Flashbulb Fires‘ performance at the Curious Theatre was a perfect start to this year’s Westword Music Showcase.  The dreamy orchestrations of each song eased us into the early afternoon, before building up to full energy levels.  The theater hadn’t yet filled by 12:15 when the band took the stage, but the concertgoers I talked to who wandered in late were captivated by the songs they did manage to hear.

You can still vote for Flashbulb Fires on the showcase ballot under the Indie Pop category…but hurry, the voting deadline is tomorrow!

Flashbulb Fires
6.19.2010
curious Theatre, Westword Music Showcase, Denver, CO

Source:  Oktava MK-012 cardiods (12 foot split) > Lunatec V3 > digi-coax > Oade Mod Edirol R44 @ 24/48 > SDHC > Adobe Audition 3.0 > Resample to 16/44.1 > CDWave
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. intro
2. Rope And River
3. Revenge Song
4. Sleep Money Dawn
5. Ambulance
6. Pyramid Scheme
7. Et Lux Perpetua
8. Blind Leading The Blind
9. Twenty Something

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files can be downloaded as a zipfile here.

Denver got a dose of Superchunk tonight…and what a treat it was!  I was so excited about sharing this set that I tracked it out immediately after getting home from the show.

Superchunk
6.19.2010
Main Stage, Westword Music Showcase, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 > digi-coax > Oade Mod Edirol R44 @ 24/48 > SDHC > Adobe Audition 3.0 > Resample to 16/44.1 > CDWave
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. intro
2. Cool
3. Detroit Has a Skyline
4. Digging for Something
5. Seed Toss
6. Hello Hawk
7. Punch Me Harder
8. Art Class (Song for Yayoi Kusama)
9. Like a Fool
10. Iron On
11. Nu Bruises
12. Learned to Surf
13. Driveway to Driveway
14. The First Part
15. Slack Motherfucker
16. Precision Auto

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files can be found on Dime!

Six months after the Denver show, John Common brought his grandiose Beautiful Empty CD release show to the Fox in Boulder.  Once again, the evening was packed full of artistic energy, from sculptures and photography exhibits in the lobby, to short films and documentaries which premiered during set changes.   All told, there were six videos showcased, many of which can be found on John’s YouTube channel.  This lineup of Blinding Flashes of Light was slightly different than previous incarnations I’ve seen, and filled to the brim with guests (see below).  A very special night, this show gave you the sense that JC&BFL are on the verge of achieving something prodigious…  Oh, and they even threw in a treat for anyone bummed about the U2 tour cancellation.

Catch them tomorrow at the Westword Music Showcase.

John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light
6.12.2010
The Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 > digi-coax > Oade Mod Edirol R44 @ 24/48 > SDHC > Adobe Audition 3.0 > Resample to 16/44.1 > CDWave > LAME > mp3
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. intro
2. Can You Hear Me?
3. Wide Open World
4. L.G.M.
5. The Dreamers
6. Clap Hands (Tom Waits)
7. The Man Who Could
8. Don’t Follow Virginia
9. Go To Hell With Me
10. Love is a Shark
11. Turnaround
12. Same Scar
13. Triste y Hermoso
14. In a Bookstore
15. In My Neighborhood
16. Do You Know My Name?
(Encore)
17. With or Without You (U2)
18. Goodnight Tulsa

Lineup:
Aubrea Alford (violin)
John Common (vocals, guitar)
Jessica DeNicola (vocals)
Seth Donovan (cello)
Scott Mccormik (accordion)
Liz McKellar (vocals)
Octavia McNeill (vocals)
Wes Michaels (cello, sax)
Adam Revell (keyboards)
Ian Short (violin)
Casey Sidwell (bass)
David Sirota (cowbell)
Carl Sorensen (drums)
Joshua Trinidad (trumpet)

16-bit FLAC files are available at the LMA.
A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.

Over the weekend, Kilgore Books celebrated it’s second birthday (and the release of Blammo #6) complete with live music, cake, and champagne.  Bongo Fury kicked off the afternoon fun with a short, intimate set.

Bongo Fury
6.12.2010
Kilgore Books/Wax Trax, Denver, CO

Source: Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 > digi-coax > Oade Mod Edirol R44 @ 24/48 > SDHC > Adobe Audition 3.0 > Resample to 16/44.1 > CDWave
Taped by: Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Track #1
2. Track #2
3. Track #3
4. Track #4

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files can be downloaded as a zipfile here.

(Photo via Westword’s blog.)

Yet another one from the Curious Theatre!

Astrophagus
6.13.2009
Westword Music Showcase
Curious Theatre, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Toslink > Nomad JB3 > Firewire > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > LAME > mp3
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. unknown
2. Feast Day
3. Buena Vista Park
4. Pauper’s Ring
5. unknown
6. unknown
7. Squander It

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files can be downloaded as a zipfile here.