Thursday, August 27, 2009

love letter, 8/ 27 09

D noms,

There is another super weekend coming up, with some flamenco, some hawaiin music, some surf punk spaghetti western and more. We are always amazed to see the unique shape and scope each week presents at the D Note.

Tonight, Thurs, Aug 27, after trivia, we have the return of a local band called Little Dead Things. Opening for LDT is Jason Horodyski at 9pm. You know you gotta love a guy who lists only these three influences on his myspace page; Leonard Cohen, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Charlie Kaufman. Also under "sounds like" Jason's got a Chagall painting. Check out the striking poster for this show on both Myspace pages. $5

Friday night we have a benefit for Colorado Trout Unlimited, an organization dedicated to conserving, protecting, and restoring Colorado's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. The band is Big Universe, old gold rock and roll. $10 suggested donation.

Saturday we have a crazy beautiful jumble...

First, 4-7pm, we have a Hawaiin celebration. Hawaii, as a state, just turned 50. The statehood of Hawaii is the big five-Oh. Hawaii five-oh! That's younger than your grandma. We have two Hawaiin bands playing, Hawaiin Harmony and Island Blaze (your going to love these guys from Colorado Springs). The truly beautiful thing about Hawaiin music is IT SOUNDS LIKE WHERE IT CAME FROM. $4. Bring the family.

Then at 8pm we have a special flamenco performance. Flamenco Denver presents: "Tablao" w/ Maria Vazquez, Bina Martinez & Geannette Trujillo al baile, Even Romero al toque & Veronica Medina al cante. $15

Then at 9:30pm we have two killer rock bands, first, at 9:30pm, Bluebelle, a psychedelic fuzz pop band, influenced by Billy Childish
The Gories, Françoise Hardy, The Pleasure Seekers, The What Four, Ludella Black, The Hectics, Dressy Bessy, Breezy Porticos, Roger Corman, Carole King, The Rondelles, Howlin' Wolf, The Apples in Stereo, The Seeds, The Drags, The Ramones and Mary Jayne. So if you like any of those bands!

Around 10:30 we'll finally have Get Three Coffins Ready in the house. Even though the guitar player's sister Bobby works at the D Note, it still took us awhile to get these guys to come rock the house, pychobilly surf punk style. Influences: THE VENTURES, THE SHADOWS, MAN..OR ASTRO-MAN?, DAIKAIJU, SATAN'S PILGRIMS, THE GHASTLY ONES, FUGAZI, REFUSED, DEADBOLT, THE SPACE COSSACKS, THE MUMMIES, THE PHANTOM SURFERS, THE FILM SKATERDATE. $5

Stoked about this Saturday night.

D Note's Baby Boogie got a rave review in the new 5280. Check it out on the newstands. Or bring your kids on Sunday, 2-6pm. We'll have a copy for you to read on hand.

Salsa has been off the hook lately. As per usual? This Sunday we have a situation for you to take advantage of: if you come before 7:30pm and eat dinner you get $2 off cover. Lesson 8pm, La Candela 9:30pm.

Next tuesday Jay Ryan will host three SURPRISE song writers in a witty musical conversation. 7pm, $5. After Jay and co we'll try to do something secret.

Next Wedneday, before the Clams, there's a free Drag Blues dance lesson at 7:30pm by Scott Plummer. Drag Blues is such a hot dance. You should learn it. Then the Clamdaddys will get freaky with the dancers. Free. Great date night. Darling, can we go ; )?

Whew, and we're out. Almost.

-D nugget

Extra Credit: Presenting the central six stanzas of William Shakespeare's metaphysical love poem, The Turtle and the Phoenix, the two lovers being him, the mourning (turtle) dove, and her, his Phoenix (Queen Elizabeth? You?). We've been contemplating Shakespeare's use of space... "but in them it were a wonder." Check out the negative capability. New favorite word: concordant.

So they lov'd, as love in twain
Had the essence but in one;
Two distincts, division none:
Number there in love was slain.

Hearts remote, yet not asunder;
Distance, and no space was seen
'Twixt the turtle and his queen;
But in them it were a wonder.

So between them love did shine,
That the turtle saw his right
Flaming in the phoenix' sight:
Either was the other's mine.

Property was thus appall'd,
That the self was not the same;
Single nature's double name
Neither two nor one was call'd.

Reason, in itself confounded,
Saw division grow together;
To themselves yet either-neither,
Simple were so well compounded
That it cried how true a twain
Seemeth this concordant one!
Love hath reason, reason none
If what parts can so remain.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

mid to late Aug, 09

D signs,

We had a dream a few nights ago in which we were staring up and saw the words "by destiny" written in neon across the ceiling. The "destiny" flickered out, leaving only the "by". After awhile the word "design" lit up where "destiny" had been. It was a kind of art installation. From destiny to design. This is a dream we will contemplate for a thousand years.

