Review: Gasoline Lollipops' New Record 'Soul Mine' Leaves Nothing Left Unsaid

By: Julia Talen

Colorado's beloved alt-country band Gasoline Lollipops release their new album Soul Mine  this month, with a vinyl release party happening December 16th at The Fox Theatre in Boulder. The band will be making their homecoming after a long stint in Europe touring throughout Belgium and the Netherlands. Fans and listeners will not be disappointed, as this album gives us the rugged-punk, country rock’n’roll sound fans know and love while exploring themes of emotional heartbreak, pain, motivation, and growth. The opening track and title of the album hint at the content within, as the band welds together folk and untamed alternative-country-rock to produce a record full of depth, stories, and music that compels listeners to take a stand while also contemplating.

Gasoline Lollipops at Red Rocks. Photo: Hannah Oreskovich

Gasoline Lollipops at Red Rocks. Photo: Hannah Oreskovich

Clay Rose's voice immediately reminded me of the likes of Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen; deep, gritty and dark, yet sustained with unwavering intensity and truth. The title track begins with a soulful, bluesy opening accompanying Rose's rich vocals and the band's groovy guitar solos. Lyrics like "started out digging for diamonds and gold/now I'm digging through the long, dark night of the soul/to see dawn" and "love springs from deep wells/faith is born in the forge of hell/forge on" allude to the theme of the album: one of transformation. "Soul Mine," evolves as a track as well. At one point the refrain builds and then pulls back, stripped down to bare instruments and vocals, only to rebuild into an epic finish that swells. This engrossing track sets the tone for the album as listeners dive deep into stories of loss and evolution.

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The first half of the album is filled with songs that showcase Gasoline Lollipop's eclectic style and ability to explore country rock beyond the confines of a genre. Rose's profound voice sounds subterranean and electrified at times, while other times rustic and lightened, yet still powerful. Drum beats, guitar solos, and harmonic keys shine through in many of the tracks as listeners settle into the tales that the album chronicles. "Woman and a Gun," the third track, begins slowly and vocally; it sounds like a story told near a fire out west about an outlaw named Jessie. The tune's refrain breaks the early, rustic, folktale feel as the track builds. The second half of the song surges with lyrics, "all my faith is a bullet/all my God is a gun/all this world was just smoke and mirrors/I'm gonna break them one by one." After repeating the last verse, "gonna break them one by one," the song launches into a fast, dynamic progression full of intricate guitar solos and percussion that intensifies, elevating the ending of the track by taking it to an edge.

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As the album continues, listeners move through songs of heartbreak. "Casanova" wavers in and out of a harsh rock’n'roll sound and a slow, somber refrain: "If a man goes livin'/for the heart for too long/he's bound to be eaten alive." The track "Montreal" details an ending and nostalgia for the past, as GasPops evoke emotion and leave nothing left unsaid.

"Burns" comes soon after and opens with strings that cry out from the start. There is an evocative darkness hovering over the track, that reminded me of The National. However, Rose's voice builds and breaks boundaries as he repeats "and it burns" towards the end of the track. This one gave me chills, because once again, it felt like GasPops were taking me into the fire with them. Their music goes beyond instruments and vocals; their passionate lyrics, layered with brilliant instrumentals, grab you and take you into an experience they construct with their music, one in which you feel the pain from a past memory that their music expresses in the present moment.

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After exploring more heavy transformation and darkness with tracks titled, "Ghost of a Man," and "Leaving Alone," the album ends with the tune, "Put me to the Task," a hopeful send off, complete with elements of upbeat country rock. The steel guitar and violin liven the tune along with Rose's vocals and the warm harmonies that round out the refrain. The bass carries through and lights a spark under the folds of sound that grow throughout the song. The song finishes off with lyrics, "Well I know/time has come to make good what we don't/but I'm eager to please." We are left with some light at the end of this dark, yet resounding album.

Soul Mine takes listeners to a vulnerable threshold, all the while showcasing the band's dynamic sounds, sounds that truly liberate them from one specific genre. This mighty and gripping album is one that listeners can relate to, contemplate, and even dance to, making it an album that anyone can connect with. Don't miss Gasoline Lollipops album release party on December 16th at The Fox Theatre, followed by their NYE show December 31 at Hodi's Half Note in Fort Collins!           

-Julia

All photos, videos, and embedded tracks per the artists featured and those credited. This feature was edited for brevity and clarity by BolderBeat.

Review: TMULE Releases New Alt-Folk Solo EP, 'Wordless Lullabies'

By: Norman Hittle

Singer and guitar player for the alt-country/rock band The Longest Day of the Year, TMULE is set to release his first solo EP since 2006 this month. The Ft. Collins, CO alt-folk/singer-songwriter will be releasing a folk-rock EP of four new songs called Wordless Lullabies, alongside his first book of poetry, Book of Dawn / I, the Iceberg.

TMULE.

TMULE.

Yet, alternative folk doesn’t sum up the full experience of this EP. With nods to Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, and George Harrison, TMULE's songs are soulful and heart-wrenching with their fingers reaching into blues and Americana. 

Raised in suburban Detroit with an alcoholic father, teenage TMULE would plug in his guitar and embrace the catharsis of singing his lungs out to “Release” by Pearl Jam. That feeling drew him to songwriting early in life. Worldless Lullabies and Book of Dawn / I, The Iceberg examine struggles through his father’s substance abuse, the weight of co-dependence, emotional abandonment, and the fortitude of love. The complications of growing up affected by alcoholism is a theme of many TMULE songs, but this package is the culmination of years of biographical writing; stories of hungry ghosts, fear, love and reconciliation to bring solace to those struggling in their own darkness, whatever it may be.

