Indie 102.3 Sessions

An intimate conversation on the upcoming self-titled album and more.

The rapper pays the Indie Lounge a special visit in support of his latest album "STRUGGLER".

Your favorite Local 303 band of 2023 takes over the performance studio for a rockin' set!

The singer walks us through the inspiration behind his debut album.

Local 303 alum creates a song a day during the summer.

A move from Colorado hasn't stopped upbeat band Wildermiss on their climb to stardom.

One of our Local 303 artists for the month of April swings into the Indie Lounge for a special stripped down set.

Denver's own Kiltro visits the performance studio.

Singer-songwriter Miya Folick let's you into her world of discovery on her latest album Roach. From toxic behaviors to self-realizations and all the heartache and passion that comes from romantic relationships is laid out for all to bare. In this Live Session, Host Demi Harvey gets to the root of that storytelling spotlighting three songs from the sophomore album. Watch and listen to the Session to hear the full interview and hear a few songs stripped down in the Indie Lounge.

Ahead of a special performance with the Boulder Philharmonic, Colorado band DeVotchKa gives us a spectacular taste of the major show to come.

You're favorite Local 303 artist of 2022 visits the Performance Studio for an explosive new Live Session in celebration of 303 Day.

Making music has been a lifelong family affair for the brothers of Hermanos Gutiérrez. Now signed to Easy Eye Sound Records, they tell the story of that milestone and breakdown their latest album "El Bueno Y El Mano".

Indie band Metric visits the Lounge to perform a stripped down set and chat with Host Will Carlan.

Visiting the Indie Performance Studio for the first time is soul singer rising star Danielle Ponder

Irish band SOAK visits the Indie Lounge to perform stripped down songs from their new album.

Mondo Cozmo tours with new material from his latest album and performs a few songs in the Indie Lounge.

DEHD performs songs from brand new album in the Indie Lounge

Straight from the Coachella desert to our live studio are British rockers IDLES to perform and talk about their latest album CRAWLER.

alt-J chats about their new album "The Dream" and performs singles "U&ME" and "Hard Drive Gold".

Performing a few songs acoustically for the first time, Arlo Parks visits the Indie Lounge!

Fresh off the release of the deluxe version of "Deadpan Love", multi-instrumentalist Cautious Clay talks touring and the origins of his love for music.

Matthew Myers, frontman of indie folk band Houndmouth, takes a deep dive into 2022 album 'Good For You' and performs "Mackenzie" acoustic for the first time.

Spoon's Britt Daniel drops by to talk about the band's 10th and latest album, 'Lucifer on the Sofa,' its Texas origins, and just where he got all that swagger.

"Making lemonade out of lemons" German duo Milky Chance talks working through the pandemic creating new tunes and fine tuning old ones.

For the first Live Session in nearly two years, British singer Beabadoobee plays three acoustic songs spanning her discography.

Fires, coronavirus, and the chaotic year of 2020 isn't stopping Bob Mould from speaking his truth on LP "Blue Hearts".

Up and coming artist Anjimile's first LP focuses on the queer experience and self-discovery.

"It's a scary thing to question what you're doing," Deep Sea Diver frontwoman Jessica Dobson talks re-discovery ahead of new album.

Singer-songwriter Laura Veirs talks grieving and healing on new LP "My Echo".

Indigenous folk singer Samantha Crain talks about the release of her sixth LP "A Small Death".

Soulful singer Lianne La Havas talks about her new self-titled album.

Katie Crutchfield taps into her country roots and getting sober on her fifth Waxahatchee album, “Saint Cloud.” We caught up with Crutchfield from her home in St.

On Air Host Bruce Trujillo interviews Laura Marling and breaks down themes in her newest LP "Song for Our Daughter"

Down Time performs singles off their new LP "Hurts Being Alive" in Live Sessions.

Colorado Springs hip-hop group, The Reminders, stuns in studio performance.

Denver's Ramakhandra breaks down their indescribable sound during interview with Host Bruce Trujillo.

Denver supergroup The Grand Alliance perform new songs for Live Sessions.

Denver band The Still Tide visits the performance studio fresh off the release of debut album "Between Skies."

Denver folk-pop singer Joel Ansett talks breaking out of his comfort zone and being inspired by the indie folk bands of the Northwest on the new album A Place I Knew Before. Ansett dives deep into the backstory on emotional single "Through" and its connection to the 2014 film Boyhood. "I have no idea what this person has survived and their heartache," Ansett said. "That film gifted me empathy."

