If your organization is planning an event of any kind, please email Caitlin at crockett @ boulderweekly.com.
EVENTS
Boulder’s Story Slam presents We The People: True Stories About Race. 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 24 via Zoom, storyslamboulder.com.
Eliminating racism is a monumental task. Story Slam believes it starts with stories — listening to one another’s stories with curiosity and heart. Co-led by Johanna Walker, speaker, trainer and host of Boulder’s Story Slam, and Darryl Piggott, an L.A.-based educator, with a mixed-race group of storytellers from across the U.S., you’ll hear quirky, open-hearted, righteous, poignant, transformational stories told by a group of storytellers who have participated in a storytelling workshop centered in anti-racism work.
Dairy Drive-In: ‘Seeding Change.’ 7:30 p.m. April 23 and 24, Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, thedairy.org. Cost is $25 per car.
With the increasing frequency of natural disasters, temperatures rising and indigenous communities at risk, Seeding Change challenges shoppers to pay more attention to the way they interact with our planet, starting with what’s on their shopping list. While there isn’t one solution to climate change, the corporations within the film are taking the first steps to show their consumers that they too can make a difference.
YWCA Boulder County presents Stand Against Racism Week 2021. April 22-25. The event is free, and registration is required: ywcaboulder.org.
Public health is and always has been central to racial justice work. YMCA Boulder will kick off Stand Against Racism Week by hosting a virtual event, “Environmental Racism and Health Disparities Panel and Discussion,” from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 22. Panelists will discuss the connections between racism and public health outcomes as well as how to implement public health practices to effectively identify and address racial injustice in our communities.
Back On Her Feet: One Woman’s Journey from Homelessness to Nonprofit Leader. 7 p.m. Thursday, April 29 via Zoom. Register on Eventbrite: bit.ly/3annw5d
Jennifer Livovich will share her personal journey from homelessness to executive director of Feet Forward, a Boulder-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting the homeless. Joy Redstone will introduce the talk by providing a brief overview of homelessness in Boulder County and will moderate a Q&A session after Livovich shares her story. Please register for a free ticket to receive a Zoom link.
Ask Me Anything about NFTs with Chris Nunes. Noon. Wednesday, April 28 via Zoom. Register at:
bit.ly/3dAt8ee
There has been a lot of news lately about NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and cryptoart as a way for artists to make a healthier living, from Beeple’s record-setting $69 million sale with Christie’s, to the NBA selling more than $400 million in TopShots. But there’s much more to NFTs than these high-profile dollars. Join Boulder County Arts Alliance’s next artist forum to hear Chris Nunes (cryptoaddress: thegoodnunes.eth) discuss this fascinating topic. Nunes is head of the studio at HEAVY (heavy.io), an award-winning mixed reality art+tech studio. Nunes has been in the cryptocurrency space since 2014, and started creating and collecting NFTs in 2018 at the ETHDenver Hackathon. He will offer a straightforward, practical introduction to the hottest thing in the art world, and respond to questions from guests.
Two Mile Creek Cleanup. 1-4 p.m. Saturday, May 1. All participants must register for free at TheBigDream.life
Local company The Big Dream is organizing a community-powered cleanup of Elmer’s Two Mile Creek. This section of creek, which runs along the bike path between Iris, Foothills, Pearl and Folsom, is an area prone to trash, dumping, camping and neglect. The cleanup of this important wetlands habitat is open to the public and will include snacks and beverages donated by local companies, as well as giveaways and prizes for participants. Trash collection tools will be supplied by the City of Boulder. The event will be following COVID-19 precautions, while allowing for the community to gather in their pods and from safe distances. Any businesses or individuals wanting to contribute or collaborate beyond day-of cleanup should contact [email protected].
Boulder Book Store presents Trent Preszler — ‘Little and Often,’ in Conversation with Nick Offerman. 5 p.m.Tuesday, April 27 via Zoom. Tickets are $26.99-$36.99 and include a copy of the book: bit.ly/2QzXODn.
