The 2012 Westword Music Showcase was the 18th of its kind.  It was my 4th.  And like every year, it was quite different than the year before.  Back in 2009, the pouring rain forced us indoors so quickly that we never caught a single act on the Main Stage.  The weather was disappointing because I had been excited to see Built To Spill, but we still had a great time hanging out in my new hometown.

2010 solidified the fact that the success of the WMS has much more to do with the people in the bars, streets, rooftops and coffee shops, than the people up on the stage.  In all reality, most of local acts can be caught performing all over the city on any given weekend, and the headliners have never been bands I’d go out of my way to see, but that day in 2010 was one of the best I have experienced in Denver.  We met so many people and had so much fun, that it was impossible not to make a tradition of it.

2011 followed in much the same way.  Although it didn’t quite live up to the year before, it still made for a great day.  A little fun in the sun with good people, strong drinks and live music.  But one problem continued to persist through the years — drinking too much and losing parts of the night.  Losing friends, losing time, losing money.  ‘Westword Music Showcase Saturday’ became synonymous with ‘Hangover From Hell Sunday’.  For that reason, and because of the extreme  forecast (temps pushing well over the 100 degree mark), we got a late start this year.  Showing up at 3:00pm instead of noon made all the difference in the world.  And although this will not go down as my favorite WMS, it will go down as the one I remember from arrival to departure…and for that reason, I will call it a success!

Most Intense Set: BLKHRTS @ City Hall
Favorite Band: Arliss Nancy @ La Rumba
Best Party: Girl Talk @ Main Stage
Biggest Disappointment: Lack of interaction with people — usually a highlight of this showcase
Biggest Advantage from the 100°F+ heat: ‘girls of summer’ in their ‘girls of summer’ clothes

A few photos and Girl Talk video below…

Arliss Nancy @ La Rumba

BLKHRTS @ City Hall

Macklemore @ Main Stage

Girl Talk @ Main Stage