Voters in this year’s Underground Music Poll had to narrow down their favorites to 20 local bands. And for any true fan of local music, that’s a tough task, given the depth of the local talent pool.
Here are 10 more local acts that didn’t crack the top 10 but are first-rate nevertheless.
The Omens (No.12)
Face-melting garage-punk has propelled these Denver boys up the Best Underground Bands list steadily the past three years, jumping from 49 to 21 and now to 12.
Songs like “Make Time” and “Can’t Satisfy” demonstrate that electronic instruments and computers are overrated. All that Matt, Forest, Ela and Michael need are guitars, bass and drums – and the belief that all foundations of the best rock ‘n’ roll were laid in the ’50s and ’60s. (Next show: 10:30 p.m. Saturday at the UMS, Skylark Lounge)
A Dog Paloma (No.19)
Joe Sampson considers himself a songwriter but not a singer. But like so many others in his boat, Bob Dylan included, there’s something undeniably potent about Sampson singing his own songs, solo or amid his friends in A Dog Paloma.
Sampson’s hushed soul is intense, and nobody interpreting his songs will ever match it. (3 p.m. Saturday at the UMS, Mutiny Now! and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Irish Rover)
George & Caplin (No.20)
Listening to “StationWagon SleepingBag,” one would assume this electro-ambient duo picked up where Aphex Twin left off. Then “Fields Talk” kicks in and you swear you’re hearing an unreleased Gastr Del Sol record.
Once you get to “Kickboard Anchor” you’ve forgotten the comparisons and fallen under the spell of the drifting synth clouds and tinny vocals. Principals Jason Iselin and Jeffrey Stevens would prefer it that way. (9 p.m. Saturday at the UMS, Irish Rover)
Bad Weather California (No. 21)
Performing with Bad Weather California or the Love Letter Band, singer-songwriter Chris Adolf consistently provides us with some of the brightest music at the bar … or art gallery or store opening.
His music is emotive and silly, often playing off his vivid imagination, warm voice and love of pop melody. (4:30 p.m. Saturday at the UMS, Mutiny Now! and 8:15 p.m. Saturday, Irish Rover)
Everything Absent or Distorted (No.31)
Indie rockers have long embraced the concept of folk collectives, but collective music has a tendency to sound leaderless. Not so with this seven-member Denver act, a refreshing slap in the face to the woe-
is-me legacy of ’90s indie rock.
The blissfully melodic, Guided by Voices-meets-Arcade Fire tracks currently gracing its MySpace page point to a bright future for these well-dressed lads. (2 p.m. Saturday at the UMS, Hi-Dive; CD release party at the Hi-Dive on Aug. 12.)
Pee Pee (No.32)
This loose, coed family of goofs and drinkers has more up its sleeve than a “why didn’t I think of that?” band name. Spoken-word poetry, Handsome Family-style absurdism, acoustic/orchestral jams and singing saws frame their rough, direct style.
“Over That Hill” casts a Graham Nash chorus into a lo-fi lake, reeling back a melody that begs for repeated listens. Cheap synths? Ten people on stage? Look no further. (9 p.m. Wednesday, Climax Lounge)
CAT-A-TAC (No.33)
One of the most solid live bands in Denver, CAT-A-TAC makes friends quickly. It’s a quick handshake by way of clear, Sebadoh-styled vocals and thick shoegazer guitar blazes … and suddenly you’re best friends with the band.
It’s easy to love this group’s driving rock ‘n’ roll, but the band has been working for years on such a mastery of the live performance. (9:30 p.m. Saturday at the UMS, Skylark Lounge)
Meese (No.44)
Coldplay, what have you wrought? Your minions are many, varied and inescapable. Fortunately, most of them are also talented and poised to find their own voices.
Brothers Patrick and Nathan Meese, the driving force behind this catchy band, have all the makings of Denver’s next breakout act. Unabashed pop-rock, yes, but gloriously so. Just try wresting their MySpace song “Letters” from your head after hearing it a couple times. (Opening for The Fray Sept. 30 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.)
Kissing Party (No.50)
Lean in and listen really carefully, because they’re not going to shout. This aptly named indie pop quintet has two singers, and they’re both worth listening to.
Kissing Party’s music is mostly happy, and the narrative-styled lyrics (and some of the clangy guitars) might take you back to The Cure’s happier times in the late ’80s. But most of the time it sounds like a simpler, more succinctly American take on a yet-to-be-written Belle & Sebastian riff. (8 p.m. Saturday at the UMS, Skylark; Aug. 5 at Leela.)
Me Llamo Rosa (No.125)
When you see this new band for the first time, the Bright Eyes comparison is an easy but lazy one to make. These guys may very well appreciate Connor Oberst and his friends, but this is far from a copycat project. Me Llamo Rosa is one of the more interesting groups in this current crop of brand-new acts hitting the scene. (8:45 p.m. Saturday at the UMS, Skylark Lounge)
Pop music critic Ricardo Baca can be reached at 303-820-1394 or rbaca@denverpost.com. Staff writer John Wenzel can be reached at jwenzel@denverpost.com or 303-820-1642.
