10.20.2010

Born Ruffians @ Larimer Lounge – Denver, CO 10/17/10 [Live Review]

Born Ruffians @ Larimer Lounge – Denver, CO 10/17/10 [Live Review]: "Walking into the Larimer Lounge on Sunday night, I fully expected the Denver music monument to be packed.  A few smokers on the patio, a few lovers at the bar, and one or two people milling around the stage area.  How could it be,” I thought to myself, “that with a band as great as [...]


Related posts:
  1. Born Ruffians x Tokyo Police Club: “First Date Kid” [MP3]

  2. Track of the Day: Born Ruffians – “Sole Brother”

  3. The Futureheads @ The Bluebird Theater 10/9/10 [Live Review]

"

C=T At The Movies ::: Network (1976)

C=T At The Movies ::: Network (1976): "


C=T from time to time goes to the movies and occasionally watches television.Today, C=T writer, Samuel Jay, talks about a fictitious television station and the parallels to modern day life in the 1976 Peter Finch/Faye Dunnaway/Robert Duvall film, “Network”.


Commercials rarely give me inspiration to write, but the other day I

caught a commercial for financial services company J.G. Wentworth

featuring people coming to realizations about the settlement money

they were owed and then yelling out their windows, “It’s my money and

I need it now.” The commercial itself was pretty terrible, much like

similar commercials for Roni Deutch and Frank Azar, lawyers using

cheap local air time to reach potential clients. Considering the money

these people make it is interesting they do not invest a little time

and money targeting a different audience. With that said, I am

guessing people suing ambulance drivers and fighting their third DUI

charge are cut from an easily identifiable cloth -one that does not

take James Cameron to create something that will garner their

attention.


JG Wentworth Commercial



The commercial is a pastiche of Howard Beale’s (Peter Finch) rant from

Network (1976). Beale is the longtime anchor of the UBS Evening News

who is fired because of declining ratings. On what was supposed to be

his final segment at UBS -the movie’s fictional TV network- Beale goes

on a verbal tirade against the media industry which ends with him

opening the studio’s window and yelling to the streets: “I’m mad as

hell and I am not going to take this anymore!” He repeats the phrase

as those outside open their windows and repeat his words, venting

their own frustrations. Over time Beale’s rant has become one of the

iconic scenes from post-classical Hollywood cinema, imitated

throughout popular culture -the New York Mets season ticket office,

Weird Al, Hey Arnold! Unfortunately, this scene is the whole of what

many people know of Network.


Watch the “I’m Mad as Hell” Scene


Watching Network there is significant irony in how similar the

narrative is to what is happening with network television and cable

news in contemporary culture. Beale gets fired -a scapegoat for poor

ratings-, he goes off during his last show and threatens to kill

himself on live television, UBS brings him back for one more week so

he can apologize, he goes on afore mentioned rant, ratings soar, and

UBS gives him his own show. Just like contemporary network television

and cable news, the spectacle is what brings in the ratings. Gone are

the days of Edward R. Murrows or Walter Cronkites. We do not even have

Dan Rather or Tom Brokaw. Network news is the same from ABC to NBC to

CBS. In-depth reporting only exists on news magazines like 60 Minutes

and Nightline that air too infrequently. Cable news has embraced its

inner Howard Beale. In fact, Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC have come to

embody The Howard Beale Show, the show given to the anchor after his

outburst that featured yelling and arguing between host and guests

with little productive dialogue. “Arguing between host and guests with

little productive dialogue” could be the synopsis given when I push my

remote’s info button to see what the Countdown with Keith Obermann

rundown will be for the night.

Network is more relevant now than it was in 1976. It is bigger than

Howard Beale’s rant, but at the same time his rant embodies the inner

monologue of America’s news-watchers. We are mad as hell… but are we

really doing anything about it? Everyone bitches about the media and

its liberal bias, but the news is the same no matter what channel you

watch. It is the packaging that is different. This is the pessimism of

Network. It does not end with Howard Beale changing the world. Nothing

gets better and ratings remain the great equalizer. Cable and

satellite have changed the aesthetics of news. It is about scrolling

tickers, multiple cameras, and people doing stuff on computers behind

the anchor. The relevancy of actually news is still trumped by ratings

of not-so-relevant news. We want drama because it allows us to ignore

what is really going on. Howard Beale wanted relevant news; he became

the fictional Bill O’Reilly instead.

Post to Twitter

"

C=T At The Movies ::: Network (1976)

C=T At The Movies ::: Network (1976): "


C=T from time to time goes to the movies and occasionally watches television.Today, C=T writer, Samuel Jay, talks about a fictitious television station and the parallels to modern day life in the 1976 Peter Finch/Faye Dunnaway/Robert Duvall film, “Network”.


