BandWagon Magazine - December 2013

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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

ALBUM REVIEWS MIA

Matangi Josh Espinoza BandWagon Magazine With a carefully cultivated reputation based on political and musical rebellion, Sri-Lankan artist M.I.A. has built a commercially successful career on the platform of catchy social commentary — layering clever sonic-pop beats over bitter references to global corruption. With first-hand accounts of war and life as a refugee, the 38-year-old activist has fearlessly used her art to expose the horrors and injustices of the world; which is why many people were shocked to learn that M.I.A.’s fourth full-length album, Matangi, was delayed nearly a year by Universal for sounding “too positive.” Such hesitation raised industry eyebrows, as M.I.A’s previous output — 2010’s Maya — was as uncompromising as it was tuneless, receiving so-so reviews and selling just a fifth of its 2007 predecessor, Kala. Full of disoriented noise and void of anything resembling a melody, Maya was a disappointing endeavor that seemed to be too abrasive, too chaotic and too eccentric. So it’s questionable as to why her record company would urge the artist to go less commercial for Matangi. Whatever the reason, M.I.A. didn’t yield to execs’ demands of upholding an image of a dreary, anti-establishment pop star. And thank god for that. In the 15-track album, M.I.A. has toned down the protest chants in the interest

of showcasing her more personal and spiritual dimensions. Although the album’s title is a variation of M.I.A.’s birth-given name, Mathangi, she insists the concept of this work was inspired by the titular Hindu goddess of language, knowledge, and music. But don’t be mistaken; this isn’t the typical tranquil flute variety of spiritual tunes. It’s delivered in typical M.I.A. fashion: like an aerial assault of infectious hooks and dizzying electronica doused in Bollywood samples and Hindu allusions. In the album’s brief opening track — shamelessly titled “Karmageddon” — the listener gets eased back into the unmistakable, classic sound of M.I.A. With a minimal beat and OM vibrations serving as the backdrop, she whisperingly concludes an introduction that is intriguing yet sinister: “My words are my armor, and you’re about to meet your karma.” And so begins the punishing thunderstorm of Bhangra beats, atonal noise and spitfire rhetoric. Although the album’s sound is constantly morphing within and between tracks, “Matangi” is impressively cohesive and deftly dodges becoming too exhausting. Much of that can be attributed to M.I.A.’s eclectic dream team of producers, including longtime collaborator Switch, The Partysquad, and Doc McKinney of The Weeknd. But the standout contributor has to be hip hop-oriented Hit-Boy, who produced the album’s most mainstream gems, “Warriors” and “Sexodus” — both heavy on the

elements of trap music, and even heavier on the elements of sexy. Although M.I.A. occasionally employs her singing skills on Matangi, you have to recognize that she is first and foremost a rapper (as cringeinducing that notion may be). But unlike most performers within the hip hop landscape, M.I.A. has demonstrated a rare ability to simultaneously reject and embrace common components within the genre’s current state. This is most evident in the reincarnationthemed “Y.A.L.A.” (You Always Live Again) — a sarcastic response to Drake’s YOLO that proudly rides the coattails of one of hip hop’s biggest buzzwords. “If you only live once; then why we keep doing the same shit?” she asks at the track’s conclusion. And it’s an excellent question. In an industry littered with repetitive sounds and gimmicks, it’s refreshing when an artist like M.I.A. can break the mold and maintain commercial finesse. And whether you enjoy Matangi in it’s entirety, small doses or not at all, it’s difficult to deny that M.I.A. has created something unparalleled, self-assured and, above all, long-awaited.

Danny Brown Old

Matt Hutcheson BandWagon Magazine Detroit rapper Danny Brown finds himself in a strange place on his new album, Old. Brown exists somewhere between the mainstream and underground, occupying the same space artistically as Kendrick Lamar by combining “ignorant” party songs with existential despair and, on Old, a certain street-corner, time bending psychedelia. Pinpointing exactly what Old is about is difficult because Brown has little concern with linear narrative. With its two distinct sides, Old is a document that swings between styles, ideas, and narratives at the whim of the artist. This is a good thing. Certain themes reoccur throughout the album. “Dope Fiends,” rent-hustling prostitutes, and ecstasy are some examples, but these are merely specters on the emptying streets of Detroit. At the center consistently is Brown himself, though he has no problem switching between past, present and future versions of himself. For example, the Outkast-referencing “The Return” leads into Purity Ring produced “25 Bucks,” which details how Brown’s mother fed her children by braiding

hair. This is of course followed by a psychedelic journey to obtain bread, aptly titled “Wonderbread.” These three songs barely relate to one another, but somehow also summarize the albums aesthetic neatly. A Detroit rapper cannot escape from the story of the decaying city, and certainly the entire album is framed around a certain unshakable despair. “Torture” finds an introspective Brown relating “all this shit that I’ve seen,” from desperate junkies to ruthless drug dealers, and illustrates the spectrum of horrors that can occur when a city is left to die. Brown is excellent when locked in kush influenced introspection, but on the second half he forgoes the introspection largely in favor of the kush influence, a return in a sense to the humorous party music found on his previous album XXX. Nothing on Old can be relegating to a single easy explanation, but the Side B opener “Dope Song” offers a pretty good idea of what is to come. Brown does not shy from the deep dance and house history of Detroit, and the second half makes this readily apparent. “Dip” is a high bpm party song, and “Smokin and Drinkin” does little to deviate from its title. But Brown’s singular voice, as

well as the album’s excellent sonics and transitions, make the second half as good if not better than the first. Old does not let up, as even on “Kush Coma” Brown sounds less asleep than on a planet far, far away. Old is certainly a strange journey, but any fan of other recent, excellent rap, from the aforementioned Kendrick Lamar to Chance the Rapper will find something to love on this album. It is more sonically adventurous than any rap album in recent memory, save perhaps Yeezus. Brown manages to paint a painful picture of Detroit on the same album as psychedelic breadquests and songs about oral sex, which, judging by Brown’s approach, is an enormous aesthetic success. All told, Old is an excellent album, and it will be interesting to see how its experiments and eclecticism influence rap in the coming months and years.

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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

Cut Copy

Free Your Mind Chris Sheridan BandWagon Magazine Cut Copy is a dance/ electronica quartet unafraid of sounding ridiculous or appearing silly. This was likely most evident in the 2011 music video for “Need You Now” featuring athletes running around the band, or any set of their slightly-goofy lyrics. Cut Copy does what Cut Copy chooses to do, and this gives them a liberating feeling. This time, the band sets their eyes on the Summer of Love, resulting in another strange, entertaining release. Cut Copy’s formula for poppy beats and dreamy tones works, and the band generally sticks to it once again, retaining much of what worked best on 2011’s excellent Zonoscope. Like that album, Free Your Mind puts a greater emphasis on keys and rhythmic synth. To boot, things continue on a path of brightness, all but erasing the seductive darkness of In Ghost Colours. That vibe, as well as the creative instrumentation, is slightly missed, but Free Your Mind is by no means unpleasant. The same stylistic vein runs through album as it always has, but the focus has shifted slightly. Title track “Free Your Mind” feels like a direct continuation of the feel of Zonoscope, and that’s in no way a bad thing. It bridges the two albums and lets this one move forward. It’s followed by the pounding “We Are Explorers,” which has a great beat and is packed with energy. The album is intersperses with odd interludes with spoken word that do well to string the

songs along and move cleanly into the next one. A couple of the best songs on the album are the ones that immediately follow these interludes, particularly the dreamy “Dark Corners & Mountain Tops.” The penultimate “Walking in the Sky” is a great semi-finale and a darn good song that closes things off very nicely before the actual lyric-free “Mantra.” Free Your Mind does, however, rank as one of the band’s weaker albums. While this is only their fourth release, it lacks some of the inventiveness of their past releases, and feels at times a bit too flighty, bordering on lazy. There are a lot of canned beats here, and while they’re mostly exciting and catchy, it’s not exactly the clever reinvention of the genre the band has been so good at in the past. Many of the songs, such as “Footsteps,” “Take Me Higher” and “Let Me Show You Love” retain a rhythm that’s uncomfortably indistinguishable from the rest of the songs on the album, and they run together in a way that makes the album feel repetitive. “Dark Corners & Mountain Tops,” “Walking in the Sky” and “In Memory Capsule” are exceptions, and even those sound a bit too alike. Still, even Cut Copy’s “worst” is pretty good. It’s a decent-enough addition to their catalog that still sports a lot of solid cuts. Though they could not have been expected to do otherwise, Cut Copy have released another euphoric, delightful album filled with warmth. This is music to dance to at 3 in the morning, though you may find yourself wanting to revisit the group’s back catalog before the sun comes up.

