PICK OF THE WEEK: Will Hoge - Friday, February 2nd - Trilogy Lounge, Boulder, CO

Why You Should Go: Will Hoge's electrifying live shows could be defined as Countrified Southern Indie Rock but don't let that scare you away. Hoge is not some crooner up there lamenting the loss of his pick-up. He a straight up rock star who is out to convert you to a believer in his raw brand of music.

Hoge has been visiting Colorado more and more often in the past 6 months and is building up a dedicated fan base that ranges from your typical twenty something music fan to the hard drinking, fun loving, overall wearing, hill billy type.

Hoge has been known to cover The Allman Brothers, Elvis Presely, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and even Eric Clapton during his sets but his own songs are catchy sing alongs that you will find yourself humming long before you are out the door of the club.

Aside from the great music, Trilogy is a great restaurant so head over a little early and enjoy some of the tasty organic cooking that will set you back a few bucks but is absolutely worth it. Check out their menu by clicking the link below under "Venue."


Venue:
Trilogy Lounge: 2017 13th St Boulder, CO 80302 - (303) 473-9463

Doors:
8:30 PM

*Approximate Set Times:
The Drams - 9:00 PM
Will Hoge - 10:00 PM


Price:
$10.00
PURCHASE

*All times and prices are gathered from other sources and I am not responsible for mistakes or inconsistencies. They are intended only as guidelines. Please, always call the venue if you desire the most accurate information possible.

FEATURE: moe. Hits the Road In Support of The Conch

True to jamband form, upstate New York’s moe. toured incessantly throughout 2006. They bounced across the country, road testing new material and hammering songs into shape for their eighth studio release, The Conch, that hit shelves on Jan. 23.

The Conch is a 17-track offering that includes 13 fully-developed songs and four short snippets or interludes. “The process of recording stretched out over the course of a year, as we were extremely busy, recording, working on the DVD, playing live and about 10 other things,” said Chuck Garvey (vocals, guitar, keyboards) in a recent interview with The Marquee. The result is a solid album that subtly discloses the maturity of the band and their rare ability to create intense hook-laden music as effortlessly in the studio as they do on stage.

Fortunately for fans, 2007 is looking to be another busy year for the five boys in moe. The festivities begin this month in Miami, Fla., when they board Norwegian Cruiselines’ newest ship The Jewel and throw a seven-night party on the high seas for their fans. The cruise will feature performances by moe. each night and Garvey even hinted that there may be a private show on a beach during the adventure.

In addition to their packed touring schedule, each year moe. ambitiously hosts two full-fledged festivals in upstate New York. Their winter festival, snoe.down is held in Lake Placid, New York and even featured an outdoor performance last year at the foot of Whiteface Mountain. “I am not sure we are going to do that again. It was fun but it got down to almost zero that day. While we were bundled up and fueled by hot coffee and a touch of whiskey we still had to keep warm by jumping around as much as we could,” said Garvey. “Kudos to the crowd of almost 2,000 that stuck with us for the entire set.”

With Phish calling it quits in 2004 and the recent news that The String Cheese Incident is only going to be around for a couple more months, moe. is advancing into a position as one of elder statesmen of the scene. Their festivals foster musical development within the scene and give fans the opportunity to get their moe. fix while being exposed to some of the best new bands out there. “We have invited bands like Dread Clampett, Tea Leaf Green, and Toubab Crewe and all of them have played the second stage at our festivals and made big impressions,” Garvey said.

All of the touring, festivals and recording has unfortunately had a physical effect on the band recently. “Al [Schnier] (vocals, guitar) had to take some time off from playing guitar due to a pretty severe bout with tendonitis a few months back,” said Garvey. “That caused me to play a little bigger role on the guitar lately, even though we had guests sitting in with us to fill the void. As a result, I am now the one battling the tendonitis. I have been going through physical therapy and other treatments to try to deal with the problem. Fortunately, Al seems to be doing much better and will be able to play on the upcoming tour.”

In April of 2005, before the battles with tendonitis, moe. held a two-night run at The Fillmore in Denver and recorded the second night for broadcast on HDNet as part of their “Sunday Night Concert Series.” By many accounts the show turned out to be one of the best of the year and on Oct. 3, 2006 the band released moe.: Live at The Fillmore on DVD for the world to experience.

