dates/tours/fun!

Matt Nathanson at the Fox again, oh yeah. Dude puts on a fucking great show. I had to throw the "fuck" in there because Matt says "fuck" approximately 83 times per show. Not for the kids.

Jan 19 2008 The Rockboat Miami, Florida
Jan 25 2008 Jack Rabbits Jacksonville, Florida
Jan 26 2008 The Social Orlando, Florida
Jan 27 2008 Workplay Theatre BIrmingham, Alabama
Jan 28 2008 40 Watt Club Athens, Georgia
Jan 29 2008 The Handlebar Greenville, South Carolina
Jan 31 2008 Recher Theatre Towson, Maryland
Feb 1 2008 Toad’s Place New Haven, Connecticut
Feb 4 2008 The State Theatre State College, Pennsylvania
Feb 5 2008 St. Andrew’s Hall Detroit, Michigan
Feb 7 2008 Knickerbockers Lincoln, Nebraska
Feb 9 2008 The Fox Theatre Boulder, Colorado

Glen Phillips has been to town several times in the past few years, but I haven't seen him since summer 2000. Oh my! Lookit, he's even visiting the western slope, the mountains and the lovely Fort Collins.

01/19/08 The Rock Boat Miami FL
01/24/08 The Rock Boat Miami FL
01/26/08 Ann Arbor Folk Festival Ann Arbor MI
02/07/08 Steve's Guitars Carbondale CO
02/08/08 Far East Center Grand Junction CO
02/09/08 Avogadro's Number Ft. Collins CO
02/10/08 Fox Theatre Boulder CO
02/15/08 AcousticMusicSanDiego San Diego CA
02/16/08 McCabe's Santa Monica CA
02/17/08 Freight & Salvage Berkeley CA
02/21/08 WOW Hall, Comm. Ctr. for the Perf. Arts Eugene OR
02/22/08 The Aladdin Theater Portland OR
02/23/08 Triple Door Seattle WA
03/26/08 Club Passim Cambridge MA
03/27/08 Tupelo Music Hall Londonderry NH
03/28/08 Wilde Auditorium West Hartford CT
03/29/08 Joe's Pub New York NY
03/30/08 The Avalon Theatre Easton MD
04/02/08 Jammin' Java Vienna VA
04/03/08 World Cafe Live Philadelphia PA
04/04/08 Club Cafe Pittsburgh PA
04/05/08 Brighton Center For the Performing Arts Brighton MI
04/06/08 The South Gate House Newport KY
04/09/08 The Music Mill Indianapolis IN
04/10/08 High Noon Saloon Madison WI
04/11/08 Old Town School of Folk Music Chicago IL
04/12/08 Shank Hall Milwaukee WI
04/13/08 Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis MN

Everything Absent Or Distorted - local heroes make an appearance at the Hi-Dive. Yee-haw.

02-16 Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

Pela - their MySpace page lists this show on March 10, the Hi-Dive says March 3... At any rate they rocked the house last time they played there.

03-?? Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

Grand Archives, the current band of former Band Of Horses dude Mat Brooke. This is gooooood stuff.

03-04 Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

Sons & Daughters are coming to the Hi-Dive with Bodies Of Water (one of my new favorite bands)!

03-17 Atlanta, GA - The Earl *
03-18 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
03-21 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
03-22 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
03-23 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
03-24 Cambridge, MA - Middle East (Downstairs)
03-25 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa
03-26 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace
03-28 Chicago, IL - Double Door
03-29 Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater
03-31 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive
04-01 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
04-03 Seattle, WA - Neumos
04-04 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards
04-05 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
04-07 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall

* with Citay
via

Get ready for the Hotel Cafe Tour 2008! This tour's artists include Ingrid Michaelson, Cary Brothers, Sara Bareilles, Josh Radin, Bob Schneider, Dan Wilson, Meiko, Priscilla Ahn, Kate Havnevik, Eric Hutchinson, Greg Laswell, Jessie Baylin, Jim Bianco, William Fitzsimmons, AM & Christopher Denny. Above all I hope we get Jim Bianco and Bob Schneider...

