Colour is a short, smooth trip.Tropic Harbour’s new EP begins with its honey-sweet eponymous opener—“Colour” features rolling surf-inspired pseudo-flamenco guitars over echoing snares and Mark Berg’s dream poppy vocals—and the end that comes a few minutes in is a lingering sentiment you won’t soon shake.With its intro through, Colour sails on to “Golden Rays,” a Fitz and the Tantrums riff-meets-Beirut’s melancholy grandeur under the vulnerable voice that Raggi brings to Of Monsters and Men.And that’s all there is here—not quite ambient, lazily outgoing, Tropic Harbour’s

On a cold, snowy Friday night, the inimitable Dr. Ralph Stanley brought the heat to the Boulder Theater in his latest stop on his Man of Constant Sorrow Farewell Tour. Backed by the excellent Clinch Mountain Boys, Dr. Stanley sang some of his best-known songs along with the usual heaping of bluegrass standards made unique by him.

Friday January, 24^th was a special night at The Vogue Theater with Keller Williams and special guests More then a Little. Indianapolis packed the Vogue that night, the cold weather and three inches of snow didn’t make anyone feel like missing out on this unique event. It was packed wall to wall for the first Keller show in Indianapolis this year, and a great night to hear a little soulful funk.

When the collection of talent present in Blue Sky Riders finds itself under the roof of the Boulder Theater, you make sure you get a seat (literally, it was a seated event). While their story is one of chance, their music is no leap of faith.

Railroad Earth delivered their acoustic rock and roll to the Fillmore Auditorium Saturday night for what was the second show of a two-night stand celebrating their newest studio album, Last of the Outlaws. While the band is known for their improvised instrumental conversations, it’s their lyrics that really stick out to me. Filled with story-laden imagery, they’ve worked their songs in the eyes of the great American songbook.

With Jake Shimabukuro’s new release Grand Ukulele: Live In Boulder; ukuleles are not for Don Ho singing Tiny Bubbles or Tiny Tim tip toe-ing through the tulips anymore. Thank Goddess of Fire Pele! The ukulele being In the same vein as the Lower 48’s accordion as a stereotyped instrument that can’t possible grab one’s attention for long; is not only for the Big Island anymore.

Instead of sweating getting his wallet even fatter or having his name rolling off more folks’ tongues, Warren Haynes puts hammers, nails and efforts of kind-hearted, hard working Habitat for Humanity supporters where his guitar is to improve life for others. “Sweat Equity”, which simply means an individual needs to do for themselves and community to have the community return the favor is the driving force behind Haynes’ efforts.

This time ‘round for Zion-I, the duo’s MC Zumbi has a mission statement. In brief—“The sole purpose of the MC is to energize, invigorate, and guide the listener to a higher state of mind, whether that be reflection, relaxation or enlightenment.”Production behind the MC here as he goes to work on the task at hand is classic West Coast with Eastern underground dubs n’ breaks sprinkled in—think Wu-Tang meets Def Jux featuring the righteous sermons of a bizarro, born-again Mad Child preachin’ redemption.

Colorado sure does got it going on these days.  The current recreational economy boom has grown green.  Their blue & orange football team lasted longer than da Bears this season.  But believe it or not, Chicago does have something incredibly valuable to offer Colorado.

There’s no doubt Colorado was the place to be this past New Years, and the three-night Umphrey’s McGee run at the Fillmore Auditorium was absolutely no exception. Night two of the stand featured plenty of bust-outs, sit-ins, and surprises that had the exuberant Denver crowd grooving from start to finish.