"Holy Underground is a multi-faceted music company that takes pride in operating with a collective mentality. We represent a variety of independent artists who we feel are putting out the best music Denver has to offer, and who have a conscious commitment to pushing the boundaries of our scene. We offer these artists services such as booking, management and publicity, in addition to running a record label HUG Records on the side. Our goal is to get our bands the local and national attention they deserve, and offer a lifeline for our artists to reach their full potential inside and outside our beloved Denver island."

So what does all that mean? It means that Holy Underground is committed to enriching and bringing more attention to the vibrant Denver music scene. Holy Underground is launching with a stable of ten strong local acts that cover a range of music styles: Achille Lauro, Cerulean, Flashlights, Force Publique, Hollagramz, LUST, ManCub, Mombi, Sauna and School Knights. Their goal is to allow these and other future local acts to break outside of the Denver market and garner national attention while allowing them to maintain Denver as a base, in turn making Denver more important to the overall national music scene.


It also means that this Saturday night is shaping up to be a great party, as Holy Underground will be showcasing the electro side of their lineup with ManCub, Force Publique, Cerulean and Flashlights. Steffi Graf from L.A. will keep the party going with a late night DJ set, and DJ Babyshoe will keep the party going in between sets. CRAP Eyewear will have sunglasses on hand to give away as well. Come out and celebrate and be a part of Holy Underground's mission to further the Denver music scene!

The Holy Underground Launch Party is at Larimer Lounge on Saturday, September 1st. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. The show is 21+ and the doors open at 8:00PM. Tickets and more information are available online here.

The third day of the Underground Music Showcase was packed with well over a hundred performances throughout the day. We caught as much as we could, capturing images from 17 different acts including: Air Dubai, A Place To Bury Strangers, BLKHRTS, Class Actress, DJ Tower, Flashlights, Gauntlet Hair, Kissing Party, Montbello Drum Line, Panal S.A. de C.V., option4, Pink Hawks, Shabazz Palaces, Slow Magic, Snake Rattle Rattle Snake, Soundboy Punishment, and TREES.

Last month Flashlights celebrated the release of their EP So Close To Midnight on limited edition pink cassette tapes with packed out Larimer Lounge show, but that wasn't the only thing new Flashlights debuted that night. For this first time in Denver, Flashlights performed as a three piece band enlisting the help of live drummer Taylor Thomas. Furthermore, in addition to performing the new music they were releasing that night, they debuted as of yet unreleased material. Flashlights mentioned that they were heading more towards dance music, and the last song they played, "Haunt Me Forever", was preview of that new direction. Check out the music video of that song made from the live audio and video recording from that night!


 Flashlights - "Haunt Me Forever" (Live) from Concerted Effort on Vimeo.

Keep your eyes on the Flashlights Facebook and Bandcamp pages to follow their updates and get a hold of their new music!

The Larimer Lounge last Saturday was the setting for Flashlights' cassette release party.   The theme for the evening seemed to be about trying something new; new members were added to all of the night's performing acts, either specifically for the show or as permanent additions.  Flashlights was trying something new by releasing a special edition cassette.  Larimer Lounge was trying something new with a backyard setup that now includes a hanging carpet; noise complaints in the area had kept both Larimer Lounge and the Meadowlark from having outdoors guests past a certain time, but it seems like both venues have been working to aleviate the problems and have since been able to open their respective porch areas.  Summer is a great time to try new things, especially things that include being outside in the cool evening air.



LUST is Dillon Morton, and this show was billed as LUST's live set, and so it was a special treat for the audience to see Morton use instruments in his performance.  Accompanied by a bassist and a Casio keyboard, Morton's dark and edgy electronic music was accentuated by a green glowing backlight and fog.  Morton played tracks from the 2011 Dark Water EP, music which he has described as based as an "erotic horror movie soundtrack," and seamlessly meandered through his set with little pause and not one more word spoken than absolutely necessary.  LUST: so spooky, so dance-y.  


