Something Like Sound

This is it… the last post on Something Like Sound. If you followed this blog during its lifetime, thank you. If you just found this randomly, have a look around- there’s a lot here. There really is not much that I can say that hasn’t already been said, so this post will be brief.

As some may know, I am moving to the live music capitol of the world: Austin, TX. This decision is not the result of having too much fun at SXSW, it came about because of my professional career choices and hate of cold weather and snow. Will I start a new blog down there? I don’t really know at this point, but I imagine it’ll be hard for me to just quit a night-job I’ve found so fulfilling over the past 2 and a half years.

The following is a list of things I learned while writing Something Like Sound. Hopefully these will help any other aspiring music bloggers:

• Always carry earplugs: It’s never too early to protect your sense of hearing.
• At outdoor festivals wear sunscreen, drink water, and eat enough to avoid passing out.
• Tell people about things you like, don’t waste your time with things you don’t like: I tried to only focus on the good instead of being negative about what I didn’t like.
• Get enough sleep: I did college without caffeine and never once pulled an academic “all-nighter.” I was able to go to at least 1 show every week and graduated Magna Cum Laude. My secret was being well-rested and fully present in my activities.
• Network, network, network: Especially in music it’s not about how good your writing is or how snappy your photos are, it’s all about who you know. Furthermore, print up some business cards with your basic contact info.
• Be friendly: Always give everyone a fair chance and try to make a good first impression.
• Support your locality: Love the place you live.

I’ll end by thanking a bunch of people: Jake Rezac and Spencer Nelson helped start Something Like Sound and put up with my sometimes-obsessive management of the site. Dave Herrera and everybody at Westword supported this thing before it was really anything at all, and they’ll still be here after I’m gone. Thanks to other Denver music people who will still be here and are awesome (in no particular order): Tiffiny Kallina, Julio Enriquez, Joe McCabe (& the REVERB crew),  Erin Barnes (& the Donnybrooks), Jake Martin, Lance Stack, Evan Mellichampe and James Irvine at Vinefield, and Heather Browne. Last, but certainly not least, there’s the musicians who understood what I was about and helped along the way: Zach Tipton, Eric Peterson, The Knew, Danielle Anderson, Lucas Johannes (and everybody at Hot Congress), Jonathan Alonzo, Rande Kamolz, FC/KCSP, Leighton Peterson, and many more.

Sorry to everyone I forgot to thank, and sorry to the bands who submitted stuff that I never got to. The site will remain up indefinitely and our compilations will still be available for free download.

Much love,

Tim Weilert, Graduate of the Colorado School of Mines, Class of 2011

Oh the subjectivity! Trying to decide on my favorite shows from the last few years is truly a difficult proposition. For this post I’m just going to talk about shows that were not a part of bigger festivals. These shows serve as a sampling of events that had such an impact that I can still remember them today.

Hot IQs – Farewell show at The Bluebird – June 19, 2009: The first Denver band I ever got in to was Hot IQs. I would listen to them on KCSU in Fort Collins when I was in high school. I saw them a few times before their farewell show, and every time was something special. Their at-capacity grand finale at the Bluebird was no exception: burlesque dancers, a Cookie Monster costume, and some of the catchiest pop-rock this city has ever known.

Hot Congress Prevue – Patrick Kelly’s Apartment – October 16, 2009: Pulling up to the ill-kept apartment building on Pearl St. had me second-guessing my choice to go downtown until I got inside and experienced the wild house party thrown by Hot Congress. That night introduced me to a bunch of great acts: Old Radio (now Amazing Twin), Night of Joy, the Jim Jims, and Fissure Mystic.

Everything Absent or Distorted – Farewell show at the Bluebird – October 24, 2009: I cannot remember a more raucous, energetic, and ultimately melancholy show than EAoD’s last big gig. Playing through every song they had ever written (and then some), the 11+ members of EAoD kept going until nearly 3 am.

Brand New – The Fillmore – January 30, 2010: Another throw back to my high school years, Brand New has always had a special place in my music library. As I grew up my tastes changed and Brand New changed along with them. No longer an emo-troupe, they brought their newer style of manic Lonesome Crowded West-inspired music to the Fillmore in a set that celebrated the new while appreciating the old.

Tjutjuna & Fissure Mystic – 7″ Split release at Meadowlark – February 5, 2010: Apart from Dick Dale (king of the surf guitar), the loudest show I have ever been to was Tjutjuna at the Meadowlark. With Woodsman and Fissure Mystic opening, it was certainly a night of intense psych the likes of which I have seldom seen replicated.

Julian Lynch – The Low Key – May 20, 2010: On an unassuming street in north Fort Collins sat a rather normal looking house. This was no ordinary house, it was the residence of Matt Sage who had dubbed it “The Lowkey.” During his time there Matt hosted shows for the underground and experimental alike. I happened to be in Ft. Collins one summer when Julian Lynch came through for a set of experimental tunes. I still remember sitting in that basement taking in the sound and color.

