The minor chord shift at the beginning of moondaddy’s “Silver Dust” immediately puts you an introspective mood enhanced by its slow resolving guitar riff and lushly luminous and hazy production. At times it’s reminiscent of Avalon-period Roxy Music in its evoking of another era like the musical equivalent of the mood of Suddenly Last Summer as interpreted by the song by The Motels or a pastoral Terrence Malick-directed romantic noir that never happened. Cara Potiker’s enigmatic and crooning vocals floating in glittery guitar and humming keyboard sounds with ethereal synth accents create the kind of mood you want to spend some time indulging for the duration of the song but it will linger long after. The synth melody mid-song when the wash of guitar and keyboards clears is a striking moment that leads to a gorgeous processional resolve that brings together the rich sonic palette the band has employed throughout for a truly satisfying resolve. Listen to “Silver Dust” on Spotify and follow moondaddy at the links below.
The second single from don’t get lemon’s album Hyper Hollow Heaven (out March 26, 2022 on à La Carte Records) has the rather dire title “D.I.E.I.N.T.H.E.U.S.A.” and the lyrics hit with the resigned nihilism born of an accurate assessment of where human civilization is trending. But the music is a special kind of lush, synth pop like bedroom production style Roxy Music or Crush-period Abe Vigoda. In the video Austin Curtis, the band’s singer, seems to party privately in the few creature comforts available in late capitalism before the utter collapse: oddly plentiful, Asian grocery items that seem like a cruel and surreal joke, karaoke night lighting and equipment, late night Vegas lounge aesthetic. This while the audio equivalent of VHS video fidelity and visuals to match has Curtis singing about basically being ready for the end of the world or at least the world as we know it and knowing that it’s kind of too late to do anything to stop it. One imagines if synth pop had existed in the fourth century Roman empire it would take on a tone like this between climate change, widespread political corruption and fiscal malfeasance, deep social divisions, international strife, pandemics and other crises that ended up rendering the most powerful economic and political entity the world had ever seen unable to rally to address the many built in ills that were contributing to its downfall. Many perceptive people had to have seen it coming and had there been a popular art form that survived we might have seen the ancient equivalent of a song like this born out of similar struggles, pressures and a sense that it’s all worse than a recession or political partisanship gone wild. This band personalizes the ambient anxiety of the time with a soothing song that commiserates with us a downer mood. But contained within it is the seed that we could turn this whole thing at least partly around but do you see anyone overthrowing the oligarchic power and economic structure in the next five to twenty years? Seems unlikely so while perhaps hoping and working for the best may as well enjoy some of the small joys of life before it’s completely over. Watch the video for “D.I.E.I.N.T.H.E.U.S.A.” on YouTube and connect with don’t get lemon at the links below.
Ivar Wigan took One Eleven’s song “American” and made a video with some choice visual references one might infer like The Wicker Man, John Boorman’s hazy, surreal atmospheres and The Blair Witch Project. Like a supernatural horror film invoking ancient religions and dream visions. It suits the song with its rich soundscapes and breathy, Toni Halliday-esque vocals and brooding dynamics. Guitarist Ollie had been playing with Roxy Music for some time when he met singer Fyah who was working for Bryan Ferry and helping with recording sessions with Prince. So the sophistication of the songwriting and the production should come as no surprise. That the song also courses through your imagination with its transporting melody is not something everyone with a similar background and chops manages to accomplish. The duo will perform Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at The Bermondsey Social Club in London.
What:Drab Majesty w/Body of Light, Xeno & Oaklander and DJ boyhollow When: Thursday, 08.22, 7 p.m. Where: 3 Kings Tavern Why: The darkwave show of the summer. Drab Majesty is a transgender, glam, post-punk, space alien duo that has been instrumental in making the new post-punk/Goth wave popular outside the usual circles and within the old school scene. The 2019 album Modern Mirror reveals the group’s for well crafted songs beyond the entrancing, atmospheric mood that could overshadow Deb Demure’s writing in the past. Body of Light has synthesized the minimal synth influences descended from early Depeche Mode and EBM into a dynamic, darkly ambient synth pop. Xeno & Oaklander’s minimal analog synth compositions suggest a foundation in cinema and it’s own 2019 album Hypnos takes the listener on a journey into a journey into a desolate and eerily lonely future where alien archaeologist/anthropologists study what happened to us foolish humans in the Twenty-First and Twenty-Second centuries with an emphasis on the art and music created around the turn of the Twenty-First century.
