Music
Press
This weekend, one ticket will bring more than 100 bands in 15 different venues to music enthusiasts all along the Front Range.
The Sky High Music Festival kicks off tonight and is set to offer a concert experience unheard of in this state. The festival will host a plethora of bands playing at venues in Denver, Evergreen, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins and music lovers can be admitted into each show with one $10 universal ticket.
Booking manger, Chris Defebio, concocted the concept and is offering all genres of music ranging from metal to reggae.
"It's the first of its kind that I've seen," Defebio said. "We're always trying new ideas for concerts in Colorado."
The Ogden Theater and Whitehouse Lounge in Denver will feature a full lineup of bands including Five Finger Dizcount, Such As I Am and Phoenix Rising.
Five Finger Dizcount, a rap/metal group out of Littleton, is excited to be playing at the Ogden and be part of something so big, they said.
"We're really stoked," said MC D-Blunt. "This is a great way for us to be exposed and a good opportunity to be playing with some really good talent."
Such As I Am is a five-piece hard-rock/metal outfit from Boulder that has been around for ten years and will make their appearance the first night of the three-day event.
"It's 'gonna be a sweet event," said front-man, Pepique Stout. "I'm excited to see how it unfolds because there are so many bands at so many events."
Lead guitarist and founding member of Such As I Am, Mark Whitaker, said it has been a long time coming to play something of this size.
"It's nice to finally get some recognition and play in a 100-band festival," Whitaker said. "I'm excited to be a part of it."
Also performing at the Ogden tonight is up-and-coming Phoenix Rising, a hard-rock ensemble from Aurora with three of its members attending school at Northern Colorado. Formed in 2005, the band has played a lot of smaller bars and clubs in and around Denver, but this will be the first time playing a venue the size of the Ogden.
"This will be one of our biggest shows yet," lead vocalist Mike Lebois said. "We are truly proud to be playing there."
Local jam-band, Wasabi, will be headlining The Whitehouse Lounge on Saturday night. Wasabi has been playing together for five years and is slowly making a name for itself as one of the state's most well known improvisational bands.
"Music is the best," saxophonist Tom Gray said. "And this festival, if given enough power, is a high-speed train that will propel us into the future of rock n' funkin' roll."
Closing the festival on Sunday night at the Aggie is Fort Collins' own Opposing the Arrow, a hard/funk, alternative rock group entirely composed of CSU students. Formed two years ago, vocalist Chris Seegers, lead guitarist Dan Both, bassist Tom Whitney and drummer Alex Bennett, combine an early Incubus feel with a Mars Volta rock sound. All the members are graduating this spring with the exception of Whitney.
"It's a great chance for us to get into the Aggie," Both said. "Come check it out and see if you like it."
Tickets can be purchased at www.pmpresents.com.
Staff writer Aaron Rognstad can be reached at news@collegian.com. - The Rocky Mountain Collegian Online
Some schools send parents out to sell gift-wrapping paper, coupon books and candy to make money for the classrooms or maybe a class trip. I usually decline, not caring if a co-worker's daughter gets to play the glockenspiel with her marching band at Disney World. I'm more interested in saving the planet.
But swanky Graland Country Day School has some mighty tempting items in its upcoming annual school auction, May 3, at the school's fieldhouse, where "smart casual attire" is recommended. Yes, it helps to have well-connected parents.
Up for big-bucks bidding: a private jet trip to play golf at the legendary Southern Hills Golf Course in Tulsa, Okla., home of three U.S. Opens; seven days in a Exclusive Resorts house in Costa Rica and Cabo San Lucas; wine from Scott Reiman's personal cellar to wash down dinner cooked at your house by Mizuna's Frank Bonanno; dinner for eight in a private room at Elway's; a watercolor by William Matthews; wine from Fred Hamilton's stash; catered dinner for 12 at the Navarre and a tour of Phil Anschutz's collection of Western art; golf and dinner for a dozen at Cherry Hills Country Club; golf at Castle Pines; golf at Denver Country Club (two words: be-have!); 40-yard-line, field-level season tix to the Broncos; and — this is a big one — four tickets to the "American Idol Finals" and a hotel stay in L.A.