Roniit is an electro-pop singer from Denver, and she was joined by her boyfriend Eric Brown for their first live performance together (she exclaimed in between songs, "I'm really excited - tonight I have a new band member!").  There were lots of laser-y lights aglow as the tiny Roniit took the stage, letting her voice speak for itself.  You might like her music if you're a fan of infectious pop tunes that get stuck in your head.  Highlight of the performance:  the guy who was on stage, helping control the strobe lights came out to whip up some energy in the audience, and attempted to do so by doing power-cardio handclap jumps.  He was atleast 6 feet tall, so his extension was wide and left most people in the front row to scatter; but, he got people moving as he surely set out to do.


I like the genre identifiers for Flashlights glo-fi and dream-pop; both have a relationship with the nighttime, which can also be "flashlight time."  The stage warranted the portable, battery-operated invention as machine fog billowed out and descended onto the crowd of fans.  Those closest to the stage could barely make out the silhouette of their neighbors in the ethereal setting that was not unlike a lagoon or maybe a dance graveyard.  With the candy-colored stage lights flipped on, the club atmosphere was ignited.  Ethan Converse and Alex Anderson are the most recent iteration of Flashlights, and were joined by Ethan's friend Taylor Thomas on stage who was in town from Austin, TX to play drums for the special event.


Ethan talks about his collaboration with Travis in the video interview exclusive to Concerted Effort - if you haven't watched it yet, check it out (there are some sweet fingerboard shots in there you won't want to miss, as well).  Flashlights performed songs off of their recently released EP, So Close to Midnight, as well as some brand new, never-before-heard tracks.  A few technical difficulties were quickly forgotten as the crowd enthusiastically danced to the glo-fi tunes in the brightly illuminated fog.  I have a little bit of a bias here: Flashlights never fail to impress me.  I'm looking forward to seeing them play again at the Westword Music Showcase this Saturday June 23, and am curious to see how Alex and Ethan pull off playing two sets for both Flashlights and ManCub (back to back at City Hall), now that they are both collaborators in each project.

Check out more photos from the night on our Facebook photo album!

Flashlights, one of Denver's best electro-pop bands, will be at the Larimer Lounge this Saturday, June 16, for the release party of their new EP So Close To Midnight. Concerted Effort had a chance to hang out with them in their practice space and got them on camera to discuss about their upcoming show. Watch them talk about what surprises they have in store, including the Denver debut of their new live drummer. Head over to the Concerted Effort Facebook page for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the show. Then head over to the show and get your hands on their EP on limited edition cassette!




This 18+ show takes place at the Larimer Lounge on Saturday, June 16 and also features Roniit and Lust.. The doors open at 8:00PM and the music starts at 9:00PM. Tickets are $10 and are available online here.

It may have been a Wednesday night, but at the Larimer Lounge it might as well have been a disco-worthy weekend night. Without even going into the strength of the lineup, the fact that the show was presented by both Holy Underground and TheHundred were immediate tip-offs that the night was going to be a party. Over the past six months, TheHundred has been making huge waves in the local house music scene, and rightly so thanks to some amazing parties. This may have been the first Holy Underground show, but judging by what they've got coming down the pipeline, they seem to know exactly what they are doing. Wednesday night featured a solid international act and some of the biggest names in the local scene. When it all came together - it was madness.

Peter Black

The night began with an opening DJ set from Peter Black. He's someone that has put in a lot of work into Denver's scene, both on stage and and in the background, and his qualities as a tastemaker tends to shine through in his sets. Tonight was no exception. Peter Black showed off the versatility of an experienced DJ by heating up the night with some smooth mid-tempo nu-disco tracks, allowing the early crowd to settle in and latch onto the groove as the venue started to fill in. It seems that pacing is becoming a lost art, but not under Peter Black's watch. That's what makes him a great act to see no matter where he is slotted in a lineup. He set the tone early and led the crowd smoothly into the next big local act.

Flashlights

Flashlights took the stage next, an electro/dream-pop duo whose infectiously danceable sound has begun to garner them attention well beyond just this city. Ethan Converse (lead vocals) and Alex Anderson (backing vocals) took their places on the darkened stage, each behind sequencers/controllers that they would use to manipulate their eventual barrage of ethereal dance songs. As their set began with "Glowing Eyes" off Flashlight's first EP, Hidden Behind Trees, the stage went aglow as well. A light mist of fog accentuated the colorful stage lights, while the added touch of a floor lights helped fill the venue with light and color from floor to ceiling and across the venue walls.

