UMS Artist Highlight: Unknown Mortal Orchestra
From July 24-27, the Denver Post Underground Music Showcase, or UMS, will take over Denver’s South Broadway neighborhood with four days of live music.
Frontman Ruban Neilson assembled the band after leaving his former band The Mint Chicks, an experimental noise rock band whose final show ended in chaos after Kody Nielson (Reuben’s brother) destroyed two drum kits and other equipment, imploring the crowd to "start your own f-----g band."
After reading about The Mint Chicks, I’m shocked that UMO is so polite and friendly. They’re no longer in the vein of experimental noise rock, and Reuben's shows no longer include the antics of the likes of Mac Demarco.
Instead, they bring you the best of a lo-fi psychedelic pop sound. Reuben, a master of his red Jazzmaster guitar, leads each song with precision. The rhythm of his guitar is so strong that if the bass and drum accompaniments faded away, you would still be left with everything you need to enjoy the album (which is probably why their acoustic EP "Blue" was so successful).
Back in March they played a set in OpenAir’s performance studio before playing a sold out show at the Hi-Dive (video below). It was a fantastic set that included their latest single “Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)”.
You can find them on the main stage of the 2014 Denver Post Underground Music Showcase when they return to Colorado in July.
The Denver Post UMS runs from July 24-27 in Denver's Baker district. Tickets and a full schedule are available via the UMS website.
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