A few years back, right when I thought I had really started to expand my musical horizons, an artist came along that changed everything and had me hungry for more. I was very into DJ/producer culture at the time, trying to find as much different music I could that was reinvented or re-envisioned by sampling, scratching and restructuring. It only took one song from this artist and it was hooked - I had to hear everything he ever made and had been checking out everything he's made ever since.


That artist is tonight's headliner at the Bluebird Theater, RJD2. I still remember where and when I heard my first RJD2. From the moment I heard that guitar lick in "Ghostwriter", I knew I was hearing something groundbreaking at the time. Then when it burst into it's crazy beat and you could hear the "Oohs" sampled from Elliott Smith's "I Didn't Understand" I was completely blown away. Up until that point most sample based music I heard were from a limited category of funk/soul music or just straight loops of long sections. RJD2 showed me that music could be sourced from any genre and even just a small snippet, when combined with much more, can be turned into something completely new. From his humble beginnings as the producer to the midwest hip-hop group MHz to his own solo ventures, he's always been about pushing boundaries. RJD2 has evolved since Deadringer, even experimenting with live instrumentation on his album The Third Hand, being a strong influence to me on what a DJ/producer can really be. Check out "Ghostwriter" from his first album and "Games You Can Win" from his latest.




Wick-It The Instigator joins the lineup, a Nashville, TN based DJ/producer. Wick-It The Instigator is known for creative beats, production and sampling that transcends him past the notion of a regular DJ. His live sets are known to incorporate humor and pop culture, which has been turning heads and filling dance floors across the country. He'll also satisfy anyone that has a desire for womp. Check out his remix of Motley Crue's "Shout At The Devil".



Local Denver group Human Agency will open the show. This duo produces a mixture of downtempo style beats and hip-hop that finds the happy median between chill music and danceability. They combine sampled and electronic based music with a little live instrumentation from live drumming to great a deep live sound. Check out "Sifting Through The Ashes".


The doors open at the Bluebird Theater open at 8:00PM and the show begins at 9:00PM. The show is 16+ and costs $25. Act now, because tickets are expected to sell out.
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Taking the short trip to Boulder to see a show always comes with a lot of nostalgia for me. This time it was on a mild Wednesday night, and The Hill was alive with students going about their mid-semester business - many heads were buried in books while others were looking to blow off a little steam. After a nostalgic meal at Half Fast Subs, I headed up 13th Street and lined up behind mostly college age concert goers to enter the Fox Theatre. It took me back a few years, reminding me of when I first started listening to the music I was about to see. It was definitely fitting to see this show in Boulder, as the music featured in this show was a large part of the soundtrack to my life when I lived there.

Kosha Dillz

The night began with an opening performance from New Jersey rapper Kosha Dillz. With the help of crowd-pleasing beats and plenty of swagger, Kosha Dillz was able to engage the early crowd with a high energy and humorous opening performance. This multi-cultural Israeli American rapper showed he can provide steady, memorable raps that create crowd participation while also laying down some quality, witty freestyle rhymes. Whether he was coming up with clever flows for random objects placed on stage by audience members, or getting the crowd to laugh and dance along to songs like "Sweatpants Song", he kept the energy level high and got the audience ready to party.

Prime Element

Up next was Denver's own Prime Element, a local underground do-it-yourself style hip-hop group. This trio consisted of A.V.I.U.S. (MC), Es Nine (hype man, production), and DJ Cysko Rokwel (turntables). Together they create energetic hip-hop that pays homage to the storied history of the genre while delivering a fresh, upbeat, dynamic performance. Their sound seems to have a lot of west coast influence, but does encompasses elements from the genre as whole, bringing about that classic hip-hop sound. The production was solid, the rhyming came out fluid, and the DJing encompassed the essence of hip-hop.

Prime Element

Before A.V.I.U.S. and Es Nine came out on stage, DJ Cysko Rokwel set up behind the decks and showed off his DJ mixing skills. He played an eight minute introductory set that displayed DMC worthy cutting, scratching and beat juggling skills. He spliced in a little bit of everything - soul, funk, hip-hop and even a little bit of the Gorillaz. Then the stage lit up as A.V.I.U.S. and Es Nine emerged from back stage. As A.V.I.U.S. commanded the microphone, Es Nine conducted crowd participation.  They did a phenomenal job at getting the crowd into their music, building up energy throughout their set and getting the crowd to explode with excitement by the time it was for the headlining act to perform.

