The Beatdown

As for the city and that FDA tax: The renovations at Red Rocks thus far are cool, but how about putting some seat warmers up there? Even better -- seat warmers that can be rolled up to double as pugil sticks to pummel obnoxiously drunk neighbors. Then again, maybe the city needs all the cash it can get to fumigate the place after five consecutive nights of stinky hippies celebrating the return of the living Dead.

Upbeats and beatdowns: This Friday, February 6, renowned guitarist Phil Keaggy stops by the Sunset Event Center in Fort Collins, with Brenda Harp. Also on Friday, a compilation featuring tracks by sixteen local acts goes on sale at area Borders Books, Wild Oats and Rockley Music centers; proceeds benefit the Food Bank of the Rockies. To celebrate the release of The Love Album: Colorado Homegrown From the Heart, three parties featuring some of the acts appearing on the disc have been scheduled: On Monday, February 9, Bruce Hayes, Wes Hamil, Laura Haan, the Atoll and SemiGiant hit Eck's Saloon; on Wednesday, February 11, John Erlandson, Josh Allan, Dave Lyon and the Phil Jensen Band head up to the Little Bear in Evergreen; and on Thursday, February 12, Dan Oakenhead, Xiren, Craig Satterfield, Rebecca Folsom and the Ash Ganley Band are due at the D Note. On Sunday, February 8, Dankside Entertainment will celebrate the release of Universal Chapter I, Blaccmac's latest effort, at the Famous Door in Glendale. And finally, for those who didn't get tix to the Big Head Todd and the Monsters shows next week, the Cabeza Grande himself, Todd Park Mohr, will perform a solo acoustic set -- and the rest of the band will be on hand to sign autographs -- at 5 p.m. Tuesday, February 10, at Twist & Shout. The first 150 people who pre-purchase the band's new opus, Crimes of Passion, will guarantee themselves a spot in line.