On February 27th, Denver indie rock band The Foot. will release their 2nd EP called The Crowd Control EP. On the same day, they will also release their 3rd EP called The Cloud Control EP. You may be asking yourself (as I did), why release two 3-song EPs on the same day instead of one EP with all six songs. Of course, the answer is that in these days of music streaming services and a la carte digital purchases, it doesn’t really matter how you package your songs together. Besides, The Foot. is a band that is not very interested in the conventional. Take the unnecessary punctuation at the end of their name, for example. Or, how singer, bassist, keyboardist Jeff McCollister does a dead-on impression of Lenny Kravitz over music that you can easily imagine hearing at Shotgun Willy’s without it sounding like an embarrassing parody.

Silly as it may sound to release 2 EP’s on the same day, the band did something pretty clever by designing album art that, when joined vertically with last year’s The Hangman EP , creates a single image (see picture at right). They also bookend the songs on the similarly named Crowd and Cloud EPs with “blast from the past” sound effects, signalling that the collections are meant to really be played together.

The Crowd Control EP starts off with the track “The Day We Danced Around Gold”. With its funky, effect-driven Muse-inspired bassline and shifting dynamics and tempos, it is a song that shows a lot of maturity for the band which, since The Hangman EP has added producer Drew Sowell as the fourth official member (toe?). If a hot girl strutting down the street had her own soundtrack, it would be the song “Dark Dark Ways”. The Foot.’s Facebook page describes their main influence as “brazen sexual energy”, and few songs in their catalog (except “Seeing Red” from 2010′s Primary Colors) lives up to that claim as much as this song. Then, as if to remind you how unconventional they are, the band follows “Dark Dark Ways” and concludes the Crowd EP with a ballad about a dying kid. “A Parting Lesson” is a beautiful song featuring Phil Barrett’s acoustic guitar behind McCollister’s emotional and earnest falsetto. Still, it is jarring to hear this song right after “Dark Dark Ways” as if the band is saying “shame on you for daydreaming about hot girls when there is a kid dying of cancer somewhere in the world right now!”.

It was no trouble finding talent to perform at the event. Not only is Slaton a talented singer/songwriter in her own right, but has managed to remain unjaded despite her position as a booking agent for the Vinefield Agency and as a production assistant for AEG Live and Live Nation. She’s a fan who sings along at live shows just like everybody else. Everybody I asked to perform accepted with sincerity and enthusiasm, and Slaton was clearly touched by the turnout.

The first artist to hit the stage was Mike Trujillo of Take to the Oars. Trujillo kicked off the mostly-acoustic evening with two original numbers – the latter lovingly dedicated to his wife (the couple is expecting their first child in the Summer). His set concluded with the TTTO song “Monster Eats Pilot”. Slaton, who occasionally performs the vocal that Kyle Simmons contributed to the album, joined Trujillo on stage. About 30 seconds into the song, Simmons herself arrived and was urged to join the two on stage surprising Slaton with a friendly hug. It was just the first of several unscripted collaborations to emerge from the evening’s mutual admiration club.

Simmons, Slaton, and Trujillo

Up next was Nasir Malik and Josh Lee of Eldren. Sam Lee, who along with Malik and Josh Lee made up three-fifths of the now defunct Death Hickey Blues, joined them for part of the performance.

Malik, J. Lee, S. Lee

Malik and Josh Lee would return the favor later in the evening when Sam Lee performed a set of his own. Josh Lee’s violin was in high demand. It seemed like he sat in for at least one song of every set.

Sam Lee

Attic Attack and Jen Korte w/ Jess DeNicola played sets before Slaton’s scheduled time slot. There were so many musicians in the audience, that Slaton donated part of her time to allow them to pay tribute. Kate Moreland and Rob Drabkin (who covered Peter Gabriel’s “Solsbury Hill” with, who else, Josh Lee) each performed short sets before Slaton took the stage. Malik and the two Lees performed Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” with Slaton, and her set concluded with a Kyle Simmons duet, after which Simmons held onto the guitar for a song of her own.

