Hey Indie Nation,

I had the pleasure of seeing a band I wasn't sure would ever come thru this area last week - The Doves. I dont collect Doves imports and b-sides with the fervor I do say Radiohead, but hold them right up there with the "important" Brit bands of today. I went in not knowing what to expect and am glad I did as it was an experience I haven't had in many years. Seeing as many shows as I have, its almost like I need, no, EXPECT, complete aural and visual overload. This show had none of that excess and put the music first - and although I have been listening to this band since album #  1- I felt like someone discovering a new band in a small bar (no slight of the Gothic Theater meant - its one of the many former Denver dive theaters that has had a gorgeous rehab). The band basically hung a rather large white sheet behind them and projected various video images along with some of their music videos to accompany their performances. The show started with the rumbling sound of jets taking off (with video to match) and the band launching into the lead track, Jetstream, off their stellar new offering Kingdom Of Rust. From there, they picked up every necessary song you would put on a Doves playlist. As on their recorded pieces, the bands live sound is dense while not being too heavy. Oh, and to get geeky here, the soundman did a superb job NOT piling on the db's so you could actually HEAR everything. The band worked thru a lot of newer songs from Kingdom whilst pulling in tunes like Black & White Town and Almost Forgot Myself from 2005's Some Cities (which I thought would be hard to top). The encore was, truly, what an encore should be as they rolled out Caught By The River and There Goes The Fear - and no 10 minute jammy versions of them - just spot on versions that really speak volumes about this band...NO flashy excess...just impressive musicianship that more bands could learn a thing or 2 from.

Next up: Laurie Anderson one woman show "Burning Leaves" and then David Byrne (!!!) at Red Rocks. Working on WILCO at Red Rocks too and maybe even Green Day with the boy in August.