The EP’s dark aesthetic is the shining of a spotlight through his past while the poetry book explores the wide range of emotions surrounding dependence issues and it's complicated effect on personal relationships.

Check out TMULE's EP release show this Friday, May 26th at 730 PM at Downtown Artery in Fort Collins. Tickets here. TMule will also have a CD/Poetry Book release Tuesday, June 6th at 6PM at Innisfree Poetry Bookstore & Cafe in Boulder.

'Wordless Lullabies' EP credits: Produced by Justin Roth of Fort Collins. Guest musicians Mark Lavengood (Lindsay Lou & the Flatbelly’s), Ben Zito and Dan Rickabus (The Crane Wives), and Paul Maley (Equally Challenged). Mastered by Ian Gorman of Kalamazoo’s La Luna Recording & Sound.

-Norman Hittle

All photos, videos, and embedded tracks per the artists featured and those credited. This feature was edited for brevity and clarity by BolderBeat.

The Sadies' New Record Is Arguably Their Best Yet & Drummer Mike Belitzsky Tells Us Why

By: Claire Woodcock

Mike Belitzsky has been drumming with The Sadies for over 20 years and has never been so excited about the direction the band is moving in. The traditionally roots rock kings of Canada’s sound on Northern Passengers, released back in February, preserves the band’s history while soaking the tracks in reverb and a light wash of fuzz.

The Sadies. Photo Credit: Heather Pollock Photography

The Sadies. Photo Credit: Heather Pollock Photography

The eclectic country western rock quartet recorded album number ten in the basement of members Dallas and Travis Good’s parent’s house. The brothers come from a family of musicians- their father and uncles formed The Good Brotherswhich Travis and Dallas actually played in for a stitch before forming The Sadies back in 1994 with their lineup of bassist Sean Dean and drummer Belitsky.

The instrumentals on Northern Passengers are in tight sync. And Belitsky’s musical style is to keep it that way, balancing creativity with keeping the other parts audible. Part of that stems from the band not feeling pressed for time when recording the album.  

“If we wanted to speed [a song] up 10 beats per minute we could just redo [the track] and it wasn’t a big deal,” he said.

Some songs only took a half a day to track. “But for others, [we] would do it and then three days later somebody would be putting the guitar track on and say, ‘You know what, this is too slow, we’ve got to redo the whole thing.’” he added.  

Photo Credit: Derek von Essen

Photo Credit: Derek von Essen

The album came out in February as The Sadies’ first record with Dine Alone Records. Highly respected in North America for a dynamic blend of rock’n’roll licks and country western harmonies, the veteran indie band collaborated with Neko Case and Andre Williams and opened and accompanied greats like Neil Young. And Kurt Vile, who played a killer set at Project Pabst in Denver last weekend guests on Northern Passengers with “It’s Easy (Like Walking),” which sounds like a traditional Kurt Vile song. (He sure likes to walk, doesn’t he?)  

Photo Credit: Rick White.

Photo Credit: Rick White.

Belitsky’s drums compliment every vocal, guitar, and bass track on the album. “Everybody sort of just assumes that you get the drum sounds and then bang! The drummer just bangs out a track and goes home,” he said, “...[But] I don’t like to be just the guy that plays super straight and just keeps the time. I want to be creative and I want to be someone who plays the song not just to the beat and within that realm in those parameters. I don’t want to be so busy that I’m stepping on someone’s part or taking away from the melody. I don’t want to lose the backbeat but I still want to be creative and play to the song as much as I can, where there’s still a strong feeling of a backbeat and a rhythm, but [the drums] still manage to embellish the song to highlight the other parts.”

Artwork by Jeremy Bruneel

Artwork by Jeremy Bruneel

Catch The Sadies when they’re passing through Denver this Friday, May 26th at The Bluebird Theater. Justin Towne Earles headlines and has a new single out this month. Tickets here.

-Claire

All photos, videos, and embedded tracks per the artists featured and those credited. This feature was edited for brevity and clarity by BolderBeat.  

From Death to Dawn Comes 'Resurrection': Catch The Gasoline Lollipops at The Fox Theatre This Valentine's Day

By: Mirna Tufekcic

There’s a reason why a band gains momentum. Sometimes people connect through the language of music, and what comes of it, well, it’s undeniable. That’s kind of the story of Gasoline Lollipops, a band escaping genre confinement as they set every show ablaze with heart-forward, stomping, growling tunes.

Jeb Bows, an exceptional fiddler from the tiny town of Ward, CO, talked about this language of music with me recently, in an interview about his role in the Gas Pops.

“I was four years old when my eye caught a violin posted on the wall of the cabin I was born in.” Jeb told me, taking me back to the start of his music career.

Jeb Bows.

Jeb Bows.

“I learned to play music as someone would learn to speak their native language.” Jeb said, “It’s called the Suzuki Method, invented by Shinichi Suzuki, a Japanese violinist. The premise of the method is listening to sounds and figuring out how to produce the sounds you’re hearing, not unlike a baby learns to speak from watching and mimicking its parents… Music’s been my life path since.”

Jeb plays the fiddle with the Gas Pops, but he also dabbles in other music projects.  