When Trent Preszler’s father died, all he left his son was a beat-up wooden toolbox. This family heirloom befuddled Preszler, who’d never been much of a craftsman. He’d spent years estranged from his larger-than-life father: a cattle rancher, rodeo champion and Vietnam War Bronze Star Medal recipient. In his grief, Preszler wondered if there was still a way to understand his father. Driven only by blind will, he decided to build a wooden canoe, and he would aim to paddle it on the first anniversary of his father’s death. Little and Often is an unflinching account of bereavement and a stirring reflection on the complexities of inheritance.
MUSIC
New Release: “Spiraling,” by Hello, Mountain (hellomountainband.com)
Denver-based indie-rock trio Hello, Mountain was tired of rushing their recording process, always running out of money to pay for more studio time that would allow them to experiment.
So they recorded and produced everything themselves for their upcoming record, Swim, set for release on June 18.
While the band’s inclination toward early aughts indie rock is still present — in the yearning of lead singer Stephen Pamas’ lyric tenor, in those fat, clean guitar tones — their new single, “Spiraling,” showcases a more intricately layered, synth-heavy sound than the band’s more traditional rock offerings on their previous three EPs.
“It felt really freeing because when you record in a studio, you have a time limit, you have a money limit, and sometimes it can feel rushed,” says drummer Patrick Smith. “Sometimes it can feel like, ‘I wish we could have done this or added this.’ You just don’t have enough time. You have to practice a bunch and have everything super dialed in — it can be super stressful. So we thought, hey, we can really make this on our own, we can get experimental. If we have an idea a month after we tracked the drums, we can add things and change things. It can be an evolving process.”
Smith, who joined the group in 2018, says the group has been making a gradual but steady move toward a sound that embraces more electronic and R&B influences. “Spiraling” wraps lead singer Stephen Pamas’ anxiety-ridden lyrics into a lush, bright melody that gives way to a danceable chorus.
“Is there a way to fall to pieces, darling / Without running away,” Pamas wonders in the track. “Is there a way to fall asleep, my love / Without terrors of that face?”
The sound of water dripping through pipes at the top of the track nods to a running theme throughout the album.
“Water is obviously a huge theme on this album, and that was on purpose,” Pamas said in a press release. “You can be so vulnerable under water. You’re close to death in a way, but there is always an escape. That escape just happens to be to do nothing and just wait till you float to the surface. But when you panic, you tend to get into trouble. The whole record is based on that feeling of drowning then eventually getting over that fear, metaphorically.”
Swim will be the band’s first record available on vinyl. Check out the single, “Spiraling,” on Spotify or Bandcamp.
Boulder Theater Shows (2032 14th St., Boulder, bouldertheater.com)
An Evening with Daniel Rodriguez (second show). 9 p.m. Friday, April 23. Tickets are $55.
The former Elephant Revival member got a shoutout in Rolling Stone last year after the release of his latest album, Sojourn of a Burning Sun, which tracks the grief process from shock to acceptance.
An evening with Random Rab (nights 1 and 2). 8 p.m. May 1 and 2. Tickets are $40.
The Burning Man staple known for his sunrise sets brings his blend of trip-hop, classical and Arabic sounds to the Boulder Theater.
Streaming Shows at Stone Cottage Studios (stonecottagestudios.com)
Brendan James. 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 29. Tickets are $20-$35.
Stone Cottage Studios is hosting a livestream concert with troubadour and pianist Brendan James. After several months off the mic, James and his trio will reunite for a special virtual show. James will pull music from his entire catalogue as well as from his latest release, Leap Taken.
BOOKS (by local authors)
‘MALINAE,’ by Josh Schlossberg (D & T Publishing).
