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.

The Hi-Dive is at it again with another night to remember. This time, Concerted Effort is proud to present an indie pop-rock show that fans of the genre won't want to miss. On Wednesday, April 25th two national acts will be coming through town, turning the idea of pop music slightly on its head, while a relatively new Denver band will get the night started with some fun music of their own.

Ned Garthe will open the show as local support. What began as a solo project eventually evolved into a four-piece band. As a solo project, Ned Garthe leaned toward the Americana sound, but as a full band they should combine psychedelic rock and a hint of pop in there as well. This band is still pretty new and haven't released any studio recordings yet, so come discover their sound first-hand!

The Hi-Dive doors open on Wednesday, April 25th at 8:00PM, and the music starts at 9:00PM. The show is 18+ and tickets are $10. Tickets and more information are available online here.

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!

The last time Concerted Effort checked out the Hi-Dive it was to see a show that from beginning to end showcased two of the venue's best consistent qualities as far as hosting shows. The show featured quality local talent, something the Hi-Dive seems to strive to do at every opportunity. It also featured new, up and coming national talent, hosting that band in Denver for the first time. Tonight, the Hi-Dive will reveal one more quality that makes this intimate concert venue so desirable when they host a couple esteemed national acts making return visits to Denver.


The first of those two acts is Damien Jurado, an indie folk-rock singer/songwriter from Seattle, WA. In the mid-nineties, Damien Jurado embarked on a solo career, and his creative brand of acoustic folk/Americana meshed with hints of modern rock gained him a strong local following and subsequent attention from a record labels. Over fifteen years later, he has nearly a dozen full-length albums under his belt and seemingly countless EPs and singles. With so much material to draw from including his new album Maraqopa, his performance should surely be masterful. Check out "Museum of Flight".



Peter Wolf Crier is another national act making a return trip to Denver. Peter Wolf Crier is the Minneapolis based duo of Peter Pisano and Brian Moen, who craft indie folk-rock that seems to bridge the gap between Americana and pop. Peter Wolf Crier works with a folk foundation but injects a bit of indie-pop styling into their sound. Check out "Settling It Off".



The night will begin with a performance from Denver based band The Whicker and Pine. This four-piece band might easily be labeled indie-folk/Americana, but on closer inspection there seems to be a pop-rock spirit lingering in their sound that wants to bubble up to the surface, especially through the vocals. Check out "Stay Awake".

The Hi-Dive doors open for tonight's show at 8:00PM and the music starts at 9:00PM. The show is 21+ and tickets are $12. Tickets and more information are available online here.

A cool spring evening in Denver welcomed Manhattan-based Cults as their tour made a stop at the Bluebird Theater. The Bluebird is a great venue on East Colfax close to City Park; my only complaint ever has been the utility closet size of the restrooms. As the weather has turned to the warmer side, back to the colder side, warmed up again, but then cooling down again with winds and light rain, it typified the current period of transition for both the city and the attendees of the night’s event. As Denver was trying to decide whether it should be Spring or Summer, many of the ticket-holders seemed to be in flux as well.

Mrs. Magician

The night kicked off a little after 8 p.m. with Mrs. Magician. This San Diego outfit came out and needed no introduction as they let their wave of surf rock do the talking, going through most of their first and recently released album, Strange Heaven from Swami Records. In fact, there was little to no small talk from this band. Lead singer Jacob Turnbloom had a masterful pop voice, and certainly warrants a comparison to the Beach Boys when coupled with the “Wipe Out” –esque riffs provided by guitarist Thomas Garcia. The band had a spiffy, So-Cal punk look about them, and Turnbloom provided the attitude to match with repeated choruses like ,“There is no God . . .” and “Fuck the world . . .,” backed up with ample ooh-ooh’s and woah-oh-ohh’s. This music spoke to that delayed sense of maturity that lends itself to fun, carefree days; Mrs. Magician brought “the summer” and their performance was a great way to begin the evening.

