Sometimes a show is so visceral it’s tough to digest.
When Growing took to the stage at the Larimer Lounge late Tuesday night, the Brooklyn duo was flanked by symmetry. Behind the players were six large amps formed into a literal wall of sound. In front of them were 11 fans of the artful, distorted noise the band specializes in. And with those barriers – and absolutely no others – the group set out for an intellectually stimulating, eardrum-punishing set that was relentless in its experimentation.
Guitarist Joe Denardo sat on a yellow toolbox with his right foot working an effects pedal with weirdly hypnotic precision. Bassist Kevin Doria stood on the stage almost motionless, his toes and fingers sometimes tweaking the knobs, dials and pedals surrounding him. Blinking lights and multicolored cords and wires surrounded the pair, and together, these men and their complex technology created music that was more than just a series of distorted crescendos.
It was an electronic orchestra of axes. It was a symphonic hook to the gut. It was music at its brightest and most blinding, and Denver noise gurus My Calculus Beats Your Algebra were the ideal opener.
MCBYA played a 16-minute set of atonal bass and indecipherable vocals. When Bryan Danknich wasn’t caressing his keyboard and swallowing a kiddie-toy microphone, creating an unforgettably haunting howl, Thorin Klosowski was on his knees creating a howl that was altogether different. Their music isn’t of the complexity of Growing, but the soul – and likely the intent – is cut from the same cloth.
– Ricardo Baca
Jack Johnson
The former professional surfer who spun his winnings into a surf-rock empire continues to woo fans into sentimental sing-alongs that can make an elbow-to-elbow, sold-out venue feel like a bonfire on the beach.
Johnson gets knocked for engineering a collection of albums that spotlight acoustic-driven songs that vary little from one to the next. But judging from the Red Rocks crowd on Aug. 23, a show so crowded even the park’s generally sparse upper rows were packed, his formula remains close to the hearts of his devotees, regardless of whether the dimpled Hawaii native ever reaches for a newer, crisper sound.
People really love this guy, who played with a kicked-back, flip-flop-clad nonchalance. Judging from the vibe at the show, women often see in Johnson an old soul behind young eyes, while men see a guy who could easily be a drinking buddy. Case in point: One soon-to-be married fan came to the Red Rocks show specifically to hear “Banana Pancakes,” a sleeping-late-with-my-baby song she selected for her upcoming reception.
Other fan faves included “Taylor,” “Do You Remember” and “Symbol in My Driveway,” along with a couple of numbers penned by Jackson’s longtime pal G. Love.
– Elana Ashanti Jefferson
