Denver-based art collective Win Wear presented ‘The Swell” last night, hosted by the Object and Thought Gallery.  “The Swell” being their latest in a string of unique events focusing on a convergence of visual, audible, and culinary arts, Win Wear is all about collaboration.

Artists Erin Reid and Brandon Weaver contributed five paintings each for the event.  Using the artwork as inspiration, musicians Scott Beck and Mark Shusterman spent the last few weeks developing musical compositions to accompany the art showing.  As the night’s first “set”, Scott and Mark performed this new material live amidst the gallery decor.  For the second “set”, Erin (unable to attend in person) provided a half-finished canvas, and Brandon proceeded to complete Erin’s expressive abstract piece with a set of pastels.  The musicians (joined by David Mead on clarinet) provided a backdrop of loose, experimental jazz to aid Brandon in his work.

Also on board for the night was Andre DiMattia, who contributed an amazing ensemble of food to the evening’s creativity.

The next Win Wear installment, to be entitled “The Wind”, is currently in the works.  No dates are finalized yet, but keep your eyes peeled!

The Swell
9.26.2008
Object and Thought Gallery, Denver, CO

Source:  DPA 4060s (Core-Sound HEBs) > battery box > Lunatec V3 > M-Audio Microtrack 2 >
CF > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack (inthistube [at] gmail.com)

Setlist:
(Musical set inspired by Brandon and Erin’s art)
1. intro
2. Untitled I
3. Untitled II
4. Untitled III
5. Untitled IV
6. Untitled V
(Collaborative Improv.)
7. intro
8. Part I
9. Part II
10. Part III
11. Part IV

Lineup:
Scott Beck – percussion
Mark Shusterman – Fender Rhodes
David Mead – alto clarinet
Brandon Weaver – art
Erin Reid – art
Andre DiMattia – dinner!
Maggie Gulasey – dessert!

(Download the sets as a single zipfile via megaupload.)

(Photo by Heather Browne.)

I’ve had requests for several sets from the DPUMS songwriter showcase, presented by HomeVibe and The Letter R Productions. Here’s the entire collection of Saturday’s performances. Levels vary greatly between sets and performers, so watch your speakers when listening to this one! Also, with so many artists, I struggled for titles on most songs. Please post a comment or email me if you have any setlist corrections.

Singer-Songwriters in the Round
8.02.2008
HomeVibe Stage @ Denver Post Underground Music Showcase
Sufi Rugs, Denver, CO

Source: Microtch Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 >
WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16 > mp3
Taped by: Lance Stack (inthistube [at] gmail.com)

(Set 1: Ellison Park, George Inai, Blue Light)
1. unknown [George]
2. I Keep You in a Flask [Ellison]
3. This House of Cards [Blue Light]
4. They Drained the Lake Today [George]
5. Downtown Wheaton [Ellison]
6. Midwestern Sky [Blue Light]
7. Eight Penny Nail [George]
8. unknown [Ellison]
9. Hold On * [Blue Light w/ Jess Mefford on vocals]

(Set 2: Andrea Ball, Jen Korte, Jack Redell)
1. unknown [Andrea]
2. unknown [Jack]
3. Berlin Wall [Jen]
4. Beat Beat Pound [Andrea]
5. Tomorrow the Smoke and the Tide [Jack]
6. Walkin On [Jen]
7. Porch [Andrea]
8. Columbus Stockade Blues [Jack]
9. Down Down [Jen]

(Set 3: Dormir, Yuzo Nieto, The First “A” in Omaha, Hunter Dragon)
1. You Are My Star [Yuzo]
2. unknown [First A]
3. Heavier Than a Neutron Star [Dormir]
4. 13th B’ak’tun [Yuzo]
5. unknown [First A]
6. unknown [Dormir]
7. Pama [Yuzo]
8. unknown [First A]
9. unknown [Dormir]

(Set 4: Joshua Novak, Mark Darling, Joseph Pope III)
1. With The Braces Surely Beat On [Joseph]
2. Cinnamon Thieves [Mark]
3. Tidal Wave [Joshua]
4. unknown [Joseph]
5. unknown [Mark]
6. unknown [Joshua]
7. unknown [Joseph]
8. unknown [Mark]
9. unknown [Joshua]

