Ten years ago a group of punk rockers in Los Angeles came together to form a hardcore punk band called The Bronx. After a few years, their high energy sound and performances got the band to release their second studio album on a major label, and with it came an unexpected turn and the birth of the band's alter ego. It came somewhat unexpectedly, as the emergence of that alter ego came out of spite. The Bronx was asked to play on a television show, but with a request that didn't please this group of punk rockers - they were asked to play an acoustic version of one of the songs off of their second album. Not wanting to do anything soft or watered down, The Bronx decided to take it into a new direction entirely - they donned sombreros and performed the song in mariachi style.


Just like that, Mariachi El Bronx was born. What started unexpectedly ended up being an idea that The Bronx embraced. The Bronx was never intended to be a soft and quiet band, so the Mariachi El Bronx alter ego breathed new life into the band members and allowed both bands to progress in ways they might not have otherwise. Now Mariachi El Bronx two albums, both of them eponymously named, with the latest being released last year. With that, the band's fusion of mariachi and punk became an earnest endeavor, beyond how it started as sort of a joke. Their fusion of seemingly opposite cultures may perhaps be the most punk rock thing they've done. Check out "Map of the World".



Two Gallants, a folk rock duo from San Francisco will kick off the night of music. The band is made up of childhood friends Adam Stephens and Tyson Vogel who began playing music together since the mid '90s. About a decade later, they began fusing together roots/folk music with the punk and grunge music they grew up around in the San Francisco bay area that now is characteristic of the Two Gallants sound. Check out "The Hand That Held Me Down".


The Fox Theatre doors open tonight at 8:30PM and the show starts at 9:00PM. The show is all ages and tickets are $17 at the box office (+$2 for under 21 tickets). Tickets and more information are available online here.

Friday night's show at the Fox Theatre in Boulder was a great showcase of extreme talent and versatility, featuring a visiting performer and a slew of Colorado's own very capable musicians. People lined up early to catch this show, with a steadily growing crowd that became comfortably packed before the touted headlining band took the stage. With a lineup and setting ideal for a quality evening of folk based music, it was little wonder why people seemed to flock to this Boulder show.

Nick Jaina

The night began with a performance from singer/songwriter Nick Jaina from Portland. Nick Jaina has performed his songs with up to about a dozen backing band members, but on this night he was accompanied by a bassist, drummer, and for a couple of songs, a female duet singer. Together, they performed Nick Jaina's lyrically profound songs with melodies and instrumentation just as profound. Although Nick Jaina's sound has a noticeable contemporary folk influence, his performance was in between modern indie rock and Americana, driven by Nick Jaina's electrified acoustic guitar.

Nick Jaina

Nick Jaina performed a collection of his original material, cooing the crowd with his earnest, delicate, yet strong voice that delivered his well crafted melodies in a calming low tone or soothing falsetto. His electrified acoustic guitar almost made it seem as if there were two guitarists on stage, as one could hear a faint acoustic steel-string guitar shadowing every amplified strum. The deliberately paced bass and drums gave his music presence. My favorite songs were duet pieces, "Sebastopol" and "Cincinnati" - Nick Jaina and his guest vocals had a strong dynamic and the songs themselves were incredibly beautiful. After seeing his set, it was hard for me to believe I hadn't heard of Nick Jaina before, as his songs were incredible and they lingered with me long after the show. If you like indie folk-rock/Americana, I highly recommend seeking out Nick Jaina's music.

Patrick Dethlefs with Eye & The Arrow

Up next was Eye & The Arrow with Patrick Dethlefs. Before the show, I imagined this portion would be a collaborative performance between those artists, but it ended up being closer to two separate performances. Eye & The Arrow performed first in their three-piece band configuration featuring Paul DeHaven on vocals/guitar, Mark Anderson on drums, and Jason Haas-Hecker on bass. Then, Patrick Dethlefs came out to perform his original songs while Eye & The Arrow acted as his backing band along with two female vocalists adding harmonies to the mix. It was a pleasant surprise to get more than I was bargaining for.

Eye & The Arrow

The first few songs by Eye & The Arrow were their characteristic blend of folk and classic country with a contemporary twist that I've become very fond of. Their seemingly old west influenced style conjures up images of tumbleweeds, dust, the scorching desert sun and horses parked outside of saloons, but at the same time it doesn't sound out of place in the present time - a good representative of vintage-modern. They performed a handful of their original songs including standouts like "Sheep And Goats" and "Stutter Beat" to the delight of the crowd.

