[Festival Preview/Playlist] The Underground Music Showcase 2018 – Denver, CO – 7/27-7/29

The 18th anniversary of one of Denver’s most storied music events, The Underground Music Showcase, is rapidly encroaching, bringing with it perhaps its heaviest-hitting lineup ever. What began as a one-night performance featuring just four bands, The UMS has steadily exploded into to a three-day music and arts festival featuring hundreds of performances. As the time draws nearer to what will no doubt be another incredible weekend of performances, this year taking place from July 27th – July 29th, it’s time to get our readers familiar with this year’s crop of highly established headliners and burgeoning local & national artists, spanning a plethora of genres and sounds.

Dotting the top end of this year’s addition of The Underground Music Showcase are more than a few TMN regulars. Among this year’s biggest highlights are the smooth indie-disco stylings of L.A. electronic duo Classixx, the infectious ciphers of B.J. the Chicago Kid, Deezie Brown & legendary hip-hop troupe Digable Planets, a healthy smattering of established indie acts including Greta Kline’s Frankie Cosmos project, ParallelephantsDeerhunter & Mothers, scuzzy rock sets from Alvvays, White Denim & Superchunk; not to mention the most eclectic handling of local talent we get to hear year after year including sets from olorado’s own CRL CRRLL, Aaron Bordas, Slow Caves, Bud Bronson & The Goodtimers and loads more.

Right now, special one-day GA tickets can be found for $40 over on their homepage with weekend passes for just $75. We’ll see you there in full force on July 27th, but until then, get in the UMS swing of things by streaming our playlist below.

’Alvvays – Party Police’
’Classixx – All You’re Waiting For’
’BJ the Chicago Kid – Smokin’ and Ridin’ (Feat. Freddie Gibbs & Problem)’
’Deerhunter – Nothing Ever Happened’
’Digable Planets – Rebirth of Slick (Cool like Dat)’
’Frankie Cosmos – “Sinister”‘
’Overcoats – Hold Me Close’
’Mothers – Blame Kit’
’Cloud Cult – Where It Starts’
’Gang Gang Dance – Glass Jar’
’Superchunk – Hello Hawk’
’Parallelephants – Reason Don’t Define’
’White Denim – Get Back To Love’
’Night Beats – Outta Mind’
’Jeff the Brotherhood – Black Cherry Pie’
’Deezie Brown – Sheepskin / Shayne’
’CRL CRRLL – M O N E Y’
’Aaron Bordas – As We Are (OriginalMix)’
’Bud Bronson & The Goodtimers – Cars’
’Slow Caves – Poser’

Related items:

[MP3 Playlist] Indie Dojo (July 2018 Round #1)

Seriously, how is it July already? Guess time flies when you have a weekly Indie Dojo to look forward to.

’Night Flight – Parade’
’Jonathan Elyashiv – Wire Days’
’Gabrielle Marlena – Easier Love’
’Harvey Trisdale – Fit To Be Found’
’Ben Zaidi – Lake Morey.’
’Katie Herzig – Beat Of Your Own (Delicate Version)’

Related items:

#TMNMailbag #6: Astrolemo

Aside from a simple blurb on Facebook and Soundcloud, there’s not much I can share with you about Astrolemo, the person. Self-described as somewhere between “a drug-free Flying Lotus and a spicy Bonobo,” this enigmatic character is purposefully hidden behind a moniker and the anonymity that only the web can provide.

What I can tell you, is that since starting the #TMNMailbag series, this is far and away the most impressive submission I’ve received. As he mentions, his art beckons on notable acts like Flying Lotus and Bonobo. Personally, I also notices comparisons that lean towards a few other personal favorites — Tycho and Absofacto.

Typically, I like to feature the song that the artist submitted, and that alone. Today, though, I’m showcasing his last EP, as well as his most recent single.

Kicking things off is his most recent offering, “Haunting Me” is a deep and enveloping experience. Starting off with haunting keys and (assumedly) Astrolemo’s captivating vocals, the tune provides a layered and textural listen from start-to-finish. It’s pleasantly dreary, lending itself to a harmony with a relaxing Sunday rainstorm.

Next up is the title track from his last EP, “Stay with Me.” A bit more upbeat than the former, the experience comes to life with glowing, echoing vocals, and danceable percussion. It has plenty of drive, yet still maintains that all-encompassing soundscape that embodies his sound.

As I’m sure you’re convinced at this point, I’ll stop yammering and leave you be with this tasty little collection. After you’re done, make sure to throw this budding young act a follow on Facebook and Soundcloud. As of right now, he has less than 500 on both accounts, meaning you’ll be an early adopter. Get on it.

