Music | Halsey live at The Gothic Theatre | November 9, 2015

We first laid eyes on Ashley Frangipane at SXSW back in March. At the time, the artist more commonly known at Halsey was slowly beginning to build her brand based around her debut release Room 93. Her performance was quick, and although we saw the potential in her music, her live show was typical of SXSW: too quick to get a good feel for the artist we were seeing for the very first time, unsure of what to expect in the upcoming months.

Halsey at SXSW 2015 in Austin, TX (photo credit: Maddie Casey/Ultra5280)

Here we are, nearly nine months later, and Halsey has become the queen of the scene. With over 1.2 million followers on Instagram, Halsey's full-length debut Badlands landed in the #2 position on the Billboard charts during it's debut just a few weeks ago, but that sits at the bottom of an already impressive resumé. After being signed based on the success of one single, Halsey secured a coveted position opening for Imagine Dragons during their summer 2015 arena tour. Her feature on Justin Bieber's upcoming record, not to mention selling out her first headlining US tour without issue, are only continuing to move her forward. A whirlwind six months to say the least, this young pop artist has been making major waves, and we don't see it stopping anytime soon.

Her show here in Denver this past Friday was edgy, dynamic, beautiful, and perfect for her fan base. Fans arrived as early as 10:30am to sit and wait in the parking lot of The Gothic, and by our judgement? They were not let down. Her dark lyrics were complimented beautifully by the stage's dark, enticing lighting. LED panels surrounding her on stage played a variety of images, slideshows, and patterns, bringing the music to live. Moving from side to side of the stage, you could watch the audience mirror her movements as she went. Her genre of grungy, glittery, sugar-coated sadness is unique, different, but fills a void we didn't even knew existed in the music world. She may be young, but Halsey's grasp on her artistic vision is defined. Her lyrics are uniquely poetic, bringing to life the dark, and sometimes heartbreaking stories she chooses to tell. Taking a moment before breaking into the song "Roman Holiday", Halsey shared a moment with her fans to remind both them and herself that "damn Ashley, it's not that serious", bringing a new light to the show. 

Halsey performing at the Gothic Theatre in Denver, CO on 11/9 (photo credit: Maddie Casey)

Nine months certainly seemed to be enough time for Halsey's live show to grow as strong as her lyrics. Her vocal control and command of the stage was that of a tenured performer, not a 21-year old who released her first EP barely a year ago. So much has changed for this young star in 2015, and it seems that her hair color isn't the only thing continually getting brighter. Halsey will close out 2015 with the end of her Badlands tour, and continue on to Australia and Japan at the beginning of 2015. We don't know when we expect to see her back in Denver, but we can promise it will not be a performance you want to miss. 

Check out more photos here

Music | New Music Tuesday | Rob Drabkin, "Stay (The Morning Light Fades)" Official Music Video Release

Owner of the kindest smile, the most infectious laugh, the sweetest voice, and the most rocking hair, Rob Drabkin has been at the forefront of Denver's bustling singer/songwriter scene for years. We've seen him play birthday parties with his dad, we've watched him rock UMS, and this past March we watched his band rock the Do512 Bar in Austin, TX at this year's Colorado Showcase during SXSW. Today, we help Rob celebrate the release of his newest music video for the song "Stay (The Morning Light Fades)".  Filmed at Shove Chapel at Colorado College in College Springs, this entire video's cast and crew are all Colorado natives - a feat almost as unique as the video itself.

On its own, "Stay (The Morning Light Fades)” is a delicate piece of music with tension, relief, beauty and pain permeating the music and lyrics. Rob wrote the song at the end of a relationship. “There was simply nothing left to hold onto and I knew it was over and gone,” he says. Rob had been fixated on the idea of putting choreography to the song since he began experimenting with the song’s chord progression. "It was time to take a risk and put the idea into motion.”

The video was choreographed and danced by Amanda Copple, alongside Luke Kamppila from the Michelle Latimer Dance Company in Denver, CO. "The main goals for this piece were to take the viewer on a journey with the dancers through the space and to enhance the listening experience with movement,” says Amanda. "The dance is a story of catch and release. The relationship shifts from a happy and playful couple through the often tragic stages of a lost love. One partner doubts and this makes the other cling tighter. He would give anything for just another moment.”

