weekend update 2/21/13

D tribe

We have found that the best kind of music to dance to is West African. It is uplifting spirit. Not to mention the body. That is why we are excited about Koffi Togo this Friday night at the D Note. Here's a description of the show from their FB page:

"We want to let you know that Koffi Togo Vibe will be at The D Note in Arvada next Friday, Feb 22nd! If you have not experienced our unique TogoJazz style music, you are in for a treat! We are unlike any other band around. Koffi Togo Vibe's goal is to open your eyes and connect your soul to a new musical experience by playing exotic, dance music in all meters including the 3s, 5s, 7s. Our music has the heart pumping foundation of West African percussion rhythms, fused with the beautiful melodies of guitars, keyboard, trumpet, saxophone and trombone! There are twelve of us! So, the music is full and the sounds are amazing!
Once you try on our TogoJazz Sound you will be hooked!!! We hope to see you all there. It's an all-ages show so bring the whole family...We play at around 9:00, but there is a fun band playing before us! And - it's FREE! So, you can't beat the price :)  Peace, Koffi Togo Vibe"

In other news, KGNU recommended Steve Itterly to us which is assurance of excellence so we will listen to his trio attentively Friday at 5pm. Arvada West Dog Park is having their fifth annual benefit at the D Note Saturday at 3pm. An all girl Journey cover band is playing Saturday at 7p followed by one of our favorite "house" bands The Jake Leg Shakers followed by something odd from KC, the electro punk band Odd-o-matic. Check out dnote.us for the rest of the scoop!



22
FREE ALL NIGHT!
[5:00p]
Steve Itterly Trio (fantastic blues/jazz)

[7:00p]
The Dirty Shoes Band (swinging blues)

[9:30p]
Koffi Togo (West African dance music)

23

[10:30a]
Zumba $8

[3:00p]
Benefit concert and silent auction for Arvada West Dog Park w/ SoHo Band. $5-$10 suggested donation.

[7:00p]
Journey Girls (All female Journey tribute band) $5

[8:30p]
The Jake Leg Shakers $5

[10:30p]
The Odd-o-matic (punk electro from KC)


We'll be saving a spot on the dance floor for you,

D ants in my pants

Extra credit: Pop star and poet Kishi Bashi played the Bluebird on Tuesday night and wowed the crowd. If you haven't been introduced to Kishi Bashi, here are the lyrics to Manchester for a primer. And here is a link to the song if you want to check it out.

Manchester

i wrote me a book
i hid the last page
i didn't even look
i think i locked it in a cage
wrote a novel
cause everybody likes to read a novel...

it started with a word,
and it started pretty well
about a rare and fragile bird
that I couldn't even spell
on the table
i think i left it on the table...

i found the last page in the sky,
cold and sweet, like an apple

oh hello,
will you be mine?
i haven't felt this alive in a long time
all the streets are warm today

i read signs
i haven't been this in love in a long time
the sun is up, the sun will stay

The very last breath of the hero of our tale
were you only to guess
did he truly prevail
in the the sequel?
I guess I'll have to write a sequel...

my favorite part's when I die
in your arms like a movie
it's tragic, but now the story has it's proper end.

oh hello,
will you be mine?
i haven't felt this alive in a long time
all the streets are warm and grey

i read the signs
I haven't been this in love in a long time
the sun is up the sun will stay
all for the new day

will you be mine?
the days are short and I wrote me my last rhyme
all the streets are warm today
I read the signs
I haven't been in this love in a long time.

it's been a long time





--

D Note 10 year anniversary. Love letter #520

D Parts,

On this day 10 years ago we opened the D Note for business. Back then Grandview Avenue was a sleepy street and it took a kind of sheer determination for us to get off the ground. It took a village really. Goethe says that if you commit to something worthwhile the universe will meet you more than half way and that has certainly been the case with the D Note. There are have been some nights that are so spectacular that we can't even believe the D Note is a place we helped create. As the legendary Phil often says, "Tonight is one of the 1001 greatest nights of music we've ever had at the D Note."

This weekend will be no exception as we are celebrating in grand D Note style. Come say goodbye to the DeGraffs and lift your glasses to many years to come for the Rosenbergs.

