In The Whale, Father John Misty and more make our picks of the best Colorado shows this week. See you there, and if you don’t make it out, follow our music musings and our
Lieutenant — Larimer Lounge, April 5
Do you want to spend your Easter falling asleep in church? With your family? Or at the Larimer Lounge with Nate Mendel of Foo Fighters? Yeah, that’s what we thought. His easygoing side project is a calm way to wrap up your weekend. Along with playing bass in the Foo Fighters, Mendel plays with The Jealous Sound, Sunny Day Real Estate and The Fire Theft.
Yung Lean — Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom, April 9
He’s an 18-year-old white Swedish rapper who releases Japanese-influenced records through his label, Sad Boys Entertainment. He’s Yung Lean, and he’s an enigma, a possible joke and one of the most fascinating rappers to gain a die-hard following in the Internet Age. His sound is a droning, bored vocal flow over rather impressive melancholy beats. Despite the relative nonsense of his love of Arizona Ice Tea, bucket hats and early 2000s video games, he’s gained a huge online following with millions of YouTube views and Soundcloud plays. Maybe he has more of a meme status than a rapper status. Maybe we won’t be the only ones intrigued at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom on April 9. ($23-$25, cervantesmasterpiece.com)
In The Whale — Hi-Dive, April 3
Things are going to get loud, things are going to get out of hand on April 3 at the Hi-Dive. In the Whale has quite a bit to celebrate this spring. The band is releasing its new album, “Full Nelson,” at the Hi-Dive show, and last week, the rock duo announced that it is on the lineup for Lollapalooza 2015, one of the biggest music festivals in the country. But if that wasn’t enough to tear up the Hi-Dive for a night, In the Whale is bringing along SPELLS to help with the party. Fronted by the brazen antics of comedian Ben Roy, the act will have the rock club in a frenzy, with its singer literally right in the middle of it. Dress in clothes you don’t mind getting covered in beer and leave your valuables at home. ($12-$15, hi-dive.com)
Father John Misty — Ogden Theatre, April 9
On stage, Father John Misty’s Josh Tillman is half-comedian, songwriter. He’ll talk in different accents, cracking up the audience and making fun of the people in the front row. Last year, he joked about the Gothic Theatre and casually ad-libbed about Colorado culture. But then, his band will start into one of his country-tinged, irony-drenched psych-folk tracks, and the humor is replaced with moving soundscapes. On his latest album, “I Love You Honeybear,” Father John Misty balances the comedic and beautiful, making for an honest and poignant collection of songs about our culture of love. Prepare to laugh, prepare to think at the Ogden Theatre on April 9. (Sold out)
