Openair Sessions

Jennifer Jane Niceley began playing music as a kid living on a farm in eastern Tennessee. She moved to Nashville to kick-start her career, but the singer-songwriter now calls Colorado home. The songs on Niceley's latest album, "Angels, Demons, Red-Tail Hawks," reflect the country music influences of her home state with elements of folk and Americana. Jennifer Jane Niceley visited the CPR Performance Studio to play some music from her new LP. She also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about making the move to Colorado, playing a Tom Petty tribute show at Denver's Hi-Dive and the personal themes behind the lyrics of "Angels, Demons, Red-Tail Hawks."

Fort Collins singer-songwriter Corey Wright began releasing music as weareforests last year. He released his debut album, "Part, Parcel," in July and the "Liturgy" EP just a few months later. His music features atmospheric vocal harmonies backed by acoustic folk instruments in the vein of Bon Iver and Iron & Wine. Wright visited the CPR Performance Studio last month for a weareforests solo set. He spoke with Bruce Mitchell about touring the Pacific Coast on a train, his forthcoming holiday album and how he views songs as conversations.

Dee and Erika Rhodes make music as The APX. The Atlanta-based artists add electronic instruments to a classic funk sound on their debut EP "Electrik Funk." Their music has won praise from like-minded acts Chromeo and Empire Of The Sun and the married duo is a live favorite in its hometown. The APX stopped by the CPR Performance Studio after a Denver gig. Dee and Erika Rhodes played four songs and spoke with Bruce Mitchell about their busy touring schedule and their love for dance and new wave music from the 1980s.

The CPR Performance Studio got a full dose of holiday spirit when Kyle's Xmas Supergroup visited earlier this month. Led by Kyle Gray of Rubedo, the band includes members of Colorado acts déCollage, Dandu and Ancient Elk as well as a puppet named P. Miller. Kyle's Xmas Supergroup played three original holiday tunes during its session. Gray also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about his recent move to Santa Fe, N.M., his love for holiday specials from The Muppets and Pee-wee Herman and the new album from Rubedo.

Sour Boy, Bitter Girl has been active since 2005, and the band shows no signs of slowing down. The folk-rock quartet-- which formed in Fort Collins and is now based in Denver -- released two records this year: the "Witchy Women" EP and full-length album "The Palm Reader And The Palm Writer." Sour Boy, Bitter Girl made its first appearance in the CPR Performance Studio last month to play four songs from "The Palm Reader And The Palm Writer." Frontman Benjamin Buttice also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about making the move to Denver, the mystical themes behind their new music and plans for 2018.

Curta is the alias of Denver MC Jake Danna who performs and records with producer 4Digit. The duo creates an unconventional take on hip-hop by adding elements from industrial, noise and electronic music. Their latest release is the "Click Bait" EP which features a guest verse from Chicago rapper Serengeti. Curta stopped by the CPR Performance Studio last month for a performance and interview. The two musicians played four songs and spoke with Jeremy Petersen about the origins of their collaboration, their love for spoken word performances and where they fit in the Denver music scene.

Megan Fong has been active in Denver's music scene for nearly a decade. She previously fronted Bonnie & The Beard and now makes music with her band Florea. Last month the quartet released its self-titled debut album, which continues in the blues-rock vein of Fong's previous work. Florea stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before its album release show to play four songs. Fong also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about starting Florea after Bonnie & The Beard's dissolution, signing with Americana label Roll The Jax and the band's upcoming tour.

Singer and guitarist Jay Mars started the psychedelic rock band King Eddie while living in Detroit. He's since moved to Denver and teamed up with members of Colorado bands like The Still Tide and dé​Collage. This month the quintet released its second album, "Holographic Universe." King Eddie stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before the release show for the new LP. Mars and his band played four songs and spoke with Alisha Sweeney about getting acquainted with the Colorado music scene, putting on shows with virtual reality headsets and working with the Denver art collective Moon Magnet Music.

Jade Bird released her debut EP "Something American" in June. Praise for the London singer-songwriter soon followed: Just a month later Rolling Stone named her as one of "10 New Country Artists You Need to Know." Her music also includes elements of folk, blues and punk. Jade Bird stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before a Denver show with Son Little. She played three songs and spoke with Jeremy Petersen about her musical upbringing, her first impressions of the U.S. and her recent performance on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert."

Yes We Mystic makes dynamic indie rock with hints of electronic and classical music. The quintet recently visited Colorado from Winnipeg, Manitoba, as part of the Canadarado music exchange program. That effort brought four Canadian acts to Denver and Fort Collins this month to perform with three Colorado artists. Yes We Mystic stopped by the CPR Performance Studio to share some music from its recent album "Forgiver" as well as some new songs. Band members Adam Fuhr and Keegan Steele also spoke with Scott Carney about the difficulties of touring in Canada, the Winnipeg music scene and their expectations for playing in Colorado.

