We Know Music
Formed in 2009 by Adam Castilla & Maya Tuttle of Paper Thin Walls – The Colourist, in the midst of their first ever headlining tour, will be playing the Marquis Theater on April 8th. With hit singles like “Yes Yes” and “Little Games”, the indie pop/rock quartet is sure to move the Marquis with their colorful sound and catchy lyrics. We highly suggest you catch this band while they’re in town and tickets are only $15.
Hillary Hand
Playing as a solo/duo act from Colorado Springs, Hillary Hand was featured in four unofficial showcases this year at SXSW, including shows at the 512, Shanga-Li, and the Chuggin’ Monkey. This year was the first time the group has had the opportunity to travel to Austin for the festival but they played with such ease and confidence that it seemed like Austin was a second home. Hillary’s soaring vocals are reminiscent of Adele’s 21 album, with traces of Fiona Apple. Coupled with her lyrics of love and loves’ lost and Hillary Hand is impossible to ignore. Two of her showcases featured a drummer/guitar player that brought an elegant edge to the sound; filling out shallow parts of each song and setting a rhythm to dance along to. Hillary Hand is a must-see so keep an eye out for shows around Denver this Spring.
Rose Quartz
Formally know as FLASH/LIGHTS, Rose Quartz made their way down to Austin with a few of their friends from Holy Underground. This was the first year that Holy Underground has had the pleasure of hosting an official SXSW showcase and they rocked the Speakeasy Kabaret. Ethan and Alex, the two members of Rose Quartz, lay down an electro-drum beat, get the crowd moving and wowed every audience they played for. The unforgettable combination of Alex’s electro-pop beats combined with Ethan’s luscious vocal melodies make it impossible to stand still. With a sound akin to the likes of Cut Copy and Holy Ghost!, it’s no wonder that every concert hall they played was packed to capacity. Catch them live here in Denver either at Snowball or at the Bluebird opening for !!!.
Welcome to the D.O.P.E. Game
Representing the ever growing Denver HipHop crew Welcome to the D.O.P.E. Game, Turner Jackson, Hustle Man and Tommy Brown performed together in a short but energetic set at the AllHipHop.com official showcase. The set opened with Turner Jackson and Hustle Man’s collaboration “Drink These Shots” off of Jackson’s Black Electric Love album. As the first track faded out Tommy Brown stormed the stage, winning the crowd over with his rapid delivery. The rest of the set consisted of alternating solo verses, ending with a rousing back-and-forth chant of “Welcome to the D.O.P.E. Game!” led by Turner Jackson. The three man set was one of the highlights in a long night of hip hop which wrapped up with an appearance from ASAP Rocky. Seeing the way these three interacted on stage, we can only hope they do another collaborative set in Denver soon.
By Jonathon Winkler
With the whole resurgence of the punk folk thingy going on and all its annoying predictability, Blind Man Deaf Boy is one that stands out among the crowd of this current outdated popular genre littered with ironically mustached front men (remember when mustaches were “real” and “tough”? That was way better than ironic mustaches that currently every jackass has grown on their shitty, herpes infested, upper lip.)
The most shocking of all about BMDB is that they hail from your very own Denver! With a sound similar to Gogol Bordello, Animal Collective, some vocals that sound somewhat like Modest Mouse (especially the song “Whiplash”), and the unified crowd-singing that is most notable in shitty Celtic groups like The Pogues, “Dropkick Murphy”, this is a band not to be missed.