Music | Misterwives, Børns, Handsome Ghost | Bluebird Theatre | March 9, 2015

I go to a lot of concerts. Both a curse and a blessing, I’ve realized in the four years I’ve been working for Ultra5280 that regardless of a bands musicality, live concerts can only really fit into one of four basic categories: 1) A show that’s just meh, 2) the band that sounds good, but is boring to watch perform live, 3) the band that I love unconditionally and will be happy to watch regardless of sound or performance (everyone has these, no judging me), and 4) the band who’s music is good, but their live performance truly hooks me as a diehard fan. Misterwives easily claimed their seat in category number four on Monday night, and did so by the end of their first song. A night showcasing many up and coming pop acts to be watched in 2015, Handsome Ghost, Børns, and Misterwives made for a great lineup as they stopped by The Bluebird Theatre this past Monday night. 

Opening the night was Handsome Ghost, an ethereal, ambient duo based in Boston, Mass. Playing a quick 30minute set, fans got an early taste of the group’s new “Steps” EP which was being released the next day. Lead singer Tim Noyes blends tranquil-yet-upbeat piano grooves with airy, melodic harmonies one would expect from a Bon Iver record. A genre he personally describes as “Indie Prom”, I find this a fitting description for the band that seems poised to take Owl City’s place atop the synth-pop podium of the radio world. I was pleasantly surprised by this band’s resonance with me on a evening when I was only expecting upbeat, funk-laced pop. Certainly a group to watch, Handsome Ghost left me satisfied in ways I did not expect, anxious to hear a slightly more diverse repertoire as the band continues to grow. 

Next to take the stage was newcomer Børns. With spring right around the corner and summer following in quick succession, it’s hard to not feel entranced by their effortlessly catchy songs overflowing with sun-kissed melodies and danceable bass lines. Singer/songwriter Garrett Borns’ charismatic electro-rock EP Candy was released last November, and the track “Electric Love” has been steadily making it’s way onto radio stations across the US over the course of the last month. Although the record is filled with unique instrumentation, I was most curious to hear Borns’ vocal range on Monday night. While his vocals were pitch perfect, I found myself disappointed to hear the singer choose to not hit the high note that carries the chorus of “Electric Love”. An understandably difficult request for any vocalist, I’m hoping to hear the song in it’s full glory at SXSW next week. With a talented four piece band accompanying the singer on stage complete with a badass (sorry) female drummer and another vocalist producing perfectly matched harmonies, Børns had the audience moving and grooving without much solicitation. 

Capping off the night was Misterwives, who’s radio single “Reflections” has been burning up KTCL 93.3’s rotation for months now. As the stage went dark and the band took their places, lead singer Mandy Lee led her band of brothers in a series of hand gestures, ending in a “salute” to the audience before diving into their new album’s title track “Our Own House”. Lee took control of the stage immediately, leading fans in hand-claps before the band broke into the song’s chorus. Dancing, spinning, jumping and oozing with passion, Lee’s stage presence feels more fitting of a big band bandleader from the 1950’s than a vocalist of any modern day group, keeping both the audience and the band easily in sync. As the group finished the track’s last punchy notes, the crowd could not stop cheering: errupting in a standing ovation (if you will) by the end of track one, only for drummer Etienne to take the mic and inform the audience that Ms. Lee has been in bed sick for the past two days…WHAT?! It was unbelievable to me that she could be sick after watching this frontwoman move on stage, yet as I watched more closely through the rest of the night, there it was: her timid coughing in between tracks, and the occasional squirting of honey straight from the bottle down her throat to coat her inflamed vocal chords. We were five minutes into this show and I already felt as if I could not be more impressed with group, but there I was, shocked and amazed, watching Lee continue to lead her band in a choreographed stomp-clap routine before jumping into “Box Around The Sun” despite her illness.

The show continued much like this, each track keeping me head-bobbing, toe-tapping and smiling ear to ear. When listening to their debut album, I was immediately impressed with the band’s seamless blend of indie pop and funk-influenced instrumentation, but what intrigued me the most was lead singer Lee’s diverse, powerful range. Often times voices like hers can be hard to control live, but Monday night she sang like she was born to do nothing else. I did not hear one single sour note escape Ms. Lee’s mouth from the evening’s beginning to end, only continuing to prove her vocal skill with songs like the jazzy “Oceans” and the addictively anthemic “No Need For Dreaming”. If this girl has a voice like that on a night when she’s sick, I can’t begin to imagine what it must be like during a show when she’s at 100%. Multi-instrumentalist Jesse Blum was another highlight of the show, playing a trumpet with one hand while playing keys with the other, even picking up an accordion and glockenspiel for different tracks. The fun the band was having emanated from the stage out into the crowd, keeping fans moving all night long right alongside them. 

