Count On Cut Copy For a Good Time!

Cut Copy at the Ogden (Photo Cred: Meesh Deyden)

Cut Copy this last Wednesday in Denver, may have been one of the most fun shows I’ve attended all year. The Australian band made up of miraculous multi instrumentalists, reminded me of Dads everywhere in their white and cream colored business casual ensembles, and they had Dad dance moves to match.

Songwriter, producer, and DJ Dan Whitford started Cut Copy in 2001 as a solo project and put out a single and an EP before adding more members to help execute his full, synthy sound. At this point in time, the band has 4 total members and a style that has evolved from daytime disco meets synth pop, to pretty straightforward dance pop. The group has 5 albums and a Grammy under their belt for Best Dance/Electronic album in 2012.

The crowd at Ogden Wednesday was made up of 20 somethings with an appreciation for synths and bustin’ a move, and everyone in the venue was doing exactly that. There wasn’t a still body in the venue, and wide eyes and equally wide grins were hard to ignore. Local yogi and music fan, Riley Chapman said, “I knew I had to see them once I listened to their new album after a 4 year hiatus. I was blown away by the production and their stage presence. The vibes and energy at the Ogden evoked a visceral reaction to let loose and move your body! I felt like I was surrounded by a bunch of wild animals whose only given purpose was to dance down!”

DJ Dan Whitford (Photo Cred: Meesh Deyden)

“Lights & Music” the bands “banger” from 2008 album In Ghost Colours, has an 80’s pop meets LCD Sound System sound about it, and got the crowd dancing harder than the substances they had taken. (Hehe.) “Footsteps” from album Free Your Mind was also one of the tracks that sent the crowd into a sort of frenzy, so it was nice that songs like “Standing in the Middle of the Field” and “Airborne” from newest album Haiku From Zero were on the mellower side of the set. The set appealed to hipsters and club kids alike, and the versatility was pleasant to see.

Words: Lina Skrzypczak Images: Meesh Deyden

Tim Hoey (Photo Cred: Meesh Deyden)

Quite the crowd (Photo Cred: Meesh Deyden)

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Leaves Denver In a Fuzz

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King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. A seven piece, psych-rock band from Australia with two drummers who knows how to put on a show.

 Imagine the Ogden full of psych rockers who want to get out their angst about the cruel world we live in, and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard the perfect soundtrack to doing just that. It’s chaotic, it’s noisy, it’s nonsensical, and kind of apocalyptic. In a primarily dark setting, with psychedelic visuals over the seven piece crew, a multitude of songs from the bands massive discography were played, favorites including, “Rattlesnake”, “Lord of Lightning”, “Robot Stop”, as well as all the “Altered Beasts” tracks. In fragments between heavier setting songs, the band incorporated a mixture of conceptual jazz, flute breakdowns, and melodic vocals to soften the overall face melt that was this show. An awesome, energetic crowd filled the Ogden and made the show, and the inevitable mosh pit, a pleasure to be a part of (even if from a distance).

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When asked about his favorite part of the show, local artist and Psych-Rock fan Joe Fabian said, ”Their ability to hone in on the precision of their own chaotic, microtonal madness as a collective shows they are truly wizards of their craft.” Attendees would agree. What better way to have fun on a Wednesday night than worshipping gods of inducing acid flashbacks?

The visuals were amazing, and upon looking into it, I discovered a man named Jason Galea who is King Gizzard’s “guy”. He is even said to be like the eighth member of the band by front man Stu Mackenzie as he is involved in the music very much in the aspect that he gets to hear everything the band does and is always very aware with what’s happening in terms on the band’s concepts and content.

The band has also promised 5 albums in 2017, and they’ve already put 2 out on their own, and one in collaboration with Mild High Club, so technically, 2 more albums still to come, eh? Continuously proving to be on top of their game, I look forward to what dystopian themes, silly hooks, and gnarly guitar riffs come next.

BANKS Continues Being A Goddess Into Her 2017 Tour

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BANKS, the electro-pop goddess from Orange County, sold out the Ogden on Saturday, and wooed the crowd with her beautiful pipes and her really tight dance moves. Although it’s been nearly a year since her album The Altar came out, she has been touring with The Weeknd and now that she’s headlining her own tour the sweet lady is on her game, and it was apparent from her sexy style, to her sultry voice, and her infectious energy.

