A Michal Menert New Years

Michal Menert, a peer and old friend of Pretty Lights is based out of Fort Collins as he has spent much of his life here after he and his family escaped Soviet Eastern Europe in his childhood, according his myspace page. Since then Menert has lived in Fort Collins and surrounding areas and started a career as a Dj. Menert's style closely resembles Pretty Light's as he plays electronic down tempo and hip hop beats mixed with heavy bass. The similarities are strking, and it is no surprise that the two have spent time mixing together.

Here is a little sample from a Pretty Lights after party




He is set to play a new years eve set at the Aggie, and it should be one to not be missed. This is a show that will most definitely sell out so be sure to get tickets in advance

On Campus? Ramskeller Provides Shows

Quick heads up to anyone on campus often; the Ramskeller, which is the on campus bar, hosts a variety of local acts throughout the semester. Occasionally CSU will even commission bigger acts to play the 'Skeller' such as the popular adult swim band/cartoon show Deathklok a few years back, and in even farther back other big names such as Widespread Panic, according to a flier on the wall in the historic bar the Town Pump. Suprising? Yes indeed! Widespread panic now tends to to sell out Red Rocks when in the area, and the thought of them playing the Skeller is ludicrous.

There are still more shows planned for this semester, especially on friday nights, so keep posted for a local show here at our local school.

Rise Against Recording in Fort Collins Again

Punk rock giants Rise against are in the midst of recording their next album here in Fort Collins... again. The Chicago based four-peice has been at work on the new album for several months now and the title is still to be announced.

The band enjoys the Fort Collins area and has preferred recording with the local recording studio The Blasting Room, as it is a favored punk rock hot spot, as founded by members of the legendary punk rock bands The Descendents and Black Flag. This picture was recently released on the bands website among other studio pictures of the band in the studio here in town.

It is great to see a nationally known act favoring Fort Collins as compared to many that prefer bigger studios in costal areas. It would be ignorant to believe the band would stick around the area for much longer than the recording process, but we can always hope for more albums and presence in the city in the future. Unfortunately it could be a while before the band plays any shows in the area as the only tour dates in 2011 are set for Europe and South America, but more should be announced as the year comes to pass.

Snowball to Host Local Musicians

Although the line up hasn't been announced yet speculation and rumor are running rampant in regards to the first annual Snowball music festival in Vail. The word on the street is acts such as Pretty Lights, The Flaming Lips, and Ratatat will headline the event -- but nothing is officially confirmed. The festival is set for March 3rd-6th and will supposedly host three stages, one of which dedicated to local acts from Colorado.

Winter music festivals are basically unheard of when compared to the massive acts that dominate the summer season in North America and Europe. What makes the Snowball festival unique is that it is said to be outdoors, even in the what is known to be one of the coldest months in the Colorado calender.

The event will also be geared towards skiing and boarding as the beautiful resort of Vail will be open for riding.

The line up should begin to be posted by the end of the month, so be sure to check the website for more information as details develop.

Free Show: Dead Floyd

What would it sound like if the music of Pink Floyd and the Grateful Dead made a baby? Probably like very abstract synthesized guitar plucking accompanied by loud vocals. Next best thing: Dead Floyd.

Covering songs from both historic bands in conjunctive sets Dead Floyd has been rocking the front range since the summer of 2009, according to their website. They have played extensively in Fort Collins and also shows in Boulder and Denver. The band claims that one of the best things about their live sets is the vast catalog of songs they have to play from. If you do the math that's 27 studio albums and hundreds of songs amounting to endless set lists and combinations of songs.

The next Fort Collins Dead Floyd show is scheduled for this Saturday, December 4th. So if you find yourself bar hoping this weekend and have an itching for some classic rock, or just an awesome show in general this might tickle your fancy. The doors are at 8 pm but the real fun will start a bit later.
What can be transposed to Dead Floyd in the words of the late Jerry Garcia could sum up this event the best, "And for me there's still more material than 20 life times that I could use up."