When moe. pulls into Colorado this time they will be fresh from their seven-night Carribean cruise and ready to launch the record release tour in support The Conch. The Colorado run is booked in progressively larger venues from night to night. “We call it ‘the evolution,’” said Garvey. “We start off in a small venue and work our way up. We did it once in Atlanta and wanted to do it again. Colorado fit the model perfectly with the range of venue sizes available to us.” The band will start their run at Twist and Shout in Denver and then head to Boulder for a night at the Fox Theater, before returning to Denver for shows at The Gothic and then finally at The Fillmore with Jeff Austin of Yonder Mountain String Band, to round out the four nights. “It’s fun because you get familiar with the faces up front over the run. The hardcore fans come out all four nights and that leads to a really good vibe in the venues.”

While the vibe in the venue is critical to their fiery performances, without a good vibe on stage none of this would be possible. In their 16 year history, moe.’s line-up has remained largely the same and they have all managed to remain friends. Garvey is quick to emphasize that he and his bandmates are still close friends after all these years of touring and playing together. “We recognize that we have it pretty good. Doing something this cool with your friends is a really fun way to go through life.”

Check Out moe. If You Like:

• Phish
• Umphey's McGee
• Disco Biscuits

PICK OF THE WEEK: moe. - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, January 24th, 25th, 26th, & 27th - Various Venues, Denver & Boudler, CO

Why You Should Go: Over the past 5 years moe. has rapidly ascended to become one of the elder statesemen of the Jamband scene. Their raging jams, quirky sound and tight harmonies have made them the logical choice for those crushed by the loss of Phish and caught between the String Cheese and Panic camps.

The last time moe. played the Fillmore they sold it out two night in a row and a DVD of the second night resulted from the run. This time around they are playing in larger and larger venues each night. They start with an instore performance at Twist and Shout in Denver on Wednesday night before graduating up to The Fox in Boulder and then back to Denver's Gothic Theatre and fianally wrapping it all up at The Fillmore with Jeff Austin of Yonder Mountain String Band.

All in all, it is sure to be one hell of a run. The boys are fresh from a 7 night Carribean cruise where they played each night to 800 of their most rapid fans. On this 4 night run they aren't likely to repeat any songs so don't be afraid to hit all 4 shows if you can get tickets.

Venues:
Wednesday: Twist and Shout, 2508 E. Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80206 - (303) 722-1943
Thursday: Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St, Boulder, 80302 - (303) 443-3399
Friday: Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood, CO 80113 - (303) 788-0984
Saturday: Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St, Denver, CO 80218 - (303) 837-0360

Doors:
Wednesday: Line Up Early
Thursday: 8:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 PM
Saturday: 6:00 PM

*Approximate Set Times:
Wednesday: 8:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 PM
Saturday:
Jeff Austin - 7:00 PM
moe. - 8:30 PM

Price:
Wednesday: You must Buy The Conch (moe.'s new album) to receive a wristband that will allow you to attend the show
More Info
Thursday and Friday are Sold Out
Saturday: $25.00
PURCHASE SATURDAY

*All times and prices are gathered from other sources and I am not responsible for mistakes or inconsistencies. They are intended only as guidelines. Please, always call the venue if you desire the most accurate information possible.

REVIEW: The Sputter - January 20th - Meadowlark Tavern, Denver, CO

The Scene: The Meadowlark is a small bar at the corner of 27th and Larimer, just North of downtown. It is about a year old and, with it's location just around the corner from The Larimer Lounge, has been growing rapidly. This is a bar that could have done just as well as a hole in the wall bar that offered an alternative to The Larimer, but they have taken it upon themselves to create a completely seperate identity.

While the bar was full for most of the night it was never packed to the point where you couldn't get to the beautiful cherry bar to order a drink. A mix of preppy and hipster 20 and 30 somethings milled around talking, drinking and listening to the band. The owner, a humble good natured iron worker from North Dakota, clearly takes pride in his bar and was there till nearly closing, helping out and chatting with his customers.

