Band of Influence.

The boys and I headed to see Kraftwerk last night at Denver's always accommodating Fillmore Auditorium. So very entertaining was the show and the crowd- among the most diverse concert crowds you will ever see in Denver. In the days leading up to the show, I dusted off my Kraftwerk music and fondly remembered just how much I loved electronic music growing up in the late seventies and early eighties and how it has shaped my musical tastes today. While I am a budding guitar hero, I love the crisp production of electronica. I remember Davey and I shopping for CDs in the format's early days and getting excited when a CD was "DDD."

I realized how much Kraftwerk has influenced the artists I listened to growing up, and, yes, still listen to today. Kraftwerk has been making music of influence since the days of Saturday Night Fever. Think about that-- and they are still touring the world! It's impossible to listen to this band and not think about Human League, Gary Numan, The The, New Order, Heaven 17, Naked Eyes, Depeche Mode, Tears For Fears, Howard Jones, David Bowie's eighties comeback, Madonna, Pet Shop Boys, Goldfrapp, JT, and any synthesizer-using band from the last 30 years. Yep, including the Bee Gee's-- listen to the first 40 seconds of Tragedy and you'll hear what I mean. Kraftwerk gets a tip of my hat. Well, I'd tip my hat if it didn't mess up my heavily TEN-X'ed hair. Ah, those were the days.

Thanks to my new pal Jeff for the great photo.