15th Street Tavern

School(s) of rock: Studying music in Colorado

admin — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Do you live in the great state of Colorado and want to study music? Check out these universities that offer a large number of music programs that cater to a variety of career aspirations:

University of Colorado at Denver

The Music and Entertainment Studies major is geared towards students looking to make it big in the business. Students can choose from four different areas of concentration, including Performance, Recording Arts, Songwriter and Music Business.

Students who wish to major in Performance or take the Songwriter path must pass an audition to get into the program.Didnâ€™t catch that? This explains it. This school also offers a master’s degree in Recording Arts.

Colorado Music Institute

Located in Centennial, Colorado, the Colorado Music Institute offers private lessons for a variety of instruments. All of their teachers have four year college degrees and extensive experience in the teaching and performance fields.

Their percussion and guitar teachers also hold private lessons for rock groups in the Denver area. Each of them has personally performed as part of a rock group or is currently an active rock and roll player.

Hidden treasures: Famous Colorado record stores

admin — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Sorting, sifting, and searching; these are all things you get very familiar with when you decide you want to visit a record store. Personally, the idea of going to thrift stores anymore looking for prized records has become an obsolete activity to me. I go right to the local record stores. I love being able to enjoy the convenience of going to a specialized store that will know what the fair market prices of what I want will actually be. They will not give me some inflated prices just to make a profit.

However, besides that I enjoy talking with the associates working there. Because you will not find someone working in a record store that does not love the music industry. It takes a special person to pull this job off. And those are the people I love to sit around and chat with. Most of the time I buy more, just because I want to listen to what they suggest as well!

Interpunk: an online punk paradise

admin — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

When punk rock first shocked the nation, finding the fashion was difficult at best. Finding the music was even harder. Getting punk rock music and merchandise has never been so easy thanks to Interpunk. From the hardest to find albums from the 1970s to current mainstream punk and emo, Interpunk has it all. There are hundreds of pages of T-shirts, hoodies, bags, posters, CDs, vinyl, buttons, patches, and more.

With nearly 100,000 items for sale, Interpunk has anything even the most discerning punk rocker could ever need. Stop by for a simple CD and you’ll find yourself buying a new pair of boots and laces to match. Filling your leather jacket with patches and one inch buttons displaying the logos of your favorite punk rock bands will only take minutes. If you have a guitar or a skateboard deck that looks too new and pristine, Interpunk has hundreds of stickers to choose from.

It’s hard for budding new punk bands to get noticed, but Interpunk is even interested in helping you sell your merchandise! Punk bands can sell their music to fans all over the world via Interpunk Direct. Even more established bands can request that their merchandise be listed.More info here: Best Punk Rock Band Of All Time?

More trendy dining options for Colorado music fans

admin — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Are you planning a trip to the Colorado area, and you want to make sure it is filled with plenty of good food and great music? Or, are you a native of Colorado who is tired of visiting the same dining spots over and over again? No matter which category you fit into, be sure to read about these trendy dining options for Colorado music fans!

- Bistro De Pinto
This quaint little venue is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The menu features a wide range of bistro lunch, dinner and desert options, and this restaurant guarantees it serves only hormone, antibiotic and steroid free meat. The live music at Bistro De Pinto creates a cozy and comfortable dining atmosphere that is sure to be relaxing and enjoyable.

- Nosh
This hip bar and restaurant is also located in Colorado Springs, but offers a much more non-traditional atmosphere than Bistro De Pinto. Their menu offers a wide variety of surprising food combinations, and any food ordered is served in very small portions, so that customers are able to try a lot of different dishes. The delicious musical ambiance of Nosh completes the entire experience, so that customers always feel entertained and satisfied.

How to start Colorado’s next great band

admin — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

One of the great American Dreams is starting a great band. The music world is extremely cutthroat and vicious but if one manages to survive the rewards will be endless. To start a band one needs to have all the elements. The first one obviously is a stable of outstanding musicians. Technical prowess and skill is important to a band, one needs an individual who is master of his instrument. While technical skill is a key element a second element to starting a band is can these musicians write songs. Song writing is more of an art form than it is a technical endeavor. There is no use in having a group of high end musicians if they cannot write a decent song. However if the collective unit has the technical talent and can add poetry and composition to the mix, then part of the overall puzzle is almost complete.
Many wonder in starting a band what else can be done other than churn great music. Well a truly great band has a stylish image that captivates audience the image is also very important in having a stage presence. This image will help bring fans into the fold as well.

The Best Music Venues in Denver

admin — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

If you happen to find yourself in Denver you won’t want to spend time searching around your http://get.wildblue.com internet to figure out which music venues are most likely to have the shows. Here are our favorites that never let us down –
Bluebird Theater – This quaint joint is over on Colfax and it’s always got some kind of low-key artist. There have been a lot of notable locals in and out these doors and the vibe is decidedly old school.
Ogden Theater – The big kahuna of Denver music, Ogden has the biggest names all the time. If you can score tickets to a big show, this traditional theater is where you want to see it, bar none.
Grizzly Rose – As the name implies, this place is a bit rough around the edges but that’s why we like it. Don’t expect high-end technology but do come looking for dollar beers and a really live, cool vibe.
Larimer Lounge – This place has been around for years and there’s a good reason why. If the rat pack had lived in Denver, this is where they would have hung out.