Drabkin

Lee, Lee, Slaton

Slaton, Simmons

Simmons

A piano sat in the center of the room away from the performance area. It was not intended to be used in the performances, but Caleb Slade was determined to use it – and it was an unforgettable, communal experience. As he was performing “Always On My Mind” from his EP Victory in Defeat, Josh Lee slid up behind him to play violin and Wesley Watkins’ trumpet wafted softly from the kitchen. Slade later played Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” and everybody standing around him hummed the bass line in between Slade’s vocal. Slade and Simmons harmonized on the outro.

Slade

Lee, Slade, Watkins

Slade’s performance might have been an intimidating act to follow for many performers. But, Steve Varney and Jess Parsons of Glowing House sure didn’t show any signs of that. Varney and Parson’s vocal harmonies commanded attention. The energetic chatter that was present for most of the evening ceased completely as the crowd stood frozen and leaned in to listen to their heartfelt set. In this stripped down setting, as friends sat around holding each other, Glowing House cast a warm glow to close out a very special evening.

Glowing House

Glowing House

Lee, Watkins, Varney

After the scheduled performances had ended, attendees were reluctant to allow the evening to end. Josh Lee and Brad Berryman (also formerly of Death Hickey Blues) performed a couple of songs and Caleb Slade continued to amuse himself on the piano before heading out for a late night cocktail.

Special thanks to Alec Winter for graciously donating his home for the event. Best wishes Sara and Paskel. Don’t you dare be strangers…

Thursday, February 9th

BLKHRTS @ Meadowlark Bar

w/ Wire Faces, Go Star, Cougar Pants
Show at 9:00 PM, 21+

It’s only Thursday, but you can still go to CHRCH with King F.O.E, Yonnas Abraham, and Karma The Voice tonight at the Meadowlark. Guests include FoCo-post-punk-rockers Wire Faces.

In The Whale @ Soiled Dove Underground

w/ Ashtree
Show at 8:00 PM, All Ages, $10

The Soiled Dove Underground has amazing acoustics, so don’t be surprised if you leave with your eardrums bleeding after In The Whale tears that shit up.

The Toasters @ Marquis Theater

w/ Synthetic Elements, The Dendrites
Doors at 8:00 PM, All Ages, $12

The NYC ska pioneers share a stage with two of Colorado’s best party bands.

Friday, February 10th

Bop Skizzum @ Gothic Theatre

Video Release Party
w/ Broken Tongues, Della, Wheelchair Sports Camp
Doors at 8:00 PM, Show at 9:00 PM, All Ages, $10 - $13

Baby – talk nerdy to me. Come re-live your most awkward high school moments with Bop Skizzum and an amazing lineup of local acts.

Achille Lauro @ Hi-Dive

w/ Mercuria and the Gemstars, Land Lines
Doors at 9:00 PM, Show at 10:00 PM, 21+, $10

Celebrate the release of Achille Lauro’s new album “Fight or Flight”.

Vinefield Valentine’s Ball @ Meadowlark

w/ Flashbulb Fires, The Yawpers,
The Don'ts and Be Carefuls, Sauna
Show at 8:00 PM, 21+, $7

The first night of a 2-night event features Flashbulb Fires, The Yawpers, The Don’ts and Be Carefuls, and Sauna.

Reno Divorce @ Benders Tavern

w/ King Rat, Pitch Invasion, Straight Outta Luck
Show at 9:00 PM, 21+, $8 - $10 (DOS)

The boys are sure to play at least a few tracks from their upcoming, as yet un-named release.

Lenny Kravitz @ Temple Buell Theater

w/ Raphael Saadiq
Show at 8:00 PM, All Ages, $45 - $58

The new album is really good and features the awesome brass of Trombone Shorty.

Saturday, February 11th

Vinefield Valentine’s Ball @ Meadowlark

w/ Kyle James Hauser, Post Paradise,
Antennas Up, In The Whale, Caleb Slade
Show at 8:00 PM, 21+, $7

For the 2nd night, Vinefield offers up Kyle James Hauser, Post Paradise, Antennas Up, In The Whale, and Caleb Slade for your entertainment.

Snake Rattle Rattle Snake @ Hi-Dive

w/ ManCub, Men in Burka
Doors at 9:00 PM, Show at 10:00 PM, 21+, $10

SRRS hasn’t played in town since Thanksgiving, so come check them out along with electro-dance band ManCub and Men In Burka.

