Author: Jordan Khalil

Afterhours In Denver Have Reached New Limits

Underground parties have been a staple in the EDM scene for years and years. Most notably now with Denver’s rise in population, the growth in the dance scene has led back to the roots of the culture. We’re fortunate that we can bring out any name in the scene at any point to play warehouse parties. It’s a true testament to that growth, and why Denver is a scene to watch.

Promoters across the state have been working diligently with new event spaces to put on the best possible experience for all involved. This is further emphasized by 128 Productions who put on an absolute heater of a party recently. It’s no easy feat to throw a large-scale party in an event space that is used primarily for events outside of concerts, to begin with. With their credentials, they were able to get the bid to host CID at National Western Stockyards Event Center.

National Western Complex

What a turnaround for events this past year with the new developments of the National Western Complex. Most notably these grounds have been around for decades, but across the 20-acre plot of land, they have been developing consistently. With that being a trend it has garnered the attention of large-scale events. The newest addition to the grounds, The National Western Stockshow Event Center is a space that pairs lovely with the growth of after-hour parties in Denver.

128 Productions and National Western

Being able to host thousands of occupants comfortably from the hours of midnight and beyond is a true challenge. National Western Stockshow Event Center became the perfect spot for such a task before even walking into the building. The typical shortage of parking at most after-hour events was thrown out the window on the grounds of the complex. On the inside, the event center provided a coliseum atmosphere to go along with the killer sound system, and a large amount of open space. This was the perfect canvas for 128 Productions to take the lead on throwing the party of the year.

128 Productions and All Their Glory

Locally founded 128 Productions made a statement that they know how to throw a party. All of the great features of a facility depending on the host’s vision to make the most use of them. 128 Productions made their vision clear to provide a space where up-and-coming artists such as Josh Fedz, Londen Summers, and THATZ HOT can shine next to Grammy award-winning artist CID.

All of the performances brought it out in front of a massive crowd, where the energy was very much alive on the dance floor. From the unique house style of THATZ HOT to the disco house of Londen Summers, and Josh Fedz mixing it up with some tech house there was no shortage of entertainment before CID. Once CID took the stage his award-winning approach to house music was on full display. With popular remixes being thrown in, while also hearing newly released tracks such as “Deep In Your Heart“.

Afterhours By 128 Productions Is Something We Hope To See More Of

From taking this blank canvas of potential to painting after-hours energy is no simple task. 128 Productions proved that they can step up to the plate and do just that. From talent buying to finding the perfect warehouse event space, they had everything down from the jump. Most importantly their execution shined in providing the perfect warehouse vibes.

Photos by Darren Lee

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Westword Music Showcase Was A Rainy Dance Party

Westword has been consistently throwing one of the best dance parties every summer. From bringing national acts into town and allowing local artists to shine. Some of the biggest Colorado acts once started from this festival before they rose to prominence throughout their respective genres. This year was no exception as even in the rain, it was a dance party.

The Production Keeps Getting Better and Better

When Westword Music Showcase started in 1995, it was in the LoDo district, then moved to the Golden Triangle, and most recently to the Mission Ballroom Outdoors in RiNo. Each year it only got bigger and better, which fueled these moves. Now with the space to bring in two massive stages with top-of-the-line sound production. In addition, the two side stages had a unique vibe, creating an immersive experience. One is the Streets Stage which the MCA hosted, and then the silent disco stage, which Party Guru Productions threw.

The Food Trucks

Colorado’s food truck scene is one of the best in the country, as it is fueled by culture and large-scale events. Westword Music Showcase made no exception by bringing out a wide variety of food options. From delicious Beef Bulgogi bowls, Gyros, Birria tacos, and of course, the pizza, there was a taste of everything that screams street food. Taking advantage of the wide amount of space, they did a great job at spacing out everything to where lines never exceeded five minutes.

The Most Important Part, The Music

Everyone that came to stick it out through the rain was treated to fantastic national performances such as the X Ambassadors, The Flaming Lips, Cannons, Saint Motel, and Don Chicharron. The lineup checked all boxes since it brought something to the table for everyone. This makes Westword such a powerhouse in the music scene because they know how to throw a well-balanced dance party.