People Under The Stairs

When it was finally time for the headliners to hit the stage, People Under The Stairs came out to an already well-hyped crowd. The duo of Thes One and Double K burst onto stage with a wave of energy only a pair of veteran performers like them could possess, taking crowd excitement to soaring heights. Since People Under The Stairs now have eight albums under their belt, I was curious how they would mix up their sizable music catalog. Would it be mostly new material or a mix of everything? I suppose the experience of years of touring helped shaped their decision, as People Under The Stairs seemed to know exactly how to do it best.

People Under The Stairs

People Under The Stairs exploded onto stage with the performance of the leading track off of their new album Highlighter called "Selfish Destruction". From there they went backwards into their catalog, selecting their best laid back party anthems along the way. Their seventh album Carried Away came next with a performance of "Trippin' At The Disco". Then "Step Bacc" and "Up Yo Spine" from their sixth album Fun DMC kept the crowd live. By the time they got to "Tuxedo Rap" from their fifth album Stepfather, things started to kick into overdrive.

People Under The Stairs

They cut out of "Tuxedo Rap" and into a Double K beat box and Thes One freestyle. Then they went back to one of their latest hits, breaking out some 40-ouncers on stage as they performed "Beer". Those in the front row got a bit of a beer bath as Thes One showered himself with a little brew while Double K sprayed the crowd with beer champagne style. Then People Under The Stairs started performing a collection of some of their classic tracks and live call-and-response hooks in a medley style.

People Under The Stairs

For the next handful of songs, they mixed in classics from their earlier records spliced with some things they only perform at live shows. On top of that, they also added bits and pieces of songs that are almost like remixes, but got the crowd involved by reciting catchy choruses, both from their own songs and other classic hip-hop tracks. Everything came to a peak when they ended on two of their most loved songs, the iconic "Acid Raindrops" from O.S.T. and "San Francisco Knights" from The Next Step.

People Under The Stairs

Of course, a crowd as wild and hyped as was in the Fox Theatre that night didn't want the party to end there. All night long People Under The Stairs had been expressing how much they loved Boulder and Colorado, and the crowd seemed to feed off of that love. So when People Under The Stairs left the stage, the crowd expressed their love back by stomping their feet and cheering "People! People! People!" so that they would come back to the stage and perform one more song.

People Under The Stairs

People Under The Stairs felt the love, returning to the stage for a little bit more. Before they broke into their encore song, Thes One motioned for the crowd to keep chanting, and the beat-maker went to work on a sampler pad laying down a tight kick-and-snare beat to the rhythm of the people's chanting, essentially turning the call for encore into a song on its own. Then they exploded into one of their latest tracks, "Too Much Birthday" to end the night, further emphasizing the party atmosphere and making everyone in the venue feel like it was their special day.

People Under The Stairs

This People Under The Stairs show had all the right ingredients. For long time fans like me, it was the perfect balance of new material and old favorites - showing that they still have what it takes to make fresh tracks with their characteristic sound but also an understanding of all the great songs that keep propelling their careers. I'm sure they earned a lot of new fans too in their all ages crowd, thanks to their ability to get the crowd involved early and often, making sure everyone in the building has a great time. 

People Under The Stairs are a true force in hip-hop - creative and talented hard working artists with a do-it-yourself attitude that keeps them afloat. If you are a fan of hip-hop and somehow haven't seen this group, I suggest you do so immediately. Lucky for you, they perform again in Denver tonight at the Summit Music Hall. The doors to the Summit Music Hall show open at 8:00PM. This all ages show is $20 and tickets are available online here.

See more pictures from this show in the Facebook photo album. Like the Concerted Effort page to stay up to date.
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If you've been hungry for hip-hop, now's the time to satisfy your appetite. Over the next two nights, a long time hip-hop veteran duo will make another Colorado appearance. Tonight, they'll get the party going at the Fox Theatre in Denver. Tomorrow, they'll be headlining the SIA after party at the Summit Music Hall. Concerted Effort will be covering tonight's Boulder show, but both nights are sure to please.


