As Saturday rolled forward through early hangovers and rain showers, the opportunities for fans to see live music grew at the Underground Music Showcase.
There were more bands playing the 20-plus venues along South Broadway, and more fans to hear them. More water bottles in the green room, more white wristbands, more skinny jeans.
Above all, there was a sense that in its ninth year, the UMS is fleshing out an identity as a festival that mixes local artists and national names.
“A lot of people are just out to be out, not to see any particular bands. And that’s cool because you’ll never know what you’ll find,” said Mishka Shubaly, a Brooklyn musician who came in for two performances.
He’s played South By Southwest, the sprawling, multinational Austin, Texas, music fest that serves as the standard for urban concerts like the UMS no matter what city hosts them. His take on how the UMS, which is presented by The Denver Post, differs from the model:
“It has its own character now — a commitment to local bands that other festivals don’t have. I live and die for the underdogs,” he said while watching some of his co-performers at the CarToys Stage in the Goodwill store parking lot on Saturday.
“(The festival) is still in its nascent stage. It’s still becoming what it’s going to be. I’m glad I’m here now so that I get a taste of it. I’ll come back in three years and it’ll be overrun.”
A home for Irish band
His perspective aligns with that of the band Seneca from Limerick, Ireland, who perform here regularly and call Denver their home away from home.
“Denver’s a hip town. There are so many venues and so many opportunities for a band like us to play. It’s a lot different from Ireland in that way,” said bassist Yvonne Conaty.
“There are 2,000 bands in Dublin and probably 10 proper venues,” said guitarist Rob Hope.
Seneca has spent the past four months crisscrossing the United States in a rented van — often resulting in “van lag,” according to Conaty.
“It’s not often that you’ll find a festival so devoted to independent bands, lacking big-name, profit-minded promoters,” Hope added.
More than just wallpaper
Then there’s someone like John William Davis and his wife, Becky, who played their acoustic set to a reverent audience at South Broadway Christian Church, just around the corner from the bustling, rock ‘n’ roll epicenter of the Hi-Dive. Williams had never before played at the UMS, or heard of the festival, though playing in a sanctuary was not a new experience.
“I play in a lot of First Unitarian churches,” he said. “They love folk music.”
Williams and his wife/pianist belong to First American Baptist Church in Denver, though Williams’ songs aren’t afraid to address controversial subjects. Williams was wearing a navy blue T-shirt from Smokin’ Bowls Tavern in Breckenridge.
“You’re sonic wallpaper at most bars,” Williams said. “That’s not the case here.”
John Hendrickson: 303-954-1211 or jhendrickson@denverpost.com
Underground Music Showcase details
The ninth Denver Post Underground Music Showcase runs through today on more than 20 stages along Broadway between West Second and West Cedar avenues.
More than 200 bands and comedians from Colorado and beyond will perform. Tickets are $15 on site.
Info, schedule, more: .
Real-time reviews, photos, videos and news: .
Schedule
There are 50 shows today, starting at 2:45 p.m. Some of the highlights:
• 3:45 p.m. The Pseudo-Dates
• 5:15 p.m. Houses
• 6:45 p.m. Coles Whalen
• 7 p.m. Everything Absent or Distorted
• 9 p.m. Pena
• 10 p.m. Bowerbirds
• 11 p.m. The Ian Cooke Band (winner of 2009 Denver Post Underground Music Poll)
