ACL Daily Lineups Revealed

The Lineup By Day for the spectacular Austin City Limits Music Festival 2018 was revealed this morning, along with the announcement that 1-Day General Admission Tickets, 1-Day VIP Tickets, and 1-Day Platinum Tickets will go on salet oday at 12pm CT

www.aclfestival.com. The world-class festival will deliver more than 145 bands across eight stages at Zilker Park,October 5-7andOctober 12-14.

On Friday of both weekends, fans will be flocking to PAUL MCCARTNEY's first-ever ACL Fest performances and only scheduled North American festival performances, along with incredible sets from ODESZA, The National, Khalid, Hozier, David Byrne, FATHER JOHN MISTY, BROCKHAMPTON, Bishop Briggs, Alvvays, Cuco, and more. Metallica will deliver their first-ever ACL Fest performances and only North American festival performances on both Saturdays, along with extraordinary sets from CHVRCHES, Justice, ST. VINCENT, Brandi Carlile, Blood Orange, The Breeders, and more. Each Sunday fans will enjoy the multi-talented Childish Gambino, as well as Arctic Monkeys, Sylvan Esso, ILLENIUM, REZZ, Janelle Monáe, Shaky Graves, X Ambassadors, The Revolution and many more. The entire Lineup by Day schedule is available here: www.aclfestival.com/lineup.

3-Day Tickets to Weekend One are now sold out, but a limited number of 3-Day General Admission Tickets for Weekend Two are still available at www.aclfestival.com. 3-Day VIP Tickets, 3-Day Platinum Tickets, as well as Hotel Packages for both weekends are also available. Music fans ages 10 and under will be admitted free of charge accompanied by a ticketed adult.

Music | “Way Down We Go", Falling In Love with Kaleo

Last Saturday night, Denver got a taste of southern rock from the most unlikely of sources: an Icelandic rock band with a knack for rhythm & blues. If you’re looking for some new music to get you through your week, look no further than Kaleo’s dynamic new album A/B. Although the band played Denver before their debut album was available to the masses, it didn’t stop fans from dancing along beginning to end of the set.

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press image courtesy of Atlantic Records.

Kaleo's show at the Gothic Theatre kicked off with the same opening track as the record, “No Good”. A foot-stomping, hand-clapping sing along, the raucous crowd didn’t hesitate to let the band know how happy they were to have them on stage. The band's first record, self-titled Kaleo, featured six songs, five of which went to number one on the charts, leading to a slew of performances across Europe in 2013. Their latest release, A/B feels just as promising, and the radio single “Way Down We Go” is already burning up the charts. The album is an eclectic yet fluid mix of sounds and feelings, guiding the listener through a journey with vocalist and lead guitarist JJ Julius Son. Tracks like “No Good”, Glass House”, and “Automobile” pay homage to the band’s American home of Austin, Texas with southern-style guitars, bluesy solos, and soulful lyrics reminiscent of the “good ol’ days”. The tracks “All The Pretty Girls”, and “Vor í vaglaskógi” (a unique take on a traditional Icelandic ballad) showcase the bands diversity in style and sound, as well as lead vocalist Son’s haunting precision with his falsetto. The high note towards the end of “Vor í vaglaskógi” seems impossible to hit live for someone with such a low chest voice, but when it came time on Saturday night, JJ Julius Son hit it with ease, and the Theatre fell silent in awe. 

Since the album had not been released prior to their Denver performance, the crowd was very different than your typical performance. Without the ability to sing along, it felt like much of the audience continued to chat together throughout the set, but although they were talking, it was clear they were listening as well. The audience clapped along as the band commanded, hollered at all the right moments, and respected the intensity that came along with ballads. This feeling of respect met with unfamiliarity was reminiscent of a fantastic house band playing at a bar (albeit with much, much better material than i’ve ever stumbled across at a local dive), creating an exuberant atmosphere enjoyed by all, without creating the dividers often felt by performers with diehard fanbases or more experiential set. Now that the record is out and I’ve become more familiar with the tracks, thinking back on the show makes it even more enjoyable, realizing that the strength and power felt in the moment by certain songs has translated into the recording. Creating a record that captures the same energy as a live performance is a feat not easily accomplished, and Kaleo has done just that. The anticipation for my next chance to see them live has only grown with each listen. We yet know the next time Kaleo will be in Colorado, but you can prepare yourself by listening to A/B, which is now available on iTunes, Spotify, or from your favorite local record shop.

Music | Residual Kid's "Salsa" EP Release Show | The Hi-Dive, Friday, April 8, 2016

Friday night at the Hi-Dive was full of heavy cords, guitar solos, and young rockers.  If you do not know the band Residual Kid, they might surprise you. Their name means it when it says “Kid” - this trio are couple of under-aged, high energy rock’n’rollers from Austin, Texas.  Comprised of 16-year-old singer and guitarist Deven Ivy, and two brothers, 14-year-old bassist Max and 16-year-old drummer Ben Redman, the group formed when the two brothers met Ivy at a rock camp and started by covering Sonic Youth and Nirvana songs.  Shortly after writing a few of their own songs and playing small venues throughout Austin, they landed a spot playing as an official artist at SXSW where people really started to give them recognition.

Residual Kid performing at their day party during SXSW 2016 (photo credit: Maddie Casey)

Last Friday was the launch of their 3rd EP, Salsa, and their first major release since announcing their signing to Sire Records (Warner Bros). A step slightly out of the norm, Residual Kid elected to debut their new EP here in Denver, CO rather than playing at home. A choice that may seem odd at first glance, the trio’s management is based in Denver, and over the last three years the band has made Denver a bit of a second home after appearances during the annual Underground Music Showcase (UMS), and opening for Denver acts like Slow Caves and In The Whale. 

On Friday night, the tides had turned, and local favorites Slow Caves started out the night followed by Bud Bronson and the Goodtimers. Slow Caves hails from Fort Collins, and Bud Bronson are a local bunch based in Denver. Slow Caves says they are inspired by late nights in Hollywood, high speed car chases, red eye flights, vintage skateboard videos and new brand of high energy synth-punk who kill it on stage.  Bud Bronson and the Goodtimers rock with a guitar heavy lead and many songs that reminisce on the good times past; the stories of the cheap seats at a Rockies game and getting drunk with friends. Both acts felt like a solid fit to prep the audience in the Hi-Dive for Residual Kid.

Residual Kid's Deven Ivy feeling "red" at their Salsa EP release on Friday, 4/8. (photo credit: Matt Smith)

The trio opened the night with “Friend”, a song from their 2012 EP Faces, followed by a song they have not recorded yet, “Vicious”. as well as“ISCTW” off Salsa, that evening’s new release. Playing with an amazing energy, lead singer Deven sang and jumped around stage with uncontrollable passion. It was abundantly clear that both the crowd and the accompanying musicians were elated to have Residual Kid celebrating with them that night. In the front row, members of Slow Caves and Bud Bronson rocked out, dancing and jumping along to the youthful trio. Watching these fellow musicians show their respect and appreciation for Residual Kid was super cool to see, and energized the crowd in a unique way.  The crowd seemed to love the new EP as well as the rest of the set: new, old, or unreleased. Friday’s show at the Hi-Dive was a full crowd, rocking out to songs and having a genuine good time.  Big thanks and love to Denver’s adopted sons Residual Kid for releasing your new EP here in Denver. We can’t wait to see you back.