by Dave Ball, National Rock Review
National Rock Review – Casselmans in Denver CO, April 25th, 2015
Extreme Turbo Smash a local hardcore band, or cutecore/zoocore as they call themselves, play their shows dressed as great big stuffed animals. This time they were a bunny, St. Bernard, turtle, panda, and reindeer. They are an immensely entertaining band and put on such a crazy live show with all their on-stage shenanigans, it can be easy to get caught up in their show and forget that they are even playing music.
Los Angeles band, No Small Children, is an all-female rock trio comprised of three elementary school teachers who, on a playground in the spring of 2012, decided to start a band together. They are in the process of recording their third album, Hold Tight, I’m Flying, which will be released in July of this year.
Denver’s own Lola Black took the stage next and got the crowd really pumped up with songs everyone was singing along to. Her band has been around since 2008 and has won multiple awards including Best Band in Denver 2013 and Best Traditional Rock Band 2014. Lola is currently working on a new album that is going to have a new, darker sound and has already finished recording the first three songs.
Texas Hippie Coalition finished their big Road to 420 tour in Denver, fittingly on 4/20. They blew the packed Casselmans away with an amazing set list that nobody wanted to end. The Texas red dirt metal band has a new single out, “Rock Ain’t Dead,” which has some big shoes to fill after last year’s release of Ride Onwas named Album of the Year by Metal Temple.
Andy Hollingsworth, National Rock Review