Tomorrow night, Friday, February 15, we start with Laughing Hands at 7pm. Laughing Hands is an acoustic world music band and was one of the first to blow our minds a decade ago. It features flamenco master Steve Mullins and his charismatic brother Brian on stringed instruments, percussionist Ed Contreras and Mike Fitzmaurice, composer and bassist extraordinaire. This show will feature dozens of exotic instruments and one of a kind compositions. It will be like nothing else you have ever heard before.

After Laughing Hands, at 9pm, we have opera music performed by Opera On Tap and Cabaret Otaku, including selections from The Magic Flute, Carmen, Lakme and Rossini's duet for two cats.

We end Friday night with the great Lionel Young, possibly the best blues man alive. Lionel is the only artist ever to win the IBC (International Blues Challenge) in Chicago twice, beating out thousands of other performers both times. He also used to play the D Note every Friday night in our early years. He is just amazing. For a few years Lionel played the D Note every Friday night and it was a heady time.

Then Saturday, Feb 16, we have Slo Children at 7pm, a band made up of Adam and Jeremy DeGraff and Adam Ferrill, Jax Delaguerre and Alejandro Castano. This set will consist of all songs about the D Note herself and will feature performances by Micah Lundy (from Zebra Junction), Allen Galton (from Wonderlic) and Melissa Ivey.

At 8:30pm we have Stonebraker, a terrific rock band from Arvada. They are good friends of the D Note and really warm up the room.

We end Saturday night with Oakhurst, one of our favorite Colorado roots Americana dance bands and the owners of sister bar, The Appaloosa.

The cover for both nights is $10. Come help us celebrate a decade of great music and community love!

Yours,

D scribe

Extra Credit: In a loose sense anything that is poetic can be called a poem. And, in an even looser sense, all poems are love poems. With that in mind we'd like to present to you here a love poem of a documentary about the D Note that Geoff LaPlant made 8 years ago. You might even recognize yourself in this film somewhere. We love that the film opens with Phil opening the door for the camera and saying, "Welcome aboard!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cytQV6IYIKo

D Note love letter 2/7/13

D Verses,

Welcome to D Note point two. Dave and Mernie are bringing some fresh energy and it will be great to see what they bring to the table over time. Long time D Noter Geoffrey Bruce came in on Monday night during open stage and in his inimitable Queen's English said to me, "This place is bigger than either you or the new owners. It belongs to everybody now." I thought that was well said. Ironically this is the first time, after probably 500 or more of these love letters, that I have used the pronouns "me" and "I". The reason I always use "us" and "we" is precisely due to the idea that Geoffrey stated so beautifully. The D Note was always about family and community and we are very pleased to see the locus of this community continue under new care.

It is worth your time to pre-check out all of the music we have this Fri and Sat night. Bluegrass into indie pop into kick ass rock on Friday night, w/ That Damn Sasquatch, Lunar Light Parade, Whiskey Agreement. How's that for Diversity?

Saturday night we have quaint and romantic ethereal indie pop w/ GoodLuckSpider into charasmatic harmony driven songwriter perfection w/ I'm With Her (featuring ANGIE STEVENS AND HALEY RYDELL) and then into more kick ass rock w/ The Broken Everlys.

Throw in Zumba and big band, yoga, baby boogie and salsa and you got yourself a weekend!

Next Tuesday there is a special comedy event w/ 4 up and coming Denver comics. $15. See attached poster for details. Then after the comedy we'll celebrate Fat Tuesday w/ Dan Treanor and the Afrosippy Band. $5 suggested donation.

And a reminder that our 10 year anniversary is happening next weekend w/ Lionel Young, Oakhurst, Opera On Tap, Laughing Hands, Slo Children, Stonebraker and more. Hire your babysitters now.

[5:00p] Katey Laurel [7:00p] That Damn Sasquatch (bluegrass) [9:30p] Lunar Light Parade (dance pop) [9:30p] The Whiskey Agreement	9 [10:30a] Zumba $8 [4:00p] Super Credit Union Fundraiser w/ Sentimental Sounds Big Band. $10 [7:00p] GoodLuckSpider [8:30p] I'm With Her (feat. Angie Stevens and Haley Rydell) $7 [10:30p] The Broken Everlys
10 [10:00a] Free Form Yoga ($5 - $10 Suggested Donation) [2:00p] Baby Boogie, bring your kids into dance! [4:00p] PJ Hahn, $4 (kids free) [8:00p] Salsa Dancing (lesson at 8pm, Conjuntos Colores at 9pm) $8	11 [7:00p] Open Mic Night (Open Stage-sign up at 6:30pm)	12 [7:30p] Steve O'Neill (stand up comedy) $15

Yours,

D nut

Extra Credit: Beck’s latest album comes in an almost-forgotten form—twenty songs existing only as individual pieces of sheet music, never before released or recorded. The idea is that it is up to you to learn the song yourself, like in the olden days. You can hear different renditions of these songs on youtube, which is cool too. Each of the 20 songs sheets included on the album are designed by a different artist. These are up on display as part of the D Note art show this month. Beck is one of those songwriters with the skill of a poet so we'll showcase some lyrics from the new "album" here.


