Openair Sessions

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.

Singer-songwriter Bevin Luna released the album "Baby Dragon" in April. The Fort Collins musician writes and plays music with her brother Gabe. Her band's guitar riff-driven rock music is influenced by her family's Southern upbringing and Caribbean heritage. Bevin Luna visited the CPR Performance Studio to play some new songs. She and her brother also spoke with Bruce Trujillo about their musical upbringing, how they collaborate as siblings and their favorite bands from Fort Collins.

Rowan Kerrick released the "Foolish" EP last month. The record is an autobiographical collection of songs inspired by a recent breakup. The classically-trained singer-songwriter recorded it in New York, though she recently moved back to her hometown of Denver. Kerrick visited the CPR Performance Studio to play four songs from "Foolish." She also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about how recording the EP was therapeutic, her time at Denver School of the Arts and how she went from playing classical music to writing her own songs.

Modern Leisure is the indie rock project of Denver musician Casey Banker. He's a veteran of the Colorado music scene who previously played in Shady Elders and fronted The Don'ts and Be Carefuls. His new band, which released the album "Super Sad Rom​-​Com" last month, makes music with folk influences and a laid-back summery sound. Modern Leisure visited the CPR Performance Studio to play four songs from the new album. Banker also spoke with Jeremy Petersen about mixing humor and sadness on the new songs and working with Denver producer Jeff Cormack.

Paul DeHaven has visited the CPR Performance Studio on several occasions, both as a member of Paper Bird and Eye & The Arrow. Earlier this month the Colorado musician released his debut solo album, "King of Gold." DeHaven performed three songs from "King of Gold" in our studio accompanied by guitarist Blake Stepan. He also spoke with Bruce Trujillo about scrapping the first batch of songs he wrote for the album, how Paper Bird's breakup affected his music career and why he loves putting out music on cassette tape.