The Meadowlark has always offered some kind of live entertainment each night of the week, but until recently it was largely DJs. Recently, bartender and talent buyer, Tory Baker has started bring live bands to the cozy confines of the basement bar. If The Sputter are any indication of the kind of bands that they are booking regularly I will definately head back up there for a chill night of jazz at a neighboorhood bar. This is just the scene I wasn't sure I was going to be able to find in this town.

The Sputter: Listing influences like E.S.T., Medeski Martin and Wood, Jacob Fred Jazz Odesey and Radiohead The Sputter are a four piece experimental Jazz combo who rely largely on improvisation to flesh out their sets. Throughout the evening the bassist Jonathan Rakstang switched between upright and electric bass while Dave Kurtz kept time on a minimal drum kit and the nimble fingers Jon Wirtz danced on his keyboard. Recently this band expanded from a trio to a quartet with addition of Trumpeter Joshua Trinidad. Altogether the group is clean while not always perfect. They are a young band and, like any improv based collective, will take time to mature. That being said, their sound is inviting and offers the listener the option of lush background music or an active listening experience. At moments they will grab your attention as they build to the climax of a song but largely they seemed content to dominate the vibe in the room.

Their three set performance started about 9:15 and lasted until shortly before 1:30, an impressive display from a band that has been together only 2 and a half years. Between sets the band members were sharing conversation and beers with friends and strangers alike in the audience cultivating an air of community in the small venue.

While most of the tunes they played throughout the evening were not immediately recognizable to me, my friend Jay noticed that they opened their second set with an instrumental version of Radiohead's Motion Picture Soundtrack. They stuck to the original for the first few minutes before steering off into a very solid jam that eventually wrapped back around and finished off with the main theme.

Who knows if The Sputter are headed for greatness, but if they stay together and mature as a band they may just break out of the Colorado Jazz scene and into bigger markets. For now they are a treat to listen to in small bars like the Meadowlark right here in Denver.

Energy: B
Sound: B-
Muscianship: B
Stage Presence: B
Set/Light Show: N/A

Overall: B

REVIEW: My Morning Jacket - January 13th 2007 - Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO

The Scene: It was a bitter cold night in Denver, like sub-zero cold, but this show was sold out and it was anything but cold inside. We went in about halfway through Elvis Perkins' set and found a spot against a rail about a third of the way back in the theatre. It was great for the remainder of Perkins set but as soon as set break arrived we knew were in for it. The show seemed oversold and everyone wanted to be up near the front. It was simply too crowded and the general attitude was one of "I deserve to be here so you can go to hell." It was unfortunate but true, and many in our group just couldn't take it and headed up to the Balcony after about 30 minutes.

It was nice to see that The Jackets are attracting a wide cross section of fans these days. There were young punk kids, preppy 20 somethings, a good number of yuppies out on a Saturday night and even some grey hairs most of whom didn't really seem phased by the sardine like experience. They may play their own brand of spacey, grunged out, southern jam rock but apparently there is something for everyone in there somewhere and that is always nice to see.

Opener: Elvis Perkins. I would like to catch Perkins when he is playing his own set. His americana laced acoustic tunes didn't carry well through the theatre and frankly it is hard to pay attention to a band when no one around gives a damn.

Perkins' voice was reminiscent of Jerry Garcia and his band could have been a group of travelling minstrels, just trying to make their way. I've got to say that I was dissapointed that the Deerland Horns didn't make an appearance during the set as I have heard great things about their contribution to the band.

I would like to give Mr. Perkins and his band another chance when they return to Denver, so I guess they made a good enough impression.

My Morning Jacket: DAMN! These guys can rock. I mean they REALLY rock. I would have checked the Ogden for structural stability after their two night stand. I am surprised they didn't blow the back wall off the room. From the word "GO!" Jim James reverb drenched vocals, the ethereal guitars and keys, and the thunder of Patrick Hallahan's drums forced the audience to pay attention. For their opener they launched into "It Beats 4 U" of off their most recent studio offereing Z It was clear we were in for a ride.

