My Bloody Valentine
April 24th 2009
Fillmore Auditorium

So here is the deal. I take great care posting this. I can't do the show justice. I totally anticipating this show totally selling out. I mean it's absolutely the best of 90s sonic shoegaze why didn't it sell out? Hipsters have jobs right? How could this show not sell out? That being said...

F absolutely hooked me up. I am so grateful as always.

The thing is this, I actually do love the band. Have since I picked up on the shoegaze thing post Jesus and the Mary Chain back in the 80s. I missed them when they played here before and to say I was sad... no devasted really would be an understatement. I heard they were coming. I held my breath. Didn't know how quickly it would sell out and assumed (like last time it would) so didn't even go to look up ticket availability. F said he would try to get tickets so held my breath and waited because I didn't want to pressure him. I am absolutely so very fortunate. I was totally blown away. One of things that was really amazing was that it seemed like every single local band was represented in the audience. It was too loud to go and say hello. I mean they had STACKS set up in the middle of the room. No complaints because it was so layered, my earplugs were so good that I could hear alot of what was going on except the vocals which was a shame but it was mixed that way. The 20 minute finale with the "holocaust" section in what I THINK was "You Made me Realize" -- I think and I am fairly certain --- IT WAS REALLY HARD TO TELL since it was so unbelieveably sonic.

No way to totally experience it unless you were to put your phone on vibrate put it in your pants, call yourself hang up, repeat to the music cues, borrow your friends phone do the same put it in your bra, repeat, borrow a strangers phone put it in your sock repeat put in headphones turn it ALL THE WAY up and sorta you might get an idea...except our finale went double what this video shows.



The one thing that I wish they would have played was "Feed Me With Your Kiss", its an amazing song. I could be found and felt in my chest, my hair, my ankles, everywhere. It was un-freakin' believable and honestly I really up until that night didn't ever expect actually getting to experience it. It was like a mythical creature like a unicorn. I didn't anticipate actually having it happen. I turned around to F at one point in the middle of it and mouthed "Oh My Gawd". It was unreal and intense and set the stage for my night.

Here are some reviews that absolutely sum up the evening better than I can:

Here is a concert preview from a couple days before. Here is a link with a recording from a previous show... (thanks Julio!).

Here are a few of the pictures that I took:




More pictures on Flickr. Go there....

So thank you for letting me experience all of it F (the upgrade, the whole thing). And to the guy out front that gave me the miracle... thanks for the hookup... I appreciate it. I wish you would have let me give you a couple of bucks at least. May REALLY GREAT concert karma come your way.

Record Store Day

Record Store Day 2009
April 18th
International Record Store Day

I bought a record player a little bit ago. I sold my old one about two years ago at a garage sale and actually totally regretted it the minute I did so. Bought a record player where I could convert my vinyl (which thankfully I also didn't get rid of) even.

I have been looking forward to Record Store Day for months actually. Had it bookmarked, watched the site, subscribed to the Twitter feed... watched the releases like a hawk. Made Lists!

I got almost everything that I wanted and then the magic of the whole thing was running into friends at Twist and Shout (one of Denver's finest establishments in all of the front range within semi-walking distance). But considering the weather was a little wet and rainy I drove (of course I did... I don't really walk anywhere).

One of the greatest joys of the early afternoon was walking through all the used vinyl, buying things I sold a long time ago... not everything of course, but just some really fun stuff. Got some great advise on the importance of Elvis Costello from Kim. Got a couple of great classic Jazz records on the advise of Jon and walked out of there with some exciting new audible excitement.

I came home and you know what was the most magical thing of all... not the new music, not the old music, not the fact that I bought vinyl to begin with... no.... but the pure pleasure of running my finger down the middle of the open end of the sealed records. I loved it. It was like opening a present.

I miss that. And I am excited that I can listen to vinyl again. The record player works super well, the conversion software not so much, but I am working on that. I do anticipate enjoying vinyl again.

Thanks #RSD09 you brought on the magic!