Overcoats, comprised of JJ Mitchell and Hana Elion, have experienced plenty since their debut release "Young." Three years later and all of that struggle and wisdom has found its way into their new crop of songs in "The Fight."

Colfax Speed Queen is ready to make 2020 their year filled with new music and a ton of live performances.

Angel Olsen has had a spectacular 2019. Her new album All Mirrors has made it to several "Best of" lists. " The entire album is chock full of vulnerable moments and dramatic storytelling: "Was I becoming what I had to be? Was that the truth I was supposed to see?" Olsen questions on track "Summer". All Mirrors tackles feelings of hopefulness, loneliness, and love lost and found again.

After a relocation from Ecuador to Denver a year ago, Neoma has performed at the Underground Music Showcase and captivated audiences all over the city. Hypnotic doesn't begin to describe Neoma's sound -- soothing synths, simplistic beats, and angelic voice of frontwoman Carla Huiracocha.

Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst have made music as Shovels & Rope for more than a decade. The South Carolina married duo's sound is rooted in classic Americana and country-folk. They add some fuzzed-out guitars and driving rock rhythms to the mix on their new album By Blood. Shovels & Rope stopped into our studio before a show at Denver's Ogden Theatre. The band played some music from the new album and chatted with Jeremy Petersen.

Jeff Cormack has been the bandleader of South of France since 2012. The Denver musician/producer and his rotating cast of musicians are preparing to release the band's sophomore album, Remember That Cool Thing We Did, later this year via Dualtone Records. We got a sneak preview of the record when South of France came into our studio for a performance and interview with Alisha Sweeney.

Psychedelic Porn Crumpets released the new album And Now For The Whatchamacallit earlier this year. The quartet from Perth, Australia, has been building up a big fan base overseas thanks to their blistering garage rock and unruly live shows. The band stopped into our studio to play a few songs from the new record and chat with Alisha Sweeney.

The Burroughs are a nine-piece band from Greeley with a dynamic soul-rock sound. The band's uptempo rhythms, potent horn section and vocal harmonies were on full display when they performed some songs from the albums Got To Feel and Forever In Love in our studio. They also spoke with host Alisha Sweeney.

As frontman of Camper Van Beethoven, David Lowery became a forefather of indie rock in the 1980s. He also leads the popular alternative rock band Cracker and has produced records by Sparklehorse and Counting Crows. This year Lowery released the autobiographical solo album In The Shadow of the Bull. He stopped by to play a few songs from that record along with a Cracker song, and spoke with Alisha Sweeney.

Jay Cobb Anderson is new to Denver but a well-established musician. He's a co-founder of Portland folk-rock band Fruition and also plays in TK & The Holy Know-Nothings. Anderson -- one of our Local 303 artists this month -- just released the new solo EP Everything Is Gonna Work Its Own Self Out. He recently stopped into our studio to play some songs from that record and chat with Bruce Trujillo.

Fantastic Negrito is the performing moniker of blues musician Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz. Since winning NPR Music's first Tiny Desk Contest in 2015, he's found widespread acclaim. Fantastic Negrito's most recent album, Please Don't Be Dead, won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album this year. Fantastic Negrito and his band stopped into our studio before a show at the Bluebird Theater to play some songs from that record and talk with Alisha Sweeney.

Dessa has visited our studio a few times over the years, though her last musical performance at CPR was in 2013.

Sean Frederick wrote, recorded and produced all the music on I'd Waste All My Time On You, his debut album as Good Elastics. Backed by a drummer, the Denver musician recently shared some of the atmospheric indie rock from that record in our performance studio. He also sat down for a chat with Alisha Sweeney.

The Beeves hail from the small town of Erie, Colorado, and got their start busking on the streets of nearby Boulder. The members of the garage rock quartet released their debut album, "Adam & Beeve," earlier this year. The band stopped into our studio to play some songs from the record and chat with Bruce Trujillo.

Turvy Organ draws inspiration from the wave of great indie rock bands of the 2000s. Formed in Austin, the band now calls Denver home. The quartet released the EP The Ghost at the Feast earlier this year. Turvy Organ stopped in to play some music from the record and chat with Jeremy Petersen.

