in 2018.

Upcoming Shows

The Soft Moon

$13.75 – $15.75

Bingo!

Thursday, 4/5; Doors: 4:00 PM / Show: 6:00 PM. This event is 21 and over. Win tickets to the devil makes three at red rocks on 5/25!

Free

Austin Basham & Hollow Coves

$12.00 – $15.00

Thursday, 4/5; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM; Tmule. This Event is 16 and Over. Indie Folk band formed in Brisbane, Australia in 2013.

The Commonheart

$5.00 – $12.00

Acid Mothers Temple

$13.00 – $15.00

Sure Sure

$12.00 – $15.00

Bingo!

Thursday, 4/12. Doors: 4:00 PM / Show: 6:00 PM. This event is 21 and over. Win tickets to see marshmello at red rocks on 6/3!

Free

Mitis

$15.00 – $18.00

Nina Diaz with Full Band

$15.00 – $17.00

Friday, 4/13; Doors: 8:30 PM / Show: 9:30 PM; Wild Moccasins, Get Along, Happy Hour From 3PM - 8PM! This Event is 16 and Over.

Motorcycle Potluck Records Launch Party

$8.00 – $10.00

PJ Morton

$20.00 – $25.00

Wednesday, 4/15; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM; Other black, moonglade. This Event is 16 and Over. PJ Morton is a Grammy, Stellar & Dove Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, & multi-instrumentalist & Maroon 5 keyboardist. In addition to boasting collaborations with Adam Levine, Lil Wayne, & Busta Rhymes, his critically acclaimed 2013 offering, New Orleans, earned a 2014 GRAMMY® Award nomination in the category of "Best R&B Song" for "Only One" [feat. Stevie Wonder]. In addition to figuring prominently on Maroon 5's multiplatinum Overexposedand V, Morton has written and produced for everybody from BJ The Chicago Kid, Jermaine Dupri, and Jazmine Sullivan to Monica and India.Arie. Among many other accolades, he has published his literary debut Why Can't I Sing About Love? in 2009, and become music director for Solange following the release of her critically acclaimed opus A Seat At The Table. In April 2017, he released his 5th studio album & first offering for his own Morton Records, Gumbo from the funkified grooves of "Claustrophobic" [feat. Pell] to the unifying and undeniable message of "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" [feat. BJ The Chicago Kid & The Hamiltones]. In 2018, this album was Grammy nominated for Best R&B Album and his single, First Began was nominated for Best R&B Song. Other Black: The journey begins. A vast but barren landscape unfolds before us. Hopeless, without direction. Still. Cold. Dormant. In the distance the vague shape of a lone astronaut can be seen. Lost in thought he wanders, seemingly without purpose. Hands in his pockets and head in the infinite mist, he's shocked as he stumbles away from his reverie and into a glorious mountain range painting the horizon. It is here that he encounters a wily outfit. And it is also here that he is mystified to hear they've all met before. So, with no recollection of these individuals, he chooses to enjoy their company for a while and over time, he starts to recall, at one point this is was his family. It was his drive to change their collective struggle that separated them for a time. It was his voyages across space and time that left them stranded in this barren landscape. It was his experience with the universe that stole his identity. It was the reminder of One that led him to awaken, aimlessly wandering a barren planet and it is his reconnection with this family that reunites him with his true purpose. Now, united once more, Other Black sets out to enlighten, encourage, and empower the universe. It is their dynamic personality and their everlasting drive that brings individuals of all walks to laugh and cry with our band of merry pranksters. Once again, Hope reemerges for the galaxy. Moonglade: Moonglade is a Denver-based band that blends pop, soul, funk, rock, and jazz styles to create an entirely new sound. The versatility of the group is a direct product of the diverse skill-sets and experiences brought to the table by its members. The five young musicians have all studied jazz at both collegiate and professional levels. For them, creating music is the most divine form of expression, allowing greater human connections to be made without words, and healing all who participate.

