The second day of the 2012 Underground Music Showcase crammed even more great music into another fun-filled night. With the festivities beginning earlier and the main stage open, day two definitely made it known that the festival was in full swing. There were plenty of highlights that happened this day - check out images from these performers: A Shoreline Dream, Big Freedia & The Divas, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Force Publique, Il Cattivo, Le Divorce, ManCub, Men In Burka, Narky Stares/Teena Pizza, Peter Black, and Signal Path.

Underground Music Showcase 2012 Day 2 from Concerted Effort on Vimeo.

It's no secret that we at Concerted Effort love the Hi-Dive, especially reflecting back on how much this blog has been there, even in the past week. I keep repeating myself, but this venue just knows how to bring in the right bands and put on great shows. But the venue doesn't just rely on touring bands to achieve that, the Hi-Dive maintains a commitment to supporting the local scene as well - a strong commitment at that. Not only do local bands have the chance to open for several national and international headlining acts, but the Hi-Dive offers prime dates to local bands that really highlights the venue's dedication to the scene - as was the case with the locals only showcase on Friday night.

Mombi

The night began with a performance from Mombi. Mombi is a three-piece band featuring Kael Smith (vocals, guitar), Matt Herron (synth), and Michael Behrenhausen (drums) that created ambient and atmospheric music both electronically and organically. Background sound, sometimes wispy, sometimes cavernous, created a moody and hollow space, filled by gentle synths, careful drumming, and effected guitar that ghostly shadowed deliberately frail vocals.

Mombi

Mombi's latest album, The Wounded Beat, embodies that characteristic sound just described, although features a lot of acoustic guitar that almost adds a folk dimension to the band's sound. On this night, Kael Smith elected to play electric guitar, which helped instill a cold and dark atmospheric sound throughout Mombi's brief set. Mombi took the audience on a steady, cautious journey through four songs, ending on the weightless yet tense piece "Monsoon". Mombi does a great job of creating something that sounds simultaneously enormous yet empty - like dust floating in the blankness of space. If ambiance is your thing, Mombi excels at it.

Peter Black

Between sets, Peter Black played short DJ sets. Always displaying high degrees of versatility, Peter Black employed an incredibly wide range of styles on this particular night. Tucked away on the rear mini stage, Peter Black smoothly blended futuristic and atmospheric electronic selections with songs pulled from post-rock, ambient rock, dreamwave, and gothic rock; an impressive combination of sounds and a testament to Peter Black's ability to select songs appropriate for any occasion. Whether or not he's featured on the main stage, if he is behind the decks he will get the job done.

Force Publique

Next up was a highly anticipated set from Force Publique. Force Publiques synth-heavy darkwave sound and strong songwriting locked my attention long ago when I first saw them, and they quickly became one of my local favorites. But, Force Publique had been quiet lately, hard at work on new material and not performing live shows - the last time I saw them perform was October of last year. On Friday, Force Publique performed as the duo of Cassie McNeil (vocals, guitar, bass) and James Wayne (synths, MPC). They revealed a set of brand new material that continued their darkwave theme but certainly had some notable and exciting differences.

Force Publique

Force Publique opened their set with "Breathe The Lie", and the first thing I noticed was that Cassie McNeil was weilding a guitar - she had only ever performed with a bass and sometimes on synth when I'd seen them before. The next thing I noticed was James Wayne's Roland synth - I'd only ever seen him with a Moog before. The guitar and second synth added more depth to their sound, which was still decidedly Force Publique but seemed to have even more darkness and atmosphere to it in their new songs. Cassie McNeil also switched back to bass on some songs, and there were some pieces where she sang exclusively - something else entirely new. The beat work on Force Publique's new songs were very impressive, showing off a variety of beat styles and even more rhythmic intricacy. If James Wayne wasn't playing one synth (or both), he would be using his hands to lay down drum beats with his MPC. Although sometimes I felt the new pieces would have a little more presence with a live drummer like they've had before, I couldn't help but be impressed overall with all the new material - both in concept and execution. This is shaping up to be a big year for Force Publique, and I can't wait to get my hands on their next album.