Patrick Dethlefs

Then Patrick Dethlefs and his accompanying singers came out on stage, and although half the people on stage were from the previous band, a new songwriter and lead vocalist definitely transformed the sound. Patrick Dethlefs' songs had a sort of vintage folk feel to them as well, but more in a reminiscent way - the songs seemed to cause people to peer back at the past as opposed to being completely transported there - an impressive achievement for such a young songwriter. Patrick Dethlefs calls the small town of Kittredge, CO home, and a sort of rustic way of life permeates through his songwriting. Patrick Dethlefs performed pieces of his collaboration album with Eye & The Arrow and also songs off his upcoming album Fall & Rise. Patrick Dethlefs seems to epitomize what it means to be a Colorado folk singer-songwriter, and he is definitely worth checking out.

Paper Bird

Lastly, Paper Bird came out on stage to perform their anticipated headlining set. There were seven  band members on stage for this performance; Sarah Anderson (vocals, trumpet), Genevieve Patterson (vocals), Esmé Patterson (vocals), Caleb Summeril (banjo, harmonica), Paul DeHaven (guitar), Macon Terry (bass), and Mark Anderson (drums). They performed a comprehensive set of their catalog that showed off their impressive range of skill. The band's music is rooted in contemporary folk, but a variety of influences will appear in their sound throughout their music, setting this band apart from most others out there.

Paper Bird

The one element that truly seems to define the Paper Bird sound became immediately evident as the band opened up with "Dear Friend" - the intricate vocal harmonies of the band's three lead singers. Singing close harmonies with the grace and beauty of synchronized swimmers coupled with the skill and precision of fighter jet pilots in tight formation, their voices brought depth and a lively quality to the band's already powerful sound. At any moment one of the three could take lead vocals with their commanding voice, but when all three sang together it was truly artful.

Paper Bird

Paper Bird performed a sweeping set of about twenty-five pieces that spanned their repertoire. They performed songs like the roots/Americana/bluegrass influenced "Lost Boys" and "Boxcars And Thistles". They blended folk with a hint of jazz with songs like "Band of Angels". Even the men showed of their lungs with "Witch of the Waves". They really showed off their versatility with some of the selections they performed from Carry On, an album they composed for a ballet. Before they performed the epic world influenced piece "Drekovsky", they spoke of a quote Paul DeHaven said to the Westword, "The ballet changed everything. There's nothing we can't do." Judging by the intricacy, complexity and sheer beauty of the aforementioned piece, I'd have to agree with that assessment.

Paper Bird

Paper Bird did a great job of taking the audience along with them on their musical journey, sharing not only their music but pieces of their individual personalities along the way. From their version of the birthday song arranged in Paper Bird fashion dedicated to singer Genevieve Patterson, to pop culture tidbits, interesting personal anecdotes, and other entertaining asides, Paper Bird kept the audience engaged both during and between their songs. Whether the audience was singing along to songs like "By The Wind, Sailor" or dancing up a storm to "Colorado", there was never a dull moment. Not only is Paper Bird very capable of incredible songwriting, they did not disappoint when it came to live performance. If you are a fan of folk and haven't seen Paper Bird yet, you're missing out on some of the best Colorado has to offer.

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

The first show I covered for this blog at the Fox Theatre was an indie folk show, and since then I've developed an affinity for the two together. I've seen many different types of shows there before and since, and they were great, but there is something powerful to me about going to the Boulder Valley to the storied Fox Theatre for a show like the one upcoming on Friday, March 9th. Two of Denver's finest contemporary folk bands will be at this show, joined by a visiting a singer-songwriter.


The headliner is Paper Bird, a local eight-piece ensemble that has been continually capturing listener's ears and hearts since their inception about five years ago. With four albums under their belt, they have revealed incredible songwriting skill and musicianship through their repertoire of songs. Their music is driven by banjo, guitar, stand-up bass, percussion, trombone and intricate multi-part harmonies, creating contemporary folk songs with a host of other influences including world music, jazz, roots music and blues. Check out this amazing and eclectic piece, "Drekovsky", from their latest album Carry On.