Shakey Graves -- the performing moniker of singer-songwriter Alejandro Rose-Garcia -- makes music with a rollicking, Americana-tinged take on life and love. We welcomed him back into our performance studio before a headlining show at Red Rocks. He and his band played four songs from last year's Can't Wake Up album and chatted with Alisha Sweeney.

The Greeley-based trio Trash Cat has a knack for breezy indie pop melodies and charmingly eccentric lyrics. The band, whom we featured as one of our Local 303 artists last month, stopped by our studio to play a few songs from the debut album, "Welcome to Trash City," and chat with Bruce Trujillo.

Pure Bathing Culture released its third album, "Night Pass," earlier this year. The Portland indie rock band with a dreamy, oceanic sound returned to our studio to share a few songs from the new record and chat with Jeremy Petersen.

Last month Angie McMahon released her debut album, "Salt," after years of performing in her home country of Australia. The singer-songwriter recently stopped into our studio to play stripped-down versions of three songs from the album.

Kiltro captivated us at last year's Underground Music Showcase when the band played one of our porch sessions. Led by Chilean-American artist Chris Bowers-Castillo, the Denver band makes loop-based songs influenced by folk, Latin, rock and electronic music. Kiltro will release its debut album, "Creatures of Habit," next month and play an album release show July 6 at Denver's Larimer Lounge. Kiltro visited our studio last month to play four songs. The band members also spoke with Jeremy Petersen about how the band grew from Bowers-Castillo's solo project to a trio, the dozens of effect pedals they use in their music and the growing diversity of Denver's music scene.

Instant Empire took a unique approach to putting out new music last year. The Denver indie rock band wrote, recorded and released one new song each month of 2018. Now, the band members have compiled those tracks into the new album "Cathedrals." Instant Empire made its fourth visit to the CPR Performance Studio last month. The band members played four songs and spoke with Jeremy Petersen about the rationale behind their strategy last year, the challenges of writing to meet a deadline and how their lyrics became more personal.

Flaural last visited us in 2017 with ambitions for a debut album. The Denver rock quartet's plan took a bit longer than anticipated, but after multiple U.S. tours and recording sessions, it released the aptly-titled "Postponement" last month. The album features the layered guitar and synth sound that has won the band praise from publications like Stereogum. Flaural returned to play three songs from "Postponement" in our studio. The band members also spoke with Jeremy Petersen about recording the album in Oakland and Denver, how fans like to listen to their music while running and why they love touring the West Coast.

Extra Gold released its debut album, "High & Lonesome," late last year. Evan Holm fronts the Denver country-western band and draws on his experiences living in Kansas City and across Colorado on the record's eight tracks. Extra Gold stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play four songs from "High & Lonesome." Holm also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about how the band came together from a weekly residence at Denver's Syntax Physic Opera, working with producer and former Paper Bird member Mark Anderson, and the band's busy summer schedule.

Heavy Diamond Ring is a new project from Sarah Anderson and Paul DeHaven, founders of the Colorado folk band Paper Bird. The band finds the musicians continuing their 12 year collaboration after Paper Bird's split in 2017. Heavy Diamond Ring celebrates the release of its debut album with a June 7 show at Denver's Larimer Lounge, presented by OpenAir. Heavy Diamond Ring stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play three songs from the album. The band members also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about why they love writing songs together, filming a music video in Ohio and recording with producer Mark Anderson, Sarah's brother and a former Paper Bird member.

Knuckle Pups haven't been around long, but the band is already making waves beyond the Colorado music scene. Featuring former members of Denver band Mega Gem, the indie pop quintet released its debut EP "San Panino," last year. A gig at the Treefort Music Festival in Boise, Idaho, followed a few months later. Knuckle Pups stopped into our studio last week to play four songs. The members also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about how the band came together, their love for punk rock and their experience at Treefort.

Black Belt Eagle Scout's "Mother of My Children" is the remarkable indie rock debut album from the Portland, Ore., band. At the time of its recording, Black Belt Eagle Scout was just one person: singer-songwriter Katherine Paul, who played every instrument on the album. She originally released it in 2017, and it soon caught the attention of renowned indie label Saddle Creek, who re-released it last year. Since then, the band has expanded to a quartet. Black Belt Eagle Scout visited the CPR Performance Studio before a show at Denver's Larimer Lounge with Julia Jacklin. The band played four songs, including a couple new tracks, and Paul spoke with Bruce Trujillo about why she started the project after playing drums in several Portland bands, the Pacific Northwest music scene and recording the album on the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community reservation in Washington where she grew up.