As he says, “I stay really busy, but rarely do I say no,” when it comes to playing with other musicians and singer-songwriters. You’ll see him playing a sold out Red Rocks shows with Gregory Alan Isakov or in a local coffee shop swooning a small crowd with his violin alongside other, lesser known, but no less talented musicians. Bows has a keen ability to sync with anybody he plays with, a gift and a privilege he is very well aware of having.  

The Gasoline Lollipops. 

The Gasoline Lollipops. 

But not all of Jeb’s life was as smooth as the vibrations he creates on that fiddle of his. He spent a chunk of time in Los Angeles walking down a dark, dead-end road and lost himself in the process. He stopped playing music for a while. It took a few years of meandering in the dark for fate to finally come knocking. And she gave him a choice, “What’s it gonna be, Jeb Bows, music or death?”  

Right around the time Jeb was figuring out his way back to sobriety, Clay Rose, the frontman of the Gas Pops was fighting his own demons and self-destructive behavior. Clay grew up in the South, always an outsider bullied by other kids for being different. He was a rebel without a cause, maybe, but he was definitely someone who wanted to make himself stand tall… but not before hitting rock bottom first. As fate would have it, when Jeb moved from L.A. back to Boulder, and Clay moved to Boulder from Nashville, Clay started the Gas Pops and Jeb joined very shortly afterward, the two having met through a mutual friend.

Clay Rose (left) and Brad Morse of Gasoline Lollipops.

Clay Rose (left) and Brad Morse of Gasoline Lollipops.

When I asked Clay about his inspiration for Gas Pops he told me, “If you put a tin can over my chest and listen you would hear this… The [Gas Pops] songs are extremely personal. It’s where I come to play, to confess, for redemption, and where I flog myself.”   

Music for Clay is a way of coping with feelings that have no place in this world; it’s what saved him and gave him a purpose. Though his start in the language of music was admittedly a little different. One of his earliest musical influences was a random cassette tape he found in his mother’s closet with Leonard Cohen on one side, and Tim Buckley on the other.

“That’s when I started writing poetry, because I realized Cohen was writing about things I didn’t know you could talk about. I didn’t know there was language for it. He validated that these things exist and that they can be expressed.”

Clay went on, “There’s a lot of songs I write that I won't play for anyone for months, because I think, man, I can’t be that transparent. But, eventually, I’ll present it to the band and they’ll urge me to play it at our shows. So, I’ll play it and cringe for months.Then the people from the crowd will come up to me and affirm that that song means alot to them, and I start to feel better about it. And that’s when I remember the reason I’m doing this in the first place. My function, my validation as a musician, is to validate the lonely and suffering.”

And Jeb’s musical mission isn’t far from Clay’s.

“I’ve dedicated my life to sharing in the light and love and connecting with everyone who wants to play and listen, because, in the end, we’re all better for it.” Bows smiled.

The truth is, if you get the Gas Pops in a room, the whole crowd will undoubtedly perk their ears and pay attention. The band taps into something others can relate to, whether through the language of hardship or love, and they prove time and again that their music is something to get down and dance to no matter your life experiences.

Gasoline Lollipops’ music has been called alt country, gypsy folk, and punk rock among others. Even the guys themselves can’t quite tell you what genre they sound like. But really, who cares? If we can connect through the language of music itself without having to confine it to genre, then I think times are ripe with progress. These days you’re a good musician if you can pluck from the tree of knowledge and make it into something totally your own. Sometimes it takes a group of people to create a special work of art, and sometimes trials and tribulations to show you the way. That’s the Gas Pops.  

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The Gasoline Lollipops just finished their new album Resurrection, the final piece of their Lucky 7 Trilogy, and are celebrating this Valentine’s Day with a CD Release Party at the Fox Theatre in Boulder, Colorado. Foxfeather and Kid Reverie will share the stage. Explore the Gas Pops’ language of music for yourself on a night where we could all use light and love- get your tickets here!

-Mirna

All photos, videos, and embedded tracks per the artist featured and those credited. This feature was edited for brevity and clarity by BolderBeat.

10 Commandments and 8 Questions: A Conversation with Slim Cessna

By: Will Baumgartner

Slim Cessna’s Auto Club is a Denver institution. The band has survived 24 years (you read that right; they formed in 1992) without even a “hiatus,” let alone a “breakup” despite members living in different states for large chunks of those years. For this alone they deserve not only credit, but a certain awe, for as anyone who has tried to run a group knows, it’s hard enough to keep things going when you all live in the same town, let alone all over the country. Add on the fact that the band creates amazing music together, performs like they’ve just brought an insanely fun party from their house into the club, and has brought their party to Europe with great success, and you have the makings of a great story about perseverance and love in the modern music business. Actually, let’s call that a novel: Where most bands’ careers can be read more like short stories, SCAC’s is more of an epic tale.

The band’s music has been called everything from “experimental rock” to “alt-country,” but after experiencing them live, on record, and in their sublimely strange videos, facile categorizations need to go out the window: This is just an amazing band. No discussion of the group would be complete without some mention of Slim’s “sidekick” Munly, a wickedly talented songwriter and bandleader (Munly and the Lupercalians) in his own right. Munly, who joined SCAC in 1999, has been the group’s main songwriter for years and wrote all the songs on 'The Commandments According to SCAC,' the band’s sixth studio album, and their first on their own label, SCACUnincorporated. The rest of the band, with Lord Dwight Pentacost on custom-designed double-neck guitar, multi-instrumentalist Rebecca Vera on keys, pedal steel, cello and more,  bassist Ian O’Dougherty, and drummer Andrew Warner are all consummate musicians and performers.