Last entry was April 12. I know I know ... two weeks later and seriously I feel like I have really been treading water to post and be in my world on a day to day basis. I say this with great love, great admiration and great excitement with what Springtime in Denver holds.

Which lately has been snow. Lots of snow.

Monday April 13 2009 Larimer Lounge Westword New Music DJ Night

So New Music Night... a weekly bonanza of DJs, bands and all things wonderful in local music. Seriously. I don't say this to mock because really every time I go, very fun. I always here something great, like when I heard Nina Simone.

And when I heard Sonic Youth the same night. So this night I was really excited to see what the guys would be doing. I ended up kibbitzing and taking pictures and really didn't make total note about what I heard, but I know it was fun.

So here are a couple of photos from the show!

April 17 Ieungliss CD Launch Party Hi-Dive

Snow Day!
So snowey Spring Day. It was magical.

The thing was, wasn't sure if it was going to happen...the going out thing. But totally decided, this was Ieungliss we are talking about. So I absolutely had to get out of the house and make it happen! So glad that I did because it was terrific.

I love bocumast and seriously Ieungliss makes me so happy. Josh has an amazing way and his message is just like him... dear. I know that is odd and really almost goofie, but its so very true.


















On to the show!

It was a terrific way to spend a snow day. I had a fun time, danced a lot, had a couple really nice conversations, got some Josh hugs and had a great night. And a nice weekender beginniner. I have had the cd in my car and play it everywhere I go. Please go to the Bocumast site and check it out. I doubt you will be sorry.

I need to update I know... I have been trying to deal with a rather unfortunate situation that I have named Fievel. Yeah... there is a mouse in the house and I am dedicating myself to making him and his pals (not that I have seen any) unwelcome. Thus cleaning one whole heck of alot.

Plus I have been neglecting this and pretty much going out to tv, netflix and vinyl records.

I will update and post with pictures this weekend I hope... until then....

Peelander Z and Mark Mallman

April 10 2009
Peelander Z and the Firedrills
Hi Dive

I have seen the Firedrills four times now each time they get better and better.  The first time was at a show where the same night there were three other highly recognizable bands playing.  It was the best choice for the night.  What was really crazy is that the set felt like it was 10 minutes but they powered through some of the best power pop rock that I had heard. The second or third time I saw them was at the Bluebird.  The Hi Dive was a perfect venue.  I just felt like it was a like a private little show that night. The Hi Dive hadn't filled yet.  The pictures would make you think that they are a melodic and mellow band. You would be wrong.  This is full on full throttle power.  Fun and energetic and really hard to capture.

 

Peelander Z is a band from Japan.  That should be enough for you.  Straight off their SXSW tour this year they made a stop in Denver and everyone in the room is the better for it.  I am better because I got to experience what could be only described as being in a live Rock and Roll interactive cartoon .  

 

Each member of the band was dressed head to toe in a color... like the PowerPuff Girls but much much more bad ass.  They came to rock Denver and they did.  We learned about Mad Tigers, played percussion along with the band, limbo'd, bowled, danced on stage, went to Ninja High School, learned that medium rare is the best way to eat steak, went to a Karaoke party and just literally partied, danced and played like I hadn't seen happen in the Hi Dive exactly like that (nor will I ever I think).  

 

  

  

  

  

(the rest of the shots are on my flikr... go there)

And for the record... you might look at these shots and think that this is a joke band.  They rock and rock hard and for the record impressed the bejebus out of me. 

Here is the video for Ninja High School (linked from their page/linked above):

Also they sang in English.  Really totally amazing. The crowd was totally into it and followed the directions for what the band needed to make the show so incredibly interactive.  At one point they weren't even playing the instruments, the audience members where.  The band had the audience up on stage dancing.  What really impressed me was when everyone was banging on pots/pans and dog dishes a couple of times and actually now that I think about throughout most of the show. It was in fact VERY rhythmic.  I even got into it, put the camera to my side and totally played along. 

This was a really just really fun to be in the middle of the show and see it for myself.  It was a total punk rock interactive cartoon action show.  I was spent by the end of the show.