Maybe I am talking Blind Man Deaf Boy up a bit too much here, I don’t know. They refer to themselves as “folk violence”, and I can only assume that is because they perform acts of violence towards their folks, which is a terrible and totally unforgivable act. That was a terrible and unforgivable joke, I am sorry. Anyways, the build ups of this “folk violent” band are good and the fast-paced parts reminds me more of great hardcore riffs than punk ones for some reason (more abrasive?). I don’t even know what I am talking about and can’t believe you are still reading this pretentious review. The only noticeable annoying thing about BMDB is the political/moral preaching in songs like “unite” running through it; which steers up eerie images of everyone holding hands and singing and getting along…yuck. However, if you pretend that when the band yells “unite”, you think “kill everyone”, it all of sudden becomes a way better song. This band is worth listening to, but the real question is can these guys drink and party because that is what music is really all about!? We’ll see… Their next show will be April 2nd at The Marquis Theater and if the place doesn’t burn down, I don’t get laid, or I don’t piss myself from drinking too much; I will blame these guys and they will forever be labelled as posers in my book…
http://blindmandeafboy.bandcamp.com/
If you are looking for the classic American anthem for your summer, here it is folks. Freedom is a track you throw on the radio and seat dance with all those strangers at that red light. Treehouse Sanctum is a new Denver based band whose sound is reminiscent of The Civil Wars, and The Lumineers. Their use of many instruments has transformed this band from your typical country/Indie groove and added layers of ear pleasing tones. With TD Davis on Keyboard; Danya Prado on guitar, Dave Villano on Violin and bass, Andrew Horwath on Cajon/washboard/percussion, and Sam Rymer on Guitar and Vocals, there isn’t much they can’t do. In the song “Freedom” you will catch one of their toe tapping beats included on their new record, Shake the Shadow. The use of tandem vocals takes you by surprise while the violin takes the song to a whole new level. Topping it off with the resonant country tones and steady beat won this anthem a place at the top of my summer play list.
Head on over to The Marquis this Saturday May 15 to catch Treehouse Sanctum for their release of their debut album: Shake the Shadow. If you can’t make it to the show, check for their tunes Twist & Shout on Colfax and ITunes/amazon next week!
Be sure to add them on Facebook and twitter!
Website: www.treehousesanctum.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TreehouseSanctum
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TreehouseSanctm
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/treehousesanctum
Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/treehousesanctum/
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/treehousesanctum
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/treehousesanctum
Sterling Witt, compromised of Allan Winkler on Drums, Davy Langerak on Bass, and Sterling Witt on vocals and guitar, is a band you need to know. They have been featured in Acoustic magazine, and on Channel 69 WFMZ-TV, as well as many other publications throughout the U.S.
With sweeping lyrics, and steady beats, this music makes you feel. Residing in Kansas City, Mo these guys are a fresh sound not only for your ears, but your entire body. They are currently touring the U.S and have a bunch of shows coming up around Denver. The kick-off is this Friday, February 28th at Tennyson’s Tap. For a complete tour schedule click HERE.
They are also currently releasing their new EP, Spirals, on their Pledge Music Campaign. Donating will not only help fund their European tour, but also get you some unique and amazing Sterling Witt merchandise. Head over to their page now to make sure to pledge!
You started to play guitar and write songs when you were 15, can you remember the first song you ever wrote? What was it about?
Sterling: Yes I remember. It was called Coming When I’m Done, it was an instrumental song. The attitude was focus. I have a mission and I’m not going to do anything else until this job is done.
Your music has a certain vibe to it; especially your new single “Love Me to Death”, what inspires the enticing beats for your sound?
Sterling: I’m interested in music that picks you up and takes you away to a magical place that you couldn’t otherwise go without it. Music that requires your full attention. If it doesn’t do that, it seems pointless to me.
In order to fund your European tour you have started a campaign on PledgeMusc.com. What has the experience of crowd funding been for you guys?
Sterling: It’s been great! This is our 2nd Pledge Music campaign. Our first campaign was our last album Sterling Loves U, it reached 111%. We are right in the middle of our Spirals EP / European tour campaign. It’s coming along nicely. This campaign is special because we are releasing our new Spirals EP featuring Love Me to Death exclusively to pledgers. So at the end of the campaign Spirals won’t be released to the public. The only way to get it is to make a pledge at: pledgemusic.com/projects/sterlingwittspirals
What made you choose PledgeMusic over Kickstarter or Indegogo?
Sterling: Pledge Music is about music specifically. They cater to musicians. That is important to me.
For anyone who donates to the PledgeMusic campaign you’ve offered some very unique items in exchange. From signed CD’s , beautiful paintings by (you?), dinner at the band’s house, and much more. How did you come up with these awesome things to do for the fans?
Sterling: I’m an artist. It’s my job to create unique and interesting curiosities. That’s just what I do.