As the band began their radio hit “Reflections” at the end of the night, you could barely hear the instruments above the crowd’s momentous sing-along; every part of the room was exploding with energy. As if they had not expressed it enough throughout the night, band’s genuine appreciation for the crowd was displayed by the awestruck looks on each member’s faces as they ended the song to an uproar of applause. Bassist Will Hehir looked beside himself as he and the rest of the band took in the crowd’s raucous approval for a few moments before ending their set with the song “Queens”. 

It takes a lot to get me excited about a new band these days, but Misterwives has checked every box on my list, if not more. We’re expecting to see the group again this next week at SXSW (pending Lee’s health concerns - get well soon!), but regardless of when my next chance comes, you can bet that I woldn’t miss it for the world. Honest and uplifting lyrics mixed with impressive performance skills and even more impressive musicality, I both admire and appreciate Misterwives’ determination to set the new standard for pop acts.

Music | An Evening with Night Riots | Interview & Review

Spring is a great time of year to be living in Denver when music is your thing. As bands slowly make their way west towards Austin, TX for the music week of South By Southwest (SXSW), Denver tends to be one of the last stops for many groups before they plunge into the festival’s insanity. While some might think it’s a little overkill to watch the same band multiple time in the course of a few short weeks, I love getting the chance to watch artists play a proper concert before seeing what can often be disjointed, quick sets in rooms packed to the gills with festival goers. Last week I sat down with California-based Night Riots to talk about SXSW, touring, and all things Oregon Trail (yes, the crappy 90’s computer video game) before the band heads to Texas to battle the beast that is SXSW. 

photo credit: Maddie Casey

The room was moderately packed for a chilly Friday night at the Marquis Theatre when I arrived after a tedious battle with the pothole-filled streets to get downtown. It had been snowing all week, but you couldn’t tell from the warm buzz of the crowd once you got inside. “We always pick the coldest time of the year to come to Denver” guitarist Mikel joked, wrapped in a peacoat and boots as he met me at the door and walked us downstairs to meet the rest of the band. Playing that night with locals The Epilogues, the Denver music scene has become a welcome friend to Night Riots. They’ve played this city a slew of times over the past few years and were paired with The Epilogues as local support so often its lead them to ask the group to now accompany them on some tour dates through California and along the west coast. Although the band has continued to grow and change, Denver’s familiar crowd is refreshing amidst their newest endeavor: their first full national headlining tour. Kicking off on January 19th, the band will be out until the end of March, a lofty endeavor for any group regardless of size or tenure. “It’s been surprising how awesome the shows have been so far” lead singer Travis Hawley admitted to me on their green room couch. “It’s been nerve-wracking to be the headliner for the first time, but it’s going well so far”. “We think our drummer has dysentery, but he’ll pull through” guitarist Matt joked. 

The past year has seemingly been one long, eclectic experiment for the band as they played with a crazy variety of different artists throughout the year. Touring with experimental rapper K Flay, playing festivals with The Mowglis and Cage The Elephant, and even a few Saosin reunion shows in the fall, the group has certainly stretched the limits of their dynamic sound, one which I’ve been known to describe as “brooding disco meets alt-pop”. When asked about their unique sound, Hawley said “We don’t wanna write the same song every time. All these pieces, each song, should be a different story, but they’re all from the same life. We’re always trying to relate pieces that are an adventure through (coherent) lifetime.” From the simple, poppy bass lines and piano of “Young Lore” to the emotive, 80’s style lyrics of “Back to Your Love”, into the dark and mysterious tracks of their newest release, 2014’s Howl, Night Riots might not seem to “fit” any of the bills they’ve been booked on, but it’s been made clear that they are the square that can become the rectangle, not the rectangle that cannot be the square. “It’s been really interesting to watch how fans react to us in each situation” Mikel concedes to me while we chat, “It hasn’t been planned for us to play such diverse shows, but it’s certainly been surprising to see how each show goes. Not all the fans at every show connect, but there’s been a good portion of fans that have been interested in what we do. I think that K Flay’s fans were the most surprising because she’s so different from us, but then again, she has a really varied fan base to begin with.” 

photo credit: Maddie Casey

Another experiment the band tried in 2014 was their month-long residency at Hemingways, a smaller, “hipster” venue in Los Angeles. Artist residencies have for the most part become a thing of the past with the exception of legacy acts at Madison Square Garden and shows in Vegas, so for such a young band to try it out seemed curious. “It’s something that’s kinda weird to think about, but it turned out rad for us” the group says. Playing four nights throughout the month of August, the band actually toured other states in between their shows each week instead of hunkering down in the city. “We regretted building the schedule like that in the end since we were traveling and touring so much (during that time period too), but we got it to work for us. It really hyped up the (fans in) LA, and was cool to see certain fans returning for each show week to week”. 