Novus Folium @ Marquis Theater

w/ Fierce Bad Rabbit, Sam Lee
Doors at 7:00 PM, Show at 8:00 PM, All Ages, $8 - $10 (DOS)

Just because Monroe Monroe had to cancel doesn’t mean that Novus Folium, Fierce Bad Rabbit, and Sam Lee aren’t gonna totally throw down.

Varlet @ Walnut Room

w/ Chella Negro, The Belle Jar
Show at 7:00 PM, 21+, $6 (Adv) - $9 (DOS)

A fantastic trio of local folk-rock acts hit the Walnut Room. Get some pizza – I hear good things about the pizza.

Sunday, February 12th

Cursive @ Larimer Lounge

w/ UME, Il Cattivo
Doors at 8:00 PM, Show at 9:00 PM, 21+, $18.00

If you didn’t get tickets yet, it’s too late.

Friday, February 3rd

Faceman’s Waltz @ Bluebird Theater

W/ Special Guests
Doors at 8:00 PM, Show at 9:00 PM, 16+, $15 - $18 (DOS)

Face Man will officially release their new EP Feeding Time in the 2nd annual installment of “FaceMan’s Waltz”. Expect guest performances from dozens of local bands.

Be Brave @ Rockstar Lounge

w/ Dirty Rotten Rhymers, The Foot., 3Two
Doors at 8:00 PM, Show at 9:00 PM, 21+, $5

The “Hoodies and Heels” party will feature an appearance by Dirty Rotten Rhymers, so you KNOW it’s eXXXclusive!

Mosey West @ Larimer Lounge

w/ Kentucky Street Parlor Pickers, Jen Korte, and MORE
Doors at 8:30 PM, Show at 9:30 PM, 21+, $8

Tell Jen Korte I said hello! She’s a sweetie!

Ryan Adams @ Temple Buell Theater

Show at 8:00 PM, All Ages, $55

I’m kicking myself for not getting tickets to this before it sold out.

The Lemonheads @ Fox Theatre

Performing "It's A Shame About Ray" in it's entirety
w/ The Shining Twins
Doors at 8:30 PM, Show at 9:00 PM, All Ages, $17

That cover of “Mrs. Robinson” was pretty rad.

Saturday, February 4th

Le Divorce @ Hi-Dive

CD Release Party
w/ The Don'ts and Be Carefuls
Doors at 9:00 PM, Show at 10:00 PM, 21+, $8

Pretty stoked about seing Le Divorce for the first time! The Don’ts and Be Carefuls had a great set at last year’s Yelpapalooza. Should be a fun night!

Hearts in Space @ Walnut Room

w/ The Centennial
Doors at 8:00 PM, 21+, $10

Tough call tonight. But, I’ve seen both Hearts In Space and The Centennial before, and although they are both great, I’ve gotta give away my Le Divorce virginity.

Sunday, February 5th

Ain’t nothing going on but the Super Bowl. Seriously. Go Patriots, I guess!

In preparation for the event, which will also mark the release of the FaceMan’s second full-length release Feeding Time (currently available for download with a “name your own price” option on Bandcamp), the band has released a trio of videos. Each video is from a different director and couldn’t be more different from each other in terms of style and technique. The most impressive of the three is the video for the song “Need” (a track which features New Orleans legends Dirty Dozen Brass Band). The video, directed by Drew Zimmerman, features incredible puppets created by Lee Zimmerman. It is some of the most amazing live-action puppetry I’ve seen.

Need from FaceMan on Vimeo.

The video for “LotToSay” is a computer-generated montage of images that look like they came from the covers of romance novels. But creators Michael Nix and Brad Cowan bring the images to life in stunning high definition.

LotToSay from FaceMan on Vimeo.

Finally, the title track (which features another famous New Orleans brass band – Rebirth Brass Band) receives a video treatment from John Fognani. Operating under a theme of “An example of a social response”, the video features black and white stock footage of war and protest.

FeedingTime from FaceMan on Vimeo.

Eldren - Photo by Pete Wynn

Tonight at Hi-Dive, Eldren will be celebrating the release of their 3rd EP. They have been kind enough to allow me to share a new track ahead of the show. The song is called “Thumbs Cove” and it was the first song that Nasir Malik, Tyler Imbrogno, and Tara Chacon ever wrote together. Enjoy, and I hope to see you at Hi-Dive tonight where In The Whale will also be perfoming and releasing a new EP of their own!

