Album review: The Lovely And Talented

The Lovely And Talented

The New American Fable

By Alicia Schuster

Senior Staff Writer

Published: Monday, March 15, 2010

Updated: Monday, March 15, 2010 23:03

The Lovely And Talented's new album The New American Fablemight have sounded more run-of-the-mill at the turn of the 20th century. But listened to with modern ears, the old-timey songs with a little bit of punk sound original and clever.

Singer and accordian player Kate Shoup delivers songs filled with joy, sadness, and love to the listener throughout the album. On some songs, Shoup shares vocals with JT Nolan, adding another twist on an already non-traditional album. Instruments like harmonica, accordion, and tuba bring the vibrant swing music to life. The band evokes the gypsy-like Gogol Bordello style and piano work of The Dresden Dolls in its old-roots-meets-post-punk approach.

"Angelitos" has horns, whining violins, and eerie vocal solos while "Death Of A Lover" evokes the get-up-and-dance feel of Flogging Molly. The middle of the track slows down to allow the listener a breather before going back to the same punk-inspired party music.

The use of Old World instruments like a harmonica and accordion as well as the fact that the CD was made to look like an old 45 record is clever and could fool the listener to think this was a swing album from the early 20th century. But the punk aspects keep this record modern. 
 
 

Show review: Danielle Ate The Sandwich

Danielle Ate The Sandwich @ Old Curtis Street Bar

By Alicia Schuster

Senior Staff Writer

Published: Monday, March 15, 2010

Updated: Monday, March 15, 2010 23:03

photo: Alicia Schuster | UCD Advocate

Danielle Ate The Sandwich prepares to become Danielle Ate The Microphone.

Danielle Ate The Sandwich played last week to an empty house. But that didn't matter to the one woman behind the band; Danielle just closed her eyes, perhaps picturing herself in a busy venue.

Maybe that trick is what led to an entertaining performance filled with water slides, a beautiful voice, and no sandwiches to be seen.

Danielle Ate The Sandwich is best known for winning Westword's best singer/songwriter for 2009, and the act hasn't lost the talent that brought the award on. Standing up on the stage accompanied by just a tiny ukulele, she looked like a joke at first.

But then Danielle opened her mouth and released her sweet, calming, Norah Jones-esque voice. But Danielle was much more entertaining than Jones could ever be. 
Members of opening act Night Owl and a few stragglers were all that hung around to hear Danielle sing.

But after each song was finished, she'd open her eyes and look right at the TV at the bar. There was a program on about water slides that kept Danielle commenting on water parks the whole time.

But while her eyes were closed, she'd release soft, gentle lyrics about growing up and everyday life. The songs were incredibly touching in their simplicity. The venue was so quiet it was easy to hear every whisper from the stage as she dramatically sang.

"Silver And Gold," a new song from her upcoming third album, has the feel of a 60s protest song with lyrics like "It's hard to admit these things we've done/You've made the people proud." At the end of the song she announced that was about the moon landing.

This young folk singer sang her heart out as she played her tiny ukulele. Van Morrison's "Crazy Love" was the only cover of the night and the way Danielle sang the song brought goose bumps to the few in attendance.

The rest of her set was more original work including "Bribes" and "One Year Later." When a member of Night Owl asked what sandwich she'd eaten that day, Danielle answered, "I had Wendy's today. I don't think that counts. My favorite sandwich is a warm grilled cheese." She closed her set with "Fool," another peaceful song accompanied by the soft strums of her ukulele.

The number of people doesn't determine a good performance or not. All you have to do is close your eyes.

Food review

Enjoy a buzz in your belly

By Alicia Schuster

Senior Staff Writer

Published: Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Updated: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 11:03

Alicia Schuster / UCD Advocate

You can get high on life, or on lasagna.

It was only a matter of time before dispensaries started to expand on the pot edibles available to the patient.  Most have brownies or cookies, but if you want a whole meal a la pot, Ganja Gourmet  is there for you.

A dispensary on the outside, The Ganja Gourmet focuses on marijuana edibles for your insides.  

A licensed patient used to be able to buy the already-cooked food, have it reheated on-site, and then eat it there like most restaurants. But since a recent change in Denver laws, you can't eat or smoke anything onsite. So Ganja now offers take-out. 

Hungry patrons can go home and eat until they are very full and high. Foods available include garlic hummus and Ganja Ganoush, a combo made with weed-infused olive oil and served with pita bread.  

The garlic hummus is full of tasty flavor that covers the taste of pot well.  If hummus really isn't your thing, Ganjanade (ganja tapenade) with French bread is also available for a starter dish-it's similar to the marinara dipping sauce from a pizza place. 

Well-known for its pizza, Ganja also excels at lasagna. Each bite offers rich, moist, cheesy goodness accompanied by subtle Italian spices and lean beef. The portion is huge enough to share with a fellow pothead.  

Loaded with hearty toppings like bell peppers, chicken, spinach, and sausage, then covered with feta and mozzarella cheese, the carnivore pizza is filling and flavorful. 