       

         Rough on Rats
       


       
          Your crawfish fingers and your dirty dregs

          Your sideways stingers and your wooden legs

          They're throwing out jewels like rotten eggs

          'Cause it's Christmas in Siam

          And we're rough on rats
       
       
          Your scarecrow spiders and your shipwreck bones

          The fossilized bibles of Geronimo Jones

          His star spangled army in their roadhouse clothes

          'Cause a hero can't bronze his soul

          And we're rough on rats
       
       
          There's shattered glass on the dance floor

          A cop chaperoning a doll

          The testament of a landlord

          Who's living in a hollow log
       
       
          The burlap flowers and the cocaine dirt

          The horn of plenty in a desert of hurt

          The corduroy boy in the killjoy shirt

          He's a stereotype on ice

          And we're rough on rats
       
       
          So what do you think you could take from the heap

          Where the haystack needles are piled up cheap?

          You can buy what's useless and steal what you
          need

          In the pink penitentiary

          And we're rough on rats
       


--

(pink penitentiary?)

Very special announcement

Dearest notes of all,

Much news for you. The biggest being that the D Note has been sold! It will no longer be a DeGraff enterprise. We are going out in grand style after a full D cade of bringing you beautiful music, art and food. We are having a 10 yr anniversary celebration Feb 15 and 16. Check out the Westword nod for more info here. We started on Valentine's Day 2003 and it was an appropriate holiday to begin with because this has definitely been a labor of love for all of the DeGraff family, including Jeremy, Adam, Genevieve, David and Pamela who all deserve big ups. Also our old high school friend Jeff Jackson was an invester and deserves a hand. Perhaps Matthew and Monica DeGraff deserve the biggest heap of gratitude for their generous support over the years.

The new owners, Dave and Mernie Rosenberg, come to the D Note as fans. They will give it their own flavor, of course, "denote" in their own fashion, but it will always have a little of the DeGraff love in the place as by now that love has seeped into the walls!

We will still help book the bands, for the time being, and so regular events like salsa, baby boogie, blues night, trivia, open stage, Zumba, Yoga, etc, will continue, as well as many of the musicians that you are already familiar with and love.

Come to the D Note soon and raise your glass to more decades to come for the Rosenberg's!

This weekend we have two very worthy causes and much great music, including the world-influenced reggae of one of our all time favorite bands, Mono Verde. Also some very fine jazz for the jazz lovers Saturday afternoon.

Feb 1
[5:00p]
Bill McKay (of Leftover Salmon)

[7:00p]
Fundraiser for Knowledge For People (raising awareness for Autism) w/ Mono Verde (world beat). $10 suggested donation.

[10:00p]
Volunteer Funk Department $5

B2

[10:30a]
Zumba $8

[4:00p]
West Quarto (jazz) $5

[7 :00p]
Benefit for the family of Scott Mayo w/ The Rush Experience (Rush tribute band), Trust No One, Black Rainbow, Mint Novacaine. $10 suggested donation

Come say bye and hi!

D Scribe

Extra credit: One of the great Colorado/Finnish/Universal poets, Anselm Hollo, died this week. He was a good friend and we'll miss him. But we are consoled, at least, to still have many books of his poems to spend our lives with. Here is but one of those poems.

Shed the Fear

Who has a face sees
    the world,
but the world
    is not

to be borne-
   or only
when seen as
  another:

how did this
  come together? How
did I find you?
  so many turns

in the road
  so few of them
possible!
  How not to spin out

in hairpin turns
  of disbelief...
TheSufi martyrs
  insisted

"The world
  is a wedding"
Why not go with them,

in the face of
   present carnage
centuries
  later.

