KVDU - The New

Tom Petty, DMB, The Roots to Hit Denver @ Mile High Music Festival!

2008-05-18

Denver
has long been a musical oasis for bands touring across the country with
hundreds of bands passing through town each year. As such, it was only a matter
of time before a giant music festival like this year’s Mile High Music Festival
found its way to our beautiful city. Perhaps it was the success of last fall’s
Monolith Music Festival at Red Rocks that prompted promoters to get to work on
another festival or maybe it was just the right time, either way, Mile High
Music Festival promises to be the summer’s biggest musical menagerie to hit
this great city.

The
festival, sponsored by SanDisk and AEG Live, will invade Dick’s Sporting Goods
Park in Commerce City on July 19 and 20. The lineup is a virtual who’s-who of
music with styles ranging from hip hop to pseudo-country and jam bands. In
addition to a slew of great music, the festival will also have an artists’
market provided by the ArtDistrict on Santa Fe Avenue to showcase the work of a
host of Denver’s leading artists. The festivals food selections will also be a
showcase of sorts highlighting many local restaurants. And, not to miss the
social awareness aspect of such events, Conscious Alliance will be giving away
limited edition posters for ten dollar or ten non-perishable food item
donations with the proceeds benefiting the Food Bank of the Rockies.

All
other aspects aside, the real reason to get off your couch and face July’s
pounding sun is the music. Not only will Mile High Music Festival shed a light
on the best local music Denver has to offer (home-town heroes like the Flobots,
Rose Hill Drive, Meese, Born In The Flood, Railbenders and The Photo Atlas) it
is bringing to town hordes of great national acts including the likes of John
Mayer, The Black Crowes, Mike Gordon, O.A.R., Michael Franti & Spearhead,
Rodrigo y Gabriela, Steve Winwood, Spoon, Jason Mraz, Flogging Molly, Colbie
Caillat, OneRepublic, The Whigs, The Roots and Lupe Fiasco just to name a few.
Although it might seem like a hodge-podge of acts, it provides a killer line-up
with at least one act you will love while providing the opportunity to discover
a ton of new acts, genres and styles too.

The
one act that seems to be on everybody’s mind however, is the one and only Tom Petty
and the Heartbreakers. Sure, people are jazzed to see the Dave Matthews Band,
the other headliner, but the buzz surrounding Tom Petty is simply too loud to
miss. When interviewing a few of the festival’s acts, each one seemed
particularly excited to play with the legendary Petty. Julian Dorio of The
Whigs confessed, “I’ve never seen Tom Petty and I can’t say that we’re really
playing with him but I am really excited to check him out because obviously
he’s really amazing.”

Local
favorite The Railbenders’ frontman Jim Dalton expressed similar sentiments when
I asked him which act at Mile High he way looking forward to the most, “I’d have to say Tom Petty because I’ve
never seen Tom Petty live. I’ve always been a fan but never got to see him.”

All
things Petty aside, the festival is going to be a great weekend for artists and
fans alike to be dazzled. For musicians like Dorio, “Mile High Festival and
shows like it are really exciting because they put you in front of a lot of
people all at once.”

For
the average concertgoer like myself, Mile High promises to be a great weekend
of great art, good food and exceptional music. What more could you ask for in
the middle of your summer fun? Plus, if the lineup is this good for the
festival’s inaugural year, I can only imagine what phenomenal acts it will
boast in the future.

Make sure to catch at least one day of
shows or get crazy and tackle both days! Tickets are still available at www.milehighmusicfestival.com

Hey gang, You can tell!!! Option 2 is better electronicly inclined was right!!!

2008-04-04

Benefit concert brings international artists to Denver

2007-11-17

DENVER-The Playing for change foundation, a California based charity, held their first ever benefit concert last Thursday at the Paramount.

The Denver music scene got a taste of something new last week when the playing for change foundations bought artists from all over the world to perform downtown. Although the headliners were Grammy award winner Keb Mo and Big Head Todd frontman Todd Park Mohr, the real stars of the show were the many international artists that preformed. Some of these individuals had never even been to the United States before. One of these groups was Tibetan band the Exile Brothers, who hoped to raise awareness about Tibet�EURTMs struggle for freedom. The three brothers moved the crowd with songs sung in both their native tong and in English. Although they had never preformed in the U.S. before, they seemed at home on the stage. At the end of their set the paramount erupted in a standing ovation for the three brothers.

The Exile Brothers was just one of the international groups performing last Thursday. The Playing for Change foundation also had artists from Ghana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Nepal; as well as artist from all over the country including New Orleans, Boulder, Los Angeles, and Denver. Musicians from all over the world performing together was an unexpected treat for the audience. Although many of these artists did not speak the same language, they preformed seamlessly together proving that music is a language of its own.