'The Commandments' came out in September of this year, and is an outrageously good album, with videos for each of its 10 songs on YouTube, which provide their own otherworldly visual experience as a foil to SCAC’s music. There are plenty of live videos online as well, and checking out a few of those is a great way to get prepped for what will no doubt be two of the best concerts of the year, when Slim Cessna’s Auto Club take over 3 Kings Tavern in Denver for two New Year’s shows on December 30th and 31st.

Slim Cessna's Auto Club.

Slim Cessna's Auto Club.

In an attempt to prepare myself for the excitement and madness that is a SCAC show, and to better understand the workings of the group and the mind of its frontman, I sat down with Slim and asked him a handful of questions. I was impressed by his humor and graciousness; he couldn’t say enough about Munly and all the members, including Vera and Lord Dwight (with whom he also has an “experimental folk” quartet he clearly loves called Denver Broncos UK or DBUK). In fact, he seemed much more eager to talk about his beloved bandmates than himself.

In a section of our conversation that occurred before the “official interview” that follows, I asked Slim about the somewhat unusual situation of the frontman not being the main songwriter. With characteristic humility, Slim said, “We play to our strengths, and Munly’s has always been songwriting. I’m mostly good at putting on a show and acting like an idiot.” The band’s New Year’s shows at 3 Kings will no doubt prove once again how outrageously good he is at putting on a show, and his answers to my questions prove clearly that there’s a very intelligent man behind that act. Read on:

The main thing that has always struck me about Slim Cessna’s Auto Club is how the dark subject matter of most of your songs is juxtaposed against the delirious fun of how they’re performed. Is this deliberate?

No. I don't think the songs need to be considered dark. I think of them as life-affirming good stories. The narrator in each story is always seeking redemption through whatever source they are able to understand. Yes, we do have delirious fun. 

The hellfire-and-brimstone aspects of your Baptist upbringing get a humorous treatment in your music. Were your parents very seriously religious, or was the church just one part of their whole cultural picture?

I wasn't raised in a fire and brimstone Baptist church. It was much more conservative than that. We sang hymns and it wasn't anything like our shows. Much has been made of our performance that compares us to a tent revival. I think that's based on reputation and what has been thought and then repeated over the years. I suppose that's understandable given our sometimes over the top live performances. We also don't shy away from using biblical content. 

Check out Slim Cessna’s Auto Club’s video for “Commandment 3”:

How did the Auto Club originally get together? Were you already friends with some of the members?

Always only friends.

It’s always a plus for me when the members of a band seem to be real friends who enjoy and love each other onstage and off, rather than just being sort of “business partners” and SCAC definitely comes across as group who are actual friends. How do you feel this helps your music and performances?

This is my family. This is important. We all have each other's backs. 

SCAC.

SCAC.

During the years when you were all living in different parts of the country, did it ever feel like too much work to keep the band going? How did you manage working up new material and rehearsing it?

It was more work than was good for us. We did our best to maintain and continue. Somehow we managed.

SCAC’s music has been categorized a few different ways, including “alt country,” “gothabilly,” and even “Southern gothic,” but in conversation you call it simply “American folk music.” Do you find these attempts to pigeonhole what you do limiting or superfluous?

Gothabilly keeps showing up on Wikipedia. I've personally logged on to erase it, but it always comes back. Who does that? It's my least favorite word. It reminds me of muscle-bro-cartoon-looking-characters with perfectly dyed pompadours and face-makeup. I thank God every day we are nothing like that. 

How did starting your own record label and recording your album DIY affect the whole process of making 'The Commandments According to SCAC'?

Recording and releasing on our own has been wonderful. We had to learn to rely on each other in new ways. We discovered new gifts even after decades of friendship. 

Listen to The Commandments According to SCAC on Spotify:

After getting some well-deserved rest in January, y’all hit the road again in February for a tour of the Western US, and then head right back to Europe. Seems like there’s no rest for the wickedly talented. Would you be happy going on this way indefinitely?

Yes. What else do we have anyway? We have nothing to fall back on. I suppose I'll do this 'til I die.

Make sure to hit up one of SCAC’s New Year shows this weekend. Details here and I’ll see you there!

-Will

All photos, videos, and embedded tracks per the artists featured and those credited. This feature was edited for brevity and clarity by BolderBeat.

Broken Land: Colorado Alt-Country Band Ready to Keep You Dancing

By: Hannah Oreskovich

Based out of Lafayette, CO, alt-country rock band Broken Land have been playing the Front Range together since 2014. Comprised of members Todd Schroeder (vocals), Chris Anton (guitar), Rick Schwolsky (pedal steel/dobro), Chris Howarth (bass), Curt Pleiss (drums), and Allison Langley (vocals), the six-piece outfit are currently signed to Drowsy Dog Records.

Broken Land.

Broken Land.

After a series of earlier EPs, Broken Land released their debut self-titled album this past March. Its 12 tunes boast plenty of rockin’ twang and boot-stompin’ alt-country goodness to get you up off your feet and onto that local brewery dance floor (you know you want to).

Check out Broken Lands’ self-titled album here.

Next month, you’ve got two sweet chances to catch a Broken Land performance on the Front Range. The band will be playing local photographer Lisa Siciliano’s art show Friday, December 9th at Boulder’s Riverside. Then on Friday, December 30th the group will be at Longmont’s Oskar Blues to close out 2016.