Two other amazing musical forces will join forces in a performance on this night - Eye & The Arrow with Patrick Dethlefs. I have covered Eye & The Arrow on this blog before, and they have always impressed me with their rustic style folk. This time, the Denver trio will work together with singer/songwriter/guitarist Patrick Dethlefs. Patrick Dethlefs is based out of Kittredge, CO, where he learned to play guitar and began penning his own songs at an early age. His soothing voice, acoustic guitar and well crafted songs should pair well with the musicality of Eye & The Arrow. Check out "The Farther You Go".


Nick Jaina is a singer-songwriter based out of Portland, OR. He performs his music in various configurations, be it solo or with the help of up to a ten-piece backing band. He is doing a small tour in between a couple festivals, and this Fox Theatre show will be a stop along the way. For this show, he'll be accompanied by a drummer and bassist. It seems that in any configuration, Nick Jaina is able to deliver his beautifully constructed and heartfelt songs with powerful performances. Check out "Sebastopol (A Bird In The Opera House)".


The show takes place on Friday, March 9th at the Fox Theatre. The doors open at 8:30PM and the music starts at 9:00PM. The show is all ages and tickets are $12 in advance or $15 the day of the show (+$2 for under 21 tickets). Tickets and more information are available at the Fox Theatre website. You can also win tickets from Concerted Effort - check the Concerted Effort Facebook page for more details!

Exactly a week later, I found myself back in Boulder for another good show. It was another mix of established and up and coming talent, albeit last week it was all about hip-hop, and this time it was an indie rock showcase. This trip wasn't as steeped in nostalgia as the one the week before, but the flood of college day memories still washed over me a bit as I waited to enter the venue - watching fresh faces eagerly file in to an anticipated show.

The night began with one of my favorite local groups, Flashlights. For reasons outside of my control, I could not enter the venue until just after the electro-pop duo finished their set and left the stage. It was torture standing outside the venue doors, only able to see the two figures on a small LCD viewing screen without any sound, catching two-second glimpses of some of my favorite songs whenever someone would open the door to enter/exit the venue. I patiently waited for the venue to verify my photo credentials hoping I could catch at least one song, since Flashlights was playing a lot of new material from their upcoming EP, but alas the verification came too late. Lucky for me, Flashlights calls Colorado home, so I shouldn't have to wait long to get another chance.

Races

Next up was Los Angeles band Races. This six-piece indie rock band featured Wade Ryff (guitar/vocals), Garth Herberg (guitar), Devon Lee (vocals/percussion), Breanna Wood (piano/vocals), Oliver Hild (bass/moog), and Lucas Ventura (drums/percussion). This band crafts a blend of indie rock that is both dreamy and uplifting. They layer lofty, soft textured sounds with the guitars, keyboards and vocals juxtaposed over powerful percussion and grappling rhythms. Their most ethereal and introspective songs still hold tight with a driving rhythm, and when they want their sound to expand it explodes into something delightful.

Races

They began their set with an atmospheric introductory song that led into their single "Big Broom". It was a steady build up that slowly built intensity - a soft explosion into the single. "Big Broom" embodies the Races sound, something large that will gently but assuredly sweep the listener away. Their performance of "All For You" had the same effect - a carefully balanced song that, although mellow, was completely enslaving. Races delivered all of their music with incredible conviction and tantalizing stage presence that definitely enhanced their balanced musical attack. This is definitely an indie rock band to keep your eyes on in the near future.

El Ten Eleven

Lastly, acclaimed indie rock veterans El Ten Eleven hit the stage. The duo of Kristian Dunn (guitar, bass) and Tim Fogarty (drums) have been at their craft over the last decade, creating an indie rock sound that combines post-rock with ambient experimentalism through creative use of live looping and effects pedals. They create a sound that continues to build in intensity and intricacy as loops are played live, recorded, and played over throughout each song. Their intricate rock pieces have a unique footprint that stands alone, and seeing it all come together live was just that much more delightful.

El Ten Eleven

At first glimpse, El Ten Eleven's stage setup seemed pretty straightforward and simple, but upon closer inspection, they had quite the impressive rig. Tim Fogarty sat behind an impressive drum kit that merged both an acoustic and electronic kit into one. Kristian Dunn had a double-neck guitar/bass strapped onto him with an extra double-neck guitar/bass and fretless bass stowed away to use on upcoming songs. The setup that makes their live looping sound work was cleverly projected via top-down view closed circuit camera onto the rear of the stage, revealing a couple panels on the floor of scattered with various looping and effects pedals. The projection revealed just how much careful timing and footwork is involved in addition to the pure musicality involved in creating the El Ten Eleven sound.