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

FILM REVIEWS Homefront 2013 - 100 Minutes – Rated R Chris Sheridan BandWagon Magazine It’s not even a joke anymore that Jason Statham basically plays the same character in every movie he’s in. He looks the same, sounds the same, and says basically the same things. Statham the actor is practically a character himself. On the other hand, Statham is one of the last big, basic action stars, rarely needing the assistance of special effects or wires to put nameless henchmen in the ground. The actor repeatedly churns out generic action flicks with varying levels of quality that skew towards crap more often than they should. Though the bar has been set a bit low, Homefront is good fun when it gets going and successfully reignites Statham’s energy. Scripted by Sylvester Stallone, Homefront follows a former DEA agent named Broker (Statham) and his daughter, relocated to a Southern town after Broker’s cover is blown. When a bully tries to pick on the young girl and promptly gets his ass handed to him, the boy’s mother (Kate Bosworth) petitions to her vicious drug lord brother, Gator Bodine (James Franco) to start harassing Broker. Broker, however, will only be pushed so far. That’s about all there is to the plot (dramatic depth is not one of Stallone’s hallmarks), but Franco

brings a good amount of nuance and world-weariness to the sadistic Gator, like someone who would rather not face harsh violence, but will do what he has to when backed into a corner. Just as it should, Homefront is at its best when the fists are flying. Watching Statham kick ass rarely gets old, and he does it here with more ferocity than he has in recent years. These are some of his more exciting and creative kills of recent memory, and the climax is robustly thrilling with its escalating elements that continue to build until the end. There’s a bit of 80s flair to the film as well, featuring predictable plot twists, humorously exaggerated fisticuffs, mostly-one dimensional villains (Gator’s depth is owed almost entirely to Franco’s performance), and a couple of unreasonably large explosions complete with those chintzy fireworks long forgotten by Hollywood. These sequences are a real treat for those hungry for a classically done actioner. Director Gary Fleder (Runaway Jury) has a good handle on his actors, painting the villains as suitably despicable and letting the tension build fairly naturally as Broker’s antagonists slowly turn up the heat. A late-breaking twist involving villains from Broker’s past raises the stakes, and Fleder keeps a steady

hand throughout all of it, smoothly alternating between dramatic tension and explosions of violence. This is Fleder’s first legitimate action movie in quite a while, and he pulls it off well. Unfortunately, the movie screeches to a halt when Broker’s daughter is on screen. The girl is a good enough actress, but the character is poorly written and the scenes with her and Broker are not entertaining. They neuter the film’s energy and it would have been better had the daughter been written out and the script retooled to some bad men trying to pick on the new guy in town. They’re not bad enough to stay away from the movie altogether, but there’s a significant decrease in the narrative’s momentum when these scenes are present and they feel disingenuous to a movie that frequently revels in old-school lunacy. Homefront is surprisingly watchable, though it is fairly predictable. The movie feels longer than it is thanks to those dismal dramatic scenes, but most other elements of the film are firing on all cylinders. It gathers a great amount of momentum until the spectacular release in the thrilling climax. While a cut above his recent actioners, Homefront is a Jason Statham move through and through. Those that can’t stand the actor will find nothing to change their mind, but this is fun, digestible entertainment for fans who just want to see the bald Brit hit people in the face.

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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

EXPLORE MORE ONLINE www.bandwagmag.com

Catching Fire 2013 - 146 Minutes – Rated PG-13 Chris Sheridan BandWagon Magazine Every couple of years has its teen book series that becomes mega popular, pulls in millions of dollars in sales, and inexplicably gets adapted into a film series. Harry Potter has seen the cycle, and so has Twilight. His Dark Materials and The Mortal Instruments have tried, but now it’s time for the excellent Suzanne Collins series The Hunger Games, whose first film was excellent enough, but

whose sophomore entry is even better. For the uninitiated, the series revolves around a futuristic America which has been split into a wealthy Capital and 12 starving Districts. Each year, the Capital selects two people from each District to enter a massive wilderness arena to fight to the death. The Hunger Games ended with Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), posing as lovers, forcing the Capital to name both of them the champions. At the beginning of

Catching Fire, Katniss and Peeta have continued their charade of being lovers while staying distant offcamera, to Peeta’s chagrin. Calling the Capital’s bluff by forcing it into letting them both win has been viewed as an act of rebellion by the Districts, each of which show their support for Katniss when the victors make their victory tour. As the tension mounts, the evil President Snow introduces a new twist to the next Games, having the fighters be chosen from the existing pool of victors and sending Katniss and Peeta into the arena once again. Catching Fire was, for me, the best book in the trilogy. The promise of rebellion following the events of The Hunger Games was dark, foreboding and thrilling. The further exploration of the relationships between Katniss, Peeta and Katniss’ lifelong friend Gale (Liam Hemsworth) takes the series to a new emotional high. Francis Lawrence (Water for Elephants, I Am Legend) has taken over from Gary Ross (Seabiscuit) for this installment, and while there was little wrong with the first film, Lawrence really kills is with Catching Fire. At first, it didn’t seem like the director was able to pull as good performances from the actors, reading through some interviews with Lawrence really put things into perspective. Lawrence understands this story, and explores the emotional highs and lows appropriately. The stress Katniss feels with her “romance” as well as being the face of the revolution feels real, thanks in part to Jennifer Lawrence’s

fantastic acting. The Hunger Games has been touted as the “antiTwilight.” Yes, the series features a love triangle, but this is different from a girl trying to choose which guy she likes more. Katniss operates in the moment, and as Francis Lawrence discusses, Katniss will gravitate towards the man that she needs at the time. Gale reminds her of home, while Peeta can empathize with her trauma in the Games. It’s an incredibly nuanced relationship, and the exploration of this love triangle in Catching Fire is excellent. Lawrence has also found a perfect balance between bringing his own style to the series and respecting the vision Ross left. He maintains most of the visual cues Ross introduced to the series, but gives the movie a bit of a cleaner look. Most noticeably, he excises the wild “shaky-cam” used in the first movie to tone the violence down to a PG-13 level and instead has the perspective cut away at the right moments. This decision is far preferable to the sloppy-looking action in the original. Despite initial apprehension at having a director known more for his action pictures than for his dramas, Catching Fire is a superior film to the already-great original Hunger Games, enriching the characters and raising the stakes perfectly. Lawrence has crafted a tense, emotional, and exciting movie, and with his contract extending through both parts of the final book, we’re set to end this series on a high note.

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

Upstream Color 2013 - 96 Minutes – NR Jay Wallace BandWagon Magazine In 2004, Shane Carruth popped up on the film radar with his debut feature Primer, which is without a doubt the most complex time travel movie ever made. Charts exist online showing just what went on in Carruth’s tale of two engineers who accidentally made a time machine and the implications their travels have on the people around them. It’s quite possibly the best, purposely obtuse feature film ever made. Carruth dropped off the radar until it came out he had given notes on the script for Rian Johnson’s Looper in 2012. Then earlier this year, a trailer for his new film Upstream Color popped up on Apple’s website. Carruth’s film was given a limited theater release earlier in the year, simultaneously releasing it on DVD, Digital Download and VOD as well. I’m here to say, it’s just much of a mindbender as Carruth’s first film. The film revolves around two people, Kris (Amy Seimetz) and Jeff, (Carruth) who both bump into each other on a train and make an odd connection. Both of them were victims to what can only be perceived as a robbery-

via-disturbing-scienceexperiment that has caused both to lose their jobs and experience strange, seemingly unexplained behavior. They can’t remember what exactly happened at first, but as their relationship grows, they come to figure out what happened to each other. One of the factors that has probably kept Primer relatively obscure was the technical jargon Carruth’s engineer characters used when trying to explain how their machine works. (The words “time travel” or “time machine” are never uttered in Primer.) Carruth’s second time out as a writer-director is a bit easier to follow, but at the same time is in no way straightforward. This is not a movie you throw on as background noise while doing laundry. It doesn’t hold your hand, it doesn’t really have scenes of exposition. Mostly everything is implied, and what is not implied is left to the audience to figure out. And it works. Both Kris and Jeff have no memory of what exactly happened to them that caused them to fall into their current predicaments. (In short, both were drugged with something that puts them in a highly suggestible state, which has an odd sideeffect that could be described

