![]() Shine a LightMarc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ($28.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a medium-dark gold with warmer, yellow undertones and pink and gold flecks of shimmer and larger sparkle. If you dig medium, sparkly glosses, I’m sure you’ll find little to fault this shade for, but it was advertised as having “maximum coverage and brilliance.” The coverage was medium–plenty of my natural lip color came through–with a sheer to medium level of coverage in the vein of shimmer/sparkle. The consistency was smooth, lightly creamy, and non-sticky, which made it comfortable and plush to wear but there was enough larger sparkle that those more sensitive to feeling those particles may find the base is not thick enough to avoid the textural element the sparkle brought to the party. (I didn’t find it rough or gritty but find my ability to detect that seems to be weaker than others.) It stayed out of most of my lip lines, despite the lighter base color. It wore well for four and a half hours on me and was hydrating over time. Top Dupes
IngredientsPolybutene, Hydrogenated Poly (C6-14 Olefin), Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Glyceryl Tribehenate/Isostearate/Eicosandioate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Hydrogenated Styrene/Isoprene Copolymer, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, Dicalcium Phosphate, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Mica, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Propylene Carbonate, Tin Oxide, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Limonene, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891). ![]()
2
1
Shine a Light
2
1
Shine a Light
8
Product
7
Pigmentation
8.5
Texture
9
Longevity
5
Application
83%
Total
![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer ![]() Marc Jacobs Beauty Shine a Light Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer via https://www.temptalia.com/marc-jacobs-shine-a-light-enamored-hi-shine-lip-lacquer-review-swatches/
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![]() LibraBite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick ($26.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a deep, chocolatly brown with warm, yellowish undertones and a satin finish. It had opaque pigmentation in a single stroke, which was as marketed, and the color applied evenly and smoothly across my lips without dragging on them. The consistency dense, lightly creamy, and had a touch of tackiness. It wore well for six hours and was moisturizing while worn. Top Dupes
Formula Overview$26.00/0.15 oz. - $173.33 Per Ounce Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick ($26.00 for 0.15 oz.) is supposed to have “bold, creamy color” with “extreme moisture, soft texture, and creamy wear.” The majority of the range is very pigmented–typically opaque with one pass–with a few shades being semi-opaque but usually buildable. All 34 shades are shimmer-free and vary being a soft satin finish to a natural finish (light shine but not glossy). The consistency is very lightly creamy to lightly creamy with some shades requiring light-medium pressure and can pull the lip a bit when gliding it across the lips, though the color doesn’t appear ragged and the bullet itself doesn’t feel stiff (while other shades applied without tugging, so check individual shade reviews!) The majority of the shades I’ve tested have been lightly hydrating to non-drying and fairly comfortable to wear for the long-haul. They wear longer than average, from four to eight hours, depending on the intensity and propensity of the shade to stain. Browse all of our Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick swatches. IngredientsRicinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*/**, Beeswax*/**, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*/**, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*/**, Triisostearyl Citrate, Glyceryl Rosinate*, Acacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Wax Polyglyceryl-3 Esters*, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil*/**, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax*, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil*, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax*/**, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil*/**, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil*, Aroma (Flavor), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*/**, Serica (Silk) Powder, Pearl Powder*, Glyceryl Oleate*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil Unsaponifiables*, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate*, Resveratrol*, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract*/**, Momordica Grosvenorii Fruit Extract*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*/**, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*/**, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*/**, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil*, Punica Granatum Seed Oil*, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil*, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil*, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Skin Extract*, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract*. May Contain (+/-): Tin Oxide*, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891)*, Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Carmine (Ci 75470)*, Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci77492, Ci 77499), Red 6 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360), Red 40 Lake (Ci 16035), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985). ![]() Bite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick ![]() Bite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick ![]() Bite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick ![]() Bite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick ![]() Bite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick ![]() Bite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick ![]() Bite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick ![]() Bite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick ![]() Bite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick ![]() Bite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick ![]() Bite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick ![]() Bite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick ![]() Bite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick ![]() Bite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick ![]() Bite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick ![]() Bite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick ![]() Bite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick ![]() Bite Beauty Libra Amuse Bouche Lipstick via https://www.temptalia.com/bite-beauty-libra-amuse-bouche-lipstick-review-swatches/ ![]() Solar CrushEstee Lauder Solar Crush Illuminating Powder Gelee ($47.00 for 0.24 oz.) is a medium, coppery bronze with warm undertones and a golden, metallic sheen. The pigmentation was opaque in a single layer, though the denser, smooth texture made it easier to just pick up less (with a feathery brush or lighter hand). The highlighter applied evenly to bare skin and blended out with ease. It sat well on my skin and didn’t emphasize my skin’s natural texture. This shade lasted well for eight and a half hours on me before fading slightyl. Top Dupes
IngredientsCetearyl Ethylhexanoate, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Squalane, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dicalcium Phosphate, Tin Oxide, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Polysorbate 80, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Isostearyl Alcohol, Acrylates/Octylacrylamide Copolymer, Fragrance (Parfum), Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Limonene, Eugenol, Benzyl Alcohol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, BHT, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Blue 1 (CI 42090), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Carmine (CI 75470), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140)]. ![]()
0
0
Solar Crush
0
0
Solar Crush
A
Limited Edition
9.5
Product
10
Pigmentation
9.5
Texture
9
Longevity
5
Application
96%
Total
![]() Estee Lauder Solar Crush Illuminating Powder Gelee ![]() Estee Lauder Solar Crush Illuminating Powder Gelee ![]() Estee Lauder Solar Crush Illuminating Powder Gelee ![]() Estee Lauder Solar Crush Illuminating Powder Gelee ![]() Estee Lauder Solar Crush Illuminating Powder Gelee ![]() Estee Lauder Solar Crush Illuminating Powder Gelee ![]() Estee Lauder Solar Crush Illuminating Powder Gelee ![]() Estee Lauder Solar Crush Illuminating Powder Gelee ![]() Estee Lauder Solar Crush Illuminating Powder Gelee ![]() Estee Lauder Solar Crush Illuminating Powder Gelee ![]() Estee Lauder Solar Crush Illuminating Powder Gelee ![]() Estee Lauder Solar Crush Illuminating Powder Gelee ![]() Estee Lauder Solar Crush Illuminating Powder Gelee ![]() Estee Lauder Solar Crush Illuminating Powder Gelee via https://www.temptalia.com/estee-lauder-solar-crush-illuminating-powder-gelee-review-swatches/ Happy Friday!Share your recent beauty purchases or rediscovered favorites in your stash (for those on low/no-buys!), chit chat about weekend plans, and learn a little more about each other! Let's Chat!Share your own answers in the comments!
P.S. â Join us over in the official Temptalia chatroom on Discord! This week's mellan photo/video...Share your pet photos to the Temptalia Pets flickr group! via https://www.temptalia.com/free-for-haul-friday-volume-464/ ![]() A Smile and a SongColour Pop A Smile and a Song Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a soft, light gold with warm, yellow undertones and a shiny, metallic finish. It had nearly opaque color coverage when applied with fingertips, while more medium, buildable coverage was achievable by using a stippling brush to apply. I had no trouble applying the highlighter on bare skin or over liquid foundation (even when set with powder) for a smooth, even application that didn’t disturb what was underneath it. The consistency was smooth, lightweight, and emollient without being too slippery or too wet. It dried down to a powder-like finish and stayed on well for 10 hours before fading slightly. Top Dupes
IngredientsDimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Isopropyl Myristate, Phenoxyethanol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propylene Carbonate, Tin Oxide, Alumina; MAY CONTAIN: Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Carmine (CI 75470), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Mica (CI 77019), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 27 Lake (CI 45410), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 40 Lake (CI 16035), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Yellow 6 (CI 15985). ![]()
9.5
Product
9.5
Pigmentation
10
Texture
10
Longevity
5
Application
98%
Total
![]() Colour Pop A Smile and a Song Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop A Smile and a Song Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop A Smile and a Song Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop A Smile and a Song Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop A Smile and a Song Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop A Smile and a Song Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop A Smile and a Song Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop A Smile and a Song Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop A Smile and a Song Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop A Smile and a Song Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop A Smile and a Song Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop A Smile and a Song Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop A Smile and a Song Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop A Smile and a