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READER, WELCOME TO BOULDER.
You might think you know this city, but have you ever performed karaoke on stage at the Outback, a crowd of drunk townies singing along? Do you know where you can get four tacos for $11 or that perfect Chicago hot dog that reminds you of home?
Maybe so, but we bet you’ll still learn something new about The People’s Republic in these pages, whether you’re a
lifelong Boulderite or just passing through. Let us take you up Sunshine Canyon to a magical forest trailer filled with healing shungite that takes your bad energy to an alternate universe, leaving you with only light and love. Or over to the “industrial” part of town, where you can find Mexican breakfast, a groovy brewery and the aforementioned cheap tacos. Maybe you’re just here for the music. That’s cool: We’ve got the buzz on local
musicians and a concert schedule that will get you through the dog days of summer and well into Feral Girl Fall. So come one, come all, from the crusty hippies left over from the ’60s heyday to the shiny new CU students falling in love with the Flatirons for the first time. We’ll show you sides of Boulder you’ve never seen before. Safe journey, from your friends at Boulder Weekly.
09 DEAR WHOLE FOODS DADDY
Your survival guide for the dog days of summer
12 DIVE RIGHT IN
A greasy, gritty guide to great food and drink
16 SHUNGITE ARK
Inside a magical, rock-lined trailer up Sunshine Canyon
18 LISTEN LIKE A LOCAL
Six BoCo acts to keep your eyes and ears on
23 EAT LIKE AN EXPAT
Find the best food from your hometown here in Boulder
26 WHAT’S HAPPENING
All the concerts you need to pack your calendar
DEAR WHOLE FOODS DADDY
Your insider guide to the dog days of summer
BY GABBY VERMEIRE
We all have questions and need advice, but sometimes the pseudo therapy in the Instagram stories of astrology girlies doesn’t cut it. And, with September sneaking up like your kefir’s expiration date or your early 30s, summer abundance mindset turns to summer scarcity mindset. When you need to optimize your summer fun but don’t know how, turn to an “insider” who has no idea what they’re talking about, i.e. someone who makes memes in their spare time.
It’s been six years since I left Boulder. Do I return before summer is out to visit the horrors? For you, six years has been quite the glow-up, and you think it might be time to show Boulder what he’s been missing. Go ahead, send Boulder that risky text: I’m going to be in town, let’s maybe
catch up over coffee. I hear that Creature Comforts is pretty cute? Maybe you’ve gained a few tattoos, and Boulder has gained a Google, but that stubborn chemistry remains.
However, after a few days with your ex, Boulder, you remember that some memories are sweetest when they remain just that. You grew out of him when you realized you could also live happily in Portland or Austin without shaving your legs, and he outgrew you when your landlord raised your rent by a third to account for rising property taxes. That is to say, sometimes it’s worth a visit to remember why you’re no longer an item.
I just want a legit place to get a healthy green smoothie without having to get the ingredients myself. Please don’t suggest Wonder or Jamba Juice. Ohhh, so you’re too good for gagging on unblended chunks of banana in your Jamba Juice, or for blowing your paycheck at Wonder only to come away with a turmeric-stained mouth and an eating disorder you didn’t know you had? Well … fine, valid. You could try your luck at Thrive, but that’s really more for the heady experience. I’m going to ignore the “healthy green” part of your question because beggars can’t be choosers. However, I happen to know that Jungle makes some really lovely smoothies containing enough Coco Lopez to give you diabetes and enough rum to numb the trauma of unblended banana in your mouth
BACK TO SCHOOL FASHION GUIDE
Do I have to wear a bra to shop at Ideal Market?
For years, I lived mere blocks from Ideal Market, a quaint independent grocery store that stands in stark contrast to the sinister and corporate Whole Foods.
More days than not I went in looking like a slutty sloth, but that’s neither here nor there. Because you’re clearly asking for permission to not wear a bra at Ideal, I assume your breasts and bras have a relationship of formality rather than function. This being the case, you actually have an obligation to not wear one. No feeling on Earth can match the high of being in the frozen aisle of Ideal on a hot, late August day with nothing but a thrifted Free People top between your nips and the outside world, save maybe the feeling on July 21 when your mom texted you the Biden tweet.
For the CU undergrad Ugh, CU is truly a place of gross conformity, where frat boys wear their uniform of salmon shorts and white ankle socks and Hokas. But not you, self-identified jam band-lovin’ nature boy. I promise, if you enter your dorm equipped with a petrified pinecone necklace, an Eldorado water jug and a tastefully seasoned copy of Desert Solitaire, not one single other boy you meet will have this same exact persona. Neither will they share in your unique scheming and dreaming to turn an organic chemistry major into a career in psychedelic mushroom therapy research.
For the Naropa grad student
Don’t let Naropa’s reputation for regular classroom meditation and conscious communication lead you into complacency; if your ’fit isn’t better than everyone else’s, then you are nothing, you are garbage. That being said, with a few essential elements, you’re going to be good to go. The bigger the parachute pants, the better, especially if your top half is scantily clad enough to show off your full back tattoo that a well-meaning white mom
You have a sacred duty to go braless at Ideal Market. Courtesy: Visit Boulder
Just because you’re a Naropa grad student doesn’t mean your ’fit should suffer. Courtesy: Put This On
might describe as “ethnic.” Throw a leather buckle-y, pouch-y situation over all that and you’re golden. The vibes we’re going for are “horniest dad at the ecstatic dance” or “most spun trustfunder at Nahko Medicine for the People.”
For the outdoor educator
The sexiest occupation in Boulder is not rock gym employee or a cannabis entrepreneur: It is outdoor educator, a vague term that applies to Waldorf teacher and nature camp counselor alike. And like the sexiest among us, the outdoor educator should take their fashion cues from actual babies; I’m talking onesies, folks. Functional rompers, Carhartt overalls from McGuckin, anything that requires you to fully undress to pee in the woods. After you throw a bandana on your hair and cover your exposed skin with some ghostly mineral sunscreen, ultra-wealthy Boulder moms will practically throw their high-maintenance kiddos at you for the summer.
FINISH OUT SUMMER
LIKE A BOULDER INSIDER
It will soon be Sept. 30, and all that you will have left of summer are hazy memories of nights trying to convince yourself that getting wasted off silly cocktails on Pearl Street was the best way to spend your one wild and precious life. I get it: In a town like Boulder, where
everyone is striving to get off the beaten path, all paths can get pretty slutty. I can’t promise you the most secret places like the queer-fem orgy with the Telegram-only invite list, but a few spots still exist where you can feel like you’re bucking the mainstream. And, yeah, maybe forgoing the substances will show you how mind-blowingly intense a sober experience can be.