School Knights

School Knights took the stage next for their headlining set. With an atmospheric/ambient set to lead off the night, and a gothic/darkwave set next, when School Knights' began performing their noise/garage rock, it set off like a nuclear explosion in contrast. Ben Donehower (bass, vocals), Morris Kolontyrsky (guitar), Zack Roif (drums), and Michael Stein (guitar, vocals) were back again, combining a host of rock sub-genres like alt-rock, surf-rock, punk, and lo-fi with a noisy aesthetic and lighthearted if not a bit satirical and sarcastic attitude. Loud, distorted, and noisy guitars matched up with fleeting drums to propel their chaotic sound and lay under the reverberated vocals, but it was controlled chaos.

School Knights

School Knights started their set with "Problem", a song where melodic lead guitar lingered just below a distorted wall of sound and Ben Donehower's vocals. That lingering melody drove School Knights' retro-like surfy punk-garage sound, while the loud distortion began to rile up the crowd. That lingering guitar-work craftily moved above the surface as School Knights' set progressed. "Brother" upped the tempo a bit, and so did the prominence of School Knights' guitar work, with the licks becoming much more rapid and injecting energy into the sound. By the time School Knights' performed their third song, the recently released single "Bender", the crowd was jumping around as quickly and wildly as Morris' fingers were hammering his frets.

School Knights

School Knights continued on smoothly, expertly blending their noisy aesthetic with the surf/punk/garage sound. They performed another newly released single, "Present Tense", with vocals melodic enough to create a sort of noise-pop sound, but delivered in a such a carefree fashion it maintained a raw, punk rock 'n' roll feel. School Knights continued to perform as yet released songs off of their forthcoming album, to the delight of a progressively rowdy crowd. Bodies thrashed up, down and side-to-side as the crowd lost themselves to School Knights' tactically abrasive sound. Fans of energetic noise-punk need to keep their eyes open for School Knights' next album release.

As much credit is due to the venue for providing a place for these local bands to showcase their talent, so to does credit go to the bands and the droves of people who came to support it all. It may not always work out like it did Friday night, but when it all comes together it's a beautiful thing. The persistence of bands to keep moving forward while spreading the word and different band's willingness to work together can pay off in the form of a great show, as long as they have great outlets to exhibit themselves. Support local music whenever you can to keep nights like these a regular thing.

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

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!

Steeped in superstition, people are often wary of Friday the 13th, but for a certain monthly dance party this past Friday the 13th was a date to remember. Over the course of just one year, a small upstart queer-friendly all ages dance party affectionately called Damn Gurl had been recognized beyond just its niche, recently winning the title of Denver's "Best Dance Party" from the local publication Westword. Created as a safe place to dance for the GLBT community, the open and accepting atmosphere made the event appealing for anyone that simply wanted to have a good time. This particular Friday the 13th was a momentous occasion, marking Damn Gurl's one year anniversary. I went to check out the celebration and ended up finding a dance party quite unlike any other I've seen before.

Werq

I entered through the unassuming front door to be greeted by smiling faces at a decorated table ready to accept donations for entry. Then I went through a hallway and a small room, where the only hint of a party thus far was the greeter's table and streamers covering the open doorways. But once I passed into the main room, there was no doubt I was in the right place as the lights and decor instantly made it known. I arrived just in time to catch a set from Damn Gurl resident DJ Werq, who was working the decks with house music to coax the early crowd to the dance floor. As Werq provided the soundtrack, I soaked in the surrounding atmosphere, and even early on I could tell this party was quite unique.

Peter Black

It turned out Damn Gurl is a party that happens in various stages, with a steadily growing and ever-changing crowd as the party progresses through the night. The one constant seemed to be the open and accepting atmosphere that felt comfortably judgment-free. As local DJ Peter Black took the decks next, pumping deep house vibes through the speakers, a steady flow of dancers came trickling into the place, until suddenly the dance floor was bustling with bodies - bodies of all shapes, sizes, colors and orientations. The inviting atmosphere of Damn Gurl attracted anyone that wanted to party, allowing individuals to be as expressive and creative as they pleased, making for truly genuine personalities within the venue walls.

CacheFlowe

By the time Denver local CacheFlowe began his DJ set, the next stage was well under way - a full on sweaty dance party with such vivid energy it was almost surreal. CacheFlowe kept the dance floor fed with a steady diet of house music, hip-hop and booty jams, with the dance floor chomping heartily on every single beat. Another effect of Damn Gurl's accepting atmosphere is that people are free to dance as they please - there is no pretension and no one cares how you choose to do it - no wonder Damn Gurl has received the recognition it has for being a great place to dance.