Song Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) via https://www.temptalia.com/colourpop-a-smile-and-a-song-super-shock-cheek-highlighter-review-swatches/ If eating a multi-course meal while watching a segment of an animal be sliced into its various component parts sounds off-putting, then Blackbelly’s Bites with Butchers dinner may not be for you. For those who are not squeamish, or are willing to tolerate a certain amount of gore in the name of truly remarkable cuisine and a better understanding of where your meat comes from, then the monthly series hosted by the renowned Boulder-based farm-to-table restaurant and butcher shop is a sure bet. Each month chef Hosea Rosenberg and head butcher Nate Singer select a section of the animal to be portioned out live on stage, while a five-course meal made from the corresponding bits is served family-style to a standing audience. This summer was devoted to the pig — the front in July, the middle in August and the hind-section rounding out the hog on September 26. The event can seem a little strange at first, but one bite of any of the expertly-made dishes makes even the most gruesome bits of the dissection surprisingly palatable. Click to view slideshow.With the recent departure of head chef Brad Daniels — who just a few weeks back took a position at a Vegas outpost from his former Philadelphia-based restaurant group Vetri — Rosenberg had to take a slightly more boots-on-the-ground approach to the evening’s dinner. “We’re gonna start at the foot, which might scare some people, but a lot of what we do at these dinners might scare some people,” said the chef. He prepared and explained dishes, made jokes and took questions over the course of the hour and a half event. The main portion was listed as going from 5:30 – 7 p.m., but a certain amount of meandering, applauding and schmoozing made the whole affair run closer to two hours. Neither Singer or Rosenberg can remember how long the event has been running. However, both recall that the series was developed as a result of multiple customers approaching the butcher hoping they could convince him to host some classes. “Everybody wants a free lesson,” joked Singer. Both Singer and Rosenberg realized that the classes would not be the best use of anyone’s time — with the butcher taking valuable hours out of his busy schedule to teach people who would more than likely not use the skills in a truly practical way. After the two discussed how to frame a series that was both fun and explanatory, the original version was born. The first event consisted of an hour-long butcher demo followed by a seated meal with multiple courses. After realizing the dinners required a full-staff to be kept late into the night, they took a hiatus and redeveloped the series, reintroducing it in its modern form. With the new version’s demo and meal taking place simultaneously, the event is both delightful and informative without ever dragging. It also allows patrons to focus their attention on both the food and the animal — the quality of the flavors often overshadowing the more grisly aspects of Singer’s dexterous performance. If the slicing, ripping and sawing are ever overwhelming, there’s sure to be a dish near at hand to satiate the distressed. The complimentary ciders provided by Stem also help to break the tension. ![]() Nate Singer at work. Singer opened the proceedings saying, “we’re going to discuss heritage breed hogs and what we do with them here at Blackbelly.” His presentation involved a fair amount of discussion about tools and technique that was more informative than practical for the audience — none of whom were serious butchers. He sliced and diced with precision, discussing the German-made chain mail he wears under his apron, his background as a steakhouse butcher and his tenure at Blackbelly practicing a different, European style of butchery. The crowd was made up of a group of people on a company outing, a trivia prize winner, a mailing list recipient, a home-chef interested in learning about types of cuts and a guy who wandered in because he “shared [the] same parking lot” — not a career meat vendor in sight. The September menu was a strong and filling example of what Rosenberg and Singer often have in store. The evening opened with a selection of house-cured meats. Koji ham, long ham and culatello were presented alongside house-pickled vegetables. The koji ham had a miso-like flavor imparted from having been aged with the Japanese mold. The culatello was prosciutto-like, undergoing a much longer aging process — 18 months on-site. Next up were the crispy pig’s feet — small breaded pastries made from aspic and served with sauce gribiche, a savory condiment made from pickled cucumbers, capers, parsley, chervil and tarragon. Course three was red pastrami on rye with a skin kraut. What was arguably the meal’s tour de force involved small, open-faced sandwiches with house-cured pastrami and a kraut made from pickled pig’s skin. In lesser hands, the relish could have come off as overzealous hipster nonsense, but the flavor proved that this was not just novelty disguised as quality. Lots of experimental food winds up being more trendy than good — but not here. Click to view slideshow.The unrelenting meal only got more sturdy as it went along. Course four was the grilled ham steak over hock-braised collards. The dish was certainly succulent and balanced, and despite its inherent quality it wound up being somewhat trite when set against the revelation that was the pastrami. However, course five proved that the food did not need to be innovative to be sublime. The BBQ plate was ribs, pulled pork, house-made beans and cornbread with whipped honey-butter. The massive platter’s arrival was a frightful reminder that the previous dishes had been all too easy to graze on — these were the only plates that left without being fully gobbled up. Click to view slideshow.Next month’s event will open with the hind section of the cow, with the following sessions moving up the other two