Come thirsty to Harlequin’s Gardens
The best part of summer is objectifying unconventionally hot, granola Boulder men. Before the PC Police pipe up, let me say that any guy who is wearing capris and hasn’t showered in days is clearly asking to be (respectfully) leered at. But where to find a dirt-daddy now that techbros have permanently occupied the Pearl bars and Sturtz & Copeland has moved? Just a short drive east of town, you’ll find a paradise of heirloom varietals and xeriscaping expertise, where literally every man owns his own permaculture LLC, knows the difference between compost tea and compost, and can dirty-talk to you (hehe) about regenerative agriculture all night long.
Nourish your third eye at Thrive
If you’re looking for a fun way to spend
the last couple weeks of summer, that’s about the amount of time it takes to make a smoothie at Thrive, ayo! I jest: Yes, the gentlefolk working at the allorganic, vegan raw food hotspot operate on a timeline far more ancient and cosmic than our own, but that’s fine because it gives you plenty of time to flip through the book of abstract yoni art on the counter.
Slip into a (naked) dream in Dream Canyon
In darker days, Dream Canyon was known as a safe spot for gay men to meet up with each other free from the danger of prying eyes. Now that the gay experience in Boulder is more under threat from the crushing oppression of bland heteronormativity, Dream Canyon has gained a modern-day reputation as a popular climbing area and nudist hotspot. Is it as untouched and esoteric a place as it once was? No, but as with Boulder in general, that’s OK. Few things truly special can remain secret, and if you can stomach sharing the terrain with the crude masses, the things that matter will still be there: namely tight, naked asses and magic mountain sunsets.
The smoothie artisans at Thrive in Boulder operate on a timeline far more ancient and cosmic than our own. Courtesy: HappyCow
Once a clandestine getaway for local gay dudes, Dream Canyon is now the spot for naked asses and mountain sunsets. Courtesy: Reddit
TITLE LOCAL FLAVOR
Your guide to diners and dives in Boulder
BY BOULDER WEEKLY STAFF
As Boulder Weekly strove to round up a few of Boulder and Longmont’s dingiest bars and greasiest diners, we were stuck on the central question: What, exactly, defines a dive?
Is it that quality of being stuck in time — or, some would argue, timeless — from the hodge-podge hanging on the walls to the weather-beaten regulars? The aroma of stale beer or the sound of a shoe coming unstuck from the floor? Perhaps it is other unknown qualities that, while you may be not able to name them, add a certain grit to an establishment. Whatever other criteria you might have, one definitive characteristic is the people such places serve: locals. In towns increasingly filled with transplants and tourists, a neighborhood bar or restaurant is a must.
OUTBACK SALOON
3141 28th St.
8 a.m. to 2 a.m. 7 days a week
Part of a dive bar’s charm is its location: squeezed into a strip mall, tucked in the corner of an industrial park or in a dark basement. Outback Saloon, known to locals as simply the Outback, is perfectly situated next to a sex shop (May-Bee’s by Fascination) and a used book store (The Bookworm).
On the Sunday afternoon I saunter in, owner Matt Wolvington is trying to tune the bar’s main TV to the Little League World Series. North Boulder is in the regionals, and the Outback is hosting a watch party for a couple dozen adults and children. Wolvington himself was on the North Boulder team that made it to San Bernardino, California, in the early ’90s;
his team jacket is draped over a chair. He offers it to a patron who wanders in without the proper green attire.
Wolvington took ownership of the Outback in 2022 when his father, William W. Wolvington, passed away. A corner seat at the bar is permanently reserved for the late W.W.W., where he used to sit and smoke, cradling a cigarette in the hand of his one arm.
“We opened April 2, 1990,” the younger Wolvington said. “My first job was here cleaning the bar when I was 15 before school, for $15.”
Not much has changed since then. That’s one of the hallmarks of a good dive bar, according to Wolvington.
“I don’t want to change what this place is,” he said. “We have people coming in that have been coming for 30 years, 20 years. You know you can walk in the door and it’s the Outback. I want to make sure the character stays the same.”
Part of that character is karaoke, offered Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. Mark Nelson has been hosting for “close to 20 years,” Wolvington said.
“We actually had a group in here from Tokyo” recently, he said. Japan is, of course, the birthplace of karaoke; the word itself translates to “empty orchestra.” Wolvington jokes that the Outback is “now internationally known” for its karaoke.
Despite the three decades it’s been in business, plenty of Boulderites still don’t know about the Outback. It lacks the central downtown location of Pearl Street
Pub or the Sundowner, or the acclaim of the Dark Horse and its “world-famous burgers” — though Wolvington says he would “put our burgers, our wings, our steak sandwich” against any place in town. Late night revelers can order a Tombstone pizza even after the kitchen closes. No word on whether or not the bar’s infamous popcorn machine will ever restart.
“Undecided,” Wolvington said. “I get asked that question all the time. If it’s gonna bring 100 more people a day in the door, sure.”
What the Outback has is clear dive bar bonafides, from its pool tables, neon signs and sports regalia to its dingy carpeted floors.
“I am biased, but I think we’re the only true dive bar” in Boulder, Wolvington said, one that serves the neighborhood at night and blue collar workers during the day.
“When we got named best dive bar however long ago, my dad was offended. I had to explain it was a good thing. It doesn’t mean your place is a piece of shit. It used to mean that, but it took on a different connotation.
“I think it’s a place that hopefully is welcoming, where you feel comfortable and it’s not pretentious or you can sit and chat with people. It can still be clean, it can still smell nice. One of the biggest comments I hear is, ‘Oh it reminds me of home.’ It makes you feel like you belong there.”
— Shay Castle
The Outback hosted a watch party for the North Boulder under-12 team, who competed in the mountain regional division of the Little League World Series in August 2024. Courtesy: Matt Wolvington
The late William W. Wolvington, founder of The Outback Saloon. Courtesy: Matt Wolvington
TITLE
LA CHOZA
4457 Broadway
8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday 2500 47th St.
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday
An old roommate of mine, an East Coaster, was incredulous that any good food could come from a strip mall. Because of this prejudice, he missed out on some of Boulder’s best spots — The Gondolier, Village Coffee Shop, Curry N Kebob — until I set him straight. Such is the case with La Choza. Its two locations are easy to dismiss: an industrial park food truck and a North Boulder strip mall. The OG La Choza location was even more so. It operated as a food truck by the Sinclair gas station on the corner of two highways (now apartments).
It fits: La Choza translates to “The Hut.” And any taco aficionado knows the best ones often come from the most
overlooked places: a cart near a gas station, a dingy shack.
