The UMS: Day 2 – DenverThread haikus the bands to see tonight!

Here’s to the hope that you had a fantastic first night of the 10th Annual Underground Music Showcase all along about a mile of South Broadway last night! Having been to all ten years’ shows, I have to say last nights showing was among the most impressive so far. There were lines about 20 people deep at the box office from the second it opened at 5:30 PM, and crowds were filling all of the eight venues that were showcasing live talent until early into Friday morning.

Often, it seems that the first night of past Showcases has inadvertently played out as a sort of “warmup,” as well as a sort of “insider’s night,” and this year was no different. As I watched band after band, I saw oodles of other local bandmembers watching alongside, taking advantage of the chance to catch their friends, mates and (sometimes) competition before taking their stage later in the Showcase. Of course, the local scene swims in an overwhelming feeling of apporachability all the time, and you’re just as likely to rub shoulders with the members of Maraca Five-0 or Ian Cooke just about anytime, but the UMS offers the most probability of a chance meeting.

Members of The Knew (#4 in the UMS Top Ten this year) were enjoying Popwreck at Moe’s Original BBQ – easily one of the night’s highlights. Luke of Git Some (#7 in the UMS Top Ten this year) screamed and flailed on guitar in his second band, Kingdom of Magic – yet another brilliant metal/noise project from our burgh – at 3 Kings Tavern. Sadly, Hot White – one of Denver’s recent forays into old-fashion New York No Wave from the early ’80s – was sans Tiana Bernard, their super charismatic bassist/vocalist and ended up playing a damned disappointing, if not downright insulting short set (also at 3Kings) consisting of mumbling and Casio-bashing. Not to worry, though – long time locals The Omens brought all the rock back later that night – and then some – with a solid 50 minutes of sexy psychedelic punk.

So – as promised – here are some haiku-sized recommendations for shows to see tonight at UMS: Day 2!

Fur – 7:00 PM @ WESTAF Stage @ Illiterate Magazine

Haiku:

Prefabricated

adolescents motion to

ask you for a light.

RIYL: Boards of Canada, Underworld, smooth techno, sipping espresso on a hot afternoon with half your scalp shorn in a design in the style of “Adult Swim”

LISTEN: to FUR: http://mysp.ac/91vUSp

Ideal Fathers – 8:30 PM @ Floyd’s 99 Barbershops Stage @ TS Board Shop

Haiku:

Evil pennies, these –

the way they always come back

strong as kerosene.

RIYL: Wire, Gang of Four, Big Black, Tetsuo: The Ironman, watching Troma films late at night while drinking a case of Amped energy drink . .

LISTEN to Ideal Fathers: http://mysp.ac/cv1fbG

A.Tom Collins – 9:00 PM @ Club 404

Haiku:

Nothing like falling

off of the piano bench

from pregnant laughter!

RIYL: Tom Waits, Randy Newman, rambling and drunken marches, Scotch

LISTEN to a. tom collins: http://mysp.ac/a9lPxV

Jamie Mefford & Blue Light – 10:00 PM @ Sketch

Haiku;

Rasping in passion’s

cold grip, reflecting moonlight

off of rusty strings.

RIYL: Bruce Springsteen (from “Nebraska”), Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, playing a guitar strung with four strings outside, wearing gloves, under a winter moon, because the songs are in you, and need to come out . . .

LISTEN to Jamie Mefford & Blue Light: http://mysp.ac/bi3g2j

Git Some – 11:00 PM @ Evergroove Stage @ 3 Kings Tavern

Haiku:

Scraping the tarmac,

your knuckles ripping, under

your ass as you slide.

RIYL: Jesus Lizard/Scratch Acid, Black Flag, Planes Mistaken For Stars, waking up after a 3-day bender under a muddy combat boot in some cold, muddy field in the winter – giggling.

LISTEN to Git Some: http://mysp.ac/b3C7MC

Nathan & Stephen – 12:00 AM @ Mayan Theatre

Haiku:

Uncontrollably

gleeful, an avalanche of

mirth pours from these mouths.

RIYL: Flaming Lips, Splodgeness Abounds, giant ensemble bands, uncontainable ecstasy that threatens to burn your more cynical friends (especially when you’re downing tequila)

LISTEN to Hearts of Palm: http://mysp.ac/be5zvQ