El Ten Eleven

They started their set with the rhythmic dance-rock jam "Indian Winter" off their latest album It's Still Like a Secret, a song with an upbeat mood thanks to its driving rhythm, melodic bassline and varied guitar work - a great party starter. It's Still Like a Secret seemed to be the product of the band's experience - a collection of songs that combines the experimental ambiance of their early material with energetic danceability they later explored.

Most of their set including selections from their latest album, but of course, a veteran band like El Ten Eleven will be sure to mix in old favorites as well. They smoothly went from "The Sycophants Are Coming! The Sycophants Are Coming!" into "Jumping Frenchmen of Maine" from These Promises Are Being Videotaped. I like how they ended with a couple selections from Every Direction Is North; "Hot Cakes" and "3+4".

El Ten Eleven

The future also bodes well for El Ten Eleven. I think one of the most impressive pieces they played all night was a new song called "Transistions". Kristian Dunn was sure to stipulate that everything heard that night was live with no pre-programmed computer aid, and that this new piece was especially difficult because of the variance in time signature and tempo. It was a good disclaimer, because after a few seconds into the song the duo had to restart because of a fouled loop, but I think that actually added to the live experience and really demonstrated the complexity of performing their songs. The second attempt was the charm, and the song took the audience on a sweeping journey through all its technicality.

El Ten Eleven

The El Ten Eleven sound may not be the most accessible form of indie rock out there, but there is a lot to appreciate within it. Somehow the two can combine great timing and technicality into songs that incite a lot of energy. The two deliver it with a lot of enthusiasm and interaction that really riles up the crowd. The Fox Theatre audience was bubbling with excitement throughout their entire set, with loud cheers between each song. Those that appreciate post rock and math rock will definitely enjoy seeing an El Ten Eleven show.

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

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

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.

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".

Wednesday night's show at the Fox Theatre in Boulder was just the change of pace I needed. Just about every other show I've seen this month has been contemporary music, with much of it pushing boundaries by relying on technological advances and computer aids to create new and intriguing sounds. I'm not saying I didn't like seeing any of that, but it was certainly refreshing to catch three bands Wednesday night that incorporate more traditional styles of music, relying on good old musicianship to propel their sound.

Boom Chicken

The first band was the most traditional of the bunch, Boom Chicken, a bluegrass band from Boulder. This four-piece band used the traditional bluegrass stringed acoustic setup; Nick Dunbar, Dustin Grier, Jeff Kazmierski, and Kyle Ussery all on mandolin, banjo, bass, and guitar. They produced a very authentic bluegrass sound by performing traditional songs, covers and their own original Boom Chicken songs. Not only was the instrumentation spot-on, but the band traded off vocal duties to present crisp, clear, and impressively tight harmonies that were a joy to listen to.

Boom Chicken

Boom Chicken performed eight songs that showcased their plucking prowess. They played traditional bluegrass pieces like "Old Slew Foot" as well as any other bluegrass ensemble would. They covered prominent bluegrass musician Tim O'Brien, turning one of his pieces into an enjoyable four-part instrumental. The best part of their performance, however, was their original pieces. Boom Chicken created songs like "The Fowl's Descent", "Sea of Tears" and "Behind The Bar" that sound so authentic they could easily be mistaken for a traditional song from the late 1800s. If you are in the mood for high energy traditional bluegrass, Boom Chicken will deliver.

Jet Edison

Next up was Jet Edison, a Boulder four-piece band that performs a great blend of jazz, blues, rock and funk. Alex Johnson handles the drums, Phil Johnson plays the keyboards, Max Kabat handles the guitar, and Adam Mason holds down the bass. The quartet produces high energy music that is reminiscent of old blues bar bands, performing crowd-pleasing songs that do well to incite dancing. The band consists of very talented musicians, who aren't afraid to showcase their instrumental skill by doing live improvisation. Although they throw in a lot of improv, it is never so abstract or drawn out as to take away from the groove, thus maintaining the identity of each song.

