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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
ALBUM REVIEWS
THE DECEMBERISTS Crystal Broth
Clark M. Lamson
BandWagon Magazine
Beginning in 2000, The Decemberists used organ and accordion to give a minstrel tinge to their work. In 2011, with their sixth album The King is Dead, the team took a turn towards a kinder sound. This new content gave lead songwriter Colin Meloy a chance to step out of his lyrical box, which in Meloy’s case, happens to be a coffin. The content was almost hymnal. A few weeks ago in our New Music Monday column, I said that the debut singles from The Decemberists’ new album suggested we might be seeing another warm, kind, folksy album. While What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World may sound at first to be just that, it is the toothiest album to The Decemberists’ name. The opening track is quite literally a message to the audience. In a moment of Death Grips like defiance, the band takes a moment to vent new frustrations found with fame. It seems that The Decemberists sit uncomfortably with the following they gained in recent years. The irony here is that what follows is an album that covers a breadth of content, including that which the aforementioned fans have so desperately pleaded for; from the dank and macabre we’ve come
to know from the group, to the softer stylings of The King is Dead, the band’s previous album. Meloy’s poetry has been sorely missed, and it has lost none of its potency. The album’s biggest boon comes in its musical exploration, specifically in the guitar. “Till The Water’s All Long Gone” and “Carolina Low” each have the bluesiest sounds we’ve heard from the group, all of which appears in Meloy’s acoustic guitar work. Fingerpicking and note bending give the songs a valley folkloric feel. With a bright, brassy reverb, “Easy Come, Easy Go” feels more like a track from Link Wray. The album is quintessential Decemberists. Its not grand, bold progress that make the album special, but inumberal small challenges throughout. Meloy leads his band of minstrels into the fray once more, to miraculous result. The Decemberists will be coming to Red Rocks in May with Spoon, also promoting a new album.`
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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
DEATH GRIPS Fashion Week
Clark M. Lamson
BandWagon Magazine
For those of you who read the hastily scrawled napkin message on that fateful July night, then you, like me, are still mourning the death of Death Grips. And if that’s true, then you, like me, probably have been checking the Death Grips website thirdworlds.net obsessively, finatically, unconciously even, for the second half of their final album, titled Jenny Death. The breakup letter told us they would be releasing it “later this year,” (being 2014) but still, no album. On the night of January 4th of this year, Death Grips released a new album. No, not Jenny Death, the final part of the double album The Powers That B, companion album to N*ggas on the Moon. Not the album you were expecting. Instead, we’ve been treated to an honest-to-goodness surprise. The new album is Fashion Week, a 14 track instrumental experience.
While MC Ride’s puncturing scream and enigmatic raps are missed, it is impressive to hear Zach Hill and Flatlander “at their best,” a statement made in the band’s supposed break up note. The Hill drumset brings a raw and unaffected beat to Fashion Week, something fans of their earlier work might miss. Though the Death Grips backbeat is always cutting, it’s usually heavy with an electronic sludge. In Fashion Week, the kit is gloating and unrelenting as ever, but free and uninhibited. Flatlander doesn’t seem to be breaking much new ground in this venture, but that’s not to say his work is bad. The DJ/producer brings just what has come to be expected. The melodies are shrill, biting, and craning throughout. A few of Fllander’s standout tracks include Flatlander’s standout content “Runway H” (the second ‘H’ that is) which is he his poppiest content yet, or in “Runway W,” where creepy chimes and a fuzzed out guitar lead scrape down an
echoey back alley. As if a surprise album isn’t enough, the last letter of the track titles spell out a wicked taunt when read straight down: JENNY DEATH WHEN. It doesn’t bother them that you have 3 tracks each named “Runway N.” It’s more important that you know that they’ll release their album on their terms. Their obstinate refusal to fold has always been prevalent in their music, and their politics, but never has it been so utterly pervasive.
BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
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THE POTATO PIRATES
Photo by Adam DeGross
Raised Better Than This
Natalie Allen
BandWagon Magazine
Just as diverse as the big city itself, Denver punk band The Potato Pirates’ new album has something for everyone. Raised Better Than This came out in October 2014 after a much anticipated wait by local fans and the band itself. This quintet is usually known for being a Mile High punk band with occasional ska influences
including a bagpipe player as the real curveball. They have come a long way since their first self-titled album released in 2008. The twelve songs on their new album include several different influences that make the new album as lovable as the first two albums were. One of the songs with some noticeable ska influences like the fast tempo and upstrokes on the guitar is “Tequila Romance.” This song features lyrics that apply to
the struggles in relationships and the bitter sweet indulgence of drinking. It usually ends badly but you keep coming back for more. On the subject of alcohol, “Thinkin’ About Drinkin”’ has a catchy chorus that will leave you singing. This song is sure to be a crowd favorite because of the repetition and easy to sing along style of the chorus. Two songs that are on Raised Better Than This and also featured on the Williams Street EP in 2012
are “Can’t Go Back” and “Gullible.” Can’t Go Back is more of a hardcore punk song but hardly compares to the last song on the new album, “Struggle.” This song sounds will definitely give you a Hardcore fix. Do you need a Bagpipe fix? Take a listen to “Boots for Brains.” Denver is lucky to be the home to this band that plays shows throughout the local venues as Theatre on February 28th with well as going on tour regularly. Screeching Weasel, The Dwarves, Their next show is at the Gothic and The Queers.
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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015 IN TALL BUILDINGS Driver
Jed Murphy
BandWagon Magazine
If Erik Hall, the mastermind behind the Chicago based band In Tall Buildings, could have everyone listen to two albums it would be Neil Young’s On The Beach and Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians, two strikingly different albums. One is a powerful expression of minimalism that is highly technical and enveloping, the other is well, Neil Young hanging out on the beach. The albums are far removed from each other but after listening to In Tall Buildings’ latest release Driver which is out February 17th, the influences they’ve had on Hall couldn’t be more apparent. Driver is huge in scope with it’s production combining many tiny pieces to create something much larger just like Music for 18 Musicians while at the same time, Hall captures the casual laziness of On the Beach. Entertainment Weekly describes the band as psych folk with Hall frequently using the large ambient fuzziness of psych rock but in a much more controlled, “folk” manner. This shoe does fit, but the waxing and waning size of the songs with the use of very tight production makes Driver so much more than any folk album or even many of psych rock albums that have come out recently.
For In Tall Buildings’ second full length album, Hall approached the record with a much clearer thought process. He describes his 2010 selftitled release as “aesthetically scattered” as it was a collection of songs he had been working on for several years prior. “For Driver, I really wanted to deliberately hone things a bit and come up with a more focused batch of songs. I tipped the scale just slightly more towards the pop side of things in order to hopefully yield a record that people could latch on to,” Hall said in our recent interview. Hall did most of the production from his home studio in Chicago, Illinois, but in making Driver, Hall learned a few things about being productive when it comes to working from home. “In making this record I learned that, despite having a fully capable recording studio set up in my home, I am most productive when I designate a specific time and place to get the writing
and recording done. I moved the core of my studio up to a friend’s family cottage in northern Michigan where I was able to work during the day a couple of weeks at a time. These were the spurts of productivity that actually brought the record closer to being finished.” Driver is indeed very creative and the space of the whole thing is clear from start to finish. In Tall Buildings is without a doubt a group to watch for 2015.