Flashlights

The pair played a solid set of songs both old and new. The dreamier, slightly more downtempo and chillwave-esque song "New Hampshire" came next, allowing the duo to work the crowd steadily into a full on dance party as their set progressed. Selections from their latest release, So Close To Midnight made up the middle of their set, where songs like "Fireworks" and "Ruby Sun" balanced the energy of electro-pop with a decidedly dreamy character, inciting the crowd to dance up a sweat but maintain a dose of cool. Flashlights also revealed a couple new songs, ending with "Haunting Me", a dream-pop piece with a healthy helping of disco-funk and monstrously delicious bass line. Flashlights proves time and time again why they are one of the best groups in Denver right now, and if you are a fan of electro/dream-pop or just plain like to dance, you need to see them if you haven't yet.

Tiger & Woods

Next up was the main event, the European nu-disco/future-boogie duo Tiger & Woods. The two have managed to keep mum about their identities and back story, instead choosing to let their music do the talking, and on Wednesday night, their music spoke loud and clear. Behind an impressive set up that contained a huge mixer, two laptops, and a pair of sequencer/controller/samplers, the duo unleashed their mid-tempo, snare heavy, disco inspired sound on the soon-to-be-drenched-in-sweat crowd.

Tiger & Woods

Using a blend of influences that stem from Italo disco, Minneapolis funk, boogie, Chicago house and Detroit techno, Tiger & Woods got the dance floor churning to their original productions. They kept a smooth flowing set of pieces available off their full-length release, Through The Green, as bodies became entranced to their catchy bass lines and their ability to emphasize the beat. I was expecting a straight forward DJ set, but the two were recreating their songs using their computer controllers right before the crowd. It meant that there were slight variations in their set that made hearing songs like "Don't Hesistate", "Dr. Burner" and "Love In Cambodgia" all that more contagious. If you want something a little more laid back but will still get you to boogie, check out Tiger & Woods.

option4

Another seasoned local DJ, option4 joined the night's lineup, playing a closing set to keep the night's party going. Although it was a Wednesday night, much of the crowd still felt the itch to dance through the night, so option4 kept the party going for another hour as he laced together a seamless set of groovy and deep house. He also unleashed a couple of his own productions on the crowd. First, he hit the crowd with his newly released bass-heavy deep house version of Daft Punk's "One More Time", a rendition that gives the song a brand new attitude while still keeping what makes the song so recognizable. Then later, he dropped the single off his upcoming EP, an entirely original production called "Ride On". That tech-house meets western piece has a hook so good it gets crowds to sing along while they tear up the dance floor. If you love house music, option4 will supply a steady diet in his sets. Keep an eye out for his upcoming release, because his productions are on another level.

It is nights like these that make Denver such a great music scene. Promoters in the know like Holy Underground and TheHundred are great at giving people what they want - even if the people aren't sure who it is they want yet. Tiger & Woods is still pretty underground, and there aren't many cities in the country right now who are up enough on the cutting edge like that to support a show like the one Larimer Lounge had last night. But thanks to everyone in Denver's great scene and especially the fans that come out in support, we are all ahead of the curve.

See more pictures from this show in the Facebook photo album. Like the Concerted Effort page to stay up to date.

It's been proven time and time again; Denver loves disco. Whenever house music and disco revival collide, people come from all around the city to boogie down on the dance floor. That was definitely the case the last time the Larimer Lounge hosted a disco party when Aeroplane came to town, and that looks likely to be the case again tonight when the Larimer Lounge hosts another excellent European nu-disco act. Tonight, TheHundred presents a surefire dance party when local heavyweights team up with Tiger & Woods.


Tiger & Woods is duo of DJ/producers that is shrouded in a bit of mystery. Somehow the two have been able to keep their backstory mostly under wraps, revealing little to the world about where they come from or what their identities are. What is known is that the pair come from Europe, and they started the project as a way to come up with some unique edits to play in DJ sets. The next thing they knew, the full length album Through The Green was born. A collection of mid-tempo disco gems that has been described as future boogie and disco-funk. Check out "Deflowered".



