Pamela Machala Makes Pop Music for Deeper Listening

By: Brody Coronelli

It’s hard to find a balance between pop music and the technicalities of experimental music like jazz and funk. Many artists find themselves unintentionally sacrificing accessibility and strong hooks in the name of making something that’s technically accomplished and challenging. Boulder singer/songwriter Pamala Machala has been aptly striking this balance her entire career, making piano pop flavored by jazz, R&B, and funk without sacrificing a great hook. 

Pamela Machala. Photo Credit: Gerardo Brucker

Pamela Machala. Photo Credit: Gerardo Brucker

“I think a lot about the perfect balance between novelty and repetition,” Machala says. “The songs I want to create, I want to be clear, accessible, and memorable, but I like to think about the more complicated chord changes or a phrase with nine measures or eight measures— things that make it sound like there’s something different operating in the background. I think about it like gourmet mac and cheese— I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel, I just want to make a good pop song that has a lot of depth, using a broader palate of ingredients. Using more exotic spices like saffron or turmeric, not just cheese, salt, and pepper.” 

I was first turned on to Machala’s music after seeing her playing at a coffee shop in Boulder in 2018. She was primarily playing songs off her 2015 sophomore LP When I Get Home, and her song “Barista” caught my attention. The track features a beat made by sampling the sounds of a coffee shop. “Do you need me like you need your coffee”, Machala crooned on the chorus, aplty finding a new way to say something that’s been said countless times. 

On her forthcoming album Something Simple, out October 30th, Machala leans into the same songwriting sensibilities that have informed her since her 2012 debut LP Golden Delicious, but this time she worked with friend and producer Julian Peterson to give Something Simple a fresh sense of eclecticism and groove. 

Photo Credit: Gerardo Brucker

Photo Credit: Gerardo Brucker

The twelve songs that span Something Simple feature a palette of jazz, R&B, and funk, weaving them into jaunty, personal piano-pop. This is Machala’s most diverse collection of songs so far, with “Cardboard Cutout” drawing influence from indie-folk, incorporating a slide guitar into lush, piano balladry, “You Didn’t Convince Me” shining with impressions of Motown and Otis Redding, “Some Other Night” reminiscent of musical theater, using a rain and thunder sound effect to craft a song as visual as it is musical, and “My Little Green Friend”, calling back to Ben Folds

“In the past I’ve self-produced with the help of an engineer, but it was great working with Julian [Peterson] on [Something Simple],” Machala says. “We have really similar taste. There’s one show I remember we were co-billing at The Laughing Goat; I remember him saying that my music needs jazz guys that play pop music. He had suggestions for musicians, and production, which really helped bring a lot of groove, R&B, and funk flavors to these songs.”

Machala’s songs wax poetic on everything from love, self-doubt, and personal improvement, to her relationship with her craft. Two of Something Simple’s most powerful songs, “Leave Me Alone” and “Bleeding Me Dry” came out of sadness and despair; the former a heartbreaking waving of the white flag, finally surrendering to the fact that a relationship is over, and the latter written about the inevitable moment and dialogue every artist has with themselves at one time or another: wanting to quit.

“I wrote ‘Bleeding Me Dry’ in 2017 after watching La La Land,” Machala says. “There’s one scene where Emma Stone plans a one-woman show, and the day of the show, only a few people show up. She’s outside talking to Ryan Gosling’s character after the show, and she’s like: ‘I’m done. I can’t do this anymore. It hurts too much.’ That scene hit me like a gut punch, because I’ve had that exact same conversation. I came home from a show where it was just me, the bartender, and my boyfriend, and I had the same thought.” 

Machala has no plans of throwing in the towel, but the blatant honesty with which she writes about that moment is refreshingly transparent; she isn’t afraid to be vulnerable through her music. 

Photo Credit: Gerardo Brucker

Photo Credit: Gerardo Brucker

Machala’s commitment to her craft runs deep. Since COVID-19, she’s taken up teaching music lessons full time; something that used to come second to gigging. She’s also taken on the role of student. This year, she’s been immersing herself in what she calls “Song Study,” a process that involves learning the songwriting and performance techniques of her favorite artists for a month, and writing a song in that style. So far she’s studied Billy Joel, Vulfpeck, Stevie Wonder, and Bridger Kearny and posted the songs to her YouTube channel. 

“Most of the time, I’m trying to walk the line between paying homage and being original,” she says. “I want these songs to sound like me, even though they’re directly inspired by my favorite artists. I’m planning to release After All These Years,’ the song I wrote in the style of Vulfpeck, as a single next year.”

The song studies emphasize Machala’s urge to learn and evolve as an artist. There’s always something new to learn, and she doesn’t want to be set in her ways. 

“The thing that will keep you going is the music,” Machala says. “I recently did a song study on Bill Withers, and I read an interview with him where he says: ‘Don’t confuse music with the music business. Don’t value your gift to where you measure up to commercial success.’ That’s where we let it get twisted— when commercial success gets in the way of our love of doing the thing.” 

Something Simple is out October 30. You can hear the lead single “To Open Yours” now, and Machala is doing a live-album listening party on October 30th at 5PM MDT on Facebook. 

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

This BolderBeat Writer Missed Concerts, So She Threw Her Own

By: Mirna Tufekcic

During these uncertain and trying times, we find ourselves living in, one thing is for certain:  music heals. Knowing this, after a long spring of non-existent live music and a hot summer of zero music festivals, I came to the conclusion that if I wanted to enjoy some live music that I like, with the people I like, I had to make it happen myself. So, I made up my mind to create a small, socially-distanced music event in my own backyard with my own musician friends and friends who love music.  

The author at The Backyard Acoustic Sessions. Photo Credit: Franki3lee Productions

The author at The Backyard Acoustic Sessions. Photo Credit: Franki3lee Productions

I reached out to a few of my musician friends to see if they were willing- considering the circumstances- and available to play a backyard house show and then I reached out to some friends to see if they were willing- considering the circumstances- to experience such an event. The answer from pretty much all of them was an excited,”Yes!! On September 20th, a warm and sunny Sunday right before the fall equinox, we all gathered and experienced the magic of an all-acoustic live music show! I named it The Backyard Acoustic Sessions

Molly Kollier. Photo Credit: Franki3lee Productions

Molly Kollier. Photo Credit: Franki3lee Productions

The musical evening kicked off with the young and promising Molly Kollier, a Boulder-based folk-guitar, singer/songwriter. Right away, her eccentric presence demanded we stop settling into our seats and listen closely as the lyrics of her songs used satire and wit to talk about dating, loneliness, and the state of the world. Her vocals were impressive, a folky, twangy chime and a range swinging from bird-like falsetto to belting a big statement on life and how to live it.

Hunter Stone. Photo Credit: Franki3lee Productions

Hunter Stone. Photo Credit: Franki3lee Productions

Next came the talented, Hunter Stone. Hunter is an incredible solo artist, but he is also the frontman of a roots/folk/rock band Famous Men. Hunter is a natural guitar player, inspiring listeners with his own take on the everlasting folk-blues. His ear-perking, raw and gritty vocals are undeniably sophisticated and at-once enchanting. As the day turned to night, Hunter played his upcoming single “Closed for Season,” a timely song about knowing when to shut things down and move on, when to hibernate and wait for the storm to pass, preferably huddled with that special someone to hold on tight to. With his performance, Hunter ensured us that we were in a very special moment in time. 