3/6/2008 San Diego, CA — Belly Up Tavern
3/7/2008 Santa Barbara, CA — Stateside
3/8/2008 Anaheim, CA — House of Blues
3/9/2008 Los Angeles, CA — Hotel Café
3/10/2008 Tucson, AZ — Club Congress (WxSW)
3/11/2008 Tempe, AZ — The Club House
3/13/2008 Austin, TX — Parish (SxSW)
3/14/2008 Dallas, TX — House of Blues
3/15/2008 Houston, TX — Red Room
3/17/2008 Birmingham, AL — WorkPlay
3/18/2008 Nashville, TN — Exit/In
3/19/2008 Atlanta, GA — Center Stage
3/20/2008 Chapel Hill, NC — Cat's Cradle
3/21/2008 Annapolis, MD — Ram's Head Tavern
3/22/2008 Philadelphia, PA — World Café Live
3/24/2008 New York, NY — Fillmore @ Irving
3/25/2008 Boston, MA — Paradise Rock Club
3/26/2008 Ithaca, NY — State Theatre
3/27/2008 Pittsburgh, PA — Mr Small's Theatre
3/28/2008 Chicago, IL — Park West
3/29/2008 Madison, WI — High Noon
3/31/2008 Minneapolis, MN — Fine Line
4/1/2008 Kansas City, MO — Record Bar
4/3/2008 Boulder, CO — Fox Theatre
4/4/2008 Denver, CO — Bluebird Theatre
4/5/2008 Salt Lake City, UT — Avalon Theatre
4/7/2008 Boise, ID — Big Easy
4/8/2008 Seattle, WA — Neumos
4/9/2008 Portland, OR — Wonder Ballroom
4/11/2008 San Francisco, CA — Great American Music Hall
4/12/2008 Los Angeles, CA — Henry Fonda Theatre

purchase tickets

Blitzen Trapper is returning! I missed them twice last year and don't intend to do so again...

02-22 Seattle, WA - University of Washington #
02-28 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill *
02-29 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour *!
03-01 San Diego, CA - Casbah *
03-02 Phoenix, AZ - Modified *
03-04 Denton, TX - Hailey's *
03-05 Houston, TX - Walter's on Washington *
03-06 Hattiesburg, MS - Thirsty Hippo %
03-07 Tallahassee, FL - The Beta Bar *
03-08 Everglades National Park, FL - Langerado Festival
03-09 Jacksonville, FL - The Eclipse *
03-11 Birmingham, AL - BottleTree *
03-13 Austin, TX - Yard Dog Gallery (Schubas SXSW party)
03-14 Austin, TX - SXSW
03-15 Austin, TX - SXSW
03-16 Norman, OK - The Opolis *
03-17 Columbia, MO - Mojo's *$
03-19 Nashville, TN - Exit In *
03-20 Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn *
03-21 Columbia, SC - New Brookland Tavern *
03-22 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle *
03-23 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 *
03-25 Washington, DC - Black Cat *
03-26 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's *
03-27 Cambridge, MA - Middle East *
03-29 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
03-30 Worcester, MA - Clark University *
04-01 Montreal, Quebec - La Salla Rossa *
04-02 Toronto, Ontario - El Mocambo *
04-03 Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place *
04-04 Cleveland, OH - The Grog Shop *
04-05 Detroit, MI - The Magic Stick *
04-06 Chicago, IL - Schubas *
04-08 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon *
04-09 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry *
04-10 Grinnell, IA - Grinnell College *
04-11 Omaha, NE - The Slowdown *
04-12 Lawrence, KS - Jackpot *
04-14 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive *
04-15 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge *
04-17 Vancouver, British Columbia - Media Club *
04-18 Seattle, WA - Neumo's *
04-19 Portland, OR - Holocene *

# with Menomena
* with Fleet Foxes
! with Grand Archives
% with Beach House, Papercuts
$ with Mahjongg
via

Cloud Cult - the only date that matters. Yay!

05-17 Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO

my top albums of 2007 #40-31

40

Art Brut - It's A Bit Complicated
Great sophomore effort from these guys. Witty, tongue-in-cheek humor, hooray!
TLOBF review

39

David Dondero - Simple Love
I still can't believe I'd never heard of this guy before this year. For lovers of the sensitive singer-songwriter type with a keen sense of humor.
TLOBF review

38

Handsome Furs - Plague Park
I'd almost forgotten about this one until I was revisiting some 2007 albums last month. Consistently very very good.

37

Dr. Dog - We All Belong
Sure, the album is great, but all the cool kids know that live is the only way to experience Dr. Dog...

36

Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation
Excellent debut album. Unique mix of lots of different genres. Fun!
TLOBF review

35

Emma Pollock - Watch The Fireworks
I fully admit this one is a recent "discovery" for me. But oh, how I fell in love with Emma's voice and songwriting.
TLOBF review

34

1990s - Cookies
My cult status keeps me fucking your wife. Good god I love this album.

