What better way to celebrate the completion of your first music video than to put on a kick ass show? That had to be what crossed Le Divorce's mind when they put together their video release party at the Hi-Dive, and I couldn't agree more with the thought. Not only would Le Divorce unveil their brand new video and play a set afterwards, they brought in two other Denver bands to turn the night into a full blown event. Anyone with a craving for indie rock got a taste of it Neapolitan ice cream style that night - in three distinct flavors.
Rowboat
The night began with a short set from Rowboat. Rowboat usually performs as a four-piece band, but on this night the audience got to see a pared down version sans the rhythm section. Sam McNitt was on vocals and acoustic guitar joined by Daniel White on electric guitar. As a duo, they managed to effectively convey the Rowboat sound - a testament to the strength of Rowboat's songwriting. Through their six-song opening set, they created a moody sound, both sparse and spaced out, that carefully balanced solemnity, darkness, and heart crafted from folk-like acoustic guitar, atmospheric electric guitar, and a gruff, barrel-aged bourbon voice. It was a good set that stood out on its own, but now I want to see the band again in it's full configuration. If you're into the mellow indie-folk kind of sound, definitely give this band a listen.
Varlet
Up next was an indie rock band with a quite different complexion, Varlet. Varlet performed as a five piece band featuring Lilly Scott (vocals, guitar), Will Duncan (drums), David Scott (bass), Cole Rudy (guitar, lap steel), and Vaughn McPherson (piano, organ). Together the band created a whiskey fueled concoction of psychedelic western rock 'n' roll - the kind that would ring out of the seediest of saloons or perhaps wouldfit the soundtrack of Tarantino's From Dusk 'Til Dawn. The instrumentation filled the room like a desert dust storm, covering the audience with a layer of rustic grit. Lilly Scott's dainty voice is paired with a stage presence that is anything but, hinting that she could pull a derringer out at any moment and pull the trigger without so much as a thought should she so please.
Varlet
Varlet's set began with "Drifter", establishing the western motif right away. The slide guitar came in slowly like a tumbleweed, but then as all the instruments rang in, an infectious energy permeated from their sound. Lilly Scott's vocals came in next, grappling the attention of the crowd. Whether Varlet performed fast paced folk-tinged western pieces, or slow ballads like "Lady Lie", the strength of this band was undeniable. Their songs are well written enough to garner multiple listens through recordings, but they really shine in live performance. The band was so cohesive, they were a joy to watch together - be sure to catch this band live.
Next up was the main event, Le Divorce. Before the band took the stage and delivered a set of their own, they treated the audience to a screening of their brand new music video for "Under The Boxcars". If you haven't had the chance to check it out yet, check out the video above.
Le Divorce
The video ended and the projector screen was set aside to reveal Le Divorce ready to rock out on stage. They performed in their current four-piece configuration featuring Kitty Vincent (lead vocals, guitar), Joe Grobelny (guitar, backing vocals), Michael King (guitar) and Kim Baxter (drums). Together they performed their modern indie post-punk/alt-rock with the raw spirit and grunge that was characteristic of bands of the early to mid nineties. Uptempo, pounding rhythms layered under loud, lo-fi, strum-heavy guitars, creating a driving force of sound full of energy and attitude. Kitty Vincent's voice propelled the sound forward, delivered with a careful balance between restraint and emotion - a powerful tension.
Le Divorce
Their set began with a couple selections from their newly released EP, The Sting And The Light - "Splinter Song" and "Shout". "Splinter Song" crept the band's post-punk aesthetic in, building up the energy and coming full bore in the performance of "Shout". Le Divorce showed a more reserved, emotive side not usually seen in live performances with "Make Up Your Mind" - a post-punk ballad with an enthralling melody that ended up being a stand-out, powerful piece in their set that night.
Le Divorce
Le Divorce played one song from their Pull Yourself Together EP, "In The Waves", my favorite off of that record because of the juxtaposition of the fluidity in that songs instrumentation against a constant lo-fi aesthetic. Then came "6 Feet Under", the opening song on their new EP that features great use of loud-soft and call-and-response vocals. Their regular set ended with a performance of "Under The Boxcars", bringing the evening full circle with a live reprise of the video. Before the night ended, Le Divorce treated the audience to an encore piece, a post-punked version of Talking Head's "Psycho Killer" that got the crowd to fa-fa-fa until the end. Le Divorce's performance showed that their energetic sound is alive and well, and that they continue to be this city's premier representatives of the post-punk/alt-rock genre. Look for a Le Divorce show if you need to satisfy your rock appetite.
Concerted Effort in conjunction with the Hi-Dive is proud to present Le Divorce's video release party on Saturday, March 10. As if the prospect of seeing this acclaimed Denver band and their new video wasn't enough, they will be joined by two other impressive local bands that will make the night a must-see start-to-finish event for indie rock fans. Seeing that all the bands feature styles and influences that stem from many eras of music, it essentially makes the night an encompassing journey through time viewed through the lens of modern rock.
Fresh off the release of their EP The Sting And The Light, Le Divorce returns to the stage for more celebration - this time for the video release of their single "Under The Boxcars". This four-piece band is Denver's premier representative of post-punk and alt-rock, heavily influenced by pivotal bands from the late '80s through mid '90s, but given a fresh interpretation that holds its own today. With performances full of energy and presence, Le Divorce is sure to deliver a party, and if you haven't seen the new lineup yet, you are in for a treat. Check out "Under The Boxcars" in preparation for the video below.
The next band on the bill, Varlet, will bring an indie rock sound rooted from influences a little further down the timeline. Varlet is a five-piece band from Denver with a truly genre bending sound. It is as if they took elements from '60s and '70s psychedelic rock, blended in a little '50s doo-wop and '40s classic country, put in elements of folk rock and jazz, and deliver the resulting sound draped around the framework of modern indie rock. Check out "Dirty Sock".
The night will begin with a performance from locals Rowboat. This evocative band creates a sound that seems to merge acoustic singer-songwriter folk with a subtle yet powerful addition of contemporary atmospherics - almost like a reincarnation of a classic folk-country-blues songwriter with its honest grit. They should evoke a mood of older, simpler times yet keep the listener rooted in the present. Check out "Under Street Lamps".
The Hi-Dive doors open at 9:00PM and the show starts at 10:00PM on Saturday, March 10. The show is 21+ and tickets are $6. Tickets and more information are available online here. (The lineup was recently modified and the link may not yet reflect those changes.)
