After recently celebrating its 15th anniversary as a band, Lucero's spring 2013 tour brought them to Denver for three nights in a row at the Bluebird Theater. According to frontman Ben Nichols, this marked the first time the band has played the same venue three nights in a row. And the Mile High City returned the love by packing the house for each show.
Hitting the road with the band in support of the new EP "Texas & Tennessee", Nichols visited OpenAir with Rick Steff (piano/accordion) for a special acoustic set in the CPR Performance Studio. They played four Lucero songs and chatted with Corey Jones about the new album, their relationship with Denver, and one of their celebrity fans: Rachel Maddow.
The sixth annual Record Store Day was Saturday, April 20th! What amazing music to be had, and how much fun to see your friends weighted down by their new treasures.
We're so fortunate in Denver to have great community record stores who do their part to elevate the Record Store Day experience by carrying exclusive releases. Not only on the third Saturday in April, but every day of the year!
OpenAir is all about supporting our local record stores, so refer to this list any time.
OpenAir is proud to announce that our very own morning show host, Alisha Sweeney, has been chosen by Westword as Denver's "Best Radio DJ" as a part of their Best Of Denver 2013. You can read the article, and be sure to tune in every weekday morning from 7-11am to hear her show that is, as Westword so aptly put it, a "well-curated mix of alternative, indie and classic artists, from Feist and New Order to David Bowie and Brian Eno, that would appeal to anyone. And her banter between songs is just as charming as her selections."
Los Angeles based band He's My Brother She's My Sister stopped by the CPR Performance Studio last week to promote their show with Paper Bird at The Oriental Theater on Friday, March 22nd. The show sold out, and HMBSMS brought the house down. If you missed out on tickets you can listen to their full instudio session here:
Sallie Ford “Infiltrate[s] the boy’s world of rock and roll,” bringing her rock energy to the OpenAir Performance Studio. In addition to performing four songs from their most recent release, Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside recall their 2008 convergence and formation in Portland. Residing in Oregon, Sallie Ford and the Sound outside have connections to the likes of M. Ward, Laura Gibson, and the Decemberists, but Untamed Beast has a sound all its own.
The band describes making this album, from writing the music, to the studio mishap that prompted the scaling of a ten foot wall. Free from their studio confines, the band brings the songs, “They Told Me,” “Shivers,” “Devil” and “Party Kids” to the Performance Studio.
Sallie Ford also teaches OpenAir host Alisha Sweeney how to make a “Greyhound” and a “Salty Dog,” rock star mixed-drinks for the band with a “rock star past year.” In addition to touring with Thao and the Get Down Stay down, Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside have opened for the likes of Jack White and The Avett Brothers. Artistic pedigree, however, extends beyond Sallie Ford’s contemporaries. Her father, relatively well known puppeteer Hobey Ford, created the marionette for the band’s “Cage” music video.
All is fair in love and sport. The last time Canadian band Japandroids thundered through Denver, I reiterated this sentiment to myself as the duo, standing on stage, verbally cross-checked our hometown Colorado Avalanche.
I didn’t hold it against the band (how could I, after Japandroids released one of my favorite albums of 2012?). Keep in mind: ice hockey is Canada’s official winter sport. And since they hail from Vancouver, Brian King and David Prowse have every right to crank their Canuck love up to 11. Considering that the Avalanche and Canucks are NHL division foes, trash talk is expected. It’s part of the game. And recently, Japandroids’ allegiance paid off in a big way.
On Tuesday, February 26, the Vancouver Canucks hockey team stepped on to the ice while Japandroids’ “The House That Heaven Built" pounded eardrums and fueled cries throughout Rogers Arena. The anthemic track temporarily replaced—and will do so again on March 2—the incumbent entrance song, "Where the Streets Have No Name" by U2, after a majority of fans voted for it during the “Project NU2” contest. Even sweeter: Japandroids beat out Nickelback, a fellow finalist. Everyone loves a good upset.
While the new soundtrack didn’t ensure a victory for the Canucks—who suffered a 4-2 loss against the Phoenix Coyotes—you can’t deny its ability to rally. The raw power of Japandroids’ sound, complete with contagious chants and “protect this house” energy, easily enflames passion. Factor in the musicians’ loyalty to Vancouver and it’s clear that the fans made the right choice.
Although Colorado currently trails Vancouver by seven points in the northwest division, the Canucks’ winning ways isn’t the only thing to which the Avalanche can aspire. What’s stopping our own team from soliciting some local sounds to help remedy a dismal start to the 2013 season? Obviously the Avalanche needs to make some changes. Perhaps they can start with the music. Here are six songs by Colorado bands that I think are capable of evoking a similar fury for our home team.
This song opens with a powerful roar, propelled by a pulsating rhythm capable of sustaining fan fervor until the puck drops. Bonus points for a band name that includes “outlaws”, helping to capture the spirit of the West.
Blasting Dressy Bessy while the Avalanche rushes the ice would be an appropriate way to honor the local band’s longevity and loyalty to the Mile High City. On top of that, this cut could easily electrify the atmosphere.
This Denver dance punk band is absolutely relentless, which comes across in its music too. The Photo Atlas never seems to slow down. Plus, the guys have a thing for bears (they even cross paths with one in their latest music video). And what’s more ferocious than a bear?
Flobots embody the spirit of getting up after being knocked down. In my mind, this song champions taking destiny in to your own hands, a mantra that easily translates to the realm of sports. What’s more motivating than the notion of someone or something trying to take that away from you?
This is the obvious choice for me. The perfect call-to-arms. It builds. Then it thrashes. And lights a mighty fire. Imagine warming up, skating laps and firing off pucks while this song swells throughout the stands. The message within is pretty clear too.
Great article in the Wednesday edition of the New York Times about the Lumineers and the Colorado music scene. There's even a shout out for OpenAir (page 2). Check out the article here...
As a band of multi-instrumentalists, Devotchka has always aspired to create a sound complete with many layers. In 2012, a special collaboration with the Colorado Symphony allowed the local ensemble to capture that richness in sound to its fullest extent. To celebrate the release of "Devotchka Live with the Colorado Symphony," the band recently stopped by the CPR Performance Studio along with six members of the symphony, who are no strangers to OpenAir's sister station, CPR Classical.
Access the exclusive session below to hear Devochtka perform two songs with the Symphony and one on its own. The members also chat with Corey Jones about the collaboration, what's in store for the future, and they answer some of your listener questions. Listen HERE.
Ring in the new year with OpenAir as we host Slim Cessna’s Auto Club at the Oriental Theater on Monday, December 31st. This is the legendary Colorado band's 12th annual "New Year's Eve Bash" and OpenAir invites you to come celebrate!
Listen this week for your chance to win tickets and catch a rebroadcast of the band’s CPR Performance Studio session during the day on New Year’s Eve.
This weekend, Denver's own Parallax Performing Arts presents "A Scrooge Story", a modern adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" that features original choreography set to music by Colorado artists. Director Maggie Smith and assistant director Jen GaNun stopped by OpenAir's Mile High Noon to chat with Corey Jones about the production, which runs at the Cleo Parker Robinson Theater at 7 pm on Friday, November 30th and Saturday, December 1st, along with a matinee at 2 pm on Sunday, December 2nd.
Parallax started in January 2012, and "A Scrooge Story" marks the group's second production. "We wanted to create a dance company that could bring in not only local dance artists but local music artists (too)," Smith says in the interview, which you can access below. "We have so many in this great Denver community." The latest performance features music by Colorado acts Churchill, Devotchka, Munly & the Lee Lewis Harlots, Bad Luck City, Fairchildren, and Kal Cahoone.