The highlight of the night was when all the musicians that preformed came out at the end to play together one last time. Everyone, including the audience, all joined in during the last song of the night, Bob Marley�EURTMs One Love. The Paramount saw something special last Thursday, artists from all over the world coming together in Denver, and playing for change.

The concert also featured a silent auction, and a needs auction. It was all to Benefit the Playing for Change Foundation, the proceeds are going to help build music and art schools in impoverished areas around the world as well as supporting the Tibetan Refugee Center in Dharmsala India.

Overall the Playing for Change foundation put on an excellent night for a great cause. For more information on the foundation or to donate go to www.playingforchange.com.

Playing for Change

2007-11-07

Hey Gang!
Check this out its for a really good cause, really solid guys putting it together! The Playing for Change Foundation (PFCF) is proud to present a special benefit concert featuring Grammy-award winner Keb' Mo', a special acoustic appearance by Todd Park Mohr (of Big Head Todd and the Monsters), along with a host of exceptional musicians from around the world.

Proceeds from all concert tickets, silent auction donations and purchases of hand-made merchandise from African, Nepalese, and Tibetan artists will be utilized by The Playing For Change Foundation to build and support its first music school in the township of Guguletu, South Africa, a community in need of immediate assistance and inspiration. The Playing for Change Foundation is dedicated to connecting the world through music and inspiring cultures to come together.

DU students get a 50% discount. Go to tickethorse and type in the code PFC2007

more information available at www.playingforchange.com

Umphrey's McGee's Fillmore Frights

2007-11-04

Wednesday night Umphrey�EURTMs McGee gave Fillmore goers a musical horror movie experience like nothing else. The Chicago native band synched its music to clips from some of the most horrifying movies known to man, changing once happy jam music into the soundtrack for nightmares.

Before Umphrey�EURTMs had even played a note there was a line of Halloween costumes wrapping around the Fillmore. Everyone was dressed to win the costume contest. The winner receives two tickets to every Fillmore show for a year, and people were out to win. Cameras flashed as people attempted to document walking pineapples with blonde dreadlocks, and Daft Punk robots.

Once inside the venue people took on the full persona of their character. Pushing through the crowd toward the stage, one would hear calls from Dog The Bounty Hunter yelling �EURoeWatch it, brah!�EUR�

The Umphrey�EURTMs band members wore little more than some ghoulish make-up, leaving such costumes to the crowd. It was obvious that when the house lights would come on during the first set the band members were staring into the crowd, and taking in all the outlandish getups.

Umphrey�EURTMs played in front of a projection screen that had an eyeball in the center and different videos playing inside of the techno-colored eye. Once the second set started, the eyeball was gone, and the screen was filled with shots from Stanley Kubrick�EURTMs �EURoeThe Shining�EUR�. At first it just seemed like background video, but as the video became more dramatic so did the music, and it became blatant that Umphrey�EURTMs had spent many hours perfectly synching their music to chopped up versions of some of the all-star horror films.

After �EURoeThe Shining,�EUR� the music became more aggressive, and so did the video, showing the most gruesome kill scenes from �EURoeNightmare On Elm Street�EUR�. The crowd was so happy and into it, one would think they were being shown videos of frolicking clumsy kittens.

It felt as if the intensity of �EURoeNightmare on Elm Street�EUR� could not be matched, but then scenes from �EURoeThe Exorcist�EUR� flashed over the screen. Cheers roared as the first guitar riffs of �EURoeBridgeless�EUR� stabbed through the crowd. The music built as Satan became more powerful inside of eleven-year-old Regan MacNeil. The music built, perfectly synched with the video, finally climaxing when Father Karras throws himself down those famous Georgetown stairs.

The show was seemingly over, but about fifteen minutes after Umphrey�EURTMs �EURoeExorcist�EUR� closing, scary violins crept over the sound system, and Umphrey�EURTMs came out for their encore. Umphrey�EURTMs ended with �EURoeWizard Burial Ground,�EUR� and in the background was a slideshow of the scariest snap shots from everyone�EURTMs favorite scary movies, even classics like �EURoeThe Blob�EUR�.

As the crowds spilled out onto the streets, one could only sit and watch the clusters of costumes crossing streets and chatting in circles. The mixture of excitement and fear could have only been match by grade-schoolers going to their first haunted house.

LOCAL MUSIC YO!!!!

2007-11-02

On Oct. 1, The Heyday's concert at the intimate Marquis Theater not only celebrated the band's new CD, it also showcased some of Colorado's upcoming talent in the opening acts.

