The Cool Kids rep the Windy City in the Mile High City. Photos by Julio Enriquez.
Irony exists everywhere in our culture. It determines how cool a new upcoming band is or how ridiculous their fans’ clothes are.
A name like “the Cool Kids” is a bit ironic, but the title seems to fit the act in the case of the Chicago retro-rap duo who were in Denver on Friday. Their connection with the Windy City — not to mention other artists such as Kid Sister and [...]

Live review: George Lopez @ Comedy Works

Ian Cooke and his cello presented a brilliant headlining set at the Bluebird on Saturday. Photos by Laurie Scavo.
Have you ever been to one of those shows where, after the opening act, you think, “There’s no way the next band can be better than this,” yet somehow the next band is better, albeit in a different way?
And you find yourself thinking it over and over again as each band keeps making you feel that way until it culminates in one of the best shows you [...]

Meese’s sold-out CD signing show at the Bluebird on Friday was no mere concert – it was a bonafide Event. Photos by Laurie Scavo.
There’s a dynamic power to Meese and its music.
The Denver band’s earnest pop songs, alternating between synth and guitar sounds, obviously come from a place of deep conviction — in themselves, in their potential and in things beyond this world.
And given the band’s sold-out show at the Bluebird Theatre on Friday — not to mention its recent signing with Atlantic Records – [...]

Caution: You could very well enjoy Vampire Weekend’s considerable bite. Photos by Laurie Scavo.
Reverb guest contributor Julio Enriquez checks in with this review of the buzzed-about Vampire Weeked show last weekend at the Bluebird Theater, with photos from Reverb photographer Laurie Scavo:
The two traveling bands in Saturday night’s concert arrived with much delay, so much in fact that there was no visible soundcheck. Grand Ole Party showed up at literally the last minute. In fact, I was surprised that either band (Grand Ole Party or [...]

Title billing: VHS or Beta makes the kids dance. Photos by Laurie Scavo
How do you best stay warm when it’s frigid and in the single digits outside?
Dance your butt off, of course.
Dancing is a common theme at VHS or Beta shows. Their sets are usually electric, buzzy, frenetic, bright and mad. And the band’s show at the Bluebird on Thursday was no different …

Sam Beam, a.k.a. Iron & Wine, played by himself at the Paramount on Saturday. Photos by Laurie Scavo
Sam Beam played a unique show on Saturday at the Paramount – just he and his guitar.
It wasn’t supposed to be that way, mind you, but his gear and his band didn’t make it to Colorado because of the sketchy weather.
The crowd didn’t mind much. Beam, who plays under the name Iron & Wine, played a sprawling set to thunderous applause and respectful silence …

Voxtrot singer/guitarist Ramesh Srivastava (left) and bandmates. Photo from villagevoice.com.
There’s no accounting for taste, but you’d think a few things would be universal to lovers of indie rock, namely the chiming guitars, propulsive rhythms and smart, melodic lyrics and vocals that define the genre’s better bands. You’d think, but no. Austin, Texas indie poster boys Voxtrot overcame weather and equipment problems to perform for a sparse but appreciative crowd at the Bluebird Theater Friday night, borrowing instruments from local openers Cowboy Curse to make up [...]

Rob Zombie’s stage show was epic, man. Photos by Laurie Scavo.
With some artists, you’ll expect choreographed dance routines in their live shows, and with others you’ll anticipate giant towers of fire – enough pyro to make the kids in the front row blush and flinch, in that order.
Certain musicians are always going to travel with elaborate costumes and multi-layered stages, and others are going to incorporate nearly naked burlesque dancers in their live concerts.
Rob Zombie, unsurprisingly, had it all in his show at the [...]