Flashlights will perform a set as one of the three solid local supporting acts for this show. The local duo will be performing their brand of electro/dream-pop that combines retro and contemporary influences to create a sound that is somewhere between ethereal and gilttery but engineered to be ripe for the dance floor. Their music has a glo-fi aesthetic but their passion for the party balances out any notion of 'chill'. Check out "Fireworks".



Peter Black is Denver DJ fixture who's known for continually making moves in the Denver scene. Along with  Analog Space, nowadays he just about books as many hot parties as he participates in. As a house music aficionado, he'll be sure to keep the crowd vibing hard in preparation for the full on disco party to come.


option4 is a resident Lipgloss DJ and founder of probably the hottest monthly house music night in Denver right now, TheHundred. This DJ works the crowd with ninja-like skills - he won't assault the dance floor all night long with abrasive 'bangers', instead using smooth grooves and deep house to incite dance parties - the perfect tactic to keep the dance floor packed all night long. Check out his bootleg of Daft Punk's "One More Time".



The Larimer Lounge doors open at 8:00PM and the party starts at 9:00PM. The show is 21+ and tickets are $15. Grab your ticket online here now or hope they'll still be available at the door, because these tickets won't last!

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.


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".

For my next installment of Halloween weekend celebration, I made my way to the Larimer Lounge to check out a Halloween bash presented by Analog Space. The Larimer Lounge was hosting local groups all featuring moody sounds that would make the perfect soundtrack to an awesome Halloween party, so I made my way down to both have a good time and support great local music. It may not have been the largest party in town that night, but that just gave it a feeling of exclusivity, and by the end of it all I was glad to have been part of the experience.

Peter Black

The night began with an opening DJ set from Analog Space's own Peter Black. He got the night started with a smooth mix featuring new tracks from the best artists in the underground tech house scene. He kept the speakers pumping out bass and snappy drums by lacing together house tracks that featured a multitude of different but related styles; 2-step, bassline, juke, UK garage, post-dubstep, grime, and more. Peter Black showcased the ability to lay down a continuous bass-heavy dance mix that sounded completely fresh and never relied on the mainstream. Fans of indie dance music should definitely check out Peter Black's style.

King Mob

Up next was local experimental electronic trio King Mob. When I first saw this band, I thought their peculiar blend of dark electro, dream-pop and almost retro influences would work perfectly for Halloween, so I was excited to catch this band again on this particular weekend. King Mob is Ben Martin, Charles Kern, and Sam Martin - all three handle different electronics controllers and synths to create their unique sound while Ben Martin also handles the vocal duties.

King Mob

King Mob started with the hypnotizing "U Remember", followed by the atmospheric "Moonchild". "Take My Hand, I'm Changing" was next, a song that sounds like a dark experimental version of new wave. They then performed a trio of songs soon to be released on a new EP that really balance out their dark, moody sound with captivating danceability. They finished with a slightly tweaked version of "The Wasp", enhancing the usually slow-building intro with a more driving uptempo beat before the song led into a slower funky 2-step garage-like bass section. I got what I wanted - King Mob for Halloween - and now I can't wait for them to release their new EP. If you are a fan of dark but dancey electro, check out King Mob's unique style.

Hollagramz

Next up was a DJ set from local electronic duo Hollagramz. The duo of Ron Cole and Cory Brown laid down a continuous mix of mostly their own brand of tropical influenced indie dance music. Their style of indie electro included heavy bass at a steady mid-tempo, combining world influenced rhythmic styles like calypso, raggaeton, and UK garage with techno influences from glitch, house and rave. All together, it makes for futuristic sounding dance music that is dark but not macabre. A couple standouts from their set were "Serpent Magnetism" and when they threw in N.W.A.'s "Fuck tha Police" and got people to dance with them up on stage. Check out Hollagramz if you are looking for indie dance music that hits but isn't just straight up hard house or dubstep.

Flashlights

Flashlights took the stage next to give the crowd a dose of their ethereal dream-pop. Sam Martin provided the dreamy synths and other-worldly beat work that gives Flashlights its electro-pop sound that is never glittery, but instead a fresh combination of chill and danceable. Ethan Converse provides the emotive vocals that are slightly more melodic than that of modern chillwave groups. Together, the instrumental and vocal package is incredibly catchy and sounds unlike anything out there - an abstract sound that is welcoming and accessible due to its peculiarity. The whole live experience is enhanced by the lighting used in their stage production, really making their performances seem like a pleasant dream.