Despite the humble digs, owner Ricardo Miramonte has big plans for “two, three, maybe five” more restaurants. He puts in about 80 hours a week at the business, he said — down slightly from the 98 he was working in 2016, as reported by the Daily Camera — and he has a side hustle renting dumpsters.
“I’m tired,” he admits, “but I have to complete my dream.”
He made progress with a University Hill takeout location in 2013, but that closed during the pandemic. Despite the setback, Miramonte still believes expansion is possible.
The chef of 30 years is not shaken by the newer competition in town: Business is steady, he says. His regulars are loyal and his product is undeniably delicious.
“I had one customer today, they ordered birria tacos for the first time,” he said during our early August interview. “They came back 20 minutes later for more.” — Shay Castle
Four tacos al pastor from La Choza’s NoBo location will run you $11 (plus tax). Credit: BW staff
La Choza translates to “the hut,” an appropriate name for their North Boulder location. Credit: BW staff
TITLE
PARKWAY CAFE
4700 Pearl St. #4
6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday
The surrounding warehouses might have you wondering if you’re in the right spot as you turn into the parking lot, but Parkway Cafe’s industrial neighborhood east of downtown belies its homey interior. Its inconspicuous location has kept it off the beaten path for years, and that’s just how locals like it.
With a quaint, beflowered patio outside and cozy booths and bright walls inside, the cafe has been serving up American and Mexican breakfast and lunch since 1987. On the sunny Tuesday when I visit, there’s a steady flow of hungry families, workers and retirees, but there’s never a wait.
It’s clear Parkway is a well-worn spot full of regulars — everyone seems at home here. One woman who comes in for a pick-up order greets a waitress with a hug, and I overhear another table sharing updates on their family with their server.
Parkway’s menu offerings range from pancakes and burgers to huevos rancheros and chile rellenos. For latesleeping brunch lovers, Parkway gets extra points for serving breakfast all day. I order the chilaquiles with red chile at my server’s suggestion. The heaping plate of stewed tortilla chips — complete
with pico de gallo, queso fresco and over easy eggs with a side of refried beans — is in front of me in a matter of minutes.
I look over to the pile of crispy hashbrowns a kid at a nearby table is diving into and experience a brief moment of potato envy before returning to my savory chip-filled plate with gratitude. I can come back, I remind myself. It’s all delicious, and the real star of the show is the homemade hot sauce placed on my table after the food arrives. After I’m completely full, I keep taking just one more bite, the true sign of good greasy grub. Kaylee Harter
VISIONQUEST BREWERY
2510 47th St., Suite A2
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday
Did you have that cool cousin, too? The one with foiled and framed concert posters and a ridiculously large prog-rock collection on vinyl, a projector that shoots rainforest images onto the ceiling of their basement and a copy of Infinite Jest they actually read. Your family members use the word “out-there” or “odd” when talking about them, but those are just other ways of saying “unique” or “real.” The Wednesday I walked into VisionQuest Brewery, I thought of my cool cousin and smiled. Spaceships and aliens dance
Parkway Cafe is a hidden gem for great greasy grub. Credit: Kaylee Harter
TITLE
around the walls inside this garageturned-brewery off Foothills Parkway. It’s midday, so it’s pretty quiet, but the space is alive. Ceiling lights meant to resemble hops look like cocoons hanging from the ceiling, and a million stickers litter the wall behind the bar, where “beermaster/bro” Alex Piper stands chatting with a customer.
Piper knows what they’ve got at VisionQuest Brewery is special.
“It’s the people, man,” he says. “We’ve got a funky group over here.”
VisionQuest embraces the authentic — a relic of days past that used to define Boulder, but now only exists in select spots across the city. It permeates through their taproom, from the employees to beer names like Kiwi Herman NZ Lager, The Magical Liopleurodon and Paging Dr. Blondie. The seating is naturally inviting: a mishmash of stools and leatherback swivel chairs, nearly all at high-top roundtables.
“You know Twisted Pine Brewery? We’re crooked furniture,” Piper says with a laugh.
If we would’ve come the night before, we would’ve been treated to Turntable Tuesdays, a weekly gathering for music on wax and dancing, hosted by Piper himself. “We’ve got events all week,” Piper says. Some nights there’s an open mic, others there’s live music, but even if there’s not something happening on stage,
there are friends and conversations to be found. It’s been that way since they opened nine years ago.
“Who designed the cans?” My friend asks. Piper points to a man who has appeared in the corner of the space, rummaging through their fridge. He’s got hair dyed a deep red and tattoos around his forearms. His name is Jake Johanson, known by most as “Mad King.”
“I was here when they opened the place,” Johanson says. “I design the cans — each one is a slight variation in color from the subsequent design.”
The cans are blasted with technicolor dreamscapes, bursting with color, featuring goldfish in headphones, octopi and cats. Similar works cover lanterns and the walls of VisionQuest, all of which were likely created in Phoenix Asylum, the community art space and neighbor to the brewery where Johanson applies his craft.
As I finish up my Headier Than Thou Hazy IPA, I can’t help but feel content with my brief time at VisionQuest. For a space filled with psychedelic and extraterrestrial artwork, it’s so real. VisionQuest is outthere, but that’s exactly what makes it undeniably great. Johanson agrees.
“Places like this are keeping Boulder weird.” — Carter Ferryman
round?
VisionQuest Brewery in Boulder is a psychedelic experience. Courtesy: VisionQuest Brewery
TRAILER TREASURE
Find the ‘miracle stone of Russia’ inside the Shungite Ark STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAYLEE HARTER
Atop Sunshine Canyon sits a small trailer with the lure of healing physical, psychological and spiritual ailments.
Yes, a trailer.
It’s called the Shungite Ark, created by Vera and Timothy Dobson and opened in 2021. The inside of the trailer is lined with two tons of shungite, a carbon-rich rock found in Russia, Vera’s home country, that has a range of purported, but mostly unproven, benefits.
“A few people who are all psychics, separate times, told me the same thing,” Vera says. “They feel that shungite is taking negative energy from us to a different universe and then transform this negative energy there into the light and bring it back. Some people said it’s like a portal.”
Another woman, Timothy says, “had this deep connection with Mother Earth, like being in the midst of 5,000 pounds of this ancient stone.
“She just felt sort of the agony — I
she was in there — because she felt the earth was speaking to her.”
Alleged benefits of shungite run the gamut from these personal, spiritual experiences to more dubious scientific ones. As one Healthline article puts it: “There’s little scientific evidence on the benefits of shungite — many are anecdotal or need more solid research.”
The Dobsons say they chose to build the room inside a trailer in hopes it might be moved to a medical establishment to one day further that very research.
Among the claims about shungite is that it can neutralize negative impacts of electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs) from phones, WiFi and microwaves.