Eldren Official Website

Friday, January 27th

Hindershot @ 3 Kings Tavern

EP Release Party
w/ Accordion Crimes, The Skeleton Show, and DJ Samurai Buck
Show at 8:00 PM, 21+, $6

Join Hindershot in celebrating the release of Curse Us All.

The Jayhawks @ Ogden Theatre

w/ Justin Townes Earle
Show at 8:00 PM, 16+, $30

Alt-country-rock straight from the Twin Cities.

Agent Orange @ Larimer Lounge

w/ Lords of Fuzz
Doors at 8:00 PM, Show at 9:00 PM, 21+, $20.00

Peddling their 80′s Orange County Skater punk with only one original member.

RJD2 @ Bluebird Theater

Doors at 8:00 PM, Show at 9:00 PM, 16+, $25.00

I loved him in that Star Wars movie. Beep-beep-boop!

Saturday, January 28th

In The Whale/Eldren @ Hi-Dive

Dual CD Release Party w/ The Forge, Reviving Cecilia
Doors at 8:00 PM, Show at 9:00 PM, 18+, $7.00

Both In The Whale and Eldren will be celebrating the release of new EP’s tonight!

Air Dubai @ Gothic Theatre

w/ Kids These Days, Petals of Spain, SF1
Doors at 8:00 PM, Show at 9:00 PM, 16+, $12

I really wish I could be at this show. It’s gonna be a great one!

Whiskey King Coalition @ Herman’s Hideaway

w/ Fleeting Matters, Portobello Road, Pulse
Doors at 7:00 PM, 21+, $4

These guys tore it up at the Marquee Theater a couple weeks back. Check ‘em out if you’re in to Ben Harper style acoustic jams.

Saints @ Parker Library

Doors at 2:00 PM, All Ages, FREE

How often do you get to see a Hometown For The Holidays finalist playing for free at a library? You can check out Saints and still be home in time to go out later…

Descendents @ Fillmore Auditorium

w/ Hot Water Music, Endless Monster
Doors at 6:00 PM, Show at 7:00 PM, 16+, $26

In case you didn’t get your fill of 80′s SoCal skater punk last night.

Sunday, January 29th

Rumer @ Larimer Lounge

w/ Caleb Slade Doors at 4:30 PM, 21+, $15 - $18 (DOS)

Everybody is already calling her the “new Adele”. I’m not done with the “old Adele” yet!

Venom & Pride

The first time I met Dave Curtis was during Chromeo’s performance at last year’s Westword Music Showcase. He was shamelessly doing a silly dance. He took a goofy cell phone photo with me and my wife. The band for which he serves as the front man, Vices I Admire, had played a set earlier that day that included songs with titles like “Kiss Kiss” and “The Sweetest Girl” (from 2010′s The Politics of Apathy). Just an affable dude writing pop-prog songs about the joy of young love, right? Not quite…

The Italian writer and philosopher Dante wrote of seven deadly sins, also known as Cardinal Vices (get it?), two of which are Wrath (Venom) and Pride. The lyrics on Venom & Pride paint a grim picture of love. One in which the true, selfless love written about by his literary heroes (Curtis earned an English degree from CSU) turn out to be lies, and those heroes are dead now so how smart could they be anyway? Now, he practically expects relationships to fail, and may even play an active role in ensuring that they do because “you’ll find that I work much better when I have been suffering” and “I get so high from falling down”. He protects himself by putting his heart on lockdown since love is a competition – a “lonely game, it’s one I intend to win”. Really disheartening stuff.

Vices I Admire

The EP kicks off with “Hero”, and within the first 10 seconds the listener is confronted with the word “phrenology” in a pop song. Not only that, VIA has done something few bands have the balls to do – release a song with a 5/4 time signature as their single. I’m convinced that there are people out there that just can’t find the groove with an odd number of beats, so I applaud them for taking the risk. For me, it pays off. I dig the song and its glorious chorus of mutli-layered harmonies. “Stay Away” is another standout track, one that doesn’t seem to have a discernable chorus but flows nicely anyway. The arena-ready cry of “Yeah, stay away from me!” at the end should become a crowd participation staple at live performances. The verses of “The Union” create a sexy ambiance worthy of Incubus, and build deliberately in intensity. The chorus feels a little hesitant and doesn’t quite fulfill the promises made by that build-up, but I still really enjoy the song. “Forever” is a frustrating track that I really wanted to like. It starts off promisingly enough with Curtis performing impressive vocal acrobatics. But, I find the Gregorian-style chanting that shows up eighty seconds into the song off-putting. It is dissonant and detracts your attention from the main vocal. Honestly, the first time I listened to the CD, I skipped past this song about halfway through because of it.