The Yawpers, photo by Megan Holmes
What:The Yawpers w/CITRA When: Thursday, 08.22, 6 p.m. Where: Leavitt Pavilion Why: The Yawpers bring their unhinged blues punk to Leavitt Pavilion for a free show. The trio’s most recent album, 2019’s Human Question, really does delve thoughtfully and urgently into what this whole mess of humanity is about and what we can and should be doing in this life individually and collectively given our flaws and deficits of feeling, of cognition, talent and capability. But The Yawpers suggest we can’t just quit as past civilizations faced similarly destructive situations politically, economically, spiritually, environmentally and culturally.
Friday | August 23
Big Dopes, photo by Jake Cox
What:Big Dopes album release w/Spirettes and Whiskey Autumn When: Friday, 08.23, 8 p.m. Where: Hi-Dive Why: Big Dopes releases its new album Crimes Against Gratitude tonight at the Hi-Dive. The trio’s songs combine a rich, moody low end courtesy Justin Catanzaro’s bass and Eddie Schmid’s rich vocals. Intricate melodies and dynamic rhythms with the band, including drummer Ricky Brewer, giving the songs a rare expressiveness and vibrancy. Schmid’s lyrics seem to come from poignantly observational biographical snapshots. In telling these stories the band tells the story of a generation coming to terms with diminished future possibilities but refusing to give into despair yet finding a way to cope with creativity and empathy rather than callousness. It’s guitar-based indie rock of a sort but one that seems as informed by the emotional resonance of R&B as by left field alternative rock.
What:The Bellweather Syndicate w/The Siren Project, Autumn and Julian Black When: Friday, 08.23, 7 p.m. Where: Herman’s Hideaway Why: The Bellweather Syndicate is William Faith and Sarah Rose. The former was a bassist in later era Christian Death with Rozz Williams as well as a longtime member of Faith & The Muse and playing in Sex Gang Children and The March Violets. The dark post-punk band has a driving low end and a sense of urgency to its ethereal yet gritty melodies. Autumn’s dream pop sounds like someone in the band, or everyone, listened to a whole lot of the Stone Roses, Chameleons and Kitchens of Distinction and took that as a launching point in crafting what is its own sound. The Siren Project from Denver is a synthesis of European post-punk sensibilities and emotionally expansive trip-hop.
What:Solypsis, Blackcell, Acidbat and Kid Mask When: Friday, 08.23, 8 p.m. Where: Thought//Forms Why: A more experimental take on electronic music, noise and the avant-garde all around at this show including Denver Goth-industrial/noise legends Blackcell, Kid Mask’s disregard for specific style in making his deeply emotional and affecting soundscapes, Acidbat’s glitchcore industrial ambient and Solypsis which is almost as much performance art as ambient industrial.
Saturday | August 24
Petite Garçon circa 2016, photo by Tom Murphy
What:The Pamlico Sound vinyl release w/The Soltones and Cosmic Joe When: Saturday, 08.24, 8 p.m. Where: Larimer Lounge Why: The Pamlico Sound is releasing its new album The Funk is Not For Sale on vinyl for this show. The Boulder-based group is lead by Will Baumgartner who has played in various funk bands in Denver for years but whose roots are in New York where he, as a young kid, went to Woodstock (the original) and who moved about and played in the No Wave scene of late 70s and early 80s NYC. So The Pamlico Sound, which is very much a funk band in the traditional ways has a little different flavor in its exuberance and weirdness. The Soltones also have some funk in its sound but its smooth songwriting is steeped in jazz and R&B and its lushly composed songs have a soothing mood that doesn’t wax into the soporific, just emotionally refined and transporting.
What:Lily & Horn Horse, Banny Grove, French Kettle Station, Petite Garçon and Egg Walk When: Saturday, 08.24, 9 Where: Rhinoceropolis Why: Lily & Horn Horse is a New York duo that would be difficult to define except to say that its horn, vocals and beat combination is jazz, dream pop, downtempo hip-hop and avant-garde. Which is just as well given the eclectic sounds on the rest of the bill including French Kettle Stations neo-No Wave, adult-contemporary pop and performance art and Petite Garçon’s own post-garage indie pop. Supposedly the latter has a new album out tonight as well but we can neither confirm or deny so best to bring some money to buy a copy anyway.
