Taking a minimalist, do-it-yourself approach to being an active and independent band can make for an interesting blessing or a tiring curse. However, if done properly, no artist should struggle with his or her self-recorded catalogue.

This summer, Light Travels Faster will be completing their entirely self-recorded and personally produced full-length, The Ghost Album. Bassist Todd Spriggs could not be happier about this self-induced progression, noting the record is comprised of mostly new material, although it includes three reworked classics. Each track features an assortment of new production elements that will hopefully spark interest in the trio’s new ideas.

Light Travels Faster

“We kind of used a totally new technique,” said Spriggs. “I bought an electronic kit, so we actually used a ‘hybrid.’ Part electronic, part of the regular [acoustic] kit. When you start with the base of a way better drum sound, you can just build on that and everything can come up.”

Beyond this, every bit of sound is sleek and doesn’t depend on the “lo-fi” textures that comprised Light Travels Faster’s past work. Guitarist Christopher Rigel does some part-time work at an electronics retailer, allowing him to borrow certain pieces of equipment to make the recordings sound professional, while focusing the band’s budget on record distribution.

To complement the new album, the trio has completed a music video for the single track “The Experiment.” Drummer Kyle Fuller and his friend, Anna Marie Vigoda, contacted each other about doing the video and as Spriggs explained.

“It should be done pretty quick with post-production. I still haven’t heard confirmation on when exactly. We still haven’t seen footage of it besides the playback at the shoot.” But even without a lot of knowledge or input into Vigoda’s direction, the band is embracing the video with an open mind. “[Vigoda] took us on and offered this project to us, so we kind of gave her the green light. I think it will be more of a really cool visual of us playing.”

After several years of being a band, Spriggs knew it was time for a change of pace and hopefully it will be achieved by releasing the new album and its companion video. For now, listeners can quell their anticipation by checking out the trio’s new website, LightTravelsFaster.com, for updates and demo tracks. “We’ve had a lot of fun doing the rock ‘n’ roll trio, but we’ve been wanting to do something different. Once this album is done, we’ve already got a couple of songs started and a couple recorded for the next album,” Spriggs said. “[That album] is just going to be totally different Light Travels Faster. It will be the beginning of where we hit our stride. What we were really meant to do.”

The element of surprise seems to be one of the best tools used in music today. Bands that know how to “trick” a person’s ears have an amazing advantage over other artists who simply maintain a singular concept about songwriting or stay rooted within one genre.

Perhaps Lucas Johannes, Mark Cawthray, Jon Evans and Duncan Dotterrer weren’t thinking ironically when they chose the moniker Action Packed Thrill Ride to best describe their work.

Truthfully, the songs that these four create take the listener on a captivating auditory ride that never reaches one resolute, musical destination.

On the 2008 full-length release, A Looseleaf Script, each of Action Packed’s 12 tracks shifted through a bevy of influences and various backup musicians. Understandably, this strong of a release gave the quartet some solid footing.

As the album notes a point of origin and has further mapped out Action Packed’s present live performances. Collectively, their sense of experimentation through songwriting is clear.

The influences that comprise Action Packed’s writing primarily arrive from the downtrodden songs of Townes Van Zandt and the heavy alternative of Uncle Tupelo.

Johannes and Cawthray continually express themselves with an understated blend of country and folk while arranging their guitars.

Meanwhile, there are moments of beauty that bleed through the slightly depressed twang of Johnannes’ voice and the disquieted energy of Cawthray’s vocals. In harmony, both of the differing styles make a bold point. Evans and Dotterrer’s rhythm section dispels Action Packed’s “alt-country” label and brings forth the rock and the roll.

Action Packed an bend through dance-pop styled numbers, waltz-driven ballads and frenetic indie tunes within one evening’s set.

In fact, on the stage is where Action Packed should always be. While their recordings are never lacking, all four members just connect live.

Everything is warm and organic, as it is left unfazed by the parameters of the studio. Fortunately, anyone that is interested in taking a ride can do so this spring, including a show at South Broadway’s 3 Kings Tavern on April 23.

In late May, they are participating in a benefit show at the Mercury Café for the Musicians Without Borders organization.

Currently, Action Packed has released a small three-track EP they are giving away for free. But, this cannot compare to a beer-stained hardwood floor, dim lighting and a cheap cover charge when it comes to hearing Action Packed’s music and all of its surprising revelry.

Last August, Mark Anderson and six of his closest musical acquaintances got together to record an album that was not only unique, but also celebratory.

Confusion and Pastime synthesizes Anderson’s adoration for his friends, his love of music and the emotions in between into 12 melodic tracks. “It feels really great to have the control of being a songwriter,” Anderson said. “That’s kind of what I want to do: have a handful of all the songs that I write and have an enormous pocket of people who know the songs and can play with me and have fun.”

