Let’s call them Tour Bus Traffic Jams — those weeks, weekends or even single days when every concert you want to go see is happening at once.
Phantogram, Lorde, Interpol, Tom Petty and Big Gigantic all within four days (Sept. 27-30). J. Mascis, Death From Above 1979 and Flying Lotus all on the same day (Nov. 22).
It’s a phenomenon we notice happening every fall and spring as Colorado becomes a tour stop for bands traveling from the East Coast to the West Coast or vice versa.
The solution? Diligent planning.
Are some acts playing multiple nights and giving you an extra chance to see one band and not the other? We’re looking at Phantogram, Tom Petty, Big Gigantic and J. Mascis for playing two or three Colorado shows. Is one band playing sooner rather than later and giving you a chance to be a live-music all-star for a night and see more than one set? Or you might have to bite the bullet and see the band that doesn’t tour that often and catch the act you miss next time.
To help, we’ve put together our music calendar for fall 2014 with a big list of shows and then some hand-picked best bets.
There are many ways to go see live music — and we’re not talking about how you get there. Sometimes you go with your best friend, sometimes you go expecting to be shocked, sometimes you go because you have to. Whatever your music modus operandi, go all-in with some of these shows:
To hear the band’s early stuff
Interpol, Sept. 27, Ogden Theatre: Interpol’s first two albums — “Turn on the Bright Lights” and “Antics” — helped define a new era of New York City indie rock. After being hailed by fans and critics, the band has since released three good, but not quite as iconic albums.
Also:
Robert Plant, Oct. 4, Fillmore Auditorium
The Black Keys, Nov. 13, Pepsi Center
Fleetwood Mac, Dec. 12
Because your cooler friend dragged you
Ty Segall, Sept. 26, Bluebird Theater: Rocker Ty Segall is still relatively unknown, despite being a wildly prolific artist (dozens of albums and EPs in the last five years). He’ll return to Denver and deliver an assault of guitars to his local cult following.
Also:
War on Drugs, Oct. 10, Ogden Theatre
Flying Lotus, Nov. 22, Fillmore Auditorium
Thee Oh Sees, Nov. 7, Gothic Theatre
To support local music
Nathaniel Rateliff, Dec. 19, Ogden Theatre: A known Denver folk hero, Rateliff will play his ninth annual holiday show featuring his solo project, his band the Night Sweats, local Western Rockers Ark Life and Denver-bred comedian Ben Kronberg.
Also:
DeVotchKa, Nov. 1, Boulder Theater
Tennis, Nov. 7, Bluebird Theater
Leftover Salmon, Nov. 28-29, Boulder Theater
For a dose of weirdness
GWAR, Oct. 31, Summit Music Hall: This armored thrash metal band is known for such acts as decapitating effigies of political figures on stage and spraying the audience with blood. But it’s all in good fun.
Also:
The Pizza Underground, Nov. 26, Marquis Theatre
Mr. Gnome, Nov. 17, Hi-Dive
Beats Antique, Nov. 6, 1stBank Center
Because your kids needed a ride
The 1975, Nov. 11, Fillmore Auditorium: This emerging English rock band kind of looks like a rough-around-the-edges, slightly older version of One Direction with instruments. Also, like One Direction, the 1975 brings hordes of screaming teenagers for emotional, ’80s sounding pop tracks.
Also:
Usher, Dec. 2, 1stBank Center
Katy Perry, Sept. 30, Pepsi Center
The Pretty Reckless, Oct. 17, Fillmore Auditorium
Because you like good music, but don’t like spending money
Perfume Genius, Sept. 27, Hi-Dive: See Perfume Genius now before his ticket prices skyrocket. His Denver show comes a week after his third album release, which is bringing him some of the most buzz of his career.
Also:
Shakey Graves, Dec. 11, Bluebird Theater
Avi Buffalo, Oct. 28, Larimer Lounge
Speedy Ortiz, Oct. 9, Hi-Dive
To get out of your comfort zone
Slow Magic, Oct. 9, Bluebird Theater: More Internet famous than real world famous, anonymous producer Slow Magic performs in a giant tribal mask and plays the floor toms along with his electronics.