Over the past decade and a half, People Under The Stairs have been hard at work developing, defining and sharing their laid back west coast inspired hip-hop sound. The duo of Thes One and Double K formed People Under The Stairs in 1997, and since then they now have a catalog that is eight albums strong, including the newly released album Highlighter. Their longevity is due to their ability to continually create music with a distinctive sunny California feel and easy-going party atmosphere through clever rhymes, steady cadence, and smooth beats derived from funk and soul samples. Whether one hears a song from the latest album or from way in the beginning, that inherent identifiable sound unifies them all. Check out "San Francisco Knights" from their first album The Next Step and "Talkin' Back To The Streets" from Highlighter.
People Under the Stairs - San Francisco Knights by williejmusic
People Under The Stairs | Highlighter | Talkin' Back To The Streets by piecelock70


Prime Element will join People Under The Stairs in Boulder tonight as local support. Prime Element is an up and coming local Denver hip-hop group that has also been hard at work over the past couple of years. This hip-hop group has a similar penchant for crafty laid back style hip-hop songs joined by good lyrical work. Inspired by many underground hip-hop greats, Prime Element represents the head-nodding hip-hop party sound in Denver. Check out "Positive Direction".




The doors open at the Fox Theatre tonight at 8:30PM and the show starts at 9:00PM. The show is all ages and tickets are $20 (Add $2 if you are under 21). Tickets and more information are available online here.

If you can't make it to Boulder tonight, or if you need a double dose of People Under The Stairs, there is a second show in Denver tomorrow night at Summit Music Hall. Vancouver hip-hop group Sweatshop Union and local hip-hop artists 3Two and Bullhead*ded will support Thursday night's show. The doors to the Summit Music Hall show open tomorrow at 8:00PM. This all ages show is $18 in advance or $20 day of show. Tickets and more information are available online here.
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If you are a fan of indie music, the Fox Theatre is the place to be on Wednesday, February 1st. The storied Boulder, CO venue will be hosting a lineup of three bands that makes the night especially enticing. Two touring bands will be bringing fresh indie rock sounds, joined by one of Colorado's own premier electro-pop bands. The best shows always have a solid lineup from start to finish, and this night's show is looking to promise just that.


The headliner is Los Angeles indie rock duo El Ten Eleven. This band was formed nearly a decade ago by band members Kristian Dunn and Tim Fogarty. They create indie rock with an experimental post-rock approach, making music with thick soundscapes and dreamy textures. Amazingly, they perform their characteristic sound using only two people without the help of computers or sequencers, making them not only a joy to listen to but a marvel to see on stage. Kristian Dunn plays guitar and bass while Tim Fogarty will play electronic and acoustic drums, achieving a multi-layered sound by employing the use of looping pedals. Check out "Indian Winter".
El Ten Eleven - Indian Winter by El Ten Eleven


Another Los Angeles band, Races, will join the line-up. Races is a six-piece indie rock band with a sound that seems to stem from a multitude of different influences. Their songs all have the unifying framwork of indie rock, but I hear touches of chillwave, dance punk, electro-pop, indie folk and more in their sound throughout their songs. Somehow they manage to make their collection of songs cohesive despite their tendency to incorporate different styles. Check out "Big Broom".
Big Broom by Races


Colorado's own electro-pop duo Flashlights will open up the night. The duo of Ethan Converse and Sam Martin create synth heavy indie pop gems that combines the retro swagger of new wave with futuristic goodness, resulting in some sweet dance floor ready music. Check out the new single from their upcoming album, "Fireworks".


The doors open at 8:30PM on Wednesday, February 1st and the music begins at 9:00PM. The show is all ages and tickets are $10 advance, $12 day of show (add $2 if you are under 21). Tickets can be purchased online here.
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I was Colorado born and raised, and through the years a lot of things have symbolized what my home state means to me. Although I live in the heart of the city now, some of my most memorable moments have taken place far outside city boundaries, out in the open and peaceful mountains that scatter this state. Growing up, if you wanted music out there, you had to take it with you and make it yourself. The earnestness and warmth of the music I saw last night at the Hi-Dive transported me back out into those wild spaces through well crafted songs.

