I really love all that 93.3 KTCL does for local bands. Yes, they are a Clear Channel station, but do you know how many local shows the DJ’s attend? It is a lot and it is impressive.
Not only do the DJ’s attend shows, the station also holds contests and allow local bands to open for their Big Gig concert every year. They have just announced the top 10 locals who are in the running to open for this years show which includes acts like Silversun Pickups, The Hives, The Wombats and more!
So now it is up to YOU to help these bands make it!
In order to vote for your favorites, you MUST SIGN UP TODAY! The surveys go out tomorrow and will be delivered to your email address.
Want to listen to the top 10 before taking your survey? No prob! All of their songs are below for your listening pleasure.
You are probably wondering “What is Unwined?” No, it is not a concert festival (although there will be DJ’s), but it is a wine extravaganza that is sponsored by Club W! This Saturday and Sunday at the EXDO center in Denver, there will be 200+ wines available for you to taste, along with food from some of Denver’s top food trucks.
Does this sound like an event that is right up your alley? Well, lucky for you, I have a ticket to give away for Saturday’s event! Entry is easy and open to anyone who can attend on Saturday (yes, the event is 21+).
It’s no secret that I have started actually working out for the first time in my life, but I am finally starting to dress the part as well! My workout attire had consisted of startup t-shirts and tights from Target, but now I have a little more style while working out, thanks to prAna!
They’ve got my back, literally. They were nice enough to gift me with the following active wear pieces (and boy are they comfy)!
Remember that time that I was an idiot and locked my purse in my new car with my ID, credit cards and, of course, the spare car keys? Yeah, that was a fun December night. That was the same night that The Heyday had a show at Marquis Theatre opening for Rocket Summer. I somehow made it out of my car with the tickets to the show (thank god) and my camera (I had a photo pass). After a quick call to USAA, I had a locksmith on order, to show up in about an hour and a half. Since I had time to kill, and tickets to a show, Aimee, LeVar, Kaila (my other indie bitch) and I head on over to the Marquis. We get to the venue, where I get big X’s on my hands (remember, my ID was locked in the car). I was livid, and immediately ran to the bathroom to wash them off my hands. It has been almost 10 years since I have had the shameful X’s mark my hands!
The Heyday was awesome, as usual:
Then Rocket Summer started, and that is right when my phone rang. The locksmith was at the garage where my car was parked. So I sacrificed my desire to see a concert to try and recover my belongings. Without going into all of the lovely, gory details, I did get my purse back, but not before I cancelled all the credit cards. So after I had my keys and an ID back, we went to Summit Music Hall to see the band Eldren, and get a little intoxicated, thanks to my lovely friends and bartenders.
So, while I technically have seen Rocket Summer, it was maybe a song at most. Luckily I get the chance to see them again tonight at Summit Music Hall! Opening is local band Regret Night, who have that catchy song “She Said.”
Here is a preview of one of his new songs and you can listen to them all right now on Purevolume!
I am definitely digging his new album as it sounds like he has grown up a bit and developed his sound a little more. Hopefully tonight will be a better night then the last time I tried to see Rocket Summer!
*Disclaimer: I was put on the guestlist for tonight’s show, but wasn’t asked for a blog post or promotion of event. Thoughts and opinions are all my own*
Christmas has arrived early for me this year! And no, I am not talking about my new car (although that is a great Christmas gift. Thanks Mom and Dad!). Next week is the week that I will be listening to KTCL 93.3 as many hours of the day as possible. Why? Because it is Hometown for the Holidays!!
You’ve never heard of Hometown for the Holidays (HTFTH)? Well, if you live in Denver and care about local music as much as me (or even just a little bit), then you have to join me and support 93.3 this week. Each year they hold this contest for local bands in Colorado. Bands each submit one song, the DJ’s select 10 bands, all of whom are played on the radio for the next week or so, while YOU vote for the best. The top 3 will then play a show at Casslemans on December 17th, where, again, YOU will select the winner!
This year there were so many great bands, that there was a 4 way tie for 9th, so there will be 12 bands to select from!
I was lucky enough to attend the first ever HTFTH in 2006, where Tickle Me Pink came in 2nd place!! There were only a handful of people that made it to the concert that year at the Gothic though because of the HORRIBLE snow storm that year. Remember that? When everything shut down? Yea, I do too. Either way, Tickle Me Pink put on a fantastic show:
It’s no secret that I have become friends with many of the local bands over the past few years, and I have been lucky enough to have heard many of the HTFTH submissions already. I do not envy the DJ’s at KTCL! There are SO many good songs, and I have only heard a handful of the 200+ that were entered.
One of my favorites so far is Churchill’s song Change. The song is a slight departure from their usual songs, and while it sounds a bit like something Adele might sing, they keep their style with the mandolin and harmonies. The video they made for the song is fantastic as well:
Eldren submitted their song Sleepy Walker, which starts off with a little bit of a MGMT feel and slowly progresses into their style. The video is fun, but the recording just doesn’t do Eldren justice, as they are a fantastic live band, and I encourage you to go see them whenever possible.
Another one of my picks is slightly biased, but I am posting it anyways. Inca submitted their song as well! Why is that biased? Well, it is a collaboration between my brother, Stefan of Tickle Me Pink, Joey of Tickle Me Pink and Randy of the Heyday.
So, seriously, go sign up for the surveys now. Regardless of who makes it in the top 3, I can guarantee you will see me at Hometown for the Holidays this year!
Seriously, to all of you that were not at this show last week at the Marquis Theatre (and this is directed to just about everyone I know because there were NOT enough people there), you missed a fantastic show!
Opening for Company of Thieves was Popcult (seriously awesome local band), but of course COT stole the show. Genevieve Schatz is an amazing performer who captivates the audience the moment she got on stage in her sparkling dress.
Not only does she know how to dance, but her voice is incredible. Don’t believe me? Watch the video below, where she covers Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down:”
Monika is a lover of music & concerts, blogger (@theindiebitches), tech junkie, drinker of beer, wine and whiskey (not usually at once) & Account Manager at @theblogfrog. Blogging about tech, music, and anything that interests her.