33

Band Of Horses - Cease To Begin
This one didn't quite live up to the lofty expectations set by last year's Everything All The Time, but a solid album nonetheless.
TLOBF review

32

Pela - Anytown Graffiti
Nothing more than a lot of straight-forward rock n' roll!!

31

Loney, Dear - Loney, Noir
Swedish pop is so great.

Stay tuned for more tomorrow...

the best of 2007... part 3

I knew I would get around to this eventually...

So, dear friends, it's pretty clear that the third quarter of this amazing year has been extraordinarily good to me. I hooked up with the inimitable "other MS" Merry Swanskter to bring you news of the finest live shows in the Denver area, I was asked to join the unparalleled staff of the UK-based blog The Line Of Best Fit, and I was invited to bring the glory of Denver's local music scene to the masses at MusicRex. Unfortunately, my humble little blog here has somewhat fallen by the wayside in the wake of all the other projects I've become involved with, but fear not loyal readers (both of you), I am still more than willing to force upon you my favorites in indie music.

All MP3's available here are for promotional use only. Please support the artists by going to shows and buying their stuff. If you own the MP3's here and want them taken down, please e-mail me at brhelgothATgmailDOTcom.

That being said, here is the probably-not-too-long awaited part 3 of the Mystik Spiral 2007 best new music tracklist:

01 Bishop Allen - Rain
02 The Gaslight Anthem - 1930
03 Marmoset - Luckcharm
04 The Avett Brothers - Salina
05 The Broken Family Band - Dancing On The 4th Floor
06 David Dondero - Rothko Chapel
07 Ezra Furman - Hotel Room In Casablanca
08 BOAT - Make Way For The Genius To Appear
09 Les Savy Fav - Scotchgard The Credit Card
10 Spoon - You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb
11 Stars - Take Me To The Riot
12 Blitzen Trapper - Sci-Fi Kid
13 Josh Ritter - To The Dogs Or Whoever
14 Figurines - Bee Dee
15 The Cribs - Moving Pictures
16 Kevin Drew - Lucky Ones
17 The Ladybug Transistor - Three Days From Now
18 Okkervil River - Plus Ones
19 Iron & Wine - Resurrection Fern
20 New Pornographers - Adventures In Solitude

download it!

And here are my previous "best of 2007" playlists, altered slightly when I made the gut-wrenching decision to limit each to 20 tracks.

Best of 2007, Part 2:

01 Elvis Perkins - While You Were Sleeping
02 Cloud Cult - Pretty Voice
03 Revival - Favorite One
04 Get Him Eat Him - The Coronation Show
05 White Rabbits - While We Go Dancing
06 Good Shoes - Never Meant To Hurt You
07 Arctic Monkeys - Fluorescent Adolescent
08 Dan Deacon - Pink Batman
09 Handsome Furs - Dead + Rural
10 Art Brut - People In Love
11 The Teeth - Shoulderblade
12 Pela - Trouble With River Cities
13 Voxtrot - Firecracker
14 The National - Apartment Story
15 Elliott Smith - Looking Over My Shoulder
16 Ryan Adams - Pearls On A String
17 Bright Eyes - If The Brakeman Turns My Way
18 Page France - Pigeons
19 Blonde Redhead - Spring And By Summer Fall
20 Narrator - A Decade In Kentucky

download it!

Best of 2007, Part 1:

01 - The Apples In Stereo - Can You Feel It?
02 - Deerhoof - +81
03 - LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great
04 - The Broken West - Down In The Valley
05 - Apostle Of Hustle - Chances Are
06 - Of Montreal - A Sentence Of Sorts In Kongsvinger
07 - Menomena - Air Aid
08 - CYHSY - Mama, Won't You Keep Them Castles In The Air...
09 - Illinois - Nosebleed
10 - Modest Mouse - Spitting Venom
11 - The Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running
12 - The Besnard Lakes - Devastation
13 - Panda Bear - Take Pills
14 - Beirut - Scenic World (Version)
15 - Andrew Bird - Dark Matter
16 - Jamie T - Calm Down Dearest
17 - Dr. Dog - Worst Trip
18 - The Shins - Girl Sailor
19 - Papercuts - Take The 227th Exit
20 - Do Make Say Think - A Tender History In Rust

download it!

Because I like to convince myself that you love it, here are my ten favorite albums from July - September 2007 (in alphabetical order - links to TLOBF album reviews where applicable):

Bishop Allen - The Broken String:

Aaaaaaah, what can I say about this album that I haven't already said? It's a piece of pure pop heaven, it is. Justin Rice and Christian Rudder are like, totally, my new heroes.