What:Oko Tygra w/Bluebook, Hifi Gentry and Cuckoo When: Saturday, 08.24, 7 p.m. Where: Globe Hall Why: Oko Tygra is the perfect blend of R&B and dream pop in the grand 4AD label band mold. Bluebook is an interesting hybrid of downtempo, Americana and the avant-garde. Cuckoo is like if a math-y indie band merged with a garage rock band and then forged a musical identity beyond that but rooted in the best aspects of both.
Sunday | August 25
Total Trash, DJ Couchman on right in sunglasses, photo by Tom Murphy
What:Shibui Denver #5: The Vagrant Sea, Tokyo Rodeo and DJ Couchman When: Sunday, 08.25, 7 p.m. Where: Mutiny Information Café Why: This edition of our monthly series at Mutiny features DJ Couchman of the band Total Trash and the DJ night Interesting Times spinning songs before the show and between sets. It will be the debut of The Vagrant Sea which includes former members of Tarmints, The Dirty Lookers and The Symptoms (among others) and rock and roll band Tokyo Rodeo will put in a performance fresh off the road.
What:Bryan Ferry w/Femme Schmidt When: Sunday, 08.25, 6:30 p.m. Where: The Paramount Theatre Why: Bryan Ferry is the charismatic singer of pioneering glam rock/experimental band Roxy Music. The latter was a huge influence on punk and alternative rock and whose music has managed to remain somewhat timeless as its classic songwriting style and willingness to go off the deep end into adventurous sonic territory has endured as captivating and relevant. Ferry’s solo work has a similarly creatively refined sensibility and flair for thoughtfully poetic lyrics.
What:KRS-One w/Righteous Revolution and illosophy When: Sunday, 08.25, 7 p.m. Where: Oriental Theater Why: KRS-One was the thought-provoking MC who was the frontman for influential hip-hop crew Boogie Down Productions. His whole career KRS-One has shined a light on society’s ills with an incisive and creative critique.
Monday | August 26
Mogwai circa 2011, photo by Tom Murphy
What:Mogwai w/Papa M When: Monday, 08.26, 7 p.m. Where: Summit Music Hall Why: Scottish instrumental rock band Mogwai play majestic, even epic journeys into rock music’s outer edges informed by a healthy sense irreverent humor. Papa M is the long running experimental guitar and atmospheric moods project of David Pajo. You know, the guy who brought so much imagination and genius guitar work to Slint, Stereolab, Will Oldham, Royal Trux, The For Carnation, Zwan, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Dead Child and Interpol.
What:The Vibrators, Filthy Hearts, Cyclo-Sonic and The Pollution When: Tuesday, 08.27, 7 p.m. Where: Seventh Circle Music Collective Why: The Vibrators were an early English punk rock band who managed to stay around and still write worthwhile punk in the classic vein. If Stiff Little Fingers name themselves after one of your songs and go on to be a seminal influence on bands like Green Day your legacy is secure and yet The Vibrators bring a spirited live show that is worthy of that legacy as well. Its debut album Pure Mania should be in the library of any true punk connoisseur.
Wednesday | August 28
Black Flag, photo courtesy Artists World Wide
What:Black Flag w/The Line Cutters When: Wednesday, 08.28, 8 p.m. Where: Oriental Theater Why: It’s not the classic line up of Black Flag but Greg Ginn still rips out that iconic guitar work like he wrote it last week with the unalloyed joy of a young buck. Seeing Ginn lay waste to the room that way alone is worth the price of admission.
Joshua Trimmell has done a bit of musical time traveling on his new single “scifiFANTASY” under the moniker joswayah. The repeating ethereal guitar figure sets the pace and backdrop of haunted horns (sax, maybe a bassoon) processed to give them futuristic feel if you were standing in 1974 London hanging out with members of Roxy Music and Hawkwind and, of course, Michael Moorcock, discussing doing some kind of mellow “folk” record based on a more low key episode in one of the author’s “Eternal Champion” yarns. Of course they would have put reverse delays on parts of the recording so it’s even more tripped out than merely delays and other processing on organic instruments. In getting it done they would let the avant-psych jam go and then cut the tape before things got too out of hand. Safe to say Trimmell doesn’t have a time machine he’s telling us about but his weaving together so many sounds that seem specific to certain contexts across space and time makes the title of the song entirely appropriate. Take that trip below and follow joswayah at the link provided.
Queen City Sounds and Art 
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