House of Dub Continues to Draw Large Crowds

The electronic music wave is still sweeping northern Colorado.

You can see it at a plethora of venues from Cervantes in Denver, to the Fox in Boulder and in Fort Collins the Aggie, the prognosis is definitive: people want to dance, and they want a stimulating night club experience to accompany the feel. Bigger names are no longer even necessary to draw a more filling crowd. The masses want heavy bass and all its the bells and whistles, and this is what they get.

House of dub, as previously mentioned, is a group of local DJs playing house and dubstep music, and caters exactly to this agenda. The formula is simple and the results are lucrative. The past several House of Dub shows have achieved to completely pack the Aggie, even as free shows. This last show on November 5th left the venue busting at the seems and even lined those that left to smoke outside in a line to wait to return to the show as they were over capacity. Many never even made it through the doors as the entry line spanned through the night.

"A lot of our resources are going into the visual aspects" says Scott Schreiner also known as DJ Juggernaut. Juggernaut alongside DJ Seth Abrumz formed the House of Dub organization that currently includes four other DJ members. The first House of Dub set was in October, and the results have been much more explosive than expected, as explains the picture below.

Juggernaut has been playing in the area for over ten years now and was most recently a resident DJ at the Vault bar alongside other local performers. He has played several shows and events in Fort Collins, Denver and surrounding areas. Interested in some of his mixes? Check out his Soundcloud page.

With the local success of the musical mesh the organization does not currently have plans to take the act out of town, but has toyed with the idea of moving to another venue that might be able to accommodate to a larger crowd.

Their sister organization Got Bass has also recently achieved capacity at the Aggie in recent months. The two groups coordinate shows together and aim to each play one show at the Aggie per month. Got Bass is similar to the House of Dub, but puts more of a focus on Dubstep rather than house music. With designated sets and mutual organization these two groups have rapidly built a string of shows that have left fans anticipating more shows and consistently forming lines earlier in the night.

"It was definitely unexpected," says Bobby Brunette who attended the last show, "it was the most fun I've ever had in a club." Brunette recently moved to Fort Collins from south Texas and went to the last House of Dub after a friend recommended the Aggie as a good club. New to the electronic music scene Brunette was treated to a night of dancing and fun, as exhibits this video from the set.

Local music enthusiasts have also been surprised with the production value of the sets. "They're epic," Remarks Chris Reed, a local music follower of many years. Reed was born and raised in Fort Collins and has been impressed with the House of Dub shows. "It was hot and grimy...it was awesome!"

The next House of Dub show is scheduled for December 11th, and will likely follow in the tradition of the past shows by reaching capacity by 10:30 pm, so come early or take the gamble of a long line that may not even lead to entry. The show will be free as all House of Dub and Got Bass shows to date.

"That in itself is a big plus, its so much better than the ten bucks most charge to get in the door." States Juggernaut.

How long will these electronic shows draw the crowds they have seen? It is difficult to say in an industry driven by trends and abrupt changes, but it is for sure that the House of Dub has created a show that will impress, and this is a great opportunity to catch a hot act in its heyday.

Get Funky With Mug Night

Little known to many in the area every monday night Hodis Half Note hosts a weekly funk jam consisting of local musicians. One of the best things about the jam is that anyone is able to join so long as they bring their own equipment and have an idea as to how to play music. By simply contacting Hodis prior to joining the jam all musicians are able to share their talent. The jam is funk oriented, but also branches out into jazz and even hip hop. Even those interested in vocal preformances are welcome to join.

Not a musician?

Even better! The drink specials are great; the name mug night refers to the plastic mugs which anyone can purchase and bring back every mug night for discounted refills. Domestics are slightly cheaper than micros, and all beers are reasonably priced.

Whether you are joining the jam or just looking for a tasty brew mug night offers good vibes and infectious beats for all. Come join the boogie!

