MUSICMARAUDERS

Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge Denver, CO Words & Photo By J-man Among the many themed evenings at Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge, "Torch Singer Thursdays," stands out in that it features local area female vocalists. Last week's "Torch Singer Thursday" featured Daniella Katzir backed by a strong group of talent that included Dave Devine (Guitar), Greg Garrison (Bass) and Bill Larson (Drums) in Dazzle's Dizzy Room. The evening began with a little bit of fine tuning before the band dialed in the sound. Daniella's straight-forward acoustic guitar playing was spiced up by Dave's precise and bright lead work. Greg smiled and played off of Dave, filling in the low end with well placed notation. Bill's drumming was only as complex as what the music called for, as was the case with the rest of the group. Folks came and went, taking in bits and pieces of the evening's performance. Daniella's vocals were soft and sweet as she sang through s...

The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins, CO Words Photos & Video By Nicholas Stock Audio By Corey Sandoval ( Kind Recordings ) It was a big night in Fort Collins. The Aggie brought in an impressive lineup consisting of some of the best jazz and funk artists touring today. Hodi’s was celebrating their grand re-opening under new ownership with Dave Watts and Friends (aka The Motet) and free beer. The people that wanted to party headed to Hodi’s, the music fans went to The Aggie. I honestly would have loved to catch both, but the amazing music unfolding before my eyes kept me from moving on. Up first was Garrett Sayers Trio lead by bass virtuoso and local phenom Mr. Garrett Sayers. This lineup consisting of Garrett on bass, Patrick Lee on keys, and Johnny Jyemo on drums has had a longstanding Wednesday night residency at the Highland Tap & Burger in Denver. They have intrigued me for a long time, but this was my first chance catching them live. GS3 took the stage around 9:15 and d...

The Fox Theatre Boulder, CO Words & Photos By Kevin Hahn I had no idea what to expect. Going to a show blind (never really listening to the band before) is a very risky endeavor to partake in. We have all heard the horror stories of people going to shows and absolutely hating the music. But how many times do we get to hear someone praise to the heavens for the opportunity they were given to see a new band or type of music? Honestly, this does not happen enough, but I was lucky enough to have this amazing feeling the other night as I watched Kung Fu rip through The Fox Theater like fresh key lime pie. Yummmmy! How hard did they rip it? Let’s just say that my feet still haven’t stopped moving! Kung Fu is a super group of sorts combining the powers of RAQ, The Breakfast, and Deep Banana Blackout into one giant funktastic groove machine. Each member of the band plays an integral role in almost every song, and there are absolutely no breaks or sit-down periods allowed. The music...

The Ogden Theater Denver, CO Intro & Photos By J-man Railroad Earth Live at Ogden Theater on January 18, 2013. The weekend of January 18th welcomed a stop on the Railroad Earth tour that would spam three days and nights for three near sold out shows at The Ogden Theater in Denver, CO. Folks came from all over the country to celebrate with one of the scene's growing powerhouses. With tickets reaching nearly $50.00 after fees, the weekend would be a test for the dedication of the ever increasing fanbase. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we were unable to cover night one of the run. Our coverage begins on night two, with the energy and excitement building for the peak of the run! Saturday January 19th, 2013: Words By Brandon Picard Railroad Earth Live at Ogden Theater on January 19, 2013. Bands change. Musicians change. People change. One thing that doesn’t change is the passion that continues to circulate through this beautiful scene. Railroad Earth ag...

The Fox Theatre Boulder, CO Words & Photos By Kevin Hahn The last time I saw Particle perform live I swore that I would never go see them again. It was about five years ago, and from what I hear the band was going through a transitional phase. So what in the hell was I thinking when I signed up to cover the Particle 80’s Throwback night at the Fox Theater? Yes, I was blinded by the light so to say… but maybe, just maybe Particle could make up for their past sins and repair the fractured image they had formed in my brain. So how did the night go you ask? To put it simply… Particle fucking killed it! To say this night was just fun is an understatement. From the outrageous set list, to the smiling band members on stage, to the raucous Boulder crowd Particle had our feet moving and grooving from the moment they stepped on stage. The night started off with a great rendition of “Electric Avenue” and 80's hits such as “Safety Dance”, “Sledgehammer”, and “Material Girl” followe...

As The Funk Ark settles down for a brief period and Will shifts his focus to Antibalas, we spoke with him to gain his perspective on his projects and Funk itself... J-man: Talk to me about how you got your start on the live music scene and what keeps you going. Will: When I was 12 years old, my 5th grade music teacher encouraged me to enter a composition that I had written and played for her, into a nationwide youth composer competition. I was one of a few selected to attend the American Association of Music Teachers national conference in New Orleans, LA. My family hopped in the car and drove 17 hours from Washington, DC so that I could perform my piece. This was my first taste of live performance. I was hooked, both on gigging, and on New Orleans music. I guess I'm always trying to recapture that feeling of excitement and anticipation I felt the first time. That's what keeps me going. J-man: How did you get involved with Thievery Corporation and can you talk about s...

