Janelle Monaé Dazzles As The Dirty Computer Tour Made A Stop In Denver

Janelle Monaé dazzles the Denver crowd. (Photo: Robert Castro)

Janelle Monaé brought her Dirty Computer Tour to the Paramount Theater this past Sunday night. On the heels of a highly praised performance during the BET Awards last week, the Denver crowd anticipated the same worthy performance from the multi-Grammy nominated performer (singer, rapper, actress, songwriter). As the lights dimmed out came Monaé under a spotlight, a thick layer of fog filled the stage leaving only a silhouette of the performer. Going right into "Crazy, Classic, Life", Monaé was joined by a troupe of dancers who accompanied her throughout much of her set. Much of the show consisted of newer material off the Dirty Computer album. Perfecting the role of showstopper, she lit up the stage with a variety of costume changes that adorned black and white checker patterns with flashy red ensembles. 

With a penchant for her love of dance, Monaé performed well calculated choreographed numbers that only brought each song to life giving it an organic feel to the performance. Other fan favorite hits included "Electric Lady", "Yoga", and "Make Me Feel", in which she channeled her own James Brown persona mimicking the legends signature dance moves. Often pausing between songs Monaé took time to mention some of our world's current cultural issues stemming from LGBTQ to immigration gaining positive reactions from the crowd. Her now famous "vagina" pants even made an appearance on the song "PYNK".

Monáe describes the song as, "a celebration of creation, self love, sexuality and pussy power", and that the color pink "unites all of humanity" because it is the color "found in the deepest and darkest nooks and crannies of humans everywhere."

As the crowd disbursed after the amazing show, the whispers of "show of the year" managed to echo across the theaters lobby as patrons made their way to the merch both to give them something tangible to remember the magical night and performance that Monaé brought to the Mile High City.

As for show of the year......we will go ahead and concur with the masses who felt the same way.

Words and Images: Robert Castro

Setlist Here

One of the many costumes Monaé wore. (Photo: Robert Castro)

Preaching the message of love throughout the night Janelle Monaé gave the Denver crowd a memorable performance. (Photo: Robert Castro)

Taylor Swift Dazzles During Her Reputation Tour In Denver

Taylor Swift and company wowed the sold out Denver crowd. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Taylor Swift and company rolled through Denver this past Friday night with her largest touring production to date. The Reputation Tour as it is billed featured some of the most extravagant production we have even witnessed. A sold out crowd of 58,000 screaming fans of all ages saw her rip through songs from all of her catalogs with a huge emphasis dedicated to her recent album Reputation. The tour brought openers Charli XCX and Camila Cabelo to open things up and they managed to get the crowd primed and ready for Swift as they each belted out their own hits that have topped the charts in recent years. Flanked by a huge screen (it hovered way above the stadiums upper deck) and and X shaped catwalk along with two side stages towards the back, you were guaranteed to catch an up close and personal view of the action. Her setlist was grouped into six acts each featuring 3-4 songs each. The opening act barred the classic Joan Jett anthem "Bad Reputation" followed by a video introduction. As the house light dimmed Swift emerged from the middle of the parting stage with nothing but fog emitting her silhouette. She opened the night with "...Ready For It" off her latest album sending everybody into a frenzy (the theme of the night). 

An amazing production for The Reputation Tour. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Some of the loudest cheers came during her second act with "Look What You Made Me Do", which was preceded by a video interlude and actress Tiffanie Haddish intro leading right into her most popular song off her latest album. Probably the loudest cheers and participation came during this specific act with "End Game", and "King of my Heart" to end the act.

The Reputation Tour is being billed as one of the biggest tours ever. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

After a brief intermission we saw Swift take to the air in a chariot that hovered above the crowd from the main stage to one of the smaller stages towards the back of the stadium. As two inflatable snakes rose above she welcomed Camila and Charli XCX to join her on "Shake It Off" joined by a half dozen dancers they managed to turn up the performance as she continued to dazzle without missing a beat.

The rest of the night featured amazing pyrotechnics and towering flames as she sang other crowd favorites such her classic country songs like "Dancing With Our Hands Tied", and "Teardrops on My Guitar". As the night came to end she finished strong with "Blank Space", "Bad Blood" and last song "Look What You Made Me Do".

All in all everybody in attendance shared the same sentiments as they walked out of the show, amazing and beyond words for what they had just witnessed. We would agree. 