The Changing Colors

The journey began right away with Colorado Springs/Manitou Springs based band The Changing Colors. The Changing Colors performed as Conor Bourgal (vocals/guitar), Ian Bourgal (lap steel, guitar), and Aaron Fanning (cello). The trio created poignant folk tunes that had a strange encompassing power emitted through simple yet strong songs. Their honest approach to music came out as naturally as the wild landscape in which their music evokes images of, making me feel like I was back in the woods again listening to music with a circle of friends.

The Changing Colors

The Changing Colors' music evoked a solemn mood, like the tension of knowing that the beauty of the surrounding wild can easily turn cold should something go wrong. It teetered on the edge, never carefree but not too somber - just delivered with hardened respect. Even the straight guitar instrumental "Boat Song" had that same feeling of understanding, and the dynamic between the Bourgal brothers really came out in that piece. When their set ended with "Work Is Done", one could almost picture the tired rays of the sun vanishing, replaced with the cool light of the moon, as everyone prepared to rest for another quiet evening. This band has a talent for writing beautiful songs that are a soothing remedy to the hustle of city life.

Jack Wilson

Up next was singer-songwriter Jack Wilson from Austin, TX. Jack Wilson didn't travel with his backing band, so instead he enlisted some local help for a handful of songs. When Jack Wilson wasn't performing solo with just his voice and guitar, he had the help of members from Denver's own Paper Bird; Paul DeHaven on drums, Macon Terry on bass, and backing vocals from Sarah Anderson and Esmé Patterson. Jack Wilson was able to evoke a similarly powerful feel through simple songs and strong vocals. His music was earnest and evoked images of the peaceful country without the rugged tension of the previous act.

Jack Wilson

Jack Wilson exhibited a lot of talent; he could create a full sound with just his guitar, he could fill the room with his singing voice, and he could capture the crowd with his warm personality between songs. Apparently he is a good teacher with talented friends as well, as the members of Paper Bird that helped him perform only had three days to rehearse their material, yet nothing sounded clumsy. He could go from uptempo songs to slower tunes like "Valhalla", but no matter the tempo each song was delivered with a lot of energy. I'd be interested to see how he sounds with his usual band, because his temporary band was amazing. Jack Wilson is a great representative of singer-songwriter/folk/country, so if you are a fan of those genres, he will not disappoint.

Eye & The Arrow

Finally, Eye & The Arrow came out on stage to close out the night. I had the privilege of seeing this band for their inaugural live performance, and I was very impressed with what they did at that time. The trio of Paul DeHaven (vocals/guitar), Jason Haas Hecker (bass) and Mark Anderson (drums/vocals/slide guitar) still had their impressive western style indie folk going on, although with even more polish, confidence and a couple new tricks up their sleeves on this night. This is another band whose sound evokes strong imagery - a sound that would be at home in the wild west yet with a refreshing dose of indie rock influence.

Eye & The Arrow

They began their set with "Prophet's Hometown", a song that could seemingly lead couples to waltzing on the dance floor at an old western ball. They followed that with "Tamales", this time a desert folk-rock dance tune with a slight dash of modern indie rock. Once again I was amazed by Mark Anderson and his drumming/percussion with the way he would constantly be adjusting his kit depending on the song. A lot of folk based music I've heard relies on a steady beat from simple rhythms, but Eye & The Arrow thrives of of rhythmic complexity.

Eye & The Arrow

There were a couple new songs I heard this time around that hinted at the band's versatility. They performed "Punk Song" that had elements of punk rock in it including a big crashing rock ending, yet the song still maintained a definitive western-folk feel. They also incorporated a sort of coastal/retro-surf rock 'n' roll style song tentatively titled "Honey Wine" that showed another range of experimentation and further ability to play outside of but still maintain their overall identifiable sound. "Mexico" was still just as catchy as the first time I heard it, and I loved how they finished their set with the variable tempo and time-signature piece "Stutter Beat". This band approaches folk quite unlike anyone else I've heard, and I think their melding of other genres can give them wide appeal. This is definitely a local band to see.