As 2015 begins, Night Riots seem more focused on carving out new futures than they are on continuing to experiment. The group is headed south in a few weeks to Austin, TX for their second duel with the monster that is SXSW. “It’s interesting…wild…something that you just have to fully accept to make the most of” the group says when asked about the festival. “We went last year, and it was cool because there are just so many people there. Some you know, some you don’t, but you do have to have good shows to really make it worthwhile.” While the band is prepping to make solid first impressions on many down south, Denver’s familiarity with the band can be seen as one of the small pressures to keep them focusing on growth. During their set that at the Marquis, fans were singing and dancing along to each song, fully immersed in all the show had to offer. Vocalist Hawley was moving around the stage, climbing on speakers and twirling his mic stand through one of the better light displays I’ve ever seen in the tiny venue. After the group’s dynamic 45-minute set, fans called for encores despite the group already playing their current single “Contagious”. The crowd left happy at the end of the evening, although I’m sure I wasn’t the only one in attendance itching to hear new material from this group of avant-garde musicians.

Night Riots will be back in Colorado this summer during their stint on the Vans Warped Tour, but I hope that will be the last time we see them until they return with a full-length album in tow (they say they’ll record as soon as they have the chance). It’s certainly going to be a crazy week down in Austin for both the Ultra5280 team and the bands performing, but one thing i’m looking forward to is seeing Night Riots in a different setting, getting to watch new fans react to this eclectic sound that Denver has come to love like one of our own.

New Music Tuesday | Misterwives' "Our Own House" Review

We all know that it’s impossible to make a second “first impression”. Bands are breaking on the radio before they even have an album out on the shelves these days, giving artist’s less and less time to solidify their sound prior to the world casting judgement. This is making freshman releases increasingly more important compared to years past when a band’s success could be judged on their ability to triumph over the age old “Sophomore Slump”, and New York based Misterwives certainly seem to have taken that into account with their freshly released debut album Our Own House.

Most folks by now are familiar with the bands radio single “Reflections”, the funk-riddled pop hit that’s been crushing Top 40 charts over the course of the past few months. Believe it or not, that song merely scratches the surface of the band’s impressive skill set which is showcased on their full-length release. The track listing of this album walks fans through a perfectly orchestrated display of the bands stylistic abilities, keeping listeners entertained, intrigued, and actively engaged in songs from beginning to end. The album opens with the powerhouse title track “Our Own House” - pulling listeners in with mysterious piano chords quietly accompanying vocalist Mandy Lee until the band explodes into the chorus. Ebbing and flowing through tempos and emotions, Our Own House progresses from the pure pop of “Reflections” into the half-time love song “Oceans”, as well as anthemic tracks like “Best I Can Do” and one of my personal favorites, “No Need For Dreaming”. Taking things slower with tracks “Coffins” and “Vagabond”, the band’s experimental choices in melodies as well as tempos truly give vocalist Lee a chance to showcase her exceptional talent. A voice without any kind of present day competition, Lee sings with tangible power and passion. Mix that with her unique vocal range and the ethereal feelings evoked by the use of her falsetto? It’s impossible to deny the power of her voice (In case you don’t believe me, take a quick listen to the jazzy outro of “Oceans”, and tell me that’s not beautiful). Pair all this with driving rhythms and well crafted melodies, and Our Own House quickly becomes one of the most tantalizing pop releases of the past three years.

I’m very anxious to see how this well-crafted collection is presented live, but lucky for us Coloradans, we don’t have to wait very long as Misterwives are set to play a sold out show at The Bluebird Theatre on Monday, March 9th, followed quickly by an absurd amount of sets throughout SXSW Music Week down in Austin, TX March 16-23rd. If you’re a fan of pop, horns, dancing, or simply damn good music, I implore you to give Our Own House at least one listen before it’s accepted into pop-culture’s default catalog.