Sunday, February 26, 2006

Snow from A to Z

Ever looked around and thought, there just AREN'T enough ski areas in Colorado? WELL...There are plans for at least three new ski areas right now, all with different MOs. Echo Mountain at St. Mary's Glacier, a short drive from Denver, is looking to hook Gen Xers and others stoked to get on terrain parks. (Pre-opening party next weekend. Finally! After getting teased all season on when the park would open)
Battle Mountain is a private resort planned up in Minturn, near Vail. Plans still in the works. And in the flatlands, KCNC-TV tells us,
Pelican Falls Golf Course
near Windsor wants to set up a beginner ski slope. Just an itty bitty hill.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

B.B. King in Boulder

B.B. King brought his band and two grandsons along for his public lecture Wed. night at the University of Colorado. A good 1,000+ people were there at the Coors events center, where they have the basketball games. Everyone was on their feet when Mr. King got on stage before his talk and then at the end, after the audience got him to play "How Blue Can You Get" for an encore. In between were more songs, B.B. King talking about his past (he got his pilot's license in '63, he never finished high school) and a question and answer session, where he said his songs are inspired by the ladies; T-Bone Walker, Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian are all on his MP3 player; and he thinks Ruby Wilson will go far.

Quotes from Mr. King on Wed. night:
"I've never seen an ugly woman."
"I love my job. I don't have to stop at 65. If somebody made me stop, I'd cry."
"I'd play for free if somebody would pay my bills."
"I never think I'm 80 'til I walk up some stairs."
"That's the thing when you're 80. You can always pretend like you forgot. And most of the time you did. And when people call, you can pretend you can't hear."


Riley B. King grew up wanting to be a gospel singer. He grew up in a segregated society and would play music at an intersection where the two halves would meet. "They always put something in the cup when I played blues." Some people said he played the devil's music, which he says he didn't understand, because when he worked outside, no one ever told him he was picking the devil's cotton. On Wednesday, he played "I Need You So" and "You are my Sunshine," the first song that he said he learned to play, plus others. He wasn't in top form Wednesday, (he was hoarse, dropped one of his chord progressions and missed some notes) but the crowd still ate it up. He definitely tried to keep the crowd happy, dancing in his seat, singing out, playing more music when he thought the audience was getting bored with his stories. It was an enjoyable evening
B.B. King performed in Denver last night and now he gives a public lecture tonight at the University of Colorado in Boulder. 7 p.m.

The film "11:59" was shot in Colorado and has Colorado actors, and Starz Film Center in Denver is showing it now for a limited time. The film is by the same team that did "Spin," an 8-minute short that revives that whole "God is a DJ..." idea. Watch "Spin" and the trailer for 11:59 at www.doubleedgefilms.com

Friday, February 17, 2006

I'd like to thank Mrs. Keebler, from grade 1...

Joshua Novak plays at the Larimer Lounge tonight, and if you go*, he'll put you in the liner notes for his new album.
*Fine print, so to speak: Go to this Web site, print out the free ticket, go to the show and donate a couple of bucks to help him make his CD, and voila! You! In the liner notes!

The U.K. has more to give than Coldplay and the Spice Girls. From Bristol, Santa Dog is getting ready to put out a new EP. The first pressing of 100 copies comes with hand-printed sleeves and artwork by the band, and if you order it this month, you'll get your name on the liner notes, lead singer Rowena says. Or sleeve notes. Those Brits.

Finn/Radio Control/Remote Control...the Brooklyn band with the ever-changing name says a new EP is due soon. They'll be playing at SXSW supposedly, but since we don't know what they're called or where to send you, guess you'll just have to stay tuned. Anyway, I bet you could get on the liner notes if you can think of a name for them that hasn't already been taken. Leave your suggestions in the comments section and we'll point them there.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Conner + Sonic Boom

Conner is joining Sonic Boom recordings. Congrats. Conner returns to Denver for two shows: one tomorrow at the 15th St. Tavern in Denver and one Saturday at the Hi-Dive.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Diversions

Bored at work? We're here to help:
Sudoku online
Watch fake movie trailers. Search for "Brokeback to the Future" and "The Shining," presented as a heartwarming family flick!

Monday, February 13, 2006

Opera

I think I am going to see a dress rehearsal of the opera Norma tonight (www.operacolorado.org). I will let you know how it is.

UPDATE: Thanks to my friends, I watched the opera from a seat in the third row. THIRD ROW of the Ellie Caulkins opera house, which seats something like 2,200 these days, according to our usher. (She reminded us to watch what happens to the chandelier at the top of the opera house when the lights go down ... it kinda folds up and flies away into the ceiling. Also, supposedly no seat in there is more than 110 ft. away from the stage. The usher was very chatty) Because it was a working dress rehearsal, some of the singers were saving their voices, most notably Philip Webb as Pollione in his Opera Colorado debut, but it seemed like the women were really singing out strong. Hasmik Papian was impressive as Norma and her duets with Irina Mishura, also strong, were lovely. Both women also were making their Opera Colorado debut. Papian had an incredible range, not just in hitting all the notes , but in volume as well, going from strong and powerful to delicate as if she were just singing to the front row but still with great tone and control.