Denver band iZCALLi recently released its fifth studio album, "Casa de Papel." Shortly before the album's release show, the Latin psych-rock band made its third appearance in our performance studio. iZCALLi played four songs from the new record. The members also spoke with Bruce Trujillo about consistently writing new music to "stay fresh," working with producer Tyler Imbrogno of Denver band Eldren and performing at a Colorado Rockies game last year.

Roger Sellers has made electronic music for several years, first under his own name and currently as Bayonne. The Austin, Texas, musician released his sophomore Bayonne album, "Drastic Measures," earlier this year. The record finds Sellers singing about life on the road as a touring musician while adding pop-inspired choruses into his loop-based music. Bayonne stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before a show at Denver's Lost Lake. Sellers played four songs from "Drastic Measures" with drummer Ryan Heath and spoke with Alisha Sweeney about his love for musical repetition, his upcoming summer music festival gigs and creating his own hot sauce brand.

Aly Spaltro released "Even in the Tremor," her third album as Lady Lamb, earlier this month. The New York-based singer-songwriter takes plenty of musical twists and turns in her music, shifting from charming and lively pop to contemplative folk at a moment's notice. The connecting thread is Spaltro's poetic and reflective lyrics. Spaltro visited our studio to play four songs from "Even in the Tremor" on acoustic guitar with bandmate Marian Li Pino on backing vocals. She also spoke with Bruce Trujillo about how her songs have become more autobiographical, why she arranged the album herself and how a traumatic childhood experience at Pizza Hut led to the song "Young Disciple."

The Copper Children formed in 2015 when frontman Zea Stallings booked a performance at the Gothic Theatre and needed a band to back him. Since then the Denver group has released three albums that blend jam, folk and psychedelic rock, the most recent of which is "Speaking in Spirits." The Copper Children visited the CPR Performance Studio before an album release show at Denver's Larimer Lounge. The members played three songs from "Speaking in Spirits" and spoke with Bruce Trujillo about the band's origin story, how they view their music as prayer and writing lyrics spontaneously during jam sessions.

The members of Oko Tygra shared their hypnotic, '80s-influenced dream pop in our studio four years ago. Since then the Denver quartet -- led by singer and guitarist Joshua Novak -- has remained relatively quiet, playing intermittent local shows and working on new music. The band is back in the local spotlight this month with the release of its debut album, "Assistoma." Oko Tygra recently returned to the CPR Performance Studio. The band members played three songs and spoke with Jeremy Petersen about why they don't play as many concerts as some bands, the years of work that went into "Assistoma" and the themes of solitude and isolation behind the new music.

Daniel Rodriguez has been a guest in our studio several times as a member of Colorado folk band Elephant Revival. That band went on hiatus last year, but its members remain busy. Guitarist Rodriguez has done so by recording his debut solo EP, "Your Heart, The Stars, The Milky Way," which he released earlier this year. Rodriguez returned to the CPR Performance Studio to play four songs from his new record. He also spoke with Bruce Trujillo about the differences between performing solo and with a band, how writing music helped him come to terms with a recent breakup and exploring a more "electric" sound.

We first welcomed Whiskey Autumn into our studio in 2016 after catching wind of their submission to that year's Tiny Desk Contest from NPR Music. Three years later, the Denver band brought their eclectic indie pop back into our studio just before releasing the new album "Modern Doubt." Whiskey Autumn played four songs from the new record and chatted with Bruce Trujillo about the political edge behind their songs, the ambient beach sounds on the record and the advantages of recording in their home studio.

J.S. Ondara's humble musical beginning is a central theme of his debut album, "Tales of America." The singer-songwriter grew up in Nairobi, Kenya, with little opportunity to hear or play music outside of listening to his parents' small radio. After moving to Minneapolis, Ondara cut his teeth in that city's music scene before gaining a national spotlight for his poetic folk songs influenced by gospel and the pursuit of the American dream. J.S. Ondara stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before a show at Denver's Lost Lake. He played three songs from "Tales of America" and spoke with Bruce Trujillo about how hearing Bob Dylan for the first time led to his move to the U.S., teaching himself to play guitar and whether or not he plans to "go electric."

Hop Along began as songwriter Frances Quinlan's solo acoustic project, but has since evolved to a full band signed to the Saddle Creek indie label. The Philadelphia quartet self-produced its third album, "Bark Your Head Off, Dog," which features an eclectic sound influenced by folk, pop, punk and classical music. But it's Quinlan's effervescent vocal delivery of her thoughtful lyrics that might be the band's most remarkable element. Hop Along stopped by the CPR Performance Studio before headlining the Bluebird Theater in Denver last week. The band played three songs from "Bark Your Head Off, Dog" and Quinlan spoke with Jeremy Petersen about adding a cinematic quality to her music, the legacy of Saddle Creek's catalog and what it's like collaborating with her brother Mark, who plays drums in Hop Along.

Slow Caves release their debut album, "Falling," this week. The Fort Collins indie rock band has been a presence in the Colorado music scene for several years and they represented the Centennial state last week at the SXSW music festival in Austin. Before that trip to Texas, we welcomed them back into our studio for the first time since 2017. Slow Caves played three stripped-down versions of songs from "Falling." The band members also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about recording the album in Austin and signing to the Cincinnati indie label Old Flame Records.

Definitely, Maybe is a new Denver band from songwriting partners Carmine Gabbianelli and Zachary Antonio, formerly of indie rock group ScaTTer GaTHer. Last month Definitely, Maybe released its self-titled debut EP, recorded in Gabbianelli's home studio. We recently featured "Being" off that record on our latest Colorado Music Sampler. Definitely, Maybe stopped by the CPR Performance Studio before a show at Denver's Fort Greene Bar. The band members played four songs from the new EP and spoke with Bruce Trujillo about the benefits of recording in your own studio, filming a music video for "Sleep" and what they've learned about the Denver music community over the past few years.

YAWL is a collaboration between Denver rapper Ancient Mith and German producer Dot. The duo released its debut album, "A Pile to Keep, A Pile to Burn," in 2016 and has performed across Europe. This year YAWL played its first U.S. shows, including a recent Denver gig. YAWL visited the CPR Performance Studio to play a few songs. The duo also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about how their collaboration began at an Ancient Mith concert in Germany, filming a music video in a French castle and their upcoming sophomore album.

Don Chicharrón specializes in a type of Peruvian psychedelic rock music called Chicha. Led by vocalist Aldo Pantoja, the Denver nine-piece has a vast sound that's both bizarre and danceable. The band released its self-titled debut album this month and will celebrate Saturday with a release show at Denver's Hi-Dive. Don Chicharrón stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play some new music. The band members also spoke with Bruce Trujillo about the origins of Chicha music, recruiting some family members to play on the new record and the growing popularity of Latinx music in Denver and beyond.

We first met Spirettes at our 2017 "Super Session" in Colorado Springs, which was featured on the current season of our collaborative TV series with CPT12, "OpenAir Live & Local." The band, then a trio, performed songs from its self-titled debut record at that event. Now, Spirettes plan to release a new EP this spring with an expanded lineup. Spirettes stopped by the CPR Performance Studio before a gig at Denver's Syntax Physic Opera. The band members played four songs and spoke with Alisha Sweeney about the band's origin at a 2016 Courtney Barnett concert in Denver, incorporating the cello into their music and their collaborative songwriting process.

Tropa Magica is a new project from brothers David and Rene Pacheco, founders of the Los Angeles band Thee Commons. They released their self-titled debut album as Tropa Magica last year. The Pachecos expand on their "psychedelic cumbia punk" sound on the record by adding jazz and pop influences. Tropa Magica stopped by the CPR Performance Studio last year. The band members played four songs and spoke with Bruce Trujillo about forming Tropa Magica on New Year's Day 2018, taking inspiration from French cabaret singer Édith Piaf and the growing popularity of Latinx music in the U.S.

The Helio Sequence recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the release of its fourth album, "Keep Your Eyes Ahead." The Portland, Ore., duo marked the occasion by releasing a deluxe edition of the record via Sup Pop and embarking on a month-long U.S. tour in which the band performed the album in its entirety. That trek included a stop at Denver's Globe Hall. The Helio Sequence stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before that show to play four songs from "Keep Your Eyes Ahead." The band members also spoke with Jeremy Petersen about Portland's music scene, re-learning to play several songs from the album and their plans to get back in the studio.

Anthony Ruptak released his debut album, "A Place That Never Changes," this month. It was a difficult project for the Denver singer-songwriter, who lost his instruments, songbooks and savings when his house was burglarized before finishing the album. Ruptak was able to complete the record with some help from the Denver music community. Ruptak and his band recently stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play three songs from "A Place That Never Changes." He also spoke with Jeremy Petersen about the "cinematic" quality of the album, playing 16 different instruments and how he got back on his feet after the burglary.

Wye Oak released the album "The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs" last spring. Led by the songwriting duo of Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack, the Baltimore group has made a habit of changing its sound from record to record, and its sixth full-length is no exception. With the addition of new member Will Hackney, Wye Oak's sound has grown fuller and richer. Wye Oak stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before headlining Denver's Bluebird Theater. The band members played four songs and spoke with Jeremy Petersen about expanding the band's sound on the new record, how they write music while living in different cities and the ambiguous meaning of the album's title.

Why? recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of its second album, "Alopecia." The breakout full-length from the Cincinnati band introduced many new fans to frontman Yoni Wolf's eccentric take on indie rock and hip-hop. The band is performing the album in full on its current tour, which included a recent stop at the Gothic Theatre. Why? returned to the CPR Performance Studio before that show to play four songs from "Alopecia." Wolf also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about his songwriting techniques ten years ago, the music that inspired "Alopecia" and why the record is a fan favorite.

Natalie Prass released the follow-up to her breakout debut album last summer. The Virginia singer-songwriter scrapped material she had planned to use for the record and wrote "The Future and the Past" after the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The album finds Prass adding disco and R&B sounds to her music. Prass and her band stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before a show at Denver's Larimer Lounge to play three songs from "The Future and the Past." She also spoke with Jeremy Petersen about sharing a stage with Paul McCartney at a recent music festival, why she decided to change her sound on the album and working with producer Matthew E. White.

DeVotchKa recently released its seventh studio album, "This Night Falls Forever." The record arrives seven years after the Denver band's most recent album, during which the four members pursued various side projects. It features an eclectic range of sounds backed by vigorous string sections. DeVotchKa returned to the CPR Performance Studio to play three songs from the new album. Singer Nick Urata also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about how he found a lost notebook filled with song lyrics and how his work on film scores has influenced DeVotchKa's sound.

2018 was a breakout year for indie rock artist Sophie Allison. The Nashville singer and guitarist spent years self-releasing her lo-fi recordings before catching the attention of the indie label Fat Possum, which has released albums by The Black Keys and Modest Mouse. Earlier this year she released "Clean," her debut studio album as Soccer Mommy, via that label. Soccer Mommy stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before a show at the Downtown Artery in Fort Collins. Allison and her band played some songs from "Clean" and spoke with Bruce Trujillo about recording songs in her college dorm room, working in a studio for the first time and finding inspiration from astrology.

Bud Bronson & The Good Timers released their sophomore album, "Between the Outfield and Outer Space," last month. The Denver quartet says it's a move away from the "blissful ignorance" of their rowdy debut album and toward more serious subject matter. But the band's vibrant rock 'n' roll energy remains intact. Bud Bronson & The Good Timers recently played in the CPR Performance Studio for the first time since 2015. The band members played three songs from the new LP and spoke with Alisha Sweeney about their recent U.S. tour, the dangers of nostalgia and how the 2016 presidential election affected their musical outlook.

Slothrust played a set of jazz-influenced rock in our studio last year. Since then, the New York trio released its fourth album, "The Pact." The record features a heavier sound for the band as well as electronic instruments like drum machine and synthesizer. Slothrust returned to the CPR Performance Studio before a show at Denver's Lost Lake. The band members played three songs from "The Pact" and spoke with Bruce Trujillo about the Slothrust video game and reworking songs from artists like Britney Spears and Black Sabbath on a recent EP of covers.

Julie Davis started making solo music as Bluebook in 2005. Since then the Denver bassist and singer has led bands like Bela Karoli and Fairchildren, and collaborated with fellow Colorado artists Nathaniel Rateliff, Gregory Alan Isakov and Porlolo. This year she returned to Bluebook with her latest musical partner, singer and keyboardist Jess Parsons. Bluebook released the EP "The Astronaut's Wife" this month. Before its release, Davis and Parsons played three songs in the CPR Performance Studio and brought some unique decorations for the space. They also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about their deep musical connection and the inspiration behind their costumes and stage installations.

One Flew West has spent the past four years forging a sound that melds pop, punk and folk. After releasing the EP "Trial And Error" in January, the Denver quartet went on to perform at Colorado music festivals like FoCoMX, the Underground Music Showcase and the Denver stop of the 2018 Warped Tour. One Flew West recently stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play four songs. The band members also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about busking as teenagers, their recent concerts -- where they covered the music of Tenacious D -- and performing at elementary schools.

Denver musician Micah Morris fronts the band Fast Eddy when he isn't playing lead guitar with local live favorites Dirty Few. The former released the new EP, "Toofer One," earlier this summer. Morris and the other Fast Eddy members point to Motown and '70s classic rock as influences on songs like "Hurricane Alley." Fast Eddy stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play a few songs. The band members also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about their road trip to Atlanta to record "Toofer One" and what they love about performing in Denver.

Murder By Death has made frequent visits to Colorado over the past few years. The Bloomington, Ind., quintet performs at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park annually and recently visited Denver for a show at the Ogden Theatre. The rock band released its eighth studio album, "The Other Shore," in August. Murder By Death stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to share some music from that record. The band members also spoke with Bruce Trujillo about the post-apocalyptic concept behind the new album, funding their music via Kickstarter and playing a recent concert in a cave in Tennessee's Cumberland Caverns.

Audible first caught our attention with a standout entry to this year's Tiny Desk Contest from NPR Music, who praised the Colorado Springs band on All Songs Considered. The quintet went on to perform at the Denver stop of the Tiny Desk Contest On The Road concert in May. The band's music incorporates rock, soul and hip-hop. Audible recently stopped into the CPR Performance Studio. The band members played four songs and spoke with Alisha Sweeney about the exposure from the Tiny Desk Contest, the Colorado Springs music scene and their forthcoming debut album.

Kid Reverie is a new band from Denver musician Steve Varney, who formerly performed with Glowing House and Gregory Alan Isakov. The band takes cues from the folk music of those Colorado acts but also veers toward an aggressive rock sound. Varney released Kid Reverie's debut album earlier this month. Kid Reverie stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before a show at Denver's Lost Lake. Varney and his band played four songs and spoke with Jeremy Petersen about going electric and funding the album via Kickstarter.

Eldren is a live favorite in the Denver music scene not only for its own eclectic rock music, but also for annual shows in which the band covers albums like "Dark Side of the Moon" and "Abbey Road" in full. The band releases its sophomore full-length, "Miss Information Aged," this week and performs Saturday at Denver's Oriental Theater. The album explores post-apocalyptic themes and life in the Information Age. Eldren recently returned to the CPR Performance Studio for the first time since 2013. The band played four songs and had an accompanying light show, which you can see in the video above. The members also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about releasing an album on vinyl for the first time and paying tribute to their late bandmate Steve Holloway.

The SIR Band released its debut album, "So Cold," late last year. The Denver trio traveled to California to record it in a West Hollywood studio, where pop stars Shania Twain and Kelly Rowland were also recording at the time. The band cites a wide variety of musical influences including '60s soul, '90s alternative rock and present-day pop. The SIR Band visited the CPR Performance Studio to play four songs from "So Cold." The band also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about paying tribute to one of the members' late fiancé on the album and performing at the South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, four years in a row.

Stephen Malkmus is a pivotal figure in indie rock music. He made some of the most acclaimed rock albums of the 1990s as frontman of Pavement, and continues to innovate with Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks. He released "Sparkle Hard," his seventh album with the Jicks, earlier this year. It's an eclectic record that showcases the quartet's musical versatility. Malkmus stopped by the CPR Performance Studio before a concert at the Gothic Theatre. He played stripped-down versions of four Jicks songs and spoke with Bruce Trujillo about watching the 2018 World Cup while on tour, the political themes on "Sparkle Hard" and how he keeps up with new music.

Edison will release the "Lion's Heart" EP at the end of this month. It's the first release from the Denver band since releasing its debut full-length in 2016. It's also the trio's final record, as Edison will split up following a farewell tour this fall. Edison stopped into the CPR Performance Studio for one last OpenAir Sessions performance. The band members played some new music and spoke with Bruce Trujillo about the decision to end Edison, writing the EP during a residency at Fort Collins' Music District and highlights from their last three years on the road.