Make sure to keep up with Broken Land on their website, and check out one of their earlier EPs below:

-Hannah

Follow Hannah on Instagram and Twitter.

All photos, videos, and embedded tracks per the artists featured and those credited. This feature was edited for brevity and clarity by BolderBeat.

Matt Rouch & The Noise Upstairs Release New Album, 'The Beautiful and the Damned'

By: Hannah Oreskovich

If you’re looking for a new alt-country indie-folk group to listen to while you traverse the Rocky Mountains this weekend Colorado, we found ‘em. Meet Matt Rouch & The Noise Upstairs. Originally from Virginia, leader and founding member Matt Rouch moved to Denver, CO and has slowly been inserting himself into the Colorado music scene ever since. After many moonlit nights playing Meadowlark Bar’s open mic, Rouch met members Justin Catanzaro and Alex Fostar. Together, the trio has been making noise more than just upstairs, with mentions in Scene Magazine, The Marquee, and AXS.

Matt Rouch.

Matt Rouch.

Rouch’s style is a self-described “blend of new and old”, with influences that include The Decemberists, The Tallest Man On Earth, Johnny Cash, and Loretta Lynn. But above all, for Rouch it’s about the songwriting:

I guess my favorite quote about wrtiting goes something along the lines of ‘great writing isn’t better than average writing, it’s just more honest’, and I try to always remember that when I sit down to write a song.”

Rouch recently released a new full-length album, The Beautiful and the Damned. It’s a well-composed release that is perfect for summer, with its strummy tones, blazing harmonica, and overall upbeat, but daring honesty on themes like heartache and finding oneself through travelling alone. It’s a release definitely worth checking out, and can be streamed on the band’s website.

Matt Rouch and The Noise Upstairs have several Colorado shows coming up, so make sure to stop over to one of their live sets and keep up with them here!

-Hannah

Follow Hannah on twitter and instagram.

All photos, videos, and embedded tracks per the artists featured. This feature was edited for brevity and clarity by BolderBeat.

The Weekend Six: Six Shows to See 07/15 & 07/16

By: Hannah Oreskovich

Brews, burgers, and bands- this weekend’s got it all folks:

Today (Friday 07/15):

Foxfeather at The Gold Hill Inn in Boulder 830PM-Close

The classy folks of Foxfeather.

The classy folks of Foxfeather.

Boulder’s folk five-piece Foxfeather will be helping you dance your way into the weekend tonight at The Gold Hill Inn. Most recently, the group has been hard at work in the studio recording their first full-length album after the success of their most recent Kickstarter campaign. So make sure to drop on over to The Inn tonight- you just might hear some of their new tunes!

Listen to Foxfeather’s original “Math Problems”:

SleepWalker, The Swifts, & Wild Love Tigress at Boulder House in Boulder 9PM-Close

SleepWalker.

SleepWalker.

Boulder House is hosting “a night of rock, punk, and funk” this evening with Denver acts SleepWalker, The Swifts, and Wild Love Tigress. For a venue that used to only consist of college kids doing the DJ and drinks thing (the spot is formerly Absinthe House), Boulder House is really trying to make a name as a local mid-level venue. So go check out what they’ve got goin’ tonight! The show is $5 at the door; 21+ only.

Listen to SleepWalker’s “Lady in the Sky”:

The Red Petals at Pizza Bar 66 in Lyons 930-PM-Close

The Red Petals.

The Red Petals.

It’s been a minute since we’ve caught a Red Petals set, so tonight's the night folks. The Colorado blues rock trio will be playing over pizza, so come grab a slice and hear ‘em at it! With influences like John Mayer Trio and White Denim, these dudes are bound to break your heart over a Pizza Bar beer. Get outta town and check ‘em out!

Peep The Red Petals’ cover of “Come On In My Kitchen”:

Tula’s EP Release Party at The Lazy Dog in Boulder 10PM-Close

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Tula, the “Colorado funk quartet with Chicago roots”, is throwing their EP Release Party at The Lazy Dog tonight. The funk and jam rock band will be celebrating and performing their latest release, Follow The Beast Inside, and this show is free! So roll over and trip the funk fantastic. PS: If you’re seeing The String Cheese Incident at Red Rocks tonight, here’s your perfect after-party spot!

Listen to Tula’s single from their newest EP, “Bus Stop Booty”:

Tomorrow (Saturday 07/16):

Park Burger Presents The Denver Deluxe with The Original Wailers, Hip Abduction, & More at Park Burger RiNO in Denver 12PM-8PM

Park Burger is shutting down Walnut Street tomorrow in Denver for a beer garden, burger station, and good tunes. And Denver Deluxe is on board the shebang, in support of Denver Urban Gardens, a nonprofit dedicated to creating neighborhood community gardens. Bands on the bill include The Original Wailers, The Hip Abduction, Rob Drabkin, Musketeer Gripweed, Jonathan Boogie Long, Technicolor Tone Factory, and Atomga. $30 gets you entry, a burger, and two beers. Support local sustainability and check out this event!

More details here.

One Flew West, The Longest Day of the Year, & Whiskey Autumn at The Fox Theatre in Boulder

Whiskey Autumn.

Whiskey Autumn.