See more pictures from this show in the Facebook photo album. Like the Concerted Effort page and stay up to date.
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The Hi-Dive was the site of powerful music Friday night, a somewhat unexpected way to start the weekend with a renewed sense of invigoration. Three locally based bands poured themselves into performances full of genuine emotion and soul, making for an evening of music that although sometimes was serious and sometimes a bit somber, the way it was presented was always accompanied with a strong, enthralling energy.

You, Me & Apollo

The night began with Fort Collins indie folk band You, Me & Apollo. The first time I saw You, Me & Apollo, I was blown away by the combination of soulful blues and indie folk that characterizes this band's sound, and that was just from the solo effort of the band's frontman, Brent Cowles. Friday night, the band was at full force; Brent Cowles was on lead vocals and guitar, joined by Tyler Kellogg on drums, Shawn Keefer on bass and backing vocals, Jonathan Alonzo on guitar and backing vocals, and Morgan Travis on guitar. The full band did well to enhance the soulful core of the You, Me & Apollo sound, adding incredible strength to the live experience.

You, Me & Apollo

Brent Cowles is an incredible talent, with a penchant to reel in audiences with his likable demeanor, powerful voice, and heartfelt performances. From the moment he unleashed his voice on the song "Opener", a captivating energy seemed to grasp the room that grew stronger as the other four musicians on stage contributed to the sound. "A Pearl" came next, a huge song that strikes a balance between emotive soul and foot-stomping, driving danceability. That continued to be the case as they performed songs off of Cards With Cheats and a few new songs. The band managed to combine a certain earnest feel into their music - through strong lead vocals and backing harmonies - that reminded me what I appreciate about classic country songs, yet it was crafted in a way that seemed at home in the present.

You, Me & Apollo

I think those that appreciate honest music should be able to grasp the You, Me & Apollo sound and not easily let go. Experiencing their music was a journey through song where the emotional highs were glorious, and the solemn lows were presented in a way that promoted an empathetic understanding rather than leading to depression. Songs like "Circles And Graves" and "Coming Home In A Coffin" sound morbid by name, but once one hears the way the songs are performed they beg for repeated listens. If you like contemporary folk, soul, blues, indie rock or any combination of those, You, Me & Apollo is a must-see band. And if you aren't necessarily a fan of those genres, you just may become one after experiencing this band.

The Oak Creek Band

The Oak Creek Band took the stage next, a band from Sedona, AZ now based in Denver. The band performed as a six-piece featuring Jenna Watters (vocals/guitar/keyboard), Daniel Watters (vocals/guitar), Paul Morris (guitar/keyboard), Steve Rogers (bass), Carl Sorensen (drums), and Ryan Ebarb (organ). I was expecting The Oak Creek Band to be a contemporary indie folk band, but their performance incorporated a range of styles that included touches of blues, soul, a hint of country, rock 'n' roll and doses of modern alternative rock.  They managed to present the wide range of music in a coherent performance package that came off as a polished showcase of their versatility rather than a jumble of songs that hinted at a lack of identity.

The Oak Creek Band

The Oak Creek Band definitely has a hold of their identity, even if that identity isn't something that can be easily categorized. They are a band that understands how to craft and deliver melody driven music through strong lead vocal work from Jenna and Daniel Watters. They understand the dynamic between each other and understand the personality that each of their voices contain. Jenna Watters has a powerful, deep-reaching soulful voice that brings oomph to the bands sound when necessary, while Daniel Watters has an emotive yet earnest sound that brings about a more introspective sound. The sometimes alternating lead and sometimes co-vocal dynamic of these two provide the framework of the band.

The Oak Creek Band

The music of The Oak Creek Band came to life with the help of the rest of the musicians on stage through their ability to create a range of soundscapes that best accompanied the particular vocals of a song and achieved a desired mood. They created bluesy rock with songs like "Don't Be Fooled" from their forthcoming album. They created a more folk oriented sound with songs like "1934". They created a more energetic and modern rock sound with songs like "Say It Plainly". They created soulful, funky dance songs like "Weight of the World". They can even channel more experimental alternative rock as they demonstrated with their cover of Radiohead's "Talk Show Host". I think those that appreciate rock in its many different varieties will really appreciate what The Oak Creek Band does.

