Black Gold--Rush

Best known in some circles as the touring keyboardist for Panic(!) at the Disco, Eric Ronick is a skilled musician and vocalist in his own right. Along with Than Luu on percussion and guitars, Ronick fronts Black Gold, whose debut album, Rush, dropped back in February.

Rush offers music that's several steps above the overly polished, forgettable pop the studios insist on pushing down our throats these days. Sleek and melodic, with choruses that will get stuck in your head, Rush will find its way onto many of your most listened-to playlists. It's definitely worth far more than the $5 Amazon is charging right now for an mp3 download version, so head over and buy it at this better-than-great price. You won't be sorry.

Carbon Leaf & Film on the Rocks—6-30-09

There’s something special about Red Rocks. It’s easily one of the most beautiful concert venues in the US, if not the whole world. The acoustics, engineered largely by nature several million years ago, are equal to the best laid out concert halls. While you’re waiting in line, you get to look at amazing scenery.

Last night, Red Rocks was host to Film on the Rocks, a summer program featuring popular movies accompanied by music and other entertainment. Last night’s movie was The Princess Bride, preceded by Carbon Leaf.

I’ll admit, I went for Carbon Leaf. The fact that Princess Bride was an ideal addition, since I could drag my kids along, was an added bonus. And, to be honest, there’s something special about hearing 9,000 people say in unison: “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” But I was there for the music.

After several weeks of continuous late afternoon rain—unusual for Colorado—we were treated to clear skies and comfortable weather. Doors opened at 6:30 or so, but Carbon Leaf didn’t go on until 7:15. There was an opening band on the ticket but they didn’t show, accounting for the delay.
By the end of their 90-minute set, Carbon Leaf was playing to a sold out crowd. They deserved to play to the full 9,000 for the entire set—they were that good. Their unique brand of Celtic folk rock was a perfect fit with the setting and the acoustics. Playing more older material than new, they had fans standing, dancing and singing from the first chord. Toward the end, they dipped more into new material, showcasing tracks from their new album Nothing Rhymes with Woman, which came out in May. Highlights included "The War Was In Color," dedicated to our troops, "The Boxer," which showcased Barry Privett on penny whistle as well as Carter Gravatt whipping out an impressive fiddle-style solo on acoustic guitar. "Let Your Troubles Roll By" served as a rousing finale, with the entire stadium singing along as backup.

Carbon Leaf will be returning to the Denver area in September, playing in Boulder on 9-23 and at the Ogden in downtown Denver on 9-24.