Mile High Musics - Pt. 2

If there's a quintessential "Denver sound" it's got to be Gothic Americana. It's dark, it's spooky, it's folky. A little bit country, a little bit rock n' roll. The style has sprouted variations all over the Centennial State and just about everywhere else. David Eugene Edwards' current project Wovenhand comes to mind. Recently defunct Denver greats Ghost Buffalo applied the gothic tinge to heavy alt-rock. Munly & the Lupercalians take the style head-on.

Truth be told, if it's laid on too thick, it can be a little kitschy. However, there's always an exception to the the rule, which brings us to...



Slim Cessna's Auto Club

With the exception of 2008's Cipher on Alternative Tentacles (yes, Jello Biafra's label), their studio releases simply don't do SCAC justice. They're without a doubt, one of the best live shows you'll see in Denver, or anywhere else for that matter. If you see them in Colorado, it's going to be loud, packed, and a shitload of fun (if you're into loud and packed.) In it's current formation the Auto Club pairs the aforementioned Munly with frontman Slim for a two-pronged attack that's at the very least, incredibly entertaining. It's half haunted hayride, half bible-thumping church service. Really. They're due at the Empty Bottle on November 3rd, so you can find out for yourself.

Check out personal favorites "Goddamn Blues Yodel #7 from Always Say Please And Thank You and "Cranston" from The Bloudy Tenent Truth And Peace.


And "Americado" from Cipher accompanied by a video shot by George Cessna:


If you can't make it to the show their 2006 live recording from Denver's Bluebird Theater, Jesus Let Me Down on Smooch is as close as you're gonna get.