(According to the World Health Organization, “to date, no adverse health effects from low-level, long-term exposure to radiofrequency or power frequency fields have been confirmed, but scientists are actively continuing to research this area.”)
Many shungite disciples also drink water treated with the stone — a practice reportedly pioneered by Czar Peter the Great, who opened a shungite spa in the 1700s and encouraged the Russian army to drink the water. (According to a 2021 study published in the Journal of Water & Health, while shungite “exhibits
The couple had never heard of shungite until that belchy moment in 2018, but after Deborah, Shanti’s wife, said she would invest in building a shungite room on the property, the couple got to exploring. They flew to Germany to visit a shungite room housed inside of a hotel, which has since been disassembled and moved to Salzburg, Austria.
“In half an hour, I knew that I will have my own. I felt so good,” Vera says. “I felt like I’m a huge cloud.”
A few days later, she was visiting a shungite quarry in Russia and put a deposit down on the stone needed to build a room back in Boulder.
For Timothy and Vera, who have been married 25 years, the Ark is just one of several ventures. The couple met in 1998, when Timothy, who has called Boulder home for nearly five decades, was leading a dance of universal peace in Russia.
antibacterial properties” and “good absorption” for organic materials and heavy metals, it also leeches heavy metals such as lead and nickel into water.)
Vera and Timothy don’t make any promises about the experience. The waiver states that “the operators of the Shungite Ark have made no warranty, express or implied, as to the effect of sitting in the Shungite Ark or of drinking water that has been treated with Shungite.”
“Across the board, people come out deeply relaxed,” Timothy says. “That’s kind of like the baseline marker, right? I mean, they’re laying in a zero gravity chair on the floor. They’re listening to music. Of course, that’s very relaxing. But something about the shungite field tends to take them to, like, a deeper level of that.”
‘A HUGE CLOUD’
The couple’s path to the Shungite Ark began when Shanti, a VRBO guest on their property, came into their living room, holding a piece of shungite on his hip as he burped.
“He said that he had a pain in his hip, and he was treating it with shungite, and the burping was a sign of discharging the tension that was in his hip,” Timothy says.
Vera came to the states a year later and moved onto the Sunshine Canyon property where the couple still lives, home to the Ark, an herb-growing greenhouse and Starhouse, a 12-sided mountain temple where Timothy serves as a minister and sacred dance facilitator.
Vera also makes beeswax candles and offers “guided sessions for self-healing.” During our interview, she offers to give me a “soul scan,” during which I stand up and close my eyes as she stands across from me.
“Your mind is very, very bright, but your body is tired,” she tells me after a few moments. “Your soul shows you just need to sleep more.”
Fair enough.
A chunk of the couple’s income comes from their Siberian Neva Masquerade cat breeding business — the hypoallergenic blue-eyed, long-haired kittens run $2,000 a piece. There are currently 11 kittens available for adoption in their home.
The trailer doesn’t get many visitors, the couple says, but it’s becoming more popular in certain circles — reiki masters, psychics and other energetic healers. One particularly notable visitor, they tell me, was actress Carrie-Anne Moss, known for her leading role in The Matrix, who wrote in a testimonial, “relaxing, grounding, just amazing.”
Other testimonials featured on the Ark’s website include metaphysical stories of chakra opening and aura cleansing as well as more physical stories of chronic
Vera and Timothy Dobson opened the Shungite Ark in 2021.
pain reduction. One man, Vera and Timothy say, claims he cured his Lyme disease after several sessions in the Ark. A wheelchair-bound man came about three times in hopes it might heal him, Timothy says.
“Yeah… but it didn’t work for him,” Vera says.
“Depending on the person and their receptors and what they’re sensitive to, what they’re aware of, you know, makes a big difference,” Timothy adds.
‘YOU WILL FEEL IT’
I see myself as an open-minded skeptic in these sorts of ventures, willing to try anything once. When I tried a sensory deprivation tank a few years back, I fell deeply asleep: The front desk worker had to pound on the tank to wake me up. It was a good snooze, but I did not see God or have a “drug-free psychedelic experience,” as the worker mentioned I might.
When I arrive at the Shungite Ark, only about 15 minutes away from downtown Boulder, the first thing I notice is how tranquil the property is. It’s quiet, save for birds chirping, buzzing bugs and the occasional plane flying overhead. There’s been a scheduling mix-up, so I don’t enter the Ark that day, but I feel relaxed after sitting in nature for a bit.
The next morning, Vera and Timothy are ready for me. They’re enthusiastic and kind, greeting me with wide smiles. I step into the trailer’s first door, where an
array of shungite jewelry and small shungite pyramids are on display for sale.
Vera tells me to remove my shoes and Garmin watch and to turn off my phone. “Electromagnetic waves — you don’t need their influence,” she tells me later. “You just feel yourself with the pure state.”
I sleep with my phone under my pillow most nights, so it’s not something I’ve ever been particularly concerned about, but I’m happy to oblige.
As someone who spends most of their days looking at a screen — for work, for
pleasure, by force of habit — brain rot is my baseline. I ask her if she has any advice or if there’s anything I should do to make the most of my time in the room.
“No,” she says. “You will feel it.”
We enter the shungite room, where the floor and walls are meticulously covered in the smooth, black rock. In the room, there are two “zero-gravity chairs” and a mattress set up in the corner with cozy looking pillows. I choose to lay on the mattress.
“That’s good,” Vera says. “You’ll be closer to shungite.”
She hands me two stone cylinders, one made of shungite and the other made of quartz. She tells me to start with these, and then I can switch to a large, more raw piece of shungite in one hand while holding other large stones — such as bronzite and amethyst — in the other.
A small, fuzzy rug in the corner of the room lays next to a large rock that Vera tells me was found in the forest. “Very powerful,” she says.
I’ll feel a different energy with each rock, she tells me, but won’t tell me what those energies will be — she wants me to experience it for myself.
As she closes the door she says, “See you in 45 minutes!”
Forty-five minutes? When was the last time I had gone 45 minutes (or even 15) without any concept of time? Without having a screen anywhere near me?
Sure, I camp without phone service, but then there are tasks. When was the last
time I had nothing to do but just be?
Music comes in through the trailer’s speakers, mostly singing bowls and what I would describe as meditation music. My mind chatters for a bit, as it does almost constantly, but eventually it quiets.
I rotate through holding the different rocks, but I can’t say I feel the promised different energies. At one point, though, I have the sensation of energy flowing through my body and emptying out of my foot — I hope it’s the bad stuff.
At another point, I hear a helicopter that sounds suspiciously close. It breaks the spell momentarily as I wonder about the possibility of a chopper picking up the trailer and taking me away. It will make for a good story, I think before drifting back into meditation.