Speaking of dance parties, the side stages both had the crowd moving in even pouring rain and cold temperatures. Those that often don’t get a chance to explore outside of their music genres were exposed to all sorts of rising music in the Denver Community. The Streets Stage had groovy hip-hop feel to it, while the Silent Disco Stage had everything from Riddim, House, Dubstep, and staple dance jams.

Westword Music Showcase Knows How To Throw A Festival

Proven through their years of experience, there is no doubt that they don’t put on a bad show. This was one Westword Music Showcase that won’t be forgotten. Even with the cold and rainy weather, the vibes were on point from the music and food. Both the mainstages had immaculate production, and the side stages accomplished their goal of highlighting rising acts in the Denver scene.

Photos by: Piper Murphy

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Flume Made His Debut At Mission Ballroom

Flume has been one of the brightest artists in the last decade. From Grammy Award winner to known for throwing the wildest shows, he’s one artist that should be on everyone’s bucket list. New to Colorado since his last performance is the Mission Ballroom, which he chose to perform at for the start of his three-day Colorado run. This venue is uniquely intimate with its massive size, but it also provides a level of intimacy. We could not think of a better start to the long week and a welcoming into town for Flume.

The Rise of Quiet Bison

Flume calculatedly picked artists for this show that could match his energy and wavelength. Quiet Bison is a rising act on the scene and is only getting started. Ahead of his years, he put a stamp on the future bass genre before breaking the age of 21. This is from gaining the respect and attention of Flume and other mainstays like DROELOE. He has recently been credited with working on the electrifying track “Escape” off Flume’s new album “Palaces“. Some don him as Flume‘s protege, and with his performance, it was notable that he’ll have a long future.

Prospa Brought UK Energy

Hailing from the United Kingdom, Prospa came to the states with a clear passion for performing. They have picked up a unique style to bring to the fray by experimenting with genres from heavy metal, jazz, and deep house. With being heavily influenced by The Chemical Brothers and Daft Punk, their vision is clear to stand out. Flume having them perform on his tour showcases that he believes they’ll help shape the electronic genre for the future to come. Most notably, “Prayer” by Prospa had the crowd memorized. The constant buildup and changeups throughout their set were perfect to prepare us for the chaotic energy of Flume.

Flume Touches Down For the First Time At Mission Ballroom

The last set Flume played in Colorado was at the storied Red Rocks, and now he was performing at the venue that is famous for being modeled after it. Mission Ballroom’s sound and intimacy are unmatched for this reason. Essentially, he sets the stage perfectly to bring all of his tricks to the table. The stage had these door-like structures that revolved around the stage, showcasing bright lights and wavy visuals.

Playing a catalog spanning his whole career, he always found a way to tie it back to his newest album, “Palaces”. He started with a bang during the first portion of his set, playing “You & Me“. This indicated that no bars were going to be held back during the evening. Flume also had KUCKA come out for “Escape“, which was a perfect representation of “Palaces”. The roaring bass danced with her smooth vocals and created a true spectacle.

Flume Started His Three Night Run Off With A Bang

All the way from the production of Mission Ballroom, the openers, and Flume it was a night for the ages. Unmatched energy throughout the evening also contributed to his overall success with this performance. Mission Ballroom hopefully will be a recurring tradition in the years to come, as it became Flume’s playground.

Photos by Josh Klein

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FutureShape360 Brought Heavy Hitters to the Fillmore

FutureShape360 brought out the biggest talents in their respective industry. Leaders across the map in the NFT industry came out for a three-night immersive experience. The choice of such a dynamic lineup clearly promoted this artistry. Every act promoted a shared vision while lighting the dance floor on fire in their own creative ways.

FutureShape360 Was Filled With Heavy Hittersi

Futureshape360 had an incredible range in bringing balance to the table. Everyone was gifted a special treat, as the electronic pop-pioneer duo Cherub was listed on the lineup. With almost two million listens, “Doses and Mimosas” solidified Cherub amongst the most daring artists in this scene. Don Diablo, the headliner, has cultivated his own sound in future bass. Diablo’s unbridled stage presence with his legendary reputation preceding him forced the entire crowd into a frenzy.

Cherub Made Their Return to Denver Classy

Having a catalog stretching for years can be challenging to play all your hits, but Cherub came as close as humanly possible. “Mom & Dad” was the flavor of the night. For lifelong Cherub fans, this was a great homage to the classics. Hearing “XOXO” right off the bat and continuing through to “Monogamy” and “Disco Inferno.” The vibes were in place to finish with “Doses and Mimosas,” as the crowd belted in a joyous chorus.