segments. Rosenberg said he is interested in potentially doing birds starting next year, citing the greater probability that the information could be more valuable for a home kitchen. In the meanwhile, the events provide an interesting way for people to establish a greater connection with their food, by vividly displaying one of the important links found between farm and table. Blackbelly is located at 1606 Conestoga St. #3, Boulder. The butcher shop is open Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The restaurant is open Sunday – Wednesday 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. and Thursday – Saturday 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. The next Bites with Butchers event will take place on October 24. Tickets are available here. All photography by Alden Bonecutter. via https://303magazine.com/2018/09/blackbellys-live-butchering-dinner-doesnt-let-you-forget-where-your-meat-comes-from/ If you’re anything like us at the 303 Magazine music desk, you’re constantly searching for great new tunes and bands to get addicted to. As music lovers, we hang on to the songs we love and never let them go, but we also need something fresh to balance out those classics. Here’s a blend of our favorites at the moment, whether new or just something we simply haven’t had the strength to take off repeat for the last few months. Rock, punk, pop, electronic, alternative – you name it, there’s truly something for everyone on this master list of our favorite songs at the 303 Magazine music desk. Note: Follow the playlist for more updates–we will be updating it every week.Contributors: Tyler Harvey, Kori Hazel, Brittany Werges, Mike Nickels, Denby Gardiner, Chloe Dore, Jake Dahl, Caleb Aerenson, Jenna Beutler, Max Nason, Mariah Hansen, Ellie Herring, Zena Ballas via https://303magazine.com/2018/09/spotify-playlist-music-desk-picks/ ![]() Part of Your WorldColour Pop Part of Your World Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ($8.00 for 0.15 oz.) is a soft, pale pink with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. It had opaque color coverage when applied with fingertips and more medium, buildable coverage when applied with a stippling brush (as described). It had a smooth consistency that was spongy, lightly emollient, and had noticeable slip–a smidgen more than the average shade I’ve tried in the formula. The highlighter applied evenly to bare skin, diffused easily, and also applied well over foundation (as it did not lift it ). It wore well for almost 10 hours before fading slightly on me. Top Dupes
IngredientsDimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Aluminum Calcium Sodium Silicate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Isopropyl Myristate, Phenoxyethanol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propylene Carbonate, Tin Oxide, Alumina; MAY CONTAIN: Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Carmine (CI 75470), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Mica (CI 77019), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 27 Lake (CI 45410), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 40 Lake (CI 16035), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Yellow 6 (CI 15985). ![]()
9.5
Product
10
Pigmentation
9
Texture
10
Longevity
5
Application
97%
Total
![]() Colour Pop Part of Your World Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop Part of Your World Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop Part of Your World Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop Part of Your World Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop Part of Your World Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop Part of Your World Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop Part of Your World Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop Part of Your World Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop Part of Your World Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop Part of Your World Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop Part of Your World Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop Part of Your World Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop Part of Your World Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) ![]() Colour Pop Part of Your World Super Shock Cheek (Highlighter) via https://www.temptalia.com/colourpop-part-of-your-world-super-shock-cheek-highlighter-review-swatches/ Dialing in the sound of a new album requires balance and innovation — staying familiar without being repetitive, but showing audible growth without departure from origins. Then there’s the balance of life and music, which can be tricky when you immerse yourself in one side or the other. For Colorado-based singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov, he found his balance in his 3.5-acre farm outside of Boulder. Where writing new music can take unexpected turns, the measurable growth of a farm provides stability. “Working on the farm brings me the most peace because I’m able to calculate and see work and progression,” Isakov said. “Whereas music is so elusive. I’ve probably worked 60 or 80 hours a week on this album over a year.” His first studio album in five years, Evening Machines, was written on the road, but refined and recorded at his barn-turned-studio on the farm. The quiet hours spent tending to organized rows of crops during the growing season meant the album was largely worked on at night when he couldn’t be on the farm. “When it’s dark and I can’t work, this whole thing kind of opens up. It lends itself to a lot of the sound on this album, and I wonder if I had worked on it during the day if you’d have a different sound,” said Isakov. When you combine the quiet, early hours of farm work and nocturnal studio sessions, it brings a sense of clarity and comfortable solitude to the 12 songs of the album. “This year has been the most I’ve ever felt life,” he said. “I’ve always heard of grownups saying that about being comfortable being alone. I