Carbon Choir

Carbon Choir came out last to close the night. This Denver/Boulder indie rock band featured Joel Van Horne (vocals/guitar), Chris Hatton (keyboards), Ryan Fechter (bass), and Scott Weidner (drums). They had an ethereal contemporary alternative rock sound created by emotive vocals, thematic guitar, strong piano/organ accompaniment and a solid rhythm section. The result was soothing rock that had a strong, introspective tone with power lurking behind its solemnity.

Carbon Choir

Carbon Choir started strong out of the gate with their characteristic sound opening with "Sakhalin", a song that should appear on their forthcoming album. Carbon Choir's performance featured mostly new, soon to be released material, rather than featuring many songs from their full length album High Beams. I thought that was a good approach, but for some reason there seemed to be a growing detachment from the crowd as their set went on. Perhaps it was due to the new material being unfamiliar, or people just needed something with more upbeat energy to end a Friday night show.

Carbon Choir

I'm not sure why the crowd wasn't as receptive on this particular night, but for the most part, Carbon Choir went about their set nonetheless with strong, passionate energy, delivering their dream-like songs with authenticity. The showcase of new material demonstrated that Carbon Choir can continue to create a powerful yet lofty rock sound, and I think their new album should contain quite a few gems. Not to be too caught up in the past, but I think hearing some more songs from High Beams would have been nice, although I think if the crowd energy was higher their set may have gone on longer and included some older favorites. Carbon Choir was a promising indie/alternative band, and fans of the genre should keep their eyes out for their new release and future shows.

See more pictures from this show in the Facebook photo album. Like the Concerted Effort page and stay up to date.
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Concerted Effort will be spending the weekend at the Hi-Dive to catch a good mix of indie rock and folk on back-to-back nights. Tonight it's all about locally based music, as three bands with a penchant to inject strong soulful feeling into their music will be on stage. If you're looking to ease into the weekend with some well-crafted music, this is the way to go.


Local band Carbon Choir is the headliner tonight. This four-piece indie rock band first caught my ear last summer when I was checking out the lineups for Westword Music Showcase. They seem to have balanced a delicate yet radiant indie rock sound that has a strange captivating power through its ethereal sonic qualities. The instrumentals have an inconspicuous complexity layered beneath smooth vocals that give their sound its strength. Check out "Afraid To Muliply".
Afraid To Multiply by Carbon Choir


The Oak Creek Band, a Sedona, AZ born but now Denver based band joins the night's lineup. The Oak Creek Band is a five-piece indie rock band that has a heavy folk influence with touches of soul. They should be striking not only through their instrumental arrangements, but also through their use of up to four-part harmonies to drive their melodic sound. Check out "1934".
1934 by The Oak Creek Band


To start the night off, You, Me & Apollo of Fort Collins will take the stage. This band is the project of Brent Cowles, and the first time I saw You, Me & Apollo it was just himself, his guitar, and his incredibly soulful voice. Since then, he has put together a full band to deliver and perform  You, Me & Apollo's folk-meets-soul sound. With just one person, You, Me & Apollo was very striking and still fresh in my memory for how much I enjoyed it, so I can't wait to hear the full band sound. Check out "A Pearl".
02 A Pearl - You Me & Apollo - Cards With Cheats by Tyler Kellogg

The Hi-Dive doors open at 8:00PM and the show begins at 9:00PM. The show is 21+ and tickets are $7 at the door. Tickets are available online here.

Afterwards, if you want to pick up the pace and get your dance on, join me up the street to Lipgloss in time to catch Plastic Plates and boyhollow throw down sets.
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It may have been a Sunday night, but with about ten minutes to go before the scheduled showtime, the lengthy line in front of the Ogden Theater box office window certainly made it seem like a Friday or Saturday night. Trouble was, it was at that moment those in line had to be turned away, as the last tickets to the evening's show had been sold and the venue would be at capacity. As unfortunate as that was for those that could not enter the show, it meant those that could had a golden ticket to what was sure to be a great night of music accompanied with the energy of a sold out crowd.