Don Diablos House

Don Diablo is no stranger to Denver, Colorado. For his epic return to the mile-high city, he was slated to be the headliner of FutureShape360. Accustomed to large festival audiences, he showed why he is one of the best DJs on the circuit and a legend of future house music. His bread and butter in composing smooth transitions were apparent with his mix of “Mr. Brightside” and various other popular pop songs. This was the performance that cemented his legendary status in Denver.

FutureShape360 Provided An Experience For The Books

This was an event for the ages, from the immersive art displays to the perfectly curated lineup. It’s extremely tricky to bring together a unique experience and keep the music at the forefront. The festival’s focus was to showcase artistry and music as one collective display of togetherness. FutureShape360 nailed this across the board, leaving us in anticipation of their return.

Photos by Josh Klein

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WEBSITE: CHERUB /DON DIABLO

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Modest Mouse Returned To Colorado In Their Prime

Modest Mouse is a band that has been a main staple in the indie-rock scene for nearly 20 years. Their albums have continually shaped the whole genre. Indie Rock in the 2000s wouldn’t have been nearly as widespread on radio channels without the success of “Float On”. With such an expansive catalog, it’s a treat to see the six-piece band at any capacity, but Mission Ballroom provided the perfect setting for them.

The Cribs Returned To Denver After 15 Years

The Cribs are a band originally hailing from Wakefield, West Yorkshire from the early 2000s with an electric approach to the Indie Rock genre. With heavy influences from The Strokes, Pavement, and The Smiths, they have all of the ripping rifts to put on a show. Playing to their advantage, this was the perfect setup for their long-overdue return to Denver. The spotlight was on them in front of thousands, as they were opening up for one of the largest bands known to indie rock. The Cribs shined through their set as they played early hits like, “Come On, Be A No-One”, to the highlight of the show, “Be Safe”. This was a performance that set up Modest Mouse perfectly.

Mission Ballroom Was The Perfect Venue For Modest Mouse

Isaac Brock couldn’t have said it better himself that he was ecstatic to play Mission Ballroom over anywhere else in Colorado. This felt like a true Modest Mouse show, which was their first headlining show in Denver since Velorama in 2018. There’s a lot different about Mission Ballroom in comparison to a music festival, as the intimacy is at the forefront. Truly, there is not a bad seat in the entire venue, which played favor to the packed audience. All of the way from the front to the back of the venue, “Alright!” could be heard in correspondence to “We’ll all float on..”. When diving into their performance, it was clear that Modest Mouse was having fun while playing in front of thousands.

Having Fun With It and Nailing It

After twenty years of recording some songs, they sounded just as good as ever live. This was a treat for anyone who has been following the band since their debut, “This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About”. Opening their set with “The World At Large”, everyone was immediately immersed as the six-piece performed. It was only the start of a catalog that stretched through all eras of Modest Mouse. Jumping back and forth, each song on the setlist transitioned perfectly while setting the dance floor on fire. Topping off an outstanding setlist, they came out for an encore, which featured their 1996 hit “Dramamine”. This performance had something in there for everyone, and the best part is that Modest Mouse had fun doing it.

Aged Like Fine Wine

It was a spectacle to see Modest Mouse and The Cribs both surpassing expectations. Aging like fine wine, both bands showed that there are plenty more years left in them. Mission Ballroom was the perfect venue to host this experience, as it was the perfect balance for both bands to utilize the amazing production to play their hits. “No, don’t you worry, we’ll all float on, alright” after this night.

Photos by Kyle Brim

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Modest Mouse Returned To Colorado In Their Prime

The Cribs Returned To Denver After 15 Years

Mission Ballroom Was The Perfect Venue For Modest Mouse

Having Fun With It and Nailing It

Aged Like Fine Wine

Photos by Kyle Brim

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colorado Denver Indie Rock Mission Ballroom modest mouse Music The Cribs

Kruza Kid and Manic Focus Release the Banger “Daze”

Born and raised in Denver Colorado, Kruza Kid is a force to be reckoned with. He is a lyricist that has hooks that jump out and stick with you immediately. What do you get when you pair this with the groovy sensations of Manic Focus? You get a combination that is bound to make you hit that repeat button loop. “Daze” is going to be an instant hit on speakers across the Mile High city, as it has everything that can keep the audience entertained.

