(Photo by Brian Carney.)

Pee Pee
3.17.2009
The Oriental Theater, Denver, CO

Now available on archive.org

(Photo by Denise Chambers.)

Six months after their last appearance at the Hi-Dive, The Broken West made another stop in Denver!  Check out John Wenzel’s review of the evening over at Reverb while you’re giving the set a listen, and also consider purchasing one the the band’s albums via Merge:

2008 – Now or Heaven
2007 – I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On

The Broken West
3.11.2009
The Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 > Oade Mod Edirol R44 @ 24/48 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > Resample to 16/44.1 > CDWave > LAME > mp3
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. So It Goes >
2. Auctioneer
3. On The Bubble
4. Please
5. Gwen, Now and Then
6. Ambuscade
7. Got It Bad
8. House of Lies
9. Down in the Valley
10. Perfect Games

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files are available via BitTorrent over at dime.

(Photo by Brian Carney.)

In what has been labeled by several as their favorite Denver show this year, Akron/Family concluded The Oriental’s St. Pat’s festivities with a two-hour performance that took the audience on an emotional roller coaster.  Boasting a dreadfully serious opening song, thundering jams with Pee Pee, punk rock, and singalongs in utter darkness, you won’t fully appreciate this journey by sampling one or two tracks.  Stay along for the entire ride, and you just might experience a renewed faith in the potential of experimental rock.

Akron/Family
3.17.2009
The Oriental Theater, Denver, CO

Source:  Mix [Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 > digi-coax] + [SBD > 1/4″] > Oade Mod Edirol R44 @ 24/48 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > Resampe to 16/44.1 > CDWave > LAME > mp3
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. intro
2. Untitled (last song from s/t album)
3. River >
4. The Alps and Their Orange Evergreen >
5. Gravelly Mountains of The Moon >
6. Lake Song * >
7. Jam * >
8. Ed Is a Portal * >
9. Creatures > Jam * >
10. Everyone Is Guilty
11. MBF
12. Sun Will Shine *
13. Last Year
(Encore)
14. I Know You Rider
15. Crickets

Notes:
* = with members of Pee Pee

Tim Weilert has posted some great video footage of Pee Pee jam here, courtesy of Something Like Sound!

Zipfiles of the mp3s are available here:  Part 1, Part 2.
FLAC files are available via BitTorrent over at dime.

(Photo from Noise Pop ’09 by Cameron Platt)

St. Patrick’s weekend is not the most opportune time to book quiet shows at dive bars, the nightlife being much more interested in intoxication and revelry than in a listening experience.  After skipping out early from the Les Claypool show, I made my way down to the Lion’s Lair to catch Two Sheds, who were on their way from California to SXSW.  Lacking a drummer for this trip, Two Sheds gave their tunes the mellow treatment on this particular night.  Those of us sitting close to the stage had the chance to soak in Caitlin Gutenberger’s dream-like vocals.  In time, the background chatter and beer buzzes were melted away.

Two Shed’s first full-length and more recent EP can both be purchased here (in physical form) or via iTunes.

Two Sheds
3.14.2009
Lion’s Lair, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 > Oade Mod Edirol R44 @ 24/48 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > Resample to 16/44.1 > CDWave > LAME > mp3
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. For Theresa
2. The Ballad of Salty Dog
3. Undertow
4. To Be Alive
5. You
6. WTF?
7. unknown
8. Momma
9. Psycho Killer

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files can be downloaded as a zipfile here.

(Photo by Brian Carney.)

Denver’s Young Coyotes are prepared to land at several SXSW parties just after lunch today.  If you’re actually reading this, chances are you’re not down in Austin seeing them this afternoon,  but instead one of many wishing you were.  To lift your spirits (if only a little), here’s the next best thing…a Young Coyotes live set from this week’s St. Pat’s festivities at the Oriental Theater.

Young Coyotes
3.17.2009
The Oriental Theater, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 > Oade Mod Edirol R44 @ 24/48 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > Resample to 16/44 > CDWave > LAME > mp3
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. intro/soundcheck
2. Hell Is
3. Buried
4. When I Was In The Fire
5. Momentary Drowning
6. A Thousand Masks
7. Splitting Prisms
8. The Sun Continues to Reach Me
9. (new song)
10. In The Garden
11. In My House

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files are available via BitTorrent over at dime.

(Photo by Marla Keown.)

Here’s another Achille Lauro set, part of an excellent night of music organized by the Hot Congress collective.

Achille Lauro
3.05.2009
The Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Under The Bridge (tease)
2. Cardboard Divas
3. (new song)
4. “Friend’s War”
5. Summertime
6. Cold Poetry
7. Buried Under Ice
8. Super Natural Beings
9. “No Brakes”

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files can be downloaded as a zipfile here.

Fissure Mystic
3.05.2009
The Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Mr. Yoshi
2. unknown
3. (new song)
4. unknown
5. Breakthrough
6. unknown

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files can be downloaded as a zipfile here.

(Photo by Brian Carney.)

The Legendary River Drifters
2.25.2009
The Oriental Theater, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. unknown
2. Wash Away My Whiskey Ways
3. unknown
4. unknown
5. unknown
6. Soapy Rail Stomp
7. unknown
8. The Fly
9. The Mountain Song
10. unknown
11. unknown

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files can be downloaded as a zipfile here.