Favorite tracks: The Monitor; Rain; Flight 180; Like Castinets









Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation:

Somehow it's happened that I've missed opening sets by these guys not once, but TWICE this year. I will see this band live one day, I swear. Really unique music from these Portlanders (I'm thinking I need to move to Oregon already...).

Favorite tracks: Devil's A-Go-Go; Sci-Fi Kid; The Green King Sings; Country Caravan





The Cribs - Men's Need, Women's Needs, Whatever:

Have I already mentioned the UK invasion of 2007? Yeah, I thought so.

Favorite tracks: Our Bovine Public; Moving Pictures; My Life Flashed Before My Eyes; Shoot The Poets










David Dondero - Simple Love:

I already wrote about this one too!

Favorite tracks: The Prince William Sound; Rothko Chapel; You Don't Love Anyone; Lone Rose

[TLOBF review]










Ezra Furman & The Harpoons - Banging Down The Doors:

Ezra's voice is like a mixture of CYHSY's Alec Ounsworth and a young Bob Dylan. His lyrics are funny and poignant. You should get this one!

Favorite tracks: Mother's Day; Hotel Room In Casablanca; Halloween Snow; The Little Red-Haired Girl








Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog:

This album is so beautiful. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Favorite tracks: Pagan Angel And A Borrowed Car; Lovesong Of The Buzzard; Innocent Bones; Resurrection Fern; Flightless Bird, American Mouth










Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew - Spirit If...:

[TLOBF review]

Favorite tracks: Tbtf; F--Ked Up Kid; Lucky Ones; Backed Out On The...












New Pornographers - Challengers:

I never thought the New Pornographers could top their brilliant 2005 release Twin Cinema. Challengers proves me wrong. If there is anything in life more perfect than the first four tracks on this album, well... I'd love to hear that.

Favorite tracks: My Rights Versus Yours; All The Old Showstoppers; Challengers; Myriad Harbour; Unguided; Adventures In Solitude

[TLOBF review]



Okkervil River - The Stage Names:

Big surprise, huh?

Favorite tracks: All of them. But especially Unless It's Kicks; Plus Ones; John Allyn Smith Sails

[TLOBF review]










Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga:

Despite the much-maligned title, this is a very solid album. Good work, Spoon.

Favorite tracks: Don't Make Me A Target; You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb; The Underdog; Black Like Me

[TLOBF review]



As always, here are some more albums that are definitely worth your time (links to TLOBF album reviews where applicable):

Alberta Cross - The Thief & The Heartbreaker
Angels Of Light - We Are Him
Architecture In Helsinki - Places Like This
The Avett Brothers - Emotionalism
Bat For Lashes - Fur And Gold
BOAT - Let's Drag Our Feet
The Broken Family Band - Hello Love
Caribou - Andorra
Cherry Ghost - Thirst For Romance
Figurines - When The Deer Wore Blue
The Gaslight Anthem - Sink Or Swim
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - Once OST
Great Northern - Trading Twilight For Daylight
Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests Of Josh Ritter
The Ladybug Transistor - Can't Wait Another Day
Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends
Low Low Low La La La Love Love Love - Ends Of June
Marmoset - Florist Fired
Monkey Swallows The Universe - The Casket Letters
Múm - Go Go Smear The Poison Ivy
O'Death - Head Home
The Snake The Cross The Crown - Cotton Teeth
St. Vincent - Marry Me
Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War
The Thrills - Teenager

Phew. Only three more months to go. Viva music!

blitzen trapper - second chance

Blitzen Trapper, who's opening set I completely missed the other night, is returning to Denver next month! Even better, Two Gallants is opening... :)

08-03 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe #
08-05 Portland, OR - PDX Pop Now! Festival
09-17 Portland, OR - Berbati's Pan *
09-18 Vancouver, British Columbia - Media Club *
09-19 Seattle, WA - The Crocodile *
09-20 Boise, ID - Neurolux *
09-21 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court *
09-22 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive *
09-23 Rapid City, SD - The Imperial Inn *
09-24 Fargo, ND - Aquarium *
09-26 Minneapolis, MN - Turf Club *
09-27 Iowa City, IA - The Picador *
09-29 Chicago, IL - Schubas *
09-30 Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop *
10-02 New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre *
10-04 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church *
10-05 Boston, MA - Middle East Downstairs *
10-06 Baltimore, MD - Sonar *
10-07 Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel *
10-08 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 *
10-09 Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn *
10-12 Beaumont, TX - Vortex *
10-13 Austin, TX - Mohawk *
10-15 Tucson, AZ - Solar Culture *
10-17 San Diego, CA - The Casbah *
10-18 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre *

# with Jennifer Gentle
* with Two Gallants