Manic Focus and Kruza Kid A Match Made In Heaven

With both of them rooted in Denver Colorado and having their respective following, it is just a matter of time till we got this rip-crushing match. The funky grooves that Manic Focus is known for are especially prevalent on “Daze”, which instantly is met with the conscious lyrics that make Kruza Kid such a force. Immediately following we’re met with heavy bass to switch the beat up. All of this is happening while we’re still getting treated to the mid-western guitar in the background. This helps create the stability of the track, while also providing a fantastic theme.

The track offers a level of uniqueness that can be so heavy and relaxed at the same time. It’s certified to be flexible on any track list, and also leaves the door open to many remixes. The catchy hook, “Just sitting in a daze, with that smoke in my face”, immediately gets locked into your brain. This is guaranteed to get some spins on it, and more than matches up with the style of other big-name artists. It’s so rare when two artists can lay something down that blends so naturally, but they accomplished this and more.

Give The Track A Listen and Check Kruza Kid Live

Kruza Kid dropped “Daze” in perfect timing, before his huge concert at Beacon. We’re gonna see him perform with dub-step staples Wick-It the Instigator and Mr. Willis for Party Guru’s own Frequency Sessions. What other way to celebrate the new release of a banger, than to follow it up with a huge performance? This is bound to be a good time, so make sure you make it out!

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Porter Robinson Brought Nurture To The Rocks

Porter Robinson is a name that echos through the EDM scene, as he has continuously influenced the genre since debuting with Spitfire in 2010. Even Billboard acknowledged that he was gonna be a force for years to come by having him on their list of 21 people under 21 to watch. This was a prolific start to an already storied career. Porter’s last time performing at Red Rocks was under his DJ moniker Virtual Self in 2018, but this time, he brought a full-fledged tour to Red Rocks to open the season.

The Concept Of The Tour

Porter is extremely meticulous in every aspect of his tours to properly present his vision. Each artist brings something different to the table, but everything blends seamlessly. You rarely see an artist able to curate a lineup that feels like each act is on the same label. Most importantly, this tour had one goal, and that was to give Porter the confidence to break out in full sing-a-longs. This is where Porter can allude to the tour and album’s name, Nurture.

Porter Opening For Himself

There was a mysterious act double-booked for both nights, which started right at doors and played for an hour and a half. Most people have never heard of Air To Earth, and little did people know that this was actually Porter Robinson. This is an ambitious feat as it puts him collectively playing three and a half hours of music, of which two hours of it is all performed live. It’s a sight to behold whenever an artist can pull this off at the extreme altitude of Red Rocks while performing at the highest level.

The Curated Artists

We briefly discussed how Porter is meticulous with the artists that he brings along on tour, but the placement of each act was perfect. The highs from Air To Earth led right into Qrion, then Wavedash takes control of the audience with their powerful and intricate style. All of this is topped off with day-specific artists Machinedrum and Magdalena Bay. Both of these artists set the floor perfectly for Porter to give in his own words, his best performances in ten years.

Porter’s Best Performance In Ten Years

He has come out and ranked these performances above his own music festival Second Sky performances. This is unique, but it is only possible by being as calculated as possible, and continuous tweaking. Songs that were once hard to imagine being played live were instant highlights. Most notably, Wind Tempos, which went from sweet melodies to jumping rhythms. For the encore, one of the main singles off of Nurture, Get Your Wish, feels like a perfect goodbye to a world. It was the vision of, “It will serve you in due time” coming to a reality. Clearly, the peak of emotions for Porter after pouring his craft on stage.

“Thank You, I’ll Say Goodbye Now”

To conclude what was a visually and soundly outstanding performance, he finished with a sing-a-long to Goodbye To A World. Almost hinting that he will be back, and to our surprise, he announced the return of the Second Sky Music Festival in late October. A world that he can control while having more control to fully immerse everyone into his vision. The crowd was brought to tears with all of us saying goodbye, but knowing this won’t be the last journey we share. It’s the perfect ending to what has been a memorable return to Red Rocks for the first shows of the season.

Photos by Patrik Essy

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