ASiEL

Damn Gurl switched things up a bit around midnight, flipping on the house lights and creating a space on the dance floor for the next local performer, ASiEL. The self-proclaimed "King of Hip-Pop", grabbed the microphone as the crowd surrounded him on the dance floor. Soon, heavy bootylicious beats blared from the speakers as ASiEL began to rhyme over them, spitting unabashedly gay lyrics steeped in truth, humor and pride in a high energy display that much of the crowd adored.

PNut

After that, there was still much more party left in the tank. Where most parties start winding down around this time, Damn Gurl kicked it into another gear. Local DJ Pnut took the decks next, supplying the crowd with a mid-tempo mix. The set was at the perfect balance for it's slot in the night - fast enough to keep people moving but not so much as to overwhelm the dance floor. As the lights went dim and the lasers went back on, the carefree dancers on the floor kept the perspiration flowing.

Mike G

With several acts already come and gone and the energy level already so high, I was curious how the next DJ, Mike G from California, would be able to keep the party going. He kept it going because of two factors: first, the dancers at Damn Gurl are no slouches and they are used to partying through the night so as long as they have fuel they'll be ready to go; second, Mike G brought with him to Denver a highly flammable arsenal of uptempo bangers and slow and low bass-heavy jams. That meant the energy within The Glob shot through the roof as the humidity within the venue walls escalated to a whole new level while Damn Gurl continued to define the true meaning of sweaty.

Black Stares

The last phase of the party that I witnessed began deep into the night - or into the next morning if you see it that way. DJ Peter Black returned to the decks alongside resident DJ and one of the founders of Damn Gurl, Narky Stares. The combination of the two, known as Black Stares, began a marathon mix session that would go as long as people could stand to dance. I'll admit, I couldn't make it for the long haul on this particular night, but I'm sure there were plenty that had no problem doing so.

Damn Gurl

Reflecting on the night, it became pretty obvious to me why this dance party has received the acclaim that it has. The open atmosphere allows for a crowd with good vibes that welcomes anyone who is comfortable with both who they are and with who the people are around them. The variety of performances kept the night flowing steadily - there was never a dull moment. The lack of pretense or judgement made for a place the felt safe and earnest. Damn Gurl may not appeal to everyone, but those that just want to have a good time and leave a world of negativity behind ought to give the night a try - you may never want to leave.

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

What if there was an event that happened every month where the goal was bringing in up and coming talent chosen by popular demand and the focus on generating profit was left out of the equation? Could a non-profit dance party exist? It definitely can, and now onto its fourth month, TheHundred dance parties are quickly becoming among the most sought after nights in town thanks to its unconventional approach to booking.

The hottest, on the verge artists get scouted and hand picked by music fanatics, so the quality of the music is always fresh and top-notch. Because the parties are non-profit, tickets are always as cheap as possible, as any money generated goes to supporting the artist. The dance floor is always packed and full of good vibes because the same passionate people that brought the show are bringing energy to the dance floor, and that energy is extremely contagious. It all happens again at the end of this month, this time on Saturday, February 25th at Beauty Bar. If you are a fan of house music and dancing, save that date, because it's going to go off.


This month's headliner is Chicago born and New York based producer and DJ Brenmar. Brenmar is one of the most forward thinking artists on the scene right now, taking his love for hip-hop, R&B, bass music, house and juke and combining them into futuristic club music for the here and now. Built with a solid house foundation, Brenmar's songs will cleverly blend in Chicago style juke with the feel of nineties hip-hop and R&B. The resulting sound is a fresh, funky and undeniably fun. Check out "Temperature Rising".



The founder of TheHundred, option4, will be back to lay down a couple solid sets in edition to being the curator of this party. He'll get the night started with smooth, deep, mood-setting grooves and he'll come back later in the night with disco delights. When he isn't busy presenting parties, rocking DJ sets, and teaching the world about DayRage™, he's been putting together a new original EP that he just might unleash a little taste of at this party. Check out his remix of Exosphere's "Violet Winter".



Peter Black is a Denver DJ making his second appearance at TheHundred. Peter Black has been busy on the scene as a DJ, lacing together mixes of smart selections from deep house, juke, bass, UK funky and more. His discerning ear and constant digging allows him to put together sets that are both danceable and full of fresh flavors. When he's not behind the decks, he is busy with Analog Space and putting on a host of events at the Meadowlark Bar. Check out his mix for Analog Space's Denver After Dark series.