as telekinesis.) It’s a puzzle to them and to the audience, and much of the joy is watching Carruth and Seimetz’s characters figure out the mystery of their situation. Let’s talk about the actors. There are really only four characters in the film: Kris and Jeff, and two unnamed antagonists, credited as The Sampler (Andrew Sensenig) and The Thief. (Thiago Martins) You only see the Thief briefly in the film, but he sets the story in motion and is possibly the only true villain of the story. (His eventual comeuppance is low-key by blockbuster standards, but far more satisfying than, say, Loki being dropped into a wormhole.) Sensenig is technically playing a villain with the Sampler, but we don’t really know what his intentions are. He pops up repeatedly throughout the film watching the victims of his tribulations. (Probably fantasy sequences, who knows.) He portrays a sense of sorrow and curiosity about his victims all throughout the film, making him seem sympathetic up until the end. Carruth acted in Primer playing one of the two leads. In that film, he was a good actor, even though it comes across that he’s inexperienced with his performance, which has a nervous, “sweaty palms” quality. Here playing Jeff, he’s clearly matured over the last ten years and it shows with his performance. You do feel for his character who has undoubtedly been screwed over by the Thief and the Sampler. Carruth’s great. Seimetz, an indie film veteran whose credits include Lena Dunham’s Tiny Furniture, is the lead of Upstream Color and owns the film as Kris. It’s heartbreaking to watch her, a promising career gal, get taken advantage of by the Thief and drift aimlessly throughout the film following her traumatic experience, only finding happiness when she and Jeff managed to make a connection. Seimetz is gold. Upstream Color makes me want to see Carruth become a more prominent director. He’s got a clear understanding of what makes film work on an emotional level via not just writing, but composition, color palette and sound design. (The last bit is what I dig the most, on a technical level of appreciation.) I cannot say for certain that Upstream Color will be for everyone, but if you want a much more substantial, gratifying filmgoing experience, track down Upstream Color where you can. You will not be left hungry. 10/10

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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

Community Tech Education Center Boots Up Jay Wallace BandWagon Magazine At RoadNarrows Robotics in Loveland, 33-year-old Fort Collins resident Josh Datko lead the first class for the recently formed Loveland Creatorspace, teaching around twelve people, including Group President Jamie Leben, the importance of internet privacy and how to install one tool to accomplish that, Tor. “I really care about internet privacy,” Datko said. “I did research; I went to the Naval Academy as an undergrad, I was in the Navy for ten years. I’ve always kind of had an interest in security and privacy. I think that not a lot people don’t know how to do this online. Unfortunately, I think they’re kind of taken advantage of, so I wanted to make sure people know the tools are there and how to use them if they decided to protect themselves. They should be able to know how to do that.” Datko was among the newest members of the Loveland Creatorspace. Having moved to Fort Collins from Philadelphia only three months prior, he said he went to the Northern Colorado Maker Faire a month before the November 20th meeting, and heard about the group. “I was kind of looking for groups and looking to get involved with the community,” Datko said, “and saw this

one was launching, and it was kind of a good time because they were just starting.” A week earlier, the Loveland Creatorspace held their first meeting, a Show-and-Tell with 40 people and eight different projects. Datko proposed the idea of the class to Leben. “Josh wanted to teach a class about encryption,” Leben said. “We were talking about having a permanent spot to have classes in a permanent location. This (RoadNarrows Robotics) is a good portable one that works in this space. We’re trying to get classes that allow people to come and collect without having to haul in and set up a bunch of stuff.” Leben, 38, showed up to the class with his two younger sons Carter and Grant, laptops in tow. Leben’s inspiration for the Loveland Creatorspace came from similar hacker spaces up and running in Boulder and Longmont. “I went and talked to one of the founders of the Longmont Creatorspace, Scott Converse, who is also helping with what we’re doing here,” Leben said, “and said, ‘You know, we really need one in Loveland.’ And he said, ‘Well, you should start one.’ And so I started the Meetup, and Maurice [Woods, group secretary] and Dan [Packard, group VP] who actually got the Loveland Creatorspace concept going turned up for the first meeting. So, it’s been a group effort. There’d

been other p e o p l e w o r k i n g toward it as well. A lot of the momentum that came out of the Loveland Maker Faire.” Right now, the Loveland Creatorspace is looking for a permanent space to set up shop. The group chose Roadnarrows Robotics for their first class due to Woods and Packard, who work at the company. “Myself and Dan, we asked our bosses if we could take it over in the evenings and they loved it,” Woods said. “They’re really involved in getting community stuff, hackspace stuff like that.” Leben said the group is scheduling it’s next class, but the emphasis is moving into a space right now. “It sounds like a couple times a month [we’ll hold meetings] at least,” Leben said, “and then more frequently once we have a permanent space to hold them in.” Leben also said he looks at the schedules for Tinkermill and Solid State Depot – the Longmont and Boulder hackerspaces, respectively – to get ideas for future classes. Arts and musicfocused classes are also planned for the future. “Those classes tend to arise out of the expertise and interest of the

Pictured Above: Members of Loveland creator space meet to discuss internet piracy.

membership,” Leben said. “At the Showand-Tell that we had, Josh talked about a quick primer on encryption, David Young brought some of his art that he done that he incorporates technology and motorization and [he] showed that.” For those interested in joining the Loveland Creatorspace, Lebens said, “Come join a community that gives you access to other Creatives, where you can see neat things other people are doing and get help and ideas for projects you might have interest in yourself, and also access to creative resources that you might not have access to normally, whether it’s 3D printing or electronic creations. Community, creative resources and education about it.” Leben also said the group is working on having emphasis on education for school age children as well. For more information, visit http:// lovelandcreatorspace.com.

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

Giving Back

Local Artists Raise Funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Kendra Hamman BandWagon Magazine

Tis the season for white dusted garland, glowing lights in foggy windows, and and giving back! For this months art feature I want you to know about a charity art event that is happening at Red’s Dogs and Doughnuts on 11th Avenue and Highway 34. Put together by Shimon Lidmark, the art show will feature artwork from several local artists and art students. Lidmark has put her masters in English on hold because the call to be a visual and oral artist has become an urgent and adventurous matter. When asked what inspired her to put together the charity show she remarked “I want to get my art business off the ground and to have it tied indefinitely to charity.” She is an employee of Red’s Dog’s and Doughnuts and therefore has taken initiative to decorate the establishment’s walls with art that will hold the key to real holiday cheer, giving to those who need it, in

this case the children at St. Judes Children’s Hospital. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is largely supported by public donations, which gives the doctors and researchers the ability to focus on what matters most. In a world dragged down by paperwork and debt, it is refreshing to know that there is a place out there helping people no matter the cost. Patients of St. Jude do not receive a bill and can be guaranteed the best care and latest breakthroughs in treatment. Although you may not be able to be a monthly donor to St. Jude, this art show is a great way to show your support and spread the love this holiday season. Lidmarks’ art content is largely dancer and movement based. It is very expressive. One of her designs will be printed on T-shirts that will be on sale for $ 40 while additional local artists such as Kati Stanford, Sean Nichols, Ian Judd, and many more will be contributing relief prints, paintings, and ceramic pieces will be up for auction. Come by on December 6th and enjoy a doughnut or dog, and get a head start on your personalized Christmas shopping in this auction based art show where 100% of proceeds will be going towards families in need.

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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013 Local business profile:

Game Alliance 807 17th St. Greeley, CO

Chris Sheridan BandWagon Magazine Tucked behind a pair of doors between Chipotle and Aspen Leaf on 17th St and down a carpeted hallway that smells like a new house, Game Alliance in Suite G is set to be a new gaming hangout in a starving market. Since the end of last month, Game Alliance has been poised to offer a wealth of gaming options from trading cards to console games, giving players a new reason to step out of the house and try something new and exciting. Joined by his wife Cindy, owner Jim Knipschild brings several years of experience stemming from Midwestern

arcade shop Kic’s Treasures. “I’ve always wanted to own a business, and I’ve always loved gaming,” Jim says. The Knipschilds have clearly put their hearts and souls into this shop; Game Alliance has a warm, inviting feel with brightly colored walls lined with arcade cabinets and posters, Star Wars decals behind the counter, and a charmingly vintage vending machine (that still works). It feels like the ultimate Man Cave. One of the main attractions of Game Alliance is the reasonablypriced pay-to-play model. If you just want to get in a few sessions of Call of Duty: Ghosts and don’t have access to a console, you can simply pay by the hour to use one of Knipschild’s consoles and sleek 50-inch plasma

screens. As of right now, you will pay $2 per hour to play on any of the previous generation consoles (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii), with the newest generation (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Wii U) costing $3.50 per hour of play. Game Alliance is also exploring the option of a tentative 15% student discount, so if you need to take a break from studying you can stop in with your Student ID for a quick gaming session. You can also bring your own energy drink and brain food to be completely equipped to recharge. “I just want this to be a cool place to hang out,” says Jim. Not content to simply offer one option, Game Alliance also buys and sells used video games, with pricing aimed to compete with gaming retail king GameStop. New games aren’t an option at this time, but the store will surely have a good selection of used games to choose from before too long. This is a place to hang out

