1. Munly and the Lee Lewis Harlots
Members: Paul Bradley (upright bass), Jeff Linsenmaier (drums), Munly (vocals), Elin Palmer (violin), Frieda Stalheim (violin), Rebecca Vera (cello).
Website: myspace.com/munlythelee
lewisharlots; munlymunly.com; slimcessnasautoclub.com/munly
Local connection: We claim Colorado for our own; we came here to get away from our past.
Genre: American Gothic
Why do you make music? Much like piety, it is an open competition. Unfortunate; no?
When did you know your band was for real? When our smallest failings began to grate on one another.
Any members in other bands? Munly is co-frontman of Slim Cessna’s Auto Club
Favorite local band: Boyd Rice
Next gig: Post showcase Saturday at the Irish Rover (acoustic solo, 10 p.m.); then full band Aug. 11 at the Bluebird
Our panel speaks: “Munly is the best songwriter I know of. He also has the cleanest teeth.”
andrew murphy, smooch records
2. Hot IQs
Members: Eli Mishkin (vocals, guitar, robot dancing); Elaine Acosta (drums, bubble blowing), Bryan Feuchtinger (bass, singing, hair).
Website: hotiqs.com
Local connection: Elaine, originally from Queens, N.Y., got kicked out of Catholic school in Pennsylvania for hiking up her skirt too high. She was promptly shipped to Colorado, where she continues her skirt-hiking antics. Eli moved to Denver to attend The Upstairs Jeffco Medical School (located above the Food Court at Southglenn Mall). He now has a dubious medical degree and can perform hemispherectomies while you enjoy a delicious Orange Julius. Bryan is from Houston. He likes cars. The cars that go boom.
Genre: No Apostrophe Indie Rock
Why do you make music? Other than that we are music Lovers (with a capital L), we make music for that tingly butterflies-in-your-belly feeling one gets when one is on stage rocking one’s heart out. In addition, we enjoy finding ever-annoying ways a band can speak in third-person singular.
When did you know your band was for real? When the clerk at the local convenience store knew our band name. We were filling a Big Gulp with nacho cheese and Nerds. He chased us out the door screaming and shaking his fists, “Damn you, Hot IQs. Damn you all to helllll!”
Favorite Colorado band: Matson Jones, where are you?
Next gig: Aug. 20 Larimer Lounge afternoon BBQ
Our panel speaks: “Tight, bright and more hook-laden than a pirate ship, this attitude-heavy indie trio defies logic with songs that sound both instantly familiar and refreshingly weird.”
john wenzel, the denver post
3. Born in the Flood
Members: Nathaniel Rateliff (vocals, guitar, organ, Rhodes); Joseph Pope III (bass, Rhodes, vocals; Matt Fox (guitar, Rhodes); Mike Hall (drums).
Website: bornintheflood.com, myspace.com/bornintheflood
Local connection: Nathaniel and Joseph moved here from Hermann, Mo., in 1998, Matt from Minneapolis about the same time to attend college; Mike has lived everywhere.
Genre: We totally rule, dude
Why do you make music? The beast demands it.
When did you know your band was for real? Changing a flat tire broke in the middle of Kansas.
Any members in other bands? Nathaniel has a solo project called The Wheel (48th in this year’s Post survey).
Favorite local bands: A Dog Paloma; Januar
Next gig: Post showcase Saturday, all-ages set at the Hi-Dive (4:15 p.m.); also 11:30 p.m. at the Hi-Dive. The Wheel plays 3:45 p.m. at Mutiny Now!
Our panel speaks: “You’re not going to find anybody playing/trying/rocking harder than these guys. Not in Denver. Not in the Western United States. Their days at the rock club are limited.”
ricardo baca, denver post pop music critic
4. Bright Channel
Members: Jeff Suthers (vocals and guitar); Brian Banks (drums); Shannon Stein (bass)
Website: flightapproved.com
Local connection: Jeff and Brian are Colorado natives, Shannon migrated from Wyoming in 1993.
Genre: Rock
Why do you make music? Noise addiction
When did you know your band was for real? When we finally released our first CD
Favorite Colorado band: Moccasin
Next gig: Sept. 16 at Boulder Theater with Brian Jonestown Massacre
Our panel speaks: “Bright Channel is golden. They remain intense and unaffected show after show.”
sharon gatliffe, invited citizen’s panel
5. The Photo Atlas:
Members: Alan Andrews (guitar/vocals), Devon Shirley (drums), Bill Threlkeld (guitar), Mark Hawkins (bass guitar)
Website: myspace.com/danceatlasdance
Local connection: Half of us are from Colorado (Devon and Bill), and the other half are from California. It’s hard to decide who’s the better half.
Genre: Indie/dance/punk/godzilla/rock
Why do you make music? To please the god of rock. He bestows fruit and virgins upon us if we rock hard enough.
When did you know your band was for real? When our voices got a lot deeper and strange feelings overwhelmed our bodies … oh, and recording in the same studio as Snoop Dogg.
Favorite local bands: Fissure Mystic, Antics, A Novel Form, Lion Sized, Nathan and Stephen, among others.
Next gig: Friday all-ages at the Black Sheep in Colorado Springs. Then: Post showcase Saturday: all-ages set at the Hi-Dive (5:15 p.m.); also 11:45 p.m. at 3 Kings.
