After working his way through a brief instrumental intro on Tuesday at the Hi-Dive, Roger Green pitched an unusual request to the dim sound booth at the back of the buzzy room: “Can I get all the guitar taken out of the monitors?” And with that, he played the excellent, new “I’ve Found Ways” and launched into one of the more experimental sets heard on the small rock club’s stage.
Green started out with material from his new eponymous record, including the heartbreaking ballad “Cards” and a cover of Joe Sampson’s “Carolina Clouds.” (Sampson’s A Dog Paloma opened the show.) Green, who was playing his final show as a Denver resident, played assuredly and with a reserved grace that spoke volumes. He was expertly assisted with the help of friends Ron Miles on trumpet and Kal Cahoone on back-up vocals, and they alternated between muted experimentation and proper recreations of Green’s growing alt-country-esque catalog.
Around mid-set, Green said, “This next one is a cover song written by a friend of mine I hoped would be here but couldn’t … well, wouldn’t,” before heading into a cover of The Czars’ “Get Used to It.” Green left The Czars a year ago as he was starting his solo career, and the song came off as an homage (or goodbye?) to his former bandmate John Grant. Sentiment set in again later in the set. As Green worked it solo, Miles stood alone near the bar hugging his trumpet, eyes closed, subtly rocking back and forth, caught in the moment.
After Tyler Potts’ wacky, intriguing and, at times, comical transitionary set, Green and Miles joined the electronic wizard. With a knob-tweaking Potts bringing up the bottom and Miles in full-on ambient mode, Green was sharing his big night with everyone – and allowing his fans into a world rarely visited on his discs.
The ambient, improvisational jazz was trying and rewarding, and a handful of faithful believers stuck on to finish out the night with the makeshift trio.
– Ricardo Baca
Hell’s Belles
Wearing her Angus Young-inspired necktie and red velvet blazer, Hell’s Belles guitarist Adrian Conner stormed Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom Tuesday, her lush ‘locks flailing throughout this Seattle band’s entire AC/DC repertoire.
The recent departure of Hell’s Belles founding singer, Om Johari, shook these road-warriors to the core. They’re still a formidable band with Denverite Jamie Nova on vocals. But they are not the same without Johari’s thundering presence up front. As Hell’s Belles roiled through “Riff Raff” on Tuesday, it seemed this audience was just as curious to see whether Nova could pull it off as they were to hear their beloved blue-collar crotch-rock.
Nova was confident, capable and alluring. She delivered a studied performance. But the singer’s stage presence was too easily usurped by Conner, leading to the impression that Nova was acting as much as she was singing. She has mastered the music, but she has not internalized it in the way that made her predessesor such a performance powerhouse. Until Nova can do that, Hell’s Belles will be a top-notch bar band, but not necessarily an entertainment entity in its own right.
To the headliner’s credit, neither The Swanks nor Jet Black managed the same energy level. There is talent in these local bands, but they’re inconsistent. The Swanks unleashed the more visceral show, thanks to singer Shanda Kolberg, and tight new songs like “Bad Luck Charm.”
Hell’s Belles closes out this week’s Colorado tour with a stop tonight at 8150 in Vail, and a New Year’s Eve show Saturday at the White Buffalo outside Fort Collins.
– Elana Ashanti Jefferson