Flashlights

I'd seen Flashlights a couple times before, so I thought I knew what to expect song-wise this time around. Flashlights started with one of my favorites, the strangely hard hitting but moody song "Glowing Eyes". Then they performed the atmospheric deep-in-a-dream dance song "New Hampshire". The last time I heard them, they revealed a new song, "New Hampshire Part II", and on this night they transitioned smoothly into that piece, keeping the dreamy feel of the original but really emphasizing the dance beat. But after that, Flashlights took the audience into uncharted territory, performing three new awesome songs to finish up their set. I can't wait for a Flashlights full-length album just so I can get my hands on these new delicious dream-pop songs. The new songs really kept the Flashlights signature feel but somehow got even more dance energy out of the crowd. If you are into dream-pop and/or chillwave, you better know Flashlights by now, but if you don't, get on it!

ManCub

Headliners ManCub came out last to close out the Halloween bash, and like I've become accustomed to seeing them do, they had a few new tricks up their sleeve to set this performance apart from any other one of theirs that I've seen before. The duo of Alex Anderson and James Wayne delivered another night of their hard hitting, face melting electro noise-pop, but they did so a little bit differently this time. Donning bear masks, the two took their places behind their circuit-board like rig while enveloped in a cloud of smoke. They had their back-lit 'MNCB' fabric backdrop and red and green laser show, but they pulled out a couple more stops by adding extra colored lighting to each side of the stage. It's never enough for ManCub to hit the crowd with their dance-party noise-pop, they have to provide an immersive show.

ManCub

ManCub's stage production set the mood up right, and they started the show with a couple more surprises - two brand new songs with ManCub's signature blend of dance beats, analog synths and filtered vocals, making for a style of electro-pop that almost sounded like a dance-punk version of chillwave. They brought out two older favorites, "8-Bit Crush" and "Made In Japan" before playing another newer song I've heard before but still believe has not been named. They then played a cover/remix of Queens of the Stone Age's "Feel Good", using the guitar riff from the song to turn ManCub's version into a dance-punk banger. Summer may be gone, but they made the crowd wet with "Summer Rain".

ManCub

Of course, since it was Halloween weekend, we had to hear ManCub's awesome electro version of "Ghostbusters". They finished with "The New Sound", a reworking of the original "Sound" that was even more dancey than it was before. That was supposed to be the last song, but the crowd wouldn't let them end it there, and since it was still just shy of closing time, ManCub treated the audience with an encore presentation of "Mt. Rushmore" - it sounded like they may have been reworking that one a little bit as well. I've seen many ManCub shows, and they're always constantly changing for the better, and that's what keeps me coming back. ManCub was the perfect way to end the Halloween bash on a high note, putting a cap on a great night of local music.

There are a lot of wonderful things going on in the local Denver music scene, all driven by dedicated musicians and an ever-growing number of supportive fans. If you didn't check out Saturday night's show, keep your eyes open for the next event featuring all local talent. Our local musicians work hard to make great music and provide a good time for those who support it, and that's what makes the local scene so great. Check out the scene if you haven't already, but be careful, because it'll keep you coming back.

See more pictures from this show in the Facebook photo album. Like the Concerted Effort page and stay up to date!

Halloween weekend is alive and well and tonight there will be plenty of festivities to choose from. I'll be headed to the Larimer Lounge for a Halloween bash featuring an awesome local lineup perfect for the occasion. I've seen all four bands on the bill live at least once before, and I know that each one of them has something to offer that will play well into the season's mood. It'll be a good chance to celebrate the night while enjoying authentic homegrown talent, and it should be one of the weekend's best parties.