The Arturo Complex

$8.00 – $10.00

Tuesday, 4/17; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM. Lavender jukebox, sky pond. This event is 21 and over. Lavender Jukebox. Sky Pond.

Bingo!

Thursday, 4/19; Doors: 4:00 PM / Show: 6:00 PM. This event is 21 and over. Win tickets to the devil makes three at red rocks on 5/25!

Free

Borgo (Album Release)

$10.00 – $12.00

Birch Street + The Guestlist

$10.00 – $12.00

Rocket Power

$8.00 – $10.00

One Shot Dot

$10.00 – $15.00

Tuesday, 4/24; Doors: 8:30 PM / Show: 9:30 PM. This Event is 16 and Over.

Bingo!

Thursday, 4/26; Doors: 4:00 PM / Show: 6:00 PM. This event is 21 and over. Win tickets to see marshmello at red rocks on 6/3!

Free

The Brevet

Sammy J

$22.00 – $25.00

Thursday, 5/10; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM; This event is 16 and over.

Satsang

$12.00 – $15.00

The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die and Pianos Become the Teeth

$20.00 – $23.00

George Fitzgerald

$15.00 – $18.00

Sunday, 5/13; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM. This Event is 16 and Over. George Fitzgerald: House / Techno / Electronica.

Counterfeit

$13.00 – $15.00

Wilderado

$10.00 – $12.00

Born Ruffians

$15.00 – $17.00

Tropidelic

$13.00 – $15.00

Fleetmac Wood Presents Sisters of the Moon Disco - Denver

$15.00 – $20.00

Saturday, 5/19; Doors: 8:30 PM / Show: 9:30 PM. This Event is 16 and Over. Fleetmac Wood is a remix project and party dedicated to Fleetwood Mac.

Anima!

$12.00 – $15.00

Sunday, 5/20; Doors: 8:00 PM / Show: 9:00 PM. this event is 18 and over. ANIMA! are a alternative electronic duo formed of the best parts of Arielle Vakni and Vicente Espi who originate from California and South Africa. Their enchantingly iconic vocal and unique cerebral beat boutique has fast become a favorite alternative indie electronic alongside their inspirations like Sylvan Esso and Little Dragon who first inspired their formation. Named after 'anima', meaning the breath of life in each of us, ANIMA!'s songs like 'Moving Mountains' and 'Blood' hold a uplifting universality with an unconventional twist. Their differences in background and musical upbringing craft an evocative colorful sound world that "you will have never heard before." - Hilly Dilly. Unexpected to them, their first release 'Breathe' was a viral hit and the start to millions of streams that they've received for their releases ANIMA! (2016), Be Here Now (2015) and Art:Work (2017). An entirely self-produced and self-released under their own imprint, ANIMA! feature on Spotify's Global Viral 50, New Music Friday, Mint, New Indie Mix, Fresh Finds playlists, to Apple Best of Alternative, iTunes top 10 Alternative and tastemaker platforms Indie Shuffle and Red Bull. Catch them this MAY 2018 for their first US tour which ends on DoLab's mainstage at Lighting In A Bottle!

Las Rosas

$8.00 – $10.00

Tomorrows Bad Seeds

$13.00 – $15.00

Thursday, 5/24; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM; Sun-dried Vibes, Thicker than Thieves. This Event is 16 and Over.

La Luz

$15.00 – $18.00

Bruno Major

$12.00 – $15.00

Tuesday, 5/29; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM. This Event is 16 and Over.

