Colorado's Artist Radar: The Best Local Bands, Recommended By the Fans (Ongoing)

There's no doubt that the Denver music scene is constantly booming with new talent. There is always going to be a new sensation with every month that passes, but throughout all of the acts I’ve seen across the past few months, these artists are the ones that have definitely stuck out. 

Velvet Daydream

Widely seen as the best Classic Rock revival band in Colorado, Velvet Daydream is THE greatest Denver band I’ve ever had the pleasure to see. It may be my bias towards classic rock revival and their whole 70's look, but their energy and creativity live is off the charts. With Kaeden Keys and Ryder King on guitar, Jude Pfanstiel on bass, and Nick Schwartz on drums (all of them do the vocals), this fresh-faced quartet is rocking the entire state. Currently fresh off the heels of their newest single ‘Revolver’, I saw them play a house show in Boulder in late August. Though their resources were limited, they absolutely crushed their performance. There was not a single moment throughout their entire 90 minute long set where the crowd drew to weariness in any way. Their energy is stunning, constantly interacting with the crowd and keeping them on their toes. No matter how far the venue is from Denver, the next time they perform, you will surely see me there. I wouldn’t dare to miss one of their dazzling gigs.

Their debut album “The Velvet Daydream” was more authentic than any local record I’ve heard before, even going so far as to record each song with vintage equipment. I see it as a no skip album, with each track being so ethereal and astounding that it's hard to move away from. My personal favorite track is “Monique”. The song feels very reminiscent of The Eagles, with the latter half of the song containing a masterfully entrancing guitar solo (So insane to see live, I won’t spoil it, but it really is incredible!). To start your listening journey with Velvet Daydream, start out by listening to their newest single “Revolver”, and then jump in head first to their debut album, starting with “Casino”. You won’t regret it!

https://thevelvetdaydream.com/

Lonely Choir

With her unique, very literal songwriting, Lonely Choir is one of the most memorable acts I’ve ever seen. With a folky-indie sound, her lyrics come as an unexpected (and sometimes hilarious) surprise. Take her most popular single “Kind Song”. The introduction is quiet and serene, when suddenly, the first lyrics are “I hope you get hit by a bus”. When I first saw her live back in 2023, the crowd was unable to look away from her, their enjoyment and entertainment palpable. Lonely Choir is an artist that feeds the soul, and that is never more obvious than when she is performing live. The audience feels as if they can relate to her through her lyrics and her very effective storytelling. Although her lyrics may be funny at times, the themes behind them are often heartbreaking, and the layers in her music are fascinating to look through. She is a creative and imaginative artist that never gets tiring to watch. She reminds me of a mixture of Bob Dylan, Phoebe Bridgers, and Joni Mitchell, which is personally a mixture I’ve always wanted to see. 

My favorite track of hers is “Alexa” off of her 2023 EP “Sports”, in which Lonely Choir sings about her husband leaving her for Alexa (yes, the household robot.), it’s a beautiful yet hilariously dark song that is so well done. To start your listening journey with Lonely Choir, start with her 2024 single “Get Goin’”, and then listen through her EP. I can’t wait to see what she does next, and you should feel the same!!

https://www.lonelychoir.com/