You have played all types of venues across the country, What is your favorite type of venue to play in? What size of a crowd do you like?
Sterling: It depends on the situation. More important than the size of the venue, is those that make up the audience. I like an audience to be there for the music above and beyond anything else. It’s makes the show better for everyone. It’s doesn’t matter if you’re playing an outdoor festival, a theatre, a bar, a coffee shop or a cemetery. All those things I have done. In the end what matters is the relationship between audience and the artist.
As someone who doesn’t reside in Colorado, what is your opinion on the music scene in general here? What are the differences between here and Missouri?
Sterling: There is a lot going on in Colorado. It’s interesting because there are several towns so close together like Boulder, Fort Collins, Denver, and Colorado Springs that all have a valid music scenes. Missouri has a lot to offer too, but it’s more spread out.
As a kid growing up in a small town, how hard was it to break into the music scene?
Sterling: Being from a small town isn’t really accurate, I grew up in the country. The nearest town was 10 miles away, that town was Freeman, Missouri a population of 495. I don’t have anything to compare it to. I think it works out in my favor. It sets me a part from everything. Still to this day I don’t feel I am a part of any music scene. I do what I do. I am an artist. If you want to be a part of what I’m doing you’re going to have to come visit to my world.
The new release, Spirals, is a limited edition EP, it features Allan Winkler on Drums, Davy Langerak on Bass, and Sterling Witt on vocals and guitar. How did you meet everyone?
Sterling: I met myself the day I was born, haha just kidding. Several years ago I was performing without a drummer. I asked a friend if he knew any good drummers that wanted to be in a band. He said Allan Winkler and gave Allan’s phone number and suggested I call him. I knew who Allan was but I didn’t know him personally and my first thought was “No way, that’s not going to work.” I never called him. Then one day a few weeks later I had a voicemail that went like this “Hi Sterling, this is Allan Winkler I want to audition to play drums in your band…. call me”. He’s been in the band ever since. Last October we shot a music video for a song called Let Me Down. I needed a lot of people in the video so I sent a call out to my friends and fans to be a part of the music video. Davy Langerak showed up with my booking agent Brandy Darling (Girl Wreck Presents) from Denver, Colorado. It was a serendipitous moment when I met Davy – I knew it was for a reason. It didn’t take long before I learned he was a bass player. 2 months later Davy moved to Kansas City and joined the band.
As a more organic artist, you like to record live; do you think that this lends itself to part of Sterling Witt’s appeal to a broader audience?
Sterling: I like real, raw, passionate music. Recording live is the way I achieve this is my own music. All my favorite music was recorded live. I don’t know if it appeals to broader audience. It certainly appeals to a certain group of people who appreciate music on a deeper level.
With two big tours coming up, one in the U.S and the other in Europe, what are you guys planning on doing to prepare?
Sterling: Everyday it’s something. We have a to do list that seems to never end. Every day we add to the list. Everyday we mark off things from the list. It requires constant attention.
Is there anything else that you’d like to say to the fans out there? What can they expect on this tour?
Sterling: You can expect a lot of new songs. Please support our Pledge Music campaign. We are independent artists, and we need your help to make this European tour a success. Make your pledge HERE. Thank you!
Much Love, Sterling Witt
support eu tour
I want to thank Sterling Witt and the rest of the band for contributing to MileHI Music’s mission! We want everyone to have access to great music, and Sterling Witt is on our list. If you would like to pledge for their European tour, see the links below. And Don’t for get to check Sterling Witt out live THIS FRIDAY at Tennyson’s Tap in Denver!
Links:
Web: http://www.grandriverrecords.com/tour
Facebook: [vision_social design=”default” icon_style=”normal” twitter=”” facebook=”https://www.facebook.com/sterlingwittartist” dribbble=”” linkedin=”” vimeo=”” flickr=”” youtube=”” pinterest=”” google=”” rss=”” mail=”grandriverrecords@gmail.com” skype=”” wordpress=”” instagram=””]
Booking:
Brandy Darling
girlwreckpresents@gmail.com
A&R: Lydia Savage
lydia.grandriverrecords@gmail.com