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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
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en español MONTONEROS
If You Think You’re In the Wrong Place, You’re Probably Here Lorenzo Conchas
inglés, Montoneros abraza sus raíces y se acerca a una audiencia con las ganas de alguna representación en Al describir así mismos como el corazón del rock en Colorado. una banda bilingüe de math/punk/ Debutando con el albúm If You indie rock, Montoneros captura Think You’re In the Wrong Place, algo por lo que varias bandas locales You’re Probably Here a finales del matarían. Con temas en español e 2014, Montoneros llega al escenario
BandWagon Magazine
Jed Murphy
BandWagon Magazine
Describing themselves as a bilingual math/punk/indie rock band, Montoneros captures something many great local bands would kill for. With songs in both Spanish and English, Montoneros embraces their roots and reaches an audience just itching for some representation in the heart of the Colorado rock scene. Releasing their debut album If You Think You’re In the Wrong Place, You’re Probably Here late 2014, Montoneros arrives on the scene with an album that is honest and surprisingly vulnerable. Their sound is contemplative and raw, capturing the same upbeat sullenness that drew people to those early Modest Mouse records. It’s heavy at times and light hearted at others although it is far more indie rock than punk. Vocally, singer Gaston Leone carries a strong melody and a consistency that ties the album together well, though
the recordings simply don’t do him justice. This record isn’t for everyone though. The casual music listener will not find the manufactured radio pop they are used to and will be turned off by imperfections found with listening to a band just starting out. This album is for someone looking to dive into something different and local. On a whole the album breathes well, but the series of instrumentals that puts some of the “math” in their math rock description, ends up taking away from the momentum of the first few songs and they never fully recover. “Ride the Ridges” is a strong final song although the listener can get a little lost before they get there. With little more than 300 likes on their Facebook page (an unfortunate barometer for the success of local bands) they are obviously still paying their dues. If You Think You’re In the Wrong Place, You’re Probably Here shows a group with a lot of potential so go to their shows and buy their stuff.
con un disco que es honesto y sorprendentemente vulnerable. Su sonido es contemplativo y crudo, capturando la misma hosquedad optimista que atraía a la gente en los primeros registros de Modest Mouse. Es pesado en momentos y alegre en los demás, aunque es mucho más indie rock que punk. Vocalmente, cantante Gaston Leona lleva una melodía fuerte y una consistencia que ata cabal el album, aunque las grabaciones simplemente no le hacen justicia. Sin embargo, está grabación no es para cualquiera. El radioescucha de música ocasional no encontrará el pop común de la radio al que están acostumbrados y perderá interés por las imperfecciones encontradas al escuchar a una banda que apenas comienza. Este álbum es para alguien que busca sumergirse en algo diferente y local. En su conjunto, el álbum respira bien pero la serie de instrumentales que pone algunas de “math” en su descripción math rock termina quitando la dinámica de las primeras canciones y nunca se recuperan completamente. “Ride the Ridges” es su canción final, aunque es muy fuerte, el oyente puede perder interés antes de llegar ahí. Con poco más de 300 gustos en su página de Facebook (desafortunado barómetro por el éxito de las bandas locales) ya que evidentemente aún están pagando su precio. If You Think You’re In the Wrong Place, You’re Probably Here muestra un grupo con un gran potencial por lo que sugiero ir a sus conciertos y comprar su mercancia.
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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
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Humble Fish:
CHALI 2NA
Keeps His Ego at Bay Kyle Eustice
BandWagon Magazine
“If you can make a difference in one person’s life then you’ve done your job,” Chali 2na (real name Charles Stewart) says. “That’s one of the reasons I really love music. I have the abnormal ability and chance to affect more than one person’s life at one point or another. It’s just amazing.” As the baritone voice of Jurassic 5 (J5), Chali 2na has been lending
IN CONCERT @ HODI’s HALF NOTE in Ft. COllins February 21ST
monumental contributions to hip-hop culture since he emerged from Los Angeles’ Good Life Cafe scene in the early ‘90s. Originally part of the Unity Committee (with Cut Chemist and Mark 7even), Chali 2na formed J5 after merging with The Rebels of Rhythm (with Akil and Soup) in 1993. After J5’s self-titled debut dropped in 1998, the group followed up with
2000’s critically acclaimed sophomore effort, Quality Control. On the track “Contribution,” Chali 2na spits: “The most that you can spend on any child is time.” It’s a philosophy he took to heart and carried into his family dynamic. Growing up on the Southside of Chicago, the now 43-year-old artist was lacking a strong male role model in his life. “I grew up in dark circumstances,” Chali says. “I grew up in impoverished conditions; in the ghettos on the Southside of Chicago. The crack dealer and the gang banger on the corner were my heroes and mentors simply because there were no strong male figures in my life. So I said to myself if I ever had a child, I would show him the righteous way to go. I said to myself I am going to try to be that child’s role model; bigger than anything outside of the family structure. I’ve always tried to be the best man that I can be; the best brother, husband, friend, whatever it is that I am, I’ve always tried to be the best at it so when he looks to find a good example that he needs in his life, he can look to his father. I feel that I’ve succeeded. My son has turned out to be a very incredible person. I feel so blessed to be able to say I’m his dad.” A devout Muslim, Chali’s faith keeps him grounded, especially in the music industry where it’s easy to wander onto a destructive path. His beliefs are evident in a lot of his music. On 2009’s Fish Outta Water, for example, he talks about his upbringing, family and faith in a refreshingly truthful manner, especially on the track “Righteous Ways.” “The only things I know are the things I’ve experienced,” he says. “That’s kind of how I’ve been taught. It’s one of those things where I can only speak of things that I know or the things that I’ve gone through. I’m just hoping what I’ve learned from those experiences I’m able to teach the next person by sharing
those experiences. That’s probably the honesty that you hear and I’m glad that you can hear it like that.” While Chali continues to nurture his solo career and family, he also remains heavily focused on his art, which includes photography and painting. He’s “been a painter as long as he can remember” and in fact, painting graffiti is what led him to hip-hop. “Photography is just an extension of my painting because, first and foremost, I’m a painter,” he says. “That’s where it all comes from. I’ve always been some kind of illustrator. I’ve tried to copy comic books and draw portraits of people. It’s something that I’ve always been into and something I’ve always loved. “My love for the visual arts is what introduced me to hip-hop,” he continues. “It got me into painting pictures with words and eventually it gave me this job that I have today [laughs]. Photography is something that I’ve been doing even back when you still had to develop your film. I’m an old man and have been touring since those days. It feels so good to have cameras today that are so instant now. We’ve been taking Instagram type shots since back in the day. If Instagram was around back then, it would be hilarious to see those pictures today. I credit DJ Babu, Evidence and Everlast, and all of the people that were into it back then. They got me into it. It’s a form of painting for me. I’m able to square pictures up and see it for what it is. I’m able to do that with a paint brush and a canvas, too.” After a string of extremely lucrative J5 reunion shows, including one at Red Rocks last January and another in Denver on July 14, 2014, Chali is currently focused on his Against the Grain EP series, which has five installments. The third one, Bloodshot Fisheye, is up next. He’s also on the road with Canadian funk band, the Funk Hunters and makes a stop in Fort Collins February 21 at Hodi’s Half Note. “I had no idea Funk Hunters existed until they took my record and remixed it,” he admits. “We then did the song ‘Do This For You.’ I’m happy that people are taking to that song and giving it a new light. I never thought something like that would happen to a record of mine. They have a fun show. When you love what you do, people will pick up on that. It seems like they’re really having fun and they’re getting a lot of shows. I’m just grateful to be a part of that.”