Spectrals

The night progressed as Spectrals took the stage. Spectrals is commonly known as a one-man act consisting of Louis Jones from across the pond; for his first U.S. tour, he came accompanied with three supporting bandmates. And what a colourful group they were (note my spelling – it’s a sign of respect). What better way is there to describe the songs on Bad Penny, Spectrals’ debut, than “sweet”. A somewhat welcome contrast to the jaded, love-done-me-wrong perspective of Mrs. Magician, the Spectrals sound was a buzzy, doo-wop string of sweet sounds and sweet words. Most of the band looked like they were college-bound (or university-bound for you anglophiles), with the great exception of their “bouncy” bass player who reminded me of the cool uncle I always wish I had.

Jones stopped to say a few words to the audience, which was nice. It’s nice to be addressed every once in a while. And it was sweet (he’s a sweet boy). Jones had a catchy pop voice just like Mrs. Magician’s Turnbloom, with the added velvety non-native tongue that made all of his songs sound like aimless, drifting rivers of sound even through their very simple and structured format. The set had a sentimental tinge, and a lounge-y sound that wasn’t quite holding up to the growing anticipation of the crowd as more people filed into the Bluebird’s lower level.

As the audience grew, it was interesting to note the (slight) diversity of ages in the crowd. There were pockets of 18-ish kiddos, a smattering of young twenty-somethings, but mostly I noticed a lot of polished younger people of ambiguous age. By “polished” I mean that they had a conservative appearance, but were still youthful and socially represented by a subtle immaturity. The best way I can think to describe it is the feeling your parents must have when compelled to say, “Aww, look at you – all grown up!” These people, I imagine, are the types who have a serious job but still hit the “Snooze” button fifteen times and leave for work with mismatching socks.

Cults

A full house softened to the dimming lights as the video tech put on a projection of T.V. static and Cults came ambling out on stage. It was a great entrance I must say – with their eye-catching video for “Go Outside,” I was happy to see they were tying in a few visual nods. Madeline Follin’s sultry vocals awakened the audience to “Abducted.” The band members were dressed in shades of black and white, letting Follin stand out in a casual-turned-classy golden frock paired with a jean jacket. True to their eponymously-titled album cover, at first sight one could not help but notice the abundance of hair; I loved it.

Comprised of three supporting members to the core duo of Follin and Brian Oblivion, who played guitar but also a little of everything, everyone on stage was ready – you could just tell that they were taking this seriously. Much like the audience members I am trying to describe, the band’s youthful sound (and faces) was bolstered by the care taken in appearance and posture. Follin frequently tugged the edges of her dress in a mock curtsy during her performance; Oblivion was in a collared shirt and tie; all band members rarely interacted with each other unless it was to make a subtle motion to adjust a sound effect, or start a song.

Cults

It is the small things that can really make a good show a great show. For instance, it’s nice when you are going to a show where the headliner has only one album to play from – that means no matter what, you are going to hear your favorite song(s). But, it also means you are extra surprised when the Cults play something you have never heard before; in this night’s case, it was a cover of the Leonard Cohen song, “Everybody Knows.” The one song of the night that wasn’t from the singular album they were performing from, “Everybody Knows” had a constant and infectious beat and instantly got the crowd singing along.

Speaking of singing along, it was incredibly endearing when later in the set as Oblivion introduced “Go Outside,” he mentioned that he heard everyone singing and he thought it sounded great. He was voicing his approval of our collective non-performance and (gasp) encouraging it; I rarely hear a musician that is so pleased and secure in his or her own masterful work as to not be concerned that they are being upstaged by the crowd.

The set ended with “Oh My God” and at last, someone broke out the ubiquitous peace pipe (never attend a Denver show without it!). As puffs of smoke surrounded the main stage, the band’s focused stage presence cracked just a little. Thank god – I mean, how perfect do you need to be, Cults? The bassist, Nathan Aguilar (who in my opinion bears a striking resemblance to Michael Cera in a long black wig), broke his concentration and somber demeanor to momentarily boast a grin. From my viewpoint, I know it must have been completely reactionary to the carefree haze. Cults, your music sounded great; I left the Bluebird and almost felt compelled to say out loud, “Aww, look at you – all grown up!”