Paul Kimbiris. Photo Credit: Franki3lee Productions

Paul Kimbiris. Photo Credit: Franki3lee Productions

I can’t say enough about the musician that graced us with his presence next: Paul Kimbiris.  One of Boulder’s best talents, Paul’s performances are tonic. The moment he sits behind the mic, you are transported to another place uniquely designed by Paul's affecting lyrics and riveting guitar. It's a sobering moment. On this magical evening in my backyard, Paul played an electric hollowbody guitar through an old Slivertone amp, creating a retro-vintage atmosphere.  While his guitar sounds echoed a haunting blend of mellotrons, the timbre of his voice had us all feeling our feelings. Paul finished the set with his upcoming single "Queen of Birds," a dreamy tune from the point of view of a man who’s lived a hundred years and recalls a much simpler time of long ago. 

Thomas LaFond. Photo Credit: Franki3lee Productions

Thomas LaFond. Photo Credit: Franki3lee Productions

Thomas LaFond, who you may have seen play at Boulder’s speakeasy License No.1 in a jazzy-dance-jam ensemble Banshee Tree, closed the night with a set featuring his new, original tunes. Seducing us with his discerning guitar skills, which took twenty years to manicure, his playing genuinely lays out the right environment for each song. Thom is known to live his life in service to song. Poised in Nederland, he has been recording and releasing music daily, and this is not an exaggeration! His originals are stocked with details, dissociative feelings, and disconnected phrases. His singing is dark and rich in harmonics. Having him play the final set of the evening was truly a cherry on top of a decadent four-layered cake! 

The Backyard Acoustic Sessions was a smashing success and everyone left with their musical cups full looking forward to the next one, maybe a winter edition!     

-Mirna

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

Rose Room's Latest Has Us Thinking About Home

By: Julia Talen 

Duo Thomas LaFond and Dmitry Bolotnyy of Rose Room released the track, “Look High Over the Mountain” last week. Influences like Childish Gambino, Sylvan Esso, and Tom Waits permeate the chill, contemplative track, which works to develop and construct a musical landscape.

This funky track begins with catchy clap beats and muddled, bluesy piano scales, before we hear the lyrics, “home is a language I never speak,” setting the foundation for this track. The track increases in instrumental complexity as lyrics traverse the musical mural Rose Room begins to build. Chimes flutter and echo like rivers, and light and synths reverberate like hills and valleys, as the track widens with stratified vocals harmonizing, “If fortune wants to find me here, I always know/ It comes in sequenced broken light/ If I might find it frequent to live without it’s light/ I don’t mean it no, no, no.”

Rose Room.

Rose Room.

After the first chorus and into the second verse, the vocals are less melodic and more spoken word, changing the texture of the song and building out a different section of its architecture. The lyrics and rhythms are catchy and stick. The line, “I don’t relate to the lay of the landing/ Where are we now?/ Give me the scenery,” emphasizes a change in scene, but also the abstractness of home that the song interrogates. 

The vocals continue to resonate and expand as “Look High Over the Mountain” moves towards an ending in which listeners are left wondering, “Where is home? How do you get there? Is it inside oneself? Is it in the music?” This is a question which feels all too pertinent right now.

Rose Room shared that they have forthcoming tracks to be released throughout the year. Keep up with them here.

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

The Case for Climate Activism in a Liberal Town

By: Emily Graf

On January 11 at 11AM, the climate activist groups Extinction Rebellion (XR) and 11th Hour Calling came together to raise awareness for the global climate crisis. XR’s trademark Red Rebel Brigade walked silently in crimson veils while faith group members rang gongs, meditated, and burned incense. Protesters wearing “Out Of Time” clock faces stood at attention while the bells of Boulder’s First United Methodist Church rang out for eleven minutes. 

The Red Rebel Brigade walks down the Pearl St. Mall in Boulder, CO. Photo Credit: Alex Zachrel

The Red Rebel Brigade walks down the Pearl St. Mall in Boulder, CO. Photo Credit: Alex Zachrel

Greeting the crowd, Mary Beth Downing (11th Hour Calling) described the interfaith group as, “Standing for earth stewardship. We call for healing,” she continued. “We call for the Spirits’ role of guarding, protecting, and restoring balance to our natural world.”

Michael Denslow (XR) proclaimed: “Extinction Rebellion is a non-violent rebellion against the U.S. government for its criminal inaction on the ecological crisis. We demand that the government tell the truth about the climate… that the government must enact legally-binding policies to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2025.” These demands have been developed by Extinction Rebellion US, the stateside cousin of the movement born in the UK

Denslow of Extinction Rebellion addressing the crowd out the United Methodist Church. Photo Credit: Alex Zachrel

Denslow of Extinction Rebellion addressing the crowd out the United Methodist Church. Photo Credit: Alex Zachrel

Following the gathering on the church steps, Extinction Rebellion protesters marched down the Pearl Street Mall, eventually blocking traffic on Pearl and Broadway for two green light cycles. The rebels waved signs and chanted, “No more fracking, no more oil; keep the carbon in the soil!” In September 2019, a similar action in downtown Denver landed 8 XR protesters in jail; this time protesters backed off, as there were no planned arrests. 

Extinction Rebellion “Out of Time” protestors on the Pearl St Mall, watched by law enforcement. Photo Credit: Alex Zachrel

Extinction Rebellion “Out of Time” protestors on the Pearl St Mall, watched by law enforcement. Photo Credit: Alex Zachrel

Extinction Rebellion utilizes the technique of nonviolent direct action (NVDA) in order to disrupt business as usual. “If people are forced to pause their routines, maybe they’ll wake up to the mass extinction of millions of species,” said one protester. Catherine Ingram’s grim essay Facing Extinction tells the story of this catastrophic die-off. 

Rebels blocking traffic on Pearl St. and Broadway. Photo Credit: Alex Zachrel

Rebels blocking traffic on Pearl St. and Broadway. Photo Credit: Alex Zachrel

As protesters swarmed the crosswalk for a second green light, a driver in a Nissan leaf (a hybrid car) pulled into the crowd, honking their horn and yelling angrily out of the window. The irony of an electric car rolling on climate protesters seems laughably “Boulder.” 

In the weeks leading up to the 11th Hour Calling, an XR protester reported hearing the weary response from would-be attendees: “A climate protest in Boulder is preaching to the choir. Everyone here is so liberal.” Sure, Boulder goes blue in general elections, but believing climate change is real isn’t the same as prioritizing climate action. Bushfires and floods transcend political affiliation; apathy is the enemy here, not just conservatism. Research shows that carbon footprint increases with wealth; since Boulder is ranked one of the most affluent cities in the country, direct action for the climate is as urgent in Boulder as it is in New York or Dallas.

11th Hour Calling advocates for “making personal change,” says Downing, and encourages individual action. But of course, systems change is essential. Emma Marris of the New York Times writes: “The climate crisis is not going to be solved by personal sacrifice. It will be solved by electing the right people, passing the right laws, drafting the right regulations... It will be solved by holding the companies and people who have made billions off our shared atmosphere to account.” 

Climate protesters on the Pearl St. Mall in downtown Boulder, CO. Photo Credit: Alex Zachrel

Climate protesters on the Pearl St. Mall in downtown Boulder, CO. Photo Credit: Alex Zachrel

The planetary emergency is not helped by shaming the “eco-sinners,” Marris argues, but rather inviting all Americans to make changes. So, what can individuals do? 52 Climate Actions offers a useful roadmap for individuals to reduce their carbon footprint. Further, joining in solidarity with groups like XR, 11th Hour Calling, or Fire Drill Fridays demonstrates a public mandate for climate action; it is also a powerful antidote to the loneliness and dread we may feel when contemplating climate change alone.