Keepin' It Real Records Presents: Homie Hangout Ii

$10.00 – $12.00

$16.00 – $18.00

Saturday, 6/16; Doors: 8:30 PM / Show: 9:30 PM. Anna Burch. This Event is 16 and Over. Speedy Ortiz: "Necessary brattiness" is the motto for Speedy Ortiz's dauntless new collection of songs, Twerp Verse. The follow-up to 2015's Foil Deer, the band's latest indie rock missive is prompted by a tidal wave of voices, no longer silent on the hurt they've endured from society's margins. But like many of these truth-tellers, songwriter, guitarist and singer Sadie Dupuis scales the careful line between what she calls being "outrageous and practical" in order to be heard at all. "You need to employ a self-preservational sense of humor to speak truth in an increasingly baffling world, " says Dupuis. "I call it a 'twerp verse' when a musician guests on a track and says something totally outlandish – like a Lil Wayne verse – but it becomes the most crucial part. This record is our own twerp verse, for those instances when you desperately need to stand up and show your teeth." Twerp Verse was tracked in Brooklyn DIY space Silent Barn, mixed by Omaha legend Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Rilo Kiley) and mastered by Grammy-nominated engineer Emily Lazar (Sia, Haim, Beck). The record pulls from the most elastic pop moments in Squeeze's Argybargy and the seesawing synth-rock of Deerhoof and the Rentals. With Dupuis on guitars, vocals, and synths, supporting guitarist Andy Molholt (of psych pop outfit Laser Background) now joins Speedy veterans Darl Ferm on bass and Mike Falcone on drums – and together they accelerate the band's idiosyncrasy through the wilderness of Dupuis' heady reflections on sex, lies and audiotape. Dupuis, who both earned an MFA in poetry and taught at UMass Amherst, propels the band's brain-teasing melodies with her serpentine wit. Inspired by the cutting observations of Eve Babitz, Aline Crumb's biting memoirs, and the acute humor of AstroPoet Dorothea Lasky, Dupuis craftily navigates the danger zone that is building intimacy and political allyship in 2018. Now as public pushback against the old guards reaches a fever pitch – in the White House, Hollywood and beyond – the band fires shots in disillusioned Gen Y theme "Lucky 88, " and casts a side-eye towards suitors-turned-monsters in the cold-blooded single "Villain." Closing track "You Hate The Title" is a slinky traipse through the banality of this current moment in patriarchy – in which survivors are given the mic, but nitpicked over the timbre of their testimonies. "You hate the title, but you're digging the song, " Dupuis sings wryly, "You like it in theory, but it's rubbing you wrong." Tuned smartly to the political opacity of the present, Twerp Verse rings clear as a bell.

Meld

$8.00 – $10.00

Chad Valley

$13.00 – $15.00

Tuesday, 6/19; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM; Mobley, Nasty Nachos. This Event is 16 and Over. Solo project of Hugo Manuel from Jonquil.

Snail Mail

$13.00 – $15.00

Two Faces West

$8.00 – $10.00

Black Milk

$15.00 – $18.00

Ocean Alley

$13.00 – $15.00

Dirty Few (7" Release)

$10.00 – $12.00

Monday, 7/2; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM. This event is 21 and over. Warm beers. Out-of-tune guitars. Cancelled shows. Broken mopeds. While lesser bands may have crumbled under the weight of such colossal rock & roll bummers, Dirty Few has not only weathered the storm, but emerged victorious, leading an entire army of Denver dive-bar diehards into a rad utopia where the babes are hot, the PBR flows like wine and a little barf is nothing more than a sure sign you're having a good night. Born in Nashville and raised in the same Louisiana swamp-country that brought us Red Lobster Cajun-fried shrimp, Bobby Boucher and 8-time National Monster Truck Meltdown champion Bone Crenshaw, twin brothers Seth and Spencer Stone moved to Denver in early 2010, bringing with them only the mopeds they rode in on and the few Twisted Teas they could carry. The boys soon hooked up with veteran bassist Justin Forrest and tambourine-slinging Cambodian sexpot Kim Phat, and in a torrential thunderstorm of exploding PBRs and RealTree-clad eagles, Dirty Few was born. Since their 2012 debut release "Get Loose, Have Fun", the garage-rock-&-roll juggernaut has played with pretty much every awesome band in the world, from Andrew W.K., Ty Segall, FIDLAR and Natural Child to Wavves, The Men, Broncho and blah, blah, blah. But in no way has the band had their fill of party. With their upcoming "Party or Don't" LP to be released in February 2015 on Black in Bluhm Music, Dirty Few is more ready than ever to show up at your house party, beer-bong your mom, puke on your floor, and somehow leave you singing one of their ultra-catchy party anthems as you happily clean up the mess. - Brian Beer.