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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
SPREADS THE LOVE Kyle Eustice
BandWagon Magazine
In Oakland, California, if you mention the name Zion I, most likely people know who you’re talking about. Go further inland and there’s less of a chance people have ever heard of them. However, emcee Zumbi and producer Amp Live are on a mission to change that. They’ve come a long way since their 1997 debut, subsequently spitting out albums on a regular basis for over 15 years. With Amp Live’s futuristic production and Zumbi’s introspective, often metaphysical lyrical content, Zion I stands out amongst the contemporary rappers of today. Zumbi is more likely to rap about yoga before he raps about “da club.” As we continue to sail through the worst economy the world has seen in decades, it’s ironic that mainstream rappers brag about how much money they have, something Zumbi approaches with common sense. “I feel that people react to pressure in different ways,” he says. “Some are eager to confront the problem while others would rather dream themselves away and slowly self-destruct. This is basically how I look at lyricism in this day and age. Our society is largely escapist, so it only follows the commercial artists that reflect this. I enjoy the more playful approach to content though. I can listen to anyone as long as there is truth in his or her vocals. I get lost when cats talk nonsense simply to sell records. A lot of artists are sheep out there. I feel like this idea of super materialism like, ‘I got ice, I got all this and that,’ is ridiculous. We’re in a recession. This is the worst economic situation of our lives. Hip-hop comes from a place of struggle. It was the early cats’ only voice. The music industry looks at it solely as a way of making money instead of an artistic form of human expression.” Starting with 2000’s critically acclaimed Mind Over Matter, Zumbi’s message has remained unwavering. “Be creative and alive,” he says. “This life is precious and we are all here for a reason. Find that reason and become eternal.” While that may sound a little too “new age” for some people, Zion I’s fans internalize the message and their audiences are often seen singing along to every word, as if it’s some type of religion. Mind Over Matter includes songs such as “Inner Light,” “Elevation” and
“Creation,” words which beautifully illustrate the way he thinks. The fact that the album did so well was a pleasant, if not surprising, by-product. “Mind Over Matter was an exercise in purity,” he says. “It was the time of life we were in. All we wanted was to be able to make music. All of our free time was spent in the studio. We also took about three years to make that record. It ended up being all of the best songs from all that time being in the lab. We were idealistic and so passionate. I feel like it shows in the music itself.” Aside from Zumbi’s mostly conscious lyrics (he does have a few party anthems, for lack of a better phrase), Amp Live’s beats hit hard. On 2009’s The Takeover, for example, the track “Juicy Juice” is bass-heavy and clearly made for large speakers. Amp Live has been making beats for almost two decades, and in addition to being one half of Zion I, he’s also contributed his talent to Planet Asia, Too Short and Chali 2na of Jurassic 5. The amount of production tools he has in his arsenal is vast. “Right now I’m working with a lot of custom midi controllers with joysticks and crazy buttons to trigger,” Amp Live says. “Abelton keeps me inspired. I’m having a lot of fun in the studio these days.” That’s clear. On Zion I’s 2012’s effort, Shadowboxing, Amp Live brings the uptempo, electronic-fused production while, true to form, Zumbi makes you feel better than you did before putting on the album. While the formula is somewhat abandoned on the album, the duo is still experimenting with its style while trying to find its groove. While Zion I hasn’t put out a full-length since then, they have released several free EPs and will drop a new live album, Live from Oaklandia, in February. That positivity is earning them slews of accolades and adoration from their fans. Zumbi has learned a lot throughout the process. “I have a good family,” he says. “They always encouraged me to eat healthy and take care
of myself. I took that starting block and added a bunch to it. When I was in high school, I was the dude that after we went to a club or a party and we’d stop at 7-11, I’d be the kat with the Power Bar [laughs]. Everybody else was getting chips, hot dogs and candy bars. I learned to eat healthy and it makes me feel better about who I am and feel better physically, as well.” Zumbi and Amp Live are able to harness that energy into brilliance when performing on stage. Their music elevate the pulse once the pair works up a sweat and get the crowd involved. Above all, you’ll feel the love.
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“Everything is different these days, because music is virtually free. The music feels like more of an offering than it used to; it’s about showing your fans that you appreciate them,” Zumbi concludes. “In turn, they’ll support you back in whatever way they can. You give it away without wanting or needing anything. The love returns on its own.” Zion I with Locksmith and Los Rakas, February 28, at Aggie Theatre, 204 S. College Ave., 7 p.m. Tickets are $17. Visitwww.aggietheatre.com for more information.
IN CONCERT @ AGGIE THEATRE in Ft. COllins February 28TH
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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
15 SQUARE BLOCKS FOUR DISPENSARIES ONE HOOKAH BAR ALWAYS A GOOD TIME
A.F. Ray ( founder of Garden City)
It has been rumored that during the prohibition of alcohol, A.F. Ray supplied the residents of Weld County with bootlegged booze hidden in watermelons from his own patch.
BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
The Longest of Longshots
Cursive
Celebrates The Ugly Organ’s Reissue
Kyle Eustice
BandWagon Magazine
Go ahead. Say all you want about Omaha, Nebraska. Say it’s a farm town. Say the only thing people care about out there is Omaha Steaks and Husker football. Now let’s talk about how you’re wrong. Omaha has turned out some incredible musical acts over the past 20 years, including Cursive, The Faint, and Bright Eyes. Consequently, it has some of the best music venues in the country; from mid size venues like The Waiting Room, bigger spots like Slowdown and more intimate platforms like Reverb Lounge. However, for many locals, their musical education started at tiny underground venues such as The Cog Factory, Kilgore’s and Sokol Underground in the 1990s. Since then, Omaha has basked in the national spotlight and is finally known for something other than, well, beef. Cursive was instrumental in the transition from hillbilly status to indie rock capital. Vocalist and guitarist Tim Kasher has been at the helm since 1995 when he got together with bassist Matt Maginn, guitarist Ted Stevens, guitarist Steve Pedersen, and drummer Clint Schnase. While Schnase and Stevens eventually left, the remaining trio forged ahead. Cursive picked up steam with the
2000 release of Domestica, which they followed up with 2001’s Burst and Bloom EP, 2002’s 8 Teeth to Eat You, and 2003’s The Ugly Organ. The Ugly Organ would prove to be the group’s breakout record, earning accolades from Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly. There are several tracks on the album where the use of the cello is abundantly clear and contributes a powerful element to already electric songs. Thankfully, as Cursive gets ready to reissue The Ugly Organ and head out on tour in support of the record, the group has decided to reintroduce the cello at each show. “We’re not really touring for a new batch of songs,” Kasher says. “We don’t have a new album or anything. Since it’s just the reissue that’s coming out, it seemed appropriate since we’re only playing songs from that era. We thought we should probably get a cellist.” During the 2003 tour for The Ugly Organ, Kasher was taking the meaning of “tortured artist” to a new level. At the time, he was admittedly depressed. In fact, he thought The Ugly Organ was as subpar as an album could get. “I think a lot of musicians can go through feeling unsure about how something turns out,” he says. “I can go through extreme ups and downs. I can have some real elation and other times I don’t feel as good about it. People get the impression that we were so stoked about that record because it did so well. But it’s really just like any other record. You’re not always sure about it. Listening to it
now after all these years, it’s nice.” Nice is an understatement. From beginning to end, The Ugly Organ swells with a raw creative energy Cursive manages to deliver on every track. Kasher was happy to hear about the instant nostalgia the record retains for so many people. “That makes me feel good,” he says. “I was working on a setlist for the tour the other day and it’s kind of comforting to look at The Ugly Organ tracklisting. Most all of these songs are songs people are stoked to hear.” The third track on the album, “Art Is Hard,” was one of the standout singles. It’s been a bit misunderstood over the years; people routinely think the lyrics are meant as encouragement to ‘keep trying kids, yeah, art is hard.’ In actuality, it was a sarcastic lament about being an artist. Kasher, always the gentleman, doesn’t correct them. “I guess people can take it how they want,” he says with a chuckle. Early on, Cursive was slapped with the “emo” label, which is clearly more bothersome to Kasher than the misinterpretation of a song. “What bothered me about the emo tag back in the day is that the net that was cast was so wide,” he says. “It sounded absurd, but It seemed no more or less absurd than any genre tag. That’s how genres work I guess. What was frustrating about the emo tag is it’s also derogatory. There’s only a small group of misunderstood people who actually embrace the word. Most people were just like, oh it’s derogatory term’ so it was like ‘oh well thanks for nothing, for casting us into this [laughs].’ “To be fair, what Cursive was playing back then and maybe even today, it was in a broader sense,” he adds. “What bothered me a lot more was that they were calling us Bright Eyes. At that point, Conor [Oberst] was just doing folk-rock, for lack of a better term, and that’s just how large of a net that was cast. It was a huge umbrella.” Cursive released four more albums after The Ugly Organ. In between, Kasher