Destiny or design? One or the other, maybe both, is bringing Quillion to the D Note this Friday night for a CD release party. The members of Quillion are all good friends of the D Note and we are proud that they have chosen to release their first CD here. Check out the article about the show in the Milehigh News. Playing before Quillion will be Cody Crump and The Stigmas and after will be Mechanical Dan. $5.

Saturday night we have the popular Hafla, with belly dance performances starting at 7pm and then the neo-middle eastern band Yallah! playing around 8:30pm. The theme for this hafla will be seasons and elements. $6 adults/$5 kids. After the hafla at 10pm one of our favorite local bands, Mono Verde, is playing their high energy version of latin reggae. Dance, dance, dance. $6.

Tonight, Thursday, Aug. 20, we have Chris McGarry doing his old time new songs and Lisa Genee playing after trivia. Check out the cool poster on Lisa's myspace. $5.

Next Tuesday night at 8pm we have the return of Violent Hippie, a band from South Dakota neither violent nor hippie, but rather minimalist experimental rock. $5.

Written on ether,

D stiny


Extra Credit: We've featured the early 20th century poet Edna St. Vincent Millay here before. Here's another great poem by her we've just discovered.

Modern Declaration

I, having loved ever since I was a child a few things, never having
wavered
In these affections; never through shyness in the houses of the
rich on in the presence of clergymen having denied these
loves;
Never when worked upon by cynics like chiropractors having
grunted or clicked a vertebra to the discredit of these loves;
Never when anxious to land a job having diminished them by a
conniving smile; or when befuddled by drink
Jeered at them through heartache or lazily fondled the fingers of
their alert enemies; declare

That I shall love you always.
No matter what party is in power;
No matter what temporarily expedient combination of allied
interests wins the war;
Shall love you always.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

mid August, 09

D nigh and far,

An early d-mail this week because we forgot to mention last week a very interesting gypsy band from Austin Texas playing tonight, Tuesday, Aug 11, at 8pm, called WinoVino. From their myspace, "From the cobbled streets of Paris (circa 1920) to a dusty wagon train across Romania. From peril on the high seas, to the seedy underbelly of prohibition era cabaret, we've hitched our way across a century and more. We have brought back with us an acoustic revelry of uproarious instrumentals, swooning ballads, and an intoxicating live performance for young and old alike." $5.

Tomorrow night, Wed, Aug 12, we'll have a FREE lindy hop lesson at 7:30pm before the Clamdaddys play at 8pm!

After Trivia (6:30pm) on Thursday we'll have a psychedelic experimental rock band from Dallas, TX called SPiVEY at 9pm. $5.

Friday, Aug 14, we have Sound Rabbit back doing their poptastic tunes at 8pm, followed by the Police tribute band Message In A Bottle. $10. Opening the night at 6pm will be Drew Schofield.

Saturday, Aug 15, we have a FREE big band show with Sentimental Sounds at 5pm. Then we have a couple of Irish bands starting at 7:30pm. First is Cellar Door and at 9pm is Big Paddy. Cellar Door have charmed us before with their gaelic sound, but this is a first appearance for Big Paddy. If you like the Irish footstomp onslought of The Pogues, then you'll love these guys. Rounding out the night at 10:30pm will be Junk Drawer, a unique indie blues rock band with a fabulous hit song, "Gold Beard". $5.

For our Sunday night salsa we have a special promotion for those of you that have never tried salsa before. Let them know at the door that you are a first timer and cover is half price. So for $4 you'll get a salsa lesson (8pm) followed by an 11 piece salsa orchestra (La Candela). There will also be a drink special that night, 2 for 1 Cuba Libres. If you've been wanting to try salsa dancing, now's the time.

Next Tuesday we start up a new series, an artist showcase put together every third Tuesday of every month by COMBO (Colorado Music Business Organization). The first show will feature an interesting all girl electro-folk band SHEL. In the same vein and also playing will be a celtic girl folk duo The Gristle Gals. Also playing will be John Kappler. An impressive debut for COMBO's artist showcase at D Note. 7pm. FREE.

More beautiful music than you can shake a stick at,

D Scribe

Extra Credit: In honor of the gypsy spirit making it's appearance at the D Note tonight, a gypsy romance by Federico Garcia Lorca, translated by William Logan.



