by David Burn | Apr 29, 2003 | Music
Gov’t Mule
Okay, I know I’m 38 years old and that that’s totally ancient if you’re in college, but what happened in Fort Collins on Tuesday night solidified for me, once and for all, that I am in fact over some sort of hill. We departed Lakewood at 6:50 p.m. and arrived at the CSU campus at 8:05 p.m., plenty early, or so we thought. As we walked around Moby Arena toward the entry, we could hear The Mule playing inside the building. I hurried to get my ticket from Will Call only to discover that The Mule had gone on at 7:30 p.m.–a full forty five minutes earlier. When I entered the building it only got worse. There were kids being kids everywhere I looked. I’m not talking freaks here, I’m talking 18 year old college kids chatting and acting up in the halls of the auditorium, completely oblivious to the Mule concert inside. All this because O.A.R., the evening’s headliner was not yet up. Of A Revolution, or O.A.R. as they are known, is a band I had never even heard of before. Like I said, I felt pretty out of it.
by David Burn | Apr 12, 2003 | Music
Bernie Worrell + The Woo Warriors
Funk legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honoree, Bernie Worrell appeared at the Double Door in Chicago after playing with Widespread Panic earlier in the eveing. Bernie and his band got the post-Panic crowd going, particularly so with his blistereing rendition of “Red Hot Mama,” a song The Panic covers with some enthusiam. For some reason I thought there would be black people at this show, but no. Having chosen to spend the evening dining on Cuban food with Darby at a restaurant in her Uptown ‘hood, and never once thinking of the big rock concert across town, I ended up being somewhat put off by the unconscious and unfunky Southern-rocker crowd.
by David Burn | Apr 4, 2003 | Music
Jyemo + The Motet
For my 38th birthday, Art and I downed several mango-infused Mojitos, plus two plates of ceviche at Rhumba in Boulder and then strolled over to The Boulder Theatre for The Motet. We arrived a bit early and were thus able to witness the groove stylings of Jyemo, a local band with many members and a big sound to go with. The Motet is fast becoming the hot new act in Colorado and many in attendance were dedicated fans. It’s good to see, as The Motet is deserving of whatever success comes their way.
by David Burn | Mar 20, 2003 | Music
String Cheese Incident
Given that I’ve entered into a somewhat passive state regarding pre-purchased concert tickets, I was pleased to get a call from Art saying he had a free extra for tonight’s Cheese show. Art’s motivation was opening act King Crimson, but due to the large ammount of snow upon our collective heads, King Crimson did not make it to Denver this fine evening. Life is a series of adjustments, so we adjusted across the street at Dulcinea’s, the cities premier acid jazz bar. The Cheese performed well, but still I could not help thinking, “Not as well as everyone around me seems to think.” I must admit it is more fun to be deeply immersed in every move the band makes, but it seems for me these days have finally passed.
by David Burn | Mar 11, 2003 | Music
Haybale + Dale Watson
I was in in Austin for the Interactive Conference at South By Southwest and happened upon some local legends in two low key bars far off Sixth Street. Darby and I crossed the street from the hotel and entered The Continental Club to see Haybale, comprised of members of Merl Haggard’s band. The Continental is one cool bar. So cool in fact, I kept looking around to see if Quentin Tarratino was in attendance. The next night we walked a few blocks toward the Capitol to find Ego’s–a small bar that one enters through a parking garage. Dale Watson’s band had the crowd two-steppin’ and Darby and I downing cocktails. All in all, the two nights provided as true an Austin experiece as one might hope for.
by David Burn | Feb 21, 2003 | Music
Sam Bush Band + Leftover Salmon
Leftover Salmon and Sam Bush Band kicked off Mardi Gras season with a vengance, mid-week at The Fox, and then over the weekend at The Gothic in downtown Englewood. Sam Bush was truly the meat on this bluegrass sandwich, as Salmon opened up with an acoustic set, phollowed by a robust two hour set from Sam, with Salmon’s electric set closing. All in all a huge evening of music, from 9:00 pm until 2:00 am. Sam and his wicked guitar player, Jon Randall Stewart, played with Salmon for a number of third set songs. On both nights that I attended, Sam literally bowed to Drew’s Emmitt’s mastery of the slide mandolin–quite an honor coming from Sam Bush, but one I phully endorse.