D Note love letter 1/23/13

D batteries,

Some fun dance music this weekend w/ Big Universe and Rough Satin on Friday night and the ever popular Hafla on Saturday night followed by the sweet sounds of Sweet Corn at 10p. There will be awesome energetic Salsa music Sunday night to with the band Sabor De La Calle too.


Yours in all things D

Scribe

Extra credit: Michael McClure is of the beat poet generation, friends with Keroauc, et al. He also just so happened to write the Janis Joplin hit "Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz". And he wrote one of our favorite books of nonsense "Ghost Tantras", which he once famously read to the lions in the S.F. Zoo. Here's a new poem of his from last week's New Yorker.

MEPHISTO 20

SOFT TOES CURL ON THE FLOOR. PRIMATE STYLE
  with gleam of varnished wood beneath them.
    The garden does not sleep at night.
       THE POWERFUL KNOWLEDGE
      is all around. The cortex is the shape
    of a self-curled and widespread butterfly;
   wings open in scents and all probable
             stream bottoms
       finding stars, blotches of odor,
     and pulses of organs
       in unlighted dimensions
         and awaking chakras.
       IT
       IS
         CORE ESSENCE
         of nothingness.
Like the twitch of a zebra's haunch
  in the herd by the game lodge
    at the lip of the crater.

      You know me by
   my white haired adventures
     at the cliff's edge.

love letter 1/17/13

D Ports,

Each moment is rare and precious, but sometimes we get tricked into thinking these moments go on forever. Don't fall for it. 

We are excited about the bands this weekend. There are two great bands on Friday night, Chain Station Mountain Music (bluegrassy) and Carry me Ohio (alt country/indie rock).

And then The Rocky Mountain Opera Bowl and Eclipse (Journey tribute band) on Saturday night. That line up makes a certain weird sense no? Steve Perry from Journey did bring a kind of opera singing in rock and roll. This is the second year we've had the Opera Bowl and it was just so cool last year. Just to hear the sheer power and precision of the voices.

We also have a Music Train Family Concert Saturday at 4pm featuring Kutandara, an African Marimba band. That was also really cool last year and we look forward to this one too. The kids will love it.

Then salsa dancing and music on Sunday night. Then next Tues, for you big band fans we have Bob's Big Band.

We are proud of these kinds of eclectic weekends, the unique shape of them. And we are so happy to share them with you!

18 [7:00p] Chain Station Mountain Music $5 [9:30p] Carry Me Ohio (FREE)	19 [10:30a] Zumba $8 [4:00p] Music Train Family Concert presents: Kuntandara, African Marimba Band. $7 adults/$3 kids [7:00p] Cabaret Otaku presents: Rocky Mountain Opera Bowl. $15 (4 for $50). [9:30p] Eclipse (Journey Tribute Band) $5
20 [10:00a] Free Form Yoga ($5 - $10 Suggested Donation) [2:00p] Baby Boogie, bring your kids into dance! [8:00p] Salsa Dancing (lesson at 8pm, Orquestra La Brava at 9pm) $8	21 [7:00p] Open Mic Night (Open Stage-sign up at 6:30pm)	22 [7:00p] Bob's Big Band FREE

Love to you and yours from us and ours.

D maniac

Extra Credit: A charming poem by Frank O'hara...

A True Account of Talking to the Sun on Fire Island

The Sun woke me this morning loud
and clear, saying "Hey! I've been
trying to wake you up for fifteen
minutes. Don't be so rude, you are
only the second poet I've ever chosen
to speak to personally

so why
aren't you more attentive? If I could
burn you through the window I would
to wake you up. I can't hang around
here all day."

"Sorry, Sun, I stayed
up late last night talking to Hal."

"When I woke up Mayakovsky he was
a lot more prompt" the Sun said
petulantly. "Most people are up
already waiting to see if I'm going
to put in an appearance."

I tried
to apologize "I missed you yesterday."
"That's better" he said. "I didn't
know you'd come out." "You may be
wondering why I've come so close?"
"Yes" I said beginning to feel hot
wondering if maybe he wasn't burning me
anyway.

"Frankly I wanted to tell you
I like your poetry. I see a lot
on my rounds and you're okay. You may
not be the greatest thing on earth, but
you're different. Now, I've heard some
say you're crazy, they being excessively
calm themselves to my mind, and other
crazy poets think that you're a boring
reactionary. Not me.

Just keep on
like I do and pay no attention. You'll
find that people always will complain
about the atmosphere, either too hot
or too cold too bright or too dark, days
too short or too long.