Blending the sounds of rock and roll with folk and pop”, Denver’s One Flew West will headline The Fox tomorrow night. Boulder’s alt-rock Americana outfit The Longest Day of the Year will share the stage, and it’s rumored this may be the band’s last performance for 2016. Plus Boulder pop rock trio Whiskey Autumn will open the evening with a killer set that will be their last around these parts for awhile, as the group is hitting the road for the third time this summer on tour. We love all local lineups, so come hang out! Tickets are $11 if you message Whiskey Autumn today; otherwise they’re $14-$16 here.

Watch One Flew West's new music video for their cover of "Come Together":

Stoked to see you out Colorado!

-Hannah

Follow Hannah on twitter and instagram.

All photos, videos, and embedded tracks per the artists featured. This feature was edited for brevity and clarity by BolderBeat.

Card Catalog: Move And Feel And Dance

By: Kelly Harthan

“My intentions are to relate to others and to share my stories. I want to make people move and feel and dance.”

-Jenn Tatro

Card Catalog labels their sound as classic American, ranging from blues to alt-country to rock, and I would have to agree, with maybe a hint of “rockabilly” added in the mix. The Colorado trio consists of Jenn Tatro (vocals/lyrics/guitar), Dalton Clayton (lead guitar) and Rob Spears (bass/backup vocals). Tatro’s strong voice packs a Pat Benatar punch, ridden with subtle rich tones and emotionally charged melodies reminiscent of a classic Patsy Cline. Accompanied by Clayton’s aggressive guitar licks and Spears’ strong dance-oriented bass lines, the trio create a distinctive sound of their own, with an energy resemblant of JD McPherson. In short, Card Catalog makes you want to dance as they showcase their originals, along with covers from Johnny Cash, Queens of the Stone Age, and Prince.

The band name Card Catalog came from Tatro, who believes it reflects their music: “I want to be able to do a broad spectrum of things with our music, and not get stuck in one sound. I feel like the possibilities are endless when searching through an actual card catalog."

Card Catalog.

Card Catalog.

With this group, it’s apparent that friendship and collaborative creation are at the nucleus of their sound. Clayton and Tatro had been a duo for several years prior to the addition of Spears, who they met when he jumped onstage uninvited during one of the duo’s open mic sets a few months ago. After Clayton and Tatro let Spears sing a Prince cover, he was officially in. Reflecting on the creative process and accompanying sense of accomplishment of the band now that their momentum as a trio has begun, Clayton said, “those moments only happen because we support each other and help drive each other”.

When I first sat down to do a little research on Card Catalog, I was surprised at how little I could find of their actual music. “We have been hesitant to put too much recorded material onto social media sites until the quality is where we'd like it,” explained Spears. But after getting a sneak peek at two songs from their upcoming EP, I was impressed and set out to do my best to describe this local band’s unique flare. As a songwriter myself, I couldn’t help but pay close attention to Tatro’s lyrics, and the emotion that translates through her vocal melodies in the tracks on the band’s upcoming EP, Can I Be.

“The story behind Can I Be comes from my desire to have someone in my life that lets me be exactly who I am. At the time I wrote that song, I had just come out of a relationship that didn't go the way I was expecting. I just kept coming back to the feeling of wanting to be the gas for someone's fire, and to have something where we lifted each other up.” Tatro said.

In talking with Card Catalog about their recent entrance into the local scene, Clayton added, “People around here really love and support live music. I feel lucky I get to play for these folks.” As a native Coloradoan, I could not agree more. So there you have it- great music and great people with something to say.

Card Catalog has several shows coming up this summer in Boulder, as well as an upcoming EP release for Can I Be. Get details on their Facebook and Instagram.

-Kelly

The Weekend Six: Six Shows to See 05/13 & 05/14

By: Hannah Oreskovich

Graduation is over and summer has begun! Let’s get to it Beaters:

Today (Friday 05/13):

Grandpa’s Gun Spring Party, featuring Open Space and Francis and the Wolf at Shine Gathering Place in Boulder 8PM-Close

Get yer gun grandpa.

Get yer gun grandpa.

Boulder’s Americana outfit Grandpa’s Gun are holding down the Shine stage tonight, joined by alt-country “outlaw bluegrass” band Open Space and Longmont’s rock’n’roll trio Francis and the Wolf. Grandpa’s Gun dropped their debut full-length album, Back Into Town, last October with critical acclaim. Tonight’s show offers a sweet local lineup to sip to, and it’s only $5 at the door. Head over and check these bands out!

Check out the video for Granpa’s Gun track “Snakebite”:

All Chiefs Release Show & Music Video Premiere at The Lazy Dog in Boulder 830PM-Close

All chiefs.

All chiefs.

All Chiefs is back! The Boulder/Denver indie rock and dance pop five-piece have returned to the local music scene after a hiatus, during which it’s rumored they were recording their new EP Fashion Forward. Tonight, the band is premiering their new single, “Pusher”, and its official music video, live at The Lazy Dog. Following the premiere, the band will take the stage (shared by Tyto Alba) for a night of new music, and old favorites. Fashion Forward will be available on CD, which gives you the chance to check out All Chiefs’ new music before it drops across the interwebs. Head over to this show and check out their new tunes!

Watch All Chiefs at Coupe Studios, recording their new EP:

Asalott at Taco Junky & Tequila Bar in Boulder 10PM-Close

Local beatbreak and tribal dance favorite Asalott is ringing in the start of summer tonight at Taco Junky. The sometimes duo/trio/four-piece recently spent some time recording their first album, and tonight, they hinted to us that their new music might be available for purchase. So roll up to TJ’s on The Hill for a bumpin’ party and Asalott’s new sounds!. It’s gonna be a killer show. Want to read more about Asalott? Check out our exclusive sit-down with the crew.