Kayla Marque introduced us to her blend of folk, soul and hip hop in late 2015 with a session in the CPR Performance Studio. Since then the Denver singer-songwriter has released her debut album, "Live & Die Like This." She's also formed a backing band and played some notable Colorado shows, including this year's Westword Music Showcase. Kayla Marque and her band returned to our studio before a pair of Colorado gigs. She played three songs and spoke with Bruce Mitchell about her musical growth since her last visit, working on her next album and playing a fundraiser show for the local domestic violence shelter SafeHouse Denver.

Wildermiss is a new band from three former members of Red Fox Run, which split last year. They teamed up with singer Emma Cole, who adds a pop sensibility to the band's energetic riff-driven rock. The Denver quartet releases the EP "Lost With You" with a show tonight at Larimer Lounge. Wildermiss stopped into the CPR Performance Studio this week. The band members played three songs and spoke with Alisha Sweeney about the Red Fox Run split, how they write music via group texts and performing on the Main Stage at this year's Underground Music Showcase in Denver.

Shenandoah Davis has strong ties to Colorado. She attended high school in Boulder and earned a music degree from the University of Northern Colorado. The singer and pianist now calls Seattle home and recently released "Souvenirs," her third album of classical-inspired pop music. Davis and her band visited the CPR Performance Studio this month before a show at The Ubisububi Room. Davis played four songs from "Souvenirs" and spoke with Jeremy Petersen about returning to Colorado, her classical music upbringing and why she spent six years on the new LP.

Lillian made her debut appearance in the CPR Performance Studio just over a year ago. Since then, the Denver singer-songwriter has recorded a new EP called "Light Bender." CPR's OpenAir presents her release show Friday at Syntax Physic Opera. Lillian returned to our studio this week with her four-piece backing band. She played three songs from "Light Bender" and spoke with Jeremy Petersen about expanding her sound on the new EP, the challenge of playing solo shows and curating the all-female musician "Hysteria" shows at Syntax Physic Opera.

Landlady released its third album, "The World Is A Loud Place," earlier this year. Frontman Adam Schatz told us back in February that he found inspiration for the LP from vocalists like Nina Simone, citing her strength and believability as a singer. As a result his unique voice is more prominent than ever within the Brooklyn band's elaborate indie rock. Landlady stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before a show at Denver's Hi-Dive. The band members played four songs from "The World Is A Loud Place" and spoke with Bruce Mitchell about plans for their current tour and the unusual story behind the song "Cadaver."

After releasing her first album as Palehound in 2015, Ellen Kempner struggled with grief and anxiety after the death of a close friend and her grandmother. Those experiences inspired the songs on the Boston singer and guitarist's sophomore LP, "A Place I'll Always Go." As a result the album is heavier and more experimental than the trio's debut. Palehound stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before a gig at Lost Lake Lounge. Kempner played four songs from "A Place I'll Always Go" and spoke with Alisha Sweeney about maturing as a songwriter over the past two years and her inclusion on the New York Times' "25 Women Making The Best Rock Music Today."

Ghost Tapes creates a blend of classic genres on its debut self-titled LP. Singer Ishka Phoenix leads the Denver quintet with remarkably soulful vocals while the band borrows elements from jazz, R&B and hip-hop. The band's energetic live show won them new fans at this year's Westword Music Showcase and Underground Music Showcase in Denver. Ghost Tapes stopped by the CPR Performance Studio last month before its album release show. The band members played four songs and spoke with Alisha Sweeney about waiting over a year to release the finished album, their songwriting process and creating a "shrine" to acknowledge their appreciation for the Denver music scene.

Kerstan Wallace has made music for years, both under his own name and as Human Milk. But the Denver singer-songwriter had never shared the songs from his debut LP "Head Bender" with a live audience until he stopped by the CPR Performance Studio last month. That record features upbeat experimental pop that compelled us to include him on our latest Colorado Music Sampler. Kerstan Wallace played three songs from "Head Bender" in our studio. He also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about balancing his work as a geologist with his music career, spending as many as 50 hours writing one song and combining his music with video art.

Ian Cooke is one of our favorite recurring guests in the CPR Performance Studio. Last month the Denver experimental folk artist made his fifth appearance at CPR's OpenAir to share music from his forthcoming LP "The Flight I Flew." Music from the record will serve as the soundtrack for Celestial Navigation, the new show from Denver dance group Wonderbound opening Oct. 13. Ian Cooke and his band -- featuring Tom Hagerman of DeVotchKa -- played three songs from "The Flight I Flew." Cooke also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about creating an "intimate" vibe on the new LP, writing a narrative that takes place in outer space and what it's like to see his music interpreted through dance.

Thee Commons have crafted a rousing blend of psychedelic rock and Mexican cumbia music over the course of three albums, the latest of which is this year's "Paleta Sonora." The trio -- featuring brothers David and Rene Pacheco and bassist Jose Rojas -- has a reputation as one of Los Angeles' best live bands for its feral energy and unique sound. Thee Commons stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before a show at Denver's Lost Lake Lounge. The band members played four songs off "Paleta Sonora" and spoke with Bruce Mitchell about the musical upbringing in the Pacheco household, their love for '90s pop stars like Mariah Carey and Backstreet Boys and how the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" influenced the new record.