After what feels like a matter of minutes, Timothy knocks on the door and tells me to take my time getting up.
I’m relaxed, and I wish my session wasn’t over. My brain rot feels as if it’s reversed. Was it the miracle stone of Russia cleansing my aura and opening my chakras, or was it the purifying effect of not looking at my phone and shutting up my mindchatter for a little while?
No one can say for sure, but I felt better for it.
Sessions in the Shungite Ark run $30, and require appointments in advance. Group sessions available for up to eight people. Vist shungiteark.com for details.
The hypoallergenic Siberian Neva Masquerade Cats bred by the Dobsons run $2,000.
Vera Dobson often sleeps in the Shungite Ark. “In the morning, I feel like every cell of my body has been cleaned,” she said. “Every cell so grateful to me.”
TITLE THE BOCO SOUND
These six music acts will have you listening like a local
BY JUSTIN CRIADO
Any true insider knows local music is the best way to get a lay of the land. That’s especially true here in Boulder County, where you might catch anything from ambient Americana to good old-fashioned alt rock on a given night. And with healthy hometown support, many groups are now taking their acts on the road — and, in one case, overseas. So whatever sound speaks to you, be sure to check out these local bands, wherever they play.
CARD CATALOG
Card Catalog has been at it for more than a decade at this point. But the Boulder County alt-rockers have recalibrated after the additions of original bassist Kelton Kragor and lead guitarists Davy Ford and Will Perkins earlier this year.
Coming off a headlining show at the Fox Theatre in August, Card Catalog, which also includes vocalist and rhythm guitarist Jenn Tatro and drummer Kevin Kirkpatrick, is ready to leverage the new
lineup to take their sound to the next level.
“Between all of us there’s enough chemistry and energy to create some new original content,” Kirkpatrick says.
The personnel changes came after the release of the band’s Snow Moon EP in January, and the quintet is excited to get to work on what’s next. Card Catalog’s three latest songs find the outfit taking on a heavier tone than their previous bluesrock output. Tatro hints that the group may stay in that lane.
“Kelton and I have some ideas for sure. We got stuff that we’ve been working on privately,” she says. “I’d like to present some things and figure out if we’re going to keep going in that direction.”
In the meantime, the best way to see what Card Catalog is up to the rest of this year is by catching them live, either opening for Emily Wolfe on Aug. 29 at Denver’s Black Buzzard, during Left Hand Oktoberfest in Longmont on Sept. 27 or at Lafayette Music Fest on Oct. 5.
PINK FUZZ
John Demitro, guitarist of Boulder-born power trio Pink Fuzz, can barely catch his breath when talking about the band’s busy schedule.
After kicking off the year with two new singles — “Decline” and “Ain’t No Friend” — and a sold-out headlining show at Denver’s Bluebird Theater, Pink Fuzz hit the road for tours spanning the country, including stops at South by Southwest in Austin and Idaho’s Treefort Music Fest.
The desert-rock group, which also includes bassist-vocalist Lulu Demitro (John’s sister) and drummer Alec Doniger, made a home of the road since coming together in 2017. And John says that’s not going to change anytime soon.
“We’ve been hitting these markets at least once every three months and are excited to announce new tours going back to these markets and more major cities in the fall,” he says. “Stay tuned for dates.”
Boasting a new lineup with twin lead guitars, Boulder County’s Card Catalog is taking their sound in a heavier direction. Courtesy: Gary Sheer Photography
Boulder psych-rock trio Pink Fuzz is led by siblings Lulu and John Demitro. Credit: Hannah Thurston
Prairiewolf returns with their sophomore album Deep Time on Sept. 20. Credit: Agatha June
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In August, Pink Fuzz announced its next album with their new single “Long Gone.” While an official release date hasn’t yet been pinned down, the guitarist goes over the plan of attack.
“We will be releasing five singles every six weeks up until the album drop, along with some music videos sprinkled in,” he says.
Recorded in five days at 5th Street Studios in Austin, the 10-song offering was produced by Kevin McKeown of Black Pistol Fire, while Alain Johannes (Queens of the Stone Age and Them Crooked Vultures) mixed it.
“It was a huge deal to have this group of people working on it,” Demitro says.
It’s safe to say Pink Fuzz isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Full speed ahead.
PRAIRIEWOLF
Prairiewolf quickly became a BoCo favorite after the synth-loving trio released their self-titled debut last year.
Stefan Beck (guitar and pedal steel), Tyler Wilcox (bass) and Jeremy Erwin (keys and synth) aren’t wasting any time with the follow-up. The ambient Americana outfit recently announced their sophomore effort, Deep Time, will be out on Sept. 20 via Nashville’s Centripetal Force Records.
Like the first album, recording took place at Erwin’s home studio in Nederland and features 10 tracks.
Wilcox explains that the new batch of songs “run the gamut from psych-motorik bangers to exotica-flecked jams.” Fort Collins multi-instrumentalist Matt Loewen, who performs as Rayonism, makes a guest appearance, too.
“He adds a ridiculously nice oboe solo to one tune,” Wilcox says.
While no singles have been shared yet, a local release show is tentatively planned for late September. In the meantime, Prairiewolf is burning up the local circuit by playing throughout the Front Range as much as possible, including recent gigs at Boulder’s own Trident Cafe and Globe Hall in Denver.
“We made our first foray out of Colorado this spring, taking things out West for some great shows in Los Angeles, Oakland and Salt Lake City, playing with some of our favorite musicians — guitar phenom Hayden Pedigo, pedal-steel maestro Chuck Johnson and ambient genius M. Sage,” Wilcox says.
“We’re hoping to do some more touring later this year, or perhaps early 2025, on the East Coast or Midwest.”
No matter where it is, Prairiewolf is sure to mesmerize and surprise.
FRI. SEP 6
REDRUM, PINK LEMONADE
SEP 11 GROVE & FRIENDS THU. SEP 12
NEAL FRANCIS MANYCOLORS
FRI. SEP 13
HOSTAGE SITUATION TWOPERCENT, RSENIK, G3O
SAT. SEP 14
BADFISH (TRIBUTE TO SUBLIME) STYLIE
TUE. SEP 17
JOHN MORELAND JUSTIN BLOSS
WED. SEP 18
WEEEKLY K-POP GIRL GROUP
THU. SEP 19
MONSTER RALLY X KAINALU
FRI. SEP 20
LESPECIAL MIKE DILLON & PUNKADELICK
SAT. SEP 21
MR. MOTA
BETTER HALLWAY VISION
SUN. SEP 22
SAVE ALAYA PRESCHOOL: A BENEFIT CONCERT EMMA ROSE (OF SOUND OF HONEY), HUNTER STONE BAND
Boulder alt-rock outfit No Signal is sending a message loud and clear. Courtesy: No Signal
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NO SIGNAL
Don’t let the name fool you — Boulder’s No Signal is never out of service. In fact, as vocalist and guitarist Riley Schmelzer confesses, the music is full bars all the time.