by David Burn | Feb 15, 2003 | Music
Medeski Martin + Wood + Galactic
Saturday night in Amerika! Peace protests around the globe by day and dancing by night. George is gonna do what he’s gonna do, and by god, so will the phreaks. Avante garde jazz trio, Medeski Martin + Wood graced the Fillmore stage and the phunk was so thick one could hardly dance in it. But after a while things loosened and the crowd did move to post-modern jazz. Then Galactic came out and shook every ass in the building. That’s what they do and I love it, as my phellow Coloradans love it. p.s. Medeski joined Galactic on stage at one point and that was clearly the goods.
by David Burn | Feb 8, 2003 | Music
The Motet, moe., and Vinyl in Denver Town
We started the weekend off right at Dulcinea’s 100th Monkey, an acid jazz bar on Colfax and part of the Quixote’s hippydream empire. A variation of The Motet lineup, going by the name of The Motet Playground was the featured act in this cozy den of a bar with a back alley entrance. With high ball glass in hand, and a groove solidly on, I reflected on how rich the music scene truly is on the Front Range. I had much more opportunity to explore this theme on Saturday, as Drew, Miner and I headed to moe. at the Fillmore. We walked in to the opening notes of “Nebraska,” a welcoming omen, since I’m an Omaha boy living in Denver. moe. kicked it into gear in a big way with a wicked set two opener. First up, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” with Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes on vocals. Then a rousing “Plane Crash” that had the captive crown chanting the chorus, “I get too fucking high!” moe. ended just after midnight, so we moe.zied on down to Five Points and the newly opened Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom for Vinyl, a Bay Area groove collective. Cervantes–formerly known as The Casino, a nightclub that catered to the black community–has atmosphere and character in droves. I look forward to many more shows here.
by David Burn | Dec 31, 2002 | Music
String Cheese Incident, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Leftover Salmon
The Boulder Theatre–an art deco masterpiece and one of the nicest venues in the land– hosted not one, but three, consecutive shows highlighting the very best of the Colorado acoustic-based music scene. First up, String Cheese Incident on the 19th. It was sweet to get Cheesey with it in such a cozy environment again (for The Cheese have gotten big). Sax man Joshua Redman added a lot to the mix and was a welcome influence on the evening’s music. On the 30th Yonder Mountain graced the Boulder stage. These boys can flat pick and sing. I am more and more amazed by their talents each time I see them play. New Years Eve brought Leftover Salmon in off the road for one special night at the Boulder. Given that Salmon had been playing the much larger Paramount Theatre in Denver for New Years over the past couple of years, it was great to see them in the Boulder. Salmon is family and The Boulder Theatre is almost like a living room big enough for all your family and friends. Nice! 2002 was an intense year on many levels, especially so for The Salmon who lost banjo player, Mark Vann to cancer. As such, it seeemed to me that the joyous celebrations of life at year’s end had particular poignancy in 2002.
by David Burn | Oct 31, 2002 | Music
Leftover Salmon
Talk about some crazy shit goin’ down in the city…Salmon brought their high energy swim team to East Colfax for a night of musical celebration. I went dressed as a giant ladybug, thanks to Lori Cotton’s expert costuming. Lori was Sissy Hankshaw, from Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. I’ll tell you what gave me chills down the spine, much in the fashion of a scary Jerry moment, was the second set opener, War Pigs. Vince, who had cut his hair and beard a week before and looked like a Fed anyway (sorry Vince!), came out wearing a Nixon mask and sang the Black Sabbath song through said mask with extra vigor, given that we are seemingly on the verge of WWIII.