Relatively early in the evening, as James and company stomped and soared through several tracks off of Z including sure to be classics "Wordless Chorus," "Off the Record" and "Gideon" it became clear that some of the best material from their previous albums fit in perfectly right along side. Tracks like "Lowdown" from their 2001 release At Dawn and "Golden" from 2003's It Still Moves prove that Z wasn't a fluke and is simply a product of a band who is reaching maturity. If they can continue to crank out albums like that one, they will go down in history with bands like Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.

As the night wore on the crowd thinned out a little bit and became a little easier to breathe. The band must have sensed the this and slammed us with the 1-2 punch of "One Big Holiday" and "Mahgeetah" to finish their set. They left the stage for a brief break and the audience response was deafening. Chanting, stomping, whistling and even some girlish shrieking beckoned The Jackets to return to the stage, and return they did for an eight song encore that they led off with "Into the Woods" from Z before giving us three crowdpleasers from It Still Moves, "Rollin' Back," "Easy Morning Rebel," and "Dancefloors."

Coupled with their incindiary performance was a jaw dropping light show. Master lighting designer Marc Janowitz is working with the band these days and his experience behind the board is immediately apparent as he fills the room with intense bursts of light and dense fog. Throughout the concert Janowitz matched the feeling and beat of the music perfectly and added significantly to the already immense power of the show.

If thunderous Rock-N-Roll that freaks a bit into the jam world, and mind blowing lights aren't enough to convince you that these guys are a powerhouse in the music world then how about he old cliches of Gibson Flying V guitar and feather boas. Both of which James was sporting throughout the night. As he strutted and thrashed around the stage swinging his long scraggly hair it was impossible to miss his black and white moon boots that seemed to oddly complete the surreal look.

It was quite simply one of the best rock shows I have witnessed. They pulled out all the stops and threw caution to the wind. Despite the densely packed crowd and the attitude that unfortunately made the tight confines even worse, I would gladly brave another sub-zero night to catch these guys try to bring the house down again.


Energy: A+
Sound: A
Muscianship: B
Stage Presence: A
Set/Light Show: A

Overall: A

PICK OF THE WEEK: Zero - Thursday, Friday & Saturday, January 18th, 19th & 20th - Cervantes, Denver, CO

Why You Should Go: Having been together off and on for more than 20 years this group of phenomonal musicians has grown and matured together while keeping a loose band of musicians together creating the music that moves them and their fans. Grounded in the Bay Area tradition of psychedelic rock, Zero was founded in 1984 by Guitarist Steve Kimock and Drummer Greg Anton. The cast of characters has rotated a bit over the years but as always, the new incarnation retains Anton and Kimock as the core of the band. They are supplemented by Martin Fierro, Liam Hanrahan, Melvin Seals and Donna Jean Godchaux-Makay. On this tour Kimock has even added his son John Morgan Kimock to the roster.

After a 6 year hiatus, Zero reunited last year in Denver and is coming back to our fair city to help Cervates celebrate it's fourth year of existence. It is going to be a party for sure and Zero will be a more than suitable house band for the weekend. There have been special guests hinted at but none confirmed. If you are looking for a jammy, jazzy, or bluesy way to celebrate your weekend, Zero is a sure bet for a good time.

Venue: Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom 2637 Welton Street Denver, CO 80205 - 303.297.1772

Doors:
8:00 PM

*Approximate Set Times:
Zero: 9:15 PM

Price:
$25.00 (ADV)
$30.00 (DOS)
PURCHASE THURSDAY
PURCHASE FRIDAY
PURCHASE SATURDAY

*All times and prices are gathered from other sources and I am not responsible for mistakes or inconsistencies. They are intended only as guidelines. Please, always call the venue if you desire the most accurate information possible.

REVIEW: Randy Newman - January 8th 2007 - Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, CO

The Scene: It really is dissapointing when you realize that most of your generation has missed out on an incredible talent. While I understand that Randy Newman is not a spring chicken, he writes music that has wide appeal across generations as evidenced by his mega-success writing songs over the past 10+ years for Pixar's animated movies.

The average age at the performance was at least 50 and before the show I overheard two guys in the bathroom talking about their regiments for treating enlarged prostate problems. Decidedly not the crowd whose next live music experience would involve Gibson Flying V guitars, moon boots, strobe lights and fog as mine will.