Watch Asalott’s music video for their tune “Remedies”:

Realtalk at Conor O’Neill’s Irish Pub in Boulder 10PM-Close

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Boulder’s own funk rock/reggae jam four-piece Realtalk are taking over Conor’s tonight and partying with you until the sun (almost) comes up! The local band, who originally gained popularity by playing CU house parties, have had quite the year. They’ve released new music videos, played the Fox, and tonight, they’ll be playing some new tunes for you! Jump over to Conor’s on your Pearl crawl and see these guys live. Read our exclusive interview with the band.

Watch Realtalk’s live performance of “Tied Up”:

Tomorrow (Saturday 05/14):

The Pamlico Sound at The Lazy Dog in Boulder 10PM-Close

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Funkadelic and dancin’ good time band The Pamlico Sound will be raging at The Lazy Dog tomorrow evening. The eight-member, horn-infused funk band always bring a massive crowd to their shows, and an energy that will make you move until the joint shuts down. TPS are stoked to have a local performance on their busy schedule, so come prepared for a crazy congregation! We’ll see you there! Check out our exclusive chat with TPS frontman Pastor Will B.

Watch The Pamlico Sound live on Radio1190:

Tilia Americana and All Hat No Horse at The Laughing Goat in Boulder 8PM-Close

Tilia Americana.

Tilia Americana.

Denver duo All Hat No Horse will be opening things up at the LG tomorrow. Their acoustic Americana sounds are sure to croon you into the start of Saturday night, followed by Longmont’s acoustic two-piece Tilia Americana, who weave elements of folk, blues, rock, and country into their sound. Grab a tasty latte and check out these local acts!

Peep Tilia Americana’s music video for “What Happened?”:

BCFM

Boulder County Farmers Market is every Saturday from 10AM-2PM. We’re working closely with BCFM to promote the music at the market, and this week, acoustic mountain blues group Ravin’Wolf will be providing your entertainment. Stop by to hear their “true folk rock traditions” and grab brunch from one of the many delicious vendors on site!

Listen to Ravin’Wolf:

GREEN LIGHT RADIO

This week, our Sunday partnership with Green Light Radio and Streetside Productions will feature a track by Longmont’s Francis and the Wolf. The trio recently changed their name, added a new member, and are making new music. Tune in to any of the Colorado Community Network Radio Stations here (95.3 or 95.5 Boulder) or stream Green Light Sunday night between 9-10PM to catch their song “Ol’ Lady” on the airwaves.

See you in the sun!

-Hannah

Follow Hannah on twitter and instagram.

All photos, videos, and embedded tracks per the artists featured and those credited. 

David at the Desk: Billy Shaddox's Transformation from "Working Class Hero" to Americana Artist

By: David Landry

Billy Shaddox has had quite the journey to get to where he is now, which is in Colorado making great Americana music.

The first time I heard Billy Shaddox was live at Birdhouse Concert Series, a once a month DIY concert series with local music, food, and beer. I’d been wandering around the event finding people to talk to, and after bumping into Billy, I learned he was one of the night’s performers. Billy’s songs were strong and short, leaving everyone in the audience wanting more. I was pumped to hear his new music, and he killed his performance. I was curious to learn more about this Colorado transplant by way of California, so we met up at Mountain Sun for a brew.

Ol' Billy Boy.

Ol' Billy Boy.

Shaddox has this attitude that makes you want to get to know him. And the more you talk to him, the more you realize he embodies a “working class hero”. Years before moving to Colorado, he was an everyday man, working as a civil engineer in San Diego to support his family. His job required moving around often, and spending time away from his wife and two kids. So one day, after discussing his fears about playing music for a living, his wife was actually the one to tell him to make the jump.  And so began Billy Shaddox’s musical career.

Billy Shaddox.

Billy Shaddox.

Shaddox recorded at Great North Sound Society in Maine with Sam Kassirer (Elephant Revival, Langhorne Slim, Josh Ritter). This is where Shaddox’s record, I Melt, I Howl was born, an Americana album filled with love and relief about life. The theme of change can be heard throughout the 11-song record. His songwriting has this timelessness to it that makes you remember past feelings and gets you excited for what's to come.  

There is also a visual element to Shaddox’s work. His songs remind me of being in the mountains and seeing every shade of green that exists. Billy’s music has this great country-Americana vibe to it that is perfect for a beautiful summer in Colorado. I can honestly say that I will be listening to it all summer, and hoping for more to come.

Though Billy has been touring for almost two years, he hasn’t played Colorado much. I get the sense that part of that is because that when he gets home from traveling, there’s probably an element of not wanting to do anything but be in the mountains with his family and write new songs. But, for the next few months, Shaddox has a number of shows around the state, including performances in Boulder, Longmont, Lyons. Make sure to catch one and check out Billy’s music.

Listen to I Melt, I Howl, and I have a feeling you’ll be happy Billy made the jump too:

-David at the desk

All photos, videos, and embedded tracks per the artists featured and those credited.

The Weekend Six: Six Shows to See 04/08 & 04/09 + More

By: Hannah Oreskovich

Another weekend means another round of awesome local music. Check out our picks this week:

THE SIX

Today (Friday 04/08):

Gasoline Lollipops at Oskar Blues in Lyons 6PM-Close

Alt-country four-piece Gasoline Lollipops are well-known in these parts, and this weekend, the guys are playing Oskar Blues in Lyons. They’ve been called one of “Colorado’s Best”, and for good reason! Their performances are “high energy and heartfelt, like the American highway’s soundtrack. That’s something to grab a brew over. Start your weekend at this show!