Words and Images-Robert Castro

Brazilian Girls Danced Their Way Into Our Hearts

The Bluebird Theater was transformed into a warm and muggy dance party on Wednesday night courtesy of New York dance rockers Brazilian Girls. The four piece band made Denver one of four tour stops making for an exciting show. We were fortunate enough to catch them earlier in the day for an Open Air CPR taping and interview. With an all too familiar swag led by the talented Sabina Sciubba, the band with an almost cult like following belted out a pretty amazing set consisting of older and new favorites. The Grammy nominated band even took in the finer amenities of our fine state by partaking in some recreational smoking of our finest leafy product. The crowd never felt disengaged and even a few members got a chance to get up on stage and dance away their inhibitions while the band played their style of reggae, dance, and electro mashup of their customary element of sound.

303 Music Fest Is Just Around The Corner

Our friends at 303 Magazine have always been supporters of the Denver local music scene and this year they are taking things up a notch by putting on this amazing event. We suggest purchasing tickets before this thing sells out. Trust us with this lineup you wont want to miss it.

303 Music Fest will feature performances by headliners STéLOUSE and Trev Rich. Also on the lineup The Other Black who will be leading our Colorado SuperJam, CITRA, Ray Reed, Eldren, church fire, Jay Triiiple, MILKY.WAV, Ghost Tapes, Impact, boyhollow, DJ Simone Says and Ru Johnson as your host. Be on the lookout for many more to be announced soon!

The Church Nightclub, one of Denver's hottest nightclubs, has hosted industry giants from Anjunabeats to Jack Novak and Deorro, and we can't think of a better place to party. In addition to the silent disco, Super Jam and meet and greet we'll be selling "303 Music Vol. 1" at the event. Eighty percent of all record profits will go to Youth on Record, creating a better tomorrow for local youth and in turn, the Colorado community as a whole. "303 Music Vol. 1" is a Colorado compilation record printed by “the best damn record club out there,” Vinyl Me, Please. Featuring strictly Colorado musicians, the ALBUM features beloved local artists like GRiZ, Trev Rich, Wildermiss, an exclusive track by Flobots and more — only on vinyl.

Record Features: Limited to 1,000 copies on vinyl only, an exclusive track by Flobots, a photobook featuring quotes and photos of all participating artists, exclusive album art by Denver artist John Vogl, colored-splatter wax and a FREE download code for a Youth on Record album.

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Bumbershoot Announces 2018 Lineup

Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival is proud to announce its official 2018 lineup. Taking place over Labor Day weekend, Friday Aug. 31 through Sunday Sept. 2, the 48th annual Bumbershoot will feature an eclectic list of performers including music headliners J. Cole, The Chainsmokers, SZA, Fleet Foxes, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Blondie, Illenium, Portugal. the Man, Phoenix, Cold War Kids, Bishop Briggs, dvsn, Chromeo, among others. More than 100 additional performances from multiple art disciplines will be present throughout the weekend on more than a dozen indoor and outdoor stages spread throughout the 74-acre festival grounds. 
 

Over its decades-long history, Bumbershoot has brought music superstars and exciting new discoveries to its stages and has also established itself as more than a music festival, setting a precedent for other arts events across the country by adding big-name and emerging comedians, dance performances, literary icons, visual art installations, fashion, science, theatre and culinary exhibitions. A rich orchestration of  artistic zeitgeist, Bumbershoot is the perfect celebration to close out the summer with its Seattle Center location as a park-like oasis in the middle of vibrant downtown Seattle.

Musical Performances

J. Cole, The Chainsmokers, SZA, Fleet Foxes, Lil Wayne, Illenium, Portugal. The Man, RL Grime, Phoenix, Ludacris, Chromeo, Young Thug, Blondie, Cold War Kids, T-Pain, Mura Masa, Gryffin, DVSN,  Rhye, AJR, Bishop Briggs, Tinashe, The Revolution, Kelela, Tritonal, Lane 8, Deorro, Dr. Octagon, Emancipator Ensemble, Marian Hill, Moses Sumney, Fisher, Superorganism, Noah Gundersen, Bahamas, Poolside, Elderbrook, Towkio, London On Da Track, Elohim, Olivia O'Brien, Black Pistol Fire, Cherry Glazerr, Saweetie, Knox Fortune, Yung Pinch, Jade Bird, Sasha Sloan, Marc E. Bassy, Xavier Omär, Hobo Johnson, Arkells, Jillian Jacqueline, Mt. Joy, Nothing, Nowhere., Ella Vos, Mikky Ekko, lovelytheband, Pink Slips, GG Magree, Bas, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Maxo Kream, Duckwrth, The Regrettes, Cozz, Jack Harlow, JPEGMafia, Kailee Morgue, Yuno, Travis Thompson, Carlie Hanson, Noodles, Brent Amaker and the Rodeo, Mersiv, Umii, Ripe, Wimps, Khanvict, Ethan Tucker, Xie, Great Grandpa, Desure, Knife Knights, Sloucher, Ducky, Grynch, Jo Passed, B.A.G. (Blimes x Gab), DoNormaal, dJ100proof, Jake Crocker,Let's Eat Grandma, Skating Polly, Craig Jaffe, Micaiah Sawyer, USC Presents Silent Disco at Chihuly Garden and Glass.