Venom & Pride is a bit of a grower. It takes repeated listens to fully appreciate some of the nuances here, and I’m sure the band wouldn’t have it any other way. Given their musical and intellectual integrity, one would expect Vices I Admire to put out a record that challenges the listener and rewards them for their investment. Venom & Pride does just that.

Fitz and The Tantrums

Michael Fitzpatrick – the “Fitz” of Fitz and The Tantrums – always makes it a point to thank the crowd for supporting “real” music and for spreading the word about his band. FaTT’s swift rise to fame has, in fact, been fueled largely by word of mouth (Adam Levine put them on a Maroon 5 tour in September 2009 after his tattoo artist made small talk about them). They released their debut full-length album Pickin’ Up The Pieces in January 2010 and, after appearances on Kimmel, Conan, and Leno, began touring non-stop and selling out venues everywhere they went. In fact, they’ve been to Denver/Boulder three times over the past eight months, selling out The Bluebird Theater (June 2010), The Fox Theatre (August 2010), and last night at The Ogden Theatre. And the reason is simple: they play feel-good old-school Philly soul music that you want to tell your friends about – this decade’s version of Hall and Oates.

Fitz and The Tantrums

Without having recently released any new material, the show hasn’t changed much over the past year. The band opened with their most recent single “Don’t Gotta Work it Out”, followed by “Breaking The Chains of Love”, and “Winds of Change”. The sound in the Ogden was fantastic and the band was tight. The biggest change from August was the appearance of Denver-born co-lead singer Noelle Scaggs who sported a more athletic physique and a bleach-blonde buzz cut. The set list included all of the tracks from Pickin’ Up The Pieces, two newer unreleased songs, one song (“We Don’t Need No Love Songs”) from their 2009 EP Songs For A Breakup, Vol. 1, and two cover songs that have been part of their repertoire for a while now: The Raconteur’s ”Steady As She Goes” and The Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)”. It was a solid show, but the energy and enthusiasm of Fitzpatrick himself seemed to be lacking compared to previous metro-area shows. This is a band that may be starting to suffer from road-weariness and needs a break to relax, refuel, and record new material.

Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr

Speaking of refuel, the NASCAR-themed Detroit duo Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr warmed up the crowd with their brand of indie-electro-pop. The problem for a band wearing glow-in-the-dark suits with a checkered flag pattern who are named after a real-life race car driver is convincing a crowd who has largely never heard of you that you’re not a joke. Flanked by a pair of crudely constructed lighted “JR”‘s, keyboardist Joshua Epstein (looking eerily like Jimmy Fallon behind the microphone), guitarist Daniel Zott, and a touring drummer, performed an enjoyable, dance-worthy set that was highlighted by the singles “Vocal Chords” and the Simon & Garfunkel inspired “Simple Girl”.

Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr

After seeing FaTT twice in 2011, I hadn’t planned on attending last night’s show until American Tomahawk was announced as support. Although the band calls Los Angeles its home base, American Tomahawk was formed in Denver by Colorado native Adam Halferty.  Halferty (who also tours as the drummer for 3OH!3) recorded Generalities, Contradictions and Future Criminals on his own in 2010 (it has recently been re-released on the major music download sites). He has an extraordinary ability to craft songs with sparse, mostly acoustic arrangements and clever – often poignant – lyrics. Backed by Sean Foreman (a primary member of 3OH!3) on bass, drummer Jesse Dixon and guitarist Nolan Aldridge (both formerly of Boulder band Signal to Noise), and a new female keyboardist, they performed a brief opening set. Halferty seemed to have trouble hitting some of the high notes (compared to their “secret” appearance at Illegal Pete’s on Friday), and there were too many awkward silences, but the band was well received and cheered on by the many friends and well-wishers in attendance.

American Tomahawk

American Tomahawk