’Haunting Me’
’Stay With Me’
’Alone’
’Parallel Lovers’
’Lobster Graveyard’

Related items:

[Music Ninja Radio] Episode 108: Floatin’

Music Ninja Radio is a weekly podcast recorded and broadcast live on San Francisco’s BFF.fm  from 4-6PM PST every Friday. 

Music Ninja Radio
Episode 108: Floatin'

Soundcloud || Spotify Playlist  || BFF.fm Archive & Tracklist

Inspired by Mint Field‘s gorgeous performance at Cafe Du Nord, this week’s show features an array of dreamy indie jams with a touch of future beats. Highlights include Vacationer’s first new single in years, NoMBe‘s debut album, an unexpected SBTRKT edit and an epic Keinemusik remix courtesy of DJ Tennis.

Related items:

[MP3 Playlist] Indie Dojo (March 2018 Round #2)

When your days are long and full of adulting, who has the time to sit down and search for a bunch of new music? It’s rough, we know, which is why we are here for you. We find all the indie goodins’ so you don’t have to. The only thing we ask of you is to listen with open ears. We promise no adulting involved.
’The Morning Yells – She Got Time’
’Gareth Thomas – Weird Fever’
’N A D I N E – Ultra Pink’
’Terra Naomi – Nothing To Hide’
’Mantaray –
Island’

’The Racer – Skeptic (Acoustic)’

Related items:

[Indie/Dream-Pop] Ravennas – Meet in a Garden

Ravennas
Meet In A Garden (prod. by DoM)

Worming their way into your ears on this beautiful Hump Day is up and coming Seattle duo Ravennas. Comprised of childhood friends Ben Grant and Paul Dutton, Ravennas have been playing various shades of music together in some form since grade school, while their debut single “Meet in a Garden”, which was produced by tastemaking favorite DoM, sees the brand new project fusing a foundation of psych-pop, indie-rock and electro-pop. Clearly, the pair have cultivated an aural chemistry and understanding of each other’s musical prowess which can already be heard on “Meet in a Garden; an introductory tune which carries the kind of sharpness usually reserved for artists much further along their creative journeys.

Dutton’s reverb-laden, jangly guitar hearkens back to the blue print laid on some of those treasured early Captured Tracks releases, while symmetrical two-step drum pacing and a chugging bass line underpin its vocal track beautifully. About the collaboration with DoM, Dutton remarked: “DoM has a profound ability to follow his instincts and started shaping the song, shortening different sections and vibing the song out more so that it wasn’t so clean and dry.” Hearing such proficiency and direction on the duo’s debut single is quite promising, and you can be sure we’ll be anxiously awaiting the next offering from Ravennas, which is expected out early 2018. For now, sit back and enjoy “Meet in a Garden” above.

Related items:

[Event Preview/Playlist] The Underground Music Showcase – Denver, CO

The 17th anniversary of one of Denver’s most storied music events, The Underground Music Showcase, is just around the corner. What began as a one-night performance featuring just four bands, The UMS has steadily exploded into to a four-day music and art festival featuring hundreds of performances. As the time draws nearer to what will no doubt be another incredible weekend pf performances, it’s time to get our readers familiar with this year’s crop of (mostly) burgeoning artists spanning a plethora of genres and sounds. While this recent slate of participating artists is the second wave, we can assuredly expect one more run of performers to be added to this year’s bill, so stay tuned!

This year’s bill features one of the more eclectic, varied lineups we’ve been privy to for a number of years, including a seemingly heavier focus on displaying the myriad talent spread across The Centennial State (that’s Colorado ya yokels). On the top end of things, The UMS features an incredible slate of headlining performances from the likes of Nika Roza Danilova’s influential avant-pop project Zola Jesus,  New Orleans based Benjamin Booker‘s raw brand of blues/boogie/soul/rock, Red Fang‘s primal-yet-refined  stoner-metal, John Jagos’ lofi pop alter-ego and TMN darling Brothertiger, and the smoothly subdued vocal stylings of Esmé Patterson. In addition to the already excellent pallet of headliners, The UMS also will be presenting countless sets from some of our absolute favorite Colorado artists including Flaural, Povi, RUMTUM, Slow Caves & Dragondeer. To get your ears tuned for next month’s festivities, check out our preview playlist below and get your learn on if you haven’t already. Tickets are still on presale, so hop to it and pick up a 4-day pass on the cheap here!

’Benjamin Booker – Violent Shiver’
’Brothertiger – Beyond The Infinite’
’Zola Jesus – Exhumed’
’Esmé Patterson – Green Green’
’Red Fang – Blood Like Cream’
’Slow Caves – Glares’
’Povi – 4am’
’Flaural – Culture Ghost’
’RUMTUM – Coastal Hustle’
’Dragondeer – When I See You’
Related items: