The War on Drugs is always a hot-button issue, and the Philadelphia trio that derives its name from the phrase no doubt suffers from competing search-engine results. Part psychedelic, part Americana, part ambient noise-pop, it’s received critical praise for years, though it has yet to break big on a national scale. Monday’s show at the Hi-Dive, presented by Reverb, will surely feature a range of styles and sounds. Front man Adam Granduciel strums an acoustic 12-string filtered through a host of pedals and effects, a stark contrast to his nasal voice and reverberating harmonica. Win free tickets online at , or buy them through for $8.
Steel Panther is the last remaining relic of ’80s hair metal, though the band is technically a parody of the punchline fad that has long come and gone. Not quite a cover band, not quite a comedy act, Steel Panther takes excess and absurdity to new heights. Or maybe it’s the same heights as Poison and Def Leppard, just with crazier lyrics. Tickets to Wednesday’s show at the Ogden Theatre, the first in a series of three over the next month, are $22-$25 and available through Ticketmaster.
John Hendrickson: 303-954-1785 or jhendrickson@denverpost.com
