Home
Live at Twist and Shout CDs from Jason Isbell, Ben Harper, and John Butler!
Paper Bird - Live at Twist and Shout
Standing firm in no existing genre, Paper Bird's backbone is their
songwriting, musicianship and a general allergy to all limitations and
trends. With seven
members and no leader, this band is pulled in every direction
imaginable, but thanks to their unique instrumentation this Colorado
based group is able to merge
their spontaneous creativity into one, solid sound. The members of the
band- Sarah Anderson, vocals and trumpet; sisters Esmé and Genny
Patterson, vocals; Tyler Archuletta, trombone; Paul DeHaven, guitar;
Caleb Summeril, banjo; Macon Terry, upright bass - bring a Jazzy,
Folk, Americana sound that pays homage to the American Bandstand of
the 1950’s. Still, they are able to achieve the Indie rock image and
resonance of the current age. The band’s inception came three years
ago in Breckenridge, Colorado. Meeting for the first time, the members
were busking in the streets where they earned a couple hundred
dollars, bought some beer and dinner, and decided to form a band.
Later that same month they went into the studio and recorded their
first album Anything Nameless and Joymaking, which has been a top
selling record in local retail stores. The Colorado favorites have
recently been in the studio recording their sophomore album. The
band is so excited about their new creation they decided to release a
prelude to the full-length album. The five song EP A Sky
Underground was self-released before their 2009 summer tour
which included stops at High Sierra Music Festival, Oregon Country
Fair, 10,000 Lakes, and Mile High Music Festival. The female vocals
create a soulful, dynamic harmony that accentuates each singer, while
giving the illusion of a single voice. The trombone, banjo, and guitar
elevate the music to a higher level
while the skilled notes of the bass reflect the harmonies. Each style
bounces off the other, while each note appreciates the other. They
make audiences feel love, excitement, and passion. A show not to be
missed, a band that must be heard: Paper Bird is one of a kind.
Tea Leaf Green - Live At Twist And Shout
Josh and Trevor, the two key songwriters and guitarists from San
Francisco’s Tea Leaf Green, offer up an intimate and exhilarating live
performance that was recorded in October ’08 at Denver’s premiere
entertainment store Twist & Shout. Several hundred adoring fans
turned out for this special event and it proved to be one of the
highlights of the tour (and the only one to be officially recorded). This
is sure to become a collector’s item and a must have for every real fan
of TLG! Most of the tunes are from their most recent studio release
Raise Up The Tent.
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit - Live At Twist and Shout
The third release bearing the “Live At Twist and Shout” moniker, and
the quality just doesn’t let up. Former Drive-By-Trucker Isbell is a
superb songwriter and a totally distinctive vocalist. His band The 400
Unit just tears it up and this release will prove that to a lot of people.
Every time I have played this CD either alone, or at the store or for
friends it has created a kind of mystical emotional gauze that fills the
room with a warm honeyed hue. It really does make people stop and
say “who is this guy? This is great.” The “Live At Twist And Shout” disc
gives the most well-rounded view of this important artist yet. It
contains 3 Drive-By Truckers songs, 2 songs from his great solo album
Sirens of The Ditch and a spot-on cover of Van Morrison’s
“Into The Mystic.” His choice of Van Morrison is appropriate because, at
his best, Isbell occupies the same rarified space as Morrison. Southern
fried instead of Celtic soul, but an artist who is capable of transporting
the listener to a unique and special place. I have loved each of the Live
at Twist releases, but this one could be the most important because it
helps define a great artist. I highly suggest it to all.
Paul Epstein
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals - Live At Twist & Shout
This indie-store only exclusive contains a CDC/DVD of Ben Harper and
the Innocent Criminals, performing from the new album
Lifeline at Twist and Shout in Denver Colorado on August 30,
2007. A must-have for any Ben Harper fan this holiday season (and
beyond!)
Denver is a storied live music town. The industry names — Barry Fey,
Chuck Morris, Paul Epstein and others — are as important as the
legendary local venues, past and present, including Red Rocks, the
Rainbow Music Hall, the Fillmore Auditorium, Ebbets Field and the 15th
St. Tavern.
And so it's fine news to see more music coming out of Colorado, not
only in terms of local acts such as the Fray, Photo Atlas and Meese —
but also in the form of international acts recording live CDs here and
spreading the good word of Denver and its intense love of music.
These two releases are tight examples of what can be done with some
solid relationships and a lot of drive. Twist & Shout records, in its new
location on East Colfax Avenue for more than a year now, is a
legitimate venue, with mobile record racks making room for the fans
and framed rock pictures and posters adding some ambience.
Kudos to Twist & Shout's Epstein and Dawn Greaney for making it such
a pleasant place to see a rock show.
Butler's six-song EP is a must-have for fans, a tight recording of a
lively, brisk set. But the Harper two-disc set is especially impressive.
The six-song EP, including a soulfully moving "Fool For a Lonesome
Train," has crisp sound that will undoubtedly encourage other bands to
record here. The accompanying DVD, directed by local filmmaker Mike
Drumm, captures the exciting, stripped-down performance with a
knowing elegance.
- Ricardo Baca, Denver Post
Click
here to watch a Youtube video of Ben Harper's thoughts on Twist &
Shout.
Read our Blog