“No Signal’s music is an immersive experience,” he says.
THE DIRTY TURKEYS
Touring is the best way to learn what being in a band is all about, especially the ruthless grind of a DIY run. The Dirty Turkeys are currently taking a crash course.
That’s how it’s been since the 22-year-old started putting out original work under the name in 2018. Now with bassist Jake DeMarco and drummer Nic Kubes on board, the trio is diving deeper with their latest release, Distorted Reality
Dealing with themes of self-destruction, technology and Big Brother, Distorted Reality is No Signal’s modern-day rock opera. But as Schmelzer points out, there is more than one storyline to follow throughout the 16 tracks.
“There is a choice to take the tracks as chapter pieces or as standalone stories,” he says. “Either way gets the listener closer to the overall story of the record.”
It’s ultimately up to the listener to decipher the meaning behind the music. Schmelzer won’t spell it out for us, but instead teases what’s next.
“I can tell you that there are two EP-length projects in the works,” he says. “Our best work yet, so we are quite excited for it.”
The Boulder psych group featuring Brad “Gonzo” Hansen (vocals), Russ Hansen (guitar), Sam Baker (bass) and Ty Tullar (drums) is criss-crossing the West this summer, wandering from Colorado to California and back for a finale at the Fox Theatre on Aug. 30.
“We really have learned a ton about our industry and our band dynamic by jumping head first into a two-month tour,” Tullar says. “We’ve learned how to work with different venues every night, work with each other and promote our music efficiently.
“At the end of the day, it’s us versus the world,” he continues. “And while packing five grown men into a van for eight weeks is bound to stir some disagreements, we maintain our shared passion for music and the friendship this band was founded upon.”
While passing the road test with flying colors, the next assignment for the fivepiece is sharing more music. After releasing “Benny” in May, the Dirty Turkeys dropped “Undercover Billionaire” in July from the road. Next up is a new song in September, according to Tullar.
Local psych-rock newcomers the Dirty Turkeys are students of the road. Credit: Olivia Shea
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“We’ve continued writing songs and working on new material while on the road,” he says. “We plan to continue putting out the best work we have to offer.”
CELLISTA
Freya Cellista of Longmont is a worldclass cellist in her own right, but the virtuoso’s shows are unlike any classical performance you’ve likely ever seen.
Cellista is an aerial cellist, specializing in playing her instrument from a trapeze perch 15 feet above the stage. This
chamber circus of sorts is best exemplified in her latest multi-disciplinary performance, Élégie, telling the story of a curious blackbird as it navigates a dystopian world.
“It combines live cello music, static trapeze and immersive storytelling to explore themes of loss, memory and transformation through the tale of a shape-shifting blackbird that awakens one morning to find that the citizens of the city she lives alongside have mysteriously vanished,” she says. “The work invites audiences into a deeply emotional and visually stunning journey, blending elements of classical music with contemporary circus arts.”
Since debuting the piece at the Dairy Arts Center in March, Cellista has brought Élégie to the West Coast and U.K. She says her two engagements across the pond, in London and Cardiff, were particularly exhilarating.
“Both shows were well-received and introduced me to new, enthusiastic audiences,” Cellista says.
While she’s not done with Élégie yet, Cellista is looking forward to joining the ATLAS B2 residency at CU Boulder this fall, during which she’ll work with digital artist Monica Bolles.
“This project explores the intersection of fantasy and science fiction, blending themes of mystery, nature and technological innovation,” she says.
Longmont aerial cellist Freya Cellista performs classical music with a 15-foot twist. Credit: Temira Decay/Yellow Bubbles Photography
NO PLATE LIKE HOME
An Insider guide to outsider dishes
BY CARTER FERRYMAN
It’s not exactly breaking news that Colorado is full of transplants. It’s gorgeous out here! How can we blame anyone for trading in the sights and sounds of their respective birthplaces for mountain trails and sunny skies?
Still, no matter how much time you spend at altitude, the taste and smells of your favorite hometown cuisine stick with you. Luckily, Boulder has what you need. So if your pallet is feeling a bit homesick, we’re hoping this list of regional favorites, located right here, will fill that Chicago hot dog-shaped hole in your heart.
SKYLINE CHILI –CINCINNATI
Cafe Blue 5280 Spine Road, Suite 103, Boulder
Skyline Chili is a sacred institution in Ohio’s southernmost hub, the most popular spot for heaping plates of spaghetti, cheddar cheese and chili. The closest you can get to experiencing this pile of glorious slop (besides buying the Skyline brand’s canned chili at the market) is Cafe Blue, whose menu item called “Cincinnati chili” is an impressive homage to this regional favorite. You can even ask
for a four-way or a five-way — if you’re into that sort of thing — and the chef will happily pile on beans, onions or both. (We prefer four-ways at Boulder Weekly.) Hell, they’ll even put it in a bun with a hot dog (called a coney), rounding out a true Cincinnati chili experience.
EGGS SARDOU –NEW ORLEANS
Lucile’s Creole Cafe 2124 14th St., Boulder
Where cities like Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Nashville have one or two specialty items, New Orleans has an entire menu. Lucky for us, one of the Front Range’s most successful breakfast chains is slinging dishes from The Big Easy in Boulder, Longmont and Erie, among other locations. Their red beans and rice are perfectly hearty, their gumbo isn’t too thick or too salty, but the star of the show may just be their eggs sardou. A traditional Creole offering, Lucile’s nails this rich, bright breakfast dish. Two beds — one grits, the other creamed spinach — cover the bottom of the plate. Poached eggs and gulf shrimp lay atop these delectable sides like pillows. Doesn’t that sound heavenly?
NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN –NASHVILLE
The Post Chicken & Beer 2027 13th St., Boulder
The breaded triad of chicken preparation — tenders/nuggets, wings and fried chicken — has American dining culture in a chokehold. Folks far and wide are dunking them in sauce, frying them with peculiar oils, throwing them between slices of bread, and so much more. In Nashville, it’s been the same old song and dance since the Prince family turned up the heat nearly a century ago.
While it’s next to impossible to recreate the crunch and kick of Prince’s Hot Chicken, The Post is doing a darn good job of it. We recommend rounding up friends and family, finding a patch of grass at a park and splitting the tab on “The Throwdown” — 16 pieces of their chicken, tossed in Nashville hot for a satisfying burn, four sides (get the collard greens with pork belly if you know what’s good for you) and some biscuits.
