Double Denver invasion

Photo by Gary Isaacs

Two of Denver's best bands, the Crooked Fingers and Devotchka, are kind enough to journey southwest to Tucson, where they'll play a double bill Feb. 6 at the Rialto Theatre. And since both bands seem to have a soft spot for the Ol' Pueblo, this is one hell of a promising show.

Eric Bachmann's Crooked Fingers have been a favorite of mine for years, and they put on a stunning performance opening for Neko Case here in August (sadly I missed their Plush show last month, out of town for a wedding).

The new record, Forfeit / Fortune, is a purely independent record, available at only select record stores, as a digital download, and from the band directly. It's a fitting transition for Bachmann, who despite being one of the most talented songwriters alive has remained on the fringes. In fact he's spent some time in between recording and touring by running a Cuban sandwich cart in Denver.

Forfeit / Fortune is the latest triumph for a band that keeps getting better. More than any other song lately, I'm stuck on the closing track, "Your Control," a steady backbeat rocker, with Bachmann's bittersweet vocals sent into the atmosphere when guest Neko Case joins in. It's as catchy as anything Bachmann has put out and I can't help but hope Neko joins him on the Rialto stage.


I'm new to Devotchka, but their anything-goes blend of indie rock and European-based folk music sounds right at home to me. And I hear tell that the live performance is a thing of beauty.

DOWNLOAD:
Crooked Fingers - Your Control
Crooked Fingers - Phony Revolutions
Devotchka - Transliterator
Devotchka - Live at the Triple Door, KEXP Seattle (entire show) (45 minutes, 61 mb)