Spotlight: Avogadro's Number

Sometimes a night out with live music beckons for more than just music alone. Sometimes the a good time asks for a step away from the crowd for a bite to eat, or a beer to quench the thirst of the moment.

The Aggie and Hodis are great for the music end of the equation, but if your looking for drink variety and a tasty meal Avogadro's Number is right up your ally. Know locally as Avo's the three room building offers a bar in one section, musical hall in another, and full restaurant in the end section. So if the music gets too loud you can wonder to the bar for a game of pool or a relaxing drink, or if hunger strikes a full menu is available into the night.

Speaking of the food -  Avo's offers several vegetarian and healthy options for those watching their weight or not fond of flesh, as well as plenty of delicious meat entrees. Famous "Tempeh Tuesdays" provide two for one tempeh burgers, a feast for one or lunch for two.

Yet it is the music calendar that is most interesting about Avo's; a wide variety of music is played at the venue, and most are local acts. In fact open mic nights allow aspiring musicians or anyone with a piece of mind to get their name out to the world.

Between the great food, warming atmoshphere of the bar and endless live music and entertainment Avogadro's Number is sure to leave your tastes amused, belly and mind.

Check out the link above for upcoming shows and additional information

Pretty Lights hits a Million, Fort Collins appears on map

According to the Fort Collins based Northern Colorado Scene Magazine  the Fort Collins electronic act Pretty Lights has now reached one million downloads online, and the number continues to grow. For anyone that has spent more than a few years in the music scene around town (even outside of the electro community) this stands as a message to the world that Northern Colorado does harbor the musical talent and ingenuity to produce an internationally acclaimed act.

The name Pretty Lights was basically unheard of in the area until just a few years ago when Pretty Lights began to gain attention in the live music community with the success of such albums as "Filling up the Skies" in 2008 and Passing by Behind your Eyes" in 2009. What is most interesting is that the track  "Still Moving", known as Pretty Lights most recognized song was released in 2006 on "Taking up Your Precious Time", years before the duo would gain any sort of fame. Pretty Lights still struggled to even sell tickets to the Aggie in those days, while now has sold out Red Rocks and toured internationally.

Beyond their live success it is the free downloads of their recorded music that has promoted the act above all else. Pretty Lights has allowed fans to download any and all of their musical catalogue from their website rather than many artists which force fans to pay for their albums. The format has worked, and as Scene Magazine has reported "He gave his music away. No seriously..."

With only three scheduled tour dates in Colorado through the end of the year and all of which sold out local fans of the area might have a bit of a wait before they can see their acclaimed favorite in town. However the success does go to show that Northern Colorado can now be regarded as a music scene that people afar will now keep in mind when listening to the music of Pretty Lights.

Common Anomaly - Up Up and Away

With a local following and hopes of a future with the promise of travel four young men find themselves at a turning point in their soon to be professional lives.

Common anomaly is a band that has fortified their insignia while enjoying small-scale touring and a sense of admiration from many in the near by area. Formed in 2007 as three piece folk experiment the band is now consists of four members producing more of an “indie dance-rock” sound, yet preferring to relinquish a genre in regards to any specific type of music.

The group began playing shows at the local club Avogadro’s Number on open mike nights and has since progressed to a multitude of venues throughout Fort Collins, Denver, surrounding areas, and even a string of shows in the mid west including dates in Chicago. Within the realm of Fort Collins the band is a regular at venues such as Hodis Half Note and Road 34, and has also played several house parties and small events.

The group released their first recoding  “These Drowning Days” in July of 2009, and have since been working on recording their next full length album which will be released to the public on March 12th.  The recording process has consisted in friend’s home studios, and the new album is due to be mastered at the esteemed Blasting Room.

“It’s not about the millions, just playing and making a living,” says vocalist and guitar player Nick Lofaro. Lofaro claims that the band tries to remain egalitarian renouncing any sort of a front man; three of the four members actively sing while playing their instruments. “It’s a brotherhood family sort of aspect.”