S. Carey

$18.00 – $20.00

Sunday, 7/22; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM; H.C. Mcentire. This event is 16 and over. At its heart, Hundred Acres - the third full-length album from Wisconsin singer/songwriter S. Carey - finds him grounded comfortably in his skin, but still with one foot in the stream. More direct than ever, there is a wellspring of confidence in this new batch of songs that lays bare the intricacies of life while keeping its ideas uncomplicated. Trained in jazz, Carey's astute musicianship has never been in question nor taken for granted, and the execution of Hundred Acres' new ideas is seamless. He intentionally unburdened himself from a more complicated instrumentation palate for these ten songs, and, in effect, this modification to his approach brings the content of the work much closer to a living reality. By giving equal status to the indifference of nature and the concerns of a material world - while employing more pop-oriented structures instead of the Steve Reich- or Talk Talk-ian repetitions of his past work - a new balance is struck that creates something unique. This in turn provides equal status for the feeling that created each song, and the feeling each song creates. Almost impossibly, there is more air between the bars; Carey and his contributors sway like treetops in the wind, remaining flexible enough that they never threaten to break. Thematically, the album is a poetic treatise on what is truly necessary in life, a surprisingly utilitarian art project that underscores the power of enduring. The simplification of songwriting didn't arrive out of thin air; it came from the similar desire to reach for the utopia of simplicity, for daily life to be unburdened of anxiety and tethered by love. It is a way to say that returning to a more simple life, if even just a little, can heal wounds and mend the cracks. This is leadership by example rather than intervention, and for Carey, it starts at home. In a way, these are his Kodak moments: dedications to his family laid out as songs and reminders that life, like music, has a profoundly ephemeral quality. One way to keep it is to let it flow over you. The challenge is the balance between holding on and letting go, and Hundred Acres is a master class in the trying. As a serious artist entering his prime, Carey presents these songs perhaps more like a Gerhard Richter Florence exhibition of masterfully over-painted photos than an ad hoc collage on the family fridge. They are at first easy-going with a wide-open front door, embracing simplicity in structure and lyrical straight-forwardness, then suddenly hopelessly beautiful, revealing, and breathtaking. Perhaps no song better illustrates this ethos than "More I See," an exultant and strummy, snare-on-three gratification piece. This is echoed by Carey, who says, "The best way to understand this song is through the lyrics 'When I'm naked, decidingno I ain't surviving,' meaning you can just live to live." "Yellowstone" highlights Carey's storytelling. As he describes it, "Just drive and see where you end up, get lost with the one you love." The lyric "We should lose our way before we lose our minds" speaks to this immediacy by essentially saying "all we have is now, what are we waiting for?" On "Fool's Gold," Carey's signature minimalism is intact with an acoustic guitar serving as the backbone, propped up ever so slightly by ambient keys and a lilting slide. The song showcases the newfound difference between writing on a guitar versus a piano, as he has traditionally done in the past. Says Carey, "This song is what started the whole recordeverything came out of it and the vibe it created." Storylines aside, let's be clear about one thing: Sean Carey's voice may not hit with blunt force at first, but when it creeps up on you - and it will - a soulful range is revealed, with a reedy, singular quality that extends above the clouds. If you're unconvinced, look no further than album standout track "True North." Here, Carey recites lyrics as vows while he recounts the late hours of his first date with his wife. It is a lucid love song to his family life, highlighted by the chorus, "Only upright will I be." As Carey says himself "How can you write a record and not reference love?" Laid out over spare but lush-sounding instrumentation and an uncommon phrasing within the 4/4 structure, this is Carey's musicianship and intention in a happy marriage, his heart and head securely in concert. From subject matter, to title, to artwork (again photographed by Cameron Wittig), Carey puts the finishing touches on this sprawling vision of a reality-defining naturalism with the title track, offering