Brian has full photo essay and review on the Denver Post’s Reverb blog.

(Photo by Brian Carney.)

Laura Goldhamer and The Silver Nail
2.25.2009
The Oriental Theater, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. unknown
2. Lion
3. unknown
4. No Ability
5. Humpty Dumpty
6. Little Baby
7. unknown
8. Gently Now
9. unknown
10. Ye Old Leave Behind
11. Born There

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files can be downloaded as a zipfile here.

There was a good turnout on Wednesday night for Portland’s Blind Pilot, who made a pass through Denver on the way to SXSW.  This turnout also resulted in a lot of chatter (especially on the quiet songs), but I suppose the recording is still quite listenable.

Blind Pilot
3.11.2009
The Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Oade Mod Edirol R44 @ 24/48 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > Resample to 16/44.1 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Oviedo
2. Go On, Say It
3. Two Towns For Me
4. White Apple
5. Paint Or Pollen
6. The Story I Heard
7. I Buried a Bone
8. Poor Boy
9. One Red Thread
10. 3 Rounds and a Sound
11. Rock Salt and Nails
12. We are the Tide

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files are available via BitTorrent over at dime.

Update: John Wenzel just posted a review of the show on Reverb.

Denver newcomers Churchill impressed the Meadowlark crowd with their first official performance last week.  The show started as a duo, with Tim Bruns on acoustic and Mike Morter on mandolin.  Later in the set, Bethany Kelly shared the vocal duties and Amy Moyer completed the ensemble with a cello.  One listener likened their sound to acoustic Counting Crows.   While I suppose the comparison is accurate, Churchill is rooted much deeper in bluegrass and country territory.

Churchill
3.04.2009
The Meadowlark, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Love Is A Lottery Game
2. unknown
3. The Surgeon
4. How To Speak
5. Call Me Man
6. Fact and Feeling
7. Wrong In Words
8. Coming Clean

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files can be downloaded as a zipfile here.

With instantly accessible melodies and catchy lyrics, The Build-Up put on an great indie-rock show, and this set from The Oriental will attest to.

The Build-Up
2.19.2009
The Oriental Theater, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. intro
2. Winter Dress (instrumental) > unknown
3. Go It Alone
4. Braver
5. unknown
6. California Stars
7. Vinyl
8. New House Hotel
9. Box of Plastic
10. Like a Violin

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files can be downloaded as a zipfile here.

Mike Marchant just won’t relent on the songwriting process.  Less than two month after his solo EP release, the setlists are comprised mostly of new material!  This is a fun basement performance featuring Maria Kohler on accompanying vocals.

Mike Marchant and Maria Kohler
2.28.2009
The Meadowlark, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. intro
2. “Sunken Ships”
3. “I Remember A Time”
4. Space Never Strays
5. Moonshining
6. Surround Me
7. “The Bar Where Lines Cross”
8. Amazing Grace

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files can be downloaded as a zipfile here.

Evening two of the Arizona run:  We’re hanging out in a Scottsdale strip mall and break the news to Brian that it’s Valentine’s Day.  It’s only 30 minutes before doors, but you can see the mental gears grinding away, searching for material worthy of bolstering the Greeting Card Association membership’s market value.  An hour later, the homage is nothing less than genius!

Brian Dewan
2.14.2009
Chyro Arts Venue, Scottsdale, AZ

Source:  DPA 4060/Microtech Gefell M300 Mix > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave
Source #1: DPA 4060s (Core-Sound HEBs) clipped to vocal mic stand > battery box > M-Audio Microtrack 2 > CF
Source #2: Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. (Valentine’s Day intro)
2. I Will Give My Love an Apple [trad.]
3. I Hold Your Hand in Mine [Tom Lehrer]
4. Girl [Beatles]
5. Girls [Iggy Pop]
6. The Human Heart
7. (Brian tells a joke)
8. Brain Surgery Without Anesthesia
9. Sovey the Female Highwayman [trad.]
10. The True Lover’s Farewell [trad.]

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files can be downloaded as a zipfile here.

Joining The Music Tapes and Nana Grizol on their recent tour, Brian Dewan schooled punctual E6 fans on the physics of making dead-serious musical historiography and eccentricity converge.   Brian is very fervent about the traditional songs he unearths for listeners, yet never fails to inject a breath of humor into every performance.  Every geek musical fact withdrawn from the treasury comes with a joke stashed away in a separate account.  Every antique zither or film projector on-stage comes with a ridiculous suit jacket or tie.

This set from Solar Culture in Tucson was comprised primarily of material from The Operating Theater and Words of Wisdom.  Most tunes can’t be pegged to a single songwriter, any accreditation having been lost to the winds of time, but we can at least give Brian the credit of delivering them to our ears.

Brian Dewan
2.13.2009
Solar Culture, Tucson, AZ

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Big Rock Candy Mountains
2. The Kettle Valley Line
3. The Mountaineer’s Wedding
4. Niagara Falls
5. Where They Belong
6. Home Movies
7. Fruitless Labors
8. Kids
9. Rumpelstiltskin
10. Flexible Flyer
11. Cadavers
12. unknown
13. The Mistletoe

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files can be downloaded as a zipfile here.