Sherri Jackson
With Moments in Denial, her debut CD, Denver native Sherri Jackson separated from Boulder-based Band du Jour and embarked on a solo career, wowing the local music community with her mesmerizing vocals and talent on guitar and violin.
Lannie Garrett
Putting a spin on a collection of classics from the ’50s and early ’60s, performer Lannie Garrett released Just for a Thrill, produced by Kip Kuepper at Boulder’s Coupe Studios and featuring guest artists Ron Miles, Nelson Rangell, Eric Gunnison and Randy Chavez.
Zuba
Zuba translated two albums and a few years of dedicated touring into two songs featured on the soundtrack to Kingpin, the cult-hit film starring Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid and Bill Murray.
Lord of Word & the Disciples of Bass
An interracial group fronted by the dynamic Theo Smith, Lord of Word & the Disciples of Bass combined positive messages with bass-fueled grooves and exciting dance steps.
Foreskin 500
Active since being founded in Denver in the early ’90s, Foreskin 500 released Starbent but Superfreaked on L.A.-based hip-hop label Priority Records; the single “Superfamily” featured singer Erica Brown.
Durt
The rock outfit Durt was one of the first bands Kyle Hollingsworth joined when he moved to Colorado, before he became known as the keyboard player for the String Cheese Incident.
Vinyl Oyster
Featuring drummer Bob Rupp, who had found a niche promoting local concerts and founding the bands Fear of Sleep and the Rumble, Vinyl Oyster performed in Denver’s original music clubs and theaters.
Acoustic Junction
Acoustic Junction, with Reed Foehl as the prominent voice, attracted as many fans as any other unsigned band in the country, packing shows in the members’ two hometowns, Boulder and Boston, and from San Francisco to New York City.
Turnsol
Formed by members of local bands Hanging Tree and the Simpeltones, Turnsol established themselves as a live act, and producer Bill Thomas worked with the group on its debut release, In the Sun.
Specimen
Defining its music as “avante-freak,” balancing jazz, groove, punk and hip-hop sounds, the five members of Specimen thrived on live shows that moved listeners to dance or sway.
Sponge Kingdom
Metamorphosing from an acoustic duo to a rock sextet writing original songs, Sponge Kingdom gigged around Colorado and received modest airplay from local stations.
Sweet Water Well
Having played shows throughout Colorado and winning Westword’s award for Best Acoustic Band, Sweet Water Well exhibited its brand of acoustic rock on an indie-label debut, Watermelon.
Roots Revolt
Roots Revolt, an eight-piece outfit, brought together vocalists Wailer (hailing from the island of St. Thomas) and Henry (from the world of hip-hop).to create a mix of roots reggae, dub and rap.
X Lulu
After aborted sessions with Sugarloaf’s Jerry Corbetta producing, the members of X Lulu regrouped to release Quest on their own and pursue the idea of marketing the music in Russia.
King Rat
King Rat, fronted by Luke Schmaltz, espoused a brand of melodic punk rock, expressing the eternal theme of having a good time.
Deuce Mob
Deuce Mob, a hardcore rap duo of Denver natives DJ Fame and Pauli P, had emerged from the city’s underground street scene in 1989, releasing “I Got the Boom” and flying to Los Angeles to record and collaborate with producers.
