Denver’s Hearts of Palm

Yup, that’s a lot of people in one band. Call them Denver’s own Polyphonic Spree (minus the cult-tastic fashion robes), the warm and sparkly effervescence of Hearts of Palm is a bright spot in our city’s musical landscape. Previously named Nathan & Stephen, the 8-piece band decided to change their name earlier this year to more accurately reflect their gigantic size (not a two-piece!) and as a salute to their favorite vegetable (I might have made that up).

They’ve recently self-released a lovely free 4-song EP, originally available only at the delicious Mexican restaurant Illegal Pete’s in a creative arrangement that funded the production. It has been on heavy rotation here lately in anticipation of their two upcoming high-profile appearances at summer festivals.

On August 1st & 2nd they’ll play two shows as part of the Denver Post Underground Music Showcase. DPUMS is in its eighth year, and in a mere two weeks will invade South Broadway for a completely non-hostile takeover. And then on September 14th, Hearts of Palm will bring their “characteristic and customary joy, enthusiasm, and abandon” to the red rocks of the Monolith Festival.

So check these two tracks (my favorites from the EP), watch their recent interview with the fabulous R. Baca to get the firsthand story on the controversial name change, and then go download the rest of the songs. Because you can always use more free music, and this is good stuff.

No Water – Hearts of Palm
Give Em Hell – Hearts of Palm

Would you care to join the mile high club?

The Mile High Music Festival is coming to the Denver area this weekend in the somewhat awkwardly-named but supposedly pleasant Dick’s Sporting Goods Park out in Commerce City (incidentally, the only city in Colorado with a liquor store that sells this nectar of the gods).

I’m going to be covering the fest, and sure Tom Petty and Dave Matthews are headlining. But depending on circumstance and how the day unwinds, I am more looking forward to seeing some folks like:

Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers
Bob Schneider
Josh Ritter (!!)
Andrew Bird
Spoon
Lupe Fiasco
The Whigs
The Flobots
Grace Potter
The Roots
The Black Crowes

[full schedule here]

I still regret missing The Roots at Red Rocks when they were here opening for Wilco, Athens’ The Whigs are supporting their excellent sophomore album Mission Control, and Josh Ritter always absolutely slays me in the best possible way (like this). Not too shabby for a weekend, close to home for once. Come on out!

Last night: Supergrass covers 1978-era Police, before Sting went all tantric and Fields of Gold

[one spot of loud audio at the beginning – it gets better!]

Supergrass rocked what felt like a secret show last night at Denver’s tiny Larimer Lounge, after the Foo Fighters cancellation at the larger venue up the road. “Hellooooo Red Rocks!” Gaz Coombes shouted as they took the stage, looking back at his bandmates with a grin. With three of the band members sporting matching fedoras, they launched into a short but intense set of songs drawn largely from their new album Diamond Hoo Ha, which all sounded ferocious –and very, very loud– in the compact club. Three merry Britons next to me seemed elated by their dumb luck of seeing one of Britain’s biggest bands of the Nineties (who regularly play to massive festivals and stadiums) in the well-loved confines of our Larimer.

[full pics here, one other video here]

Supergrass at the Larimer Lounge tonight

Supergrass and I had a hot date tomorrow night at the Foo Fighters show at Red Rocks, but then Dave Grohl went and got sick.

To soothe our wounds until the make-up dates in September, Supergrass is going to play a Denver show anyway tonight at the teensy Larimer Lounge. Should be a rad evening; their new album packs a swaggering punch with a surprising hint of dare I say glam. Los Angeles band Year Long Disaster opens.

Diamond Hoo Ha Man – Supergrass

JDub Records 5th anniversary party at Denver’s Walnut Room

The innovative not-for-profit New York record label JDub Records (started in Dec 2002 by two NYU students) is celebrating their fifth anniversary with a party on July 23rd @ Denver’s Walnut Room. The shindig will bring a performance by Tel-Aviv based DJ crew Soulico, joined by special guests including the godfather of Israeli hip-hop Sagol 59 and Ethiopian-Israeli MCs Axum.

7/23 – 9:00 PM / 3101 Walnut Street
$8 / Fifty cent PBRs and $2 Wells / 21 + [Tickets]

Although I can’t say I’ve listened to much Israeli hip-hop, this should be an enticingly global & fun evening. As prep we’ve got a 60-minute mixtape from Soulico here to bring you up to speed.

In a fabulously-titled blog post (“Hasidic Juice”) Diplo wrote about the mix: “This is the result of a decade of digging in Tel-Aviv’s record shops & flea markets by the Soulico Crew. An hour full of Hasidic Disco, Spiritual Soul, Yamanite Funk, Turkish Acid Rock, Arabic Jazz & much more, all recorded & released in Israel by local musicians & artists in the ’70s and early ’80s. 31 songs in all, and they passed on the tracklist which would probably mean nothing to anyone that can’t read the crazy script that is their language.” [view tracklist here]

Archaeology Mixtape – Soulico

Gnarls Barkley cover Violent Femmes in Denver

Under the July sunshine, the SoCo Music Experience took over an open-air lot outside Coors Field in Denver on Saturday. The free festival drew thousands of Denverites for sunshine, interactive games, booths, and of course, the free music…

Read my full review here, in Paste Magazine online.

Gone Daddy Gone (Violent Femmes cover) – Gnarls Barkley, and then the Violent Femmes return the favor; stream it here.

Julio’s great festival pics are here, and my rather decent by comparison pics are here. Oh, how I need a fancy camera with a zooooom lens.

Saturday, Saturday, SATURDAY!

(you gotta say that like you are at a monster truck rally):

I’ll be covering the Southern Comfort Music Experience: Denver for Paste Magazine. Admission is free, it’s at Coors Field starting at 2pm, and SoCo and I concur that you should come on out.