In a music career spanning over three decades, Frank Zappa put out over 60 albums. Some call him a genius. Those who don’t simply do not understand (pardon me and my asshole opinion—but I am right). Zappa has always had top-tier musicians in his line-ups, many of which have looked at his music charts and shuddered under the pressure.

Following upon the heels of last year’s highly regarded jam at the Lyons Folk Festival, Bob Weir, Chris Robinson and Jackie Greene cleared their schedules for a mini-tour that saw them headline the legendary Ryman Theater in Nashville and also get

What is bluegrass? Is it the strictly dictated by the legacy of Bill Monroe? Is it constructed by the lead guitar flat-pick licks of Tony Rice, Norman Blake, or Charles Sawtelle? Is it held by the torch of the current up-and-up popularity that the genre is experiencing?

Boulder was rocked off its ass this week when Social Distortion came through town, bringing with them their infamous brand of rockabilly a la punk rock. Frontman Mike Ness and crew were on hand to deliver the Social D experience, greatest hits and then some.

It was all Scarlet Begonias, a touch of the blues, and a whole lot of funk and soul last night at the Boulder Theater. The Motet was back in town for an encore performance of their "Funk is Dead Show." They were in Boulder for the Halloween show last October and it just wasn't enough to last us another full year.

What can’t Bela Fleck do? Or maybe the question is what can’t Bela Fleck do with a banjo? Aside from his history with the Flecktones, bridging and bending the idea of genre and fusion music he produced his first film, “Throw Down Your Heart”, a journey into the true origins of the banjo in Africa. The film also drew awareness to culture and struggles abroad, something rarely achieved through a concert film.

This week the stage at the Boulder Theater was eclipsed by the looming shadow of a performer with a gigantic reputation, one who has been in the spotlight for over three decades.  Dressed in his signature black jeans and black tee, Henry Rollins took center stage, adopted a rocker-like stance, and firmly wielded his weapon of choice: the microphone.  Initially it was difficult hard to behold this lone veteran of guitar rock without a metal band backing him up. 

It’s everybody’s birthday at an Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros show, where several dozens of fans are welcome on stage to dance and take over the vocals, more or less, as they are struck with the desire to do so. Among the young hippies, hipsters, gypsies and all other people gathered at the Boulder Theater for the sold out show, the very few not shaking their limbs about were the odd men out.

Zach Deputy brought his creatively branded “island infused, drum ‘n’ bass, Gospel-Ninja-Soul” to the Fox Theatre this week.  Part gospel, because he is a disciple in the way of the one-man-band.  Part ninja, because his music attacks you with dizzying techniques.  Part soul, because whether or not you choose to surrender to his music, your soul cannot escape.  Ok, that might not be the meaning Zac