The young band, Saving Verona, kicked-off the show with an outstanding performance. Saving Verona decided to mix things up a bit at this show by playing an acoustic set. As a band that credits Green Day and the band Bush for sparking its musical interest as a power pop-punk band, the band risked losing the fast-paced energy that fuels its songs. Fortunately, Saving Verona dished out an incredible raw and lively performance. The only downside to this set was trying to see the two band members playing. Saving Verona chose to perform seated and all the people in the front row happened to be tall, making it virtually impossible to catch a glimpse of the artists.

Aloft in a Sundry accomplished a memorable feat simply by walking onto the stage. The members managed to cover all aspects of rock fashion in each of their outfits. From indie-vintage to cut-off sleeves and even big poofy hair, Aloft in a Sundry looked like it had taken each member from a different rock genre and mixed them together. The mix proved to be brilliant and the band instantly made the crowd move with its great energy. Although the songs on its Myspace.com profile are still demos, they really do not do this band justice. The passionate vocals and the band's ability to capture an audience's attention make Aloft in a Sundry a band worth checking out as it tours multiple venues in Denver this month.

Hailing from Fort Collins, Tickle Me Pink not only has a great name, but also put on a cool show. With songs about dysfunctional lovers, Tickle Me Pink pumped up the crowd to a whole new level. This group played tracks from its new disc Madeline and showed off its ability to play upbeat songs with a hint of darkness and edgy screams. Fans quickly fell in love with the band and demanded an encore. Tickle Me Pink happily returned with only one request: that the audience dance. With such an awesome performance, it was impossible not to comply.

Formed in the spring of 2006, The Heyday managed to put together a stage show and CD that many bands spend years perfecting. The infectious melodies and the band's overall feel-good attitude resonated throughout the audience and instantly won the crowd over. It was obvious just how grateful and happy The Heyday were to be onstage performing its catchy tunes.

The band not only played tracks from the new self-titled album, but also treated the audience to some new songs and covers. Its version of Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles" will most likely go down in history as the first time teenage boys and grown men have screamed and moshed to that song.

As with Tickle Me Pink, the crowd demanded an encore. The whole venue shook as people cheered and stomped, a sound that would excite any new band. The Heyday once again took the stage and really rocked out for more than a hundred new fans.

And We'll All "Float" On

2007-10-28

And the award for the most baffling homecoming float goes to... Student Media. Well, if such a distinction existed, maybe. I hope all of you were able to witness the greatness that was the Student Media float at the DU's homecoming parade. In this day and age, you can't really go wrong with pirate ships and go wrong we did not.

In other news, you may have noticed a few slight tweaks 'round these parts. The main page now shows what shows will play today. And show pages will show posts by the DJs involved as well as the top five songs for that particular show. (I'm noticing a disturbing Lynyrd Skynyrd trend...)

For you technophiles out there, we've also got an RSS feed here on the news page, so you can feel free and add it to your aggregator of choice. (I'm personally something of a Google whore, but you're welcome to use whatever you like.)

And more fun for everyone because you can now comment on your favorite DJ's posts.

Gangster Meets Hipster

2007-10-21

On September 11, 2007 Kanye West released his third album Graduation, and it is now the Billboard Chart�EURTMs number one album. On that same day West released the music video for his third single, �EURoeThe Good Life.�EUR� The video was directed by electronic artist/musician So-Me. When West asked So-Me to direct the video, West formally accepted electronic in the hip-hop and rap genre. Electronic is a rising trend in hip-hop and rap, but West�EURTMs use of it will catapult electronic as a staple of hip-hop and rap. When did this transition happen, considering West disrespected the entire Electronic Genre at the 2006 European MTV Awards?

Back in November 2006, long before people were thinking about Kanye West�EURTMs Graduation, West lost the award for best music video. This was not the MTV awards, but the MTV Awards Europe. And whom did Kanye lose to? Justice, a French underground electronic duo, with the song �EURoeWe Are Your Friends.�EUR� The song was a remix of the 2002 Simian song �EURoeNever Be Alone.�EUR�

The interesting thing about the Justice song, �EURoeWe Are Your Friends,�EUR� is that it was the result of a remix competition. Justice did not win the competition, but the song quickly became a European-underground-club hit. �EURoeWe Are Your Friends�EUR� ended up much more popular than the band that had won, and more famous than the original Simian song.
Justice and its French independent label Ed Banger Records, seemed to blow up overnight; not only in the European pop and club scene, but also in the American, tight pants and bikes, hipster crowd.

