BandWagon Magazine, February 2015: Hypnotic Vibes

Hypnotic Vibes, HYPNOTIC VIBES, THE DECEMBERISTS, DEATH GRIPS, POTATO PIRATES, IN TALL BUILDINGS ZION I, CHALI 2NA, CURSIVE, BRIX TAPHOUSE, BIJOU WINERY. 10,000 copies on the street from Cheyenne to Fort Collins.

MusicNew Music Monday: Milo Greene — ControlWhen members Andrew Heringer and Robbie Arnett started sending tracks to each other after they graduated, they soon discovered the hardships of booking their own gigs.Clark Lamson · Feb 2, 2015MusicAlbum Review: Death Grips — Fashion WeekIf you aren’t a prior Death Grips fan, here’s a little background. This is a band that positively described the vibe at their own concerts as “volatile” when speaking to Pitchfork in November 2012. This is a band that left their label over disputes concerning the release of their fourth album, Government Plates for free to the public. This is a band that after later launching their own label, “Third Worlds” in conjunction with Harvest and Capitol Records, broke up seemingly out of no where, and cancelled all upcoming tour dates, including an opening slot for Nine Inch Nails at Red Rocks.Clark Lamson · Feb 5, 2015MusicNew Music Monday: Courtney Barnett — Pedestrian at BestThough original content dates back to 2011, it was with the 2013 release The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas that Australian rock artist Courtney Barnett first grabbed American attention.Clark Lamson · Feb 9, 2015MusicAlbum Review: Montoeros— If You Think You’re In The Wrong Place, You’re Probably HereAl describir así mismos como una banda bilingüe de math/punk/indie rock, Montoneros captura algo por lo que varias bandas locales matarían.Jed Murphy · Feb 10, 2015FeaturesCursive Celebrates te Ugly Organ’s ReissueThe Ugly Organ would prove to be the group’s breakout record, earning accolades from Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly. There are several tracks on the album where the use of the cello is abundantly clear and contributes a powerful element to already electric songs. Thankfully, as Cursive gets ready to reissue The Ugly Organ and head out on tour in support of the record, the group has decided to reintroduce the cello at each show.Kyle Eustice · Feb 11, 2015

MusicAlbum Review:The Decemberists — What a Beautiful World, What a Terrible WorldA few weeks ago in our New Music Monday column, I said that the debut singles from The Decemberists’ new album suggested we might be seeing another warm, kind, folksy album. While What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World may sound at first to be just that, it is far away the toothiest album to The Decemberists’ name.Clark Lamson · Feb 12, 2015EditorialsJust Another Day in Cupid’s House of PainThere’s an unspoken understanding to Valentine’s day that says if you’re single you should hate it, but if you’re in a relationship you should flaunt it, and then there’s the Valentine’s extremists who unrealistically idolize the act of falling in love all together. It’s not defined that the people who are unhappy with Valentine’s day are the singletons. Human beings are unhappy with being told how and when they should love someone. Instead of just hiding behind our expectations of companionship, let’s full on rip it apart so that only the loudest and strongest represent what the ancient Romans had in mind for Valentine’s Day.Rose Hedberg · Feb 13, 2015MusicNew Music Monday: Alabama Shakes — Don’t Wanna FightIn 2012, Alabama locals Brittany Howard, Zac Cockrell, Steve Johnson, and Heath Fogg released their debut album, Boys & Girls.Clark Lamson · Feb 16, 2015CommunityMisfits for Music’s Sake: Hypnotic Vibes Wins Battle of the BandsThey are six distinct characters that don’t initially seem to match one another. A juggler, a poet, a bilinguist, a mechanical mind, a beat-boxer, and a Rubik’s cube master, are all musicians with a singular vision: to play good music. And that vision won this funkadelic reggae band the 2014 BandWagon Magazine Battle of the Bands.Rose Hedberg · Feb 16, 2015MusicAlbum Review: The Potato Pirates— Raised Better Than ThisJust as diverse as the big city itself, Denver punk band The Potato Pirates’ new album has something for everyone.Natalie Allen · Feb 17, 2015CommunityBijou Creek Winery: A New Home for Greeley’s Wine LoversNow wine lovers in Greeley have a place to call home, and it is Bijou Creek Winery, located just off of West 10th Street. Erwin Hillman, owner of the winery and tasting room, is originally from Greeley, but got his start in Fort Morgan, making wine as a hobby and selling his product throughout the state to varying degrees of success.Jay Wallace · Feb 18, 2015FeaturesHumble Fish: Chali 2na Keeps His Ego at BayAs the baritone voice of Jurassic 5 (J5), Chali 2na has been lending monumental contributions to hip-hop culture since he emerged from Los Angeles’ Good Life Cafe scene in the early ‘90s. Originally part of the Unity Committee (with Cut Chemist and Mark 7even), Chali 2na formed J5 after merging with The Rebels of Rhythm (with Akil and Soup) in 1993. After J5’s self-titled debut dropped in 1998, the group followed up with 2000’s critically acclaimed sophomore effort, Quality Control. On the track “Contribution,” Chali 2na spits: “The most that you can spend on any child is time.” It’s a philosophy he took to heart and carried into his family dynamic. Growing up on the Southside of Chicago, the now 43-year-old artist was lacking a strong male role model in his life.Kyle Eustice · Feb 19, 2015