Romance Sonambulo

Green, how I want you green.
Green wind. Green branches.
The ship out on the sea
and the horse on the mountain.
With the shade around her waist
she dreams on her balcony,
green flesh, her hair green,
with eyes of cold silver.
Green, how I want you green.
Under the gypsy moon,
all things are watching her
and she cannot see them.

Green, how I want you green.
Big hoarfrost stars
come with the fish of shadow
that opens the road of dawn.
The fig tree rubs its wind
with the sandpaper of its branches,
and the forest, cunning cat,
bristles its brittle fibers.
But who will come? And from where?
She is still on her balcony
green flesh, her hair green,
dreaming in the bitter sea.

--My friend, I want to trade
my horse for her house,
my saddle for her mirror,
my knife for her blanket.
My friend, I come bleeding
from the gates of Cabra.
--If it were possible, my boy,
I'd help you fix that trade.
But now I am not I,
nor is my house now my house.
--My friend, I want to die
decently in my bed.
Of iron, if that's possible,
with blankets of fine chambray.
Don't you see the wound I have
from my chest up to my throat?
--Your white shirt has grown
thirsy dark brown roses.
Your blood oozes and flees a
round the corners of your sash.
But now I am not I,
nor is my house now my house.
--Let me climb up, at least,
up to the high balconies;
Let me climb up! Let me,
up to the green balconies.
Railings of the moon
through which the water rumbles.

Now the two friends climb up,
up to the high balconies.
Leaving a trail of blood.
Leaving a trail of teardrops.
Tin bell vines
were trembling on the roofs.
A thousand crystal tambourines
struck at the dawn light.

Green, how I want you green,
green wind, green branches.
The two friends climbed up.
The stiff wind left
in their mouths, a strange taste
of bile, of mint, and of basil
My friend, where is she--tell me--
where is your bitter girl?
How many times she waited for you!
How many times would she wait for you,
cool face, black hair,
on this green balcony!
Over the mouth of the cistern
the gypsy girl was swinging,
green flesh, her hair green,
with eyes of cold silver.
An icicle of moon
holds her up above the water.
The night became intimate
like a little plaza.
Drunken "Guardias Civiles"
were pounding on the door.
Green, how I want you green.
Green wind. Green branches.
The ship out on the sea.
And the horse on the mountain.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

early to mid August, 09

D stablishment,

A couple of things to pass along:

1. We're gonna start doing a free blues swing dance lesson once a month before the Clamdaddys start at 7:30pm. The first one will be next Wednesday and will feature Lindy Hop and Jitterbug. Subsequent lessons will be on the first Wednesday of every month starting September 2. Yes!

2. We have now joined the addictive twitter universe. If you are in a fellow twit then follow us at DNOTETWEETS and we'll follow you back. If you haven't tried it, check it out. It's fun. We are also on Facebook now too and would love to have you there as a friend. You can see our Facebook page here and check out the oh so clever poster that Matt Dougherty did for the show this coming Friday, Aug 7.

Why is the poster so clever? Because it depicts King Friday from Mr. Rogers, who was a king named after a day, and playing THIS Friday is a great local band called King For A Day. The mind reels. Playing with KFAD is Chella Negro (starting the show at 7pm), The Dave Boylan Band and The Hot Robots. If you check out myspace pages for KFAD and THR you'll see two more cool posters done for this show. $5

Saturday we have a benefit for the Denver Family Institute, which helps provide mental health care to low income families. A "surprise" reggae band will be opening up (because of contractual agreements elsewhere we can't formally advertise their name) and a dance groove band called Clusterfunk will play around 9pm. $10 suggested donation. We love nothing more than nights we can dance and help those in need out at the same time.

Tonight, Thurs, Aug. 6, at 6:30pm we have Trivia. Have you tried the Geeks Who Drink Trivia yet at the D Note? It's addictive and lots of fun. For those of you with young kids keep in mind that is PG 13. After GWD we have a local band called Mohney and The Groove Machine making their first appearance at the D Note. $5

Outs,

D Ploy

Extra Credit: It's been awhile since we had any Rainer Maria Rilke in this newsletter and we miss him. How about one if his classics then, superbly translated by Stephen Mitchell.

The Sonnets to Orpheus: XIII


Be ahead of all parting, as though it already were
behind you, like the winter that has just gone by.
For among these winters there is one so endlessly winter
that only by wintering through it all will your heart survive.

Be forever dead in Eurydice-more gladly arise
into the seamless life proclaimed in your song.
Here, in the realm of decline, among momentary days,
be the crystal cup that shattered even as it rang.

Be-and yet know the great void where all things begin,
the infinite source of your own most intense vibration,
so that, this once, you may give it your perfect assent.