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has reveled in a commendable solo career. His most recent album, 2014’s Adult Film, turned out a handful of brilliant singles and finds Kasher reflecting on love, domestication and the dissolution of a relationship. Each song, once again, shines a spotlight on Kasher’s incredible songwriting skills. “Mostly when I write for the different projects, I’m thinking a lot about who I’m playing with so that definitely shapes how the music is going to turn out,” he explains. “My specific audience is the band members who will be playing these songs with me. I probably don’t even feel comfortable going into the guidelines that need to be met to be a Cursive song, a Good Life song or a solo song, but just because I don’t really want to have guidelines. At the same time, I think there are certain boundaries I don’t want to cross when I’m working on certain records. That’s probably an unhealthy way to write.” Kasher is clearly doing something right. As Cursive celebrates 20 years as a band, there’s a sense he’s bewildered by the fact he’s still playing music for a living. “Maybe I could suggest that The Ugly Organ is a big landmark, like a milestone of growing up as a writer a little bit,” he says. “I was young and every record I wrote garnered a little more success. Everything kept getting bigger and bigger. Then you hit one and it becomes more resonate. You are still kind of used to ‘oh this is great and this is wild, but it’s not always going to be true.’ There’s a point where you’re going to hit a pinnacle and that’s totally normal. I’ve been afforded luxury to keep doing records that hit people in a certain way. “To be doing this myself and to see how many of my friends are still doing it is insane,” he adds. “It’s 2015 and we’re basically living in the future. It’s great. It’s the longest of longshots for anybody to sustain doing something as a creative endeavor.”
IN CONCERT @ BLUEBIRD THEATRE in DENVER February 10TH Photo By Daniel Muller
HYPNoTIC V Winners of the 2014 BattLE OF
Rose Hedberg
BandWagon Magazine
“We’re just a band of misfits,” said Alex Vilanova from Hypnotic Vibes. “But we all came together for music’s sake and found out holy crap (we’ve) got a ton in common.” At first glance it’s easy to see what Vilanova is pointing out. They are six distinct characters that don’t initially seem to match one another. A juggler, a poet, a bilinguist, a mechanical mind, a beat-boxer, and a Rubik’s cube master, are all musicians with a singular vision: to play good music. And that vision won this funkadelic reggae band the 2014 BandWagon Magazine Battle of the Bands. The band got their start as an acoustic group made up by Joe Solano (lead vocalist/guitar) and Stefan Lopez (lead guitarist/vocalist). The two felt their music was missing something and in the search of that missing
sound they found their drummer Mario Alvarado, bassist AJ Garner, trombonist Sterling Swanson, as well as Vilanova playing the trumpet. “My whole world opened up when I met Mario, Sterling and Alex because they’re a part of a music world that is so foreign to mine,” Lopez said referring to their backgrounds in classical music. “I know how to speak music but I can’t read or write it. That’s something that’s unique about them. They can speak to each other in this music language through different modes.” Were the six musicians surprised to win Battle of the Bands? “Mostly relieved,” Garner said. “Because we had been practicing a lot, pretty much every day leading up to it so it was just like (sighs),” he furthered expressed, “Stair Child is insane as far as musicianship goes… I was kind of worried about them going in, you know, because those dudes shred.” Among the finalists, Shatterproof and Electric Stair Child, Hypnotic
Vibes won the crowd vote by a landslide. The 100 plus votes for the band ensured their confidence in the positive philosophy of their music. Their credo of loving life and living music is something the band doesn’t want to forget as they consider societal pressures to find a career. “To me, I want this to be my job. To wake up every day and that’s my job,” Solano said. “To write my music with friends, strum guitars, laugh (pauses) and do photo shoots,” the band was thoroughly entertained by their first photoshoot opportunity with BandWagon staff. The band’s exuberance and quirky personalities, makes their live performances energetic and listeners don’t fight moving along. It’s a job to make music, but being serious about creating music doesn’t mean you have to be a stiff on stage. Their ability to have fun and connect with the audience is based partially on letting the notes take the lead.
“It really feels from, you know but it really does me,” Alvarado sai express things in with my words.” Lyrically the by Solano and L orchestration of the impact of eac musical backgrou positivity in th attributed to the e their parents and “The lyrics I w of self-encouragem would love to see heart tells them ve society says you ha I asked if H their roots in re obligation to polit “Some of our are deeply rooted but most of all, fr said. “We want to c
VIBES THE BANDS
like when I play it’s it’s kind of cheesy, come from inside of id. “It feels like I can n music that I can’t
songs are written Lopez, but the full the song is built by ch member and their unds. The undeniable heir lyrics can be encouragement from friends. write are often words ment,” Solano said. “I people do what their ersus following what ave to do.” Hypnotic Vibes felt eggae constituted an tical activism. biggest inspirations in political activism, ree thinking,” Lopez convince individuals
to think for themselves. Political activism is unavoidable when we live in a society of race, gender, ethnicity, and sex. We all assign ourselves to different groups and when those groups interact, we have politics.” This same prospect of individualism exposes itself in their attitudes on music and drugs. Two concepts that have echoed one another since rock n’ roll became a social currency among America’s youth. “Often times people experience and are influenced by alcohol and drug culture whether or not the band promotes the use of any sort of substance,” Lopez said. “I think what people do and which kinds of people you draw you’ll never really be able to control. Although, you can always control your music and how you present it, and the side effects come naturally.” “I think the greatest I’ve ever felt playing music,” Vilanova commented, “has been when I’m stone cold sober.
You connect so much more when you’re out there with a clear mind and a clear head. You just focus on the music and have a great time.” The band has mixed perspectives on the time and place for indulging in booze or drugs. No matter their own choices to engage or not in the culture, they emphasized they’re not forcing the idea on others. Just pushing for their music to take off. Their songs are polished and ready for a studio recording. Money is the biggest obstacle as the band’s long term goals include traveling outside of Colorado borders to find a producer that will help them create their breakout album. With the help of a generous sponsor, Thom Cook, they’ll be releasing their first single on BandWagon Records. We can expect a music video to follow. The single will be the first recording of the full band and very different than recordings from the initial two members. “We all just have our own influences,” Solano said. “A lot of the songs I’ve written are pure roots reggae then it comes to Stefan and I, where he’s throwing in more metal stuff. It goes to Sterling and it’s more ska, than it goes to Mario and so on. It takes this crazy
path that in the end it just makes me think, shit, there’s no way I could do this on my own. This music, would be nothing, if it was just me, or even if it was just me and Stefan.” Their music balances in a genre the band can’t put a simple name to. Trombonist Swanson, is a clear example of this varying dynamic as he’s known for grabbing the mic in between songs on stage and entertaining the crowd with his beat-box skills. It’s simply feel good music he says. “From song to song there’s a different feel… It’s kind of hard to classify between each song, which is why we have such a hard time saying that we are this, this, and this. Which is probably a good thing because we want to be unique. We want to show everybody that we’re not like anybody else.” They’re fine without being tied down by a label. It allows them to play as they go, making it up as they generate new inspiration. They want their music to speak for itself. “If you could picture music as an entity itself,” Lopez said, “It’s moving forward no matter what. It is moving on no matter what and we just want to follow it.”