If you don't appear
at all one day they think you're lazy
or dead. Just keep right on, I like it.

And don't worry about your lineage
poetic or natural. The Sun shines on
the jungle, you know, on the tundra
the sea, the ghetto. Wherever you were
I knew it and saw you moving. I was waiting
for you to get to work.

And now that you
are making your own days, so to speak,
even if no one reads you but me
you won't be depressed. Not
everyone can look up, even at me. It
hurts their eyes."
"Oh Sun, I'm so grateful to you!"

"Thanks and remember I'm watching. It's
easier for me to speak to you out
here. I don't have to slide down
between buildings to get your ear.
I know you love Manhattan, but
you ought to look up more often.

And
always embrace things, people earth
sky stars, as I do, freely and with
the appropriate sense of space. That
is your inclination, known in the heavens
and you should follow it to hell, if
necessary, which I doubt.

Maybe we'll
speak again in Africa, of which I too
am specially fond. Go back to sleep now
Frank, and I may leave a tiny poem
in that brain of yours as my farewell."

"Sun, don't go!" I was awake
at last. "No, go I must, they're calling
me."
"Who are they?"

Rising he said "Some
day you'll know. They're calling to you
too." Darkly he rose, and then I slept.

D Note Love Letter New Year's 2013 edition

Happy Holly D,

Once upon a time there was you. And that's where our story begins.

Lots of GREAT music this weekend. Gypsy Flamenco into Tom Petty Tribute band on Friday night! and a night curated by Mark Sundermeier of the Toad Tavern on Saturday night sure to please. Also on Fri, early is a fantastic songwriter Sterling Witt from Kansas City. Worth making the trip out for all by himself. (Check him out on sterlingwitt.com)

We have a rocking NYE on Monday night w/ Daniel Lawrence Walker, Broke Bridge Bluegrass and Musketeer Gripweed. From Musketeer Gripweed's website, "Self-described as an “American Revival Stomp Shake Ass Holla” band, Musketeer Gripweed is equal parts roots rock, Delta blues, and performance art, a Musketeer Gripweed performance transports audiences to a world long past – one crisscrossed with dusty country roads and populated by highway bandits, snake-oil salesmen, and charlatans.This experience is centered on front man Jason Downing, who transforms on stage into the charismatic Reverend Monkey-Paw Patterson. A wild-eyed pioneer preacher armed with gasoline, straight razors, and hellfire, Rev. Patterson leads shows with all the energy and hunger of a prairie fire.Crowds at a Musketeer Gripweed concert are whipped into a near-religious frenzy, and can often be seen shaking their own “monkey paws” (an open hand with fingers clenched) in time with the beat.The album cranks the tempo and energy level of Gripweed’s music to the next level, creates a modern day music revival that pulls rock up from the roots, and also features the soulful slide guitar work of Luther Dickinson of The North Mississippi All Stars and The Black Crowes."  Only $10 and includes the great Dan Walker and Broke Bridge Bluegrass opening.


Dec 28

[5:00p]
Sterling Witt (Singer/Songwriter)

[7:00p]
Tito Malaga (Flamenco/Gypsy/Mediterranean)

[9:30p]
Legendary Hitchhikers (tribute to Tom Petty) $5

Dec 29

[7:00p]
Eric Coffman

[8:00p]
Mark Sundermeier (Sad Star Cafe)

[9:00p]
Dusty Radio

[10:00p]
Bailout

[11:00p]
Red Fox Run. $5

Dec 30

[10:00a]
Free form yoga lead by Nicki Viera

[2:00p]
Baby Boogie, bring your kids into dance!

[8:00p]
Salsa Dancing (lesson at 8pm, music at 9pm) $8

31

[5:30p]
Dan Walker

[7:45p]
Broke Bridge

[10:15p]
Musketeer Gripweed


Under and in,

D scribe

Extra Credit: Here's one for the New Year from the great Scottish poet Robert Burns? First the original, for the sound of it, then the "translation" for the sense.

AULD LANG SYNE
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my jo,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp !
and surely I’ll be mine !
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae run about the braes,
and pu’d the gowans fine ;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae paidl’d i' the burn,
frae morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !
and gie's a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,
for auld lang syne.


OLD LONG SINCE
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old long since?

CHORUS:

For old long since, my dear,
for old long since,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for old long since.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
and surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for old long since.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine^† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since old long since.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for old long since.