Narky Stares is a DJ that is becoming a local fixture thanks to her monthly party Damn Gurl. Adept at mixing a variety of dance inducing styles, expect Narky Stares to deliver smooth and groovy house throughout her set to keep feet moving on the dance floor. Find more information on Narky Stares on Facebook.


Collin McKenna is making his Denver DJ debut. As a contributor to the Star Stuff Scallywags blog, he has demonstrated the qualities of a discerning tastemaker. As a member of TheHundred, he is getting the opportunity to showcase his skills at laying down a DJ set. Collin answerd a few questions to give a little more insight into who he is. Check out the interview below:

Concerted Effort: Where are you from/how long have you lived in Denver?
Collin McKenna: I was born in Salt Lake City, grew up in the Springs, and lived here for around 11 years.

CE: How did you become a part of TheHundred?
CM: I'm really honored by the fact that option4 clued me in on the concept shortly after he came up with it. I think I was like the third person he told and of course he asked me if I wanted to be a part of it at that point.

CE: What's your musical background?
CM: I played drums throughout high school in a ska/punk band. I can still play, but I'm definitely rusty. 

CE: What kind of genres/styles can we expect to hear?
CM: I plan on staying true to the house leaning vibe that we've all come to expect by setting it off with some high energy disco and funk infused house grooves. I may throw in a few surprises...we shall see.

CE: What are some of your DJ influences?
CM: I can't deny the fact that I'm a huge fan of the big room sound, but I love and continuously educate myself on many genres of dance music. That being said, it's hard to narrow it down. Seeing that I have a tremendous amount of pride for our scene, I would probably have to say the locals are my biggest influences. I really look up to Peter Black, option4 and boyhollow. They've done, and continue to do, huge things for a scene that I've taken from for so long. I'm very humbled to have the opportunity to try and give back. I'm a huge fan of Brenmar and to be able to share a bill with him for my first live set is EPIC. This day and age technology makes DJing an elementary affair. It's really not hard. It's more about the tracks you play, how you put them together and your ability to work a crowd. That being said, I have a tremendous amount of respect for those that started before the technology existed. If you can throw down a vinyl set, I welcome you to look me in my eyes and tell me I suck. I will gladly smile and nod in agreement. I've always wanted to share my love of music through DJing and I understand that everyone wants and thinks they can do that this day and age. I plan to continue to educate myself, support those around me and hope they do the same for me. I can't thank option4 enough for blessing me with this opportunity and I hope to have more like it down the road. I look forward to sharing the bill with him, Peter Black, Narky Stares and of course Brenmar! I welcome any criticism they decide to throw at me and encourage everyone else to bear with me.

The party is at Beauty Bar on Saturday, February 25. The doors open at 8:00PM and the music starts at 9:00PM. The show is 21+ and tickets are only $5 at the door. The event is expected to reach capacity, so come early to avoid being left out! Find out more information on Facebook.

The first event for TheHundred was exactly the new dance party Denver was looking for. People came and packed the small Beauty Bar dance floor, and through closing time the whole place had incredible energy. The vision of TheHundred was to change the way people booked shows, offer a new kind of dance party, and to allow showgoers to party with their friends. Looking back, I'd say mission accomplished.

Peter Black

The night began with an opening deep house set from local DJ Peter Black. Although deep house isn't usually his style, he was able to show a little versatility and switch his mix to fit the theme. It was cool seeing Peter Black do a set other than the bass heavy, 2-step and UK funky sets he's known to throw down. He warmed up the early crowd, getting people to make their way slowly from the front bar to the dance floor. Keeping with the Peter Black style, he managed to dig up more obscure, less mainstream, but still groovy house tracks to insert in to his mix, paving the way for more dancing to come.

Mike Deez

Next up was local DJ Mike Deez. It seems every time I see Mike Deez, he's throwing down something a little bit different, and tonight was no exception. I've seen Mike Deez mix tech house and electro as part of Chavez Y Chavez. I've seen him do some hip-hop, indie and downtempo opening for Aesop Rock. But tonight, it was all crowd-pleasing house, mixing in dance floor favorites with other house goodness. I really liked Mike Deez song selection; every time he mixed in a well-known song, it was a remix or mash-up that maintained familiarity but was markedly different, making it all very refreshing. Once Mike Deez was behind the decks, the dance floor was full and the party was in full gear, yet there was still more to come.

option4

Up next was a set from TheHundred founder option4. option4 is all about groovy house, so he was right at home behind the decks playing out in this house music party. With the crowd already in a frenzy from the set before, all option4 had to do was keep a steady groove. That's exactly wait he did, dialing in right away and keeping the grooves coming while a tightly packed group on the dance floor was getting nice and sweaty but showing no signs of slowing down - which is a good thing, because the crowd still had one more DJ to go.