American Tomahawk

The night began with an opening performance from American Tomahawk. American Tomahawk is an indie rock band based out of Los Angeles with Denver ties. They performed as a five-piece band; Adam Halferty (vocals/guitar), Jessie Dixon (drums), Nolan Aldridge (guitar), Sean Foreman (bass/vocals), and brand new member Crisanta Baker (keyboard/vocals). They played a promising albeit brief set of their indie rock, which featured a mellowed Americana, almost modern folk/singer-songwriter type sound with subdued yet punctuated rhythms around an indie rock framework. The band didn't seem completely comfortable up on the big stage but played five songs from their EP, shining brightest on their performance of "Me Vs. The Apocalypse". It was a low-key start to the evening, an interesting way to begin a concert featuring high-intensity bands, but at least the crowd had plenty of energy reserved for the rest of the night.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. took the stage next, delving headfirst into a high-energy set to kick the sold out crowd into high gear. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. consists of Joshua Epstein (vocals/keyboard/sampler/guitar/bass/drums), Daniel Zott (vocals/guitar/bass/drums) and Mike Higgins (drums). The duo of Epstein and Zott crafts music with such a host of influences, it's hard to peg it into any individual category, but I would describe it as indie pop-rock infused slyly with electronic elements through live looping and clever sampling. The result is catchy songs with memorable lyrics that inject danceability into modern rock songs.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

When it comes to live performance, the energy and intensity of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.'s music increases immeasurably. They began with the first track off of their debut album, It's A Corporate World, titled "Morning Thought". The album version is one of the more mellow songs in their repertoire, but there's nothing mellow about the way Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. performs live. Donned in colorful fluorescent suit jackets and joined with lighted J-R-J-R's up on stage, they gave the song an arena-like feel by triggering extra samples, rocking out with distorted bass guitar, and really letting Mike Higgins go to town on the drum set. Although they set the energy bar really high with their opening song, they managed to have it climb up higher from there.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

The electro-rock/dance-pop infused "An Ugly Person On A Movie Screen" came next, really getting people to shuffle their dancing shoes on the floor. The dancing continued with "When I Open My Eyes" and was accompanied by an audience sing-a-long with their single "Skeletons". Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. owned the stage with incredible presence and energy as they brought that song to a crescendo with a rock-n-roll style breakdown. The crowd went from a sing-a-long to a whistle-a-long with the performance of "Simple Girl", before erupting into another dance fest with "Vocal Chords". Rocking out continued with the soul injected "We Almost Lost Detroit". The amazing set ended with the performance of "Nothing But Our Love", a usually mellow song made cleverly into a dance floor burner. The Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. album experience is already a fun ride, but it does not compare to how captivating the live experience is. If you like their songs, their live experience will completely sweep you away.

Fitz & The Tantrums

Fitz & The Tantrums came out next faced with the tough task of performing a set that would maintain the energy of the riled up crowd. The six members of Fitz & The Tantrums took their places on stage; keyboardist Jeremy Ruzumna, drummer John Wicks, and bassist Joseph Karnes were towards the rear of stage with James King on saxophone/flute,  Noelle Scaggs on backing vocals, and Michael Fitzgerald on lead vocals at the front of the stage. Luckily for Fitz & The Tantrums, their brand of revivalist '60s inspired soul made the task of delivering more energy to the crowd an easy one for these very capable performers.

Fitz & The Tantrums

The sweat inducing dance-athon began with "Don't Gotta Work It Out", as the crowd knew exactly what to do once they heard the keyboard stabs and drum beat. The crowd matched Fitz word for word as they sang along with him. "Breakin' The Chains of Love" kept the singing and dancing going. "Winds of Change" got the whole venue swinging their arms in the air, all the way to the upper balcony last row. With Fitz & The Tantrums the crowd's singing and dancing never stopped while the music went on, and the stage presence of the band, especially the dynamic between Michael Fitzgerald and Noelle Scaggs, kept the crowd fed with constant energy.

Fitz & The Tantrums

The only time the crowd stopped singing along was when Fitz & The Tantrums debuted a brand new song, which they said they wanted to make sure would get the 'Denver seal of approval'. Judging by the reaction of the crowd, it seems the mile high city did indeed approve. From there, the sing-along resumed with the band's soul infused cover of The Raconteurs' "Steady As She Goes". The rest of their regular set consisted of almost all the remaining songs off of their album Pickin' Up The Pieces, performed flawlessly with incredible energy and crowd involvement.

