Few genres of music have stood the test of time unblemished such as funk. Though there have been progressions, evolution, and certainly fusion, the fundamentals are all in order. Grandfathers George Clinton, James Brown, and The Meters created a percussively punchy style of playing that was a liberating new form of music distinct in character and approach. Many bands will be described as funky, which is synonymous to loose, rhythm driven and interactive with an audience.

“Oh, yeah.”

Last summer, Analog Son released one of the strongest debut albums I’ve heard in quite some time. Guitarist Jordan Linit and bassist Josh Fairman composed the tracks and enlisted 18 musicians – ranging from nationally recognized to locally cherished – to imbue the songs with a euphonious blend of fusion and funk.

It is no secret that most Phish fans consider the band’s finest, or at least most grand, performances were heard over the 1999 New Year’s Eve run at Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in Florida.  Even the band members themselves have hinted that those shows may have been the pinnacle of their storied history.  Phish-heads have been clamoring for years that the organization needs to release legitimate soundboard copies of those epic NYE shows, and although those cries have so far proven fruitless the band has decided to deli

This show was the icing on the cake of a super busy music weekend in the Mile High City. The Bluebird Theater played host to an ultra-talented bill. It was a cold and snowy night in Denver, but people still came out on a Sunday night to see one of the most talented bands in Colorado cover Ween’s famous Chocolate and Cheese album.

It was apparent as soon as Philadelphia-based electro-jam collection took the stage in chilly Minneapolis; Lotus meant business. Midway through their 2015 Winter Tour in support of their Gilded Age EP, Lotus set fire to the Land of 10,000 Frozen Lakes with a wide range of eclectic tunes from their extensive catalog, including a twenty-minute “Nematode>Sift>Nematode” segue and an impressive encore off their latest EP.

Coming in hot at the peak of their winter tour, Greensky Bluegrass played the House of Blues closing out the 6 week long mid-winter melt down, Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival 2015.  This festival is a showcase of independent music for the critical music lover.  Over the years, the fest has expanded to more locations with more acts and over a longer span of the winter months.  CBB 201

Valentine’s Day is a day full of love whether you are with someone or single. So many people are divided about how they should feel on this day. For someone like me who loves holidays and live music, there was nothing better for me to do than to enjoy this day with my daughter, support the One Billion Rising March against abuse in Denver, and then seeing some of my favorite musicians performing their interpretations of one of my favorite band’s music.

It had been nearly a year since Jeff Austin took the stage at George’s Majestic Lounge. This time he did so with his very own band and his very own style: electrifying. From the moment The Jeff Austin Band took over a red hot stage from openers, Old Salt Union, the energy never waned. Opening their set with the classic “Raleigh and Spencer” we knew immediately that Austin was there to please the fans.

On Valentine’s Eve, J2G Live strikes back with another installment of the Love Shack. This annual all-star jam is a concert that several people in the Denver area look forward to all year long. With so much music in town, it still sold out Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom due to its perfect planning, set list, and all-star cast of musicians. Super jams are always so much fun for the musicians involved, therefore, it is a blast for the audience as well. These guys love playing with one another.