Indie 102.3 Sessions

Solohawk is the acoustic side project of Steve Faceman, best known as frontman for Denver rock group FaceMan. He performs understated folk songs with Kansas musician Til Willis backing on guitar and stomp box. The duo last year released its debut album "Another Way Out." Solohawk stopped by for its first session in the CPR Performance Studio earlier this month. Faceman and Willis played...

Instant Empire released its sophomore album "Last Of The Lovers" earlier this month. The LP is a concept record about the "relentless march of time" and features the Denver band's full-bodied indie rock with harmonies from Emma Cole of Wildermiss. Singer Scotty Saunders calls it the most personal record the band has made. Instant Empire recently stopped into the CPR Perfor...

Tyto Alba draws its sound from folk and experimental rock influences. The Denver quartet formed in 2014 and released in March its second EP, "In Our Own Time." Singer Melanie Steinway says the record chronicles a relationship from early infatuation to an eventual breakup. Tyto Alba stopped into the CPR Performance Studio for the first time earlier this month. The members played three son...

U.S. Tygers is a young band, but its members are established local musicians. The Denver quintet features several members of jazz-punk group Champagne Charlie. U.S. Tygers' music leans more towards country and Americana rock, with heavy use of lap steel guitar. The band released its debut album last year and followed it up with the "High, Wasted Genes" EP in July. U.S. Tygers stoppe...

The Reminders have explored an intersection of hip-hop and soul for more than a decade. The Colorado Springs duo of Big Samir and Aja Black has released two albums and shared a bill with acts like Snoop Dogg and Nas. The group recently performed at the new Levitt Pavilion with Denver act Fed Rez. The Reminders stopped into the CPR Performance Studio for a memorably upbeat session. The married coup...

Since releasing his debut album in 2014, Benjamin Booker has become a major name in modern blues-rock. The singer and guitarist incorporates punk and soul music on his sophomore album "Witness," which features politically charged lyrics and a guest spot from gospel singer Mavis Staples. Shortly after headlining the Underground Music Showcase in Denver, Booker stopped into the CPR Perform...

When Plume Varia visited CPR's OpenAir in 2015, the band shared its plans to record a debut album with producer David J of Bauhaus and Love & Rockets after meeting him in Denver. The husband-and-wife duo released that album this month. It's called "Fact | Fiction" and features moody experimental pop songs. Just before the album's release, Plume Varia returned to...

Andy Thomas established himself in the Denver music scene with bands like The Knew and Tin Horn Prayer. His latest venture -- Andy Thomas' Dust Heart -- finds the singer and guitarist writing Americana-rock that often veers into dark territory. But the band's latest record, "No Poets," is a more lighthearted release that Thomas wrote over the course of a year of sobriety. Andy...

The Districts will release their third album, "Popular Manipulations," next month. From what we've heard so far, the Philadelphia band changes up its sound on the record by adding elements of shoegaze to its twangy indie rock. They also tackle more mature subject material. The Districts stopped into Denver for a show at Globe Hall earlier this month. Beforehand, the band members vis...

GVgrace features two of Colorado's most notable independent musicians in recent years. The married duo of Genevieve Patterson (Paper Bird) and Griff Snyder (Inner Oceans) creates lively synth-pop with the new project. The two have relocated to Los Angeles but are back in Denver this week for a set at the Underground Music Showcase. ​GVgrace stopped by the CPR Performance Studio last month to...

Andy Palmer has made gritty folk music as a solo artist and with the band Grub Street Writer, while also maintaining a career as a public defender. The Denver singer-songwriter in May released his latest album, "The Switch." The record explores themes of religion and social justice. ​Andy Palmer and his band played four songs from "The Switch" in the CPR Performance Studio. Pal...

When Male Blonding last visited CPR's OpenAir, the Denver band had just released its self-produced "Tiny Death" EP on cassette tape. In the year since, the quartet has recorded its debut full-length in Oakland, Calif. The self-titled LP continues in the post-punk style of previous releases. Male Blonding performed three new songs in the CPR Performance Studio last month. The members...

