A little over a year ago, we gave you the opportunity to ‘s debut full-length. As the emotive Denver indie pop quartet prepares for a show at the Walnut Room this Saturday night, May 28, they’ve agreed to give away yet another song to lucky Reverb readers.
Taken from last fall’s “Cut from the Cloth” EP, “Bird with Broken Wings” is an uplifting hunk of piano-driven pop that has “radio” written all over it. Opening with Chris Hatton’s driving keyboard figure, the tune builds to its climax thanks to Scott Weidner’s tuneful sense behind the drum kit, Ryan Fechter’s understated bass and Joel Van Horne’s jazzy guitar. The centerpiece, however, is Van Horne’s distinctive, bell-like voice that rings with sincerity and passion, even if it’s hard to tell what exactly he’s so sincere and passionate about. Steal “Bird with Broken Wings” above to hear for yourself, then , with opening.
— the local cassette-only label run by blogger — just released the second in its split cassette series. “Split Series Vol. 2” was released digitally via on Monday, but the physical cassettes won’t be available until Friday, June 17, when the two featured bands play at the Old Curtis Street Bar.
We featured the first cassette , with dark pop songs from and , but this second release heads in a whole different direction.
On the A side of the cassette are six songs from Leighton Peterson’s , who visited Steal This Track . The quartet sounds like a folk pop band that ran naked through art school before stealing all of its instruments from your grandparents’ attic. As usual, Peterson’s clever, literary lyrics are at the center of the songs. Listen closely as you steal “Cancer Wing.”
The B side of “Split Series Vol. 2” includes eight songs from barely legal beach rockers . Together less than a year, and just escaping from high school, the teen quartet rocks with the confidence of a much more mature outfit. Guitarist CJ MacLeod and singer Molly take their cues from ’90s twee poppers like Beat Happening and Moldy Peaches, but there’s an almost punk edge to their interactions, especially when bassist Ethan Hill and drummer Sammi Davis (yep) push things forward with hormonal urgency. In true twee fashion, Davis learned to play the drums just a week before the band’s first public performance, giving the group’s raucous songs a Mo Tucker-like naïveté. Steal “Beachball” for a taste of SAUNA’s sillier side.
If you like Steal This Track, you’re gonna love . We’re taking over the South Broadway indie rock institution on the last Thursday of every month with special guests, giveaways, drink specials and more. This month, we’ll be joined by bawdy burlesquer , spinning vintage vulgarities and wearing something shocking. As usual, DJ Savior Breath (a.k.a. Reverb’s own Eryc Eyl) will do his sinful best to turn the shindig into a pants-dropping dance party. Just like Steal This Track, this beatnik barn dance is absolutely free. You won’t want to miss it.
Please note that downloads offered via Steal This Track are intended to whet your appetite, and are NOT CD-quality recordings. If you want those, please support the artists by buying their music and/or seeing them live.
If you’re a band or musician ready to expose your fresh sounds to the readers of Reverb, email your tracks — along with any interesting facts about them, as well as a photo or album art — to Eryc Eyl for consideration.
Eryc Eyl is a veteran music journalist, critic and Colorado native who has been neck-deep in local music for many years. Check out for local music you can HEAR, and the for stories about Denver musicians doing extraordinary things. Against his mother’s advice, Eryc has also been known to . You can also follow Sorry, Mom.