PhOTOS BY KENDRA HAMMAN & MIKE POE
BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Bijou Creek Winery: A New Home For Greeley’s Wine Lovers Jay Wallace
BandWagon Magazine
The past few years have been a great time for beer lovers and even hard liquor fans in Greeley, starting in 2006 with Crabtree opening up and just recently with Brix Taphouse and WeldWerks setting up shop. If you were into wine however, it was a different (read: non-existent) story. But now wine lovers in Greeley have a place to call home, and it is Bijou Creek Winery, located just off of West 10th Street. Erwin Hillman, owner of the winery and tasting room, is originally from Greeley, but got his start in Fort Morgan, making wine as a hobby and selling his product throughout the state to varying degrees of success. “I’ve been in business since 2006,” Hillmann said, “but I did it on the side while I was working a full-time job with Xcel Energy. So I retired early, and instead of just doing it on the side, decided to do this full-time.” Hillman said he came back to Greeley because, along with having friends and family here, it was also “a bigger population base.” “I never did have a tasting room in Fort Morgan,” he said. “I just lived out in the rural areas, kind of on a gravel road, so I never thought it’d be a good
place to open a tasting room.” Hillman initially sold his wine to farmers markets in Highlands Ranch and Fort Collins, as well as ten Colorado wine festivals and a few stores around Fort Morgan. Hillman said his winery has tripled in size, and he plans to expand production. Currently, he has friends and family helping him, but no employees. Since opening in December, Bijou Creek only has four wines. Hillman said he wants six to eight wines. His current bestseller is his Frontenac, a winter-hardy hybrid that doesn’t use a classic wine grape. “It was developed by the University of Minnesota, exclusively for growing in cold climates,” he said. “So it’s a hybrid between different American varieties and some French varieties. The French varieties to give it a flavor profile from some of the French grapes, and then the winter hardiness from the American varieties.”
Bijou Creek Winery is located at 2525 West 10th Street, with the tasting room open Tuesday to Friday at 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday to Sunday 1:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.bijoucreekwine.com.
Pictured: Owner Erwin Hillman
Photos By Chelsea Call
TUESDAY NIGHTS STARTING HOUR 2/17/15 A NEW WEEKLY SHOW PLAYING ALL OF THE BEST LOCAL MUSIC
BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Cole Peterson
BandWagon Magazine
Pictured: Brix Taphouse and Co-Owner Justin Hiatt Photos By Kendra Hamman
At the beginning of February, entrepreneurial team Justin Hiatt and Troy Milburn opened the doors to their new business venture, Brix Taphouse. In an effort to stay true to their Greeley roots as well as continue the development of the Downtown Greeley area, the duo will be putting all their chips in and taking a gamble, on the revival of Downtown Greeley. “We love it here,” says Hiatt, who was born and raised in Greeley. The bar will feature 60 different brews, all native to Colorado. The Brix team brings patrons the rarest and best beers in the state, saving them an onerous road-trip throughout the state in a search of over 200 localized breweries. Brix will also feature three “brewed inhouse” beers. In the midst of opening operations, BandWagon was able to sit down with self-proclaimed “Gambling Man” Justin Hiatt over a cool glass of Pikes Peak Brewing Co.’s Devils Head Red, to gain insight on Downtown’s newest attraction. He said, “We are doing this to give Greeley something they haven’t seen before.” Upon entering the freshly remodeled building, my photographer and I spotted Hiatt and his beard hanging out in the back of the taphouse wrestling with a keg of beer. He asked for our help, we obliged, knowing that we would find ourselves in the heart of the operation. Inside the keg room we found a beer lovers paradise where all the beers were stored, tapped, and pumped throughout the labyrinth of taplines. From the keg room, to the bar top, to the metal-worked tap system, Hiatt explained how he and Milburn built just about everything in the old mail building previously occupied by Consider it There. Both the Cofounders have a background in “building restaurants and breweries.” Milburn’s “real job,” apart from Brix, involves fabricating tap-systems for
breweries around the state. According to Hiatt, on account of Milburn’s background, Brix will be able to offer a selection of brews from little known breweries around the state, some of which wouldn’t normally be available beyond the walls of the brewery. Hiatt stated that he and his business partner really tried to preserve the integrity of the rustic building during construction. Their goal was to make it look like Brix Taphouse had always been there. This was apparent while admiring the hand-made tables, which utilized recycled wood discovered in the basement. According to Hiatt, Brix Taphouse will feature a “full blown tapas menu.” Offering bacon-wrapped dates, giant pretzels, sweet potato fries and more. Hiatt made the point that there will be no need to leave to get food. Just sit back, eat and bask in the river of beer that has been placed before you. In regards to further plans, Hiatt says “there will be live music, art showcases, murals and epic Mardi Gras celebrations.” Additionally, every month Brix will showcase a beer collaboration between itself and another Colorado micro brewer. Brix is currently featuring a collaboration with Echo Brewing, a cinnamon infused stout named “Boots and Socks.” A tongue in cheek shout out to, in Hiatt’s words, “All the hot women who wear big boots and socks!” Throughout the interview, shimmering through Justin’s naturally calm, even keeled demeanor, was his pride and joy. After a year and a half long project Hiatt is excited to be opening the doors. Through all the hoops and hurdles all entrepreneurs encounter, Hiatt and Milburn’s tenacity, dedication to detail, and community of friends and family have brought about a dream that we can all soon enjoy. Brix Taphouse opened Saturday January 31st and is located at 813 8th St. Downtown Greeley.
