Neko Case @ the Ogden, 5-30-09

Neko Case sounded amazing as always, although maybe I've gotten a little spoiled by her past performances. I wanted more songs, a longer set, and (no fault of Neko's) a better crowd. Songs from the new album sounded great next to her older tunes, and I continue to love Kelly Hogan and her perfect vocal foil to Neko with all my heart.

Back to the fans... when the venue is not seated, and the show is sold out, please fans, make an effort to let people in. Try to make room, not enemies. Nobody wins when a few folks guard their personal space with rudeness while others are left with no option to fit in the theater. Security staff made matters worse instead of better, and left me wondering why 30,000 youngsters at the Sasquatch Festival could behave better than a thousand or so NPR- listening 40 year olds.

Denver, you can do better.

Silversun Pickups @ the Ogden, 7-30-07

Highlights:

• Kissing Families -- dedicated to fans who came out in the small crowds at the Hi-Dive and Twist 'n Shout last year
• Lazy Eye -- dedicated to a fan who had been waiting at the Ogden for two days
• a nice Wendy and Lisa exchange between Brian and Nikki-- "is the water warm enough?"
• four song encore including a cover of Bjork's Big Time Sensuality (video below)

Of Montreal to visit the Ogden

Of Montreal released fall tour dates, including a visit to the Ogden on 11-17. Given their reputation as a super awesome live band, I think it would be a mistake to miss this show, but there is no accounting for weather in November between Laramie and Denver.

Of Montreal Fall Tour Dates:
9/28 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
10/2 Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theatre
10/3 Urbana, IL - Canopy Club
10/4 Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theatre
10/5 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
10/6 Chicago, IL - Metro
10/7 Chicago, IL - Metro
10/8 Oberlin, OH - Hale's Gym
10/9 Detroit, MI - Majestic Theatre
10/10 Buffalo, NY - The Tralf
10/11 Philadelphia, PA - The Trocadero
10/12 Boston, MA - The Roxy
10/13 New York, NY - Roseland
10/14 Baltimore, MD - Ram's Head
10/31 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
11/1 New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
11/2 Houston, TX - Numbers
11/3 Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Fest
11/4 Dallas, TX - Granda Theatre
11/5 El Paso, TX - Club 101
11/6 Tempe, AZ - Marquee
11/7 Tucson, AZ - Rialto
11/8 Los Angeles, CA - Avalon
11/9 Los Angeles, CA - Avalon
11/12 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
11/13 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
11/14 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
11/16 Salt Lake City, UT - In the Venue
11/17 Denver, CO - Ogden Theater
11/18 Lawrence, KS - Liberty Hall
11/19 St. Louis, MO - The Pageant

[via musicslut]

The National to visit Denver

September is officially concert craziness, now that the National announce their visit to the Ogden on 9-18. I want to believe I'll be there, but the day after Arcade Fire?

The National US dates, fall 2007:
08-17 New York, NY - South Street Seaport *
09-04 Philadelphia, PA - Theater of Living Arts
09-05 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
09-06 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
09-07 Carrboro, NC - Cats Cradle
09-08 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
09-10 Orlando, FL - The Club @ Firestone
09-11 Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder
09-12 Birmingham, AL - The Bottletree
09-14 Dallas, TX - Grenada Theater
09-16 Austin, TX - Zilker Park (Austin City Limits Festival)
09-18 Denver, CO - Ogden Theater
09-19 Omaha, NE - Slowdown
09-20 Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line
09-21 Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater
09-22 Chicago, IL - The Vic
09-23 Cincinnati, OH - Madison Theater
09-27 San Diego, CA - Casbah
09-28 Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
09-29 San Francisco, CA - Ballroom
10-01 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
10-02 Seattle, WA - Showbox
10-03 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom
10-06 Boston, MA - Roxy

[via pfork]

Live Preview: Bloc Party

Tonight Bloc Party returns to the Ogden. If it is anything like their show there last summer, it will be sweaty, dance-y, singalong awesomeness. Here's hoping Matt Tong's formerly collapsed lung is ready to drum it up in the Mile High City.

A Tuesday dose of Bloc Party, This Modern Love in Anaheim last week:


[thx adamparkcity]

Silversun Pickups Announce Denver Date

LA guitar heroes and 90s revivalists Silversun Pickups return to Denver for a show at the Ogden July 30th. I'll definitely be there, and if the crowd reacts anything like they did at the Hi-Dive this winter, it will be a high energy show indeed.

Silversun Pickups U.S. tour dates:
June 6, WFNX's Best Music Poll 2007 @ Lansdowne St / Boston, MA
June 8, KJEE's Seaside Beach Ball @ Ventura Country Fairgrounds / Ventura, CA
June 9, Live 105's BFD 07 @ Shoreline Amphitheatre / Mountain View, CA
June 10, KWOD’s Summer Buzz @ Sacramento Memorial Auditorium / Sacramento, CA
June 29, WLUM's Summerfest Stage / Milwaukee, WI
July 27, Capitol Hill Block Party / Seattle, WA
July 29, In The Venue / Salt Lake City, UT
July 30, Ogden Theatre / Denver, CO
August 1, Slowdown / Omaha, NE
August 3, Lollapalooza / Chicago, IL

And footage from last year's Block Party... I wonder if I can justify another Seattle trip in July. Gotta love the Block Party: small crowds, lots of beer. Also, watch for the one dancing guy in the video. Obviously not from Seattle ;-)

What Could Have Been: Hold Steady + Heartless Bastards

I'm still in shock that I missed last night's show. The Hold Steady and the Heartless Bastards at the Ogden. What a perfect combo! Without work and budget constraints, I would have been front and center sipping my Jamesons and singing along. Sigh.

I'll comfort myself with a video of darling Erika and the rest of the Heartless Bastards singing the song that made me fall in love with Tim Riggins.



Plus some great lines about kissing Christians and my beloved MPLS:
Hold Steady live on the Current.