Erin Yepis is a new contributor to Concerted Effort. Look for her to share more concert experiences through writing and photography in the near future! Check out the Concerted Effort Facebook page to stay updated!

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.

Although it is one of the larger venues in the state, somehow 1stBank center eluded this blog until Tuesday night. It's not that the 1stBank center doesn't attract great shows, some of the most sought after names both new and old have been through that venue, even during the short time this blog has existed. It was just that it wasn't until Tuesday's shows that everything aligned, so I readily made my way to cover a band I've been eager to see for a long time. It would be a great opportunity to see an innovative duo stretch genres all the while exhibiting breathtaking instrumental skill, and that was pretty much exactly what unfolded that night.

Rodrigo y Gabriela & C.U.B.A.

I usually strive to make every show from the very beginning until the end, but on a few occasions it doesn't quite work out, as was the case Tuesday night, so I was unable to catch the opening set from C.U.B.A. Luckily, I was still able to get a taste of that band, as they served as the backing band for Rodrigo y Gabriela's latest release, Area 52. C.U.B.A. had a six-piece band (electric bass, drums/percussion, tres, flute/saxophone, trumpet, keyboard) to go along with the headliners Rodrigo Sánchez (lead guitar) and Gabriela Quintero (rhythm guitar) that compose the Rodrigo y Gabriela duo.

Rodrigo y Gabriela

The seven musicians opened the show with a bang with a reworked multi-arrangement version of "Foc" where the band put in a little bit of improvisational work by transitioning into different styles, such as salsa, while maintaining the songs theme. Re-invention of some of Rodrigo y Gabriela's best songs continued to be a theme, as their recent release Area 52 was an album composed of exactly that. The ensemble took Rodrigo y Gabriela's acoustic flamenco guitar meets heavy metal sound and added a very capable Cuban band to the mix, giving the band's concept an entirely new and deeper dimension.

Rodrigo y Gabriela

As they continued on with their set they continued to reveal their tweaked expansive arrangements with performances of pieces from their new album including "Santo Domingo", "Hanamun" and "Logos". For those used to the pure two guitar Rodrigo y Gabriela sound, the new arrangements may have been a bit overwhelming with all the layered sounds competing with Rodrigo y Gabriela's fretwork. But it was fun picking out the similarities and difference all the while being in awe of the sheer power of this new, extra full sound. For instance, "Hanamun" featured a very different arrangement from the song featured on 11:11, especially since for this piece Rodrigo traded his acoustic guitar for an electric one, giving the piece an extra helping of rock 'n' roll.

Rodrigo y Gabriela

The full band set-up was intriguing and a refreshing, but I still have a soft spot for the pure two guitar sound, so my favorite portion of the performance was when Rodrigo y Gabriela played alone. First, Rodrigo took the stay and played a few staggering solo pieces that showed off his complete command of his guitar frets. He started on one side of the stage, taking a seat on a monitor as to be closer to the audience, and churned out acoustic six-string beauty. He then made his way to the other side of the stage as to include the other half of the audience and seemed to one-up himself as if he was in a guitar solo competition.

Rodrigo y Gabriela

Then, Gabriela came out on stage and showed off her own guitar prowess. Her percussive style of play mesmerized the ears, as she was able to keep a steady rhythm with the fullness of a drum section by tapping on her guitar all the while strumming her strings. With a subtle dose of a flanger pedal, she was able to create an incredible range of sounds with just herself and a guitar. Then she started the familiar rhythm of one of my favorite songs, "Buster Voodoo", as Rodrigo joined her on stage, beginning the duo portion of the show.

Rodrigo y Gabriela

Their duo performance was full of a few surprises as well, as the two often traded improvised solos within the pieces they played. "Buster Voodoo" is already an incredibly technical song in itself, but somehow the two managed to make it even more so on the fly - a testament to their truly remarkable playing ability. When hearing their recorded songs, it can be hard to believe that the depth of sound heard is just from two guitars, but seeing the duo perform their songs live - with rapid strumming, precise picking, and deliberate tapping - it all becomes strikingly real.