Comedy and Conversation

Eugene Mirman, Last Podcast On The Left, Nikkita Oliver hosting "Think It, Say It, Do It", Langston Kerman, "The Omnibus Project" with Ken Jennings & John Roderick, Emily Heller, Alex Edelman, Sam Jay, Josh Johnson, Liza Treyger, Shane Torres, "Haunting Renditions: Plugged In" with Eliot Glazer, Chris Fairbanks, "On Deck" with Courtney Karwal, Jamel Johnson and Mike Mulloy, Amir K, Kate Willett, Lisa Best, "Off Book: The Improvised Musical" with Jessica McKenna and Zach Reino, Bri Pruett, "Dear Owen Wilson" with Blair Socci, Kortney Shane Williams, Gavin Matts, "Bad Jokes" with Wilfred Padua & HansmJustin, Sophie Buddle, Arts Core Presents: Youth Speak Seattle, Alyssa Yeoman, Battle Of The Word Poetry Slam.

Arts and Culture

Rock Art Poster Show featuring NW Rock Poster Artists, Sub Pop and Ames Bros Pop-Up Shops, Dylan Neuwirth, Urban Artworks, Corepower & Yogahustle presents Yogashoot, Massive Monkees, Laser Dome @ Pacific Science Center, Maker's Space where attendees can learn how to create, sculpt, build, and play with a sampling of the art forms showcased at Bumbershoot (featuring Western Neon, Pottery NW, little talia, The Vera Project, Malia Peoples, B-EATS chef's, 8 Stem, Fender, etc), and more.

Words and Ideas

Seattle Music Panel (with Megan Jasper from Sub Pop, Kate Becker from Office of Film + Music, Sharlese Metcalf from KEXP and Tim Lennon from The Vera Project), The Magic Hat, The Round, Battle of the Word Poetry Slam, The Bushwick Book Club.

B-EATS

One of Seattle's most renowned restaurateurs, Dan Bugge (Matt's In The Market, Radiator Whiskey, The White Swan, and 100 Pound Clam) returns to Bumbershoot with an even bigger hand-picked selection of Seattle's best food. Don't miss out on some of the city's finest culinary offerings like Matt's in the Market, 100 Pound Clam, Radiator Whisky, Gracia, The White Swan, Bok A Bok Fried Chicken, Little Uncle, Little Fish, Southpaw Pizza, Adana, Frankie & Jo's, and more.

Event Pass Information

Passes for Bumbershoot go on sale Friday, May 4th at 12 noon PST.

*3-Day Passes, starting at $220

*VIP Passes, starting at $475 

*Emerald Passes, starting at $775

 

World Premiere: Viretta - "This Garden's Over (A)"

Following years of writing and recording, Viretta’s upcoming 12-track album The Fear is now less than a month away from release. And lucky us! The record release will coincide with the band’s recently announced support slot for British arena-rockers The Struts at The Ogden Theater on May 18th! Now, with a killer new album and a killer new show lined up, Viretta is making good on their promise with the 2nd of 3 previously announced music videos from The Fear: punchy rock track, “This Garden’s Over (A)”.

If the video for last month’s barn burner “Cordyceps” gave a taste of Viretta’s dark side, the new video for “This Garden’s Over (A)” does exactly the opposite. Coming late on the record at Track 7, “Garden” finds the band in a much happier place. Though laced throughout with punchy hits and a BIG chorus, the song bounces along with a lightness that feels laid-back and fun.

Filmed last summer by guitarist Rob Moroni who, “had literally zero experience filming anything,” the video documents his and frontman Mike Moroni’s first trip to Nashville, where they meet up with fellow Denver songwriters Mason Maxwell (P O P F I L T E R) and Chase Martinez (REDLANDS). The boys visit Nashville’s Third Man Records, grill burgers, eat tacos, and dance the night away with friends. Rob was initially unsure of whether any of the footage would be usable, but with only the simplest of directions—“You guys, dance!”—the finished video is full of great, spontaneous moments. At one point Rob and Mason even convince a trio of ice cream servers to start a karate fight in the middle of their shift!

Overall, “This Garden’s Over (A)” is a love letter to long distance friends, the pleasures of barbeque, and good company. But for Viretta, it’s another exciting chapter from their new album, The Fear. Pre-Order The Fear and stream new tracks from the album below!

PRE-ORDER THE FEAR: https://bit.ly/2GlMhgK
SPOTIFY: https://spoti.fi/2j2Ja1U
WEBSITE: virettaband.com