Head For The Hills has become one of the biggest names in Colorado bluegrass since forming in 2003. The Fort Collins quartet in May released its fourth album, "Potions And Poisons." It features songs about addiction and heartache, but with upbeat folk and country energy. Head For The Hills last month stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play three songs from the new album. Stream t...

Dandu's recent performance in the CPR Performance Studio featured a wide range of musical styles. The Denver trio -- with the help of The Other Black frontman Wes Watkins -- channeled elements of funk, hip-hop, rock and jazz. The band recently released the "Caught Between" EP and embarked on a West Coast tour. The members of Dandu played three songs and spoke with Scott Carney about...

The Patti Fiasco recently won a contest to open for Bon Jovi at the Pepsi Center in April. That gig unfortunately fell through, but the Fort Collins band has taken it in stride. The band has released three albums of Americana-influenced rock and performs regularly around Colorado and beyond. The Patti Fiasco stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play a few songs from its discography, as well...

Low Cut Connie's appearance last summer in the CPR Performance Studio was one of the most memorable sessions we recorded in 2016. The Philadelphia band -- led by pianist Adam Weiner -- had remarkable energy: Just watch the video of "Shake It Little Tina" for evidence. Low Cut Connie returned to our studio last month following the release of "Dirty Pictures (Part 1)" -- a r...

Joe Sampson has been a mainstay in the Denver music scene for years. He's played in bands like Bad Weather California and Wentworth Kersey and also releases music under his own name. His latest release is last year's "Chansons De Parade" album. Sampson stopped by the CPR Performance Studio with a few backing musicians -- including singer-songwriter Esmé Patterson on vocals. He...

Surfer Blood passed through Denver earlier this month for a headlining show at Larimer Lounge. We met the Florida indie rock band at the venue to record an exclusive performance and interview. Surfer Blood this year released the album "Snowdonia," its first full-length since the death of guitarist and founding member Thomas Fekete. The band performed three songs and spoke with Alicia Bru...

The core songwriting duo behind Whippoorwill met at the 2013 South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. Alysia Kraft and Staci Foster began sending each other songs and last year made their debut album "Good To Be Around." The Fort Collins folk band expanded to a trio and shared the stage with acts like Lydia Loveless and Old Crow Medicine Show. Whippoorwill stopped into the CPR Perfo...

Clouds & Mountains returned to the CPR Performance Studio just before the release of the new album "High & Low." The Boulder folk-rock band recorded the LP in Colorado, Anacortes, Wash., and Houston with members of Chimney Choir and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. Clouds & Mountains performed a few songs from "High & Low," and a previously unrele...

Wolf van Elfmand started his music career as a country-folk artist in Brooklyn. Three albums later, he's relocated to Denver and teamed up with Elephant Revival members Dango and Charlie Rose for the new "Real Wolf" EP. Wolf van Elfmand and his band visited the CPR Performance Studio to play some songs from the new record. He also spoke with Jeremy Petersen about his musical career...

Froth started out as a "fake band" that its members would tell people about at parties, but didn't actually exist. But when they picked up instruments and started playing together, the joke was over. The Los Angeles quartet has since released three albums, including this year's "Outside (briefly)." Froth stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play four songs from...

The members of Pan Astral have stayed busy since they visited the CPR Performance Studio last year. The Denver band has recruited a new drummer and written some new material. Frontman Gabriel Otto produced the politically charged "NOENEMIES" album from fellow Coloradoans Flobots -- which also features contributions from guitarist Tad Lusk. Pan Astral returned to our studio before a show...

Desirae Garcia and Inaiah Lujan are core members of the Pueblo folk band The Haunted Windchimes, but the married couple also makes music as in/PLANES. The duo's music leans more toward a sparse pop sound influenced by notable music spouses like Paul and Linda McCartney. in/PLANES -- with help from drummer Carl Sorensen -- stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play some new music. The ban...

Chicano Batman is having a breakout year. NPR tabbed the Los Angeles quartet to perform at its Radio Day Showcase at South By Southwest in March alongside Spoon and Valerie June. 2017 also marks the release of the new album"Freedom Is Free," a record that finds the band incorporating retro soul and funk music into its sound. Chicano Batman stopped by the CPR Performance Studio before a s...