Diplo Brings Beats, Drops, and Vaccinations To Back To Back Sold Out Nights At Red Rocks

 

Diplo performing to a limited Red Rocks crowd. (Photo Credit: Trey Karson)

Red Rocks season is back! With restrictions beginning to loosen up it was only right for DJ, producer, director, extrordianaire Diplo to grace us with his amazing skills. We had a chance to cover the second night of his sold out stint at the majestic venue. In typical Diplo fashion he had those in the limited attendance dancing away. A makeshift vaccination clinic was also being offered to concertgoers as a way to help boost immunity from the virus that has kept us all at bay for the latter part of the year. A fun incentive for those attending.

Diplo has been entertaining the masses for years and his unique style of blending non-traditional genres from across the world into chart topping hits is his forte. Those in attendance got a glimpse of one of the best.

All photos by Trey Karson.

STRFKR, FCK US UP!

STRFKR, an indie-electro pop band from Portland, Oregon came through Denver this last weekend and pumped up the crowd as always. Reminiscent of their performance at Project Pabst last year, the band was high energy, in fun costumes, and obviously ready to put on a show. The same was true for Saturday’s show.

My favorite thing about this band is their overall message, and it is everything  anti. Their lyrics are kind of morbid, with this whole end of the world feel, paired with upbeat, pop music that simply makes you want to dance.  The whole name started as a joke with past member Sam Norris, being shoretened over the years to represent the band best.  Front man Josh Hodges, said he heard someone say they were a “starfucker” and it made him question the people he was around and all the things he really didn’t want to be involved in. The name carried through to represent the bands “removal from the rat race” that is prevalent in the music industry. Including many snippets from philosopher Alan Watts, STRFKR uses many of his lectures as content for their songs, considering the ideology is very similar, which is super tight in my opinion. Kudos to any artist who makes that kind of effort to find supporting content on their beliefs, to be included in their music.

 Lead singer, and multi-instrumentalist Josh Hodges, kept things interesting and against the standard grain with women’s clothing, a pink wig, rainbow suspenders, and sunnies I was envious of. Backup dancers and entertainers dressed in spacesuits, kept the audience entertained in moments of “dullness”, although I would say that these were few and far between.  And would it be a STRFKR show without blow up pool toys travelling through the crowd with the occasional white girl on it? The visuals were electric and vibrant and showcased the vibe of STRFKR perfectly, and make us curious what their journey of artistry looks like from here. Hopefully weirder and more anti-establishment, eh?

Words: Lina Skrzypczak Photos: Michael Hecker

Music | More Than A Radio Single: Foals Shocks New Fans At The Ogden Theatre | April 26, 2016

It's possible that I’ve been living under a rock, but it appears I’m not the only one. Gracing the lineups of festivals like Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza since 2013, Foals is not a new band by any means, but before this last Tuesday night, I had not taken the time to get properly acquainted with this post-punk band of boys from Oxford. Although their past records have been well received, the group has built a slew of new fans quickly thanks to their single “Mountain At My Gates” hitting heavy rotation on alternative radio. If you've taken the same unfortunate path as me and took the band at face value based strictly on their singles, you are missing out on an entirely separate musical identity found strewn throughout a deep, riveting, emotional discography. Tuesday night’s show at the Ogden was an eye-opening introduction for many newcomers to this group: a melodic, high energy troupe of daring musicians. 

Yannis Philippakis of Foals (photo credit: Matt Smith)

Foals announced the beginning of their set by slowly increasing the volume of the changeover music in the venue until conversations were forced to stop due to the noise. As the music reached it's climax, the house lights dimmed and the UK-based five-piece attacked the stage with an amped up version of “Snake Oil”, full of driving guitar riffs and a bluesy chorus of screams from lead singer Yannis Philippakis. By the end of the song, I could overhear a gentleman a few rows ahead of me say “this is totally not what I expected” - a sentiment certainly shared by anyone strictly expecting the shimmery, ethereal tones of their single. While "Mountain At My Gates" clearly highlights the bands danceability, Philippakis' vocals, and memorable lyrics, the song lacks a layer or raw vulnerability and intensity that's displayed throughout much of their work. Once new listeners were able to set aside the shocking difference between the song that had drawn them to the show and the performance happening in front of them, the audience transitioned from a hesitant state of apprehension to a fully enthralled crowd, letting go moment by moment alongside the performers.