HAWAIIAN BARBECUE –HONOLULU
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue 2323 30th St., Boulder
Barbecue as a midday meal is a source of great pride in Hawaii. They keep things simple but effective: a couple scoops of rice, a spoonful of macaroni salad and a protein (typically chicken, pork, beef or a local catch). Johnson Kam and Eddie Flores Jr. brought this staple meal to the states at the turn of the century, and today, we’ve got one of their L&L Hawaiian Barbecue locations right here in Boulder.
While the choice between the sweet Kalua Pork, tangy chicken teriyaki or full-
The Post Chicken & Beer
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bodied barbecue beef is up to you (and you can’t go wrong), two dishes are required purchases. Their macaroni salad is to die for — it’s the sort of shamelessly creamy variation that induces nostalgic memories of summer cookouts. And if you’re going to L&L, you have to get a SPAM musubi, or you didn’t really go. Rice, seaweed, marinated and grilled spam: It’ll have you hopping on the SPAM-wagon after your first bite.
CHICAGO-STYLE HOT DOG AND ITALIAN BEEF –CHICAGO
Mustard’s Last Stand 1719 Broadway, Boulder
Chicago likes big, extravagant food staples. It’s a city with long winters and disappointing sports teams, so to numb the pain, Chicagoans lean on thick pies, monstrous beef hoagies and hot dogs featuring the whole garden. While true tavern-style and deep dish are tough to find in Boulder (visit Wyman’s #5 in Denver for those), Chicago dogs
and Italian beef sandwiches can be found in the middle of town at Mustard’s Last Stand.
A Chicago dog is a harmonious sum of its parts, and this place doesn’t leave out any of them: a Vienna weiner, mustard, celery salt, sport peppers, tomato, pickle, chopped onion and neon-green relish, all on a poppy seed bun — absolutely no ketchup. The Italian beef is simpler, but its flavor is simply undeniable: sliced beef simmered in Italian gravy, with giardiniera, green and hot peppers and grilled onions. Mustard’s Last Stand nails both. Next time you’re there, don’t cheat yourself: Get one of each, struggle to eat them on your drive and take a half-day nap when you get home, Chicago style.
LOBSTER ROLL –NEW ENGLAND
Maine Shack 2010 16th St., Boulder
Of all the regional bites in this article, the lobster roll may be the hardest to replicate outside of its native land. We’re as close to Maine as Maine is to Ireland, so fresh lobster in our neck of the woods seems impossible. At Maine Shack, they see it as a worthy challenge. They receive orders — wild-caught ethically and sustainably, from Stonington, Maine — a few times a week. You get one of two choices: the Maine way, served chilled, or the Connecticut way, served warm. We’re
Maine Shack
not here to settle the debate on which is better; we’re just here to tell you that at Maine Shack, they’re both worth battling downtown traffic.
STREET TACOS –LOS ANGELES
Shreddy’s Tacos
2690 Baseline Road, Boulder
Los Angeles natives will beat it into your head that, on every corner of their precious city, you can pay a few bucks and get the best street taco you’ve ever had. They’re right, but in essence, the simplicity of a street taco can be replicated almost anywhere. Shreddy’s Tacos, Boulder’s newest vendor of Mexican fare, honed their craft in the shadow of Winter Park’s ski mountain and found brick and mortar solace just off Baseline Road. Their carne asada is mouth-watering, and they’ve got their al-pastor marinade all the way down, but our favorite may very well be the nopales — a vegetarian option, made from the nopal cactus pads, that possesses a deep, earthy flavor, paired with cream and chopped onion.
Read about another staff pick for street taco on p. 13
RIBS
AND SMOKED PORK –
MEMPHIS
KT’s BBQ
2660 Broadway, Boulder
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No city knows its way around a pig like Memphis. The shoulder, the belly, the ribs — they’ve got a dish for every stop, from head to toe. KT’s BBQ brings the pork-forward world of Memphis to our lunch and dinner plates. Kirk and Tricia Jamison have kept the chain family-owned for 30 years, and the quality hasn’t wavered a bit.
We recommend either the dryrubbed pork ribs or the hickorysmoked pork shoulders, both of which are perfectly tender and flavorful, and a perfect partner to one of their two regionally based barbecue sauces: the tangier Kirk’s Memphis sauce, or the sweeter Tricia’s Texas sauce. Get both mains, both sauces and mix-andmatch until you find your perfect pairing.
“There’s something in the water that makes them special,” they’ll tell you. We don’t know if that’s scientifically true, but it’s hard to argue that the best bagels on the planet call The Big Apple home. Since 2020, Danna Fleishman has carved out a slice of the east coast in Full Cycle’s parking lot. Her food truck, Fleishman’s Bagels and Delicatessen, does things the right way: Every last bagel is handrolled, boiled and baked. Want some white fish salad with yours? They’ve got it. How about some capers, onion and lox? Of course. Looking for Taylor ham, egg and cheese? Danna and her team have you covered.
Your new favorite place for date nights, pre-show dinners & special family meals. Featuring a wonderful selection of cocktails, wines, classic French & Spanish dishes.
Your new favorite place for date nights,
dinners & special family meals. Featuring a wonderful selection of cocktails, wines, classic French & Spanish dishes.
for brunch, happy hour & dinner. www.cafeaion.com (303) 993-8131
for brunch, happy hour & dinner. www.cafeaion.com (303) 993-8131
TURN IT UP
Schedule your concert slate in Boulder with this guide BY BOULDER WEEKLY STAFF
BOULDER THEATER
2032 14th St.
OHGEESY WITH 310BABII AND YUNG CHOWDER 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30. $35
SUSHANT KC WITH THE BANGERS. 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31. $60
SHAKEDOWN STREET 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6. $12 (free before 9 p.m.)