thought, ‘yeah, I don’t think I’ll ever really feel that,’ but I honestly do.” The spacious soundscapes on Evening Machines are reminiscent of being alone and far from what you know, but Isakov’s calm croon and steady strumming carry you home every step of the way. Though he’s found a comfort in his daily solitude, that doesn’t mean his album is self-made. Isakov said when he needs the perspective of someone outside of the band, he turns to his neighbors who aren’t musicians for a fresh ear. “I send it to them to see what they think as ‘civilian’ listener, especially when you’re working so closely with your own music,” he explained. “Like with this album, they said ‘dude, the happiest song on the album is “dark, dark, dark.” and it’s like, it’s not that sad of a record to me [laughs], but I love that.” When it comes to performing, we’ve only seen Isakov grow with his music. From the 2016 collaboration with the Colorado Symphony to an upcoming tour — with a sold-out show at Red Rocks on September 30 — in support of his fourth full-length album, Isakov’s level of performance has only grown. But his humility has always been present. “The first time we played [Red Rocks], I didn’t think we could pull it off sonically,” Isakov recalled. “I remember feeling shy about it like I’d rather play the Fox [Theatre], but when you get asked to play Red Rocks, you play. It was one of the best shows we’ve ever experienced as a band.” Gregory Alan Isakov’s forthcoming album Evening Machines is due out Friday, October 5. His September 30 show at Red Rocks is sold out. All photography by Meg O’Neill.via https://303magazine.com/2018/09/gregory-alan-isakov-evening-machines/ Public Safety is Denver’s next big thing — if you haven’t heard of them yet, you will. Consisting of Bear Buscher (vocals), Jimmy Jeter (guitar), Ethan Desmond (bass) and Eric Charney (drums), the band has been jamming for two years now. They got their start in Charleston when Buscher and Jeter met in college. Buscher remarks that it was “more of a college party band and that they had something special in Denver, so [they] decided to pack up and come back to the Mile High City.” Desmond was playing solo bass shows until Buscher stumbled across one and wondered if he was in a band. Then, through a mutual friend, asked him to join the band. They met Charney through another mutual friend this summer after their previous drummer left. Public Safety’s sound is self-described as “gritty soul music, blending a little rock, little soul, little funk and a little reggae. We try to incorporate something that everyone can appreciate, and then make it flow.” Their live performances play off the uniqueness and variability of their sound even more, featuring anything from smooth slow jams to full-on high energy hip-hop covers. They take their flow another step further by riffing off of each other while playing. Charney talks about his experience with the band saying, “part of what I love about playing with these guys is that they listen to each other so well. A lot of bands have to stop and say ‘fix this or that,’ but one of us can start to play something and the guys catch on.” The band’s ability to communicate so well not only showcases their musical talent but their respect and admiration for each other. Buscher remarks, “that’s the one thing about this band that I love. We’re all cool with each other — we don’t get into huge scuffles and there’s very little drama. We all just give each other shit. We’re like brothers, we listen to each other. I love these guys.” The band also loves the Denver music scene. Coming from Charleston, they noticed that there wasn’t much opportunity there. Venues didn’t match up to their caliber of performance in Charleston, and according to them, many were closing down. They are excited about all the growth and activity in Denver, which means a slew of opportunities for them to grow. Plus, the welcoming local artists here have helped them on several occasions, giving them pointers and being a strong support system within the music community. For them, live shows take fans on a journey that leaves everyone satisfied, happy and dancing by the end of the night. Touring isn’t anything new to them, as they spent a good amount of time this year on the road. They toured the West Coast and across Colorado and they headlined the Breckenridge Beer Festival and stopped by the Underground Music Showcase as well. They aren’t finished yet — Public Safety will be touring again in October. The “East Bound and Down Tour” kicks off on October 5 in Sioux City, Iowa and will continue throughout the Midwest and end in Tulsa, Oklahoma on November 4. They will be back in Colorado soon, though — they just announced a show at the Fox Theatre in Boulder on December 1 with The Jive Tribe and Boogie Mammoth. Though young, the band has seen growing success over the past two years. Two months after their conception, they were finalists in Westword’s “Best of the West” competition in 2017, putting themselves on the map. Just recently, Desmond signed his first endorsement contract with Epifani Bass Amps. This was very exciting news as the company has endorsed artists such as two-time Grammy winner Oteil Burbridge of The Allman Brothers and legendary bassist Anthony Jackson. Public Safety is going nowhere but up in the next year (and beyond). With a goal of hitting 100 shows per year, they are keeping themselves incredibly busy. They “have no desire to be stagnant,” and are hitting it hard — booking shows, planning music videos, writing and vibing. We are willing to bet we’ll see a lot more of them in the upcoming year. Catch them on tour here and give them a listen on Spotify. Tickets for the Fox Theatre go on sale September 28.
All photography by Heather Fairchildvia https://303magazine.com/2018/09/public-safety-spotlight/ |
About UsHello Colorado friends. I hope you are having a lovely day! Smile bright and keep moving forward. Archives
November 2020
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