Beyond the bonds of friendship, the lifeblood to these songs is Anderson’s imagery-laden lyrics and pop punk hooks. His acoustic guitar leads a mini-orchestra that encompasses Papa Bear’s entire sound. The horn section features Anderson’s sister, Sarah, on the trumpet and Tyler Archuletta on trombone. Paul DeHaven tickles the keyboards and Abe “Abraham” Hovey dons a rocking electric guitar. Bassist Jason Hass Hecker and the drummer, Miles Thacker, comprise a knowledgeable rhythm section, as they have worked with Anderson before in his previous band Henry Sugar.

Henry Sugar disbanded in January 2009, leaving Anderson to write and record all of the songs for Papa Bear by the summer. However, Anderson went to school directly after the recording session, leaving Papa Bear on an unknown plane of existence

This January, Anderson returned to Denver with a strong willingness to get his music off the ground. That is exactly what happened.

First, Papa Bear got signed to Bicycle Records out of Olympia, Wash. Usually, Bicycle Records only will sign the artists they record themselves, Anderson mentioned. However, Papa Bear fell into their “distribution” category and now has multiple copies of its album being purchased from Bicycle Record’s online store.

Anderson solidified a tour for March and April that will take the band down to South by Southwest and up through New York City. Finally, Anderson has been working hard to arrange a meeting with the Long Spoon label which is run by musician Laura Goldhamer.

High adrenaline levels, the need to move your body, and a sense of fulfillment. These are the feelings you might experience while watching the Pirate Signal perform. Instantly, Yonnas Abraham’s ingenuity becomes apparent when he busts rhymes while DJ A-What dominates on the tables, simultaneously backing the lyrics. Combined with raw and funky beats produced by both members of this local hip- hop group, their music is — in one of many words — innovative. The way these two feed off each other’s energy is contagious yet mesmerizing and sure to get any crowd live.

Both born and raised in Colorado, Abraham grew up in Park Hill and DJ A-What in north Denver. They have been making music together since 2004. Before they joined forces, each of them was pursuing music with different local artists. Abraham’s previous DJ quit and he knew A-What for a while, as they were both part of the L.I.F.E. crew. Eventually, they started working together and realized they both wanted to produce the same type of abrasive music, not to mention their energy levels were the same.

“As far as being cohesive, we just fit,” A-What said about the duo.

Their eclectic musical influences seem to create a sound that is unprecedented in hip-hop. “A lot of our influences come from outside the genre of hip-hop, but there are things going on in our culture that really have a hold on us right now,” Abraham said. He mentions groups like Flying Lotus, dub step producers Joker, Gemmy, noise rock bands and an obsession with Radiohead. A-What points out his craving for soul music like Willie Hutch, Leroy Hudson, but he’s also into jazz, rock, and of course hip-hop artists like Jay Electronica and Drake.

These guys have definitely paid their dues, traveling from state to state doing what they do. Their tour history is impressive and speaks to the caliber of music they produce. In 2008 they did the Warped Tour, Kool Keith’s summer tour in ’06, performed at the Monolith Festival last summer and recently opened for Public Enemy just to name a few. “There are only two of us but it sounds like there is 10 people up there,” A-What said. It’s true. Their passion explodes from them during a show, which is one aspect that makes them so appealing.

The Pirate Signal is not your typical hip-hop group, and Abraham agrees. “Of course not, maybe in the year 2085 something like us will be the standard rap group.” The future of rap is a good way to describe these artists and they aren’t holding back on their new album, No Weak Heart Shall Prosper, dropping May 1. Expect the same intensity, but they are keeping it fresh with funky and danceable beats as well as conscious lyrics and amazing cuts. It’s an album they anticipated making two or three years from now, but they felt it needed to be out sooner.

In the next few months the Pirate Signal will be doing plenty of shows. Feb. 19 and 20 they have two shows in Denver at the Hi-dive and City Hall, then May 1 their album release party at the Marquis. So be sure to go experience one of their live shows and surely you will understand why they we’re the winners of Westword’s best local hip-hop group three years in a row. Essentially, Abraham and DJ A-What possess the drive and talent that it takes to be the best.

Search deep enough in the underground of Denver’s music scene, and that’s where you will find Hot White. The best noise rock band out of Parker, CO since, well… ever. Hot White is not creating the kind of music you would expect from two teenagers who met at a suburban middle school.