Jimmy Smith of Foals (photo credit: Matt Smith)

As it should, Foals’ live show did their catalogue justice, giving fans a well-rounded taste of their diversity through an intense, intimate setlist. Tracks like “Olympic Airways” and “Red Sock Pugie” feel reminiscent of Bloc Party in style and sound, while tracks like “My Number” and “Inhaler” from their 2013 release Holy Fire pull in the listener with catchy chorus lines, danceable beats, and raw rock power. The set was much less focused on 2015's release What Went Down than I'd anticipated, with the band only showcasing three tracks from their most recent release, including the encore opener "What Went Down". The energy onstage from guitarist Jimmy Smith was undeniable throughout the evening, and drummer Jack Bevan kept the crowd engaged throughout the show by standing atop his drum kit to command clap-alongs. Despite the performers interactions, the set still felt disjointed in it's transitions from fast-paced intensity to introverted, reflective moments, forcing the audience to recalibrate track by track.

Ending their encore with a ferocious performance of “Two Steps, Twice”, Foals did an impressive job guiding attendees through their discography. Displaying their sonic variety with a high energy performance, Tuesday’s show left very little ground uncovered, garnering a sincere appreciation from fans of new and old. Easily one of the most underrated rock bands currently touring, Foals live show leaves its viewers curious for more, yet satisfied all at once. With a set that feels prone to unique experiences and intimate moments, this band deserves to be re-visited with an open mind and new curiosity with every performance, something I anxiously await.  

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

Bayside, Senses Fail, Man Overboard | Summit Music Hall | Saturday, March 21, 2015

Bayside never fails us. From their high energy shows to their well written songs, fans of this group have been spoiled rotten by New York's finest gentlemen for the past decade and a half, so it was only right for the good people of Denver to show up in full force to celebrate the group's tremendous career this past Saturday at The Summit Music Hall. Joined on this 15-year Anniversary tour by friends Senses Fail and Man Overboard, fans were treated to a perfectly pop-punk lineup spanning each era of the group's musical career. 

Check out the great photo review from Matt Smith below! 

Bands you need to know | Lia Ices & Majical Cloudz

This week we had the opportunity to cover a few different shows where the openers caught our ears and eyes just as much as the headliners did. Check out our stories below to hopefully get you stoked on two up and coming acts from across the globe. 

 

LIA ICES | Los Angeles, California | on tour with: Phantogram

Opening for Phantogram at the Ogden Theatre this past Monday night, Lia Ices stole our hearts quickly and easily with her upbeat, synth-pop magic. Descibed by my photographer as “snazzy dance numbers”, Lia Ices music is quite the compliment to Phantogram. Digital and experimental, yet fun and ethereal courtesy of Lia’s warm voice, her music is a wondrous mix of fantasy, technology, and global adventure. Using what sounds like east Asian-influenced synth tracks, and spanish-influenced guitars in her songs “Sweet As Ice” and “Thousand Eyes”, the sonic sweetness coming from stage was enough to entrance even the most passive person in the room. Her new record, Ices, was released on September 16th, and is already receiving critical praise from numerous sources, including a feature on NPR’s “First Listen” section this month. The track “Higher” is even this week’s track of the week at Starbucks, so as you pick up your fall season fix, be sure to pick up some sweet tunes at the same time. In the mean time, check out one of our favorite tracks, "Thousand Eyes", below: 

Majical Cloudz | Montéal, QC, Canada | on tour with: Lorde

Do you remember the first time you heard a band that made you truly think? One that made you stop in your tracks, who's music is what grabbed your attention, not the "twerking" or the design of the stage? Watching Majical Cloudz will make you do just that. With two men in stark white shirts on stage in front of Lorde's black draped fabric, Devon Welsh and his producing partner Matthew Otto were quiet, collected, and deliberate in their performance. A simple man and his microphone on an empty stage, Welsh delivers lines from their recent album, Impersonator, with haunting devotion; an act that will cut right to the core of any listener. The song that stuck wiht me the most is "Childhood's End", whose opening verse features the lyrics "Someone died/Gunshot, right outside/Your father, he's dead/I see him in my head/Childhood's End/Goodbye, my holy friend/Love me, it's a sin/Can you see me caving in?" With beats reminiscent of The XX or Massive Attack (the House theme song, anyone?), Majical Cloudz fits my desires for a rainy day, or a introspective night in at home. A well-fit pairing with Lorde, the duo are making good use of their opening slot on her headlining tour in the US right now. With no plans for the future yet announced, I plan to catch the group the next time they roll through Denver, and Ultra5280 will keep you in the loop as well. Check out the video for their song, "Childhood's End" below: