Indie 102.3 Sessions

Self-described "surf" band The Kinky Fingers might reside in a landlocked state, but its reverb-heavy guitar licks bring to mind the classic California Sound. The Denver quartet has released a number of EPs since forming four years ago, and its new release "Worst Of" collects those songs onto one record. The Kinky Fingers stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play some new...

The Patient Zeros originally hail from Lansing, Mich., but moved to Denver in 2012. The blues-rock trio last year released the album "Sirens Calling" and is scheduled to perform at Denver's Underground Music Showcase in July. They band also plans to release a new EP in August. The Patient Zeros stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play some songs from "Sirens Calling&quot...

Holophrase has crafted music that blurs the line between art rock and experimental electronica for five years. The Denver band last year released the album "Stay Being," which features glitchy synthesizer sounds, horns and guest appearances from members of fellow locals Wheelchair Sports Camp. Holophrase stopped into the CPR Performance Studio and played three songs from "Stay Being...

Siblings Rebecca and Joshua Williams grew up performing in a church where their father is a pastor. They've since directed their talents outside the church toward rock music: Rebecca sings and plays guitar with Joshua on drums in The Savage Blush -- along with bassist Brian Wyatt. The Denver trio released the "Dust" EP last year and has followed that up with a two new singles in 201...

Colfax Speed Queen has been a can't-miss live act in Colorado's music scene for several years. The Denver garage rock band's concerts involve crowd-surfing and mosh pits while the band delivers high-energy guitar and organ riffs. Colfax Speed Queen last November released its sophomore album "Talk To Your Doctor." We recently welcomed the band back into the CPR Performance...

It's plain to hear that Sweet Spirit has a big sound: The Austin, Texas, rock band has nine members and one of the most energetic frontwomen in indie music. That's Sabrina Ellis, who also sings for A Giant Dog. Sweet Spirit last month released the new album "St. Mojo." Six of the band members stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before a gig at Denver's Hi-Dive to perfo...

Why? has spent more than a decade crafting experimental rock music with a strong dose of hip-hop. Much of that comes from bandleader Yoni Wolf, who has also toured as a solo rapper. The Cincinnati band's latest album, "Moh Lhean," is a collection of melancholy piano ballads -- some of them written after Wolf suffered a bout of poor health in Central America. Why? stopped into the CP...

Singer and guitarist Kyle Emerson may be familiar to fans of Colorado's music scene as a member of the psych-rock band Plum. That group relocated to Los Angeles last year but Emerson is back in Denver to release music under his own name. His debut EP "Worth It" is out next week and he celebrates with a release show May 11 at Hi-Dive. Emerson and his band stopped by the CPR Performan...

Chris Senseney and Stefanie Drootin are the songwriting partners behind the trio Big Harp, which has released three albums on the Saddle Creek label that span a variety of genres. The married couple has recently stayed busy as a new band called Umm. Their debut album "Double Worshipper" is out this fall. Umm previewed some music from that forthcoming debut in the CPR Performance Studio....

A dé​Collage concert features a lot more than just music. The Denver band incorporates costumes, film projections and live painting into its shows, while tinkering with experimental electronic sounds in its music. The band also helps run the Denver music production space Moon Magnet Studios. ​dé​Collage stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play some new music and decorate the space with ball...

Sera Cahoone this month returned to the CPR Performance Studio for the first time since 2012. The singer-songwriter and Colorado native recently released the album "From Where I Started." It features contributions from members of Death Cab For Cutie, Iron & Wine and Son Volt, with whom she performs a few Colorado shows next month. Cahoone performed four songs from the new album in t...

The story of Bison Bone begins in Oklahoma, where singer and guitarist Courtney Whitehead launched his music career playing at barnyard parties. Eventually Whitehead made his way to Denver, where he recruited singer Brianna Straut after watching her perform a Gillian Welch song at 3 Kings Tavern. Bison Bone recently released its debut album, "History Of Falling." The country-rock band st...