Commercials rarely give me inspiration to write, but the other day I

caught a commercial for financial services company J.G. Wentworth

featuring people coming to realizations about the settlement money

they were owed and then yelling out their windows, “It’s my money and

I need it now.” The commercial itself was pretty terrible, much like

similar commercials for Roni Deutch and Frank Azar, lawyers using

cheap local air time to reach potential clients. Considering the money

these people make it is interesting they do not invest a little time

and money targeting a different audience. With that said, I am

guessing people suing ambulance drivers and fighting their third DUI

charge are cut from an easily identifiable cloth -one that does not

take James Cameron to create something that will garner their

attention.


JG Wentworth Commercial



The commercial is a pastiche of Howard Beale’s (Peter Finch) rant from

Network (1976). Beale is the longtime anchor of the UBS Evening News

who is fired because of declining ratings. On what was supposed to be

his final segment at UBS -the movie’s fictional TV network- Beale goes

on a verbal tirade against the media industry which ends with him

opening the studio’s window and yelling to the streets: “I’m mad as

hell and I am not going to take this anymore!” He repeats the phrase

as those outside open their windows and repeat his words, venting

their own frustrations. Over time Beale’s rant has become one of the

iconic scenes from post-classical Hollywood cinema, imitated

throughout popular culture -the New York Mets season ticket office,

Weird Al, Hey Arnold! Unfortunately, this scene is the whole of what

many people know of Network.


Watch the “I’m Mad as Hell” Scene


Watching Network there is significant irony in how similar the

narrative is to what is happening with network television and cable

news in contemporary culture. Beale gets fired -a scapegoat for poor

ratings-, he goes off during his last show and threatens to kill

himself on live television, UBS brings him back for one more week so

he can apologize, he goes on afore mentioned rant, ratings soar, and

UBS gives him his own show. Just like contemporary network television

and cable news, the spectacle is what brings in the ratings. Gone are

the days of Edward R. Murrows or Walter Cronkites. We do not even have

Dan Rather or Tom Brokaw. Network news is the same from ABC to NBC to

CBS. In-depth reporting only exists on news magazines like 60 Minutes

and Nightline that air too infrequently. Cable news has embraced its

inner Howard Beale. In fact, Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC have come to

embody The Howard Beale Show, the show given to the anchor after his

outburst that featured yelling and arguing between host and guests

with little productive dialogue. “Arguing between host and guests with

little productive dialogue” could be the synopsis given when I push my

remote’s info button to see what the Countdown with Keith Obermann

rundown will be for the night.

Network is more relevant now than it was in 1976. It is bigger than

Howard Beale’s rant, but at the same time his rant embodies the inner

monologue of America’s news-watchers. We are mad as hell… but are we

really doing anything about it? Everyone bitches about the media and

its liberal bias, but the news is the same no matter what channel you

watch. It is the packaging that is different. This is the pessimism of

Network. It does not end with Howard Beale changing the world. Nothing

gets better and ratings remain the great equalizer. Cable and

satellite have changed the aesthetics of news. It is about scrolling

tickers, multiple cameras, and people doing stuff on computers behind

the anchor. The relevancy of actually news is still trumped by ratings

of not-so-relevant news. We want drama because it allows us to ignore

what is really going on. Howard Beale wanted relevant news; he became

the fictional Bill O’Reilly instead.

Post to Twitter

"

Kyle Hollingsworth Band - Fri, Dec 10th @ 7:00 PM

Kyle Hollingsworth Band - Fri, Dec 10th @ 7:00 PM: "Friday, December 10, 2010
Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom
2637 Welton St, Denver, CO 80205
7:00 PM, $15.00 / $17.00 day of show
w/ DJ Logic
Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom website
map to Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom
Buy Tickets"

“Vanderlyle Crybaby” all the way unplugged

“Vanderlyle Crybaby” all the way unplugged: "The National – “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks” – Fillmore, Denver 10.18.10 This you don’t see everyday.  If ever.  A band naked, so to speak, before their fans.  In this case The National at the foot of the Fillmore stage, completely acoustic.  No mics. Chill inducing. An amazing moment. The kind that you keep the presence of [...]"