Tiana Bernard, Darren Kullback and Kevin Wesley are Hot White

Band members Darren Kulback and Kevin Wesley have been playing together since 2004, they started out jamming together in Kevin’s basement, with Darren on drums and Kevin on guitar. They quickly moved on to playing various house and basement shows, and with bigger aspirations in mind formed their first band, Ghastly Poisonous Gas. Ghastly Poisonous Gas, which was made up of three other friends from school, gained much popularity around UNC in Greeley, where Kulback’s good friend attended college and booked shows.

Being in a band for the first time gave the boys their first taste at performing live outside of the school talent show setting. As well as a chance to be creative, writing their own songs and experimenting with different sounds — blasting drumbeats and severely distorted guitar tones.

After the break-up of Ghastly in 2006, Darren and Kevin continued playing together and soon formed Hot White. The band started with the two teenagers playing mostly instrumental music. With fragmented yet grounding drum beats and a drilling guitar that Wesley can make sound like just about anything.

The band has a somewhat cult-like following, which includes groups of do-it-yourself rock kids from all over Denver. The crowd is looking to have fun and hear good music for as little money as possible. This crowd doesn’t care where you’re from or what you do, just be able show them something they haven’t seen or heard before, as Hot White has done.

After playing a string of shows at various venues including frequent appearances at the late, great Monkey Mania on Arapahoe Street, the boys met UCD Junior, Tiana Bernard.

Tiana is now the third member of Hot White, her shrill voice and manic bass playing can be heard on the band’s debut, which was recorded and released this past December.

With their new member the band has been playing shows all over Denver, most recently DIY venues BlastOmat and Rhinoceropolis. They also completed a 10-day tour of the Southwestern U.S. The band toured with Attractive and Popular, from Arkansas who they met playing a show at Rhinoceropolis.

The band toured from December 15 to the 24, coming back to Colorado just in time for Christmas, but not ready to come home at all. This is a band that enjoys life on the road, Wesley said. The long hours spent in a rank van, the adventure of not knowing where you’re going to sleep the next night and sleeping on the floor when you get there. But Hot White’s favorite part? Meeting new people. The band made many connections while on the road, and were stoked to see some real fans at their shows. They are currently in the works to record a new split 7” with Arkansas-based band, Mother Hug.

With a demo and a successful tour under their belt, Hot White is pushing on to bigger and better things. Definitely go check them out next time they play Denver’s Rhinoceropolis.

After one listen, it seems as though Paean wants to light a fire under your backside. With brooding vocal inflections, rustic strumming patterns and passionate lyricism, Dave Maddocks is a seasoned musician who has been leading Paean for over two years. Now, Maddocks and the other five Ft. Collins natives that comprise Paean have completed a tour, await the release of their new album and plan on playing local shows throughout the spring.

“First it was just me,” Dave explained. “ I met Marty through [MySpace.com], he brought John along and we all played together. I think at the first practice it was the original lineup.”

After initial bassist Andrew Hendrickson dropped out, Aaron Landgraft stepped in to fill his spot. Marty Albertz and Jonathan Alonzo both play various instruments but mostly play their guitars on stage. The rest of Paean is made up of Maddocks’ siblings, with Anna on violin and Tim on the drums.

Paean

A lot of good comes from this family dynamic, as the band was able to record Songs for Us to Sing in the Maddocks family barn, which Dave converted into a versatile recording studio.

A raw sound encompasses the new effort, a signature to Paean’s brand of frenetic rock. However, the album is heavy on influences that are not as nuanced as the vast production techniques.

Both Arcade Fire and the precursor to Cursive, called Lullaby for the Working Class, run through Paean’s instrumental blood. Dave’s recent song writing inspiration has come from Will Sheff’s Okkerville River, out of Austin, Texas. Alonzo and Albertz base their guitar tones around Broken Social Scene, Explosions in the Sky and Godspeed! You Black Emperor, Dave mentioned.

Every member has a compositional element for each song. “I have a general idea of how the songs should move, but most of the time everyone else will have a better idea for the direction,” Dave emphasized.

Anna’s earthy violin melodies soar atop the peak of Paean’s emotion, while reverb-drenched guitar lines swallow the listener whole, bringing them into the depths of Paean’s atmosphere. Meanwhile, Landgraft and Tim form a tight rhythm section that helps build upon Dave’s acoustic guitar work, without becoming overbearing.

Recently, Paean finished a week-long tour and is shifting its focus toward another out-of-state venture for the summer. Their last tour was important, as it got them into the traveling mindset. Still, Dave would like to do “more research” as to where the music is prevalent across the United States. The six may head to the Northwest after their album is debuted. An upcoming show at the Meadowlark Bar on Feb. 27 may become a Denver-based release party and more details are to come about a Ft. Collins show. No matter where Paean is in this new season, they are certain to rouse their listeners with each expanding anthem they write, record or perform.