G to C Showcase @ The Walnut Room This Friday May 11th!
Once again, we’ve somehow convinced three of Denver’s most intriguing and intoxicating Americana bands to come share a stage at The Walnut Room. I love these showcases. We’ve got a twangy one for you this month and personally, I can’t wait to see what these all these rascally musicians have been working on.
Benji and Lou is a special one time collaboration between Strange Americans and Jeff Rady, one of Denver’s premiere slide guitarists. They’ll be playing new arrangements of all the catchy Strange Americans hits you know and love. Maybe they’ll throw a cover in there. One thing’s for sure, this is a band of massively talented musicians creating something entirely new. And if you’re like us at G to C we’re always gobbling up new local music. Gobbling.
Listening to Chris McGarry and the Insomniacs is like driving back roads from Appalachia to Denver and sticking your head out the window. You’ll hear a little bit of everywhere in his music. His first solo album has been critically lauded and we can’t wait for this next one. He’s got a Kickstarter for it. They’ve already met their funding goal but you can still preorder the album! We both know you’re gonna buy it after you see them so save yourself the hassle and buy it now.
Lee Avenue is a kaleidoscope of American music. It’s the new project from Scott McCormick and Scott Aller, formerly of Boulder Acoustic Society. Folk, soul, gospel and good old fashioned rock and roll all come together like a giant ice cream sundae of musical deliciousness. Some songs are gospel keyboards and singalong choruses. Some are like a gritty, smokey basement bar. Lee Avenue is a band you’ll be hearing more about so come see them now before your friends find out. You’ll be so cool! Cooler than your friends at least.
Get your tickets here for $5 or at the door for $8. Pay no attention to the order of the bands at Walnut Room website. Merely an internet illusion. Benji & Lou will be first, then Chris McGarry and the Insomniacs then Lee Avenue. Sorry for any confusion.
Underground Experiments joins with Syn Med to Showcase Denver Artists of All Kinds
*art from Jesse Dawson
Underground Experiments is the brain child of Adam Peterson and two other friends who started it in Wisconsin. Adam took the collaboration along I-80 to Denver where he was undoubtedly sucked into the whirlpool of diverse Denver artists. Denver place is ripe for a collaboration like Underground Experiments. They, along with SynAesthetic Media, connect all sorts of artists, musicians, painters, poets and weirdos into an artistic hive mind with a local focus. Musically, they incorporate acts from all across the spectrum, from the strange and folky to rhythmic noisey ambience to political hip hop. With small artistic cells functioning around the country Underground Experiments has set the table to be a true asset to the Denver scene.
GtoC: What is the purpose and the goal of UE?
UE: Underground Experiments is a music and art collective created by Adam James Peterson, Matt Seyfert, and Charles Watson. Underground Experiments aims to connect artists together to get their art showcased. We want to help connect artists with recording, engineering, printing, production, mixing/mastering, graphic design, promotion, and distribution.
SynMed: SynAesthetic Media is a bridge between mediums and minds. We are a multimedia art collective cultivating avant-garde creativity across all spectrums of perception. We aim to revolutionize the way people conceptualize both the subjective experience of art, as well as the creative process in general by promoting unique ideas and cross platform collaborations; music, video,drawing, painting, sculpture, poetry & more… SynMed boasts an eclectic catalog of releases spanning from up-tempo triphop, dance floor bangers, dreary ambiance, lush glitchy idm, abstract folk, poignant spoken word and much more. All releases are accompanied by hi-quality visual artwork from one of our many talented artists!
GtoC: How did you come out to Colorado and get hooked up with the people here?
UE: Woke up in a crop circle outside DIA with a mission to help facilitate the creation of new art and music.
GtoC: Who are some of the artists and musicians you guys have worked with?
UE: We were able to perform at the first annual Mid West Music Fest where over 70 bands and musical acts performed to raise money for local non-profit organizations such as Winona Semcac Head Start, Winona Fine Arts Commission and Winona360. We have also opened up for Dessa Darling from Doomtree, Carnage the Executioner, Another Exoneration, and many other talented bands and artists. We’ve made mixtapes that are available for free online which feature artists such as DJ Russ P, Jesse Dawson, Witness, Darf, Abadawn, D&D Aspektz, CkC, Enable Mind, Nick Shattuck, Urges From Elsewhere, the Disabled, Father Focus Confucius, Hives Inquiry Squad, Derill Pounds, Jon LaForce, and the Jellyfish Brigade!
