kevin johnston

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MusicAlbum Review: The Cuddies – Fix It MyselfGreeley’s jazz-leaning (Hannah &) The Cuddies put on a rock show, but shine in moments of intimacy on their full-length debut Fix It Myself, a gloss-rock review via theatrical means.Kevin Johnston · Sep 4, 2021MusicSingle Premiere: Cody – “I’m Not Really Listening”After years of solely identifying as the co-front man of Colorado’s adored brother-band Slow Caves, Jakob Mueller steps away from those familiar indie guitar shoegaze shores.Kevin Johnston · Jul 15, 2021MusicAlbum Review: Tenth Mountain Division – Butte La RoseOn Butte La Rose, Colorado’s mountain-bred quintet Tenth Mountain Division find space between extremes: A party with a big band, booze, questionable substances and endless jams; and relatable, folk-influenced storytelling. They stamp a crisp modernity on top, incorporating styles as far reaching as the Rockies themselves.Kevin Johnston · Jun 10, 2021MusicAlbum Review: Lighthouse Sessions – D.C. Myers‘Lighthouse Sessions’ is the debut EP from Denver’s D.C. Myers, and while it’s a dark catalogue of a sad man alone in a room with his electronics, it’s also one of the most engaging, smart and fun records to come out of Colorado in months. Myers knows this well: stimulate the more sophisticated neurons of those goths and their black-leather-clad hips will follow.Kevin Johnston · Jun 8, 2021MusicSingle Review: People In General – “icicic”Fort Collins indie poppers People In General find themselves aptly named for the theme of their upcoming single “icicic.” Seeking universality in songwriting is usually a great idea.Kevin Johnston · Jun 4, 2021MusicVideo Premiere: Isadora Eden – GhostsDenver singer/songwriter/shoegazer Isadora Eden’s history includes living in New Orleans and New York City where underground music scenes the likes of the late, great Sidewalk Cafe shaped her talent for forlorn, connectable music. The soft elocution in her young, muted alto reflects her well-traveled soul; one who’s stories we believe regardless of how few wordsKevin Johnston · Feb 25, 2021MusicSingle Premiere: Goth Club – Sweep Me Up“Sweep Me Up” premieres via BandWagon today, and it’s a black lipstick affair. Goth Club’s third release, it sinks to the half-spoken, sultry depths of Monster Magnet’s “Paradise” or even Ramstein with an added layer of synths and old-school drum machines akin to an early Depeche Mode. McFadden looks directly into the black mirror on “Sweep Me Up,” finding shadows, distortion and sludge within it.Kevin Johnston · Feb 18, 2021MusicSingle Premiere: Pie Lombardi – “Some People”Northern Colorado’s Pie Lombardi presents his finest work to date with the moving single “Some People,” which premieres today exclusively via BandWagon.Kevin Johnston · Feb 11, 2021MusicAlbum Review: Isadora Eden – All NightIsadora Eden’s second EP, the vulnerable ‘All Night,’ opens like a dark, reverberated flower in your headphones. Eden’s young, muted alto offers sad solidarity to those who will listen, while she and bandmates Sumner Erhard and Corey Coffman carry her shy messages on the shoulders of stately guitars, dignified drums and echoey atmosphere.Kevin Johnston · Feb 6, 2021MusicAlbum Review: Jess Parsons – Hear Me CallingStop sifting for obscure ‘70s soft-pop on Spotify playlists like “candle-lit living room slow dance” and buy Jess Parsons’ “Hear Me Calling.” Denver’s Parsons knows well that charm and honesty go a long way.Kevin Johnston · Feb 3, 2021Album Review: Antonio Lopez – Roots and WingsAntonio Lopez’ voice sits delicately perched at the center of his fourth full-length release, Roots & Wings. The fragile purity of his vocal delivery as the record’s focus proves a point: When given a proper chance, an honest voice can rise to previously un-reached heights. As the executive director of the music/empowerment nonprofit Sound Bridge and having funded Roots & Wings via Kickstarter, Lopez knows well that respectful contributions from those who back you is a gift as precious as family and as freeing as flight.Kevin Johnston · Jan 7, 2021MusicSingle Review: 30 – “Homesick”A Massachusetts native by the name 30 recently moved to Colorado to make the best of covid reality, releasing genre-non-specific singles in support of his full-length “Introspects Of A Psycho,” out October (yes) 30.Kevin Johnston · Nov 13, 2020MusicSingle Review: Joel Ansett – “Ease”Denver’s Joel Ansett says he finally noticed how much emotional energy he spent on “just trying to be liked.Kevin Johnston · Nov 11, 2020MusicAlbum Review: Kid Astronaut & Psychologic – KenopsiaPervasive feelings of extreme unknown lurk in the consciousness of most citizens on planet earth these days, which is why the similarly intangible music, soundscapes and dark, thrilling emotions on the concept EP Kenopsia hit so hard. A brilliant and concise collaboration between Denver-based R&B hip-hop vocalist Kid Astronaut and producer Psychologic, the record’s pop sensibilities are balanced by an epic, dystopian sense of drama and purpose.Kevin Johnston · Oct 12, 2020FeaturesKyle Hollingsworth Band Finally Jams On A Full TankKyle Hollingsworth and his bandmates in The String Cheese Incident had been on tour for a solid decade.Kevin Johnston · Sep 7, 2020MusicAlbum Review: My Dog Ate Chad – KrakatoaMy Dog Ate Chad is exactly what it should be. A conglomeration of 5 flanneled friends from high school throwing their influences at the wall to see what sticks. They’re looking for their true identity on their full-length debut Krakatoa with wide eyes, open ears and loud-ass guitars.Kevin Johnston · Jul 7, 2020MusicDouble Single Review: The Beeves – “Playing Bingo” & Slow Caves “Walk In The Park”With top production, austere turn of phrase and beautifully transparent melodic construction, “Walk In The Park” by Slow Caves sparkles with the slow motion lens-flare of memories you haven’t even made yet. Riff-heavy with the pizzaz and swagger of the White Stripes, The Beeves’ new single “Playing Bingo” highlights the proper rock yelps of vocalist Ian Ehrhart and the grooving instrumental playfulness of bassist/vocalist Margot Sease and drummer Will Ehrhart.Kevin Johnston · Jul 6, 2020MusicSingle Premiere: Corsicana – “Wreath”[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The subtle tug-of-war between the power of youth and the perspective of experience usually comes when young artists break the mold put in place by seasoned veterans from the former generation. It’s how new art is made. But in the case of Corsicana, this cliché plays out in a completely different way. At justKevin Johnston · Jun 8, 2020MusicAlbum Review: Cold Reading – ZYTPrecision has long been one of the favorite descriptors the world uses when talking about the Swiss, and Lucerne, Switzerland-based indie rock quintet Cold Reading certainly don’t…Kevin Johnston · Feb 3, 2020FeaturesMarco Benevento: The Fourth Voice In A TrioAn instrumental jazz pianist at heart, Marco Benevento has always searched for new sounds, musical tools or ways of composing, though his newest discovery is that of his own voice, and that’s worth a champagne toast. Benevento calls his vocals a direct extension of his composing. “It’s just like another instrument,” he says. “It’s the fourth member of our trio, but it’s still the trio.” The Marco Benevento Trio play The Aggie Theater on Thursday, February 6.Kevin Johnston · Feb 2, 2020