To all that is used-up, and to all the muffled and dumb
creatures in the world's full reserve, the unsayable sums,
joyfully add yourself, and cancel the count.

early August, 09

D Train,

This last Tuesday night we had a benefit show for D Note server Jay Gonzales and many of you showed up. It was a good thing to see so much support and hear so much music. When our GM Andy and cook Tyler (MC Dozha and ReLyte) got up to do their drum and bass rap over the funk of Wonderlic the crowd went wild and it seemed to be a kind of summation of musicians and listeners banding together over a matter of the heart. A community with an open mind and heart is a beautiful thing.

Tonight, Thurs July 30th, The Spin is back in the house at 9pm (after trivia). The Spin has added a horn section so the sound should be even bigger and more dance-able than ever. $10.

Tomorrow night, Friday July 31st starts off with a Flamenco performance at 6:30pm, featuring Steve Mullins and Polka Dot dance troupe. We are so privileged to have these amazing performances at the D Note. Ole. $15. Here's a great review of the last time they were in.

After Flamenco, at 8:30pm we have Churchill and Strange Condition, both great up and coming indie bands from Colorado. Strange Condition just signed on with a major label. A few bands have come through the D Note and then gotten huge, The Fray, Meese, The Flobots. Here's a chance to see a band on their way up. Churchill is fantastic too. $5.

Saturday night, Aug 1, starts off with a CD release party from our friend Jimi Hank, from the Hankstirs. Been a long time since we've had Jimi's unique sound in and we're looking forward to hearing the new material.

At 8:30pm on Saturday we have Fizakat, an interesting jazz fusion rock band from Boulder and Jumping At Shadows, a local prodigy blues rock band. $5

Extra Credit: For this week we tantalize you with the first part of Wallace Steven's epic poem based off and named after the Picasso painting "The Man With The Blue Guitar".


I


The man bent over his guitar,

A shearsman of sorts. The day was green.



They said, "You have a blue guitar,

You do not play things as they are."



The man replied, "Things as they are

Are changed upon the blue guitar."



And they said then, "But play, you must,

A tune beyond us, yet ourselves,



A tune upon the blue guitar

Of things exactly as they are."

late July, 09

D verse,

Pretty serious weather around these parts on Monday. Hope everyone is okay. The winds were severe enough to fell a 150 yr old pine tree in brother Jeremy D's front yard in Wheatridge. Fortunately the tree fell toward the street and not the house.

And speaking of natural forces, Lionel Young is coming back to rock the D Note this Friday, July at 9pm. There was a time, a glorious time, when we had Lionel every Friday night. Some of you will remember. Then Lionel won the prestigious 2008 International Blues Challenge (much deserved) and was suddenly gone, touring around the world. Our local secret was out. We're excite to have him back for a rare show. If you haven't heard him before you'll be wowed. He always gets the crowd dancing hard. Opening for Lionel at 7pm is Steve Edmonson. Steve is a friend of the D Note and a killer blues player in his own right. $5.

Saturday night we have an "acoustic" showcase for the Denver Art Rock Collective (DARC) starting at 8:30pm and featuring Lions The Brave, The Limbs and Yerkish. "...A complex, cerebral, thinking man's rock that could never be labeled predictable. Yerkish's songs veered close to the dark, metal edge of Jane's Addiction and at times resembled the multifaceted eclectic style of The Mars Volta." Kevin Galaba - Westword. $5

At 5:30pm Saturday we have a student belly dance show put together by Phoenix. Free.

At 2pm Saturday we'll have our Pint Club with samples from The Victory Brewing Company.

At noon Saturday we have a wedding reception open to the public for an old friend of the D Note, Turtle. Paying Tuition, Cellar Door and others will play. Free.

On Sunday the Baby Boogie will be back in full swing from 2-6pm and then salsa at 8pm. For you salsa fans our apologies about the heat last week. The air conditioner is fixed and ready to cool you down!

Next Tuesday we have a benefit for our server Jay Gonzales who had a bad accident and is laid out for several weeks with mad medical bills and no incoming salary to pay rent. Slo Children, Aden Harrell and friends, The Clamdaddys, Wonderlic and Mint Novacaine will all play this benefit for Jay starting at 6:30pm. Please come by and donate whatever you can afford to help Jay out!

love,

D liver


Extra Credit: A quote from the philosopher Martin Heidegger makes the poem for this week.


Celebration is attentiveness,
is questioning, is meditating, is awaiting,
is the step over into the more wakeful
glimpse of the wonder -- the wonder
that a world is worlding around us at all,
that there are beings rather than nothing,
that things are and we ourselves are in their midst,
that we ourselves are and yet barely know who we are,
and barely know that we do not know this.