SynMed: SynMed has published works from artists around the world: Andrew Dahabrah, Anicrow, Asexual, ConsolerCTRL, Delyscid, DubLD, Good Mourning, In Better Senses, Jazzyspoon, Jesse Dawson, Lucas McMahon, Mudlung, Nikk Meffley, Octodigitus, One Whole Crumb, Plantaganda, Pushkin, Ryan Martinez, Stephen Hurnlund, The Toadvine Collective, Warm Animal and What’s His Face.
GtoC:How has UE grown in your time there?
UE: From the creation of the mad scientist created by Izzy Harris from Madison, WI to working with over fifty local artists from CO and the Midwest, Underground experiments continues to grow, harvesting new talent and planting new seeds.
SynMed: SynMed began as an attempt to combat the hackneyed humdrum of modern aesthetics and creative processes as well as meet new and inspirational people along the way. I have already been blown away by how successful these attempts have already been; especially considering SynMed is still in an infantile state. We can only go further…
SynMed has gained an extensive body of material and is gearing up for a plethora of releases. Be sure to stay tuned for the epic upcoming split between ConsolerCTRL & Jesse Dawson.
Additionally, we plan on organizing canned food drive concerts and other charitable efforts to assist our community and give back what we can to those in need. The more people that support SynMed, the more we are able to give back to the community.
GtoC: What can people do to get in touch with UE?
UE: If you want to be a part of the project contact Underground Experiments at aweindependent.gmail.com. All genres and forms of art are welcome! You can also visit us at our websites at http://
SynMed: You can go to our Facebook www.Facebook.com/Synaesthetic.
Submit any sort of artistic endeavor to: Synaesthetic.media@yahoo.com
New Track from Patrick Dethlefs “Done & Done”
A preview track from local troubadour Patrick Dethlef’s upcoming album, Fall & Rise. It’s out June 8th and hey, he’s got a show that day too. What a coincidence! Up at Swallow Hill Music School with Esme Patterson. Check out Patrick’s soothing voice and precision guitar work on “Done & Done”. Dude’s a folk mastermind and he’s kicked it up a level by adding a host of backing musicians. You can listen to the track by clicking below or download it here.
Patrick Dethlefs – Done & Done
June 8th. Patrick Dethlefs @ Swallow Hill Music School. G to C will be there. Esme Patterson too.
Alley Knaves and Aural Craves – An Evening with Varlet by Garrett Watts
Aptly named, the hi-dive is a small, dark venue—sticky with the remnants of spilled beer and mixed drinks, that rather than cleaned up, are painted over. The bar and stage are separated by a waist high wall whose only foreseeable purpose is to support some water coolers. However, the bizarre layout and “what did I just step in?” element of the hi-dive really serve to create an atmosphere of rambunctiousness and excitement.
In describing Varlet, I began to question if it were fair to compare them to other artists. For example: you might be with a friend, talking about a band you’ve just discovered and your friend asks, “Who do they sound like?” The response is usually, “Imagine if Modest Mouse, and Johnny Cash had a baby.” In the case of Varlet I find this inadequate.
My experience was much closer to tangible sensations. It was more like a glass of red wine that had a bite like whiskey, or wandering through Oklahoma in the 1930′s to discover a speakeasy in the middle of nowhere. Inside is an oasis of cold beer, and all the lavishness you couldn’t find anywhere else at the time. Varlet puts together songs in a very delicate manner—they are all of similar taste, but each is unique in style and feel. One song will be a cascade of pure rocking adrenaline, and the next will be something so theatrical one could think they might try their hand at writing a musical. I attribute most of these factors to something very unique for a band: they’re all song writers and between them there’s more focused talent than anywhere else this side of the Mississippi.
Even though they lost a few minutes of set time to an equipment issue, the band kept up the energy with some lighthearted fun and anecdotes. In particular an experience from playing at South By Southwest. Keyboardist Vaughn McPherson, was headed to the van, where he found the Dark Carnival of Souls chose to take up residence on their van. Like any “Jugga-ho” his flight instinct kicked in and in Will Duncan, the drummer’s words, “There’s a Juggalo on my van; we need to leave now!” It’s moments like this that test a bands merit and ability to entertain, and Varlet gracefully maintained the crowd’s energy.
