By: Daniel Mescher
Summer is not quite here yet, but with the arrival of warm weather and music fans awakening from hibernation, concert season has already kicked off in Denver. This week brings the Postal Service on their long-awaited reunion tour as well as Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes with Alabama Shakes. Both shows are at Red Rocks, and unfortunately, both are sold out. But fear not! There are plenty of great (and cheap!) shows in Denver coming up for music fans of any genre. Here are seven concerts coming up in the next seven days (all under $25!!!) that we recommend:
Ian Cooke release party @ Deer Pile on 5/30
The Deer Pile will host a record release party for beloved Denver songwriter and cellist Ian Cooke. The 7 inch will feature two previously unreleased from the Fortitude sessions. Better show up early to grab one though: only 33 records will be available, each with unique cover art. The show will feature The Seven Hats, Joshua Novak, Rachael Pollard, Esme Patterson, Chris Jusell, and Chimney Choir performing Cooke songs, followed by a solo set from Cooke himself.
The Outfit, Achille Lauro, Rossonian @ Skylark Lounge on 5/31
Denver-based Hot Congress Records will host a showcase of three of their artists at the Skylark Lounge. The show will feature garage rockers The Outfit, indie pop/rock quartet Rossonian, and Achille Lauro, self-described as “easily the sexiest thing to come out Denver since Don Cheadle”. With a $5 admission, this is perhaps the biggest bang for your buck to see local music this weekend.
In the Whale w/ Yawpers @ Hi-Dive on 5/31
Raucous Greely natives In the Whale, the self-proclaimed “Kenny Powers of the Denver music” scene, share the Eastbound and Down antihero’s penchant for shooting first and asking questions later. Through two EPs worth of aggressive bass-heavy rock ‘n roll and a sold out show at the Hi-Dive, In The Whale have proven to be a formidable live and studio act. Fans of Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal should pay attention. Boulder three-piece Yawpers, blending the country Americana vibes of Deer Tick and early Wilco with a hip rock sensibility, will open.
Tallest Man on Earth @ Ogden on 6/1
Those who have seen Kristian Matsson AKA The Tallest Man on Earth perform can attest: less is more. Matsson’s acoustic guitar expertise and robust vocals seem so intertwined and powerful that one can forget they come from merely one man. Folk-rockers Strand of Oaks open.
Baths @ Bluebird on 6/1
Hot off the release of his sophomore album, Obsidian, electronic artist Will Wiesenfeld AKA Baths brings his one-man show to the Bluebird Theater. Obsidian has been called a much darker record than its predecessor Cerulean, but the new, more vocal-infused material should satisfy fans of Wiesenfeld’s glitchy IDM beats. Be sure to wear your dancing shoes for this one.
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats @ Hi-Dive on 6/1
Denver natives Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats will play their first ever (!) headlining show Saturday night at the Hi-Dive. The show is a 7 inch release party for the band’s single "Look It Here" / "Trying so Hard Not to Know". The soul-infused seven-piece outfit’s recent set at the Bluebird has been generating a lot of attention for their sheer energy, so there’s sure to be plenty more frenzy Saturday night.
Foals w/ Surfer Blood @ Ogden on 6/4
British indie rockers Foals released their third LP, Holy Fire, earlier this year. The record continues in the vein of their smart and highly danceable rock found on their previous two albums and should translate very well to a live setting. Florida rockers Surfer Blood, who will release their follow-up to 2010’s excellent Astro Coast later this year, open Tuesday night.