“Fuck with Myself” was amazing to see live, and I really appreciated this different aspect to her tough side. It was really bad ass, and only made better by her backup dancers who were putting on a wonderful show the entire time. “Gemini Feed” was also a highlight of the night, sang back by nearly every member of the crowd, and seemingly building up the crowd as the night progressed. It was nice to see that there wasn’t a still person in the crowd, except maybe that boyfriend that was dragged there unwillingly, and the overall message was girl power and goddess-ry. A pretty simple execution of shadows, slicked back, Ariana Grande-esque ponies, and smoke, made for a visually stimulating sort of pop tease, and shed light on some of the artistry behind some of her more complex videos.

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I once heard Banks be described as dark R&B and that really struck me as true in this album especially. There’s a lot of catchy basslines and Aaliyah sounding breakdowns. She is really good at the pop thing, but has shown versatility and growth. And despite not playing her hit song Goddess, from her 2014 album, I forgive her, because she really is one.

Washed Out Keeps it Mellow 8/22

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Washed Out hit the Ogden Theater on August 22nd, and Mister Mellow, their new Xanax daydream-esque album, took over. Released June 30th, on Stones Throw Records, the CD apparently comes with a visual accompaniment that Washed Out has made come to life on this tour.

Ernest Greene, was on stage with two others in front of what looked like very similar set ups with slight variations: the man on the left having guitars and bass, the man on the right having drums, and Greene in the middle with a microphone in addition to a beat pad and some synthesizers like the others. Perched in front of a simple screen in all white outfits, the projected 60’s and 70’s style psychedelic graphics turned the whole band into a piece of moving art, which was interesting to see come alive, and change throughout the show. When the shapes of their bodies weren’t being manipulated and portrayed on the screen in a pop art fashion, there were graphics of smiley faces, and electric colors that assisted the music in coming to life.

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 A nearly perfect mix of the new album and old favorites, this show seemed to be aimed in a little more of a dancey direction, which unfortunately didn’t include some of the more trippy interludes and vocal bits I would have liked to see be a part of this album’s tour. Favorites off of previous albums Life of Leisure, Within & Without, and Paracosm such as, “Feel It All Around” (the Portlandia theme song), “New Theory”, and “Amor Fati”. The highlight of the set list was definitely “Hard To Say Goodbye”, a single off the new album, and a crowd pleaser in the most mellow way. How you can bring the mile high city down into this sense of melodic, dreamy, euphoric pop, I don’t know, but Washed Out did it, and hopefully will be paying Denver a visit sooner than the last time we saw him.

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Paper Diamond at the Ogden Theatre: 11/4: Review



Turnt Up Tour

The Ogden Theatre filled up quickly because the kids were pumped to see the openers as well, Minnesota being the one I was most excited for. This was for two reasons, one he looks exactly like my little brother. In fact, people were coming up to my brother asking him if he was Minnesota. But more so because he had a unique style to dubstep; a more mellow and little bit slower sound. This certainly doesn’t mean he didn’t bring the proper amount of energy needed before Paper Diamond.





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Kyle

Chromeo: Upcoming Shows: October 6 and 7th: Boulder and Denver

If you’re an Outta Sight Momma’sBoy in need of some Bonafide Lovin’, then make sure you bring your FancyFootwork to either the Boulder Theater Thursday, October 6th or tothe Ogden Theater Friday, October 7th.  In case you missed Canadian-based electro-funkduo Chromeo at the Westword Music Showcase this year, you can make it up toyourself this weekend.

Photo courtesy of Amanda Boatwright
If the first line of this articlehas severely confused you, you have done yourself a disservice for the past fewyears.  P-Thugg, real name PatrickGemayel, on the keyboards, synthesizers, and talk box, along with Dave 1, realname David Macklovitch on guitar and lead vocals team up to bring a Hall &Oates meets electronica sound, which easily translates into one hell of a danceparty.

You can purchase tickets at www.ticketmaster.com and I would hurryup before it sells out!  For more aboutthe duo, visit their website www.Chromeo.net. 

So please, friends, bring alongyour Tenderoni and get down to Chromeo with Ultra5280.

-Amanda