Historian monk Saint Bede, while studying the tides in 725, found that the ocean’s ebbs and flows were controlled by the moon. “When the tides are increasing, they are called malinae,” he wrote. “Sometimes they will arrive earlier or later, or be more or less strong than usual when they are pushed onwards or forced back by the winds, or by the pressure of some other phenomenon or natural force, with the result that sometimes their order is upset, and the malina tide claims more in this month, and less in the next.” In his debut novel, MALINAE, Denver Horror Collective cofounding member Josh Schlossberg explores the tides of human life through the lens of the supernatural. Ward Ayers, physically disabled and confined to his Jersey Shore home, can only watch in dismay as his beloved wife Malina slips further and further into dementia. Until he uncovers the dark force behind Malina’s decline and must plumb the depths of sacrifice and selfishness to reclaim his wife and preserve humanity’s future. MALINAE is currently available as an e-book from Godless.com, and as print and e-book through Amazon on April 23. Physical copies will be available at select bookstores in May. For more information, go to DenverHorror.com.
‘The Dead Husband,’ by Carter Wilson (May 4, 2021; Sourcebooks).
Boulder author Carter Wilson is celebrating the launch of his newest psychological thriller, The Dead Husband, with three virtual local launch parties, all in conversation with fellow authors: May 4 at 5 p.m., hosted by Boulder Book Store; May 8, time TBD, hosted by Tattered Cover Book Store; and May 13 at 7 p.m., hosted by BookBar. All are free and open to the public. Carter Wilson has written seven critically acclaimed, standalone psychological thrillers, including The Dead Girl in 2A and Mister Tender’s Girl, as well as numerous short stories. In The Dead Husband, a small town is rocked by tragedy that only Rose Yates and her family know the truth about. Rose escapes her hometown and starts a new life: a marriage, a son, a career. And then her husband is found dead. As far as Detective Colin Pearson is concerned, Rose is guilty. Her marriage wasn’t as happy as she’d led everyone to believe, and worse, she’s connected to a 20-year-old cold case. Grieving her husband and struggling to make ends meet, Rose returns to her childhood home, hoping to finally confront her domineering father and unstable sister. But memories of a horrific crime echo through the house, and Rose soon learns that she can’t trust anyone, especially not the people closest to her.
‘Voices of Resilience: Children’s and Adults’ Stories of Strength & Courage of Heart,’ by Alex P. Hartwell (Archway Publishing).
Voices of Resilience, by Grand Junction resident Alex P. Hartwell, contains real-life stories for all ages that illustrates how to utilize inner-strength and courage, along with outside support at times, to resolve problems and move forward in life with a new purpose. Designed to share stories from both children and adults, the book illustrates how they solved problems and how they got over issues. The topics include overcoming obstacles, surviving, thriving beyond traumatic events and solving everyday challenges. Through their stories, they want to encourage others. Available through Ingram, Archway Publishing, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Touch and feel books are beloved for their ability to increase child engagement, stimulate sensory awareness and foster associations between senses and new vocabulary. Traditionally, these books have featured subjects such as farm animals, cars, colors and dinosaurs. Knowing first-hand the benefits of sports in their own lives, parents and athletes Nicole and Todd Stoltenberg sought to create a book to inspire their two young boys to explore the world of sports and nurture their curiosity about athletics, even as babies. Tired of the continuous barnyard narrative, they partnered with illustrator Brandon Minch, a former college and French pro-league football player to create You Can Play Sports, a touch and feel book designed for ages 0-3. Featuring eight different sports with a textured ball (or puck) for each, the book allows children to create meaningful associations with the words, the sports, the equipment and the balls in an interactive manner.
‘Complicit,’ by Amy Rivers (Compathy Press).
Boulder author Amy Rivers, an acclaimed novelist who won multiple awards for her 2019 blockbuster All the Broken People, introduces a standout new series with the release of Complicit, book one in the Legacy of Silence series. A taut, tense and terrifying tale, Complicit features forensic psychologist protagonist Kate Medina. When a violent attack leaves her shaken to the core, Kate retreats to her hometown where it’s safe, accepting a job where the prospect of violence is slim to none — a high school psychologist. Five years later, a student disappears, leaving the school in crisis. When the girl’s body is found, changing the focus of the investigation to homicide, Kate finds herself in the middle of a situation she never anticipated. What started as her desire to help puts Kate directly in the crosshairs of an enemy who remains largely in shadow. As her past and present collide, Kate is dragged into the middle of a dangerous game where only one thing is clear — no one can be trusted.
