Music continued from page 23 AUG AUG 3 4 DEC 3 ...............................................CHAMPAGNE DRIP INSIDE AN HOURGLASS TOUR JUST ANNOUNCED LOCAL NATIVES JORDANA 105.5 THE COLORADO SOUND PRESENTS SON VOLT JACK BROADBENT 88.5 KGNU PRESENTS AUG LES CLAYPOOL’S 5 BASTARD JAZZ FEAT. STANTON MOORE, MIKE DILLON, SKERIK AUG AEG PRESENTS: TIM HEIDECKER LIVE! 13 14 AUG 9 TIM HEIDECKER AUG ASLEEP AT 50 YEARS OF MUSIC THE WHEEL GREG SCHOCHET & LITTLE AMERICA 105.5 THE COLORADO SOUND PRESENTS BOMBINO SELASEE & THE FAFA FAMILY 31 HIATUS KAIYOTE AUG 88.5 KGNU, WESTWORD & PARADISE FOUND PRESENT 3-4 AUG AUG 24 ...........THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND TRIBUTE SEP 8 .................................................... MINDCHATTER SEP 19 ..........................................MARCUS MUMFORD SEP 27 .........................................................SEUN KUTI OCT 14 ................................................................LISSIE OCT 16 ......................................................THE WRECKS NOV 13 ..................................THE BROOK & THE BLUFF JUST ANNOUNCED 29 30 31 1 JUL JUL JUL AUG 88.5 KGNU & WESTWORD PRESENT: KING OF THE BEACH TOUR WAVVES BOYO, SMUT WESTWORD & PARTY GURU PRODUCTIONS PRESENT DEEZY LE PHUNK CJ, SOUL ATOMIC ROOSTER PRESENTS INNER WAVE YOUR GRANDPARENTS ROOSTER & GRATEFUL WEB PRESENT JERRY GARCIA’S 80TH BIRTHDAY PARTY FEAT. A VERY JERRY BAND, DAVE & MATT ABEAR, & MORE JACK BARTON ENTERTAINMENT & 97.3 KBCO PRESENT: JBE TRIPLE A SUMMITFEST MATT MAESON, SAM FENDER, CHARLEY CROCKETT, MYRON ELKINS, NIKKI LANE, DELTA SPIRIT fax. He also started reaching out to local blogs and radio stations, which led to his 2019 singles “Sunrise” and “What’s Hap- pening Now” being played on Indie 102.3, and his 2020 track “Big Plans” being played on The Drop 303. In a new environment, surrounded by a supportive group of music lovers, Noel started to fi nd balance within himself, and evolved as both an artist and a human being. “I know how to breathe now. I know how to cut out the negative energy. For so long, I felt like I had to be with my parents because they’re my parents, not realizing that I could actually leave. Choosing my friends better, and just knowing what works for me and what doesn’t, and being okay with that,” says Noel. “Obviously you go through your phases and seasons, and there are certain things you just can’t get out of, but you work every day toward getting out of it.” The ten tracks on Two Can Play That Game will give audiences a taste of his genre- bending skills. Noel credits Denver’s vi- brant live-music scene as well as his “white friends” for exposing him to the different styles of music that inspired his new al- bum. “Hanging out with my white friends and having them put me on to certain rock songs, listening to Nirvana and the Rolling Stones — that defi nitely opened my mind up more to genre-bending. Like, ‘Wait a minute, I’m not just a rapper, I’m a writer.’ I feel like being in Denver is what gave me the IQ to make something like ‘Bumblebees,’” he says, referencing the alt-pop-infl uenced track from his upcoming project. “The concept [for Two Can Play That AUG 19-20 FRI/SAT 7:30 Boettcher Concert Hall Game] is I can do it all,” he states. “I’m going to give you the confi dent Schama, talking heavy. I’m going to give you some soulful samples, a Beatles sample, just give you a piece of everything. There’s a song called ‘Let’s Dance’ that I feel like will do really well with younger people. It falls in the same lane as artists like Juice WRLD. There’s a song for everyone, really, while maintaining a level of artistry I think will be appreciated by musicians.” Perhaps the most distinctive feature of Noel’s artistry is his intentionality: Every song of his is made with a potential audience in mind. On Two Can Play That Game, he fi rmly establishes himself as the thinking man’s rapper, but one who can also take your mind off things with a good dance beat when needed. The best way to hear a preview of his upcoming album is going to one of Noel’s performances, where he plans to perform several songs off the new album. He’s been hit- ting up open mics to prepare for his UMS gig. “This is probably my most consistent month,” Noel says. “It’s all muscle memory and being comfortable with the crowd, and I’m naturally an introvert. But I’m very grateful to be on these lineups to get myself back in the groove.” 24 Schama Noel plays the Underground Music Showcase at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at the L, 46 Broadway; get tickets at underground- musicschowcase.com. Two Can Play That Game drops August 19 on all music platforms. JULY 28-AUGUST 3, 2022 WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | LETTERS | CONTENTS | westword.com