I grew up being exposed to all kinds of music I can honestly say that I enjoy being exposed to crowds like this. I respect each and every person who ventured out on Monday to see Newman play in the modern confines of the Lincoln Center theater. I guess it is understandable that the theater was not by any means packed as it was but the first of 5 performances in Fort Collins, but this is a performer who has played some of the most hallowed halls in our Country and around the world. He has graced the stage of Carnegie Hall, The Hollywood Bowl and countless other venues around the world.

With all that said, Newman didn't seem phased by any of it and put on a great show. He created an intimacy with his down to eart, good natured attitude that is hard to match. He even made a couple of jokes about his age and the age of most of the audience members.

Randy Newman: At the stroke of 7:30, Newman walked out onto the stage very unassumingly. He took up his seat at the beautiful Grand Piano and launched right into "It's Money That I Love" a tongue and cheek ballad accented with some tasty Honky Tonk piano playing that served as a precursor to the direction that much of the evening's humor would take. Songs like "It's Lonely at The Top," "The Great Nations of Europe," and "Political Science" followed later in the set and also showcased Newman's signature brand of dry humor. He never missed a beat as the audience broke in laughter several times during each of these pieces.

Between songs Newman took time to tell short stories about the origin of some of the tunes and he even entertained requests from the audience toward the end of the show. He managed to keep the mood light even as he occasionally dropped strong anti-Bush sentiments. He doesn't seem to take himself too seriously which is refreshing in this day and age of the preaching rockstar who see the stage as their pulpit.

While you may or may not know it, Newman has had his share of hits over the years. He didn't neccesarily sing the versions that rose to the top of the charts but he wrote them just the same. He peppered his performance with solo renditions of several of these songs including: "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)," made famous by Three Dog Night, "You've Got a Friend In Me," which he sang for the movie Toy Story, and "You Can Leave Your Hat On," which Tom Jones and Joe Cocker made into international hits for themselves.

As he finished "You Can Leave Your Hat On," Newman shared with us a conversation that had with Joe Cocker a few years ago. Apparently Newman asked Cocker why he thought he had so much success with the song and Cocker simply replied, "it is all about the key you play it in." Newman then demonstrated the songs recurring piano part played in several different keys. It was immediately crystal clear that the key Cocker chose was much catchier than the low register Newman had chosen when he originally penned the song. "I could have done that," he sighed. "I just didn't think of it."

While much of the show was funny and he had us laughing throughout the night, Newman also delved into the more poignant and touching songs in his repetoire. Tracks such as "I Miss You," written about his first wife when married to his second "Baltimore" and "Marie" constrasted starkly with some of the more humorous songs in his catalogue but also showcased his range as a composer and songwriter. One of the highlights of the evening came in the form of "Louisiana 1927," a tear jerker of a ballad that recently came back into national focus when Katrina stuck in 2005. As he sang the lyrics "the river rose all day, the river rose all night. Some people got lost in the flood, some got away allright," it was immediately clear why the song had touched so many during the terrible tragedy of the hurricane.

Whether he is packaging a harsh message in a pretty package or singing a truly heartfealt ballad about love or loss, Newman has to be ranked right up there with the classic American songwriters. His knack for words is uncanny and he couples that with extraordinary piano chops to create a lasting contribution to our musical culture.

Energy: B
Sound: A
Muscianship: A
Stage Presence: B+
Set/Light Show: C

Overall: A-

FEATURE: My Morning Jacket Continues Its Rise

What do The Boston Pops, Cameron Crowe, Pink Floyd lighting designer Mark Brickman and Levon Helm of the Band all have in common? The answer is that they have all recently worked with Kentucky rock outfit My Morning Jacket.

Since the release of their fourth studio effort Z in October of 2005 the band has exploded into the collective consciousness of rock fans across the county. Their shows have been selling out nearly every night and the palpable energy in the room erupts when they take the stage.
“We have had a lot of good things happen to us in the last year and we feel really blessed about it,” said the Jacket’s drummer, Patrick Hallahan, in a recent interview with me. “But I have to say that working with the Boston Pops was one of the best experiences.”

