National and local bands come to south Broadway

National as well as local bands rock tons of venues throughout the South Broadway arts district every summer during the Underground Music Showcase. Around 375 bands will take part in the showcase this year July 19-22. More than 13,000 attendees are expected. The UMS is run by a non-profit organization that supports VH1’s Save the Music and flobots.org.

Snake Rattle Rattle Snake have big dreams

Snake rattle Rattle Snake will help you shake it July 21 at the Underground Music Showcase in Denver. Photo courtesy of Snake Rattle Rattle Snake.

In March Snake Rattle Rattle Snake was on tour in Boise, Idaho, sharing the stage with their idols, Built to Spill. For singer, Haley Helmericks, it was a special time in her career.

“This is amazing. Look at where music has brought me now,” Helmericks said.

Helmericks is the vocalist of Snake Rattle Rattle Snake, a band formed in Denver in 2009. The band’s sound has a “dance aesthetic with a punk rock attitude” according to Helmericks. Their first album, Sineater, was released in October 2011. Westword voted them the Best Indie Rock Band in both 2011 and 2012.

In addition to Haley, the band members are guitarists Doug Spencer and Wilson Helmericks (Haley’s brother), bassist James Yardley, and drummer Andrew Warner. They will be playing this year’s Underground Music Showcase on Saturday, July 21, at 8 p.m. on the main stage at Goodwill.

“It’s just one of those things that has become such a Denver institution that I, and I think the whole band looks forward to it all year,” Helmericks said. “It’s a big celebration of the music community in Denver, and I love it every year.”

Snake Rattle Rattle Snake is focusing on writing the music for their follow up to Sineater. They are taking their time, and making sure they perfect their songs in order to have a strong second album. There will be a tour after the release in hopes of catching a national audience Helmericks said.

Achille Lauro moves up

[/media-credit] Achille Lauro moves up at this year’s UMS

Achille Lauro is a 6-year-old Denver based “indie party pop” band according to guitarist Luke Mossman. The lineup includes Luke’s brother Ben Mossman on drums, Jonathan Evans on bass and Matt Close on guitar.

The band has played at the UMS the last four years.

“We got involved because the UMS is about the best event of the year for music in Denver, and it would be heartbreaking to miss out,” Luke said.
Achille Lauro has released two full-length albums and two EP’s.

“Our hopes are to keep moving forward,” Luke said. “We’re gonna record another EP this fall/winter, and then we’ll probably win a Grammy.” Achille Lauro plays on Sunday at 4 p.m. on the main stage at Goodwill.

A Place to Bury Strangers plans to psych you out

Brooklyn’s A Place to Bury Strangers, are performing this weekend at the Underground Music Showcase July 21 in Denver. Photo Courtesy of A Place to Bury Strangers

A Place to Bury Strangers, out of Brooklyn are stopping at the UMS as part of their national tour. On their Facebook they describe themselves as experimental psychedelic rock.
They have released three LP’s: A Place To Bury Strangers (2007), Exploding Head (2009), and Worship (2012.) The band’s lineup includes Oliver Ackermann on guitar and vocals, Dion Lunadon on bass, and Robi Gonzalez on drums.
“A Place To Bury Strangers does not so much play songs as allow them to pour out. They are songs about longing, heartbreak and confusion played extremely well and at a passionately loud volume,” says their Facebook page.
A Place to Bury Stranger Plays Saturday at 7 p.m. on the main stage at Goodwill.

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