Check out Gasoline Lollipops’ live performance of “White Trash”:

Residual Kid EP Release Party with Bud Bronson & the Good Timers and Slow Caves at the Hi-Dive in Denver 8PM-Close

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Austin’s noise punk/grunge trio Residual Kid are releasing their EP Salsa tonight at the Hi-Dive with special local guests Bud Bronson & the Good Timers and Slow Caves. We’ve got one word for this lineup: PARTY! This show is guaranteed to have stage dives, gnarly shredding, and more! Plus RK are giving away a copy of Salsa to the first hundred people that walk through the door. So get your tickets now and get there!

Watch Residual Kid’s promo video for the show:

The Zimmermans at Conor O’Neill’s Irish Pub in Boulder 10PM-Close

We recently saw The Zimmermans at a private house show, and man were we impressed. This Boulder-based Bob Dylan tribute group brought mad character to songs all over the Dylan catalogue. Frontman Joshua Elioseff had everyone moving, while regular members, and special guests alike took the stage to showcase their musical talents. Tonight, the six-piece rocks the Conor’s stage, so drop in and dance!

Check out their cover of “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere”:

Tomorrow (Saturday 04/09):

Mawule Single Release Party featuring Miguel Dakota and the Differents, Jerney, DJ Zenas, & A Meazy at Club 156 in Boulder 730PM-Close

Denver’s R&B/pop artist Mawule is dropped his newest single this morning and he will be performing it live tomorrow as headliner at CU’s Club 156. His story and his music are super inspiring, so this is definitely a show worth checking out! Mawule’s got a ton of Denver talent on deck too- Miguel Dakota and the Differents will play a set, along with hip hop favorite Jerney, DJ Zenas, and A Meazy. This is a sick lineup you don’t want to miss; tickets at the door.

Hear Mawule’s debut single "Fall for Me":

The Burroughs with Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal at Moxi Theater in Greeley 8PM-Close

We just dropped a sweet review on Greeley’s soul act The Burroughs for their recent release of singles “You Are My Joy” and “1968”. Tonight, the nine-piece are celebrating their new music with a sweet hometown Moxi Theater show. Make the trek, or if you’re a resident, get your tickets here! It’s going to be a great night of soul with Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal sharing the stage. So get to it!

Listen to The Burroughs’ new singles:

The Fremonts at The No Name Bar in Boulder 10PM-Close

Americana storytellers Stephanie Dodd and Justin Badger will be making their return to The No Name Bar tomorrow night. This duo are not only talented, they’re hilarious. Just check out their blog for a taste. So get your music fix behind the big brown door with The Fremonts tomorrow! They’ve got new music for you, and they’re sure to keep you entertained. 

Peep The Fremonts’ track “Echo”:

PRESS

We now actively cover press at shows, and we do our best to promote those. Catch some of us at the Lost Lake and the Larimer doing press for these performances:

FRIDAY: Hi-Fi Gentry EP Release Party featuring Whiskey Autumn, VWLS, & Griffin at Lost Lake Lounge in Denver 8PM-Close

Hi-Fi Gentry are a five-piece indie outfit based in Denver. Tonight, they’re throwing a massive party at Lost Lake for the release of their newest EP, Film Noir. The group have already dropped a couple of singles from the EP, which we really dig, and you can hear one below. Boulder’s R&B pop/rock trio Whiskey Autumn will be sharing the stage, along with experimental psych group VWLS, and Griffin. You get a free copy of Film Noir with your ticket purchase; tickets at the door.

Listen to Hi-Fi Gentry’s new single “The Tide”:

SATURDAY: The Yawpers featuring Blackfoot Gypsies NOW AT Larimer Lounge in Denver 9PM-Close

UPDATE: This show was moved to the Larimer Lounge after publication. Tickets are available at the time of this update- get them here!

The Yawpers are back in town. Do we really need to say much more? The badass rock and roll trio from the D are playing double hometown shows this weekend, both with Blackfoot Gypsies, a Nashville band that we’ve literally followed for years and can’t wait to see live. We guarantee BFG’s performance will be kickin’, so get there early for their set! Saturday's show is at Larimer Lounge; Sunday’s daytime BBQ at Lost Lake will feature Boulder’s The Velveteers, the perfect complement to an already sick rock lineup. Get tickets for the Sunday show here.

Watch The Yawpers vid for "Doing It Right”:

BOULDER COUNTY FARMERS MARKET

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Boulder County Farmers Market is every Saturday from 10AM-2PM. We’re working closely with BCFM to promote the music at the market, and this week, Denver’s Zen Mustache will be under the red top tent. Stop by to hear their soulful funk tunes and grab some food. And don’t forget about one of our favorite treats… the iced coffee!

GREEN LIGHT RADIO

This week, our Sunday partnership with Green Light Radio and Streetside Productions will feature a track by Denver’s Open to the Hound in honor of their new music video and EP release for Way of the Critter! Rocky Flats was out of town last weekend, so he will play them tonight! Tune in to any of the Colorado Community Network Radio Stations here (95.3 or 95.5 Boulder) or stream Green Light between 9-10PM to catch their song “Liquid Lady”.

-Hannah

Follow Hannah on twitter and instagram.

All photos, videos, and embedded tracks per the artists featured.