Hallahan seemed almost star-struck as he recounted the experience. “Getting that call was insane. We have always dreamed about getting the chance to play in front of a full symphony orchestra,” he said. “And to have not just any orchestra, but the Boston Pops call you, was an incredible feeling.” Unfortunately for their fans, the concerts were not professionally recorded so only fans who were lucky enough to have been in Symphony Hall in Boston on one of those two evenings have any idea about the true majesty of the experience.

Shortly before the call that invited them to share the stage with The Pops, Hallahan and his band-mates had received another, very flattering, phone call. They were invited to contribute a song to Endless Highway: The Music of The Band, a tribute album that is due out Jan. 30 on 429 Records. My Morning Jacket has the distinction of being the only band that was able to take advantage of an offer to record their contribution in the studio of legendary Band drummer, Levon Helm. “There are very few people in this world that I get all giggly and star-struck over and Levon Helm is on the top of the pile with maybe three others,” said Hallahan. “He wasn’t involved with the actual recording at all, but it was just so incredible to be up there and get a chance to talk to him and have all the stories about how great a guy he is be backed up by his actions. It was amazing.”

To make the situation that much more amazing, they were able to record one of The Band’s most heartfelt and poignant ballads, “It Makes No Difference.” “The song is just so incredible,” Hallahan gushed. “It is such a sad love song and it was one of the first songs of theirs that we all collectively fell in love with. It made such perfect sense for us to record it for that project,” he said.

Joining My Morning Jacket on the tribute are some of the best in the business. Bruce Hornsby, Rosanne Cash, John Hiatt, Widespread Panic and The Allman Brothers Band all paid their respects The Band’s legacy and contributed their own versions of some of the most influential songs in American musical history.

While they did play their cover of “It Makes No Difference” a couple of times in concert, Hallahan confesses that they have a tendency to focus on their own material when playing live. “Covers are fun and we’ll pull one out if it is the appropriate time, but we played a lot more when we didn’t have as much of a catalog to choose from.”

Their most recent project Okonokos is an epic live album released on both CD and DVD that features My Morning Jacket reaching back into their catalog and showcasing 21 original songs. Recorded in front of a packed house at The Fillmore in San Francisco amid an elaborate set decorated to look like a remote forest location, Okonokos captures the ferocious raw energy of the Jacket in their natural element.

It is obvious when watching Okonokos that this is a band that has come of age in the last couple of years. They recognized the significance of putting out a live DVD and they pulled out all the stops and put on the performance of their lives when it counted. For support, they enlisted an A-List crew that included Mark Brickman, legendary lighting designer for Pink Floyd. “Brickman was only working with us for the filming of the DVD but his good friend and protégé Marc Janowitz is working with us now. Basically, Mark Brickman appointed our lighting director and that is a true honor.”

Janowitz was named “Lighting Director of the Year” in 2004 by ED Magazine and by all accounts has added an incredible visual element to My Morning Jacket’s live performances. “This is the first time we have gone out on tour and had a light show that really affects our heads,” Hallahan said. “Sometimes I get so caught up in the lights that I forget where I am and that has been an amazing twist of events.”

In another amazing twist of events for the Jacket last year, the boys were offered their silver screen debut by one of the most respected directors in Hollywood. Director Cameron Crowe “was searching for a band from Kentucky to play [pause] a band from Kentucky in his Elizabethtown project,” chuckled Hallahan. “Fortunately for us we were playing at the Troubadour in LA around the time he was thinking about this and he and some of his staff came out to see us play. After the show he approached us and we hit it off right away.”

It wasn’t long before Cameron was being led around rural Kentucky by this group of long haired rock and rollers. “He flew out to Kentucky and stayed here for a while and we showed him what it was like to be a Kentuckian; everything from Bourbon tastings to Bar-B-Qs to long walks in dark cemeteries. We were really just trying to give him a sense of the culture more than anything.”

When it came to begin filming, Crowe shared his vision for the movies climactic scene and revealed that it focused on My Morning Jacket playing the classic Lynyrd Skynyrd song “Free Bird.” “At first we were a little apprehensive as that could be the nail in the coffin for our musical career,” Hallahan admitted. “However, once we read the script and saw how it fit into the movie, it was a no-brainer.”