Their dvd is called: Peelander Z is Fun... you know what... they totally are.  

Totally check out their myspace blog and page... you won't be disappointed. And it only gives you an inkling of how great this was.  Seriously...

Walked across the street to go and see:

Mark Mallman

3 Kings Tavern

 

 Ran into a friend as soon as we walked in the door and I have to say her description of Espinoge Internationale' kinda made me wish they had opened as well at the Hi-Dive... Sounds like it totally would have worked.  But we missed them which was a shame.  Hopefully I will get the chance to see them again.  

Mark Mallman came out, this time with a bass player and a drummer.  He was really energetic and entertaining.  Sang and played and embraced his keyboard.  The crowd seemed to be enjoying and dancing and singing along which was really exciting.  

Chewbacca Bukkake and Reverend Dead Eye

April 2, 2009

Chewbacca Bukkake and Reverend Dead Eye

3 Kings Tavern

Walked into the 3 Kings not quite knowing what to expect from Chewbacca Bukkake.  But when I saw the stand up bass I clearly knew... this is gunna be good.   I really liked Hate Fuck Trio back in the day and this was the first time I was able to see this latest off shoot.

I was pleasantly surprised.  Another thing was the light was really weird that night and I was shooting with my IS so I couldn't switch lenses or really adjust too much, which forced me to take a moment and listen.  What was the funnest part of the show was that they just seemed to be having alot of fun.  They were really tight.  I thought I was in for a rock show and what I got was slightly jazz, slightly rock but in a way very exciting way.   The switch between the electric bass and the amplified stand up was terrific.  Usually I see I stand up bass I think Rockabilly but this was obviously very different.  It was fantasticly entertaining.  The fine little jazz elements resonated and worked.  It was far from a rock show.  Layered and contemporary.

There was a small break and then Reverend Deadeye came out.  Watching them set up I was impressed with how it was so thoughtful. The entire front of the stage was filled with accoutremonts of the performance.  I could only wonder what I was going to hear.  I hadn't heard of Reverend Deadeye before so anticipating something based on the set up was very cool. 

I don't know how best to describe what I heard, but it was country/gospel/blues in a rock and roll way.   It terribly complicated and loud and blustery and a lot of music and soul from two men.  It was a full show. 


To add to the ambiance of the moody performance there was this uplighting that helped with some of the shots that I took, but it was tough.  I was forced to listen and try and catch a moment.  And the only complaint was that it was tremendously loud.  Even with earplugs in I could feel the music rattle around.  It was too loud.  We walked out into the parking lot and could STILL hear the music as if we were standing in the middle of the room.  I think potentially the power of the music was lost a little bit.

But I enjoyed what I could take.  Reverend Deadeye is spending the next few months in Europe and I am sure they will bring their Americana to the welcoming ears of appreciative audiences.  I want to recognize that the room was full at the begining of the set and thinned a little when we left, could have been the fact that we were there on a school night or the loud factor but it was not a reflection of what was going on.  There is something to be said for these Americana bands going to Europe and traveling forward.  I think its amazing how many Denver bands go and perform.  Which is an amazing testiment to the talent this fair state has.

Updates are a comin'

But wouldn'tchaknow... I got a nasty nasty ass virus/trojan harbenger of evil on both my computers so they are off at Dr. Mark's getting fixed and hopefully happified.


In the meantime:  here is a link to Lance's Flat Response recording of the Nirvana tribute show that the Dualistics put down on Friday night... it was great.  I thought for literally half a minute about taking out my camera but then realized, all you would literally get was pictures of peoples backs.  It was SO busy and so full of tall people there was no way I would have gotten a clear picture at all. There was this REALLY tall dude that stood behind me for a second... I wish I had taken my camera out for that, I think his tush hit me at my shoulder blades.  And he was wearing a SAVE CBGB tshirt that was all sorts of awesome, too bad it wasn't saved but that is a whole 'nother entry.  I got there as Achille Lauro played their tune and knew I was in for a good time. It was a great night and thanks to Charlie and the guys for doing it.  Heck go listen for yourselves! 

Have a great week.