Fitz & The Tantrums

They ended their regular set with an epic eight and a half minute long rendition of "News 4 U", which incorporated both slow-dance and uptempo elements. The building walls were shaking all night, but they shook the hardest when the audience called for an encore. After a short respite Michael Fitzpatrick returned to the stage, asking the crowd if they wanted more and explaining the band was passed out in the back, so if the audience wanted them to return they better call them back loudly as to wake them up. The crowd obliged, nearly blowing the roof of the place with their wails.

Fitz & The Tantrums

The band returned to the stage and performed a sweeping three song encore, starting with a slow song off of their first EP, Songs For A Break Up Vol.1 titled "We Don't Need No Love Songs". Then they tore into another soul injected cover, this time of Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams". The night ended with another extended song, "Moneygrabber". Not only did the crowd sing along and dance to that final number, but they had every person in the venue get low to the floor and burst up into a boiling dance fest to close out the night - an incredible experience and sight to behold. Overall their set may not have changed much since the last time they were in Denver, but neither did the energy or the polish of their performance. It was still an incredible show having seen them before, and those that witnessed it for the first time will likely have the night lodged in their memories for a long length of time. If you need a little (or a whole lot) of soul in your life, Fitz & The Tantrums will have you covered.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

For those that wanted to keep the party going, the Larimer Lounge was the place to be. After the show concluded, the Larimer Lounge hosted local DJ and founder of Lipgloss, boyhollow, along with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. to perform DJ sets for an afterparty. The dance party began with boyhollow's set, mixing a smooth set of indie dance songs that got people in the dancing mood. Then Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. took the decks and mixed an amazingly eclectic but highly enjoyable set. Daniel Zott and Joshua Epstein left no stone unturned, mixing songs from all over the place - Mayer Hawthorne, Madonna, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Young M.C., The Chemical Brothers, Was (Not Was), Wang Chung, even the Tiger & Woods remix of their own song "Simple Girl". Although some transitions weren't buttery smooth, the crafty song selection brought excitement and smiles to those that came to afterparty, and I certainly wouldn't hesitate to seem them play out another set in the future - such a great way to end an amazing night.

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Concerted Effort makes its first return to the Ogden Theater this new year for an indie/soul spectacular. Two of the hottest bands around are visiting Denver, ready to deliver music that'll be sure to get the crowd dancing, joined by an indie band with local ties and a talent for songwriting. One band is new to me, but two of the bands I've seen before, and the prior performances of both those bands are still lodged in my memory because of how incredible they were to witness. Having them both in the same show is sure to be a treat.


The headliner is indie/soul band Fitz & The Tantrums. This six-piece band from Los Angeles has seen quite the meteoric rise since its inception nearly five years ago, just about becoming a household name over the past year or so. They did so by crafting songs extremely rich in soul, so much so that some who hear their music for the first time might conclude it came from an earlier era, because one wouldn't expect new soulful songs like theirs to be made in the present. The good news is, this band is for real and they are in the here and now, ready to deliver their incredibly danceable songs with stage presence so strong, it just has to be witnessed. Check out this live recording of "Don't Gotta Work It Out".
Dont Gotta Work It Out (Live) by Fitz and The Tantrums


Detroit based indie band Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. joins this strong lineup. This indie/electronic pop band crafts songs that are a little different, but extremely catchy and made to get people dancing. They combine rock elements using live guitar, bass, keyboards and drums, but also an electronic element that comes from clever sampling and live looping. To top it off, they perform with the high-energy stage presence of true Detroit rock stars. Check out "Vocal Chords".
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Vocal Chords by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.


American Tomahawk will get the evening started. This four piece indie rock band calls Denver home although they are currently based out of Los Angeles. This band is new to me, but it seems this band delivers heartfelt songs that manage to carefully balance moods. They seem to blend an atmospheric instrumental sound and emotive vocals with rhythms and melodies that keep everything slightly upbeat and not overly melancholy. Check out "No. One".
06 No. One by American Tomahawk

The Ogden Theater doors open at 7:00PM and the show starts at 8:00PM. The show is 16+ and tickets are $28. There is also a 21+ afterparty at the Larimer Lounge following the show featuring a Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. DJ set.
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