Local electro noise-pop duo ManCub will be headlining the show. These guys will ignite the dance floor with their hard hitting analog synthesized electro music, and they'll have a few new tricks up their sleeve for this show tonight. Check out "The New Sound" and "Ghostbusters".
The New Sound by Mancub303
GHOSTBUSTERS MNCB final by Mancub303


Flashlights is a local dreampop group with an awesome unique sound. This duo pairs airy yet emotive vocals with a very creative production style. The production always sounds futuristic and otherworldly while having a retro feel to it, like a combination of synthwave and chillwave with a twist. Check out "Canoe" and "Holidays".
Canoes by FLASHLIGHTS
Holidays by FLASHLIGHTS


Hollagramz is a local electro duo that inject a sort of tropical influence into their production. They create thumping dark-tinged electro songs that have rhythms and sounds influenced by styles of music one would find playing on a Caribbean island, making for a unique blend with high danceability. Check out "Axis" and "Galactic Leash".
Axis by HOLLAGRAMZ
Galactic Leash by HOLLAGRAMZ


King Mob is a local trio that sounds like a cross between '80 new wave revival and darkwave at times mixed with hard electro. The first time I saw these guys I thought their music would make the perfect Halloween soundtrack, so I'm happy to catch them on Halloween weekend. Check out "Take My Hand, I'm Changing" and "The Wasp".
Take My Hand, I'm Changing by King Mob Music
Wasp by King Mob Music

The Larimer Lounge doors open at 9:00PM and the music starts at 10:00PM. This 21+ show is $10 at the door.

Sometimes all it takes is a blog to define, shape, and perpetuate a movement in the landscape of music. These days there are a lot of do-it-yourselfers out there, trying to fill a niche and expose people to things they are passionate about. Last night at the Larimer Lounge, Denver was treated to a show presented by a blog that featured a genre of electronic music first defined by a blog.

Glo Fi State of Mind presented by the blog Bonafide Hype, was a showcase of local electronic music and included a big name in the national chillwave scene. Glo fi (chillwave) is an emerging genre of electronic music characterized by its use of processed synths, samples and loops that draw much stylistic influence from '80s new wave and shoegaze, but is as airy as it is danceable. The vocals tend to have simple melodies and a highly filtered, reverberated sound. The term chillwave is purported to be coined by a blog, so it's appropriate and exciting that the show last night was put together by one.

Hollagramz

The show did not feature chillwave exclusively, offering a good mixture of electronic music along the way. The first group to take the stage was Hollagramz, Denver locals that took the influence of dubstep and blended it with house and world inspired beats to come up with something that doesn't quite fit in any existing genre, but is very pleasing to hear. The duo of Cory Brown and Ron Cole injected a wide variety of sounds and tempos into their set - going from slow with booming bass and womp, to fast paced tracks laced with beats with a heavy tropical, Latin and European influence. I loved their Hollagramz styled remix of "Show Me Love" by Robin S. and especially enjoyed their standout original 2-step-garage-meets-house-and-bass track "Serpent Magnetism".

E.V.S.

Next up was E.V.S. (Eternal Vibration Sequence), a new local jamtronica (electronic jam) band. Although not chillwave, these guys had the appropriate chill vibe in their music. Cole Hopfenspirger and Tom Moore manned the computers while Steven Bullen provided the drumming. Cole would also break out the electric guitar for some songs, while Tom would add percussion with bongos. They added a little extra stage production to go with their show, with a video projection put together by local artist and graphic designer Kevin Daviet. It was a very energetic and enjoyable performance - a set that included electronica similar to STS9 but to me, less repetitive and with more stylistic variance. It was a good high-energy blend of rock and electronic music; if you like electronic jam bands, keep on the lookout for this recent Global Battle of the Bands winner.

Flashlights

The show took a step towards chillwave when Denver local dreampop group Flashlights hit the stage. It was their first performance since returning home from a short west coast tour, and it seemed the crowd was happy to welcome them back, as they had the largest audience of the night. Flashlights got the mood right, dimming the lights to almost darkness aside from a few spinning stage lights that glowed like illuminated disco balls. It was a clever idea, but without spotlights on Ethan Converse and Sam Martin, it was hard to see what the band was doing. It's a shame, because the last time I saw Flashlights, what stood out to me was being able to clearly see the passion and expression on Ethan's face as he sang, and the hypnotic way Sam would bob to the music as he played the keyboard. Otherwise, it was a quality set from Flashlights, playing songs from Hidden Behind Trees, especially my three favorites "Holidays", "Glowing Eyes" and "New Hampshire", as well as some new material including "New Hampshire Part II", available on the GOLDRUSH music festival compilation.

