Review of Denver GoGirlsMusicFest
by Elizabeth Nitz
I came out tonight expecting to hear hours of good music and was far from disappointed. From the minute I walked in the door I have been captivated by this tiny blonde with an explosive voice. Her music is complex and powerful, her band is tight, and she rotates effortlessly between acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and the keyboard. I wonder why I have never heard of her. Her name is Liz Clark and she is not new to the Denver music scene. I have just not been paying attention. She says the band is a recent addition. The drummer and bass player bring out the rock in her otherwise acoustic music, giving her live show the grip that would not let go of my attention.
The second performer is Lynn Patrick and my suspicion that she is an instrumental guitar powerhouse is confirmed. Few guitarists play both melody and rhythm at the same time with such skill. I can almost sing the unwritten lyrics. Her bass player adds a tasteful bottom line so entwined with her music it is often hard to tell them apart. One of her songs won a 2002 Independent Music Award, in the New Age category, which may be the appropriate place for her but I cannot be sure. The first song is a ballad, another is folksy, the next classical with jazz roots. The final number is a country banjo jam. Yet all of them have a distinct undercurrent of a single style that is consistent in rhythm but takes on new variations at every turn. Each song feels like a journey and I can see her music playing in the background of a dinner party or on a movie soundtrack.
Next up is Erica Brown's 5-piece blues band. Her full-bodied voice and energy captures the crowd and they abandon chairs to dance. Her guitarist, Bob Yeazel, shows off his talent for making incredible riffs look easy. He also sings backup and some lead with an earthy barroom voice that is a perfect complement to Erica's. They pick up speed with each song, swinging the audience into a frenzy. They protest when her set is over.
Liz Barnez takes the stage last. She and her drummer, electric guitarist, and sax player have an intense folk/blues sound that is almost too much for the small room but the audience takes to them quickly. Her lyrics are intelligent and passionate, and each of her musicians has enough talent to be on stage by themselves. Together they are fantastic. They rock well into the night and leave us fulfilled and looking forward to their next show.