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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
RADIO 94.9FM AND THE CREW PRESENTS
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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
COLORaDO CONCERT CALENDAR Monday February 2nd Micawber @ The Moxi Theater Greeley - 7:00pm w/ Tyranny Enthroned, Skinned, Morbid Asphyxian, Dinosorcerer FREE Stand Up Comedy @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 7:00pm FREE Funk Jam @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 10:00pm Logic @ The Ogden Theatre Denver - 7:00pm w/ DJ Rhetorik, Michael Christmas Wale @ The Gothic Theatre Denver - 8:00pm w/ Audio Push, Bizzy Crook
tuesday February 3rd FREE CID Initative Presents: Open Deck Freestyle Tuesdays @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8:00pm
Powerman5000
Open Jazz Jam Night @ Pourhouse Loveland - 7:30pm Electronic Tuesday feat. Widdler @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8:00pm w/ Organik and Yukona Cannibal Corpse & Behemoth @ Summit Music Hall Denver - 7:00pm w/ Aeon, Tribulation Saint Motel @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8:00pm w/ The Moth and the Flame, Brolly
@ Moxi Theater ~ 2/8/15
LTJ Bukem feat. MC Armanni @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom Denver - 8:00pm The Gaslamp Killer @ The 1-Up Denver - 8:00pm w/ Mosis Bad Suns @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8:00pm w/ Coasts, Maudlin Strangers
thursday February 5th
wednesday February 4th
Leash of Foxes @ The Moxi Theater Greeley - 8:00pm w/ Ivory Circle, Amzy, Bach Hotel
Sophistafunk @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8:00pm
Ben Pu @ Cranford Cove Greeley - 7:00pm
The Green @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 7:00pm w/ Through The Roots
The Coop Punch Drunk Munky Funk Galaxy Free @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8:00pm
The Coop @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8:00pm w/ Digital Beat Down and Greener Grounds
The Expendables @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 7:00pm
FREE Dead Jam @ Avogadro’s Number Fort Collins - 9:00pm
Post Paradise, Chemistry Club, Slow Caves @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8:00pm
Open Jazz Jam Night @ Pourhouse Loveland - 7:30pm
Giant Panda, Guerilla Dub Squad @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 7:00pm w/ Tatanka, Tomahawk Fox
Grayson County Burn Ban @ Hi-Dive Denver - 8:30pm w/ Larry Nix, The Federalists
friday February 6th Eldren Performing the Music of The Dark Side of The Moon and Abbey Road @ The Moxi Theater Greeley - 8:00pm w/ Petals of Spain Wine and Canvas feat. Armando Silva @ Cranford Cove Greeley - 5:00pm Danny Shafer @ Cranford Cove Greeley - 7:00pm
The Symbols, Elyse Miller, Candy Lee @ Avogadro’s Number Fort Collins - 8:30pm Jeff Austin Band @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 9:00pm w/ Sarah Siskind, Caribou Mountain Collective Bob Marley Birthday Celebration feat. Wake Up and Live & members of TNERTLE @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8:00pm w/ Rastasaurus and Red Sage Dead Phish Orchestra @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom Denver - 8:00pm w/ Special Guests
BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
Cracker @ Moxi Theater ~ 2/15/15
Polyrhythmics, Sophistafunk, Live N Direct @ Quixotes True Blue Denver - 9:00pm Springdale Quartet @ The 1-Up Denver - 8:30pm w/ AfroZep Male Blonding @ Hi-Dive Denver - 8:30pm w/ OKO TYGRA, French Kettle Station Silverstein @ Summit Music Hall Denver - 7:00pm w/ Hands Like Houses, Major League, My Iron Lung The Mother Hips @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 9:00pm w/ Strange Americans Moe. @ The Ogden Theatre Denver - 9:00pm
sunday February 8th
wednesday February 11th
Powerman 5000 @ The Moxi Theater Greeley - 7:00pm w/ Knee High Fox, Glass Delirium, Random Hero, The Darkest Gray
A Live One (A Phish Tribute) @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8:00pm
Wild Child Desert Noises @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8:00pm Maxwell Hughes @ Avogadro’s Number Fort Collins - 7:00pm Transverse Waves, Trivial Psychic, Everyday Heroes, Redlands, Open To The Hound, Adolescent Behavior, Quincy Cruz and 1000 Miles of Fire @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 5:00pm
Thriftworks & Russ Liquid @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom Denver - 8:00pm T Bird and the Breaks @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8:00pm The Mastersons @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8:00pm w/ Aaron Lee Tasjan Yahtzel @ The 1-Up Denver - 8:30pm
Monday February 9th
Borgore @ The Ogden Theatre Denver - 9:00pm w/ Ookay, Jauz, Sikdope
saturday February 7th
FREE Stand Up Comedy @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 7:00pm
PartyNextDoor @ The Gothic Theatre Denver - 9:00pm
Rush Archives @ The Moxi Theater Greeley - 8:00pm w/ The Fold
FREE Funk Jam @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 10:00pm
Euforquestra Feat. Kevin Kinsella @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8:00pm w/ Policulture
Weld County Ramblers, Fall River Road @ Avogadro’s Number Fort Collins - 9:00pm
Air Dubai @ The Moxi Theater Greeley - 8:00pm w/ Hypnotic Vibes, Silver & Gold, The Squid Kids
Mustard Licks, Porcelain City @ Avogadro’s Number Fort Collins - 8:00pm
Todd Snider @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 8:00pm w/ Reed Foehl
Gii Astorga @ Cranford Cove Greeley - 7:00pm
Bright Vibes feat. Majin Boom, Lowjack, Floating Oasis, Phocust, Johny Greengo @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8:00pm
Mountain Standard Time @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 7:00pm w/ Caribou Mountain Collective
The Expendables @ The Gothic Theatre Denver - 8:00pm w/Ballyhool, Katastro
Wild Child @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 9:00pm w/ Desert Noises Giant Panda, Guerilla Dub Squad @ Cervante’s Other Side Denver - 8:00pm w/ Tatanka Heatbox and MindState Phutureprimitive @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom Denver - 8:00pm w/ Kaminanda and Plantrae
August Burns Red @ Summit Music Hall Denver - 6:00pm w/ Miss May I, Northlane, Fit For A King, Erra
tuesday February 10th
Polyrhythmics, Sophistafunk, Live N Direct, Reviva @ Quixotes True Blue Denver - 9:00pm
FREE CID Initiative Presents: Open Deck Freestyle Tuesdays @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8:00pm
Coverage @ Hi-Dive Denver - 8:30pm w/ The Goonies, Breakneck Betty
Dirty Heads @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 7:00pm
Mr. Midas @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8:00pm w/ Trev Rich, A.P., Catch Lungs, Planes!, DJ Dif’rent (Drum Squad DJ) Moe. @ The Ogden Theatre Denver - 9:00pm The Wailers @ The Gothic Theatre Denver - 9:00pm
Open Jazz Jam Night @ Pourhouse Loveland - 7:30pm Cursive @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 8:00pm w/ Beach Slang, Slow Bird Electronic Tuesday feat. MiHKAL @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8:00pm w/ Skymatic and Meta-Digital
thursday February 12th
Joe Hetrtler & The Rainbow Seekers @ Avogadro’s Number Fort Collins - 9:00pm RAH @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 9:00pm w/ Honey Puddle, Volitilles, Contraband Grass For That Ass - Pickin’ on Dead feat. Jeremy Garrett of The Infamous Stringdusters & members of DeadPhish Orchestra & Jeremy Garrett Solo @ Cervantas’ Other Side Denver - 8:00pm w/ The Holler Rebel Alliance Jam feat. David Murphy, Aron Magner(Disco Biscuits), Dominic Lalli (Big Gigantic), Jeremy Salken (Big Gigantic), Ryan Jalbert (The Motet) @ Cervantas’ Masterpiece Ballroom Denver - 8:00pm Body Language @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8:00pm w/ Bollywood Life Sleater-Kinney @ The Ogden Theatre Denver - 8:00pm w/ Lizzo
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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
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Exmag @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 7:00pm
@ Hodi’s Half Note ~ 2/13/15
An Evening with Eric Johnson & Mike Stern @ The Gothic Theatre Denver - 8:00pm
friday February 13th Ori Naftaly Band @ The Moxi Theater Greeley - 6:00pm Lunde Station @ Cranford Cove Greeley - 7:00pm The Patti Fiasco, Mama Lenny and the Remedy @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8:00pm Superstition feat. Tin Cup @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 7:00pm w/ Rex Gold, Galaxy Free, Culture 420, B2B, Funduhmental, Trigga, and Executive Realty Bluegrass Patriots @ Avogadro’s Number Fort Collins - 8:30pm
Cupcake Cabaret @ Avogadro’s Number Fort Collins - 7 & 10:00pm