Brothertiger

Finally it was time for the main event, Ohio's own chillwave extraordinaire Brothertiger. John Jagos brought to Denver with him his signature '80 inspired lo-fidelity beats, airy melodic synthesizers, and dreamy subdued vocals. I really like how reminiscent his style is to '80s new wave, but the synth and vocals make it well suited for a party in the clouds. I enjoyed the soft dance-ability and slow grooves of "Feels" and "Lovers". He also dropped one his newest releases, the infectiously melodic track "Like Water", with a pop-friendly synth line that sounds like gentle water droplets dripping into a clear pond.

There was a decent turnout at the Larimer Lounge last night, but no where near enough to create the required energy to best experience the show. All the featured music is still very new, and perhaps the word just hasn't gotten around far enough that this type of music exists. The local bands did a great job performance wise, and I'm excited that we have pioneers of new music right here in this city. Brothertiger was an extremely good representative of chillwave, but I think much of the crowd was frozen trying to figure out what they were seeing and hearing. Brothertiger's straight-forward stage production was anti-climactic compared to the two bands that were on stage before Brothertiger, which isn't a big deal to me, but I think had an affect on the way the crowd perceived the show.

Overall it was not a bad effort for first-time show producers Bonafide Hype. They did a good job of bringing in a solid lineup of talent, keeping the music close together in style but varied throughout the night to keep it all interesting. It wasn't the largest crowd, nor was it the most passionate I've seen, but as the music grows and evolves, so will the audiences that come to enjoy it. The people behind Bonafide Hype have a good ear for what's new in electronic music, so keep an eye out for their next production, as I'm sure they'll do an impeccable job.

See more pictures from this show in the Facebook photo album. Like the Concerted Effort page an keep updated.

It's time to head back to the Larimer Lounge for some more electronic goodness. Tonight, the Lounge will host three local Denver electronic bands and a national chillwave artist. It'll feature hot new electro sounds from across the spectrum - chillwave, dreampop, dubstep. Break out the glow sticks, put on some fluorescent colors, and come on out and dance the night away.

If I could be in two places at the same time, I would also be at the Marquis Theater tonight. Two of my favorite local Denver electronic bands, Flashlights and Force Publique will be there. Denver local hip-hop artist Whygee is also nothing to shake a stick at, and local electronic artist R E A L M A G I C is finding a lot of play in my music rotation lately.


Flashlights is kicking off their late summer tour by starting in Denver tonight. These guys have been getting a lot of exposure lately, especially after winning best electro-pop band at the Westword Music Showcase this summer. These guys have a very unique electro dream-pop sound. I saw these guys perform at the showcase and they are quite good. Ethan Converse and Sam Martin get really into their set, and the expression literally drips off their faces. Check out "New Hampshire". I've never been to that state, but the way they sing about really makes me want to go there.


Force Publique is another band I saw at Westword Music showcase, and was sad to narrowly miss as openers for Battles last month. These guys have a very experimental electro-rock sound that I can't quite describe and took me completely by surprise at first - but now I keep playing their eponymous EP on loop. I'm sure their sound isn't for everyone, but if you're looking for something new, check out "Still Falls Apart" and "Fortified".


Whygee is a veteran MC and beat-boxer who has been a part of various Denver hip-hop projects. Fans of classic hip-hop will enjoy Whygee's style, as he pays homage to the greats while injecting his own, Colorado influenced style. Nod your head to the soulful song, "She Said".




R E A L M A G I C is an up an comer in the Denver electronic music scene, who fits right in line with the chillwave scene. He's like the local version of Chad Valley, but draws a bit of his sound from drum-and-bass and dubstep. By no means is he going to womp your face off though or get you running through the jungle. Instead, it's like more like easy listening for bass fans. Check out "No Things Left".




The party starts at the Marquis Theater at 8:30PM. Tickets are $10 at the door. Go support some great local talent!

New Hampshire by FLASHLIGHTS Still Falls Apart by FORCE PUBLIQUE Fortified by FORCE PUBLIQUE She Said (prod. by Mirrorkill) by Whygee R E A L M A G I C - No Things Left by licas