And such is the vibe the band portrays: all members live within the same household where they regularly practice in their basement below the hardwood floors where friends congregate and the band spends their days.  The bond between these men is discernable and a sense of vigor is elegantly displayed through their musical fashion and lifestyle.

This lifestyle now beckons for travel and adventure. “We really want to tour and do a lot of big things now,” says Paul Simmons on guitar violin and vocals. “The idea of traveling and playing music is what appeals the most.”

On last years tour to Chicago the band paid for travel expenses out of their own pocket, but say the experience was well worth the adventure and the shows were well received in the Chicago area. The band now has aspirations of playing the South By Southwest music festival in Austin Texas this March, and whatever shows can fill in on the journey afar.

“We will see if that works out being a bigger circle,” comments Simmons on the idea of going on another tour, “We will do whatever we can to find our way there and back.”

In Fort Collins the band continues to grow popularity while working gearing up for future tours.

“I really like their synthy dance sound.” Says fan Mark Peterson. Peterson first saw the band at Road 34 a few months prior and hopes to catch more shows soon.

And plenty of shows are coming from the band, within the state and hopefully beyond. With the release of their new album on March 12th the band will host a CD release party at Hodis Half Note, one of their most popular venues to play.

“I can tell their music will last, we will look back and remember them as a band we appreciated” says Brooke Hunger, a co-worker of Simmons.

Whatever the future holds for Common Anomaly one thing is certain – the band has already built something that characterizes their energy, and not to mention have played a few great shows. Whatever the outcome of what is to come it is certain that these are accomplished young artists.

Perhaps Lofaro sums it up best, “We’re all working class kids, I guess that’s what rock n’ roll is all about.”

Local Veterans Rose Hill Drive: Rekindled Stripes of Glory

It is difficult to gauge success in the local modern musical market. Is it a broad audience in the area such as fans of local DJ organization House of Dub? Is it mainstream radio promotion such as Tickle Me Pink? Or is it an endorsed national tour such and rapid rise to fame such the recent career of Pretty Lights? When it comes down to it money may factor in most prominently for most in the industry, yet one simple factor is over looked, resilience.

Rose Hill Drive is a band that has seen their fair share of ups and downs over the years. Formed by brothers Daniel and Jacob Sproul in Boulder 2003 on guitar and bass and backed by drummer Nathan Barnes the band quickly gained notoriety in the Front Range preforming classic rock style rock and roll and attracted a following preforming cover sets such as Led Zeppelin and the Who.

Speaking of the Who, Rose Hill Drive was opening for them on a national tour by 2007 and regarded by Rolling Stone a band to watch for success that year, after the attention accumulated from their 2006 self titlled debut. 2008 then saw the release of "Moon is the New Earth". All signs pointed towards a healthy career as the band continued national touring and a set at the local Mile High Music Festival 2008 in Denver.

In parallel to the dwindling music industry the album saw few sales, and Rose Hill Drive struggled to keep attendance up, even at local Front Range Clubs. A hiatus was imposed as the band endured a period of soul searching. After over a year of rest the band began to play local shows again debuting new material and presenting a new image more linked to 90s alternative rather than the classic rock style that gave rise to fame.

On December 29th Rose Hill Drive is scheduled to play the Aggie Theater here in Fort Collins. The set will be a White Stripes "Elephant" Cover set, perhaps intended to exemplify their new direction while paying tribute to one of the most recognized rock albums of the past decade. After acknowledgment by national magazines, travels in the presence of rock royalty and a turbulent past few years one thing is for sure: Rose Hill Drive are survivors, and this set is not one to miss. Perhaps real success is the ability to look challenge in the eye and laugh as you do what you do best, and for Rose Hill Drive that is putting on one hell of a show.