tuesday February 17th
Ariel Pink @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 9:00pm w/ Jack Name, Little Fyodor
FREE CID Initiative Presents: Open Deck Freestyle Tuesdays @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8:00pm
Nightmares On Wax DJ Set @ Cervantas’ Masterpiece Ballroom Denver - 8:00pm w/ Nico Luminous and Special Guests
THE PATTI FIASCO Mountain Standard Time @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 9:00pm w/ Caribou Mountain Collective The Love Shack feat. Dominic Lalli & Jeremy Salken from Big Gigantic, Aron Magner & Allen Aucoin from Disco Biscuits, Dave Watts, Ran Jalbert & Gabe Mervine from The Motet, Bridget Law from Elephant Revival, David Murphy from Seven Arrows & More @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom Denver - 8:00pm Jon Wayne & The Pain @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8:00pm w/ Special Guests A Live One (Phish Tribute), AfroZep @ Quixotes True Blue Denver - 9:00pm Jen Hartswick Super Jam @ The 1-Up Denver - 8:30pm w/ Jaden Carlson
Band In Memoriam: Camden R. Trendler A gathering in presence of our recently passed Brother and a celebration of his life @ Hi-Dive Denver - 8:30pm w/ Tin Horn Prayer No BS! Brass Band @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8:00pm w/ Other Black Heart and Soul Radio @ The Gothic Theatre Denver - 8:00pm w/ SF1, Skye 96, Balancing Opposites
saturday February 14th The Vagina Monologues @ The Moxi Theater Greeley - 6:00pm Eldren and Petals of Spain Perform The Dark Side of The Moon and Abbey Road @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8:00pm
Them Raggedy Bones @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 7:00pm w/ Casey Wayne Smith
A Live One (Phish Tribute), String Board Theory @ Quixotes True Blue Denver - 9:00pm Jen Hartswick Super Jam @ The 1-Up Denver - 8:30pm w/ Genetics Bonnie and the Beard’s Valentines Masquerade @ Hi-Dive Denver - 8:30pm Hellyeah @ Summit Music Hall Denver - 7:00pm w/ Like A Storm, Devour The Day Giraffage @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8:00pm w/ Spazzkid, Real Cosby Joe Russo’s Almost Dead @ The Ogden Theatre Denver - 9:00pm Crizzly @ The Gothic Theatre Denver - 9:00pm w/ Antiserum, K Theory
sunday February 15th The Vagina Monologues @ The Moxi Theater Greeley - 1:00pm Cracker @ The Moxi Theater Greeley - 8:00pm The Ragbirds @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8:00pm Swashbuckling Doctors @ Avogadro’s Number Fort Collins - 7:00pm Hot Soup Does ‘Chocolate and Cheese’(WEEN) @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 9:00pm True School Live Band @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom Denver - 6:30pm w/ Lucid Vision, Spectacle, & Special Guests Tory Lanez @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8:00pm w/ Jay Natta, OG $wagg and Baby Sean
Open Jazz Jam Night @ Pourhouse Loveland - 7:30pm Kina Grannis @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 8:00pm w/ Imaginary Future Electronic Tuesday “Innamind Tour” feat. Quest LAS @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8:00pm w/ CurlyOne Machine Head - An Evening With @ Summit Music Hall Denver - 8:00pm Catfish & The Bottlemen @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8:00pm
wednesday February 18th FREE Local Alliance feat. Bill Smith @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 8:00pm Saints of Valory @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 8:00pm w/ Jessarae Star Slinger @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom Denver - 8:00pm w/ Special Guests Stooges Brass Band @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8:00pm w/ Jelly Bread Vindata @ The 1-Up Denver - 8:30pm Corners @ Hi-Dive Denver - 8:30pm w/ Hair Cult, Best Creeps Heavy Dose DJ’s @ Hi-Dive Denver - 11:00pm White Arrows @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8:00pm w/ Shady Elders, Slow Caves Hozier @ The Ogden Theatre Denver - 8:30pm
thursday February 19th Blaze Ya Dead Homie @ The Moxi Theater Greeley - 8:00pm w/ Boondox Matthew Davis @ Cranford Cove Greeley - 7:00pm
Pristeen Events Presents Something Sweet - A Valentines Masquerade The Pharcyde @ The Aggie Theatre Ball @ Summit Music Hall Fort Collins - 7:00pm Denver - 7:00pm The Brothers Comatose Madeline’s Revenge (Album @ Avogadro’s Number Release) @ Larimer Lounge Fort Collins - 9:00pm Denver - 7:00pm w/ Cool Dog’s In The Kennel (album release), Realtalk Stelth Ulvang (Of the Lumineers) @ Bluebird Theater Joe Russo’s Almost Dead Denver - 8:00pm @ The Ogden Theatre Denver - 9:00pm Grass For That Ass feat. Chris
Monday February 16th FREE Stand Up Comedy @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 7:00pm
FREE Funk Jam @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 10:00pm
Thompson & Coral Creek & Hobo Nephews Of Uncle Frank @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8:00pm w/ Bradford Lee & The Bluegrass Playboys Roosevelt Collier’s Colorado Get Down feat. Members of The Motet @ The 1-Up Denver - 8:30pm
BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
Racing on the sun @ Moxi Theater ~ 2/20/15
Dirty Few @ Hi-Dive Denver - 8:00pm w/ The Blind Pets, Bud Bronson + the Good Timers, SPELLS
FREE Home-Fried Boogaloo @ Avogadro’s Number Fort Collins - 10:00pm
Jessica Lea Mayfield @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8:00pm
Hundred Waters @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 9:00pm w/ Moses Sumney, Inner Oceans
Dr. Dog @ The Ogden Theatre Denver - 8:00pm w/ Hanni El Khatib
DeadEye - A Tribute to The Grateful Dead @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8:00pm w/ Sneaky Pete & The Secret Weapons
Friday February 20th Racing on the Sun @ Moxi Theater Greeley - 8:00pm w/ Shatterproof, Defy You Stars, This Silent City
Vatican Vamps ‘EP Release’ @ Hi-Dive Denver - 8:30pm w/ Holy Fear, Rumours Follow
Nick O’ Connor @ Cranford Cove Greeley - 7:00pm
Decadon @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8:00pm w/ Xenology, Geodesik, RMM
Paper Bird @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 7:00pm
Galactic @ The Ogden Theatre Denver - 9:00pm w/ Kung Fu
FREE Dead Jam @ Avogadro’s Number Fort Collins - 9:00pm
Motion City Soundtrack @ The Gothic Theatre Denver - 8:00pm w/ William Beckett (The Academy Is), Brick+Mortar
Cash’d Out (The Ultimate Johhnny Cash Tribute) @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 9:00pm
sunday February 22nd
Chali 2na (Jurassic 5) & The Funk Hunters @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8:00pm w/ TNERTLE, Mr. Bugatti, & MHC The Pharcyde @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom Denver - 8:00pm w/ Special Guests Galactic @ The Ogden Theatre Denver - 9:00pm w/ Kung Fu Zach Deputy @ The Gothic Theatre Denver - 8:00pm w/ Birch Street, Petals of Spain
Deadeye - A Grateful Dead Tribute @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8:00pm The Denver Battle Of The Bands @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 3:30pm
Monday February 23rd FREE Stand Up Comedy @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 7:00pm FREE Funk Jam @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 10:00pm
Scott Weiland (of The Stone Temple Pilots) & The Wildabouts Master Blaster Tour @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom Denver - 7:00pm w/ Special Guests Electronic Tuesday feat. Styn, Obey and Aweminus @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8:00pm w/Sektah Kate Voegele @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8:00pm w/ Leroy Sanchez Gov’t Mule @ The Ogden Theatre Denver - 8:00pm w/ John Scofield
wednesday February 25th The Shaley Scott Band, Elise Wunder of The Lovetet @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8:00pm Iration @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 7:00pm w/ Stick Figure, Hours Eastly Groundation - A Tribute to Bob Marley @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8:00pm w/ DubSkin Amine Edge & Dance @ The 1-Up Denver - 8:30pm w/ Option4 Napalm Death @ Summit Music Hall Denver - 5:00pm w/ Voivod, Exhumed, Iron Reagan, Black Crown Initiate, Phobia, Vimana Drinking with Charlie @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 7:00pm w/All Dogs Invited, Paper Moonshine, Landlord Steve Aoki @ The Ogden Theatre Denver - 9:00pm w/ Head Hunterz, Caked Up, Dirtyphonics, Reid Stefan
saturday February 21st
tuesday February 24th
thursday February 26th
Chali 2na (Jurassic 5) & The Funk Hunters with Naa’Mean & THC - A Jimmy Hands Memorial @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8:00pm
FREE CID Initiative Presents: Open Deck Freestyle Tuesdays @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8:00pm
Ces Cru @ The Moxi Theater Greeley - 7:00pm w/ Wrekonize, and More!
