Even though they took the stage at just past noon, an eager, early crowd gathered at the main stage to see Oh My Stars kick off the Westword Showcase.  In this short set, they managed to squeeze in plenty of new material, fan favorites, and even a few covers.

Oh My Stars
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 > LAME > mp3
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Miss Morose
2. Your Own Way
3. unknown
4. Bad Romance [Lady Gaga] >
5. Empire State Of Mind [Jay-Z] *
6. Any Easier
7. unknown
8. Bloody November

Notes:
* = w/ Handlebars teases

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

Oakland’s Cryptacize were a last-minute addition to support Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti on tour, after the previously booked band had trouble making it into the states.  This isn’t your typical Cryptacize set, and it’s a wonder Denver was graced with a performance at all last week.  All cards were stacked to the contrary:

1. The band braved a drive from Salt Lake City through a snowstorm, and arrived only minutes before their set!
2. Corey Fogel was unavailable for the evening, making this a drummerless, stripped-down show.
3. Bass player Aaron Olson was on painkillers due to a dental visit earlier that day.

If you want a more representative performance (albiet prior to Aaron’s addition to the band), you can check out my previous posts here and here.  But the sound on this one is so great, the performance so fun, that I couldn’t restrain myself from posting it.  As a bonus, all songs but the first are from Cryptacize’s upcoming Mythomania album, due out 4/21 on Asthmatic Kitty.

Cryptacize
3.25.2009
Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

Source:  Mix [Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 > digi-coax] + [SBD > 1/4″] > Oade Mod Edirol R44 @ 24/48 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > Resample to 16/44.1 > CDWave > LAME > mp3
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. intro
2. Say You Will
3. The Loving Sun *
4. I’ll Take The Long Way
5. Galvanize
6. Mythomania
7. New Spell

Notes:
* = first time played

FLAC files are available on dime.
A zipfile of mp3s is available here.

(Photo by Denise Chambers.)

Six months after their last appearance at the Hi-Dive, The Broken West made another stop in Denver!  Check out John Wenzel’s review of the evening over at Reverb while you’re giving the set a listen, and also consider purchasing one the the band’s albums via Merge:

2008 – Now or Heaven
2007 – I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On

The Broken West
3.11.2009
The Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

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

Setlist:
1. So It Goes >
2. Auctioneer
3. On The Bubble
4. Please
5. Gwen, Now and Then
6. Ambuscade
7. Got It Bad
8. House of Lies
9. Down in the Valley
10. Perfect Games

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files are available via BitTorrent over at dime.

(Photo from Noise Pop ’09 by Cameron Platt)

St. Patrick’s weekend is not the most opportune time to book quiet shows at dive bars, the nightlife being much more interested in intoxication and revelry than in a listening experience.  After skipping out early from the Les Claypool show, I made my way down to the Lion’s Lair to catch Two Sheds, who were on their way from California to SXSW.  Lacking a drummer for this trip, Two Sheds gave their tunes the mellow treatment on this particular night.  Those of us sitting close to the stage had the chance to soak in Caitlin Gutenberger’s dream-like vocals.  In time, the background chatter and beer buzzes were melted away.

Two Shed’s first full-length and more recent EP can both be purchased here (in physical form) or via iTunes.

Two Sheds
3.14.2009
Lion’s Lair, Denver, CO

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

Setlist:
1. For Theresa
2. The Ballad of Salty Dog
3. Undertow
4. To Be Alive
5. You
6. WTF?
7. unknown
8. Momma
9. Psycho Killer

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

Here’s a set from The Little Ones at the Hi-Dive, back in October…

The Little Ones
10.25.2008
Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtch Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 >
Firewire > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Face The Facts
2. Oh, MJ!
3. Ordinary Song
4. Gregory’s Chant
5. Cha Cha Cha
6. Tangerine Visions
7. Like a Spoke On a Wheel
8. Forgive Yourself
9. All Your Modern Boxes
10. Everybody’s Up To Something
11. Waltz
12. Morning Tide
13. Lovers Who Uncover

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files can be downloaded via BitTorrent here.

Grab the band’s discography:
2008 – Morning Tide (Amazon | iTunes)
2008 – Terry Tales and Fallen Gates EP (Band Store | iTunes)
2006 – Sing Song EP (Band Store | iTunes)