After the cover set an additional set of originals will be played. For Tickets go to the Aggie's website. As always keep it local and keep it kicking.

House of Dub Tomorrow

The House of Dub is a free Aggie show featuring local DJs rocking bass heavy beats. After several successful shows over the past few months this act is poised to draw a large crowd -- especially being a weekend show. If you are interested in dupstep, electronica, house music or just dancing in general this show is a must on the local scene. This show is free for 21+ and a minimal cover for minors. Follow this link for a little taste from the last show last month House of Dub



The doors open at 8 and the set will blast until last call, or around 1:30. Hope to see you there!

Medical Marijuana Project

Full on Fun: Dead Kenny G's at the Aggie Tomorrow Night

To any one who enjoys the wackness of Primus or the sound of a wailing saxaphone The Dead Kenny G's  are right up your ally and in your town tomorrow. Known for creative stage preformances and bizzare tunes The Dead Kenny G's are a a sure shot for fun. Acts like this only come though so often, so if you are in the mood for some unique fun you know where to go.


The Aggie will host the event and tickets are available at the box office or Rockin Robin's smoke shop.

Otterbox: Innovation and Success In the Local Market

Amidst rickety times for small and local businesses the Fort Collins based company Otterbox shows growth and supply of in demand products in the ever expanding market of technological accessories. With a full line up of various products and national shipping the company shows stimulation of economic development through technologic advance.

“We began manufacturing dry boxes and have been manufacturing phone specific protection cases since 2001,” says Account Development Executive Justin Williams. The company was founded in 1998 by Curt Richardson and has continuously enjoyed success in the area. 

With the launch of the new iphone 4 case the company has seen a boom in demand for the new cases, keeping employees busy to meet the demands of consumers and distributors of the product.

“Otterbox has always kept me hard at work, but no one expected the output we would have after the iphone 4 case dropped,” says an Account Development Executive.

When the case was first released this past August Otterbox sold out entirely to vendors, leaving online orders as the only outlet to purchase the model.  The 3GS model was the predecessor and had dominated the market since 2008, yet the iphone 4 completely had completely outsold it's forerunner. Now fully stocked and exhibiting new varieties of colors the iphone 4 cases are accessible at AT&T, Best Buy and other distributors nationwide.

“Oh now we have tons, they shouldn’t run out again anytime that I could foresee,” says sales a representative.  

Long time favorites such as the original waterproof Otterbox intended for outdoor sports are still popular as well.

“My dad and I have always used them for camping and travel,” says long time customer Sean Dinkins. “Their great. I don’t have the new one yet for my iphone, but I will, just as soon as I get the money.”

The company has many loyal followers in the area and abroad through the promotion of an active lifetyle, even within a technolocal sphere. With hundreds of different models for phones, computers and other devices it would appear that Otterbox is a local success and will continue to provide durability to a market in search of fortification.

Playing Your Own Live Music in Fort Collins? Watch the Volume...

Fort Collins has fostered several sucessful and underground acts, all of which have to start somewhere- usually a garage. For new and upcomming acts and likewise veterans of the scene it is important to keep in mind that the city does enforce a noise ordinance and violaters can be ticketed.

According to the city website violators can be fined up to a thousand dollars for a single offense so it is important to practice music in places unlikely to offend neighbors. Keep in mind your location as well, a secluded house is probably a good idea compared to an apatment with neighbors on the other side of the wall. Day time will always be better at night when law enforcement are more comncerned with noise. Paying attention to the concers of neighbors near by and being respectful will always help your case if problems arise.

With these conisderations in mind keep rocking Fort Collins! It is great to see new talent on the scene and by following noise ordinances there will always be enough time for band practice and communal agreement.