In addition, the crust was moist and thick, similar to the way Blackjack makes its crust without that weird dry taste afterward.  One slice is an average size, but the price isn't. Each slice sells for $12.00, which can be worth it because it makes the eater really high. 

If there's any room left or you haven't passed out yet, there are several choices for desert.  There are seven flavors of cheesecake, almond horns, and chocolate cups. There is also a full menu of treats for diabetic patients.  

Just about every bite is tasty and medicated.  The only downside to the dishes is that you have to reheat the food, and you don't get to enjoy it restaurant-style. 

Ganja Gourmet
Medical Marijuana Restaurant-Dispensary
1810 South Broadway
ganja-gourmet.com
 

Event preview: Killola

Guest Star: Killola

By Alicia Schuster

Senior Staff Writer

Published: Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Updated: Wednesday, April 7, 2010 17:04

photo: courtesy of Killola

It’s a little-known fact that Lisa Rieffel had the official position of “party whip” on David Bowie’s neo-fascist “Goebbel’s Tour.”

In the tradition of pop-punk bands like the Dollyrotts, Killola from southern California is ripping through Denver Monday night at Bender's Tavern. Recalling a punkier Veruca Salt, the group is kicking and screaming its way to the top.

Currently out on the road to support its new album, Let's Get Associated, the band is playing two or three sets a day. Killola has been playing malls, shoe stores, and record stores, and has done appearances on TV, according to frontwoman Lisa Rieffel.

Aside from the daytime performances, Killola is known for crazy live antics and has been compared to The Stooges live. "Our live shows are just a party. While they still sound good, we just like to be in the moment, have fun and a good time with the audience," Rieffel said. "Like having someone come up and sing a verse of a song, or sometimes I'm crowd surfing when I should be singing."

Instead of signing to a major label, Killola released the album independently and in a creative way: on Our Records, a label the members of the band started. And instead of CD or vinyl, the latest album was released on USB dog tags, an idea that is slowly spreading through the music world. While Killola has been offered several record deals, the band decided to do it on its own, just as it has done for the last seven years.

Aside from the everyday craziness, the band just finished writing the music for the upcoming movie/musical, Girltrash: All Night Long. Rieffel also just finished four months of filming for the movie, since she plays the lead role in the film. The musical, based on the 10 episodes of the web series Girltrash, is about a girl band trying to make it to a battle of the bands. After the tour is done, back to filming Rieffel goes. The film should be out in 2011.

Killola offers entrainment that's more than eye candy in the punk scene with ear-crushing screams, quick tempos, and a frontwoman that's tough as nails. 
 

Killola
10 p.m., April 12, Bender's
www.killola.com

Album review: The knew

The Knew

Pulperia

By Alicia Schuster

Senior Staff Writer

Published: Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Updated: Wednesday, April 7, 2010 16:04

The Knew's tunes sound like rockabilly music on Xanax. The band's latest album, Pulperia, has the same toe-tapping blues feeling of The Gaslight Anthem, and resembles the lengthy instrumental solos played at live Modest Mouse concerts. But the largest and most obvious influence on the album is Reverend Horton Heat.

The track "HLS" is annoyingly repetitive lyrically as the lead singer yells "How long do I have to wait" over and over again. Musically, though, "HLS" is wonderful offering with high-pitched instrumental screams that sound like The National.

"Picnic" is a refreshingly toe-tapping gem. Upbeat, bouncy, and entirely different than the rest of the album, the track is totally catchy. Towards the end of the song, the members take a fun twist and stop playing, start clapping, and start singing "Save my soul/Whoa, my soul/Sharon's gonna make something out of nothing, oh."

Listening to the album, the image of a man in 50s-style clothing with slicked-back hair and large sunglasses comes to mind due to the throwback quality of some of the tracks. The album is solid and well-produced, but the only thing missing is a bit more variety.

Album review

The Congress

s/t

By Alicia Schuster

Senior Staff Writer

Published: Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Updated: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 13:04

Passionate jazzy soul with a helping of blues is just what local alt-rock band The Congress brings to the table with its newest self-titled release.

The album starts out with a happy-go-lucky feeling on "Loretta." Combining horns, an organ, and snazzy guitars, the track keeps the listener interested and upbeat. Sounding like any other single heard on KBCO, this love song almost feels like Big Head Todd And The Monsters in its early days.

The rest of the album flexes the instrumental talents of the band members but also stays on a somber note.

"Ten Years Gone" is a good example of that gloomy rock n roll. Channeling Led Zeppelin, the band uses minimal harmonica and acoustic guitar to accompany the singer as he chants "You can fill the river with the lies I've told / Lying to yourself will make your heart go cold." The track picks up with a piano that sounds lifted from a United Airlines commercial and then brings in the electric guitar and drums. The end of the song is similar to the bluesy live jams Jack White does for The White Stripes.

Just about any track off this soulful and gloomy album fits into the adult contemporary genre. The band obviously draws from the likes of Van Morrison and Jack Johnson to create a rich record with a lot to offer for any classic rock listener.