My D-fest Schedule:

Traffic/level of inebriation willing, this is what I’ll be tracking down this weekend at Denverfest.

Friday:
6 – Ryan Windham: I’m hoping it’s Barry Windham‘s son, but I’m probably wrong.
7 – Brainhammer: From the name, I’m expecting smooth jazz.
8 – Bailer: One of my favorite Denver bands, and one that’s jumped up a notch.
9 – Across Tundras: Sludge, grime, and red sunsets set to operatic doom.
10 – The Forecast/Autokinoton: Tough call. Something you’ve never seen vs. something you love?
11 – Kylesa: See Across Tundras–and rocket fuel.
12 – Red Sparrowes: See Across Tundras, add pretty pictures, Isis (it’s an Isis side project).

Saturday:
5 – Big Timber: Trevor from Bailer will be a busy man this weekend.
6 – El Minotaur: D&D Rock en Espanol?
7 – Low Oriole: Played with these guys not too long ago.
8 – New American Ramblers: Gonna get me some old time religion.
9 – Crestfallen: Heller’s band from back in the day. Denver emo-punk stalwarts.
10 – Planes Mistaken for Stars: FUCK YEAH. RIP.
11 – Christie Front Drive: Back from the dead for one night only.

Sunday:
6 – City of Ships: Just sounds pretty.
7 – Ghost Buffalo: Bros (and sister).
8 – Git Some: Apologies for playing favorites, but Denver’s best punk band right now.
9 – Red Cloud/Mustangs and Madras: Our erstwhile tourmates and brothers in arms.
10 – Golden City: From Brooklyn, with pieces of Christie Front Drive
11 – Think in French: So glad we’re getting to share this experience with them.
12 – TNA plays: One last time, with feeling.

Preview: Bruce Lamont (Yakuza) at Scolari’s, July 21

My little sister comes for a visit tomorrow–and so does Yakuza’s Bruce Lamont, who will be appearing at Scolari’s Office. Under the best of circumstances, taking your little sister to a show at Scolari’s Office could be considered asking for trouble. Mine’s eleven, so I won’t be taking her there at all. That’s too bad, really, because I think seeing Bruce Lamont there tomorrow night would be a good thing for her.

Bruce is the singer and sax player (and songwriter) for Yazuka, a Chicago band that makes expansive terms like progressive, experimental metal seem confining and not quite accurate. They say people are judged by the company they keep, so perhaps getting to know Yakuza in the context of their tours with Opeth, Isis, Dysrythmia, and Behold the Arctopus would be a better introduction than my turgid prose. Bruce has lent his voice and horn to records and live shows by Cephalic Carnage, Tortoise, Battles, and Ken Vandemark and others. Word on the street (or, more accurately, on IM) is that he’s been asked to play on Mastodon’s next record. All this proves he’s got a lot going on that’s relevant to a variety of genres and scenes. That’s usually the sign of a gifted, interesting musician–or a sign that most people playing sax still wear silk suede shirts and look like they’re auditioning for Paul Shaffer’s orchestra circa 1986. I report, you decide.

Bruce on left. Typical “sax man” on right.

PS: If any of my readers out there are better situated in the metal scene than I (which almost definitely is the case), please post about this show on any metal boards–to the extent that they exist around SD. And, assuming they do, email me so I can get hip to the new shit.