Koffin Kats - Mon, Nov 15th @ 8:00 PM

Koffin Kats - Mon, Nov 15th @ 8:00 PM: "Monday, November 15, 2010
Benders Tavern
314 E 13th Ave, Denver, CO 80203
8:00 PM, $7.00 / $10.00 day of show

Benders Tavern website
map to Benders Tavern
Buy Tickets"

Talib Kweli & Food Chain - Thu, Dec 2nd @ 7:00 PM

Talib Kweli & Food Chain - Thu, Dec 2nd @ 7:00 PM: "Thursday, December 02, 2010
Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom
2637 Welton St, Denver, CO 80205
7:00 PM, $20.00 / $25.00 day of show

Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom website
map to Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom
Buy Tickets"

Loss Prevention Thanksgiving: a 200 Million Years Benefit - Wed, Nov 24th @ 6:00 PM

Loss Prevention Thanksgiving: a 200 Million Years Benefit - Wed, Nov 24th @ 6:00 PM: "Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Hi-Dive
7 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80209
6:00 PM, $6.00
w/ Pacific Pride, Panal S.A. DE C.V, 200 Million Years, Hearts in Space, Adam Cayton Holland, Nathan Lund
Hi-Dive website
map to Hi-Dive
Buy Tickets"

Win a pair of tickets to see LCD Soundsystem and Hot Chip tomorrow night at the Fillmore

Win a pair of tickets to see LCD Soundsystem and Hot Chip tomorrow night at the Fillmore: "


This is happening. No, really! We're not kidding. It is. Somehow, we've managed to get our hands on a pair of tickets for LCD Sounsystem's sure-to-be-mesmerizing show with Hot Chip at the Fillmore...


Continue reading "Win a pair of tickets to see LCD Soundsystem and Hot Chip tomorrow night at the Fillmore" >"

All right, unscrupulous theives: Enough with the taking of stuff that doesn't belong to you!

All right, unscrupulous theives: Enough with the taking of stuff that doesn't belong to you!: "


The band 200 Million Miles, in case you haven't heard, got burgled last week. Twice. In one week. And none of the items have been recovered. According Zale Hessler, who spoke with our friends at ...


Continue reading "All right, unscrupulous theives: Enough with the taking of stuff that doesn't belong to you!" >"

The French are fighting piracy in a new and interesting way, but could it work here?

The French are fighting piracy in a new and interesting way, but could it work here?: "


The French government has revealed a plan to combat piracy that could either be the most brilliant gesture ever or the most monumental waste of government resources of all time (okay, maybe not a...


Continue reading "The French are fighting piracy in a new and interesting way, but could it work here?" >"

Missed our headphones: Bob Dylan’s “The Witmark Demos”

Missed our headphones: Bob Dylan’s “The Witmark Demos”: "


OK, in all honesty, no, Dylan did not — nor will he ever — “miss” our headphones.


Alas, here’s a pretty nifty trailer for The Witmark Demos: 1962-1964 (The Bootleg Series Vol. 9), out today on Columbia, the same label that signed him in 1961.



Follow Reverb on Twitter! Here! Foursquare, too! Here!


John Hendrickson is the Managing Editor of Reverb and a multimedia journalist for The Denver Post.




"

C=T Contests ::: 2 Pairs of Interpol Passes @ Ogden Theatre 10.25.10

C=T Contests ::: 2 Pairs of Interpol Passes @ Ogden Theatre 10.25.10: "


Interpol will be coming through town next week and I have a pair of passes to giveaway to two lucky readers. All you have to do is tell me the name of Interpol’s latest release. Send your answers via Twitter to @Causeequalstime and the passes are all yours! Interpol’s newest album was released last month and you can purchase it here. Good luck!



Tour Dates



Tickets 10.19.2010 Fox Theater•Pomona, CA


Tickets 10.21.2010 Soma•San Diego, CA


Tickets 10.22.2010 The Joint•Las Vegas, NV


Tickets 10.23.2010 Greek Theatre•Los Angeles, CA


Tickets 10.25.2010 Ogden Theatre•Denver, CO


Tickets 10.27.2010 The Palladium•Dallas, TX


Tickets 10.28.2010 Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater•Austin, TX


Tickets 10.29.2010 Verizon Theater•Houston, TX


Tickets 10.31.2010 Voodoo Festival•New Orleans, LA


Tickets 11.01.2010 The Tabernacle•Atlanta, GA


Tickets 11.03.2010 DAR Constitution Hall•Washington, DC


Tickets 11.04.2010 Tower Theatre•Upper Darby, PA


Tickets 11.05.2010 United Palace Theatre•New York, NY


Post to Twitter

"

10.19.2010

Hail Satan! The ten best metal songs about Hell

Hail Satan! The ten best metal songs about Hell: "


Of the countless contributions heavy metal music has made to modern society -- leather pants and corpse paint not least among them -- perhaps the finest addition this often crunchy, driving genre...