While XR explicitly disavows violence, this winter British counterterrorism police added Extinction Rebellion to a list of “violent extremists”—alongside Islamic extremists and neo-Nazis. The police have since rolled back this designation, but a British government official stood by it. Despite redactions, this damning message about XR illuminates institutional prejudice toward activist groups. As our political discourse is abuzz with First Amendment rights, we might do well to remember that this amendment guarantees our right to political free speech, our right to organize, and our right to stand together, even at the eleventh hour.  

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

"When Your Axe is at its Sharpest, it's Time to Lay it Down." - Wild Faith Serenades Longmont at Rosalee's Pizzeria

By: Moriel O'Connor

If you are searching for the sounds of music, you will strike gold in Boulder, Colorado. The Pearl Street Mall is well-dressed in street performers, everflowing fountains, sculptures over sandstone, and manicured beds of marigolds, daisies and tulips. You are almost certain to stumble upon a wandering musician. Some pass by; some choose to listen. This is where I met Leonardo Armigo of Wild Faith

Wild Faith.

Wild Faith.

With long curls, a sweet smile and a guitar in hand, he played for the people of Pearl Street busking. After catching him up and down the road, he invited me to his recent show at Rosalee's Pizzeria in Longmont, Colorado.

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Leo is a storyteller with impeccable rhythm and musical talent. His songs show an appreciation for sacred places and all aspects of nature, including the human experience and all its vulnerabilities. While he sings, passion rings through his voice and medicine moves through his fingers. Wild Faith is rooted in the Southwest, with Apache, Comanche, Spanish and  Mediterranean ancestry. Leo has been performing for over 15 years. He recently traveled through Peru and brought back stories to sing. Throughout his performance, Leo spoke for the land with lyrics and reminders such as:

"The example we set is the destruction we heal."

"When you're axe is at its sharpest, it's time to lay it down."

"When there is wonder, there is a way."

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Wild Faith donates 50% of his album sales to Amazon Watch, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the Amazon rainforest and the rights and cultures of the indigenous. You can support the Amazon and purchase Wild Faith's album, The Longest Journey- An Acoustic Experience here. Find him at Arise Festival in Loveland, Colorado this August and Tribal Visions in Taos, New Mexico this September. If you're lucky, you might even hear his heart songs on Boulder’s Pearl Street. 

Keep up with Wild Faith here

-Moriel

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

Upstate Returns From a Soul-Vacation to Boulder's Fox Theatre

By: Natalie Pulvino

New York-based Americana band Upstate is fresh off their second studio album Healing, and the group shows no sign of slowing down. Blending folk, jazz, rock’n’roll, and americana, Upstate has truly created an exclusive voice, describing the past year as “a process of discovering [their] identity.”

upstate.jpg

The sextet was born in New York’s Hudson Valley, where their roots seemed to form their uniquely sensational sound. With Melanie Glenn, Mary Kenney, and Allison Olender on vocals and guitar, Harry D’Agostino on bass, and Dean Mahoney on the cajón, this group is atypical and refreshing. Many have compared them to Lake Street Dive, commenting on their jazzy-folk influence with undeniably stunning vocals.

After the release of their debut project, A Remedy (2015), the band evidently went on a soul-vacation. Changing their name from “Upstate Rubdown” to simply “Upstate,” experimenting musically, and even picking up Allison Olender from Nashville to join the band, all contributed to the group’s fresh energy and new album, Healing.

And it really is fresh. Healing takes you on a journey: from slow and melancholy to upbeat and humorous, Upstate seems to grasp every emotion and individually integrate each one into their music. The album is honest and vulnerable in a light and relatable way.

Upstate most recently sold-out their show at the Boulder Chautauqua Community House in early April, and will continue on to headline the Fox Theatre on Saturday May 25th.

Keep up with Upstate here.  

-Natalie

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

Tony Vincent and the Boulder Philharmonic Traverse Bowie's Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes at Macky Auditorium

By: Adam Perry

Looking like a member of Bauhaus, vocalist Tony Vincent cut a unique figure on Pearl Street this past Sunday afternoon, carrying a Peppercorn bag after shopping there with his parents – in town from Albuquerque – the day after slaying David Bowie hits with the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra at Macky Auditorium.

The 45-year-old Vincent – made famous by starring on NBC’s The Voice and in the first national tour of Rent – emerged onstage at Macky in a choker necklace, a black dress shirt, tight blue pants and black leather shoes Saturday night, leading the Boulder Phil and members of Windborne Music. The ensemble’s “Music of David Bowie” production was able to fill about three-fourths of Macky’s 2000 capacity, and those who snoozed on the event missed some incredible moments.

Vincent & the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo Credit: Amy Rune Carlson

Vincent & the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo Credit: Amy Rune Carlson

The setlist was not deep, focusing on Bowie’s most well-known pop classics, and not many to which an orchestra could lend much creativity or power. But when the juxtaposition of the rocking and the symphonic was magical, such as on the glam-rock standard “Starman,” the sparks that flew lived up to Macky Auditorium’s timeless façade.

Falling just short of the filthy distortion and energy that early Bowie axe-man Mick Ronson brought from the working-class Rats of Hull to the Spiders from Mars, Windborne guitarist George Cintron did his best Earl Slick impression leading the evening’s initial tunes – “Rebel Rebel” and “Ziggy Stardust.” Conductor Brent Havens quipped, “Is this what you expected?” to the mostly stilted, older and white audience, and Vincent aptly complimented Bowie for always “keeping us guessing” before the orchestra launched into a beautiful version of “Changes.”

Vincent went on hit-or-miss tangents between tunes, focusing on his self-professed lifelong “nerdy” obsession with “countless” interviews with and biographies of Bowie, perhaps the most renowned iconoclast in rock history. This worked when Vincent, for instance, glowingly introduced “Fame” – Bowie’s hit 1975 collaboration with John Lennon. But Vincent’s purported encyclopedic knowledge of Bowie’s catalog and legacy also missed the mark a few times, such as when he stressed that a “longing for love” was the common thread in Bowie’s nearly half-century catalog, stating, “that’s probably what he was getting at with this next song” as a set-up for “China Girl,” a cheeky and somewhat racist 1983 hit for Bowie that was actually written by Iggy Pop in 1976.

The balcony view at Macky. photo credit: Amy Rune Carlson

The balcony view at Macky. photo credit: Amy Rune Carlson

No matter – the Boulder Philharmonic’s arrangements were the real star of the show, which got better after intermission, not just because the song selection become more ambitious (with slightly more obscure songs like “Fashion” and “Young Americans”) but because I moved from the fifth row all the way to the balcony to hear and see the orchestra much better.

Windborne (which will return to Macky next February to present a highly anticipated night of Queen songs with the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra) and Vincent were flashy and powerful, but it was the Boulder Phil’s soaring additions to on tunes like the funky 1980 mindbender “Ashes to Ashes” that made the evening truly memorable. Hopeless Bowie nerds might have flinched at Vincent’s occasional missteps on tiny details in lyrics, like singing “billions of swastikas in my head” instead of “visions of swastikas” in “China Girl” or “need an axe to break the ice” rather than “want an axe” in “Ashes to Ashes,” but when the orchestra came together with otherworldly dynamics and artistry on “Space Oddity” and “Changes,” to name a few, the heavens opened.

Vincent sang everything with talent and grace, but part of Bowie’s importance was bringing the vulnerable and the avant-garde to the pop and refined worlds and vice versa, so the most striking moment of the evening was watching a senior-citizen in the balcony break down in tears when the orchestra nailed a complex arrangement of 1972’s campy but genius and poetic “Life On Mars?