Rodrigo y Gabriela

Most of the remaining set featured both the duo of Rodrigo y Gabriela and the backing band C.U.B.A., as they continued to showcase more material from the Area 52 album. The powerful arrangements of standout songs like "11:11", "Master Maqui" and "Juan Loco" resonated throughout the arena, enticing concert goers out of their seats and onto their feet into bouts of dancing. By the time their set came to a close, the entire venue attendance was up, clapping and cheering so loudly that it reverberated into every corner of the large 1stBank Center space. Rodrigo y Gabriela returned to the stage, playing a couple quick selections as a duo before introducing the members of C.U.B.A. and ending the night with a full band grand finale.

Whether you are a fan of flamenco guitar, Latin music, hard rock or even heavy metal, the way Rodrigo y Gabriela performs bridges all the gaps, bringing fans together that probably wouldn't realize otherwise they had a common interest. Those who appreciate guitar will find a lot to love, and the members of C.U.B.A. are no slouch either, bringing about even more flair to the overall sound. This is definitely a show that needs to be seen, as the amount of skill on stage at anyone time is always apparent and just plain mesmerizing.

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

Tonight, I'm taking a short trip out of the Denver metro area just between downtown and Boulder to the 1stBank Center. What will bring me out there? A show from an incredible acoustic guitar duo originally from Mexico; Rodrigo y Gabriela.


Although Rodrigo Sánchez and Gabriela Quintero are from Mexico, they gained notoriety while performing as musicians in Dublin, Ireland. The two are accomplished guitarists, and they originally met each other in Mexico City as members of a metal band. They went to Ireland and started gaining acclaim for their unusual style - acoustic Latin guitar combined with the technicality and fervor of their metal-rock influences. Their resultant combined sound is both beautiful, fascinating, and just plain blows listeners away. Check out "Buster Voodoo"

With an opening performance from C.U.B.A., this show is sure to be a delight. The 1stBank Center doors open at 7:00PM and the music starts at 8:00PM. Tickets and more information are available online here.

If you haven't checked out the Hi-Dive for a show lately, you've been missing out. Not only does the Hi-Dive boast an intimate concert space and a bar with cheap drinks, the talent they've been bringing in on a consistent basis makes the venue all that much more a desirable place to be. The Hi-Dive is a hotbed for great local talent, but they'll also bring in top quality up and coming touring acts - often with it being their first appearance in Denver. Sunday's show at the Hi-Dive featured both - two awesome local bands and a hot new indie band making their first ever appearance in Denver.

School Knights

Before that band's debut, the night began with a local band familiar to this blog, School Knights. Michael Stein (guitar, vocals), Ben Donehower (bass, vocals), Morris Kolontyrsky (guitar), and Zack Roif (drums) were back again delivering their indie rock combination of garage rock, punk, and noise-pop with hints of coastal/surf rock here and there. The blend of sounds drives their sort of tongue-and-cheek lyricism, making the group almost satirical but not novel.

School Knights

School Knights performed a set of brand new material, with most of it still unreleased. They began with a song that quickly introduced the audience to their sound - a garage/noise punk song called "Thanksgiving" that balanced a slow tempo with quick, loud strumming. They only song they performed that's currently recorded was "Bender", a noisy yet melodic surf inspired song. They performed a trio of new songs - the last of which, "Present Tense", really stood out. Then they finished with a song so new it didn't even have a title yet, but featured an extended instrumental psychedelic/surf section that set the piece apart. The band's previous release was quite good, and it seems the new material they have on the way picks up right where School Knights left off. Keep a look out for their next release.

Candy Claws

Up next was Candy Claws, a group from Fort Collins that has had a lot of acclaim but had eluded this blog until Sunday night. Candy Claws performed as a five-piece band with Ryan Hover (vocals, synth), Megan Hainer (keyboard), Karen McCormick (drums, percussion), Riley Cravens (bass), and Kay Bertholf (guitar, vocals). They create a retro-esque blend of dream pop and lounge that sounds like a somewhat more psychedelic and trippy version of music from the '50s. Their music is mostly synth/keyboard driven but they carefully work in bass, percussion, shoegaze-like guitar and wispy vocals.