Our panel speaks: “Kicking up dust like Fugazi at a Berlin barndance, The Photo Atlas whips up a sweaty, pogo-ing gropefest with its twitchy guitar lines, frenetic bass, inhuman dance beats and paranoid caterwauling. It’s a rump-shaking, fist-waving guaranteed good time that is part gut-punch and part sleazy come-on.”
eryc eyl, westword/village voice
6. The Swayback
Members: Eric Halborg (bass/vocals), Bill Murphy (guitar), Martijn Bolster (drums)
Website: theswayback.com
Local connection: Eric has lived here for 12 years and came from Chicago. Bill has lived here for five years and came from Los Angles and Martijn has been here for two years and came from Holland.
Genre: Rock/Other
Why do you make music? Out-of-body experiences.
When did you know your band was for real? When we got buttons.
Any members in other bands? We all do an improv band with a rotating cast of hooligans called Bandit.
Favorite Colorado band: Moccasin, Blood Axis, Vaux, Born in the Flood, Fear Before the March of Flames, DeVotchKa, Constellations, The Photo Atlas, Stab! Heart! Kiss! Kill!, Mr. Pacman, Munly, Bright Channel, Blackout Pact and a bunch of others.
Next gig: Post showcase Saturday: 9:30 p.m. at the Hi-Dive. Then: Aug 10, all-ages at Illegal Pete’s
Our panel speaks: “These ‘Long Gone Lads’ inject a surprising amount of soul, life and animation into their neopsychedelic rock. And their unchecked enthusiasm is unmatched.” -Ricardo baca
7. Porlolo
Members: Erin Roberts (lungs, trumpet, guitar, keytar), Tom Mohr (guitar hot licks), Paloma (special effects). Guests include but not limited to Joe Sampson, Jaime Smith, Roger Green, Ben DeSoto, Jeff Davenport, Jeff Linsenmaier and Kristy Fenton (on spatula).
Website: myspace.com/porlolo
Local connection: Erin and Tom went to college at the University of Illinois and, after many random meetings, ended up as roommates in Boulder, where they played a bunch of back-porch music and are now keepin’ on keepin’ on.
Genre: Trumpet-inflected indie-folk
Why do you make music? It’s the result of being jealous of my older brother in fourth grade (he played trumpet), and a series of fortuitous garage-sale finds.
When did you know your band was for real? I imagine we’ll be real real soon.
Any members in other bands? We borrow from D. Biddle, A Dog Paloma and Munly – so far.
Favorite local bands: A Dog Paloma, Danghead, The Clap, Pee Pee. Lordy, I could go on and on.
Next local gig: Wednesday at the Larimer Lounge with Magnolia Electric Company and LadyHawk. (I so wish the name LadyHawk wasn’t already taken).
Our panel speaks: “Equally adept at holding court on a Denver Square front porch as on the Bluebird stage, Porlolo sways and shivers through a folk-rock set of songs perfect for a summer evening. Until a few months later, when those songs become perfect for an autumn night, and so on.
nick groke, the denver post
8. Monofog
Members: Hayley Helmericks (vocals), Doug Spencer (Guitar), Dave Yob (bass) and Lucas Rouge (drums)
Website: monofog.com
Local connection: In 2000, surrounded by pink cement walls in Fort Collins, Hayley, Doug and Dave wrote beautifully crude versions of what would become Monofog’s first songs.
Genre: Rock
Next local gig: None scheduled
Our panel speaks: “Hayley’s hypnotic, sultry voice over iron guitar riffs and pounding drums simultaneously calms your mind, while making your body thrash about.”
karoline lambert, invited citizens panel
9. Drag the River
Members: Jon Snodgrass (vocals, guitar); Chad Price (acoustic guitar, vocals); Spacey Casey (pedal steel and lead guitar); J.J. Nobody (bass); Dave Barker (drums)
Website: dragtheriver.com
Local connection: Jon moved from Missouri in 1993, Chad in ’94, Dave came down from Wyoming to play with Pinhead Circus; J.J. grew up half his life in Colorado Springs via Boston; and Spacey moved here two years ago.
Genre: Country and Midwestern
Why do you make music? It’s all we know how to do.
Any members in other bands: Various members have appeared with ALL, Armchair Martian, The Nobodys, Mt. Lyon and Hot Rod Circuit. Spacey recorded his first solo record recently.
Next local gig: Slayer afterparty at 3 Kings Wednesday.
Our panel speaks: “Drag the River has the ability to wring a smile out of your heart.”
jeff campbell, 3 kings tavern
10. Woven Hand
Members: The original lineup of David Eugene Edwards (vocals/strings) and Ordy Garrison (drums) has been expanded to include Pascal Humbert (bass) and Peter Van Laerhoven
Website: wovenhand.net
Local connection: Ordy and David were born and raised here . Ordy on the north side, David on the south.
Genre: Real heavy, man
Why do you make music? Sunday school
Any members in other bands? Garrison plays with Slim Cessna’s Auto Club; Humbert is also Lilium
Favorite local band: Rok Tots
Next local gig: None scheduled (currently touring Europe)
Our panel speaks: “Woven Hand is the somber exponent of Denver’s gothic country scene. Its sound is at once creepy and redemptive, with tones and lyrics capturing the existential side of spirituality. With raw styling and captivating stage presence, Woven Hand turns a 40-minute set into fired conversion gathering.”
jonathan allen till, japan implosion
Compiled by John Moore and Ricardo Baca
