Indie 102.3 Sessions

Paul Kimbiris & The Dark Side of Pearl released the new “May Day” EP earlier this month. Kimbiris has garnered comparisons to Bob Dylan and Gregory Alan Isakov for his lyrical storytelling and folk-inspired music. The new record features a louder rock sound from his band, named for the main street in the singer-songwriter’s home of Boulder. Kimbiris and his band recently returned to the CPR Performance Studio for the first time since 2014. They played four songs and Kimbiris spoke with Bruce Trujillo about how a trip to Spain inspired his new music and performing at a Bob Dylan tribute show at eTown Hall in Boulder.

Darren Garvey spent the last two years as the percussionist for Colorado folk group Elephant Revival. That band recently went on hiatus, but Garvey is staying busy with his solo singer-songwriter music. Next month the multi-instrumentalist will release his latest album, “Heart Attack Sleeves,” and he performs June 29 at the Walnut Room with Tough Old Bird and Perry West. Garvey stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play some of his own material on guitar and piano. He also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about producing his own records, his goal to share a new song online every week in 2018 and why Elephant Revival is taking a break.

Gasoline Lollipops have a busy 2018 schedule. The Boulder country-rock band will perform at several Colorado summer music festivals including Grandoozy and ARISE as well as a free concert at Levitt Pavilion Denver in July. The quartet released its latest album, “Soul Mine,” late last year. Gasoline Lollipops recently returned to the CPR Performance Studio a year after their first visit. The band played four songs and bandleader Clay Rose spoke with Alisha Sweeney about the soul-searching period of his life that inspired “Soul Mine,” recording much of the album alone and his plans to write and record music with his mother.

Jess Parsons released her debut solo record, “Murmuration,” last week. The singer and ukulele player has been active in Denver’s music scene as a member of Glowing House, Bluebook and Kyle Emerson’s band. The five-song EP finds Parsons taking the traditional folk sound of her previous work in a more ethereal direction. Parsons stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play three songs from “Murmuration.” She also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about recording the EP live to tape in Boulder, working on a collection of nursery rhymes with Julie Davis of Bluebook and how playing with other Denver bands influences her own work.

Erika Wennerstrom has visited our studio before with her Americana-rock band Heartless Bastards. This year, the singer and guitarist took a break from that band to release her debut solo album, “Sweet Unknown.” Inspired by a trip to the Amazon rainforest, the record features a more psychedelic sound for Wennerstrom, whose robust vocals are always a riveting aspect of her music. Wennerstrom returned to the CPR Performance Studio last month before a show at Denver’s Globe Hall. She played four songs and spoke with Alisha Sweeney about how taking a break from Heartless Bastards helped her songwriting, writing the album on a camping trip in West Texas and how she connects with people through music.

Los Mocochetes have become live favorites in Denver for their thrilling blend of percussion, guitars, horns and vocals that incorporates elements of Chicano rock and funk. The seven-piece band’s songs feature politically minded lyrics, and it’s easy for a listener to sing along to songs like “¡Que Viva Revolución!” Their entry to this year’s Tiny Desk Contest from NPR Music was one of our favorite Colorado entries. Los Mocochetes stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before their Saturday night show at Larimer Lounge. The band members played four songs and spoke with Bruce Trujillo about coming up with their band name at Walmart, how they came to play protest music and winning Westword’s “Best Latin Band” award last year.

Jamaal Curry writes hip-hop songs that hearken back to the genre’s early days in the 1980s and ’90s. The Fort Collins rapper and producer performs under the name Boss Eagle. He released his debut album, “The Firebird Album,” late last year. Boss Eagle performed four songs from “The Firebird Album” in the CPR Performance Studio and donned some boxing attire for one of the songs (see above). Curry also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about writing a letter to Puff Daddy as a teenager, creating new verses for some of his favorite rap songs and the Colorado hip-hop scene.

Shannon And The Clams released their fifth album, “Onion,” earlier this year. The Oakland quartet teamed up with producer Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys for the record, which features the retro rock and pop sound of the band’s previous work. Singer Shannon Shaw’s lyrics pay tribute to the victims of the 2016 fire at the Ghost Ship venue in the band’s hometown. Shannon And The Clams stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before a pair of Colorado shows. The band members played three songs from “Onion” and spoke with Bruce Trujillo about writing about friends who had died in the Ghost Ship fire, playing the songs from “Onion” in Oakland for the first time and how Auerbach’s support has affected their career.