with some friends, try out a game, or simply kill some time with one of the handful of machines lining the walls. If you’re into Magic: The Gathering, the store sells cards and warmly welcomes players to stay for a few games. Eventually you can expect to see board games sold at the store, again with the added bonus of a venue in which to play with them. Again, you can bring your own games, food, and even flash drive with your saved game data to the hangout if all you’d like to do is kill some time. Additionally, with viable game rental options quickly thinning, Knipschild would “like to explore the idea” of renting out video games in 2014, further cementing Game Alliance’s multipurpose hangout potential. This is a passion project of the Knipschilds, and the desire to be a great gaming destination permeates every aspect of the store’s design and feel. Finally, as if all of Game Alliance’s entertainment

options were not already enough, Jim brings over 15 years of electronics repair expertise to the store, and offers his services to gamers with problems with their systems or PCs. A free consultation to diagnose the problem is offered, and the labor costs for repair of the issue is price at $25 for consoles and $35 for PCs. From Red Ring of Death to Yellow Light of Death, Jim can certainly take a look and work his magic to get you back into the game. With a great number of options available to nearly every breed of gamer and nerd, Game Alliance has a lot to offer. Whether you want to try out a new game, revisit arcade nostalgia, or simply hang out with your friends, Game Alliance fits the bill. This is one business to definitely keep an eye on. You can check it out for yourself at 807 17 St, Suite G, from noon to 8PM on Sunday-Wednesday, and noon to 10PM on ThursdaySaturday.

Photos by: Kendra Hamman Pictured Bottom: Owner Jim Knipschild sits in front of the classic arcade games found at Game Alliance

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

3 1 0 2 S A M X CHECK

LIST

Aaron Hammond BandWagon Magazine Everybody has a different reaction to the holiday season approaching. Some are excited and start putting up decorations right away. Some barely acknowledge the season before it’s already over. The one thing that it seems everyone can agree on, though, is that we’re all getting sick of holiday music. It seems that for every person who happily hums along there are three Scrooges that grow grumpier for every jinglebell they hear. “It’s not even December! How can Target be playing Christmas music?!” Certainly, hearing the same five songs over and over is enough to make anybody insane, but I think there is a simple solution: the Holiday Mixtape. This is a tradition my family has practiced ever since I was a little kid. Every year, my dad would find his collection of Christmas CDs and tapes to listen to while we put up our decorations. However, like most people, by the time we were putting up decorations he had already gotten sick of all the same music that the radio stations were playing on repeat. His collection, as a result, was of Christmas music written or covered by people like The Beatles and Tom Petty. We would dig out our boxes of tangled lights and the decorations I had made in elementary school the year before while singing “Christmas All Over Again” or rocking out to one of the Christmas Trans-Siberian Orchestra albums. When I was a teenager, I started making my own mixes of the holiday music that I wanted to listen to, and my dad would throw them into the mix. I almost looked forward to that one night we got together as a family to decorate more than Christmas morning. I don’t have anything against the classics. Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” is a fantastic song, and I’ll probably listen to it a few times outside of a shopping mall. There is, however, too much of a good thing. Just like I can only eat so much ice cream, I can only listen to a group of carolers perform “Silent Night” so many times before I want to scream. The Holiday Mixtape isn’t an attack on anyone’s traditions or favorites it’s a way to keep you in the spirit while preventing you from burning out too early. Many people just don’t realize how many different holiday songs are out there, or how many different ways they’ve been recorded. At this point, with the internet and tools like Spotify and Youtube, the only reason for someone to be listening to Christmas music they don’t like is that they haven’t looked hard enough. Just to make your life a little easier, I’ll provide my own holiday mix here, and some some other BandWagon writers have contributed as well. If you’re really in the spirit, keep in mind that many popular artists have done albums dedicated to this kind of music. Hopefully this makes your holidays a little brighter - or at least a little more bearable.

Jed’s List: “Joespesh, Better You Than Me” - The Killers

“No Christmas While I’m Talking” - The Walkmen

Aaron’s List: “I Miss You Most on Christmas” - Bowling for Soup

“Christmas Eve/Sarajevo” - Trans-Siberian Orchestra

“Please Come Home for Christmas”

“Chiron Beta Prime”

“Last Christmas”

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

“Snow and Lights”

“Christmas in Hollis”

- The Eagles

- Wahm!

- Explosions in the Sky

- Jonathan Coulton

- Relient K

- Run DMC

“Rudolph”

Ely’s List: “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” - Death Cab for Cutie

“Holly Jolly Christmas”

- August Burns Red

“Happy Christmas (War is Over)” - Street Drum Corps

Jay’s List:

- The Format

“Holy, Holy, Holy” - Sufjan Stevens

“X12 Days Of XXXMASX” - From First to Last

“Saint Nicholas”

- Gatsby’s American Dream

“Frosty The Snowman” - Fiona Apple

“Feliz Navidad” - Home Grown

“The Day Santa Went Crazy” - Weird Al Yankovich

“Fruitcake Makes Me Puke” - Bill Engvall

“All Alone on Christmas” - Darlene Love

“The Chanukah Song” - Adam Sandler

“Christmas at Ground Zero” - Weird Al Yankovich

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

17

Austin Wahlert

The pride of Eaton releases a new full length album Jay Wallace

BandWagon Magazine Graduating from Eaton High School in 2007, Austin Wahlert, now 24, grew up wrestling, playing football, and competing in rodeo. That’s not necessarily where his story starts, however. At the age of 16, Wahlert and his grandfather bought a guitar with the idea to encourage his singing and songwriting desires. These desires followed him to Odessa College in Odessa, Texas, where Wahlert earned a business degree in marketing on a College Bullriding Scholarship. After sustaining a few injuries, he pursued his music and soon built up a good following. Now, a year after BandWagon Magazine reviewed his selftitled debut album, Wahlert has a new album called Dirt Road Blues, gigs at the MGM Grand and South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, and now has the honor of having Garth Brooks’ band playing for him. “I got a group of guys I play with out here, and they’re some of the best musicians there are out here,” Wahlert said. “Because of what I do, I’m out in Nashville every month-and-a-half, two months, writing, so I fly out there on Monday and I’m there for a week, and we write two-to-three songs a day, just writing, developing with other artists and labels and publishers and stuff. “So through that process, I’ve gotten to know some of the best musicians there are, so the guys that I recorded this album with, they actually were Garth Brooks’ band for

all of his touring years, played all his albums and stuff. Because of that process, being with him, everyone sought after them, so they’ve been playing 15 sessions a week for 30 years now together.” While Brooks’ band recorded the album, Wahlert still relies on a group of local musicians while touring. “My guys I play with out here are just as talented,” Wahlert said, “and they play note-for-note what those guys do. It just kind of a different process.” Initially, Wahlert got the attention of Brooks backing band via pedal steel player Bruce Bouton. “I was looking for a pedal steel player on my first album, and we actually recorded that out here with a guy named Chris LePay – he’s an engineer for Sweetwater out in Indiana,” Wahlert said. “I was looking for a pedal steel player to do some tracks for me. All my writer friends said, ‘Call Bruce Bouton, he’s a legend, he played for Garth Brooks, you’ll never get him, but call him.’ Through those connections I called, and he said, ‘Send me the music,’ and I sent him the stuff, and he said, ‘I love it. Let’s do it.’” From there, Wahlert met the rest of Brooks’ band, who at the time was working for Reba McEntire and gradually became friends with them. Despite becoming entrenched within the Nashville scene, Wahlert still has a soft spot for Colorado. “I love the attitude in Northern Colorado that ‘good’ music really does matter,” he said. “That’s why I chose the Moxi for my album release party.“ “Don’t get me wrong, I play

country music and there are a lot of country fans here, but I love all kinds of music, and for anyone who hasn’t seen one of my shows, we don’t play a bunch of sappy, slow country songs. We play an upbeat rocking show that is filled with classic rock, some pop songs, you might even hear some Cage the Elephant, all the way to some old school country and some of today’s hits as well. “Northern Colorado has always been and always will be a huge part of my life,” Wahlert said. “I still live here with my wife and daughter, and no matter how much time I spend in Nashville or traveling the country, I can’t wait to come home.” Wahlert is currently on a mission to be in the top 25 iTunes charts when Dirt Road Blues releases Dec 5th. “That’s a lot to ask of people to spend their time and money,” Wahlert said, “helping me with this goal and coming to shows. So I try to keep everyone on their toes with music videos, and doing things to give back to everyone that supports me like giving away a brand new iPhone 4S, 32 GB, for just liking my band page.” Those who wish to find out more on Austin Wahlert, or possibly win a new iPhone, check out his Facebook page, http://www.facebook. com/austinwahlertband, or follow him on Twitter. @ austinwahlert. You can also check out his website, http:// www.austinwahlert.com. Wahlert currently plans to release his new album, Dirt Road Blues, on December 20th at The Moxi Theater in Greeley.