New Mexico native Vincent’s appearances in Rent, Jesus Christ Superstar, American Idiot and We Will Rock You make him a perfect fit to sing certain classics from Bowie’s diverse career – such as “Changes” and “Life On Mars?”  However, it’s admittedly impossible for anyone, even dozens of dazzling musicians gelling in a giant orchestra, to do justice to the pinball-style catalog of Bowie, who once sang, “Until there was rock, you only had God.”

Coincidentally, Sunday morning in Boulder featured a 90-minute Bowie tribute concert for children and their parents at the Boulder Theater, and the contrasts were interesting and hilarious. Cover-band Loving the Alien – which jubilantly regaled a couple hundred locals with fun-loving Bowie tunes and crowd-participation treats like a parachute, sing-alongs and glow-stick jewelry – not only dug deeper into Bowie’s catalog than the Boulder Philharmonic, with tunes like the very orchestral “The Man Who Sold the World,” but (unlike Vincent) also didn’t cut out risqué Bowie lyrics like the line about Quaaludes in “Rebel Rebel.”

As Bowie’s diverse catalog grew, even the Thin White Duke himself, and the countless versions of his backing band, could never perfectly capture all of his unique eras of iconoclastic music in one evening. Vincent, Windborne and the Boulder Phil did an entertaining and memorable job trying to – at the very least – lend an energetic and symphonic angle to Bowie’s hits. It will be fascinating to see what they do with Queen’s catalog next year as well.

-Adam

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

Corda Vera's Brand of Indie Is Rocking the Boulder House Party Scene

By: Taylor Falkner

Boulder, Colorado may be a land for new music, but it is certainly not a new land to the music scene. Once considered the next mecca of young musicians and “…the Berkeley of the Mountain Time Zone”, Boulder is a place for musical exploration and inspiration. It is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, with the majestic Flatirons at the backdrop of everyday life. It helped create legendary bands like Zephyr, The String Cheese Incident, 3OH!3 and Big Gigantic just to name a few. The unique aspect of this list is that it encapsulates a variety of genres, and therefore further exemplifies how up and coming artistry in Boulder is not bound to the limits of a single genre.

This limitless sound opportunity is also expressed in the genre of indie rock. Indie originated from the concept of independent labels, but has evolved to describe “a sonic aesthetic influenced by various forms of post-punk and lo-fi music”. Moreover, indie is not overly concerned with meeting the criteria of what makes a good “commercial sound”. It is raw, and the use of at home recording equipment adds another unfiltered and imperfect dimension to the music which enriches the listeners experience. In this generation dominated by technological advancement, the D.I.Y. mentality of indie is blossoming due to the convenience and easy accessibility of online platforms like SoundCloud and Spotify. The spirit of this fresh freedom is very much alive in the city of Boulder, and it is where you can also find the beginnings of the very local band Corda Vera. As an underground, basement dwelling, house party band of Boulder, Corda Vera, swiftly takes on the essence of Boulder and the attitude of indie music in the twenty-first century.

Corda Vera.

Corda Vera.

Corda Vera is a band of four twenty-year olds, one female and three males, some of which are on the journey to obtaining a college degree at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Simone Fohrman (vocals), Josh Bennett (drums), Sam Sawyer (bass), and Thomas Perry (guitar) all have been brought together through the allure of Boulder. Each member has their own style and differing musical background and inspirations, which compliment each other very well in their original music. They have an undeniably otherworldly aura to them, which makes them relatable to the confusion and individual growth that many college students experience while away from home where everything is safe and comforting. Their songs manifest a perfect blend of Sonic Youth grunge rock vibes with an indie, and somewhat psychedelic, sound. Setting themselves apart from today’s millennial teenage angst, Corda Vera plays into their emotions rather than becoming a victim of them.

As the band guides listeners on a trip away from wherever they may be, the lyrics sung by band leader Simone touch base on the interpersonal connections in all kinds of relationships. Their song “Over The Edge” encapsulates this well. The dark, yet enchanting bass riff that Sam bewitches listeners’ ears with transports one to the shuffling streets, lit only by the moon, in the faraway land of Istanbul. The song sends one to face the unknown. Through every thud of the bass drum the city breathes and comes to life and then, “Bang!” A shot echoes from Josh’s snare drum and the chills run down your spine. “We’re lost in translation/building my agitation/you can’t keep what ain’t yours,” Simone croons. Immediately the tension the band has been building is released by a powerful statement that gives the listener a piece of mind. Simone’s lyrics of feeling uncertain about her own emotions towards her counterpart reflect the universal angst that anyone can relate too when they feel shorted in a relationship. Instead of shying away from this angst, Simone and the rest of Corda Vera embrace it by turning it into a powerful energy, one that makes the listener feel as if they are walking a fine line and indeed about to fall “Over the Edge.”

A major factor to the unique tone and mood that Corda Vera puts out is due to the vast array of musical influences. All sorts of unconventional things can be heard in their music from various genres, scales, and even the effects used on every instrument. Their use of the harmonic minor scale in “Over the Edge” is what gives it its eerie vibe by dancing with the devil’s note. At the same time, however, you can here an influence from The Zombies’ “Time of the Season” which helps keep the song in a mystical world of its own.

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In the song “Nao” Corda Vera makes you feel as if you are floating through the clouds daydreaming. With a heavy chorus and reverb, Thomas, the guitarist and Boulder native, encapsulates what it is to feel weightless and floating. The ticking of the hi-hat alters time, and the audience is left in a place where there is no up and down or left and right. In respects to most other songs called “Heartbreaker,” Corda Vera’s version is one of the band’s fastest tempo songs. Moreover, it stands far apart from sounding that of Led Zeppelin, Pat Benatar or even Taio Cruz’s “Heartbreaker,” and sounds more like a contemporary electronica song. The drums are reminiscent of that of Seal’s in his hit “Crazy” or Moby’s “Porcelain”, while the guitar bares resemblance to that of Lenny Kravitz. Mesh all of this up with chorus-driven spacey vocals, and you have something totally new.

The motley crew that is Corda Vera has led them to create a sound that they can call their own. They all have different musical influences but their love for music, courage to face unsettling truths, and their desire to just have a good time has brought them to create something unique to everything else going on in Boulder currently. By blending such a vast array of sounds and with themes based in personal experience, Corda Vera are as authentic as it gets. There is no facade that they are attempting to convey. They are a group of friends who met through their love of music at open mic nights at Innisfree Cafe on the Hill and decided to join forces. In turn, they have given the students of Boulder, and hopefully more to come, a chance of a genuine experience.

Keep up with Corda Vera here.

-Taylor

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

Rubblebucket Bringing 'Sun Machine' to Colorado for Two Shows Next Week

By: Mirna Tufekcic

Rubblebucket is hitting the road this month for their Spring Tour to spread the warmth and burns of their latest album Sun Machine. Lucky for us Coloradans, they’ll be stopping at the Aggie Theatre in Fort Collins on March 20th before heading straight to The Fox Theatre in Boulder on March 21st.

Rubblebucket.

Rubblebucket.

Sun Machine is a post-relationship child of the band’s core duo, Kalmia Traver and Alex Toth. As a sort of a homage to the duo’s romantic 11-year relationship end, Sun Machine addresses the trials and tribulations, and the persevering love that lasts despite the breakup. Sun Machine is a testament to the musically fertile nature of breakups, and the introspection and growth that follows. But if relationship tunes aren’t your thing, don’t be discouraged because Sun Machine is out on all mainstream music media platforms and it will take you on an intimate journey you can definitely sing and dance to.