From Crowe to The Boston Pops, the Kentucky boys have certainly made their mark on several echelons of American culture recently. It seems in many ways that they have gone from being merely a rock band to being a cultural phenomenon whose star is still rising. It won’t be long before My Morning Jacket will be listed right alongside the people they considered their influences and idols.

Check Out My Morning Jacket If You Like:

• The Band
• Wolf Parade
• Drive-By Truckers

PICK OF THE WEEK: My Morning Jacket - Friday & Saturday, January 12th & 13th - Ogden Theater, Denver, CO

Why You Should Go: My Morning Jacket is by all acounts one of the best live bands touring today and their recent live release (CD/DVD) OKONOKOS proves it. Their incindiary blend of Southern Rock and Heavy Rock-N-Roll is captured in all of it's glory on this collection. The catchy guitar hooks, throbbing rhythm section and powerful vocals force the listener to take notice. This 5 piece has all the power you could hope to pack onto one stage.

While they have been around for several years now they are just reaching the top of their game. They have recently shared the stage with The Boston Pops, recorded in Levon Helm's studio and even had Pink Floyd lighting genius Mark Brickman run the board for their DVD filming. ?All together they are a force to be reckoned with on today's rock circuit. Catch them in the newly rennovated Ogden before they graduate to the Fillmore or worse . . .

Venue: The Ogden Theatre 935 E. Colfax Ave Denver, CO 80218

Doors:
7:00 PM

*Approximate Set Times:
Elvis Perkins: 8:00 PM
My Morning Jacket: 9:00 PM

*Price:
$25.00
PURCHASE FRIDAY
PURCHASE SATURDAY


*All times and prices are gathered from other sources and I am not responsible for mistakes or inconsistencies. They are intended only as guidelines. Please, always call the venue if you desire the most accurate information possible.

Happy New Year!

As we enter 2007 I look forward to another year of amazing live music along the Front Range. In fact the Calendar is already filling up. Next Monday will take us to Fort Collins to catch the great American lyricist Randy Newman perform the first of 8 shows at Lincoln Center and then on the 12th and 13th My Morning Jacket come to town followed by a 4 night run by Jamband stalwarts moe. at venues around Denver and Boulder from the 24th - 27th. This is just to name a few.

I have been MIA for the past couple of weeks on this blog due to the Holidays and the enormous amount of real work I have had on my plate. I did pull together features on My Morning Jacket and moe. that I will post over the next week or so. The only live show I caught in the last 3 weeks was Lotus with DJ Harry at Quixotes in Denver. I have got to tell you that while Lotus is a very tight electro-jam outfit, DJ Harry stole the show for me. If you haven't seen him in the last year or so, brave the snow and head out to check him out. He had a packed house at Quixotes dancing their little white asses off to some tasty house music last week during the blizzard. I'll post a review of that show shortly.

So Happy New Year and I hope you make a resolution to get out there to support the live musicians and the venues that make the music scene along the front range so vibrant.

Top 5 Albums of 2006

I listened to a hell of a lot of newly released music over the course of the last year and there were a few CDs that kept popping up in my rotation. For whatever reason these were some albums that I just kept putting back in the CD player, at home, in the car, at work, it didn't really matter. I just wanted to hear these records, and hear them again and again. In my estimation that makes them good albums.

I realize that "good" is relative (or at least it should be) but in this world of too many opinions I am going to add mine to the mix with my list of the 5 best albums released in 2006.

#5 - Band of Horses: Everything All the Time
Standout Tracks: The Great Salt Lake, Funeral

#4 - Gnarls Barkley: St. Elsewhere
Standout Tracks: Crazy, Gone Daddy Gone

#3 - Eric Bachmann: To The Races
Standout Tracks: Carborro Woman, Man O' War

#2 - Sergio Mendes (feat will.i.am): Timeless
Standout Tracks: Yes Y'all, That Heat

#1 - Decemberists: The Crane Wife

Standout Tracks: The Perfect Crime #2, Summersong, Sons and Daughters