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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

RANDOM RAB

John Hann BandWagon Magazine

R

andom Rab’s October 8th album, Release takes the listener on a captivating journey that is beautifully mastered and peaceful to hear. The tribal overtone of the album makes the project feel surreal and mystical providing the listener with an authentic therapeutic experience with each song. Random Rab just finished his 2013 tour, hitting twelve different states including a stop in Denver, Colorado. The BandWagon recently had the opportunity to speak with the producer about making of the album.

Image ©CANPHOTO.SE Daniel Zetterstrom

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

RANDOM RAB

Q&A Q

: How long have you been making music professionally?

A

: My first paid shows were in high school with a couple rock bands, but I started doing my own music full time about two and half years ago.

Q

: How long have you been working on Release?

A

:I started working on Release right after Visurreal came out in 2011, so it’s been roughly two years now. I’m working on a new album as well that should drop some time this coming spring. I don’t have a set day for that album release yet but I would expect to see it finished around May 2014.

Q A

: The songs seems to be arranged carefully on the album, can you tell me about how you chose the song order of the album?

: The song order was very challenging and kind of a mind bending process because the songs were spaced out over a long period of time; I wrote some of the songs over two years ago. So I originally wanted to do it chronologically but it just really wasn’t working for me. So it became like a puzzle. I tried aw lot of different ways and kept rearranging it until the album felt more like a journey. I wanted to do what was best for the overall listening experience of the album.

Q A

Yes, we’re a

community college

and yes, we are cooler than you might think.

Check it!

: Do you have any kind of rituals or specific things you do or need when you sit to work on music?

: I always like to have some good snacks with me and I have to get myself in the right frame of mind. Removing myself from distractions both personal and environmental, it’s about getting into the right place to work. One of the first things I usually do is I let my brain wonder from thought to thought based on how the music feels, it helps make me fresh and clears my mind to work on the song. I try not to get caught up in making the music happen right away, but really enjoy the process for what it is on a therapeutic level. Sometimes I work all night on something and throw it out at the end of the night. It’s not a waste of time at all though because it helps me process where the music is going, and helps me understand where to take it next.

Q A

: Your album seems to have an ambient or uplifting feel to it. Was this feel to the album intentional or did it develop on its’ own as you worked?

: I like to let the music lead me because as a listener I want to be captivated by the song. So I want to make music that people can listen to over and over but still really enjoy the songs’ experience. I really like music that is intense but music can be intense in a lot of different ways with different kinds of emotions. I don’t like music that just kind of hangs out and doesn’t have a strong emotional effect on the listener. I like creating songs that are grabbing and that really draws in the listener to experience the full feel of the song. I also like creating songs that tell a story, in some ways it feels like I’m not writing the songs but just discovering them, brushing off the dust like an archaeologist digging in the field. So I don’t really choose how a song ends up sounding but just uncover how the song wants to grow and progress.

Q

: What are some of your major musical influences or experiences?

A

: One of the very first musical experiences I remember having was with the Chariots of Fire theme song on my Dad’s old record player. I was really young listening to the song and I started conducting the song with chopsticks. I got really into my conducting of the song and eventually fell backwards with a surreal feeling that was really incredible. It was one of the first times I really felt or started to understand that there’s power behind music. I was also really into metal at one point and went to a White Zombie concert I still really remember. In terms of music I use to listen to a lot growing up though, I used to really like Yo La Tengo, Glitch Mob, and I also used to listen to a good amount of Jeff Buckley as well. Now I’m really open to all kinds of different genres of music and I like to hear new music all the time. I really have started to adopt the mentality that there is only two types of music, good music and everything else. I think my biggest inspiration right now though would have to be my peers in the music industry, everyone around me in the music scene doing their own thing and making new music.

You can find Release online at soundcloud.com or randomrab.com. The album has only been out since October but has been receiving a lot of attention in the electronic music world, and is truly an incredible experience. Although someone pulling the fire alarm ruined Random Rab’s last Colorado concert, he hopes to visit from Oregon again soon and looks forward to his next project coming later this spring.

aims.edu

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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

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COLORaDO CONCERT CALENDAR

monday December 2nd Jay Z: Magna Carta World Tour @ The Pepsi Center, Denver - 8pm

All That Remains @ Summit Music Hall Denver - 6:30pm w/ Motionless in White, Soil, Arise in Chaos Lissie @ The Gothic Theatre Englewood - 8pm w/ Kopecky Family Band

tuesday December 3rd The Stubby Shillelaghs @ Patrick’s Irish Pub, Greeley - 9pm Machinedrum and Crywolf @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver - 8pm w/ Sonkin

Murder the Cat w/ Flint Forehead, Tanx @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 10pm

American Authors @ The Marquis Theatre Denver - 7pm w/ The Royal Concept, Misterwives

wednesday December 4th Micawber w/ Earth Burnt Black, Dysorder, A Day in Dismay @ Moxi Theater, Greeley - 8pm

An Evening With Emilie Autumn @ Bluebird Theater, Denver - 8pm Garrett Sayers Trio w/ Analog Son @ Cervantes’ Other Side, Denver 8pm Jim Herlihy w/ Erik Husman, Thunder & Rain, Evan Holm Band @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 8pm

thursday December 5th Blackout Glow Party @ Moxi Theater, Greeley - 8pm w/ FunDUHmental vs. Kit Trillon, Casey Steele, Speshal Edition

Prof @ Hodi’s Half Note in Ft. Collins on 12/6/13 Eoto @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 8pm

Drag Queen Bingo @ Down Under Country Club Greeley - 8pm

Prof @ Cervantes’ Other Side, Denver - 8pm w/ The MC Type, Austie Frostie and High Class Black Acid Devil @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 8:30pm w/ The Munsens, Dead Temple

Patti Fiasco @ Hodi’s Half Note, Fort Collins - 8pm

Eprom, Grenier @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 8pm w/ Sonkin Pretty Lights @ Ogden Theatre, Denver - 9pm w/ Mikey Thunder

The Fulfillment @ The Marquis Theatre Denver - 7pm w/ As the Sky Darkens, Hemingway Hero, Hit the Ground Running, Staring a Shipwrecks

friday December 6th

Michael Marrow and Firewater @ Ricky B’s, Windsor - 9pm

KS107.5’s DJ Nunez @ Moxi Theaeter, Greeley - 8pm Chris Miller @ Down Under Comedy Club, Greeley - 8:30pm w/ Marcus Fowler

Minnesota @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 8pm w/ Nyevz, Gangstaz on Acid, Kommon INterests, G Jones

Prof @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8pm w/ THE MC TYPE and Special Guests

Trevor Hall/NAHKO (Solo) @ Bluebird Theater, Denver - 8pm George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8pm

Equally Challenged CD Release @ Road 34, Fort Collins - 9pm w/ Matt Mahern & Constitution Juno What?! @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom Denver - 8pm w/ Euforquestra

Prof @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8pm w/ The MC Type, Qbala and Rooke5

There’s still time...

Book your HOLIDAY PARTY

at the Moxi

Contact us today. moxitheater@gmail.com 970.584.3054 UPSTAIRS AT 802 9TH ST. GREELEY, COLORADO

TICKETS to upcoming events AND rental INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT WWW.MOXITHEATER.COM

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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013 Jen Korte & The Loss @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 8pm w/ Poet’s Row

Dead Orchids @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8pm w/ Bottle Rocket Science, The Sound Collapse, Take the Mickey moe. @ Ogden Theatre Denver - 9pm w/ Magic Beans Phutureprimitive @ Summit Music Hall Denver - 8:30pm w/ Unlimited Gravity

Third Eye Blind @ The Gothic Theatre Englewood - 8pm

Everlast @ The Marquis Theatre Denver - 7pm w/ Big B, Stephen Hashbarger

saturday December 7th BandWagon Magazine Battle of the Bands Finale @ Moxi Theater, Greeley - 8pm w/ Silver & Gold, The Burroughs, Disguise the Silence, Duchovny Chris Miller @ Down Under Comedy Club, Greeley - 8:30pm w/ Marcus Fowler Better Than Bacon @ Road 34 Fort Collins - 9pm w/ San Holt Band Poinsetta Pops @ UCCC Greely - 7:30 pm

Mustache Bash @ Hodi’s Half Note, Ft. Collins 8pm

Phutureprimitive @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 8pm w/ Unlimited Gravity

Trevor Hall/NAHKO (Solo) @ Bluebird Theater, Denver - 8pm w/ Cas Haley George Porter Jr. & Running Pardners @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8pm w/ Sisters of Soul ft. Kim Dawson, Tanya Shylock, CC Chambers Dave Watts, Dan Shwindt & Garrett Sayers and The Angle Eoto @ The Fillmore Auditorium Denver - 7:30pm

