Spring has sprung, our little banditos. We’ve hidden the matzo and found the colored eggs robbed from the rabbit. Now, steal the milk of the with exclusive comedy tracks from and , as well as a new track from , a punk band featuring .
For those who just moved to Denver from North Korea, a “grawlix” is a symbol used in comics and cartoons to replace swear words, and is both the Denver trio of Andrew Orvedahl, Ben Roy, and Adam Cayton-Holland, which produces short films on as well as an alt-comedy show the last Friday of every month at the . The trio is also starring in an Amazon produced sitcom, “,” but let’s keep it simple and just cover the individuals.
Recently, Andrew and Adam — and please note, it is “Cayton-Holland” not “Clayton-Holland,” whatever your verbal impulse — each recorded a live album of stand-up for the ‘s record label . Both albums will be released in May, but we’ve got sneak tracks from each for you to steal below.
Off of Andrew’s “Hit the Dick Lights,” we offer a track in which he imagines himself tied to the electric chair, but he’s kindly considerate of the execution audience’s snack needs. And from “I Don’t Know if I Happy,” Adam is still trying to get his comedic catch phrase to be as popular as “Git Er Done,” so he can sell his thermoses. Download both bits below, then plan for Andrew’s release party on May 14 at and Adam’s on May 3 at Hi-Dive.
It’s not uncommon for Ben Roy, the comic, to spit vitriol in the mic as he uses the stage as his romper room. So, it should come as little surprise to those visiting from North Korea that Ben first took Denver stages as a punk rock vocalist. Folks still talk about those days. Well, he’s joined the four-piece SPELLS, and they’ve been busy recording a 45 at The Furnace Room. We’ve got “Even Assholes,” a yet-unheard track, for you to steal below. (Or, in grawlix, it’s “Even @##holes.”)
SPELLS is power-chord, bounce-slam punk that stays pure to the genre’s roots. So often today, we see punk as an element blended with other styles like pop and gypsy to give it some grit. With SPELLS, the only descriptor that follows “punk” is “rock.” From what we’ve heard so far, the songs are short blasts of raw energy with Ben carrying over a subtle humor to the lyrics. Just check out the track below, where SPELLS calls for empathy for a-holes. Truly, it’s fun stuff, and music could use an infusion of rock that doesn’t take itself so seriously. Surely, SPELLS will earn its audience with or without the help of a frontman that’s also Denver comedic royalty. Check SPELLS out at on April 3 with and on April 12 at with .
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 Steal This Track for consideration.
Josh Johnson is a Denver freelance writer and Reverb contributor. He is also a co-host/co-producer of the Denver podcast . He’s also studying to be a butcher. No, seriously.
