Indie 102.3 Sessions

Colfax Speed Queen has been a can't-miss live act in Colorado's music scene for several years. The Denver garage rock band's concerts involve crowd-surfing and mosh pits while the band delivers high-energy guitar and organ riffs. Colfax Speed Queen last November released its sophomore album "Talk To Your Doctor." We recently welcomed the band back into the CPR Performance Studio for the first time since 2013. The band members played a few songs from the new album and spoke with Alisha Sweeney about channeling their live energy in the studio, making a split single with fellow Denver band The Ned Garthe Explosion and some recent tour memories in Kansas City.

It's plain to hear that Sweet Spirit has a big sound: The Austin, Texas, rock band has nine members and one of the most energetic frontwomen in indie music. That's Sabrina Ellis, who also sings for A Giant Dog. Sweet Spirit last month released the new album "St. Mojo." Six of the band members stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before a gig at Denver's Hi-Dive to perform four songs from the new LP. They also spoke with Scott Carney about their non-stop touring schedule and their friendship with fellow Austin band Spoon.

Why? has spent more than a decade crafting experimental rock music with a strong dose of hip-hop. Much of that comes from bandleader Yoni Wolf, who has also toured as a solo rapper. The Cincinnati band's latest album, "Moh Lhean," is a collection of melancholy piano ballads -- some of them written after Wolf suffered a bout of poor health in Central America. Why? stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before a Denver show to play four songs from the new album. Wolf also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about balancing various musical projects, the health scare that influenced "Moh Lhean" and recording the album in his home studio.

Why? has spent more than a decade crafting experimental rock music with a strong dose of hip-hop. Much of that comes from bandleader Yoni Wolf, who has also toured as a solo rapper. The Cincinnati band's latest album, "Moh Lhean," is a collection of melancholy piano ballads -- some of them written after Wolf suffered a bout of poor health in Central America. Why? stopped into the CPR Performance Studio before a Denver show to play four songs from the new album. Wolf also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about balancing various musical projects, the health scare that influenced "Moh Lhean" and recording the album in his home studio.

Singer and guitarist Kyle Emerson may be familiar to fans of Colorado's music scene as a member of the psych-rock band Plum. That group relocated to Los Angeles last year but Emerson is back in Denver to release music under his own name. His debut EP "Worth It" is out next week and he celebrates with a release show May 11 at Hi-Dive. Emerson and his band stopped by the CPR Performance Studio to play four songs from the new EP. He also spoke with Jeremy Petersen about assembling a new band for his solo work, recording live to tape and how his solo work differs from the music of Plum.

Singer and guitarist Kyle Emerson may be familiar to fans of Colorado's music scene as a member of the psych-rock band Plum. That group relocated to Los Angeles last year but Emerson is back in Denver to release music under his own name. His debut EP "Worth It" is out next week and he celebrates with a release show May 11 at Hi-Dive. Emerson and his band stopped by the CPR Performance Studio to play four songs from the new EP. He also spoke with Jeremy Petersen about assembling a new band for his solo work, recording live to tape and how his solo work differs from the music of Plum.

Chris Senseney and Stefanie Drootin are the songwriting partners behind the trio Big Harp, which has released three albums on the Saddle Creek label that span a variety of genres. The married couple has recently stayed busy as a new band called Umm. Their debut album "Double Worshipper" is out this fall. Umm previewed some music from that forthcoming debut in the CPR Performance Studio. Senseney and Drootin also spoke with Alicia Bruce Mitchell about the origin of the new project, how it differs from Big Harp and their ideal way to release music.

Chris Senseney and Stefanie Drootin are the songwriting partners behind the trio Big Harp, which has released three albums on the Saddle Creek label that span a variety of genres. The married couple has recently stayed busy as a new band called Umm. Their debut album "Double Worshipper" is out this fall. Umm previewed some music from that forthcoming debut in the CPR Performance Studio. Senseney and Drootin also spoke with Alicia Bruce Mitchell about the origin of the new project, how it differs from Big Harp and their ideal way to release music.

A dé​Collage concert features a lot more than just music. The Denver band incorporates costumes, film projections and live painting into its shows, while tinkering with experimental electronic sounds in its music. The band also helps run the Denver music production space Moon Magnet Studios. ​dé​Collage stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play some new music and decorate the space with balloons, quilts and lights. The band members also spoke with Jeremy Petersen about interactive live shows, their collaborations with Denver musicians and their new album coming out this fall.

A dé​Collage concert features a lot more than just music. The Denver band incorporates costumes, film projections and live painting into its shows, while tinkering with experimental electronic sounds in its music. The band also helps run the Denver music production space Moon Magnet Studios. ​dé​Collage stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play some new music and decorate the space with balloons, quilts and lights. The band members also spoke with Jeremy Petersen about interactive live shows, their collaborations with Denver musicians and their new album coming out this fall.