Monolith -- Saturday pictures

Saturday at Monolith offered the best kind of festival experience. I got a chance to see a ton of awesome bands for the first time and in a beautiful venue to boot.


The skyline reminded my co-pilot of a joke from Tad during their Red Rocks show approximately one million years ago: "Joining us, on that precipice, Richie Sambora on lead guitar!"


We started the day with Denver band The Laylights. They sounded terrific and looked quite fashionable in their vests. The generous gents followed the show by bestowing free EPs to the audience.


Having missed Bob Log III at Laramie's own Buckhorn Bar, we completely enjoyed his wayward banter and slippery guitar at Red Rocks.



After catching a short bit of the Little Ones' set, we watched Margot and the Nuclear So & So's on the main stage. What energy on the drums! And lovely songs for a sunny afternoon.


Brian Jonestown Massacre delivered a predictable meltdown. Debate ensued about whether Anton brings more rock or schtick, but when they were playing and not tuning the band sounded tight and melodic.


I came into Matt & Kim's show cynical about all the SXSW reports of their unflappable enthusiasm. Guess what? It's all true! They proved themselves truly sweet, good-natured and all around adorable, thanking the universe for bringing them to "show heaven" at Red Rocks.


None of my photos adequately demonstrate the true intensity and delight of Art Brut's live performance. Again I doubted the hype, as the album did not rock my socks, but man oh man the live show! Please, if Art Brut plays near you, buy tickets. You will not regret seeing the funniest front man touring today.

Monolith -- Friday pictures

Gearing up for another day of awesome music, but a short report... So far all of the bands have started on time (!), the bathroom lines are reasonable (!), and the sound is amazing. I've seen Ghostland and the Decemberists at other festivals, and both bands benefited yesterday from the amazing sound quality at Red Rocks.


We arrived rather early, allowing plenty of time to meander and strategerize and watch Colin Meloy take some photos of Red Rocks.


With energy to burn, a killer horn section and a shoutout to Cheyenne, local faves Everything Absent or Distorted were one of the day's favorites.


Ghostland always brings full energy to a performance. They never fail to make the cool kids dance. And again my mind wandered to Aaron's pants. Where does a person buy such tight, perfectly fit jeans? Amazing.


To Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, I said "meh".


The Kings of Leon offered a tight LOUD show. This drummer amazed me by blowing bubbles and drumming at the same time. My mother likes to point out that I can't walk and chew gum.

More pics and reports from Saturday to come!

Oh noes! White Stripes cancel

A Wyoming show had to be too good to be true. All of the White Stripes U.S. fall tour dates are canceled, including the 9-30-07 date in Jackson Hole.

From their web site:

The White Stripes announced today that they are canceling their forthcoming tour due to health issues. Meg White is suffering from acute anxiety and is unable to travel at this time.

The White Stripes sincerely apologize to their fans. 'We hate to let people down and are very sorry.'

Fans can obtain refunds for their tickets at point of purchase.

Pipettes are coming!

The polka dottie hotties arrive at the Bluebird October 23rd.


The Pipettes - 2007 U.S. Tour Dates
Oct 2 - Park West Chicago
Oct 3 - Magic Stick Detroit
Oct 4 - Beachland Tavern Cleveland
Oct 5 - Opera House Toronto
Oct 6 - Petit Campus Montreal
Oct 8 - The Flimore @ Irving Plaza New York
Oct 9 - Paradise Rock Club Boston
Oct 10 - 9.30 Club (early show) Washington DC
Oct 11 - First Unitarian Church Philadelphia
Oct 13 - TBC Pittsburgh
Oct 15 - Exit/In Nashville
Oct 16 - Vinyl Atlanta
Oct 17 - WorkPlay Theater Birmingham
Oct 18 - The Parish @ House Of Bluews New Orleans
Oct 19 - The Parish Austin
Oct 20 - TBC San Antonio
Oct 21 - Cambridge Room @ House Of Blues Dallas
Oct 23 - Bluebird Theatre Denver
Oct 25 - Avalon Los Angeles
Oct 29 - Bimbo’s 365 Club San Francisco
Oct 31 - Wonder Ballroom Portland
Nov 1 - Crocodile Cafe Seattle

[via brooklynvegan]

Bumbershoot Blues

Gosh I hate to miss Bumbershoot. Labor Day weekend feels empty without standing in line to see some awesome music at Seattle Center.

If you were lucky enough to go, tell me all about it in the comments!

Lots of good photos and reports coming on the interwebs from
kexp
three imaginary girls
sound on the sound

Best music floating around this week

While bemoaning my ill health and the lack of awesome shows this week, I spent some quality time listening to mp3s and watching the youtubes. I also watched a bunch of Buffy the Vampire Slayer reruns, but that is irrelevant here.

My favorites floating around this week... what am I forgetting?

• A new Band of Horses song, download it free from their myspace, woohoo for a pretty voice and big guitars!
• Who is this Scout Niblett and why do I love this song? [via pfork]
• KEXP invited us to a super special members only performance at Bumbershoot with Tokyo Police Club, Art Brut and (OMG my secret best friend Danny w/) Menomena. The pain is not so exquisite, more torturous, as I contemplate missing it. Hoping to live vicariously through jet-setting friends.
• Every blogger in the universe posted the Feist late night performance, but I enjoyed finding Okkervil River on my tivo as well. They'll be in Denver October 13th with (OMG my secret boyfriend) Damien Jurado. Sweet.

Aesop Rock to spend four nights in Colorado

If only every band would commit to four nights in Colorado, or better yet, three in Colorado and one in Wyoming, I would be the happiest girl on the Front Range.

Speaking of, is it just me or are we in a live music dry spell? I blame Monolith. All the good bands are coming in September, I just need to be patient.

Aesop Rock - 2007 Tour Dates
09-06 Portland, OR - MusicFest NW
09-08 Philadelphia, PA - Starlight Ballroom *#
09-09 New York, NY - Irving Plaza *#
09-10 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club *#
09-11 Pittsburgh, PA - Rex Theatre *#
09-13 Chicago, IL - Metro *^
09-14 Madison, WI - Barrymore *^
09-15 Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theatre *^
09-16 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue *^
09-18 Detroit, MI - TBA *^
09-19 Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop *^
09-21 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar *^
09-22 Providence, RI - Living Room *^
09-23 Boston, MA - Middle East *^
09-25 Northampton, MA - Iron Horse *^
09-26 Burlington, MA - Higher Ground *^
10-10 San Francisco, CA - Fillmore *$
10-12 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre *$
10-13 Phoenix, AZ - Clubhouse *$
10-15 Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theatre *$
10-16 Durango, CO - Abbey Theatre *$
10-18 Denver, CO - Cervantes *$
10-19 Boulder, CO - Fox Theatre *$
10-20 Ft. Collins, CO - Aggie Theatre *$
10-22 Salt Lake City, UT - In the Venue *$
10-25 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom *$
10-26 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom *$
10-27 Bellingham, WA - Nightlight *$
10-28 Seattle, WA - Showbox *$
10-30 Eugene, OR - WOW Hall *$
11-07 Asheville, NC - Orange Peel *$
11-09 Orlando, FL - Club Firestone *$
11-10 Miami, FL - Studio A *$
11-12 New Orleans, LA - House of Blues *$
11-13 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon *$
11-15 Dallas, TX - The Loft *$
11-16 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live *$
11-17 Austin, TX - Emo's *$
11-19 Nashville, TN - Exit In *$
11-20 Atlanta, GA - TBA *$

[via brooklynvegan, follow link for mp3s and interview]