Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Diego Romero at diego.romero@colorado.edu
Saint Motel
The “dream-pop” band Saint Motel was started by four college kids in Los Angeles in 2009. Since then, they’ve taken the world by storm with “My Type,” the single from their 2015 EP of the same name. The single has been a chart-topper in the UK and has gone platinum in Italy. The cheery-sounding EP is filled with cowbells, catchy choruses and exhibits indie-pop-rock tendencies. The group has performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live and at the Coachella music festival this year. Saint Motel release a full-length project before the end of 2015, but before that, be sure to check them out at the Fox Theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m.
Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars, the hip-hop duo from Seattle, will come to the Fox Theatre on Friday, Oct. 23 at 8:30 p.m. The group was created in 2002 by University of Washington students DJ Sabzi and MC Geologic. The duo uses hip-hop and spoken word to tackle socioeconomic and racial issues, while also drawing upon DJ Sabzi’s Iranian background and MC Geologic’s Filipino heritage. They include Bahá’í Faith prayers and Filipino instruments in their underground and socially conscious hip-hop albums. They also show love to their hometown of Seattle by doing free shows and constantly addressing problems that are specific to the city. They have released four albums and opened for Kanye West, De La Soul and Slick Rick.
John Grant
John Grant has come a long way from the Czars, an alternative-rock group that he created in 1994 and left in 2004, after being the only member left in the band. Grant came back into music in 2010 with his solo debut, Queen of Denmark, that was met with critical and commercial acclaim in Europe. On Oct. 9, Grant released his third solo album, Grey Tickles, Black Pressure, with deeply personal lyrics covering his homosexuality, his status as HIV positive, drug addiction and alcoholism, while also packing the album with humor and pop culture references. Sonically, Grant blends classic 80’s synth-pop sounds with more modern indie alternative-rock. Be sure to catch Grant while he is on tour for his new album at the Fox Theatre on Oct. 24 at 8:30 p.m.