HERE COME THE MUMMIES WITH POST SEX NACHOS 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7. $25
DAKHABRAKHA. 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15. $30
THE COLORADO SOUND MUSIC AWARDS WITH TODD PARK MOHR, ALYSIA KRAFT, RITMO CASCABEL AND MORE 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18. $30
RUMOURS WITH COLORADO SPRINGSTEEN. 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20. $20
THE LONGEST JOHNS WITH COLM R. MCGUINNESS 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21. $25
SOUL COUGHING 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22. $43
NOVO AMOR. 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27. $30
SHAWN JAMES WITH BEAR HAT AND COLE SCHEIFELE 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28. $25
RICKY MONTGOMERY WITH RAY BULL 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29. $30
On I Got Heaven, Mannequin Pussy’s most recent LP and an early contender for 2024’s album of the year, the combination of beauty and visceral rage is on full display. Watch Marisa Dabice and the rest of the Philadelphia hardcore outfit tear up the stage at Boulder Theater on Oct. 14, alongside grungy Mexican quartet Margaritas Podridas
COLD WAR KIDS WITH HUSBANDS 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18. $32
ANDY GRAMMER. 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20. $50
JOHN HIATT 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21. $55
BEACH FOSSILS 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22. $30
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS. 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27. $50
JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28. $30
RICHARD THOMPSON 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29. $45
YOKE LORE WITH RUNNER. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30. $30
CABARET DIOSA 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1. $35
Philadelphia hardcore band Mannequin Pussy will take the Boulder Theater stage with grungy Mexican quartet Margaritas Podridas on Oct. 14. Credit: Millicent Hailes
CHAUTAUQUA AUDITORIUM
900 Baseline Road
THE ROBERT CRAY BAND
WITH NIC CLARK. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31. $58
Robert Cray began his journey honing the art of the blues up and down the Pacific coast. Today, Cray is recognized as a pillar of ’70s and ’80s blues, and for good reason; Cray’s guitar can bring a grown man to his knees. See Cray and his band, with help from harmonica/guitar whiz Nic Clark, cut a rug at Chautauqua Auditorium on Aug. 31
OZOMATLI WITH LOS MOCOCHETES 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7. $42
LOS LOBOS WITH COUSIN CURTISS. 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29. $63
AL DI MEOLA ELECTRIC BAND 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1. $68
BILLY BRAGG. 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3. $60
MAMA’S BROKE WITH THE RESONANT ROGUES 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10. $30
REED FOEHL WITH INGRID AVISON. 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11. $30
SOUND OF HONEY WITH CORSICANA 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21. $24
ETOWN HALL
1535 Spruce St.
CAFE CONCERT WITH EMMA KIERAN. 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29. $20
MIKE COHEN & THE SHAKTI GROOVES 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3. $25
RUTHIE FOSTER 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7. $33
MASON JENNINGS. 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22. $30
OVER THE RHINE 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27. $35
HALEY HEYNDERICKX WITH SPECIAL GUEST (TBA). 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29. $40+
KATE BOLLINGER WITH SPECIAL GUEST (TBA) 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. $33
CARRIE NEWCOMER 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20. $35
ELLIS PAUL 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25. $25
BEN SOLLEE. 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2. $28
JEFFREY MARTIN 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8. $25
CARSIE BLANTON 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9. $35
Carsie Blanton’s latest single, “Ugly Nasty Commie Bitch,” is as clear an indicator as any that Blanton is going to tell you how she feels. It’s been this way for nearly 20 years — her clever, unapologetic music serves as protest, or therapy, sometimes both. At any rate, do not miss Blanton at eTown Hall on Nov. 9
ANNA TIVEL WITH ALEX HARDESTY 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21. $18.50
Blues legend Robert Cray performs Aug. 31 at Chautauqua Auditorium. Credit: Turner-Cray Inc.
Carsie Blanton will perform her latest single, “Ugly Nasty Commie Bitch,” and other songs at eTown Hall on Nov. 9. Courtesy: Carsie Blanton
JLF COLORADO RETURNS
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FOX THEATRE
1135 13th St.
MICHAEL MARCAGI WITH KEENAN O’MEARA 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29. $20
THE DIRTY TURKEYS WITH HUCK ‘N PRAY AND IN PLAIN AIR. 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30. $15
“CROWD CONTROL” BOILER ROOM WITH GASPY, HAMI, ESO, SOLEM, HAMMERHYPE, EVELATION AND LOWERY 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5. $15
RIVER MANN WITH CLAY ROSE AND VON DISCO. 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6. $18
A HUNDRED DRUMS WITH ABELATION, REDRUM AND PINK LEMONADE 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7. $15
GROVE & FRIENDS. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11. $18
NEAL FRANCIS WITH MANYCOLORS 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12. $30
HOSTAGE SITUATION WITH TWOPERCENT, RSENIK AND G3O 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13. $20
BADFISH WITH STYLIE 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14. $20
JOHN MORELAND WITH JUSTIN BLOSS. 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17. $28
When John Moreland plays, you listen. It’s impossible not to — Tulsa’s deeply honest singer-songwriter makes music that cuts through you when you need to cry and holds you when you need a friend. Find a shoulder to lean on at his Fox Theatre performance on Sept. 17, with help from Osage/Omaha musician and fellow Tulsa resident Justin Bloss
WEEKLY. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18. $19
MONSTER RALLY WITH KAINALU 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19. $22
Tulsa singer-songwriter John Moreland will perform at Fox Theatre on Sept. 17 with fellow Tulsa resident and help from Osage/Omaha musician Justin Bloss. Credit: Angelina Castillo
LESPECIAL WITH MIKE DILLON AND PUNKADELICK 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20. $20
MR. MOTA WITH BETTER HALLWAYS VISION 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21. $30
EVAN HONER WITH THOMAS ROWLAND. 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24. $25
TALISK 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25. $26
MO LOWDA & THE HUMBLE WITH PLAIN FARADAY. 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26. $23
FRANKIE AND THE WITCH FINGERS WITH SLOW CAVES 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27. $28
ODIE LEIGH 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28. $25
B.D.U. 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29. $39
BRIGITTE CALLS ME BABY WITH THE HIGH LINES 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2. $15
HAZEL MILLER WITH THE DISRUPTORS 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. $25+
AUGUSTUS WITH BOOT GUN AND ELLIOTT DOBBS 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11. $20+
KENDALL STREET COMPANY. 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17. $19
Gatch a glimpse of any group photo of Kendall Street Company, and it’ll likely induce a smile. The same goes for much of their music — this selfproclaimed “modern jam band” from Charlottesville, Virginia, has traversed numerous sounds and style, most of which are best enjoyed up close and personal. Luckily, you can catch them Oct. 17 at Roots Music Project
JASON EADY 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2. $25+
MOJOMAMA WITH TAYLOR SHAE. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15. $19+
VELVET ELK LOUNGE
2037 13th St.
PHOEBE NIX WITH CANYON COLLECTIVE AND THE CHARLIE BERRY PROJECT.
THE REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND. 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18. $22 Brown County, Indiana’s finest — Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band plays blues music that moves through your soul like molasses. Other times, it strikes
like a cobra, turning whatever surface you’re standing on into a dance floor. The trio’s deep, scruffy sound, refined since their forming in 2003, feels tailormade for backwoods gazebo stages and garage gatherings, but the Velvet Elk Lounge will serve as a perfect home for the rockers Oct. 18
THE PICKPOCKETS WITH GHOST TOWN DRIFTERS. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. $21
PAUL MCDONALD & THE MOURNING DOVES 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23 $20
