Music | Big Gig 2016 Lives up it's name with Massive Performances

July 12, 2016

Big Gig fit it’s title this weekend thanks to some huge performances from the bill’s seven different main stage acts. KTCL’s annual summer show packed Fiddler’s Green to the gills for sets from The Unlikely Candidates, Vinyl Theatre Misterwives, Young The Giant, X Ambassadors and Cage The Elephant.

*(photo credit: Maddie Casey/Ultra5280)*

Kicking off the day were performances on the Locals stage out in Marjorie Park, located just north of the main gates. Fans arrived in droves and put the park at it’s capacity within an hours after doors opening - something we’ve never seen before, but certainly appreciated. POPFILTER, One Flew West, Cody Qualls, and Almost, Maine kept fans dancing while enjoying $2 beers that disappeared quick. Locals Midnight Club were honored with the opening slot on the main stage, a perfect slot thanks to the big crowds so early in the day. Denver is showing more and more appreciation for our local groups, and KTCL’s dedication to supporting them certainly has not gone unnoticed.

Once the locals were done, national acts The Unlikely Candidates and Vinyl Theatre kicked off an afternoon of fun for fans. The Fueled By Ramen trio’s quick set was a perfect peak into their album for anyone unfamiliar. Ending their set with radio single “Breaking Up My Bones”, Keegan Calmes’ voice sounded so on point, we could have easily mistaken his live performance for a recording.

Next to stage were Ultra5280 favorites Misterwives. While we haven’t seen the dynamic sextet in nearly a year, Mandy Lee and her band of brothers haven’t missed a step. Rocking high-top Vans and pom-pom shorts, the peppy New York native commanded the stage with infectious joy. Amidst celebrating her birthday with bandmates (in Denver for the second year in a row!), Lee took a moment to remind the crowd that “we are all one,” mentioning how heavy her heart has felt over the recent ongoings in America before slipping into a beautiful rendition of “Oceans.”

The heart-wrenching actions of the last week weighed heavy on the artists on Saturday. Lee was followed by sentiments from Sam Harris of X Ambassadors, and Sameer Gadhia of Young The Giant - all urging fans to use their voice to stand up and support one another, condemning violence and hatred. It was timely, respectful, and incredibly important for these artists used their platforms to speak to the massive crowd. So many attendees at radio shows are young and look up to the performers, we’re thankful these artists recognize their ability to involve the youth, and chose to be vocal while others may stray fearing controversy.

X Ambassadors set was more than just politics. After hearing rumors of frontman Sam Harris feeling under the weather, we were astonished to see him charge on stage with a unexpected ferocity. Leading their set with tracks like “Jungle”, the all-too-quick performance from this explosive quartet was amazing. The energy from the band on stage translated to the crowd, with fans all the way back to the grass waving their hands, dancing along. Catching a full set from these “Renegades” has quickly moved up the list as one of our “must sees” before the year is out.

Fan favorites Young The Giant’s set felt quick, but gave fans an exciting taste of their new album, Home of the Strange, set to debut in August. Their new radio single “Something to Believe In” had fans dancing, and the introspective piece “Amerika” was fitting for the political undertones of the evening.

As for Cage the Elephant….words escape us. Photographer Maddie Casey is quoted saying “photographing (them) felt like having an enjoyable seizure...if that even makes sense.” Jumping into the crowd, dancing across stage, catapulting off drum risers, Cage The Elephant certainly lived up to the stories we’ve heard of shows past. Vocalist Matthew Shultz is a stage personality unlike anything we’ve seen before. Their set list full of radio singles and familiar hits spoke for itself, showcasing a deep, evolving discography. Even the most passive fans found themselves singing along to more songs than not - a tribute to the astounding success the band has garnered over the last nine years. A jam-packed set and crowd-surfing antics from Shultz during the group’s last song ensured that fans left feeling like they got more than their money's worth.

Check out the photos for more memories from Big Gig 2016 on our Photos page.

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

March 12, 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.

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

February 24, 2015

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.