Popular Colorado groups of yesteryear

admin — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Colorado has been a state plentiful with bands and performers that provide the world with memorable music.

The Fray is from Denver, Colorado and they came together in 2002. School companions Isaac Slade along with Joe King started The Fray and in 2005 their debut album How to Save a Life went double platinum. The band stands out with its piano use and Isaac Slade, the vocalist, has a strong distinctive sound.

The band OneRepublic formed in 2002 and is from Colorado Springs, Colorado. Ryan Tedder and Zach Filkins brought the band together and they became a success. OneRepublic didn’t sign with a record label until 2006 making them one of the most well-known acts to be un-signed. The band became successful nationwide with the release of their second hit “Stop and Stare.”

3OH!3 is from Boulder, Colorado, and they are an American electronica twosome formed by Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte. Their single “Don’t Trust Me” was the band’s most successful track. The band’s second single “Starstrukk” gained popularity in Finland, the United Kingdom, Australia and Belgium.

The state of Colorado has delivered many top music groups that have been successful in the music industry and fans everywhere are grateful.

Club etiquette for your next night out

admin — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

A night out at the local club can be a great way to spend a Friday or Saturday night but it is important to keep club etiquette in mind. First and foremost research the nightclubs dress code policy. Many clubs have a no jeans policy so plan accordingly and follow the venues dress code protocol. Always be courteous and polite to the bouncer working the line as they are the once who ultimately hold your ticket to the inside.

Once you find your way past the ropes the most popular location with in the club will be the dance floor. Always be respectful of others personal space and make a point to initiate eye contact when you ask someone to dance. The bartenders are always extremely busy, be patient once you approach the bar and get your bar tenders name and introduce yourself. If possible try returning to the same bar tender repeatedly throughout the night always tipping at least 1 per drink. Once you have received your drink, do your best to move out of the way so others can make their way to the bar.

Keeping these few rules in mind will help you have an enjoyable evening out at your favorite local club.

Grab dinner before the show at one of these restaurants

admin — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 12:00:41 +0000

Rocking on an empty stomach is never a good idea. Don’t count on every bar having food, either. Whether you’re in the band or a fan, there are plenty of great (and affordable) restaurants in Denver to give you that fighting edge you need.Strings: This uptown restaurant offers innovative flavors for affordable prices. Head Chef Lance Barto and chef/restaurateur Noel Cunningham focus on unique American dishes. Check out entrees like Cashew Crusted Sea Bass or the Steak Cardone Sandwich, or enjoy a pasta or salad dish.Pint’s Pub: Pint’s opened in 1993, and while its fame rests on its British ales and whiskeys, the food isn’t half-bad either. Tuck into some Bangers & Mash or honey-mustard-marinated Highlander Chicken, and you’ll be ready to jig the night away.Zengo’s: Zengo’s menu approaches the “high-end dining” level with its 28 Mustard Crusted Lamb Loin, but more fastidious spenders can still choose from noodle dishes, soups and salads, dim sum, and hearty appetizers. Or, bring a group and get 5 tasting plates showcasing Zengo’s blend of Latin and Asian flavors for only 30.bang!: One of 10Best.com’s Editor’s Picks for the city of Denver, bang! offers a variety of different flavors, with Southern cooking as a unifying theme. Try the gumbo, penne pasta, or grilled salmon for 15 or less each. Be aware that the restaurant is closed on Mondays, so you’ll have to find another venue before heading out to Punk Rock Mondays at the Rockaway Tavern.Le Central: French dining doesn’t have to mean empty pockets when you leave. If you want to have enough money left for the merch table, check out Le Central. Their popular “moules et frites” dishes feature over 2 pounds of mussels and unlimited fries, all for 9.99 no matter what the time.

15th St. Tavern, resurrectedsort of

admin — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:00:38 +0000

If you ask experienced local music fans in the Denver area about the 15^th St. Tavern, you’ll run into some interesting paradoxes. For example, while they may describe the holes in the wall and the overbearing smell, they’ll do so with such an air of reverence that it may sound like they actually enjoyed it. There’s a simple reason for that: they did. The 15^th St. Tavern was renowned for its chaotic punk shows, full of fire hazards and questionable behavior. For those who remember, there’s good news: the bar is back (sort of) in the form of the new Rockaway Tavern.The old Tavern closed in 2007 when its location was demolished. Owners Mykel Martinez and Kris Sieger, together with 3 Kings Tavern owner Jim Norris, have opened new venue the Rockaway Tavern, and they say that the site will represent the spirit of both locally-legendary taverns. However, Martinez emphasizes the difference between this project and their previous ones, telling the Denver Westword that “this is ours. We’re gutting it. We’re putting our floor plan down” and building it back up into their personal vision.Martinez plays in bands Black Lamb and Grease Machine, so he’ll be in charge of attracting bands and making sure they’re treated fairly. Norris is the one with experience in promotion and retail. Together, they aim to make the Rockaway a national hotspot, attracting larger groups while still keeping that local flavor. From the look of things, they’re off to the right start. Since its opening on August 13, the tavern has been making a name for itself with drink specials (8 bottomless Bloody Marys and mimosas), trivia events, karaoke, movies, and of course bands. Every Monday is Punk Rock Night, with no cover and 1 PBRs.So far, reception has been positive, judging by the Rockaway’s Facebook page. If you’re in the area, stop by to see what all the fuss is about.