these lyrics as an actionable treatise on sublimity: all we need is a hundred acres and a row of seed; all we need is a hundred acres and some room to breathe. There is an almost seditious beauty to it. As if to say, "If you want a better world, you either do something about it or see through it." For as comfortable and confident as Carey is, a thoughtful questioning of reality remains as his driving source of inspiration - an attempt to creatively process the highs, lows, and all of the moments in-between with the help of musical processes. The moments between moments don't just stand for something; they are everything. And like all great art, they provide further possibilities, personal interpretations for the listener. Simply stated, over the course of three albums, two EPs, and a few one-off singles, S. Carey has proven to be a reliable source of beauty. It's a safe claim to make that something so reliably beautiful can also be called enduring. In an era when the shelf life of art is typically measured in minutes, this accomplishment puts him in a rare group of artists, seemingly unconcerned (but not indifferent) to passing trends. Written over the course of a few years, in between touring schedules and the growth of his family, Carey recorded, mixed and produced Hundred Acres at home and in various studios in rural Wisconsin with support from his longtime collaborators Zach Hanson, Ben Lester, and Jeremy Boettcher, as well as new contributions from Rob Moose (yMusic), Casey Foubert (Sufjan Stevens) and Sophie Payten (Gordi). H.C. McEntire: On January 26, H.C. McEntire , frontwoman of Mount Moriah, strikes out on her own with her debut solo album LIONHEART , a collection of songs inspired by the American South and a desire to reclaim "country" music from the hetero-normative, homogenous schtick of tailgates and six-packs and men chasing women. Stereogum describes her voice as "weary, wise, and bright as morning sunshine all at once," and that sunshine glows throughout the triumphant Lionheart. For the album, McEntire collaborated with many of her favorite musicians, including Kathleen Hanna, Angel Olsen, Amy Ray, Tift Merritt, William Tyler, Mary Lattimore, and Phil Cook, while remaining bravely devoted to her most authentic self throughout the process. Lionheart was recorded during the first few months of 2017 with additional recording and mixing taking place on the run as McEntire toured the world as a member of Angel Olsen's band. I came from people with machine grease on their hands. Dirt under their nails. The Bible by their bedsides. Cornmeal and buttermilk. People who need a porch to think , a red dirt row to get lost in , a revival to hunger for. But there are things that even a long , soft drawl can't cover up. There are things you keep from even yourself. In music , there are no rules. You make your own language. You can be both the Southern rock outlier and the twangy gospel conduit. You can be both the cherubic , honey-tongued innocent and the ardent punk. To get here-to find my lion heart-I had to become them all. So I sank my teeth into Appalachia. I twisted toward the sky and let the sun blind me. I bought saltines from the dollar store. I shook dust off the hymnal. I set the silo on fire. I hemmed my lover's dress. I pried white quartz from river banks and ridges. Wheeled them up the hill, barrow after barrow , in a fever. I had to mine for the truth. Lionheart was largely recorded in my living room , and it was mixed in the control room next to my bedroom by my best friend. If you listen close enough , you can probably hear some hound howls , some creaky wooden floors , some trains running their routes. All that's in there. Some big grins , too , and high fives. A few tears , but the good kind-the kind that let you know you're doing something hard. Something good and right , even if it's swallowed you up so deep you forget what you're making. Some days I felt so small , like the lizard on the front porch. Even smaller , like the spider in the lizard's sight. But I kept on. I left some holes , too. Asked some friends to help fill them with whatever they were feeling-from Ojai to Atlanta , Lisbon to L.A. It was a joint effort: the yellow roses , the lamb , the dove, the wild dogs , the prickly pear. I want this record to be , for you , whatever it needs to be. Over time , it'll all change , come to mean something else. And that's fine , too. Just know that it was born from a good shaking (thanks , Kathleen) and a little farmhouse at the end of a long , winding gravel road in the woods , where I gave in to the unknown , the written script , the blues , the joy-to the wild , wild world.