Also:
Alt-J, Oct. 28, Fillmore Auditorium
Run the Jewels, Nov. 18, Gothic Theatre
Temples, Oct. 1, Fox Theatre
Matt Miller: 303-954-1785, mrmiller@denverpost.com
September
Ty Segall, Sept. 26, Bluebird Theater
Juan Gabriel, Sept. 26, Pepsi Center
Big Gigantic, Sept. 26-27, Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Blake Shelton, Sept. 27, Pepsi Center
Interpol, Sept. 27, Ogden Theatre
Perfume Genius, Sept. 27, Hi-Dive
Lorde, Sept. 28, 1stBank Center
Phantogram, Sept. 29, Ogden Theatre
Tom Petty Sept. 30-Oct. 3, Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Katy Perry, Sept. 30, Pepsi Center
Kopecky Family Band, Sept. 30, Larimer Lounge
October
Capital Cities, Oct. 1, Ogden Theatre
Temples, Oct. 1, Fox Theatre
Beach Fossils, Oct. 2, Larimer Lounge
Warpaint, Oct. 2, Gothic Theatre
Robert Plant, Oct. 4, Fillmore Auditorium
Joey Bada$$, Oct. 7, Gothic Theatre
of Montreal, Oct. 8, Bluebird Theatre
Speedy Ortiz, Oct. 9, Hi-Dive
Slow Magic, Oct. 9, Bluebird Theater
War on Drugs, Oct. 10, Ogden Theatre
St. Lucia, Oct. 10, Gothic Theatre
The New Pornographers, Oct. 11, Gothic Theatre
Nas, Oct. 12, Paramount Theatre
American Authors, Oct. 14, Ogden Theatre
The Pretty Reckless, Oct. 17, Fillmore Auditorium
SBTRKT, Oct. 20, Ogden Theatre
Foxygen, Oct. 20, Bluebird Theater
Little Dragon, Oct. 21, Ogden Theatre
Pearl Jam, Oct. 22, Pepsi Center
Greensky Bluegrass, Oct. 24, Ogden Theatre
Iceage, Oct. 26, Hi-Dive
Alt-J, Oct. 28, Fillmore Auditorium
Avi Buffalo, Oct. 28, Larimer Lounge
Cut Copy, Oct. 29, Ogden Theatre
Cherub, Oct. 31, Ogden Theatre
Method Man & Redman, Oct. 31, Ogden Theatre
Widespread Panic, Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 1stBank Center
GWAR, Oct. 31, Summit Music Hall
November
DeVotchKa, Nov. 1, Boulder Theater
The Motet, Nov. 1, Ogden Theatre
Beats Antique, Nov. 6, 1stBank Center
Tennis, Nov. 7, Bluebird Theater
Thee Oh Sees, Nov. 7, Gothic Theatre
B.o.B., Nov. 8, Gothic Theatre
Hoodie Allen, Nov. 9, Ogden Theatre
Bastille, Nov. 10, 1stBank Center
The 1975, Nov. 11, Fillmore Auditorium
Deltron 3030, Nov. 11, Gothic Theatre
The Black Keys, Nov. 13, Pepsi Center
Shovels and Rope, Nov. 15, Ogden Theatre
Mr. Gnome, Nov. 17, Hi-Dive
Run the Jewels, Nov. 18, Gothic Theatre
Judas Priest, Nov. 19, 1stBank Center
Little Big Town, Nov. 20, 1stBank Center
Flosstradamus, Nov. 21, 1stBank Center
J. Mascis, Nov. 21-22, Larimer Lounge
Death From Above 1979, Nov. 22, Fox Theatre
Flying Lotus, Nov. 22, Fillmore Auditorium
The Pizza Underground, Nov. 26, Marquis Theatre
Johnny Marr, Nov. 28, Gothic Theatre
Leftover Salmon, Nov. 28-29, Boulder Theater
December
Usher, Dec. 2, 1stBank Center
Pierce the Veil, Dec. 3, Boulder Theater
Flogging Molly, Dec. 9, Ogden Theatre
Fleetwood Mac, Dec. 12, Pepsi Center
Skinny Puppy, Dec. 12, Ogden Theatre
Shakey Graves, Dec. 12, Bluebird Theater
EOTO, Dec. 13, Ogden Theatre
Nathaniel Rateliff, Dec. 19, Ogden Theatre
— Matt Miller, The Denver Post