Strange Americans @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 8:30pm w/ The Belle Jar, The Semaphores DJ Madd, Author @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 8pm w/ Subliminal, Caustik moe. @ Ogden Theatre Denver - 9pm w/ Technicolor Tone Factory Mushroomhead @ Summit Music Hall Denver - 7pm w/ One Eyed Doll, Elete The Wood Brothers @ The Gothic Theatre Englewood - 9pm w/ Ben Sollee

The Dendrites (Album Release) @ The Marquis Theatre Denver - 7pm w/ 12 Cents for Marvin, Pink Hawks, The Ruckus, Denver Vintage Reggae Society

sunday December 8th UNC Choirs Concert @ UCCC Greeley - 7:30 pm

DJ Eric M, JJ Digital, Anju, Radio of CosmicLuM, G-CO&BigRay, B-Boy Severe, CR-Peezo, Caddy Steez, Ransum (Lotto), Lil Haiti, Woday Mob @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver - 6pm MAYDAY @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 7:30pm w/ Slo Pain The Unlikely Candidates @ The Marquis Theatre Denver - 7pm w/ Shady Elders, Medic

monday December 9th Jonny Kaplan & The Lazy Stars @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 8:30pm w/ Kristina Murray & Two Hearted Jones Midlake @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8pm w/ Sarah Jaffe

tuesday December 10th The Stubby Shillelaghs @ Patrick’s Irish Pub, Greeley - 9pm OM Unit and Subliminal @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8pm w/ Tree, Grimecandy, Tehkilla & Bass Butter

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

You Me & Apollo @ Aggie Theatre on 12/13/13 in Ft. Collins Jeff Brinkman w/ TMRB, Shane McCormick Cascade Kinzie @ Larimer Lounge Denver -8pm

Sound Art ft. Bob Olivier, Danny Evans, Joe Lee Parker @ The Moxi Theater, Greeley - 7pm This Century @ The Marquis Theatre Denver - 7pm w/ Nick Santino & The Northern Wild, Taking Canyon, Kimi Most

wednesday December 11th Kris Lager Band Early & Late Show @ Moxi Theater, Greeley - 6pm/9pm Earphunk Music Presents Daft Punk @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 8pm

TrollPhace 2/ Rekoil and Barron @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8pm

Cate Le Bon @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8pm w/ Kevin Morby, Fingers of the Sun

Wayne Static @ The Gothic Theatre Englewood - 7pm w/ The Defiled, Madlife, Glass Delirium, Ghost of Ivy Chanel West Coast @ The Marquis Theatre Denver - 7pm w/ 40oz

Friday December 13th thursday December 12th The Other Black @ Moxi Theater, Greeley - 8pm w/ Petals of Spain, Futurebabes Fierce Bad Rabbit @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 8pm

Pickin’ on Dead-A Bluegrass Trubite to The Grateful Dead ft. Members of Dead Phish Orchestra and Pickin’ at Yo Mama’s House- A Bluegrass tribute to Widespread Panic @ Cervantes’ Other Side, Denver - 8pm Nadis Warriors & Kaminanda @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver - 8pm w/ Pumpkin and Coult-45

The Drunken Huddle @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 11pm Rossonian, Summa, Bees With Guns (EP Release Party)

The Head and the Heart @ Ogden Theatre, Denver - 8:30pm w/ Ark Life Alice In Winterland ft. The Fray, ZZ Ward, A Great Big World @ Summit Music Hall Denver - 6:30pm The Burial Plot @ The Marquis Theatre Denver - 7pm w/ The History of Hope

The Nutcracker @ UCCC Greely - 7:30pm

Harmony Road @ Ricky B’s Windsor - 9pm You Me & Apollo @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 8pm

Rick Bryan @ Down Under Comedy Club, Greeley - 8:30pm w/ Dylan Aames & Ben Adams Westwater Outlaws @ Road 34 Fort Collins - 9pm w/ Von Stomper

The Floozies/Manic Focus @ Bluebird Theater, Denver - 9pm w/ Muzzy, KeepLove (Folk Step) Yarn @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8pm w/ Liebermonster

Too Short & Warren G @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver - 8pm w/ Xperience, High Five, Future Heroes, Diamond Boiz, Money Maleman & Jairon Lettuce @ The Fillmore Auditorium Denver - 7:30pm w/ Kyle Hollingsworth Band

Halden Wofford & The Hi-Beams @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 8pm w/ The Cowboy Dave Band Def Rhymes Devine @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 7:30pm

Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8pm w/ T. Hardy Morris

Arisduhkats: Superstition @ The Moxi Theater, Greeley - 8pm w/ DJ Venom

The Head and the Heart @ Ogden Theatre, Denver - 8:30pm w/ Ark Life

Stevie Stone w/ Ces Cru: 2 Birds One Stone Tour @ Moxi Theater in Greeley 12/18/13 @ Casselman’s in Denver 12/19/13 @ Hodi’s Half Note in Ft. Collins 12/21/13

The White Panda @ The Gothic Theatre Englewood - 9pm w/ Splyt

The Other Black @ The Marquis Theatre Denver - 7pm w/ SF1, Soul Explosion, Albany

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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013 Capsize @ The Marquis Theatre, Denver - 7pm w/ Anterroir, Impacts

thursday December 19th

Mitch Jones @ Down Under Comedy, Greeley - 8:30pm w/ Gary Sixkiller

Blackalicious @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 8pm w/ Diverge and Ethix, Aklock, Stay Tuned (ft. Mane Rok)

Instant Empire @ Hi-Dive Denver - 8:30pm w/ Rubedo, Wire Faces

Vince Herman & Friends @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8pm w/ Gipsy Moon

Reverend Red @ Hi-Dive Denver - 8pm w/ Dragondeer, Champagne Charlie, Duane Mark

SpokesBUZZ Vol IV: Band Together (CD Release) @ Hodi’s Half Note, Fort Collins - 6pm Jeff Cormack (Album Release) @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 8pm w/ John Runnels

Mitch Jones @ DownUnder Comedy Club “Final Day” on 12/21/13 in Greeley

saturday December 14th The Nutcracker @ UCCC Greeley - 7:30pm

Shel @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 8pm w/ Post Paradise

Rick Bryan @ Down Under Comedy Club, Greeley - 8:30pm w/ Dylan Aames & Ben Adams Something Underground @ Bluebird Theater, Denver - 9pm w/ Angie Stevens & The Beautiful Wreck, Dave Preston

The Other Black CD Release @ Road 34, Fort Collins - 9pm w/ My Jerusalem & The Blue Rider The Band of Heathens & Jerry Joseph @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8pm

Orchard Lounge @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver - 8pm w/ Eliot Lipp, Chrome Drones Mimosa @ The Fillmore Auditorium Denver - 7:30pm

Sleep Dark Woods @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 8:30pm w/ Crow Moses, Edmund Wayne Kyle Hollingsworth Band @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8pm w/ The Grant Farm

Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 8pm w/ T. Hardy Morris

Dub Police (Caspa, Trolley Snatcha, J Kenzo, Subscape) @ Ogden Theatre, Denver - 9pm

sunday December 15th The Nutcracker @ UCCC Greeley - 3pm

Schism (TOOL Tribute) @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8pm w/ The Biz, Special Guests My Jerusalem @ The Marquis Theatre Denver - 7:30pm w/ Confluence, The Royal

monday December 16th Beware of Darkness @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 8pm w/ Disgrace the Traitor

tuesday December 17th Beauty and the Beast @ UCCC Greeley - 7pm

D-Jahsta, JPHELPZ, DJ Splawn, AOWL, Efemel & Spectral Vibes @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8pm

Historian @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 8pm w/ Anthony Ruptak, Boots Brown w/ C.P. Carrington

wednesday December 18th 2 Birds 1 Stone @ Moxi Theater, Greeley - 8pm w/ Stevie Stone, Ces Cru A.V.I.U.S., AG Flux, How Cliche’ @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8pm w/ Maulskull, Bullhead*Ded, Rhyme Progression and ODX

The Grand Departure @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 7pm w/ Tangle of Whisps, Jacob Russo, John Strelec Stevie Stone @ The Moxi Theater Greeley - 8pm

Stars in Stereo @ The Marquis Theatre Denver - 7pm

Friday December 20th Adam Bones @ Ricky B’s Windsor - 9pm

Austin Wahlert - Album Release @ Moxi Theater, Greeley - 8pm w/ J. Luke and The Drifters

Hot Congress Records Showcase featuring Princess Music @ Bluebird Theater, Denver - 9pm w/ The Blue Rider, Science Partner, Shady Elders