Unlike their two previous albums, Survival Sounds and Omega La La, Sun Machine has a deeper, darker, and more serious mood. And not without reason. The band saw its end when the duo split, but despite and because of it, it also brought Rubblebucket a more grown-up sound with this newest record. The band’s lead singer Kalmia Traver went through ovarian cancer while Alex Toth took to sobriety from alcohol. Both artists came out stronger mentally and musically from these hardships, which are obvious in Sun Machine.

Rubblebucket’s upbeat, danceable core is decidedly still intact though, shining through on tracks like “Party Like Your Heart Hurts” and “Inner Cry,” both of which don’t pull any punches, emotionally or sonically. “Lemonade” on the other hand will make you feel things. A track with opening lyrics from which their latest album got the name, it reminisces on the beauty of days past when things were light and happy, then jerks you right into the day it all fell away. These musicians are a real deal; it’s why they couldn’t help themselves from continuing to create the sounds that move, despite all the hardships and a failed romance. That’s pretty powerful.

Ready to dance, cry, and dance some more with Rubblebucket? I am too. Get your tickets for The Aggie here and The Fox here for their shows next week!

-Mirna

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

Japanese Band Kikagaku Moyo Delivered a Tightly-Honed Psychedelic Performance at Boulder's Fox Theatre

By: Adam Cabrera

Tuesday night, Kikagaku Moyo performed at Boulder’s own Fox Theater, delivering a performance that ranged from the soft, serenity of acid-folk to the fuzzed drenched, freakouts of heavy psychedelic rock.

Kikagaku Moyo. Photo per the author.

Kikagaku Moyo. Photo per the author.

The Tokyo-based five-piece band, who have been continuing to grow international acclaim, rarely visit North America, and even less frequently make stops in Colorado. So, it wasn’t a surprise to see a theater packed with fans on what would typically be a slow night for most live music venues. All in all, the show was more than expected and turned out to be one of the best I’ve attended over the past year.

Starting out the night was Boulder artist Ashley Koett. What felt like a mix between soul, jazz, and indie bedroom pop, the band brought together a relaxed, laid-back set composed of tasteful bass grooves and catchy guitar melodies, all supported by the pleasant timbre of Ashley’s voice. Following Koett’s crew was WEEED, a psych-rock quintet featuring the uncommon double-drummer setup, along with electric bass, guitar, flute, conga, harmonica, and ambient live-looping. In long, hypnotic jams, the band captivated the audience and got them moving along with the heavily textured percussion and the reverberating daze of guitar solos.

But, as the headliner collected themselves on stage, a noticeable change in energy happened throughout the room. Hair grown well past their shoulders and dressed in clothes which resembled the fashion of the sixties and seventies, Kikagaku Moyo gave off the semblance and character of wandering bohemian mystics with a slew of curious instruments placed upon the stage. The usual cast was present (drums, bass,keyboard, and guitar), but the unusual characters such as the electric sitar (a defining aspect of their sound), and cello also found their place among the band.

Tightly-honed, as well as spaciously free-formed, together they played through the best of their catalog adding unique improvised moments which made watching the performance feel all the more special. It was a pleasure to get to see the band react on the fly, switching from spaced-out meditations tenuously held together by echoing guitar riffs, to introspective and effortlessly catchy pop melodies which quickly received cheers from the crowd once recognized.

In this rare chance to see Kikagaku Moyo, I couldn’t have been more satisfied with their incredible performance, and I was even happier at the end of the night when I stopped at the merch table to picked one of their records on vinyl, as they rarely make their way to U.S. record stores. Surely to be recognized as one of the most notable psychedelic acts of the past decade, it was a pleasure to see Kikagaku Moyo perform.

Keep up with Kikagaku Moyo here.

-Adam

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

After 10+ Years, The Feathermerchants Are Releasing a New Record

It’s been more than 10 years since Connecticut’s Feathermerchants released new music or played a live show. In fact, you’d be more likely to find founder and guitarist Pete Veru wandering CU Boulder’s campus with his nose in a book on Dutch finance than you would on a stage. The recent Ph.D. graduate left the band in 2007 for academic pursuits; the other Feathermerchants members moved on to new lives then too. But today that’s all about to change. After 11 years, Feathermerchants have released a new record, A Pull From The Flask.

The Feathermerchants. Photo Credit: Bill Dicecca

The Feathermerchants. Photo Credit: Bill Dicecca

Veru founded Feathermerchants in 1996 and has always been the band’s primary songwriter. After recording a demo with renown producer Jim Chapdelaine in Hartford, Connecticut, Chapdelaine actually joined the project. Veru then recruited bassist Drew Glackin and drummer Jon Peckman. The next year, the crew began recording their self-titled debut record and added Erin O’Hara and Allison Winston into the fold on lead vocals. Guest musicians like John Fay (The Tragically Hip) and Hassan Hakmoun also played on the debut.

Upon its release, the single “Water and Dreams” was picked up from Feathermerchants by director Frank Todaro for his film Above Freezing. The band then scored a distribution deal with Rykodisc and found themselves making waves on the CMJ college radio charts. Reviews of the record, however, were mixed and around 2000, lead singers Erin O’Hara and Allison Winston left the project and were replaced by Shannon Kennedy. It was also at this time that former Saturday Night Live bassist Paul Ossola joined the fold as Glackin left to join The Silos.

Pete Veru. Photo Credit: Bill Dicecca

Pete Veru. Photo Credit: Bill Dicecca

With a new lineup, the band found themselves back in the comfort of Chapdelaine’s studio, where they recorded their second release Unarmed Against the Dark. The album was an indie folk pop piece with “songs with deep hooks drenched in reverb.” Feathermerchants even recruited Chuck Leavell (Allman Brothers; Rolling Stones) to play on a track, the song “Brooklyn Ferry” which is a tribute to Walt Whitman. Upon completion, Unarmed Against the Dark fell into the hands of a South African publicist by chance, and the band developed a large following overseas thanks to a slew of South African media features. Soon, Feathermerchants found themselves playing a number of high-profile shows at places like Joe’s Pub, on festival lineups like South by Southwest, and with other popular bands of the time like Keane, October Project, and Grey Eye Glances.

In 2006, the band released what has previously been their final record, Last Man On Earth. The band’s radio success continued on the CMJ charts, and they were even featured on National Public Radio. The band swapped Ossola for bassist Jay Wiggin and continued performing. In 2007, the group played what would be two of their last shows at Joe’s Pub and the University of Hartford’s Music for a Change series. Both of these live sets were recorded, and Chapdelaine locked away the tunes without much thought at his studio following the shows.

A Pull From The Flask.

A Pull From The Flask.

Shortly thereafter, the band parted ways amidst the dying record label industry and the emergence of live streaming services. Veru went on to academia, Kennedy also pursued an advanced degree, and Chapdelaine went on to earn 13 Emmys for his work in the music world. Peckman and Wiggin continued playing in local projects in the East Coast music scene.

Then in 2016, Veru returned to the states after a historical research stint in Amsterdam. He called Chapdelaine and the two reminisced on their last shows as the Feathermerchants. Chapdelaine invited Veru back up to his studio, where the duo spent time listening and mixing the once-forgotten recordings from their final performances. Together, they gathered 16 tracks for A Pull From The Flask.

“Jim and I sat through dozens of hours of mixing and producing. There were songs that we played during those shows that we hadn’t played since the late nineties; songs that Shannon Kennedy never [even] recorded in the studio.” Veru told us. “After putting it away for ten years, all of a sudden it sounds fresh to me again. We really were hitting our stride as a live band right when things ended. I think younger kids who were musically aware in the 90s might think so too.”

