Contact CU Independent News Staff Writer Noelle Coultrip at Noelle.Coultrip@colorado.edu
The Milk Carton Kids
This week at the Boulder Theater, Grammy-nominated folk band The Milk Carton Kids take the stage to perform their folk sound with the added components of jazz, classical and modern alternative music. As far as accomplishments go, The Milk Carton Kids doesn’t fall short. Snagging the award for best duo in the 2014 Americana Music Awards and amassing a total of 650,000 downloads for their first two albums, The Milk Carton Kids showed no sign of slowing down with the release of their album “Monterey” on May 19, 2015. This folk duo added another layer to “Monterey” by recording the album in concert halls, theaters and churches, the background noises complementing the raw nature of the music. The beautiful blend of vocals with the ability to melt the soul and the added bonus of acoustic instruments create a lullaby-esque comfort that The Milk Carton Kids expertly master. The Milk Carton Kids play at the Boulder Theater on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m.
Falling In Reverse and Atreyu
Falling In Reverse, a metalcore band signed to Epitaph Records, takes a modern approach to the rock n’ roll scene, taking risks and paying no mind to criticism. Falling In Reverse’s latest album “Just Like You” is a fusion of its first two albums, latching onto concepts from each. “Just Like You” covers an array of topics, from the loss of a close family member to a search for the meaning of life. Falling In Reverse’s rock vibe is paired with intense guitar riffs and bold vocals in an effort to show that hard rock still exists. Although Falling In Reverse nabbed second place in Kerrang’s! List of Top 50 Greatest Rock Stars in the World, lead vocalist Ronnie Radke still puts emphasis on the evolution of his musical style, shifting from more rap in the first two albums to predominantly rock in “Just Like You.”
Atreyu is a classic example of a post-hardcore band, with riveting electric guitar chords backed by screaming vocals, capturing the essence of what the genre is all about. Signed to Spinefarm Records, Atreyu took a bit of a hiatus but came back swinging with its 12-track album “Long Live“ in 2015. With a band name based off of an 80’s movie character, the members of Atreyu stand out from other bands in the genre simply by being themselves. Falling In Reverse and Atreyu perform at the Boulder Theater on Friday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.
Trace Bundy
Acoustic guitarist Trace Bundy, affectionately referred to by fans as the “Acoustic Ninja,” returns to Boulder to perform his Acoustic Holiday concert at the Boulder Theater. Starting out by playing concerts in the little town of Buena Vista, Colorado, this University of Colorado Boulder alum has since accomplished quite a bit with sold-out concerts in 23 countries, over 99,000 albums sold and an accumulated 35,000,000 YouTube views. Using harmonics and looping to accentuate the sounds of his guitar, Bundy creates a memorable sound that showcases the progress made since his first shows in the mountain towns of Colorado. Trace Bundy performs at the Boulder Theater on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m.