Ghostland Observatory to Melt the Aggie in November

Every so often a band plays a venue much smaller than the capacity of their usual tour circuit, and this is exactly the case for the scheduled show at the Aggie Theater for Ghostland Observatory. The electronic two-peice most recently opened for Sound Tribe Sector 9 at Red Rocks this past September; the date almost managed to sell out the 9,500 seat capacity of the venue. Back in June they played the Westward Music Festival in Denver and likewise packed the 1,200 person Ogden Theater in last November. Least to say the 500 person capacity Aggie Theater is an unusually small venue for a Ghostland Tour.

The act hails from the musical Mecca of Austin Texas and has released three albums since their inception into the music scene in 2004. A new album is due out sometime in the next six months. Their music is categorized as Electro-Rock or Electro-Dance with soul and funk influences. Aaron Behrens sings the vocal lines as well as playing guitar, while Thomas Ross mixes beats, plays drums and creatively uses synthesizers to add multiple layers to their music. Their lives shows are known for onstage dancing and an impressive lazer show.

Ghostland Observatory has played a wide variety of festivals world wide and undergone several national tours. They are however new to Fort Collins and the show should easily sell out so purchasing tickets in advance is highly recomended. For more information on the group browse the Ghostland website or visit their myspace page for more tour dates.

KCSU - Local Promotion and Concert Calendar

When considering local music promotion arbiters it is easy to over look the most basic local providers, such as the Student run radio KCSU. The station provides a great link to local bands and live music with regular appearances from local artists and an up to date calendar showcasing nationally acclaimed acts alongside local performances.

The station is 100 percent student run and commercial free giving listeners a continuos music experience and link to a blooming live music scene. The radio broadcasts are run directly out of the Lory Student Center in the heart of the CSU campus with a consistent staff available to questions and requests seven days a week. Mostly volunteer run the station receives dozens of underground albums from various artists every week and continually works to provide reviews and promotion of all genres of music.

For more information or even just some great tunes check out KCSU on 90.5 FM or visit the site for upcoming shows KCSU.com

Michael Bettis - Local Student and Photographer

Michael Bettis is a upcoming artist in the form of photography. He has lived on all ends of the country and spent much of his life building towards a career in photography. Born in Iowa Michael is a Gulf war vet and father of two daughters. He currently works as a free lance journalist and photographer for the local student news paper, the Collegian. Michael has worked many jobs in his life but aims to stay within the realm of journalism and photography for the future. The Following chronicals his life and shocases some od his artwork.

Mimosa to take stage at Aggie

Dj/producer Mimosa of Los Angeles California is set to play the Aggie here in Fort Collins friday October 8th. Mimosa is a new act to the west coast music scene and has enjoyed rapid success throughout the Los Angeles area and further across the nation preforming break beat and trip hop. His style can be described as  influenced by hip hop and greater electronic and produces beats that are irresistible to the dance floor.

Aside from the west coast region Mimosa has played venues across the nation as a whole and has hosted several festivals including Coachella and Burning Man. He is no stranger to Northern Colorado either as he has played Denver several times, most recently this past April. Tickets are being sold through the Aggie's Website and Rockin' Robbin's off Laurel and College.

The Mishawaka Amphitheater Facing Closure

After nearly 62 years of rickety existence the Mishawaka Amphitheater is facing legal charges that will force the venue to close until new ownership can stabilize owed money on the land.

The venue has been a staple attraction of the Poudre Canyon for decades alongside the winding Poudre river, attracting tourists and locals alike. Over the years the Mishawaka had hosted hundreds of different musical artists -- many of which international acts ranging from Los Lobos to 10,000 Maniacs, according to the Coloradoan.com. While musical acts have been consistent the venue's ability to stay out of trouble has not. With dozens of reports of drunk driving, illegal camping, minors in consumption and vast drug use legal problems are no stranger the area.

However when owner Robin Jones was arrested on cultivation and distribution of hundreds of pounds of marijuana this month the venue has taken a hit that it cannot stomach. With Jones forced to sell the amphitheater new ownership could change the Mishawaka into something other than a musical arena. Jones reportedly claims to have no interest in selling to a buyer with interest in anything other than musical endeavors, but with $ 450,000 owed to private investors finances appear to be a crucial variable in the equation.