B-Side Players & Mike Dillon Band @ Cervantes’ Other Side, Denver 8pm

The Knew @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 7:30pm w/ The Outfit, Bud Bronson & The Good Timers, Auto Shop Rules OneRepublic @ Ogden Theatre Denver - 7:30pm

Lola Black’s Nightmare Before Xmas @ Summit Music Hall Denver - 7pm w/ Tattooed Strings, Flood of So

Lotus Gait @ The Gothic Theatre Englewood - 8pm w/ 100 Shots, Scavenger, Parasite Core, No More Excuses The Epilogues @ The Marquis Theatre Denver - 7pm w/ Wiredogs, We Like Monsters, Viretta

EXPLORE MORE

Will Hoge @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 8pm w/ Red Wanting Blue

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saturday December 21st Reservoir Road @ Moxi Theater, Greeley - 6pm

Greeley Chorale presents Handel’s Holiday Hit’s and Festivial Favorites @ UCCC, Greeley - 7:30 pm Comedy Kamikaze “Final Day” Show @ Down Under Comedy Club Greeley - 5pm w/ Mitch Jones & Gary Sixkiller

ONLINE www.bandwagmag.com

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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013 Arcanium Metal Maidens Calendar Release @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 8pm w/ Special Guests Lola Black, Blindfold the Devil, Smackfactor, Unreasonable Human

Railbenders @ Bluebird Theater, Denver - 8:30pm w/ Casey James Prestwood and the Burning Angels, Jamestown Revival Ott & All Seeing I @ Cervantes’ & The Other Side Denver - 8pm w/ Octopus Nebula, Project Aspect, Future Simple Project, Buddha Bomb, TIERRO, Soulacybin, Cloud-D, Serephine Snake Rattle Rattle Snake @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 8:30pm w/ The Centennial

2 Birds 1 Stone @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8pm w/ Stevie Stone, Ces Cru Milkman @ Larimer Lounge Denver - 8pm Public Enemy @ Summit Music Hall Denver - 8pm

Zach Heckendorf @ The Gothic Theatre Englewood - 9pm w/ Hannah Samano

Random Hero @ The Marquis Theatre Denver - 7pm w/ Mosaic, A Memory Down, The Conflict Between, We the Sheep

Chitlin Dixon w/ The Burroughs @ Moxi Theater on 12/31/13 in Greeley

sunday December 22nd Furbie Cakes @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8pm w/ Party Wave, Ible Kadence A.V.I.U.S. & AG Flux @ Hodi’s Half Note Fort Collins - 8pm

monday December 23rd Ol Hickory, Casey James Prestwood and the Burning Angels @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 8pm

thursday December 26th Grass for That Ass ft. Caribou Mountain Collective @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8pm w/ Special Guests

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue @ Ogden Theatre, Denver - 9pm w/ Analog Sun

friday December 27th Peek Freenz @ Ricky B’s Windsor - 9 pm

Sunboy/ Deerpeople @ Bluebird Theater, Denver - 9pm w/ Swing Hero, The Wild After Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue @ Ogden Theatre Denver - 9pm w/ The Congress

Victory Heights @ Summit Music Hall Denver - 7pm w/ No Fair Fights, From Thin Air, Heavy Hearts, D

Synthetic Elements, P-Nuckle @ The Gothic Theatre Englewood - 8pm w/ Head Injuries, Outta Controllers, Straight Outta Luck

saturday December 28th Throttle Bomb @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 8pm w/ Cutthroat Drifters, The Fabulous Boogienauts, Grace Period

Gii and the Spots @ AF Ray’s Greeley - 9pm Umphrey’s McGee @ The Fillmore Auditorium Denver - 7pm

Leftover Crack @ The Gothic Theatre Englewood - 9pm w/ The Repercussions, Truckasaurus, Rotten Blue Menace

sunday December 29th

Reverend Horton Heat @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 8pm w/ Old Man Markley, Arliss Nancy

Afton Showcase ft. DeKade, Runaway Grace, Dead End Drivers & Guests @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver - 6pm Umphrey’s McGee @ The Fillmore Auditorium Denver - 7pm

Snow Daze @ Summit Music Hall, Denver - 7pm

monday December 30th The Sword @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 9pm w/ Helms Alee, Tauntaun Tea Leaf Green @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8pm w/ Toubab Krewe

2-Day Pass: Tea Leaf Green @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8pm w/ Toubab Krewe

Paper Bird @ Hi-Dive Denver - 8pm w/ Mike Clark & The Sugar Sounds, Stelth Ulvang Reverent Horton Heat @ The Gothic Theatre Englewood - 9pm w/ Old Man Markley, In the Whale

tuesday December 31st Greeley Chanber of Commerce: Greeley Young Proffesionals Present: Chitlin Dixon @ Moxi Theater, Greeley - 8pm w/ The Burroughs Head for the Hills @ The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins - 8pm w/ The Congress

The Sword @ Bluebird Theater Denver - 9pm w/ Helms Alee, Native Daughters

Wu Year’s Eve ft. Method Man, Raekwon & Ghostface Killah @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver - 8pm w/ The Foodchain and Very Special Guests The Holler! New Year’s Eve Blowout!! @ Road 34 Fort Collins - 9pm w/ The Adam Bodine Trio

2-Day Pass: Tea Leaf Green @ Cervantes’ Other Side Denver - 8pm w/ Mountain Standard Time Umphrey’s McGee @ The Fillmore Auditorium Denver - 7pm

Paper Bird @ Hi-Dive Denver - 8:30pm w/ Inner Oceans, DJ Rett Rogers

Abandin Pictures (Album Release) @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 8pm The Oh Hellos @ Ogden Theatre Denver - 9pm

Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine, Joy Subtraction @ Summit Music Hall, Denver 8pm Reverend Horton Heat @ The Gothic Theatre Englewood - 9pm w/ Old Man Markley, Reno Divorce Flobots @ The Marquis Theatre, Denver - 8pm

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

BATTLE OF THE BANDS AD

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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

GAMES

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.

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

FAKING IT A creative story by Anonymous It’s been a long time since I last went out on an art raid, but Swade and Badwoof are more than excited to get my call. We meet at the old usual spot underneath the Highway 6 and Indiana overpass where Swade has his beat up copper colored Corsica waiting pulled up onto the shoulder. Badwoof takes time to hide his bike in some bushes just past the traffic light. I took the light rail, and soon we’re in the back of Swade’s car showing off our new stencils and printouts and trying to not get whacked in the face by the ladder sticking through the trunk and into the back seat that keeps falling over every time Swade changes lanes. Tonight’s target is a pedestrian bridge near the entrance to the newly finished supermall. Swade seems to think that I care about his corporate overhaul. Truth is that the adrenaline rush works me up enough to give me a good night’s sleep. The soul of street art died in the early 2000s. The people still doing it are just egotists who in some naïve way seem to think that they are still capable of making a difference. Pre-Obama hope mongers. Not that I’m any different. My stencil is of an 8 foot tall military helicopter, don’t ask me what kind, I just found the picture on Google images. My plan is to use rainbow colors and to make this huge gay pride helicopter looming over the interstate and welcoming customers to what is sure to be a life fulfilling shopping experience. Swade doesn’t think my idea makes enough of a statement against commercialism which is why he’s printed out a massive black and white portrait of Jesus, the one that your grandmother had hanging above her TV where he’s got this beam of light coming in from the top right of the picture and he’s looking up with that little smirk on his face. His plan is to cover the eyes of Jesus with green dollar signs. Fucking genius. Badwoof is the only real artist in our little group of vandals. He’s got this printout of a naked woman with a guitar and a cigarette. Behind her he plans to spray paint his trademark wolves howling into the night sky, only with one pointed in each direction so that the wolves coming out from behind the rocker chicks’ back and over her shoulders look like the dark wings of some fallen punk angel. No statement so pretentiously discernible as mine or Swade’s, just some cool imagery to battle against the ads from the billboards and neon signs across the highway. The best way to not be spotted is to wear a bright orange construction vest and carpenter pants. Carry a ladder, take your time, and be loud. Bring an old transistor radio with you and play either a classic rock or an easy listening station. Avoid NPR. Do this and you’ll be invisible. Do this and you can vandalize the Capital Building. The Lincoln Memorial. The Louvre. Your grandmother’s front porch with her sitting right in front of you sipping sweet tea, her Jesus portrait hanging just inside the door and watching you just as ignorantly. Swade gets to work mixing his special formula for glue in a big white bucket while Badwoof positions the ladder against the bridge from the underneath just to the right of the road. I have my cardboard stencil taped together and my handi-tack ready as I am the first to climb up with my blue duffle bag hanging at my side filled with spray cans, one of each color. My stencil is a little too big, but I decide that you can still tell what it is if I cut off the helicopter’s landing gear.

