Who pays for an out-of-state band to come to Denver, pays for their backline, pays for their food, and pays for who knows what else (lodging?) … when we have bands like The Ian Cooke Band? Maybe that band just has a good manager, but the money spent to transport a mediocre band across several state lines could have been spent on local artists.

Regardless: Ian Cooke and his band rocks, and I can’t wait for the DVD release and the new record which they are working on now. We have such a wealth of talent in Denver, and we really should make that talent the primary benefactors.

Who pays for an out-of-state band to come to Denver, pays for their backline, pays for their food, and pays for who knows what else (lodging?) … when we have bands like The Ian Cooke Band? Maybe that band just has a good manager, but the money spent to transport a mediocre band across several state lines could have been spent on local artists.

Regardless: Ian Cooke and his band rocks, and I can’t wait for the DVD release and the new record which they are working on now. We have such a wealth of talent in Denver, and we really should make that talent the primary benefactors.

The national bands paid their own way and brought all their own stuff, with a couple minor exceptions. And all the national bands I personally saw or heard about this year (Smug Brothers, the Caribbean, Bowerbirds, Megafaun, Mishka Shubaly, etc.) put on great sets and were well worth inviting to the showcase.

Having them doesn’t detract from the dozens and dozens of local bands that we also highlight every year. In fact, locals benefit equally (if not more) than the nationals because they’re the main event and have been since the UMS’s inception.

The national bands paid their own way and brought all their own stuff, with a couple minor exceptions. And all the national bands I personally saw or heard about this year (Smug Brothers, the Caribbean, Bowerbirds, Megafaun, Mishka Shubaly, etc.) put on great sets and were well worth inviting to the showcase.

Having them doesn’t detract from the dozens and dozens of local bands that we also highlight every year. In fact, locals benefit equally (if not more) than the nationals because they’re the main event and have been since the UMS’s inception.

I had a fantastic time at the UMS this year, big heartfelt propers to everyone who poured their best energy into putting this all together. Highlights from my perspective were the entire Friday night line up at the Skylark / Gigbot stage, I walked in during the beginning of Mark Mallman’s set and knew it was on and we were all gonna get down. Props to the Kissing Party, Hollyfelds, Orango-Tones and The Omens. Yes I saw that guy throw the shotglass or beer bottle or whatver it was. I think that was a love-pat, honestly. Not the smartest one, but we’re all punk rockers in this mess and that shit is almost like a perfect world bizarro scenario somehow, upside down and backwards. The Omens always rock the party and sometimes the sets ends quick. Big props to The Omens.

I spent saturday with Red Sammy and had the best time feeding Theron and Adam tequila and carousing prior to their killer set at the Red Rover. I love the way you brought national acts into this w/o them having to be big money raising headliner types albeit tired boring same old shit we’ve seen a million times since high school forty years ago. Props to Red Sammy and Mishka and the rest of the outoftowners who got in on this. Ya’ll rocked and I hope you come again.

And before I sign off, Git Some was sick. As always. And Big Timber, Magic Mice, Eyes and Ears, and Curious Yellow.

I couldn’t make it for Raliegh! But they are in my sights.

Thanks for the fun times.

I had a fantastic time at the UMS this year, big heartfelt propers to everyone who poured their best energy into putting this all together. Highlights from my perspective were the entire Friday night line up at the Skylark / Gigbot stage, I walked in during the beginning of Mark Mallman’s set and knew it was on and we were all gonna get down. Props to the Kissing Party, Hollyfelds, Orango-Tones and The Omens. Yes I saw that guy throw the shotglass or beer bottle or whatver it was. I think that was a love-pat, honestly. Not the smartest one, but we’re all punk rockers in this mess and that shit is almost like a perfect world bizarro scenario somehow, upside down and backwards. The Omens always rock the party and sometimes the sets ends quick. Big props to The Omens.

I spent saturday with Red Sammy and had the best time feeding Theron and Adam tequila and carousing prior to their killer set at the Red Rover. I love the way you brought national acts into this w/o them having to be big money raising headliner types albeit tired boring same old shit we’ve seen a million times since high school forty years ago. Props to Red Sammy and Mishka and the rest of the outoftowners who got in on this. Ya’ll rocked and I hope you come again.

And before I sign off, Git Some was sick. As always. And Big Timber, Magic Mice, Eyes and Ears, and Curious Yellow.

I couldn’t make it for Raliegh! But they are in my sights.

Thanks for the fun times.

Yeah, a great time indeed. Ian Cooke Band though … those guys are the best. Denver has plenty of great bands, but if anyone is doing anything that is not only wonderful and unique, but also does not sound like anything else it’s Ian Cooke and his band of crazy awesome dudes. Rock band after rock band can get a little boring, but Cooke’s band really takes it somewhere new.

Yeah, a great time indeed. Ian Cooke Band though … those guys are the best. Denver has plenty of great bands, but if anyone is doing anything that is not only wonderful and unique, but also does not sound like anything else it’s Ian Cooke and his band of crazy awesome dudes. Rock band after rock band can get a little boring, but Cooke’s band really takes it somewhere new.