This past weekend Colorado based electronic act Eoto played the seasonal closer for the venue, and what could be a final show altogether. Hopes are high that new ownership will continue decades of musical tradition, but only time will tell the fortune of one of Northern Colorado's most beautiful and controversial musical locations.

Good Gravy! A Successful Mesh of Style

For the past two years Fort Collins has indulged in the music and live performances of Good Gravy. The five piece group based out of Foco categorizes their music as "Jam-grass", a mix of jam band and bluegrass, but also dabbles with live electronic mixing, acoustic and funk, according to their myspace page.   The band focuses their live performances around dance beats and fast paced bluegrass licks.

What is surprising about Good Gravy is their rapid rise to success; what was a small town band is now a national acclaimed name. The act was first hosted small venues around the Front Range and then further through across the state quickly moved further throughout the country. On the road the band has played a multitude of venues all across the country and even playing the Wakarusa Music Festival, a highly sought out stage for many aspiring musicians.

The summer of 2010 had been a busy one for the band, aside from extensive touring Good Gravy undertook the recording of their first album in Loveland with Backbone Studios. With such a hard work and promotion this band is well on their way to continued success. Visit the band on their myspace page http://www.myspace.com/goodgravygrass or catch a show when they return from Durango for their live experience.

Everyday Joe's: A Local Coffe House That Rocks

Looking for a more seclusive venue in Fort Collins apart from the more known live music locations such as Hodies Half Note and The Aggie? Everyday Joe's Coffee House might be right up your alley.

Located on North Mason Street just north of Bikram Yoga and past the Rio Grande alley is the coffee shop turned music hall supporting a variety of local acts and musical genres. From a distance the building may appear too large to be a coffee shop because such is the truth; serving beverages an art gallery and a full line up of musical acts the coffee is much more than just a place to get a cup of joe.

What is perhaps most unique about Everyday Joe's is the fact that it is a non-profit coffee, with a over 40 volunteers and only two paid employees the shop makes monthly donations to community minded organizations; initially the company pledged to donate 200 dollars a month, and has continued with generous donations.

With a soothing atmosphere and warming vibrations Everyday Joe's is an ideal place to relax and read, or enjoy some great live local music. Check out their website for more info and ticket bookinghttp://www.everydayjoes.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 and a great preformance of the Denver based band Churchill below

Zion I in Fort Collins this month

Oakland based hip hop/electronic duo Zion I is is scheduled to play the Aggie Theater on September 17th on the on the latter half of their extensive tour. The Oakland duo is no stranger to the Aggie Theater, nor Northern Colorado in general as they have engaged in several national tours since the late 90s. Most recently Zion I opened for Fort Collins act Pretty Lights at Red Rocks Amphitheater last month. Check it out below.


The group consists of vocalist/mc "Zumbi"and DJ/producer AmpLive. The two are known for AmpLive's so called "futuristic style" and Zumbi's socially conscious lyrics, according to lastfm.com. For more on Zion I tour dates and addiotional info check out their myspace page at  www.myspace.com/zioni 

Fort Collins live music blog up and kicking

Welcome to Live and Kicking: Local Music and Beyond! This is the first post of the student run blog committed to following and evaluating live, local and awesome music. We hope to provide in depth coverage of the local music scene through a variety of genres of music and posting updates to the most current news, media and information to the now of the local Fort Collins music scene.

Two of the most popular venues in town are Hodies Half Note and The Aggie Theater.


The following shows footage from local DJ "Pretty Lights" and veteran rockers "Ween" at local venues. Hopefully these videos provide a sense of the energy and emotion of these great local venues

Ween -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

Pretty Lights -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPITAWYPUUM

For more information on these venues check out their webstites,  http://www.hodishalfnote.com/ and http://www.aggietheatre.com