The whole thing takes less than 5 minutes and its Badwoof’s turn. He takes the brick wall on the northbound side of the road and while he sprays his dripping wolves I realize we forgot to remove Swade’s license plate after we parked. We’ve only seen two cars drive past so I let it out of my mind. Another 10 minutes and Swade is about to climb the ladder we’ve placed on the left side of the road this time and I lean over my painting from the top of the bridge to finish it off with my name. In one quick and fluid motion of the spray can I leave the word “Gnosis” in yellow paint just above the pride copter. It’s Greek for knowledge and some sort of ironic reference to “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” Johnny Gnosis stole Hedwig’s songs, heart, and a part of her manhood. I think. I’ve been wrong about that kind of thing before though. I encircle my signature with a red Jesus fish. Like the ones that soccer moms put on the back of their cars. This completes the Hedwig reference and simultaneously adds a little something for the thousands who will drive past that have never seen the movie before. Swade’s Jesus is up and he’s shaking a green spray can when the whole bridge lights up red, and then blue with the glaring lights of a patrol car. The siren only does that little quick “bwoop bwoop” sound, enough to let us know we’re fucked without scaring the people sleeping in the suburb nearby into thinking that something really bad is happening. Badwoof and Swade look to me. I’m the one with the shitty leg. I’m the one who decides if we run or not. I see the drainage ditch just to my right at the end of the bridge and far from the patrol car. I just say “yes” and we run. Street art died when art collecting baby boomers started to love it too. When business owners started paying to have tags done on the side of their buildings to attract a certain crowd. When city councilmen started to pay tax dollars to have a piece of graffiti carefully chiseled from the sidewalk and relocated and hung on the outer west wall of the courthouse. I came too late to say that I had really contributed anything to the movement other than my own frivolity and lust to be noticed. Now you can buy Shepard Fairey’s Andre the Giant “OBEY” t-shirts at your local Zumiez. His Obama hope posters decorate the homes of even the most conservative of Democrats. Banksy has a coffee table book and a movie which made Space Invader and Swoon and BuffMonster household names. Mr. Brainwash might be an elaborate joke fabricated by the shakers and movers of the Naomi Klein inspired countercultural revolution, but those of us who haven’t got a gallery show out of it, who still run from cops and nobody knows our names, we came too late. We came when we were browsing at Barnes and Noble and found Wall and Piece and The History of Street Art and thought to ourselves “hey, I can do that too!” Anybody who started after Exit through the Gift Shop is a lost cause. Those of us privileged enough to afford an art history class in the past five years know all about it. We’ve analyzed the corporatization of this pure thing and have considered the possibility of it being the next great move on the street artist’s part. The chance that this was a calculated move designed to dismantle the meaning and definition of art, the destruction of the classical canon and the need to place an implied value on something created by someone famous. End the notion that a thing is valuable only because the person’s name has been featured in Art Forum. Tear

apart the intellectualization of art and take it back the same way they’ve taken back the city from oppressive billboard advertisements screaming at us all to submit to our own alienation. The truth is that a Banksy original sells for a quarter million dollars. Intentions aside, we’re all capitalist pigs. Even Swade and Badwoof and me. We’re just living out this dream of grandeur the same way that a young acting major at a state school dreams of the academy awards and a vacation home in the Hamptons. Art be damned. If Marcel Duchamp and Yves Klein and Piero Monzoni and Joseph Beuys and Andy fucking Warhol were in it for something other than pure egotism and celebrity, something like the true devastation they preached, then maybe art really is shit as shit is art and not the other way around. At least Monzoni had the balls to say it. Unlike me. Unlike the rest of us. The ladder and our spray cans, the transistor radio and my duffle bag are all collateral damage. We’re running through this drainage ditch which we hope will end somewhere safe, but I know we’re not being followed. The cops have better things to do. We’re delusional to think that a few punk graffiti taggers could dismantle the system and enrage the authority enough to make anyone give a damn. The only person who cares is the frat boy who got caught last month with weed in his dorm room and now has to clean up our little doodles as his community service. There is a very good chance that Badwoof, and yes maybe even Swade, know all this too, but they’re not saying anything and neither am I. I stole the tips I gave them on staying invisible from the last page of Wall and Piece. We’re secretive about where we live, but I’m certain a copy sits on their coffee tables too. The point of this little excursion into adolescent rebellion for me, however, is not to bring down any system of corporate corruption or to enlighten an ignorant passerby or even to, as they say, take back the streets. I’ve been so distracted by my stencil, the paint, the sneaking, and the police, that I haven’t thought about Ira since this morning. When we are certain the cops are gone and we return to Swade’s untouched yet possibly now in the system car, the adrenaline is gone and Ira floods back into the front of my mind. I had never even heard of Hedwig until he made me watch it. He disapproved of my tagging and eventually I had given it up for his sake. I resolve then and there to go out as much as possible. Swade is pissed that he didn’t have a chance to spray his dollar signs over his Jesus’ eyes. Now he thinks someone might mistake it to be in support of the very thing he was trying to deconstruct. Badwoof looks to me with a smirk and rolls his eyes. At least I have his approval. An artist I actually respect. And then the questions come to Ira. The first and second rule of art raids are to not talk about art raids (Swade’s rules. I disowned Palahniuk after he wrote Snuff), we are all so very secretive about our personal lives even amongst our fellow vandals; in truth as less of a precaution than as an attempted feeling of fellowship with our heroes, but Ira had managed to find his way into conversation with my accomplices almost three years ago. Badwoof wants to know how he is and if he’s asked me to marry him yet. I tell him we broke up. I leave out the details. Swade lights up a joint and passes it back to me and I pass it straight on to Badwoof. I know it’s funny to be an artist

and say that I don’t touch the stuff, but it really depersonalizes the hell out of me to the point where I’m not even real anymore. About ten minutes and we’re back in town and coming close to 3 Kings, our usual hang out, and Badwoof is looking at me. Just staring with that pot gaze, glazed over eyes and I barely notice really until his hand is on my knee and his goofy grin is getting bigger and bigger. Complete with a stupefied pot head voice he reiterates the question of whether or not I am single now. His hand moves up a little and his grin gets wider still. It takes a minute for Swade to parallelpark, he’s not use to the city so much. Badwoof winks before climbing over into the front seat and out of the car. Inside I have a Fat Tire and Badwoof is still eyeing me. I had no idea he was gay, bi, pan, whatever until just now. He’s probably the most secretive of us all. And butch. All night he’s pulling the typical drunk slash stoned slash old friends moves until finally I’ve had too much to drink and need to go take a piss. Turning away from the urinal I see him waiting in the doorway. 3 Kings isn’t a gay bar, but it’s the kind of place where someone like me can feel comfortable. It’s the kind of place that plays jazz music on Fridays and has burlesque shows every Monday and hosts a male version every few months. It’s a chill place where diversity is the norm and not the exception. It’s a place where dykes hang out after work alongside ravers on their way to Traxx and college Barbies celebrating a 21st birthday. If something were to happen here in this men’s room with shower curtains in place of stall doors it wouldn’t exactly be out of the ordinary. That’s not saying 3 Kings is sleazy. Just cool with it. Badwoof is a tall guy, but I’m only 5’5” so that’s not saying much. He’s a little husky and a little hairy with a short goatee and five o clock shadow. Short black hair and pale from being out all night and sleeping all day. I want what he’s offering, but Ira still lingers after only 3 drinks. His hand is on my hip, his rum breath in my ear and I want it even more, but I slink from underneath his arm extended to the wall, locking me in, and I am free. Free to mourn Ira and deny myself what once came so naturally once more. Badwoof backs off, but before I buy my light rail ticket at the end of the night he whispers the name “Nick” to me. Now I know his identity and his deepest secret. Now I have a fantasy capable of fulfilling and within reach. Something else capable of distracting me. He tells me to call him tomorrow. Ira’s ghost evaporates if only for an instant. I tell Nick “sure.” Back at home, my unkempt apartment with the kitchen sink towering with dishes and the bathtub so plugged that the water doesn’t drain before it evaporates, I’m on my couch and flipping through Wall and Piece.Banksy once did a crucified Jesus with shopping bags in each hand. A starving boy with a burger king crown. A fallen angel with a cigarette. A military helicopter with a pink bow on top. Ira always disapproved of me tagging. He always said it was just my way of pretending that what I did made a difference. That all this philosophical, art history, post-post-modernist, anonymous liberation, pseudo-intellectualized, antiauthoritarian, queer-core, anarchist bullshit was just a front for my own sad and pathetic velvet rage. My way of faking it. I call Swade and tell him I’m in for Tuesday.

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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine December 2013

BANDWAGON PIx

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