Damon Allen

Last but not least was a final DJ set from the very first TheHundred show headliner, Houston import Damon Allen. Prior to the show, I wasn't sure what to expect. It seemed Damon Allen's forte, or at least what he was spinning a lot regularly, was heavy bass, UK funky, 2-step and dubstep, but tonight's occasion called for groovy house. Damon Allen responded to the challenge without batting eye, taking his spot behind the decks and keeping the steady grooves coming. His set did go a bit deeper at times, but most of it was at the right balance of groove and intensity, keeping the party going until the house lights came on and security had to start ushering people out the door.



The music for the first TheHundred party was spot on, filling a niche for house music that seemed to be lacking in Denver. Denver was hungry for it too, because this event had the most people in Beauty Bar than I've ever seen before - in fact I heard the event set an attendance record. The crowd energy was ridiculously high all night, and since many of the crowd were people within TheHundred themselves, it almost made the entire Beauty Bar crowd seem like one giant group of friends than a room full of strangers. Even if you aren't a part of TheHundred, just being at one of TheHundred events will suck you into that energy, and the people around will make you feel at home. If you missed the first event, that's a shame, because the first event was a free show. The next one should be just as good if not somehow even better, and although it won't be free it'll be very close, with entry costing only five dollars!

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

It's another landmark night for the Denver dance music scene, as another brand new party is making its debut. Beauty Bar will be hosting TheHundred Denver's inaugural show, a brand new monthly dance party with a very unique driving concept. TheHundred Denver is unique, as it is a monthly dance party that books artists based on input from its attendees. A select group of one hundred people that share a common interest and love for music will join heads to decide who to bring to town, with the ultimate goal of bringing large acts to intimate venues with affordable ticket prices so music lovers can enjoy a party with their friends that they in part have created. Tonight, Denver gets a taste of what the party is about, an as an introductory offer, entrance to tonight's event is completely free.

PBR sponsored a pretty successful showcase of local art and music Friday night at the Meadowlark and Larimer Lounge. Plenty of people decided to come out and take advantage of the free show, and the event organizers did a good job making sure there was a good variety of things to offer. This time, I kept my attention focused on one venue, so I did miss most of the art being exhibited and the DJ sets that were taking place at the Meadowlark. I focused my attention on the Larimer Lounge and was treated to four local acts all supplying four different styles of music.

Peter Black

Peter Black got things started with a house music DJ set. Peter Black knows how find new music that has that classic house feel, but has a distinctive modern touch. Friday night he was mixing a nice blend of UK style modern house tracks, disco influenced house, and post-dubstep that made for a very danceable set while maintaining an indie approach. Peter Black digs up great tracks from the genres he likes to mix with, and there were some many smooth, funky, and grooving tracks I could get down to but couldn't identify.

Peter Black

Still, I did notice he played some remixed Classixx, Girl Unit, and Gil Scott-Heron, along with some originals from Kingdom and Jamie xx. Jamie xx's "Far Nearer" was definitely my favorite track out of the whole set, and I was impressed with the way he blended that song seamlessly into his mix. Peter Black's mix was a good introduction to a night of various music, and I was glad to finally hear his smooth mixing style and choice song selection in person.

Chön of Total Ghost

Next up was the local parodical comedy synth-pop group, Total Ghost. Total Ghost is Chön (Randy Washington), Biktor (Adam Nix) and their DJ/helper Günther (Evan Nix). This hilarious group claims to be from Munich, Germany, and perform as if they are a major German pop sensation. Checking out their music prior to the show, I knew they had just the perfect balance of fun lyrics, danceability, and light-hearted attitude to be an entertaining live act, but nothing could really prepare me for just how much captivating stage presence these guys had.