(Set 5: Suzi Allegra & Nathan Brasil [Pseudo Dates], Mike Marchant [widowers], Lizzy Allen [Vitamins])
1. Space Never Strays [Mike]
2. Wildwood Flower [Lizzy]
3. unknown [Suzi & Nathan]
4. “Terrible Ideas” [Mike]
5. unknown [Lizzy]
6. Ah! Sunflower [Suzi & Nathan]
7. “Hardwood Floor” [Mike]
8. unknown [Lizzy]
9. unknown [Suzi & Nathan]

(Set 6: Gregory Alan Isakov, Rachael Pollard, Julie Davis [Bela Karoli])
1. intro
2. unknown [Rachael]
3. unknown [Gregory]
4. unknown [Julie]
5. Down In It [Rachael]
6. The Universe [Gregory]
7. unknown [Julie]
8. unknown [Rachael]
9. The Stable Song [Gregory]
10. Summertime [Julie]

(Set 7: Chris Adolf [Bad Weather CA], Doo Crowder [Pee Pee], Adam Baumgartner [Littles Paia])
1. “Bad Things Will Happen” [Chris]
2. unknown [Adam]
3. unknown [Doo]
4. unknown [Adam]
5. “Needle and a Spoon” [Chris]
6. unknown [Doo]
7. unknown [Chris]

Here’s another great one from the Living Room Series!

Note #1: I grabbed this photo from Doug’s post to The Wheel myspace page.  He has some great shots from the weekend posted over at his gallery, as well as excellent footage of many other Denver events.

Note #2: I was at a loss for song titles on this set.  If anyone can fill in the blanks, let me know!

The Wheel
8.23.2008
Living Room Series, The Meadowlark, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtch Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 >
WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack (inthistube [at] gmail.com)

Setlist:
1. unknown
2. My Hanging Surrender
3. unknown
4. This
5. Whimper and Wail
6. unknown
7. unknown
8. unknown
9. Lamb on the Stone
10. Early Spring Till
(Encore)
11. Expatriot

Lineup:
Nathaniel Rateliff, Carrie Beeder, Julie Davis, James Han

(A zipfile of the entire set is available here.)

It’s no easy task to silence a crowded bar room with a quiet song, but that’s exactly what Reed Foehl did during nearly every song last Friday night in the basement of the Meadowlark.  I have two of Reed’s solo efforts (2004’s Spark and 2007’s Stoned Beautiful), which were primarily recorded with full bands.  While I enjoy both albums, I feel that he shines most when it’s just A Man and His Guitar.  This set contains one of my favorites, “St. Johns Smith Square”, and also boasts plenty of new material.  As an added treat, Gregory Alan Isakov joined on acoustic guitar for the last two songs.

Reed Foehl
8.22.2008
Living Room Series
The Meadowlark, Denver, CO

Source:  DPA 4060s (Core-Sound HEBs) > battery box > Lunatec V3 > M-Audio Microtrack 2 >
CF > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16

Setlist:
1. intro
2. Strange Days
3. St. John’s Smith Square > Far From Me
4. Good Company
5. ?
6. ?
7. Only in Your Arms *
8. Beautiful Life *

Notes:
* = with Gregory Alan Isakov

FLAC files and several other audio formats are now available over at the Live Music Archive.

Chris Adolf (of Bad Weather California) put on a blistering solo performance this weekend at the Meadowlark, appropriately livening up the back patio with political and personal rage, on the eve of the DNC here in Denver.  Chris was one of dozens of Denver musicians who convened this weekend for the notable Living Room Series, an event that attempted to showcase the best singer-songwriters along the Front Range.

Many thanks to Jonathan Bitz for working so hard to make the Living Room Series a success!  More from this memorable weekend will be posted as I find time.

Chris Adolf (Bad Weather California)
8.23.2008
Living Room Series
The Meadowlark, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtch Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16

Setlist:
1. Dead Flowers
2. You Be the Jesus
3. “Jesus Christ”
4. “I’m on Fire”
5. I’m Not the Poet
6. “Two Ways”
7. “Needle and a Spoon”
8. “Bad Things”
9. My Brave Friend
10. “My Country Too”

As usual, a zipfile of the entire show is available here.