We definitely do. Chapdelaine and Veru self-admittedly enjoyed piecing together their new record, so whether you’ve been a Feathermerchants fan for years, or it’s your first introduction to this now classic 90s band, we hope you’ll share in our excitement of the release of A Pull From The Flask. You can find it on iTunes today.

Keep up with the Feathermerchants here.

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

Augustus Got A Way of Changing

Augustus.

Augustus.

Augustus began in 2011 when frontman Colin Kelly wrote, recorded, and posted to Youtube his song, “North.” This was years before he met the other two founding members of the band, Jim Herlihy and Jesse Wright, and before they began as a trio named “Tusk.”

This was their first mistake (with many more were to follow), as another band already had the name somewhere out in Musicland. As they would countless times in the following years, they adjusted and moved forward, now as “Augustus,” forgoing that which didn’t work while maintaining that which did: their original “Tusk” logo— two entwined animal bones jutting upward against a black backdrop. Without fail since, Augustus has done with failure what we all wish we would at our best: They’ve used it to become something new, fresh, and better. Today, the group features founding members Colin Kelly on vocals, Jim Herlihy on guitar and vocals, along with Marshall Carlson on bass, and Ryan Healy on drums.

I note the release of “North” as the true beginning of the group because they still play the song. I believe it’s on its fifth iteration now. And that is the real story of Augustus. This is a band in a constant state of reinvention. This has never been more evident than in their recent release, “Idle,” which is wholly different in style from previous releases and qualitatively advanced by a good bit. It is through this lens of growth that I approached a recent interview with Colin Kelly around a fire in my backyard, accompanied by BolderBeat contributor and scene veteran Zach Dahmen. Augustus will perform at the Fox Theatre this Saturday, November 10th and tickets are available here.

PL: So you’re new to Colorado, determined to write and be in a band, and you find two guys, Jesse Wright and Jim Herlihy. You start “Tusk,” which was kind of “mountain-y” and not really rock and roll. Not your forte, but it seemed to fit into the Colorado scene. Why didn’t you stick with that?

CK: Jesse always thought of us as a prog folk band.

PL: Did you really want to be in a prog folk band?

CK: I just wanted to be in a band so I was going to do anything I could with the instruments we had then.

PL: You had lots of early success and hype in those days. And yet, it didn’t work out in the long run. Why?

CK: We had some bad gigs now and again. Jim was doing too much. [He was] going full sprint all night on banjo, guitar, drums… And Jesse was always a wild card. Sometimes totally brilliant, sometimes couldn’t remember how to play the songs. I was still an ametuer in a lot of ways. We’d have these five-minute breaks between songs sometimes at shows, just trying to pull it together.

ZD: I remember those early shows of yours at Johnny’s. In the scene at that time, Whiskey Autumn was No Name Bar, Augustus was Johnny’s, and sometimes on the same night you’d be catching the first half of one show then jumping to the other. It was a captive audience. People were excited at what was happening. But it was always going to be just experimental.

PL: Who was the other band really wrapped up in that?

ZD: The Almond Butters?

PL: Yup, but another one, too… You know who I’m talking about.

ZD: The Ridgelings!

CK: There was a lot of bluegrassy shit going on then. Everybody was all like, “Mumford and Sons!”

PL: Ah yes, the Mumfordy era.

CK: If Mumford could do it, we were like, we could do whatever the fuck we want. (Colin turns to the recorder). Hey, future Pete, do you read me? This is Colin, don’t quote me on that…

PL: I’m totally going to.

CK: Don’t!

PL: But anyway, on those early recordings of yours, there were a lot of great songs, but one phenomenal song in particular that a lot of people still talk about and request called, “Return.”

CK: We still play that a lot. We’ve re-written it like five times. We finally found a version we like with the quartet that we’re keeping. The first records were pretty desperate things for me musically. I liked the songs, but I didn’t really know what I was doing in a studio yet. None of us did. The only reason we could get through it was because Jim was always so prepared. He practices his ass off. And Jesse had some moments of blinding brilliance. But it was a struggle for all of us. Being under a microscope for the first time. On the second record, I was also really sick, and we had to rush through. We had to be decisive and learn to live with flaws. Some have more character than others. Sometimes you have to be OK with not being very good.

PL: Which flaws can you live with… That sounds like some earned wisdom right there. So let me flip it around. Which flaws can’t you live with? Musically? Personally?

Colin gets up to chop some wood, as these sorts of questions make him antsy.

ZD: I can say, on the spot…

CK: That’s a really fucked up question, Pete. Do I have to answer that?

PL: Yup.

ZD: For me, diving deeper into the eye of who I am, as opposed to trying to look more outward… I need to find the thing to make me sufficient and happy, and I have to look inward for that.

CK: That’s very theological.

PL: He’s got a background in it (Zach majored in theology at college)

.Colin chops at another log.

PL: So let’s go back to that time specifically, what couldn’t you live with then?

CK: I couldn’t live with my guitar sounding shitty, my vocals being out of key… I wasn’t always prepared with all the arrangements. I didn’t know what stories I was telling with my vocals. I can’t say I’m any more confident now, but I’ve logged a lot more hours. We all have. And that definitely helps.

PL: Give me a specific story that speaks to all that.

CK: We were playing this show in 2015 and we were being scouted by this guy who had some connections, and who we couldn’t afford, but arrogantly thought we were confident about getting his help, and we realized that night that we couldn’t play a whole three hours live. We didn’t sound like we knew what we were doing at that show. Especially when we started bringing in more electric. We weren’t really acoustic listeners. We were individually more into rock and roll sounds.

Laffin, Kelly, and Dahmen (left to right).

Laffin, Kelly, and Dahmen (left to right).

PL: Tell me about The Mercury EP that came next. I know you were proud of those songs, but I remember you weren’t too happy about how that turned out.

CK: We had a thing, we thought it was working. We thought we were going to continue to get closer to the concept, the feeling of what we wanted to make, but we didn’t get there.

PL: So after that, there seemed to be a great retooling of things that led to your latest release, which couldn’t be more different than where you began, and if I may say, couldn’t have had a better outcome, at least on a critical level. It seems that in the lead up, you wanted to stabilize your group, add permanent players after Jesse left (which was around the Mercury release). You mentioned earlier that you wanted to make the best out of the instruments you had access to, but this one feels very intentional from top-to-bottom.

CK: We had to do everything different when Jesse left. We had to change the sound. It was worse than I assumed it would be at the time. I was really bummed when Jesse left. There was a vacuum, and Jim and I had to start over. Retooling to us meant trying a bunch of different shit till we got somewhere. We couldn’t really do the acoustic shit anymore.

ZD: Sonically, you seemed to completely transform from one space to another. How did that happen?

CK: Jesse used to play a lot of lead on the cello. And now suddenly I was in the position to write lead for electric guitar. I still don’t know if I’ve got that down, but again, I’ve got more hours logged. We used to have a banjo and an acoustic guitar, and now we’ve got two electric guitars. The foot-kit suddenly made no more sense for Jim, and he wanted to do more singing and more lead guitar. So then we had to bring in drums, a new bass…

PL: You sound frustrated just remembering all that.

CK: You go from a three piece folk band to a four piece rock band, and there is going to be some really ugly shit that goes down.

PL: The new album has a song on it called “Things Got a Way of Changing.”

ZD: When it came out, Pete and I listened to it a few times and knew it was going to be the song people gravitated toward. That song to me was just a fucking, “Woah!” Better than anything else you’ve done. It felt like something different to us.