Quixote's True Blue Denver, CO Words & Photos By Brad Yeakel I was pleased to see Denver's own, The Recovery Act playing two sets at Quixote's True Blue. While much of the crowd was there for Particle, almost every butt in the house was shaking to the funk-heavy jams of Lindsay French and company. As I stood on the back patio, many of the conversations were about her voice. "That girl has some pipes," was overheard among comparisons to Susan Tedeschi and Erykah Badu. For a band in it's infancy, they certainly made an impression on the crowd. Lindsay's vocals were strong, beautiful, and soulful, and her band provided solid, crisp, and driven rhythms that rode the pocket and engaged the crowd. Guitarist Dan Howson (who was celebrating his birthday) and key player Adam Williamson played roaring solos around the rhythmic funk of bassist Tyler Olmsted and drummer Adam Segalis as the Recovery Act played classic songs such as "Take Me to the River...

Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom Denver, CO Words & Photos By Kevin Hahn When it comes to the Motet and the funk they are known to bring, I have to consider myself an expert. Having seen approximately 40 shows of all different Motet settings (Cover shows, Best of Halloween, Originals) and maybe three times that of Motet side projects and surprise jam sessions, I know what they are capable of and how great they can be. There is not a band on the scene in our great state of Colorado who can make your feet move the way Garrett Sayers (Bass), Dave Watts (Drums), and Joey Porter (Keys) can and do on a nightly basis. Ryan Jalbert (Guitar), Matt Pitts (Sax), and Gabe Mervine (Trumpet) throw it down via stage left while providing energy and charisma to an already funky ass group. Jans Ingber and Kim Dawson give us stunning vocals and unique harmonies, which only enhances the crowd experience and has a tendency to make jaws drop. Yes, if you haven’t noticed already I have a deep affecti...

Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom Denver, CO Join us Friday January 25th, for MusicMarauders Presents: Robert Walter's 20th Congress, Kung fu & Frogs gone Fishin' at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom! Purchase Tickets Here: www.ticketfly.com/purchase www.robertwalter.com www.kungfumusic.com www.frogsgonefishin.com www.cervantesmasterpiece.com

The Aggie Theatre Fort Collins, CO Words, Photos & Video By Nicholas Stock My general aversion to electronic music is well known. Although I have enjoyed a few forays into the genre my general reaction is not positive. However, I’ve seen some electronic groups play organically, as a unit, and the music is more textural than dubstep. These are the types of electronic artists I’m drawn to. Particle is one such band. Up first was New Orleans natives, EarPhunk. These guys are the next generation behind the Galactics and the Dumpstphunks of The Big Easy. They fluidly blend jam and funk in a balanced way that makes it fun for the audience. They did get riff-y at times, but that’s to be expected from a younger band still developing their sound. They started their set to a sparsely filled room, which would eventually get about a third full. Overall their brand of funk influenced jam won me over and will give me plenty of reason to give them another listen. Having seen Particle for ...

The Bluebird Theater Denver, CO Words & Photos By J-man There was heavy musical competition in Denver, as is often the case on Fridays. Railroad Earth was doing three near sold out nights at The Ogden Theatre, The Motet was celebrating the ten year anniversary of Cervantes and Particle would play host to a packed house at Quixote's True Blue. All of that being said, would you believe that over 500 folks passed through the door of The Bluebird Theater for one of Rob Drabkin's biggest shows to date? Many reading this will wonder, "Who is Rob Drabkin?" While many others, at least 500 in total, are already fortunate enough to know. That evening The Bluebird Theater was packed with excitable fans who turned out early to enjoy Shel and to secure a spot for Rob's headlining set. Following a lengthy stage turnover, Rob Drabkin and his band hit the stage. Setlist: Stay Here With You, The Boy In The Bubble, A Bird Lost, For You I Would Die, Feeling Good Again, ...

The Orange Peel Ashville, North Carolina Words & Photos By Scott Shrader ( J. Scott Shrader Photography ) There’s many ways to beat the cold weather during this time of year. Some would suggest two jackets or maybe even a thick pair of gloves. After a week of rainy cold weather and a sad excuse for a snowstorm, everyone seemed to be warming up at The Orange Peel for two nights with Asheville’s own Toubab Krewe. Last time Toubab made the rounds to their hometown they threw together a two-day mini festival called “Carnavalito” at Pisgah Brewing in Black Mountain. This time they brought the festivities indoor and brought along a couple of friends to join the party. Original drummer Teal Brown and former drummer Vic E Staff joined the band for the run. The combination of the double drum kit and Luke Quaranta’s percussion style added a different dynamic to the band’s overall sound. Friday January 18th, 2013: Friday night’s show started off with Dangermuffin; a three-piece outf...