Airborne Toxic Event may be derivative, but they don’t hide it. And anyway, what band isn’t derivative in some way? Photos by Joe McCabe.
Sometimes, laryngitis can be a sort of blessing.
Eight weeks ago, L.A. band the Airborne Toxic Event canceled what was to be their Denver debut show at the Bluebird Theater (capacity 500) due to lead singer Mikel Jollett’s illness. They immediately rescheduled at the Ogden Theatre (capacity 1,600) and packed the place, for a gig sandwiched neatly between a Tuesday appearance on Jay [...]

The love between Seattle’s Barcelona and the Denver audience was intense and mutual at their Tuesday Marquis Theater show. Photos by Chandra Carney.
It’s time to admit that the last vestiges of grunge have passed beyond the horizon when new exports from its epicenter now appear as clean-cut and coiffed as early ‘80s new wave bands. Barcelona, one of Seattle’s current darlings, were a perfect portrayal of that fact at the Marquis Tuesday in Lodo.

X: Still more punk than you’ll ever be. Photos by Soren McCarty.
As part of Night One of a two-night stand at the Bluebird Theater, Denver mayor and X fan John Hickenlooper introduced the band in his typically mayoral (i.e. somewhat awkward) way that he’s known for. No matter — the L.A. punk legends tore their way through their catalog after a set from openers Steve Soto and the Twisted Hearts.
Check out Reverb contributing photographer Soren McCarty’s photos of the Tuesday night set below.

Folk singer-songwriter Arlo Guthrie brought more than just his tried-and-true material to Boulder on Sunday. Photos by Mark Osler.
Arlo Guthrie came to the Boulder Theater on Easter armed with his trademark banter and folk songwriting to the Boulder Theater as part of his “Lost World Tour.” He connected with the crowd from the outset by blending songs old and new, including Guthrie standards “City of New Orleans” and “Coming into Los Angeles.” Guthrie, 61, has been performing since age 13, so in addition to his [...]

Fall Out Boy singer-guitarist Patrick Stump, in a wig and suit, let loose his soulful voice at the Fillmore on Tuesday. Photos by Joe McCabe.
Disclaimer to hardcore Fall Out Boy fans: I mistakenly set my notebook down on the ledge of the VIP section during “Dance, Dance” so I myself could dance, and some Chad spilled his beer all over it, melting my set list into a garbled mess of ink and paper. Long story short, if I didn’t accurately capture every song FOB played [...]

For its third album, Franz Ferdinand returned to the dance-oriented style of the band’s 2004 debut. (The Denver Post)
There are a few commonalities all bands share — certain things rock journalists come across all the time. An example: “We were trying to do something different than our last record.” Yes, they wrote in a different method, recorded in a different style, changed the tone of their music.
We get it.

Not everyone thinks “Genesis” when they look at Mastodon, but maybe they should. Photo of previous show from MySpace.
There were two major questions that immediately came to mind when I entered the Fox Theatre in Boulder for the first time in a long, long time last night. One: How is it that I am able to see Mastodon, one of metal’s most significant, critically acclaimed acts in a dive like this? And two: Who starts a metal show at dinnertime?

Sensual and heartbreaking, Mirah’s Hi-Dive set on Sunday connected deeply with the audience. Photo by Sarah Cass.
Portland singer-songwriter Mirah introduced herself at the Hi-Dive Sunday night by saying “My name is Mirah, and I think I’m actually wearing a bra!” In one simple, quirky sentence about a slightly provocative item of clothing, walls of listener/performer separation instantly evaporated, and we felt as close to Mirah as her skin-tight shirt. The statement perfectly mimicked the way her microscopically succinct lyricism and soft, precise balladry exposed impossibly [...]

Lily Allen is a creative songwriter with one helluva voice, but she’s hardly the pop goddess her fans make her out to be. Photos by Brian Carney.
After seeing the Ting Tings on Wednesday (see the review here), I wasn’t in the ideal mindset to review yet another smug British female pop star on Thursday. And while Lily Allen’s sold-out Ogden Theatre show on Thursday wasn’t mind-blowing, it did make for a solid night of music — and a potent showcase for an emerging songwriter, a [...]

Lead Ting Ting Katie White is more pop star than artist — something she proved Wednesday at the Bluebird Theater. Photos by Julio Enriquez.
Just like their debut record, 2008’s “We Started Nothing,” the Ting Tings’ show at the Bluebird Theater last Wednesday was thin, underwhelming, overblown and oftentimes obnoxious.
Did I mention the concert was also sold out? Yes, the infectious indie-electro band from the U.K. had no problem selling out the theater well in advance of the show. But they did so on the strength [...]