Supporting Aspen.
Speaking of big bucks, Aspen Institute's three-day Aspen Environment Forum wrapped up Saturday. It would have been fun — at $1,700 a ticket.
And Vince Gill and Amy Grant will headline the Challenge America benefit in Washington, D.C., on June 17. Monies raised go to Challenge Aspen's programs to provide recreation for disabled veterans. Honorary chairmen include President Bush, former President Jimmy Carter, former Veep Al Gore, former Secretary of State and retired Gen. Colin Powell, former Sen. Bill Frist and Bob Woodruff of ABC News. Tickets are $5,000 each.
The wild Westword.
The wildest items in Westword's Best of Denver issue include the readers' choice for best French fries. Bistro Vendome won after 24 consecutive wins by McDonald's. And there are four categories for local cupcake shops, including a shout-out to Happy Cakes, which goes on "The Martha Stewart Show" Monday.
City spirit.
Did you catch Denver's John W. Scherer (a.k.a. The Video Professor) on "Fox & Friends" Thursday? . . . Denver Post design columnist Marni Jameson signs her book "The House Always Wins" at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Denver Woman's Press Club and at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Tattered Cover LoDo . . . Irene Zarlengo's grandson, Tony Zarlengo-Reyther (a.k.a. T.Z. Synn) plays guitar with the break out heavy-metal band Phoenix Rising. "I've got a rocker for a grandson instead of a lawyer!" . . . Sez who: "Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." H. L. Mencken
- Denver Post
Discography
Demo I (3 songs)
Demo II (5 songs)
Phoenix Rising 3-Song Release (professionally recorded)
"Daddy's Little Girl" has been performed live on KRFX, 103.5 The Fox in Denver, CO; along with the original track, "Puppy Killer" (a song based on the Michael Vick ordeal), and various covers.
Photos
Bio
Hard rock and heavy metal fuse in Phoenix Rising, a new band storming stages throughout Denver. Their hard-hitting, melodic sound is unlike anything else. They play hard rock like it is supposed to be played - screaming guitars, solid drum beats, and strong vocals. This eclectic group of young, high-energy performers have found a niche that is unique and yet captures those whose preference run the new wave gamete. Their influences range from the glam and thrash metal bands of the 80's such as Ratt and Exodus, to the more alternative rock bands of today such as Sevendust and Nickleback. The original music Phoenix Rising creates showcases its influences and shows its diversity as a band. They can play a power ballad followed by a head-banging, slam dancing, hard song with the same intensity and heart in both.
Phoenix Rising was formed in 2005 and began playing gigs around the Denver metro area at venues such as Iliff Park Saloon, Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, and Bruno’s Saloon. They play each gig to their full potential, and just this summer achieved top ten status out of 200 bands in Miles High Production’s battle of the bands: Progression Through Music. Lately, they have played at notable Denver venues such as the Ogden and Gothic theaters. In August of 2007 they tied with another local band, Crusher Bound Cadillac, on KRFX 103.5 The Fox’s “Last Band Standing” competition. They were also voted top band of the night at a recent showcase put on by Saturn Records.
The band’s shows are exciting and ear-splitting events. When Phoenix Rising takes the stage, it is impossible to stay in your seat. The music draws you in, and the lyrics grab you. You become a part of the songs and feel the emotions the songs convey. You don’t want to take your eyes off the intricate guitar work. The intensity of the drum beats and bass make you pound your fists, and the vocals will remain in your mind days after the show.
From August 27 to August 31, 2007, Phoenix Rising was involved with the "Last Band Standing" competition on 103.5 The Fox (KRFX) in Denver. They played one song live each day on the Lewis and Floorwax morning show, which broadcasts to over 250,000 people daily both in Colorado and to people around the globe streaming online. At the end of the competition, Phoenix Rising tied for first place.
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