Shark Dreams first came to our attention when singer and guitarist Mike McGraw participated in our Fort Collins Super Session earlier this year at the Music District. McGraw fronts the Denver-based quartet, which last year released the EP "Deeep." It features breezy indie rock songs that often veer into intense crescendos. Shark Dreams joined us in the CPR Performance Studio to play a fe...

Flobots recently returned to the CPR Performance Studio to preview some new music from their forthcoming album "NOENEMIES." The Denver hip-hop band explores the power of protest music on the new record. It features call-and-response choruses written to empower protesters and performed by members of the Denver community. The band performed three songs in the studio, backed by Denver gospe...

The Band Of Heathens celebrated its 10th anniversary last year and recently released its fifth studio album "Duende." The Austin, Texas, quintet incorporates elements of Americana, jam band music and country into a groovy style that's made them a live favorite in their hometown and beyond. The Band Of Heathens stopped by the CPR Performance Studio before a pair of Colorado concerts....

The members of Denver band Get Along met as high school students in Monument, Colo. Nicholas and Cara Yañez -- who are now married -- have spent five years exploring genres from synth-pop to punk rock. Their live setup includes a collection of keyboards and synthesizers -- and an electric ukulele. Get Along will release a new EP this year. The duo previewed some songs from that release in the CPR...

Natalie Tate has been busy in Denver's music scene in recent years. She's played lead guitar in Ark Life and received the "Best Singer-Songwriter" award from Westword last year. Tate recently released her second studio album, "Broken Open," which features more electronic instruments than her previous work. Tate visited the CPR Performance Studio to perform a few songs...

Tennis recently returned to the CPR Performance Studio a few days before the release of the album "Yours Conditionally." The Denver indie band has been on tour for much of 2017, and they head to California this month to play Coachella Music Festival. Tennis performed four songs from the new album and spoke with Alisha Sweeney about the feminist message behind "Ladies Don't Play...

Overcoats are emerging as one of the most exciting young bands of 2017. The New York duo recently performed at South By Southwest, appeared at NPR headquarters for a Tiny Desk Concert and landed an opening spot for Maggie Rogers' North American tour -- including a stop at Denver's Larimer Lounge last week. Overcoats brought their dreamy harmonies and synth-pop to the CPR Performance Stud...

Slothrust has drawn comparisons to guitar-driven alternative rock bands like Pixies and Dinosaur Jr. But the trio initially met as students at Sarah Lawrence College playing jazz and chamber music. That background adds an unpredictable element to their rock music. Slothrust released its third album, "Everyone Else," last fall. The band members performed a few standouts from that album in...

Strange Americans last joined us in the CPR Performance Studio in 2014. Since then the Denver roots-rockers have been at work on the follow-up to "That Kind Of Luster." We got a sneak preview of that album -- "Borrow You Brother" -- when the band returned to our studio this week. The band headlines Denver's Hi-Dive tomorrow night before a few tour dates in the Midwest. The...

Some prominent women of Denver's music scene collaborated this month for a two-night show at Denver's Syntax Physic Opera. Billed as "WMN And The Queen City Of The Plains," the unique concerts featured members of eight female-fronted Denver bands. Prior to the shows, we welcomed a few artists who participated into our CPR Performance Studio -- including Jess Parsons and members...

Slow Caves first performed in our studio in 2015. Since then the Fort Collins band has signed to the Cincinnati-based Old Flame Records and released the "Desert Minded" EP. This year they've performed at SXSW in Austin, Texas, and Treefort Music Festival in Boise, Idaho. The self-described "synth-punk" band returned to our studio earlier this month. They performed some new...

Bad Licks is a new Denver band that includes members of Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Rootbeer & Mermentau and The Blue Rider. They've released just two songs but have gained attention through live shows in Denver and beyond -- including a stop at this weekend's Treefort Music Festival in Boise, Idaho. The garage rockers stopped into our CPR Performance Studio before h...

John Craigie is a gifted storyteller whose lyrics range from humorous to melancholy. The singer-songwriter hails from California, but spends most of his time on the road and has performed in all 50 U.S. states. He released his 10th studio album, "No Rain, No Rose," earlier this year. Craigie plays a release show at Denver's Walnut Room Thursday night. Accompanied by violinist Bevin...