PL: I know it has nothing to do with the changes in the band over the last couple of years. But so many of our motivations are subconscious, and to me it just seems so clearly like a cathartic piece. That from beneath the surface, this theme emerged on its own. What was your experience like making it?

CK: We always wanted to swing back around to playing electric music. We were tired of the half-baked folk thing. I started demoing stuff by myself more, got more organized, and I could hear better when something just wasn’t going to be a song anyone would want to listen to. We started more from the bottom of the song to build up, not just “start with guitar and vocals and then add bass and drums.” I started the old stuff more from a lyrical standpoint. But with this song in particular, we wanted to build it from the ground up. And it took months to write. I sat on it for three months. And the guys did just an amazing job with it.

PL: Aside from the mechanics of it all, there must have been a cathartic moment for you guys with this song, especially after the lull of “Mercury.” You came out ahead when maybe you thought you were falling behind.

CK: Well there was a lot of change in mine and Jim’s life around that time (both got married within that same year) and I stopped working my same old job. A lot of things personally changed. Things stabilized. Life finally felt a little less on the brink of disaster on a daily basis. Which was fun when you’re in your twenties. But from all that was a lot of failure, which created a lot of intensity. We had to find out how not to fuck up anymore. Obviously something was missing, and we had to figure out what that was… We had to find it. It’s tough to say.

PL: I think you said it.

See for yourself how Augustus has changed and grown as they co-headline the Fox Theatre this Saturday November 10th at 9PM with Foxfeather, Hugh Manatee, and Famous Men.

Keep up with Augustus here.

-Pete

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

SoDown Lifted and Lit Up the Fox Theatre Last Saturday

By: Will Baumgartner

A Saturday night at one of the top-rated music venues in the country, which happens to be within walking distance of my house, surrounded by joyful energy and kept moving by irresistible dance grooves- not a bad way to spend an evening, right? Add the pleasure of getting to review a headlining set plus a consistently mesmerizing light show with a packed crowd of young friendly faces, and the end result was a music lover whose walk home felt elevated.

I also felt enlightened, because to be honest, electronic music isn’t my field of expertise. That being said, I learned long ago not to ignore it because I love to dance. And what SoDown does-Bass music- is specifically designed for dance lovers. One of the things I’ve learned from talking with those immersed in the culture is “Don’t call it Dubstep!” Also sometimes called “UK Bass,” this music is clearly influenced by dubstep, but also draws on so many different types of sounds that it’s asserted itself to the point where it has its own identity and commands special attention.

SoDown.

SoDown.

So how does SoDown, a relative newcomer in an already exploding field, distinguish itself within the burgeoning Bass pantheon? And who exactly is SoDown? The answers to these questions are interconnected. As is often the case in the electronic music galaxy, we’re talking about one person here: his name is Ehren River Wright. He stands out because he’s an accomplished saxophonist in addition to his clear mastery as a producer, and a fascinating young star whose rise is an exhilarating thing to experience. In the interest of trying to share a bit of that experience, let’s go back to Saturday’s show for a minute.

The crisp autumnal spark outside the theater became a surge of crackling energy inside. Supporting act Megan Hamilton pumped the swelling crowd with her own brand of uplift, blending some live vocals and bits of drumming on a set of pads mounted next to her rig. Everyone was engaged and the smiles exploded toward the entry of SoDown, whereupon the bliss meter hit the high end of the spectrum. From the first notes and flashes of stylized imagery, through the entire barrage of thumping rhythm, soaring melody and spectacular light show, SoDown ascended to some new and dizzying heights.

When young Mister Wright raised his tenor sax to surf the swells and crests on this sea of sound, it was like we were all riding these waves together, light breaking through storm clouds, all surge and spray with a good dose of sway. I’m not sure where all the voices came from, but the familiar backing bits (including, of all people, some Britney Spears) brought a somewhat grounding effect to the ensemble; a reminder that music is a continuum which leads us into an ever-expanding future while holding the power of its own past. Wright came onstage already dancing to the music in his head, and the dance kept growing throughout the night, and throughout the crowd. Even when the “show” experience was “over,” the dance continued on.

SoDown.

SoDown.

Being considerably less well-versed than others in the Bass world, I needed to make allowances for a few things at SoDown’s set. For one, in my research leading up to this night, I’d expected something a bit different. The recorded music that SoDown has released led me to expect something a little more low-key, a tad more downtempo. So it took me a few minutes to adjust my consciousness to the heavier side of his music, until I remembered that if you’re going to create a party or keep one going, it’s necessary to bring some of your heaviest gear with you. As someone who’s attended countless shows by live bands using no electronics whatsoever, I knew this: virtually everyone plays louder, faster, and harder live. That’s the nature of the beast. Once I’d navigated this shift, a handful of the aspects that make up the whole of who and what SoDown is reasserted themselves: the soulful, sometimes even moody smokiness that belie Wright’s love of jazz, soul, and funk were still there. They simply made their presence a little more of an unassuming and pleasant thing, like the quieter guests at a party- they might be bopping a bit more unobtrusively on the periphery or in the midst of all that more frenzied activity, but they aren’t about to leave.

So, ultimately, this is one of the greatest things about the fully alive and ever-evolving world of music we’re so lucky to be part of: there’s room for everyone and everything, all types of people and emotions, all levels of experience and knowledge. That openness was in great evidence at this gathering. There’s no one watching the door at a dance party thrown by SoDown, and if it takes you a minute or three to fold yourself into the crowd, they’re more than happy to make room for you to get in there and be your unique and indispensable self. This element, like the music itself, resists being pigeonholed because there are so many parts needed to make it whole and keep on lifting.

-Will

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

Kwolek's 'Masks' Was Recorded at the Women's March in Denver, in South Africa, & Everywhere in Between

By: Norman Hittle

Kwolek released his fourth solo LP Masks earlier this month. Take a gander at the link below to check it out:

Having formerly played guitar in Lima Research Society, Kwolek has since been focused on creating highly textured sonic art with nods to Arcade Fire and The Talking Heads. In actuality, his music is reminiscent of the movie Juno, with it’s highly indie rock and lo-fi vibes delivered in relentless torrents of high energy and borderline weirdness.

For Masks, it’s been a three-year endeavor for Kwolek to get all the meticulous layers of sound and texture just right, while spending his days recording and mixing in his Boulder, CO apartment. An impressive gem in the listed credits is all the field recordings included in his songs, as well as the locations. There’s everything from the Women’s March in Denver to Cape Town, South Africa and half a dozen in between.

On the few songs that follow a more somber and cinematic vibe, there’s a definite inspiration noticeable from bands such as The Dear Hunter, Radiohead, The Smiths, and hints of The Beatles’ White Album. Though, overall a bit less cohesive than any of those artists, Kwolek still managing to convey a true sense of self throughout each track.

Give Masks a list above and keep up with Kwolek and his music on his official website as well as on his Instagram.

-Norman

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

Desert Hearts Brought Their Creative & Colorful Vibes to Boulder on Current Tour

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It was a house and techno gathering without the grit: the Desert Hearts’ party last week at Boulder Theatre was a homey vibe with a very young crowd, and yes, most people showed up in costume. The 15+ and up show was full of colorful vibes.

Desert Hearts began in 2012 at Burning Man as a dream founded by Mikey Lion, Lee Reynolds, Porky, and Marbs. Since then, it has evolved into a mission of radiating love and a conscious ethos of house and techno. The quartet takes turns on the turntables and projects heavy percussion for hours, and last week’s party was no exception. The band’s vibe is approachable and lighthearted, which is why any age interested in getting into the techno and house scene would find Desert Hearts a non-threatening beginning.  

