Wednesday, 4 September (Bluebird Theater, Denver CO)
Jason Isbell
Raucous and out of control in his Drive By Trucker days, Jason Isbell has cleaned up his act. On his latest release, Southeastern, his new-found sobriety is an unseen contributor to the music. Oftentimes, that can create a tension that drains the energy and life out of a project -- indeed, Isbell was frightened that would be the case -- but he has harnessed the process and the state to sharpen his writing and tap into emotional clarity.
Friday, 6 September (Gothic Theatre, Denver C)
The English Beat
The 2Tone ska revival is a distant memory, even though it provided the attitude for third wave ska punk in late '80s into the '90s. The English Beat wereone of the great 2Tone-era ska bands, Their songs were incredibly catchy and their quick tempos and choppy guitars brought in a new-wave influence that gave their music some staying power. Their arrangement of Smoky Robinson's "Tears of a Clown" is probably their most well-known cut, but their originals, like "Mirror in the Bathroom" and "Save It For Later" were just as good. Even though it's been a long time since their heyday, the band still brings a hyper energy to the shows.
Whether you make the show or not, you might want to check out a new charity album centered on The English Beat, Specialized II -- Beat Teenage Cancer. Both Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger from the Beat participated, along with a host of other classic ska players.
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