Courtney Barnett, Zeds Dead and more make our list of best Colorado shows this week. We’ll be seeing you there, and if you don’t make it out, follow the music musings and our
4) Zeds Dead — Red Rocks Amphitheatre, July 3
You have to respect any act that takes its band name from Pulp Fiction. Let’s set the scene: Bruce Willis has just escaped from a horrific hostage situation, hops on his now dead kidnapper’s bike (his name was Zed), rides to his lady, and when they hop on the bike she asks, “Who’s Zed?” His response: “Zed’s Dead, baby.” So, anyway, it’s a great scene, and the reference in the Canadian electronic duo Zeds Dead’s name is so good I can even overlook the aggravatingly missing apostrophe in “Zeds.” In a few short years, the act has been wildly prolific, releasing a number of EPs and albums that have reached spots on the charts and earned regular rotation in clubs. The act has even solidified its indie cred, working with Twin Shadow. The duo plays Red Rocks Amphitheatre on July 3 with Dada Life, Joey Bada$$ and more.
3) Widespread Panic — Red Rocks Amphitheatre, June 27-29
Widespread Panic and Colorado have a mutual love for one another. This weekend, the jam band returns to the state for three nights at Red Rocks Amphitheatre (one fewer than last year’s four-night run). And these shows June 27-29 are only half of the dates that Widespread Panic has planned for Colorado this year. They’ll return in late October for a three-night run at the 1stBank Center. And with Red Rocks being one of the top markets for jam music, it only makes sense that Widespread Panic would hold the record for most consecutive sold-out shows there (a whopping 42). (Sold out)
2) The Antlers — Bluebird Theater, July 3
Like the slow-burning indie rock that the Antlers have made since 2006, the band has taken its time evolving into layered and theatrical music that appears on 2014’s “Familiars.” Horns, strings and synths all amplify a sound that was just raw indie-folk eight years ago. Even compared to the band’s glitchy, dancier material from 2011, “Familiars” will take a much more orchestrated approach live. The band plays July 3 with Yellow Ostrich at the Bluebird Theater.
1) Courtney Barnett — Larimer Lounge, July 1
Courtney Barnett is the singer-songwriter equivalent of the Millennial funny women behind comedies like “Girls” or “Broad City.” With an effortless cool, Barnett uses her deadpan personality to deliver such lyrics as, “I guess the neighbors must think we run a meth lab,” from the song with the equally humorous title “Avant Gardener.” Charming and intelligent, the Australian musician puts her writing skills on top of slacker garage-rock instrumentation: half-paying-attention guitar riffs, laidback drum beats and light-hearted melodies. Barnett plays Denver’s Larimer Lounge on July 1 with Your Friend and Roo & the Howl.
Also, just because of the long aside in Best Shows No. 4 about “Pulp Fiction,” I should point out that Barnett’s “Avang Gardener” also includes the line, “I feel like Uma Thurman post-overdosing kick start.”
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