DHBoulder_JBPhoto_0392.jpg

Much like Burning Man, coming dressed up in costume is totally a thing at a DH gathering, and highly celebrated. There was an aura of a music festival like Electric Forest, where the crew also threw a party this summer. With a whiff of innocence in the air and plenty of time and space to dance it out, Desert Hearts won’t bring out the dark side of the bumpin’ house genre if that’s what you’re into, but if lightness and percussion within the comfort of your living room is what you’re after, this is a band you’ve got to check out.

Catch a Desert Hearts show for yourself 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.

Ben Hanna Band, ChinaRose, & Native Station Tell Us What to Expect from Their Sets at Benevolence Festival This Weekend

This week, we’re presenting Benevolence Festival, a benefit day of music for RAICES this Saturday, August 18th at Boulder’s Twisted Pine Brewing from 2PM-10PM. It’s just $6 at the door for six bands and we’ve published our interviews with Augustus, Whiskey Autumn, and The Beeves, so make sure to check those out if you haven’t! Today we’ve got Ben Hanna Band, ChinaRose, and Native Station in the hot seat:

What made you want to become involved in our Benevolence Festival for RAICES?

Ben Hanna Band: If doing what I love can in some small way contribute to helping other people be with their families and find the resources they need, I will be in every time.

ChinaRose: We think it is very important to stand up for human and individual rights and the issue of migrant families being separated is something we cannot condone. We were very excited to be able to participate in Benevolence Fest when we heard it would also be benefiting that cause.

Native Station: We all felt strongly that no matter your political beliefs we need to treat people properly, with love. The way we would hope to be treated.

Ben Hanna. 

Ben Hanna. 

Do you have any other comments on the current political environment?

Ben Hanna Band: Be good to yourselves- you probably deserve it.

ChinaRose: Love is stronger than hate.

Native Station: The devolution of our political climate will stop if we, the general populace, decide upon common goals and take sustained political action to achieve them. But if we continue to base our votes and support on some misguided sense of team or party, rather than ideals, we will continue the descent.

What have your respective bands been up to in 2018?

Ben Hanna Band: Music-wise we are currently working on playing as many shows as possible. Just trying to have fun and stay fresh. No studio projects right now, but lots of new songs and ambition.

ChinaRose: We are currently recording our third album in our basement studio on the Southside of Chicago. We’re touring from August 16th-30th through Colorado, Utah, and California to promote the album and it will be released shortly before we hit the road.

Native Station: We’re finishing writing a debut album while looking for the right “habitat” to record it in.

ChinaRose.

ChinaRose.

What can fans expect at your Benevolence set this weekend?

Ben Hanna Band: We don't even know what to expect. The current line up couldn't make it due to schedule conflicts so it is all new players. There will be trombone and banjo. Some bad jokes might happen as well.

ChinaRose: We will be playing a bunch of new songs off the album!

Native Station: Oh yeah! A lot of energy and some songs from this album we have been working on. We try to keep something fresh in the back pocket and this will be no different.

Native Station. Photo Credit: Ehlert Art 

Native Station. Photo Credit: Ehlert Art 

What’s up for fall friends?

ChinaRose: Hopefully we will be touring around the Midwest this fall!

Native Station: We are looking forward to going on a short tour (headed south!). Also, we will be recording some new tracks which will make their way into the ether.

We can’t wait to hear everyone’s tunes this Saturday. $6; six bands. All for RAICES. See you there Boulder!

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

Andrew Bird & Boulder's Chautauqua Auditorium Were a Perfect Pairing Last Weekend

By: Carly Jensen

If you love stringed instruments that send hypnotic, yet haunting sounds through the air, the Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder, CO is exactly where you should have been last Saturday. Andrew Bird, violinist, singer, and songwriter played our hearts out.

Andrew Bird.

Andrew Bird.

Under the vintage, wooden beams of the Chautauqua Auditorium, which is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, the eager crowd sat waiting for a harmonious treat. The night began with Neyla Pekarek of The Lumineers. The crowd laughed along with her fictional and amusing stories, and were amazed by her skilled cello skills and powerful voice.

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Andrew Bird and his band came to the stage following, accompanied by Bird’s famous loop pedal and his precious violin. He immediately began his performance with one of his more well-known songs, “Pulaski.” As he played, Bird built complex overlays of looping sounds using each instrument around him. It was fascinating with every new tune to see how Bird created certain sounds from his catalogue live. He’s very well known for his harmonic whistling, and at certain points even imitated the animal which comprises his last name. There were times we were lost in his heavier harmonics; during others it felt like we were awakening on a spring morning to real robins chirping. And some of us really couldn’t help but close our eyes when his violin notes his our eardrums. Bird has played numerous venues throughout the state- including Red Rocks- but hearing him in the barn and wood on the top of Chautauqua was an experience unlike any other. It’s not always you can identify a perfect artist and venue pairing, but this was one of them and all concertgoers left feeling it.

-Carly

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

BolderBeat Presenting Boulder Music Festival to Benefit RAICES

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BolderBeat is excited to announce that we are presenting a mini-festival to benefit RAICES this August. Featuring Colorado bands Augustus, Native Station, Ben Hanna Band, Whiskey Autumn, and The Beeves, along with Chicago’s ChinaRose, the full day of music is slated for Saturday, August 18th from 2PM-10PM at Boulder’s Twisted Pine Brewing.

Said festival organizer Jim Herlihy, “Separating children from their families is unconscionable and I wanted to do something about it. The long answer is that this is an event in a string of events that has left me feeling angry and helpless over the last couple years. I spend a lot of energy moving our music career forward and not enough time helping people in need. I genuinely love these bands that we got for this bill and I wanted to shine a light on this side of the Boulder scene and use it to help this cause. Bringing great musicians together to raise money for an urgent cause- I don't know if it gets much better than that.”

Tickets for day are just $6, and all proceeds from the Benevolence Benefit will be donated to RAICES, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, which is a non-profit serving immigrant children, families, and refugees in Central and South Texas. Come out for the cause and get event details here.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be bringing you details on each of the band’s on our lineup, so stay tuned!

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

Stacked All Local Lineup Slated for Fox Theatre This Weekend (07/06)

This Friday, July 6th, the Fox Theatre will host some of Colorado's finest. 

Ashley Koett sounds like Mac Demarco and Ella Fitzgerald made a band and Cuco produced the record. That said, the Boulder artist's combination of slack rock and jazz with "memorizing melodies" is exactly how you want to spend your Friday night this week. We promise.

Flanked by a four-piece band live, Koett is the singer and multi-instrumentalist behind most of her recorded work, which she creates in her Boulder bedroom. She's "not afraid to get personal in her songs" and often "even makes light of her dreary situations" in her music. With a roster opening for bands like Cuco and Frankie Cosmos, it's honestly hard to imagine Koett will remain local for long, which is just another reason this weekend's Fox show should be on your to-do list .

Ashley Koett.

Ashley Koett.

Tyto AlbaCorsicanaAmerican Grandma, and The Milk Blossoms will also grace the stage on Friday. Tyto Alba's female-fronted indie rock vibes mixed with Corsicana's shoegaze is already reason to show up early. But then you add in the shadowy post-rock sounds of American Grandma and the dark pop productions of The Milk Blossoms and well, you'd better just show up at doors. Honestly. (By the way, they're are at 830PM.)

KGNU Community RadioRadio 1190, and Twist & Shout Records are presenting this all-local lineup of stacked proportions and tickets are only $10 in advance. Get yours here and we'll see you at the show.

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