Jacob Whitesides @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 7:00pm w/ Jacquie Lee Wood & Wire @ Avogadro’s Number Fort Collins - 7:30pm
Henhouse Prowlers @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8:00pm
Suicide Silence @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 6:00pm w/ Emmure, Within The Ruins, Fit For An Autopsy Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe feat. Vokab Kompany & Roosevelt Collier Open Jazz Jam Night @ Pourhouse Present RUN DMC Remixed @ The Aggie Theatre Loveland - 7:30pm Fort Collins - 7:00pm
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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
Elise Wunder and Lunde Station @ Avogadro’s Number Fort Collins - 8:00pm Theophilus London @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 9:00pm w/ Doja Cat, Father Groundation feat. Songs from their New Album, “A Miracle” @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom Denver - 8:00pm w/ Policulture Grass For That Ass feat. TRAD+ feat. Chris Pandolfi of The Infamous Stringdusters @ Cervantas’ Other Side Denver - 8:00pm w/ Left Coast Country (Late Set) and Dirty River Ramblers Grandtheft @ The 1-Up Denver - 8:30pm w/ K-Mac, Savage! Jen Korte & The Loss @ Hi-Dive Denver - 8:30pm w/ Montropo, Cobalt Cranes, Doves & Wolves Soft Skulls @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8:00pm w/ Salads and Sunbeans
friday February 27th The Burroughs @ The Moxi Theater Greeley - 8:00pm Antonio Lopez @ Cranford Cove Greeley - 7:00pm Grant Farm, Dead Winter Carpenters @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 6:00pm
The Widow’s Bane @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 7:00pm w/The Calamity Cubes, RL Cole Qbala & Friends @ Avogadro’s Number Fort Collins - 7:00pm Milo Greene @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 9:00pm w/ Caroline Smith The Magic Beans @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom Denver - 8:00pm w/ The Heavy Pets Eminence Ensemble @ Cervantas’ Other Side Denver - 8:00pm w/ Special Guests Call Of The Void @ Hi-Dive Denver - 8:00pm w/ Enabler, Spectral Voice, Khemmis Snocore Tour: Flyleaf & Adelitas Way @ Summit Music Hall Denver - 7:00pm w/Framing Hanley
The Burroughs
The Districts @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8:00pm w/ Pine Barons Iration @ The Ogden Theatre Denver - 8:00pm w/ Stick Figure, Hours Eastly Itchy-O @ The Gothic Theatre Denver - 9:00pm w/Munly and the Lupercalians, DJ Babyshoe
saturday February 28th Party Animals @ The Moxi Theater Greeley - 9:00pm w/ DJ Nunez
@ Moxi Theater ~ 2/27/15
Kyle Hollingsworth Band feat. Jason Hann @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8:00pm Zion I @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 7:00pm w/ Los Rakas, Lochsmith, LivedLIFE Movement, Huff N Keen Pieta Brown, Bo Ramsey @ Avogadro’s Number Fort Collins - 7:00pm Houndmouth @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 9:00pm w/ Twin Limb
The Heavy Pets @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom Denver - 8:00pm w/ Special Guests Gravity A feat. Cliff Hines Performing the music of Talking Heads @ The 1-Up Denver - 8:30pm Strange Americans @ Hi-Dive Denver - 8:30pm w/ Black Brown & The American Dust Choir, Gun Street Ghost
Nerd Prom 2015 @ Summit Music Hall Denver - 7:00pm w/ I Fight Dragons, Andy Rok & The Real Deal, Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestra The New Deal @ The Ogden Theatre Denver - 9:00pm w/ Escort (DJ Set) Screeching Weasel @ The Gothic Theatre Denver - 7:30pm w/ The Dwarves, The Wueers, Potato Pirates
BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
BandWagon Thoughts
n I y a D r e h t o n A t s Ju n i a P f o e s u o H s Cupid’ Rose Hedberg
BandWagon Magazine
I know that with even mentioning Valentine’s Day, I’ve lost the interest of many of you. It’s one day of the year that matches jubilation with exaggerated disgust. It would be a Facebook page with equal likes/dislikes. But I suspect that we’re looking at it all wrong. I propose that we treat February 14th much like the Super Bowl, much like contact sports. It’s a community spectacle that encourages settling differences with a little force, honor and good sportsmanship. Valentine’s Day is entirely anti good sportsmanship. There’s an unspoken understanding to Valentine’s day that says if you’re single you should hate it, but if you’re in a relationship you should flaunt it, and then there’s
the Valentine’s extremists who unrealistically idolize the act of falling in love all together. It’s not defined that the people who are unhappy with Valentine’s day are the singletons. Human beings are unhappy with being told how and when they should love someone. Instead of just hiding behind our expectations of companionship, let’s full on rip it apart so that only the loudest and strongest represent what the ancient Romans had in mind for Valentine’s Day. Contact sports and Valentine’s Day could be interchangable. They both depend on the loyalty of something other than ourselves, involve someone losing, a little blood, lots of sweat, and definitely tears. There’s an element of competition to love and sports. Teams fight for the National Championship and forgetful lovers fight for
reservations. Full war-paint needed for game day rituals, mirrors the same notion of dress-up for a big V Day date. They both have an uncanny relationship with unavoidably commercialism as consumers spent $13.19 billion on Valentine’s Day last year, including $2.2 billion on jewelry and $403 million on flowers. Game day spending last year was $12.37 billion. So really what’s the difference between the two days except maybe a billion dollars spent of chocolates rather than enjoying an allAmerican sport? Handling Valentine’s Day with the same game day mentality that the Super Bowl requires would allow for a detachment in personal emotion, an appropriate amount of yelling would be allowed, and binge drinking would be encouraged without judgment. Stuffing your face would be most welcomed and your friends
would all be gathered as everybody cheered for the same thing–a damn good show. As another February marches into the abyss of time, I encourage you to check yourself. Is it worth it
to empty your wallet or to tear apart your ego? Probably not, but transcending gameday spirit into apprehensive holidays eases the angst of this one day out of the 364 others that don’t require any opinions on love.
BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
“First Date”
name 2 name 1 ______________ and _______________were out on their first adjective blind date. The meal was ________________, the lights verb were ___________ and the conversation was anything but adjective name 1 noun _______________. ______________had _____________ stuck in name 2 his/her teeth. __________________ found he/she couldn’t body part name 1 resist scratching their _________________ while _____________ plural noun dragged on about _______________. The date ended abruptly name 1 noun when _____________ manifested a ______________ from his/ adverb her purse and placed it _______________ on the table next onomatopoeai noun to the ______________. Suddenly, a ___________________ name 2 noun little _____________ crept out of ______________ ‘s mouth. occupation Blind or not it was obvious that an ___________________ occupation and an __________________ could never fall in love.
WORD ROUND-UP
SUDOKU © 2013 Knight Features. Reprinted with permission of Universal Uclick. All rights reserved. WORD ROUNDUP by David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek © 2012 Reprinted with permission of Universal Uclick. All rights reserved. ROCK AND ROLL CROSSWORD © 2013 Todd Santos. Reprinted with Permission of UNIVERSAL UCLICK. All rights reserved.
Complete the grid so that every row, collumn, and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1-9.
MAD LIBS
Sodoku
GAMES
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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment FEBRUARY 2015
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photos by kendra hamman