Continue reading "Hail Satan! The ten best metal songs about Hell" >"

Album reviews: Elton John and Leon Russell, Jimmy Eat World

Album reviews: Elton John and Leon Russell, Jimmy Eat World: "


Elton John and Leon Russell, “The Union” (Decca)


It’s not the most natural collaboration, but the new Elton John/Leon Russell record makes for a fascinating listen. It has some uplifting songs, some clever lines, some lovely vocal interplay. And while the two pianists’ voices couldn’t be more dissimilar, they make these songs work.


The mutual admiration between John and Russell is obvious. John spends four pages in the liner notes telling their story — from their first meeting at the Troubadour in 1970 to the creation of this record, which spanned multiple continents and involved the talents of mega-Americana producer T Bone Burnett.


And it’s a treat to listen to these boys’ jams, especially since their songwriting voices are as distinctive as their physical voices. “If It Wasn’t For Bad” is a rollicking, fun-loving jaunt that benefits from Russell’s signature sense of humor. The song’s key, titular line brings on a smile: “If it wasn’t for you, I’d be happy / If it wasn’t for bad, you’d be good.”


John’s “The Best Part of the Day” is a memorable ballad that works off Bernie Taupin’s clever lyrics: “I hear you singing ‘I Shall Be Released’/Like a chainsaw runnin’ through a masterpiece/But that’s all right, that’s OK/Grab.K./Grab the bottle and slide my way.”


Some songs feature the gents backing each other up. Others have them dueting. Others yet involve the talents of guests Brian Wilson, Neil Young and Booker T. Jones.


Even if this “Union” looks strange on paper, John knew what he was talking about when he first called Russell. These legendary piano men needed to make a record together, and don’t be surprised if this CD spawns an expansion of their now-limited tour schedule. –Ricardo Baca


Read our review of Leon Russell’s 9/18 show at the Boulder Theater here.



Jimmy Eat World, “Invented” (Interscope)


Remember when “emo” was all the radio rage, with Jimmy Eat World and Dashboard Confessional? While that term was being misinterpreted/co-opted by FM radio and the music press, Jimmy Eat World was releasing some of the best music of its career, 2001′s “Bleed American.”


The band’s hit-or-miss output since hardly tarnishes its rep, especially since the group has released such a strong record in “Invented.” The new LP lacks the meaning of “Clarity” and the hits of “Bleed American,” but it often sounds like the band that broke via modern rock radio eight years ago — thanks in part to to the work of producer Mark Trombino, who worked with the band on its first three releases.


You can hear that chemistry in “Coffee and Cigarettes,” which lacks lyrical punch but sounds like, oddly, a great Death Cab jam. “Action Needs An Audience” is a substantive rock song that also recalls the band’s past, and it’s an aesthetic that works well for the Arizona group.


A couple of songs early in the record are clear signals that this latest record from Jimmy Eat World is one of its best. “Evidence” is a driving, quiet-loud-quiet track with epic live potential. And “My Best Theory” is a song that has already landed them back on modern rock radio — a fitting home for these pop heroes. –Ricardo Baca


Read our review of Jimmy Eat World’s 10/4 show at the Ogden Theatre here.


Follow Reverb on Twitter! Here! Foursquare, too! Here!


Ricardo Baca is the founder and co-editor of Reverb and an award-winning critic and journalist at The Denver Post.




"

Ozzy Osbourne, Crystal Castles and Lucero shows announced

Ozzy Osbourne, Crystal Castles and Lucero shows announced: "


Ozzy Osbourne, who just launched a column in Rolling Stone called Ask Dr. Ozzy, in which he offers health and diet tips (no, really), hits the Pepsi Center with Slash on Tuesday, February 8, as p...


Continue reading "Ozzy Osbourne, Crystal Castles and Lucero shows announced" >"

Interview with Portugal. The Man’s John Baldwin Gourley ~ See them 2 NIGHTS @ The Fox 10/22 & 10/23

Interview with Portugal. The Man’s John Baldwin Gourley ~ See them 2 NIGHTS @ The Fox 10/22 & 10/23: "Interview with Portugal. The Man’s John Baldwin Gourley ~ See them 2 NIGHTS @ The Fox 10/22 & 10/23"

Photo essay: Nickelback, Buckcherry, 3 Days Grace @ the Pepsi Center

Photo essay: Nickelback, Buckcherry, 3 Days Grace @ the Pepsi Center: "

Canadian Pop/Rock band Nickelback stormed through the Pepsi Center on Monday night, with Buckcherry and 3 Days Grace in tow.





















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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.








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    Nickelback brought its brand of explosive Pop/Rock to the Pepsi Center on Monday night. Photos by John DiTirro, heyreverb.com.









Follow Reverb on Twitter! Here! Foursquare, too! Here!


John DiTirro is a Denver-based photographer and a Digital Ad Trafficker at The Denver Post. Check out his website.




"