Biktor of Total Ghost

Total Ghost has done a great job of defining the character roles of each band member. Chön is the frontman of the group, a short-statured megalomaniacal party animal that dresses flamboyantly and considers himself quite the womanizer. Biktor is a tall unassuming figure with dark slicked back hair and thick glasses that moves, speaks and feigns playing the keyboard with robotic German efficiency. Günther plays the assistant role, a lanky fellow responsible for providing beats and props while often being chastised for the poor quality in which his services are rendered. When the three take the stage to perform, hilarity ensues.

Total Ghost and their "Gerlfreunds"

The trio introduced themselves in character and began to perform their catchy, kitschy simple drum machine and synth driven techno-pop. It didn't take long before people caught on to what was going on. As Total Ghost started off with "Tour Life" and promised a party, the sizable crowd was ready to let themselves go and join in the fun. It was smiles all around as the crowd danced and laughed to the hilarious lyrics and antics of Total Ghost. People listened intently as Total Ghost spoke of their driving adventures on "Too Fast for the Autobahn". Girls joined the band on stage as they performed "Gerlfreund". The crowd was forced to succumb to the lascivious dance moves of Chön during "Engineering". It was one side-splitting moment after another as Total Ghost went from song to song, keeping the energy of the crowd sky high throughout their entire set. I'd never seen a non-headliner get a call for an encore, but with Total Ghost, expect the unexpected. If you are looking for an opportunity to laugh while you dance your ass off, check out a Total Ghost show. But be forewarned, as long as you don't take them too seriously, these guys are crazy fun.


Next up was the local electronic act ManCub. I've covered ManCub a handful of times on this blog already, but they keep me coming back to see them because they are always doing something new. ManCub brought out the usual setup; a table with pedals and knobs galore, a MNCB backdrop, a laser light machine, and Alex Anderson and James Wayne working their magic to deliver some hard-hitting but danceable and catchy electro noise-pop. It's the formula they usually use to slay crowds, and tonight was no exception, although this time they had a few new tricks up their sleeves to treat long-time listeners.

James Wayne and Alex Anderson of ManCub

The ManCub sound has been steadily evolving since Danny Stillman left the band and James Wayne came in his place. Alex and James have been writing new material and tweaking earlier songs, keeping the noise-pop footprint but refining and polishing their music. Friday night ManCub started with a few new work-in-progress untitled songs that are identifiably ManCub but also noticeably evolutionary. The new songs had a feel similar to the retro disco noise-pop gem "Summer Rain", which they also unleashed on the crowd. There were fewer selections in their set from the original 8 Bit Crush album than I've seen performed before, but they did break out "Made In Japan" and the title track "8 Bit Crush".

Alex Anderson of ManCub

The part I liked best was when they closed their set with a reworked version of "Sound". That song is already one of my favorite ManCub tracks, and somehow they have evolved it into something even better. It's a sure sign that more great things from ManCub are sure to follow, and I can't wait to see what else they have coming down the road. I heard that they have big things on the way and that ManCub will treat everyone to a new album release sometime earlier next year. Keep your eyes and ears open, and if you haven't yet, go see a ManCub show!

The Swayback

The Swayback came out to perform the headlining set, and I was excited to finally hear this band in their element. The first time I saw them was a week earlier when they were performing in the Come As You Are Nirvana tribute show, but because of the nature of that particular performance I didn't get to see them perform their own material. Friday night, they brought their garage influenced post-rock and their high-energy stage presence to the Larimer Lounge much to my delight. Adam Tymn and William Maline create the energetic guitar textures, Martijn Bolster layers in the drums, and Eric Halborg glues it all together with the bass and his vocal delivery.

The Swayback

They got the crowd rocking with a selections of songs that showcased their versatility. They performed riff driven songs like "What A Pity", "Concrete Blocks", and rhythm and drum driven songs like "Long Gone Lads" and "Meircats". I thought their whole set was really solid, but there were a few songs I thought stood out the most. "Vampires In The Mirror" and "Forewarned" have a sort of funky bass-driven danceability I really enjoyed, and the uptempo "All Bad News" is straight lovable high-energy punk rock.

The Swayback

The Swayback had an awesome performance that convinced me they are solid representatives of the spirit of rock 'n' roll. I would like to have seen them with a larger, rowdier crowd but they made do with what they were dealt. They proved to me that they have great stage presence and can really drive energy when I saw them perform last week. This weeks performance proved that not only do they have those qualities, but their original material is top-notch as well. If you are a fan of hard rock 'n' roll, check out The Swayback.

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