Jet Edison + Euforquestra

Jet Edison performed seven songs that had very strong elements of jazz and blues. Songs like "Tennessee Takedown", "Alaska" and "Gold" managed to combine the energy of blues-laden rock 'n' roll with the technicality of improvised jazz, especially through the keyboard/organ work. "Air Rescue Alliance" showcased the musical skill of each member in the band, keeping the audience engaged and dancing throughout the entire epic 10+ minute song. For their finale, they brought up two members of Euforquestra for assistance; saxophonists Ryan Jeter and Austin Zalatel. They needed that horn power so they could play an awesome cover of Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" to the delight of the crowd. For those looking for great representatives of more traditional jazz and blues based rock, check out Jet Edison.

Euforquestra

Finally it was time for the highly anticipated headliners, Euforquestra. This six-piece band used tenor and alto saxophone (Ryan Jeter, Austin Zalatel), electric guitar (Mike Tallman), drums (Adam Grosso), bass (Ben Soltau), keyboards (Matt Wright), and percussion (Matt Grundstad) to create a stunning range of a variety of sounds. Euforquestra is known for their ability to combine world music elements into their music, but Wednesday night they showed that they can pretty much handle any type of music they want.

Matt Grunstad of Euforquestra

The performance started with "Medicine Bow Run", a funk-rock song with a polyrythmic afrobeat base that immediately got the lively Fox Theatre crowd dancing like mad for the entire 10+ minute duration of the song. The song may have been lengthy, but from the dance floor it seemed to be over in an instant because it was just that much fun to listen to. After another lengthy dance fest, Euforquestra showed that they can give their signature treatment to cover songs as well.

Euforquestra

Euforquestra transitioned smoothly from their prior afrobeat and reggae inspired songs to hit the crowd with some hard funk. Just in case there was someone still in the building not dancing, Euforquestra unleashed a James Brown cover that guaranteed nobody would be standing still; "Get Up Offa That Thing". From there it was more classic funk, this time from funk extraordinaire Herbie Hancock. Euforquestra kept it going, transitioning between afrobeat and funk-rock for a few more songs to keep people busy on their feet.

Ben Soltau of Euforquesta

As if to make sure everyone could endure the dance fest, Euforquestra slowed the tempo down with some reggae and dub. The intensity of their songs was still sky high, garnering crazy reactions from the crowd, but people transitioned from wild funk dancing to a more manageable and laid back groove. The audience wasn't ready to calm down just yet though, they just used whatever energy they saved from the slower-tempo dancing to loudly sing along to Euforquestra's songs in the most carefree manner I've seen in a long time.

Adam Grosso of Euforquestra

Towards the end of Euforquestra's set, they showcase their ability to meld songs together and show off their improvisation skills. Each instrumentalist had a chance to present their skill-set, and it all came together in lively performances of original songs like "The Events of December 11" and "Soup". But before Euforquestra ended their regular set, they had to sneak in one more cover, a thrilling rendition of Talking Head's "Life During Wartime", complete with the whole band running in place as they played their instruments.

Matt Wright of Euforquestra

By the end of that song, Euforquestra had played for nearly two hours. However, the crowd showed no sign of fatigue, and as the band left the stage, the crowd had enough energy to loudly call Euforquestra back for more. The six members of the band emerged from backstage still looking as energetic as ever, and obliged the crowd with one more song. They ended the night with an encore performance of the upbeat vintage ska inspired song "Feel Together", getting the entire crowd to jump up and down wildly to the beat as Euforquestra thanked the crowd through song. By the end, the exhaustion finally seemed to set in, as the crowd held nothing back for the last song.

Euforquestra

Going to a Euforquestra show is not just about going out to hear some good music, it is about immersing yourself into an entire crazy experience. Euforquestra plays with incredible skill and energy that crowds pick up on immediately, and Euforquestra does a commendable job at mixing in a wide variety of musical influences into one coherent concert event. If you are a fan of afrobeat, jazz, funk, rock 'n' roll, reggae, dub, ska, and/or other types of world music, you need to experience the euphoria of a Euforquestra show.

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

I'm finally heading back to Boulder for another show at the Fox Theatre. On October 12, the Fox Theatre will host three local bands that boast very different, distinct styles - not only from each other, but from most that is out in the mainstream. Music lovers that are looking for something different should come check out this show, it will be a good night of diverse music.