Zac Clark (of Andrew Mcmahon in the Wilderness) with Special Guest Bob Oxblood

$12.00 – $15.00

Sunday, 8/19; Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 8:00 PM; Bob Oxblood. This event is 16 and over. In the midst of traveling the world with Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness supporting the hit self-titled LP and Riaa-certified Gold single "Cecilia and the Satellite," tours with acts from Billy Joel to Weezer as well as appearances on the Today Show and Conan, singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Zac Clark has released two solo records, 2015's "I Am a Guest" and 2012's "Young Volcanoes," as well as the 2014 single "Wake Up," the theme song for Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's TNT show "Wake Up Call." A sold out 45 date full US tour opening for Andrew McMahon and Allen Stone, along with bandmate Bob Oxblood, kicks off 2018, with a new LP co-produced by Joe Pisapia (Guster, Ben Folds Five) to follow in the summer along with a full band tour including members of Jack's Mannequin, John Legend and Ben Folds. Bob Oxblood: Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Bob Oxblood combines classical finger picking with synthetic textures and melancholic, longing vocals. Having spent earlier years providing electric tones with Orange County power pop outfits Jack's Mannequin and Something Corporate as well as crossing the US as a touring guitarist with the likes of John Legend, Oxblood has been crafting his solo work in studios and on stages in New York and Los Angeles for the past few years.

Fresh Agenda

Tuesday, 1/1; Time: 12:00 PM. Need to replenish your merch? Or need merch for an upcoming show? Let freshagenda.biz help. Use promo code below when you place an order and receive 50 free vinyl stickers. (With first order of apparel). Code: LARIMER.

Larimer Lounge

Calendar

April 2018

The Soft Moon

Bingo!

Austin Basham & Hollow Coves

The Commonheart

Acid Mothers Temple

Sure Sure

Bingo!

Mitis

Nina Diaz with Full Band

Motorcycle Potluck Records Launch Party

PJ Morton

The Arturo Complex

Bingo!

Borgo (Album Release)

Birch Street + The Guestlist

Rocket Power

One Shot Dot

Bingo!

The Brevet

The Solid Ocean (EP Release)

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever

May 2018

Chastity Belt

Mersiv

Chloe Tang (EP Release)

Los Mocochetes

Hovvdy + Half Waif

Smoking Popes (Acoustic Performance)

Sammy J

Satsang

The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die and Pianos Become the Teeth

George Fitzgerald

Counterfeit

Wilderado

Born Ruffians

Tropidelic

Fleetmac Wood Presents Sisters of the Moon Disco - Denver

Anima!

Las Rosas

Tomorrows Bad Seeds

La Luz

Bruno Major

Keepin' It Real Records Presents: Homie Hangout Ii

June 2018

Animal Years

Hockey Dad

Free Salamander Exhibit / Cheer Accident / Faun Fables

Caroline Rose

Katie Von Schleicher

Speedy Ortiz

Meld

Chad Valley

Snail Mail

Two Faces West

Black Milk

Ocean Alley

Upcoming Shows

The Soft Moon

Bingo!

Austin Basham & Hollow Coves

The Commonheart

Acid Mothers Temple

Sure Sure

Bingo!

Mitis

Nina Diaz with Full Band

Motorcycle Potluck Records Launch Party

PJ Morton

The Arturo Complex

Bingo!

Borgo (Album Release)

Birch Street + The Guestlist

Rocket Power

One Shot Dot

Bingo!

The Brevet

The Solid Ocean (EP Release)