Justice made its music video for �EURoeWe Are Your Friends�EUR� with director/artist So-Me. The video became a YouTube classic, and found its way into the European MTV Awards for best video.

This brings us back to Kanye West, whose �EURoeTouch The Sky�EUR� video was up against Justice for the European best video of the year. West thought traveling to Denmark would surely secure him an award. However, when Timbaland announced the winner, the crowd erupted when it heard Justice�EURTMs name called.

Justice was on tour in the US that November and asked the director, So-Me, to accept the award. So-Me was so star-struck by Timbaland that he was unable to give his thank you speech. Just as So-Me begins to acknowledge everyone that helped with the video, West suddenly storms on stage, grabs Timbaland�EURTMs microphone, and furiously stood in front of So-Me.

�EURoeThis video cost a million dollas�EURTM man,�EUR� said West, �EURoeI had Pam Anderson! I was jumping across canyons and shit!�EUR� West�EURTMs eyes bulging from shock. �EURoeIf I don�EURTMt win the award show loses credibility.�EUR� West gave Justice and So-Me no respect at all, and to many it felt like he mocked the entire electronic genre. West is known for being outspoken, and never holding his tongue. But the MTV Europe stunt just seemed childish, not brave.
This past spring with the temper tantrum out of people�EURTMs minds, and anticipation for Kanye�EURTMs third album to be released, West dropped his mix tape �EURoeCan�EURTMt Tell Me Nothing.�EUR� The mix tape included a snippit of the �EURoeStronger�EUR� single from his unreleased album, Graduation. �EURoeStronger�EUR� samples the Daft Punk song �EURoeHarder, Better, Faster, Stronger,�EUR� which was interesting and unique for a hip-hop artist to sample an electronic song, especially after West had mocked the genre that past November.
West�EURTMs relationship with Daft Punk may seem like a simple music venture, but is much more complicated. Daft Punk�EURTMs manager, French DJ Busy P, owns Ed Banger Records; the record label Justice is signed to, and So-Me is the art director for Ed Banger.
This could be the moment when hip-hop takes a significant step toward accepting an electronic sound. Electronic had appeared in the 80�EURTMs with groups like Afrika Bambaataa, and Whodini, and more recently Timbaland�EURTMs �EURoeShock Value.�EUR� This Past July West furthered his relationship with the Electronic scene , Kanye was spotted standing in So-Me�EURTMs DJ booth at the Los Angeles nightclub Cinespace.

So-Me had just released his second Justice video, �EURoeD.A.N.C.E.,�EUR� which received more attention than his first, and West was seeming to come around to the hipster electronic scene. West went further than merely accepting So-Me as an artist. He hired So-Me fo to direct the third single off Graduation. �EURoeThe Good Life,�EUR� featuring T-Pain, has So-Me�EURTMs trademark pastel solid drawings all over it.

Some might say that West is just adapting to the every-growing hipster electronic scene. Or could it also be a case of if you can�EURTMt beat them, buy them? But when West changes his style, the rap and hip-hop genre follows. Kanye beating 50 Cent in the record sales competition, which 50 started, only solidifies the Hip-Hop and Rap�EURTMs allegiance to West. 50�EURTMs album had a gangster sound to it, with a stale Dr. Dre rip-off melody, which people are becoming bored with.

Hip-Hop and rap producers will see this over-publicized sales battle as a turning point, where the hipster electronic sound out-sold the gangster image. And if the sound and style of hip-hop and rap do not add more composition they will be left behind.
West�EURTMs change in attitude toward So-Me is a microcosm of the hip-hop and rap world�EURTMs attitude toward electronic. First meeting it with fear and hostility, and then coming to accept it as respectable source of music in the production of hip-hop and rap.

A Series of Tubes Taking Shape

2007-10-19

After the Great Server Catastrophe of Ought-Seven, the KVDU website is slowly but surely recovering and blooming into a whole new, beautiful being. (Like, your website would wanna date our website.) Things are still working themselves out, but all we ask of you is a little patience and you'll be in for a real treat.

New things abound, and none is a better example than this very news/reviews section. It will soon be populated with, in addition to site updates, music news and reviews penned by our very own KVDU DJs. We're also working out a partnership with DU student newspaper The Clarion for some additional content.

You may have also noticed the new request system, functioning weekly top artists chart, and a generally less-cluttered homepage.

Not good enough for you? Fear not, dear listener. We've got plans for features coming out the wazoo. Greater interaction with DJs? It's on its way. RSS feeds? Coming right up. Those awesome cupholder things? You've got it! Still not satisfied? Let me know. We'll work it out. Don't worry about it.