I have not seen other productions of Norma, but Opera Colorado chose to cast boys (I don't know, they looked like teens or maybe slightly older) as the druids. And in one scene, a parade of them came out in nothing but thongs, butt cheeks exposed. Then they had to bend over and crouch and paint themselves with war paint. Couldn't they have given them loin cloths or something? Third row. Remember.

Anyway, some of you may be disappointed to know that my friends and I gave a standing ovation to Papian since standing ovations seem to be given to everyone these days, but it was one of those things where there wasn't any other way to show our appreciation for a good performance in a vocally demanding part because the audience had given a loud cheer to two kids who didn't sing but had to pretend like they were sleeping on stage and not cry and all that. So how do you go up from there when it's time to clap for people who actually had to sing.

Opening night is Thursday and there will be a couple days in between each performance so the singers can rest their voices.

Also wanted to make a note of Sean Panikkar, tenor, as Flavio.

Read the preview in The Denver Post

Saturday, February 11, 2006

To do

This weekend....

It's the Valentine's Prom at the Hi-Dive tonight. $5. Prom king and queen will be chosen!

Olympics, Olympics, Olympics

You can see more of Anna Newell's photography at 16th and Curtis (inside the Marriott)

Mr. X

Denver police make a valiant attempt to protect Kenyon Martin's identity this week:

  • PRESS RELEASE
    For Immediate Release
    Date: February 9, 2006
    During the Nuggets game Wednesday February 8, 2006 a fan sitting in the stands continuously heckled one of the Nuggets players identified as K. Martin. At some point during the game, after continuous heckling on behalf of the fan, it was stated that Martin stood up turned around and had a verbal exchange with the person in the stands. As the team returned to the court, Martin then sat back on the bench and watched the game. Shortly after the verbal exchange with the fan in the stands two associates of the Nugget player took it upon themselves to approach the fan on behalf of K. Martin. Once again there was a verbal exchange between the three and the associates left the area but not the facility.

    Immediately after the game the fan decided to discuss the incident with Pepsi Center security. Security then summoned officers that were working the venue in an off duty capacity. While the incident was being discussed, K. Martin and the two associates of his approached the group and once again a short verbal exchange took place. K. Martin and the two associates then left the area. The fan (unidentified) then stated to officers that he did not feel that this incident would go any further and that he would just like an escort out to his vehicle. Officers walked outside with the fan and waited until he left the area. There was no citation issued and no arrest was made. Once again the only action the fan wanted at the time was an escort out to his vehicle which he did receive.
  • Monday, February 06, 2006

    Daddy Warbucks, where are you

    Woxy.com needs your dough. Sigh

    Denver news

  • The forces trying to get Mayor John Hickenlooper to run for governor kick it into high gear with blast e-mails to the media. Remember, even Ang Lee got into the "Please run for guvn'r" game, so who's to say these people are wrong.

    UPDATE: New release from Draft Hick:
    Since April 2005, Draft Hick has felt that the most important thing for
    the campaign was to encourage the mayor to run, and not our own
    identities.

    To that end, Draft Hick has declined to reveal the identity of those
    behind the group. With today's announcement that the mayor would not
    be running for governor, Draft Hick has decided to speak openly with the
    press.

    The group's spokesman, Andrew Luxen, will be happy to answer any
    questions you may have about the Draft Hick movement or drafthick.com.

    Andrew Luxen, 26, is currently a third year law student at the
    University of Denver College of Law. He was recently elected president
    of the Colorado Young Democrats.

    Drafthick.com is a grassroots, bi-partisan organization that was devoted
    to persuading John Hickenlooper to run for governor.

  • The Denver Post reports that the mother of a slain teen forgives the killer. The Associated Press picks up the story, crediting The Post. The Rocky Mountain News puts the story on its Web site, crediting "a Denver newspaper."
  • Just one more thing on Hick til he tells us whether he's running...his birthday is supposedly tomorrow...
  • Friday, February 03, 2006

    Weekend. Whoo! Fun. Whoo!

    No shortage of things to do, now that the Broncos won't be playing in the Super Bowl. (Should be a good game, by the way.)

    Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Morning After Girls and Elefant, all on the same bill, this Sunday at the Gothic. Killer bill for everyone who doesn't mind missing the Super Bowl.

    Ski resorts off I-70 all got around a foot of fresh snow in the last 48 hours...

    Saturday, Ghost Buffalo has its CD release show at the Larimer Lounge. (This is the band with the partners in real life and in the band...she persuaded him to do Ghost Buffalo full time and leave Planes Mistaken for Stars full time) Red Cloud West also playing

    And tonight, Anna Newell's photography is up at the Oriental Theatre at 44th and Tennyson in Denver. Go to the opening at 6 p.m.
    Meanwhile w/ Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Concertmaster YuMi Hwang-Williams plays on a Mozart-Dvorak program

    Woxy.com is replaying Giant Drag doing their cover of Wicked Game right this second.

    Wednesday, February 01, 2006

    HEY YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!

    The Electric Company is coming out on DVD! Feb. 7, for just about $50. There's something like four discs. The Chicago Tribune has more. Yippeeeee!