Candy Claws

They began with a piece from their Hidden Lands album, "In the Deep Time", that was like taking a submarine into the depths of their ethereal sound - a journey full of soothing wonderment but with a hint sense of tense danger that never actually comes out fully. The journey continued with "Sunbeam Show" - a song that was like coming upon the fantasy of an untouched lagoon bustling with Disney-fied talking and smiling sea life. They rounded out their Hidden Lands suite with "Warm Forest Floor" before submerging the crowd with "Catamaran". Candy Claws also treated the audience to a song so new it had no name, but they did reveal the song had a "Jurassic" theme, and the resultant fantastical yet gargantuan sounds seemed to fall in line with that. After another song from In The Dream of the Sea Life called "Lantern Fish", they revealed an influence by covering "Do You Ever Feel That Way" by Starflyer 59. Candy Claws definitely dreams in color, as their dream-pop sound is as vivid as can be. Check them out - they're even playing again tonight at the Walnut Room.

Porcelain Raft

Making their Denver debut, Porcelain Raft took the stage next in the headlining spot on the lineup. Porcelain Raft is Mauro Remiddi (vocals, guitar, synth, keyboard, drum machine) and Michael Wallace (drums, synth). Porcelain Raft combines dreamy electro-pop with indie rock, taking a mellow modern rock influenced sound and give it danceability with well-crafted sound design and beat work. The addition of a live drummer gives the music added punch that really gives the Porcelain Raft sound life in live performance.

Porcelain Raft

The duo began with the opening track off of the album Strange Weekend, "Drifting In And Out". What begins as a low-key chillwave/dream-pop song turns into something slightly beyond that when Michael Wallace accompanies the song with his deliberate drumming. I was expecting a set of material mostly from Strange Weekend, but it seems they snuck in a few selections from earlier Porcelain Raft EPs - a pleasant surprise. They did perform some of my favorites off the new album though. "Is It Too Deep For You?" and "Put Me To Sleep" appeared in the middle of the set, and they even transitioned smoothly into each other. "Unless You Speak From The Heart" was the final song before the encore.

Porcelain Raft

Yes, the crowd clamored for an encore song, even though Porcelain Raft had no backstage to retreat to and emerge from, but they were happy to oblige. Porcelain Raft's combination of dream-pop, shoegaze and indie rock is unique because it is driven by the energy of the well crafted sequenced rhythms, a quality that should help them transcend the dream-pop genre to listeners from many other genres. This is definitely a band to keep an eye out for throughout this year and beyond.

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

April is here and the spring season is in full swing here in Denver. As the birds return, flowers begin to blossom, grasses grow thick and the colors of nature vibrantly reappear, the Hi-Dive will be hosting a show featuring music that could thrive in any season, but seems all the more suited to thrive in the impermanence of this transitional season. On Sunday, April 8th, one national touring indie act and a couple local groups will come together to offer an indie rock show that will include a very broad range of styles and influences.

The headliner is Porcelain Raft, the Brooklyn based indie-pop project of Italian born Mauro Remiddi. Porcelain Raft creates an dream pop meets indie rock sound by blending shoegaze and psychedelic inspired guitars with electronic rhythms that seem to borrow a bit from chillwave. Check out "Drifting In And Out".



Candy Claws joins the lineup, an indie rock band from Fort Collins. This band has taken an intriguing approach to lounge and film score music from the 1950s, adding a helping of contemporary rock to the mix. They seem to have taken that retro sound and blended in a little bit of modern psychedelia and shoegaze to create their own outer-dimensional brand. Check out "On The Bridge".



School Knights is a Denver/Boulder based band that has been covered on this blog before. This indie rock group blends garage rock with a hint of late 90s styled pop-punk and a subtle satirical attitude. The result is a multi-layered product that appeals on the surface and gets more fun as the listener delves further into their music. Check out "You Read Books".


The Hi-Dive doors open at 8:00PM on Sunday, April 8th and the music starts at 9:00PM. The show is 18+ and tickets are $10. Tickets and more information are available online here.