Category: Coming Soon

Listings and stories about bands coming soon to one of the hundreds of Denver venues.

Who’s Playin’ What – Wait! Too Much to Report, from Denver and LA Punk Legends to Hobo Heroes – Just GO!
June 22, 2012 Off

Who’s Playin’ What – Wait! Too Much to Report, from Denver and LA Punk Legends to Hobo Heroes – Just GO!

By Billy Thieme

As usual, when the summer rolls into its own – and as of this writing this one’s only one day old (but that day’s holding in enough heat for a friggin’ month of ’em….) – Denver plays host to more and more bands from out of town, and the local scene takes a boot, too. There are so many things to go and see over the next two weeks, we’re seriously considering just letting the heat evaporate us, so we can be a mist traveling through town, visiting all the venues we can each night – and a few of them simultaneously.

Or – that could be the heat getting to us.

In any case, from a surprising visit from Black Flag and hardcore guitar hero Greg Ginn – at Bar Bar, no less (and, rumor has it, FREE) – to what promises to be a stunning Larimer Lounge set with Thurston Moore (he’s stopping by Boulder, too, but who wants to drive that far?), to the dueling summer showcases – Westword’s (This weekend) and The UMS (in late July), there’s definitely no shortage of places to get your fix of good music.

So take lift the needle off your new Bieber disc (say, does he even know how to play any of his own vinyl? Does his stuff come out on vinyl? Nevermind – don’t wanna know) and get outside to see and hear some good music.

DenverThread Interview – Flipper – Steve DePace
March 28, 2012 Off

DenverThread Interview – Flipper – Steve DePace

By Billy Thieme

OK – Who remembers Flipper?

More appropriately: Who knows why they should remember – or at least be aware of – Flipper?

Get this: – It could be argued that without Flipper, there may have been no Nirvana, or much of the sloppier side of “Grunge,” or at least the whole scene would likely sound a little different (less sloppy, maybe?). Disagree? Let’s discuss (in comments).

In any case,regardless of what we all think, Flipper has left an indelible mark on music in its 33-years as a band on this accursed planet. A deep-cut-with-a-dull-blade, thick and juicy sludge trail, maybe – and one that may have laid the original tracks for sludge metal bands like Sunn-0))), Sleep, The Melvins and the like – but indelible nonetheless. And if that kind of connection can hold true, then we should all remember Flipper, and they should be held aloft in our music appreciation lists alongside heavy hitters like Black Flag and Black Sabbath, in reflection of their contributions.

I think that Flipper may indeed have been before its time in a sense. We were described as a Grunge Band in 1980, a full 10 years before it became a musical format. – Steve DePace

And – even if you disagree, or don’t even know whether or not you agree – you’re in luck, because Flipper is holding a two-day residence this Thursday and Friday – March 29th and 30th – at the venerated Lion’s Lair to kick off another long touring season (Europe – for about a million dates – is next). The seminal pre-post-hardcore-avant-sludge-proto-noise-punk band is celebrating two Punk Rock Art Show openings in Denver this week with the shows. First, on Thursday, March 29th, “Ruby Ray: Punk Passage” opens at the Colorado Photographic Arts Center (445 S. Saulsbury St., Lakewood), and celebrates the San Fransisco punk scene of the late ’70s. Then, on Friday, March 30th, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver will open up “Bruce Conner: The Primal Scene of Punk Rock,” which focuses on the San Fransisco punk scene in 1977, with flyers, photos and videos.
But enough of anything not about Flipper. In sync with the two-show Lions Lair residence, DenverThread spoke with Flipper drummer Steve DePace about Flipper’s history, now and future, and a few other things. Check it out – and get to these shows: