Eels
Mark Oliver Everett (aka E) is justifiably a little nutty. The Eels frontman is known for his quirky songwriting and his enigmatic live shows.
And so it’s impressive Everett actually found someone to out-crazy himself. This person is Crazy Al, a bandmember who recently has joined Everett and company in the capacity of Weird Sideman. Al plays a mean organ, don’t get me wrong. But Al spent most of his time on June 7 at the Fox Theatre doing jumping jacks and push-ups, practicing a Tae Bo-taekwondo fusion, and squirting whipped cream into fans’ mouths.
It was delightfully bizarre, even for an Eels concert. And Al, dressed as a security guard, added another level to Everett’s fascinating live show, which still is anchored in his complex music. Al danced with the teenage girls from Smoosh, who opened the show, during an encore that was as surprising as it was calming. Everett’s a stellar songwriter, and the fact that he – and his companions – keep getting weirder is a tribute to their need for change.|Ricardo Baca
Vaux
Vaux’s story should be familiar to anyone who follows Denver’s fertile post- hardcore scene. The band, which started here nine years ago, was jerked around by major labels until finally reclaiming its album “Beyond Virtue, Beyond Vice,” which will see release on Aug. 1. To that end, Vaux’s June 8 show at The Marquis Theater smelled of a triumphant homecoming. Not quite sold out, even with terrific supporting acts like The Photo Atlas and Schoolyard Heroes, the show still buzzed with a sweaty all-ages energy.
When Vaux took to the wide stage – which resembled a Radiohead video with its vertical red panels and bright under-lighting – the crowd seemed primed to explode. Singer Quentin Smith nearly swallowed the mic during the single “Are You With Me,” the band members at first restraining themselves during the verse progressions. When the singalong chorus kicked in the other members detonated on cue. The audience dutifully – and justifiably – followed suit. |John Wenzel
Whispertown2000
The sweetness of a Whispertown2000 show is enough to give you a cavity, sans the headache. When Morgan Nagler & Co. launch into sugary ditties, such as the adorable “Through a Hole” or the a cappella “Hello Wishin’ Well,” it’s impossible to not feel the magic within this soulful, gospel-influenced indie pop.
But don’t pass Whispertown2000 off as a saccharine novelty act. When they played an intimate show at the Old Curtis Street Bar on Monday, the quartet proved its true strengths – i.e. the complex folk of “Livin’ In a Dream” and the soulful rock of “Good Bye, Baby,” coincidentally the first two songs on the band’s debut record named after the first song.
“Good Bye, Baby” came early, much slower than the recorded version. It was a slow march, emphasizing the pain in Nagler’s lyrics. Especially heartbreaking is the stilted electric guitar that brings the song to a neatly wrapped close. Later came “Livin’ In a Dream,” which starts traditionally and later turns to unique vocal territory that is grounded and brought back to home by the sobering admission, “Hey, I’m fond of you.”|Ricardo Baca
