Classic. The word more properly evokes a feeling than a concrete meaning. The meaning would be flatly explained as something from the past that has gained a memorable status. When applying “Classic” to the bluegrass genre a whole new set of meanings and associations surface. Bluegrass is classic Americana. A genre that is wholly American… Continue reading Larry Keel | 'Classic' | CD Review
Yarn is a true workhorse of a band. The Brooklyn, NY outfit plays an average of 200 shows a year and their cohesion as a band is tried and true. On Friday, they brought their alt-country/bluegrass blend to Quixotes in Denver for a two-night run of outdoor performances. The primary vocal duo of Blake Christiana… Continue reading Yarn | Quixotes | Denver, CO | 5/4/12 | Review
As the bartender made his last call, Todd Snider knew his evening with his hero Jerry Jeff Walker was coming to a close. They finished their drinks and slipped out the exit into a still dark night. It was the hour in which a busy city was fast asleep and only the air made a… Continue reading Todd Snider | L2 Arts & Culture Center | Denver, CO | Review
Two and a half months ago, I was fortunate enough to get my first glimpse of Elephant Revival, the Lyons band whose sound is so unique, a reporter coined the term “Transcendental Folk” in an effort to capture it. In my review of that e-Town appearance, I tried to unpack this enigmatic neologism by exploring… Continue reading Elephant Revival | Ogden Theater | Denver, CO | 4/27/12 | Review
Keller Williams is an artist that is hard to put your finger on.With a career’s worth of music ranging from electronica to children’s music and everything in between, it is easy to see that there is more going on in this guitar-vituoso’s head than one can expect from an entire band. Williams‘ stop at The… Continue reading Keller Williams | The Copper Dragon | Carbondale, IL | Review
There is a lot going on in Trace Bundy’s newest studio release, “Elephant King.” Fans of Bundy should instantly recognize his signature style, laced with looping harmonies, percussion on the guitar body, and complex music theories and melodies that could only come from him. This is Bundy’s most diverse and complex effort to date, and… Continue reading Trace Bundy | 'Elephant King' | CD Review
Trevor Robbins‘ solo project, Lowlander, is a Folk infused singer/song writer’s safe haven. In his self-released album “Criminal Mischief”, Robbins‘ soft howl steals away like a reverb wind into the western hillside. The acoustic landscape of this album has rich finger-picked textures which blend warmly with Robbins‘ dusty, melodic voice. Occasionally, this Boulder multi-instrumentalist shows… Continue reading Trevor Robbins | 'Criminal Mischief' | CD Review
Mysterium Tremendum, the latest release from the Mickey Hart Band, has the former Grateful Dead drummer digging yet deeper into his ever-expanding knowledge and love of sound for another fine record. Hart’s merry band of musicians plays along to sound waves transformed from electromagnetic radiation given off by the sun, planets, stars and galaxies. While… Continue reading Mickey Hart Band | 'Mysterium Tremendum' | Review
Dot Hacker, the experimental rock band based in Los Angeles, California was formed in 2008 by Josh Klinghoffer. Klinghoffer, Clint Walsh and Eric Gardner were all previously members of the touring incarnation of Gnarls Barkley, and were subsequently joined by Hella bassist Jonathan Hischke to record the much-anticipated “Inhibition” to be released by Org Music… Continue reading Dot Hacker | 'Inhibition' | Review
“It’s like déjà vu all over again.” – Yogi Berra It is a fait accompli that, at some point in his or her first Motet show, a newbie will be hypnotized, mesmerized, and then proselytized by the thundering puissance of an Afrobeat and funk symphony. I became an official Motet neophyte during Scarlet Begonias on… Continue reading The Motet | Cervantes Ballroom | Denver, CO | 4/20/2012 | Review
