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 | The Underground Music Showcase | July 23-26 | Review and Photos

STRFKR performing to a packed house. (Photo Credit: Andrew Rios)

We survived this year's UMS with minimal casualties. Despite almost losing an ear and a few bumps and bruises in the mosh pits, we made out like music-loving bandits. We added an astonishing amount of new artists to our Spotify playlists (ahem...we mean Apple Music) and ate one too many Ortega street tacos... UMS you wily minx you've done it again. There is no easy way to review 4 days of complete bliss, but let's start with the music. 

SPELLS getting personal. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Crowd participation was a common theme this year at UMS (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

The lineup this year included a couple surprises and a lot of veteran artists. The veterans of course being our hometown favorites like: CRL CRRLL, In The Whale, Rose Quartz, Gin Doctors, Champagne Charlie, Kitty Crimes, Covenhoven, Rossonian, Povi, Wild High, Bud Bronson, Sun Boy, (not local but still a staple) Residual Kid, Dragondeer, Spells, Inner Oceans, Ned Garth, Slow Caves, Shady Elders and lots more. Amongst the national acts a big surprise was the band Diiv, who has been a recluse since gaining popularity amongst hipsters and experimental-indie-rock addicts. Coming in off the bat with a few pranks (div, dive) and melodramatic tude they played one of the best sets this UMS and left us in anticipation of their next Denver show. But who knows when that will be... I mean we should be happy we got at least one. Another surprise was STRFKR, a popular artist among the old, the young and girls who only want to have fun they rounded out the lineup and made it appeal to the masses. With headliners like Diiv, STRFKR and hometown hero TENNIS coupled with all of our local dive bar dwelling musicians there was no way not to enjoy yourselves. 

The lovely Tennis. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

The lovely Tennis. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Rowdy Shadehouse before the infamous "Tuck of 2015". (Photo Credit: Andrew Rios)

A great compliment to the music of UMS is the people of the UMS... They range from infants in stylish headphones to hobos who found a wristband on the ground and snuck in. The audience is so diverse it makes people watching and band watching an equally entertaining sport. One thing that makes festivals like this so special is that one moment you're watching a band on stage and the next you could be standing in line by them for the port-a-potties or watching another band with the same admiration next door. Everyone's a fan and everyone's an artist. *UMS artists--they're just like us, except they sweat more.

The worst band in Denver In The Whale. (Photo Credit: Maddie Casey)

Cool clouds as we exited another year of UMS (Photo Credit: Maddie Casey)

In summation, we had an amazing 4 days, drank too many beers and took too many photos... Until next year. Oh and we can never unsee what Rowdy Shadehouse did on stage, it will forever be known as the "the great tuck of 2015". Be sure to check the rest of our photos here.

UMS BY THE NUMBERS

  • 94 Instagram photos 
  • 6 Poop Talk stories (http://talkingshitpodcast.com/)
  • 14 Ortega Tacos (not sure to feel shame or pride about this)
  • 52 Deep Eddy Drinks 
  • 61 Breckenridge Brewery Beers
  • 1 almost lost ear
  • 1 Jessie Ware cover from local R&B queen Povi
  • 1 stage dive at the Hi Dive
  • 1 fall on stage during The Yawpers...cough cough Andrew Rios
  • 25 times our UMS app crashed and made us curse relying technology
  • 2 late night street dance parties 
  • 4 the number of times Castro hit on Povi
  • 26 mistaken thunderstorms from the lightening at the entrance to the main stage
  • 11 Illegal Petes burritos consumed obnoxiously to the tune of heavy metal
  • 1 bottle of Gold Bond
  • 4,006 number of photos taken
  • 13 Red Bulls drank
  • 18 "where are you" text messages
  • 0 group photos of the staff
  • countless memories... *cue the Awwws* 

Music | The UMS Lineup Announcement | July 23-26


The 15th Annual Denver Post Underground Music Showcase announces the first round
of artists PLUS an exclusive discounted presale through Red Bull Sound Select
Portland's STRFKR, Brooklyn's DIIV, Denver's In the Whale and Slim Cessna’s Auto Club lead a showcase of local and national talent to play the 2015 festival

The UMS is the largest indie music festival in the Rocky Mountain region with more than 400 local, national and international artists taking part. It is an animated block party that has proven to be a yearly highlight of the Denver cultural calendar and this year promises to be bigger than ever.

WHAT: From Thursday, July 23 through Sunday, July 26, the 2015 UMS will offer a four- day celebration of the region's thriving local music scene as well as hosting emerging artists from around the world.

In addition to some of the top music venues in town, the UMS presents music fans the opportunity to catch these acts in unique rooms such as art galleries, restaurants and a historic church. 

WHEN: Thursday July 23 – Sunday July 26, 2015

WHERE: The UMS takes place in a multitude of venues along South Broadway, between 5th Avenue and Alameda Avenue, in Denver, Colorado. 

WHO: The first 30 artists set
STRFKR
Brick + Mortar Beginners Dragondeer
In the Whale Moon Hooch The Lonely Wild Rose Quartz South of France Wild High
to play this year’s festival include:
DIIV
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club
Until the Ribbon Breaks
Mac McCaughan (Superchunk) Bud Bronson and the Good Timers Gabriel Garzon-Montano
Eros & the Eschaton
Ned Garthe Explosion
Ryan Chrys and the Roughcuts Wiredogs
Additional performers will be announced on April 28, 2015. A complete performance schedule will be announced on July 1, 2015.
Milo Greene Accordian Crimes Colfax Speed Queen The Epilogues
The Knew
Land Lines
Plum
Shady Elders SPELLS
The Yawpers

Yo!!! Our pals at Red Bull Sound Select have an exclusive discounted presale ticket. $35 for over 400 performances during 4 days of bliss?  Yes, please!!!  It's a limited supply.  Best you hurry and grab yours now!

After you secure your tickets, you can bask in your self-congratulating glow while checking out the first 30 artists announced to play this year.  Head on over to the UMS and see just the tip of the goodness we have in store July 23-26. (yeah, we know that sounded a little weird...)

STRFKR at The Bluebird Theater: September 7, 2011: Review

STRFKR at The Bluebird Theater: September 7, 2011: Review

Randy Washington


alexico.tumblr.com

 Starfucker knows how to throw a rock show. They got right to the point by kicking directly into German Love for their first song. Leaping from song to song seemed a lot smoother than previous times I’ve seen these guys. It was almost as if by removing the samples of Alan Watts’ theorizing and philosophizing from the live show, they were able to transition through every track with ringing guitars and keyboards. Starfucker has always played each show like it was the last show they were ever going to do. The Bluebird show was no different. As if to enforce the playful mortality of the show, in one of the very few pauses between songs, Josh Hodges said “Every song is about death”.

 Flanked on both sides by laser machines, the whole venue was filled with tiny points of light, most of which fell on the band’s silhouettes making them look cartoonish at times. Throughout the show, the five would switch between playing keys, hand percussion, and guitars. This all kept happening rapidly and quickly making for a varying and dynamic set.I always say that if you put all of the Starfucker records together on shuffle, you would be hard pressed to find fundamental differentiations between certain songs belonging to certain albums. When Starfucker goes live, each song is played like it is the number one track on any album. These guys can fill any stage they land on. This being the fourth time seeing them, they get better and better with every tour. Throwing a killer show requires coming with the hotness, being gracious guests, and not boring the crowd. As per usual, Starfucker hit all those points again.PS: Note to 16-18 year olds: Encores are NOT promised! When the band leaves the stage, you have to cheer if you want them to come back out. Pass this information to your friends.