Moreover, they’re some of the best people you’ll meet. After the show, I had the opportunity to meet with them outside by their van, where our interview ended up being so natural it was more like meeting new friends. The conviction and belief they have in what they’re doing is inspiring. Varlet recognizes the risks they’re taking in committing so fully to the band. Lead guitar and steel guitar player Cole Rudy elaborated, “This the first band I’ve been in where we’re all on the same page, and we’re hungry for it. ‘Let’s play shows constantly, write songs constantly and let’s tour constantly.’” Or as lead singer Lilly Scott said, “Varlet thrives on playing live.”
To Varlet: If you can garner some attention for yourselves I would expect a rocketing climb into the ranks of bands like Murder By Death or Tom Waits.
To Denver: Take the opportunity to see them in one of our local venues while you can, because I foresee big things in store for this band.
You Me And Apollo to play G to C Summer Folk Festival!
You heard that right! Folk-soul superstars in the making, You, Me and Apollo will be playing The G to C Summer Folk Festival this year! They’re one of our favorite Colorado bands and we’re really lucky to have them play.
You’re likely to hear righteous sounds like the following…
Who else is playing at hi dive on Saturday August 18th? Only G to C knows and we’re not telling right now. So stay tuned and check out our Facebook for the latest updates
Who wants VIP passes to The G to C Summer Folk Festival August 18th at hidive?
We’ll be announcing an artist for the G to C Summer Folk Festival later this week. If you want to find out today share this link and have your friends “Like” the hell out of it. I’ll send you a message with not one, but two of the bands that will be playing and you’ll be automatically entered in a drawing for VIP passes. You know what to do!
www.facebook.com/GtoCMagazine.
Could be these guys. Who knows?
PS – Wilco and Dr Dog are at Red Rocks on Saturday June 23rd. Same day as the Westword Music Showcase. Looks like G to C will be at both!
Coming Soon! Artist Announcement for G to C Summer Folk Festival
Stay tuned to G to C Magazine (that’s this website, the one you’re on right now) for the first artist announcement for the G to C Summer Folk Festival.
The festival is August 18th at hi dive. Get your dancin shoes on.
Megafaun, Eye and The Arrow @ hidive Tuesday March 27th
Sure, they played in DeYarmond Edison with Justin Vernon, better known as Pitchfork’s darling pet, Bon Iver. But Megafaun is so much more than that. They’re a dirty folk band with stretches of airy pop harmonies and psychedelic acoustic spirals. At times, they play with a powerful abandon. Other songs are catchy and just plain ol’ folkster fun.
They’re playing with stoney Americana reverb band, Field Report who played SXSW this year.
Local G to C favorites, Eye and The Arrow will be opening the night at 9.
Get some tickets at www.hi-dive.com for $15
The Changing Colors – Ghost of Red Mountain
The Changing Colors is a brotherly duo of Conor and Ian Bourgal from Manitou Springs. They released “Ghost of Red Mountain” in 2009. Their sparse fingerpicking eases its way into your mind and soul. Conor’s melodic purr is like a morning winter snowfall. The Changing Colors are masters of pacing. The songs, and the album as a whole, pull you along, gently, by the hand. These songs are more like folky vocal compositions, none of them faster than a crawl. Conor’s lyrics are terse, honest and to the point, like if Hemingway wrote a folk song. The Changing Colors is a lot like Great Lake Swimmers but more rural and brusk. They’re headed on tour in April but be sure to check them out when they come back to the CO. We’ve been begging them for another album and you should too. Leave a message at their Facebook. Buy “Ghost of Red Mountain” at their bandcamp.
Announcing The G to C Magazine Summer Folk Festival @ hi dive Saturday August 18th
Thats right! G to C is very excited to be putting together our first folk festival. We will feature six local acts and a whole bunch of solo musicians on a side stage. Hi dive is one of our favorite venues in town and we’re so pleased to be involved with them.
More details to come.
For booking and promotional inquiries please email GtoCzine@gmail.com