Denver Does Denver 2010 – August 28, 2010: It was fitting that my return from Chicago was marked by a showcase of Denver music and art. Hearing Safe Boating is No Accident take on Pee Pee, Pink Hawks doing Bad Weather California, and the Flobots performing Hot IQs made this an unforgettable event.

Sufjan Stevens – The Paramount – November 2, 2010: Last fall was undoubtedly the hardest academic semester I ever undertook. This had me feeling down on most things, concerts included. Fortunately I was lifted out of my funk by the prolific Sufjan Stevens. This performance helped me realize how magnificent The Age of Adz really is.

Hello Kavita – Farewell show at the Hi-Dive – December 28, 2010: Of all the times I saw Hello Kavita, this one was my favorite. Not only did Roger, Roll open (it was their farewell show too), but Hello Kavita played one of the fullest sets I can recall. From old and new originals, to Steely Dan covers, and a mash-up of “Colorado” with Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al,” it was Hello Kavita at their best.

Bad Weather California – Rhinoceropolis – February 18, 2011: I will close with this show, because it stands as a harbinger of things to come. While I only went to the Rhinoceropolis a few times during the life of SLS, I was always impressed by the nature of the place: it is a venue that encourages innovation. Bad Weather California has played the warehouse space more times than most, and as the group prepares for the release of their new full-length I can’t help but wonder where they’ll go and what kind of audience they’ll reach.

When I started doing this blog video (and audio) interviews coming from the Denver scene were very few and far between. Nowadays it’s great because many other people in town do video interviews. I’ve never been a big fan of reading transcriptions, so I decided to focus most of my reviews on the video format. I got to talk with a lot of great people over the years, here’s a few of my favorites:

Young Coyotes – March 21, 2009: The first interview we ever “officially” did was Young Coyotes. At the time they were just beginning to gain some momentum with a Daytrotter session and trip to SXSW in addition to getting Westword’s “best new band” award.

Danielle Ate The Sandwich – July 13, 2009: Another chat with someone who got big shortly after we talked, Danielle Ate The Sandwich sat down with me before a set at Everyday Joe’s in Fort Collins. Danielle was one of our favorite local acts because her songs were so beautiful, while her live performances captured her quirky humor.

Virgil Dickerson (Suburban Home Records) – July 22, 2009: While this interview isn’t with a band, it is with someone who has had an impact on Denver music. Virgil Dickerson and local label Suburban Home Records had several projects that we covered over the years, including a collaboration with burrito joint Illegal Pete’s.

Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band – August 1, 2010: After seeing Rev. Peyton at Warped Tour in Denver in 2009, I couldn’t help but try to get an interview when I covered the tour again in 2011 (this time in Chicago). This one stands out because I think Peyton and his wife were one of the friendliest interview-subjects I ever encountered.

The Knew - September 13, 2010: I know I already talked about The Knew in the last Countdown post, but I think it goes without saying that they’re one of my favorites. After covering a handful of their shows I finally sat down with the group in September of last year before the release of their newest 7″- Before It Ends.

Here’s something I totally forgot about until today. It’s a video I took of electronic musician Baths performing “Flux” at the Impose showcase. Check out his full length Cerulean, it’s quite good.

Somewhere along the way I put aside my point-and-click camera and got serious about concert photography. The first event where I used a DSLR was the 2009 Mile High Music Festival because their photo policy prohibited any other kind of camera in the pits. From there on out I fell in love with the art of photography and tried to capture the experiences I had through photos. Looking back on the last couple of years, here are my favorite 10 shots.

The Fray – MHMF 2009: As someone who had very little experience with a more-professional camera, I was surprised at some of the great shots I got that hot weekend in July of 2009. The Fray closed out my experience at Mile High with a real spectacle: U2′s old stage rig, a big crowd, and a sense of completion.

Monotonix – Monolith 2009: While not a particularly great shot, I will always remember this set from the now-defunct Monolith Festival. It’s the kind of picture that would offend most anyone, therefore it has a certain charm and power that your average concert photo can’t achieve.

Paean – Hodi’s Half Note, December 27, 2009: Being from Fort Collins I found myself up there for the holidays without much to do. When I saw that Danielle Ate The Sandwich was playing a show with a few Act So Big Forest bands at Hodi’s (formerly The Starlight, as I knew it), I said, “Why not?” As it turns out Hodi’s has one of the best light rigs in Northern Colorado. This shot matches great lighting, ambient fog, and perspective in a way that I have seldom replicated.

The Knew – Pulperia release party at the Bluebird, March 6, 2010: At a time when people were just starting to figure out what Something Like Sound was, The Knew were preparing to get big. I ended up seeing the Knew 3 times at the Bluebird (and once at Hi-Dive), and they remain as one of my favorite Colorado acts. I recall seeing this particular shot floating around on their webs