It was a chance meeting at Forest Room 5, where I hadn’t ventured to in some time, that I ran into Mike Marchant, lead singer and songwriter for Widowers, as he prepared for his DJ set, following the FR5’s film night.

Seems like Mike’s musical adventures have also led him to the release of a new solo EP, Outer Space and the Sea, which is expected to be released January 9 with a show at the Meadowlark. “This is not a Widowers record, these tunes were recorded during August and September while we were on a brief hiatus from playing shows. Most of my bandmates contributed to this record, but we all agreed that these quieter tunes would be out of place with the new Widowers songs we're working on.”

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Inspired by World AIDS Day (WAD), which takes place each year on December 1, NextAid (www.nextaid.org) was born from the U.S. dance communities. By partnering with other organizations, NextAid produces music benefits that raise awareness and funds for emergency and long-term aid to African children in need, including those that have been orphaned by the AIDS pandemic.

This year Afroblu, the notorious outfit known for their colorful and cultural “After Hours Dance Rituals,” hosts the Denver NextAid World AIDS Day party here in Denver this Saturday, December 13 at Bar Standard on South Broadway (1037 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203).

Stretching from Los Angeles and Phoenix, through the Midwest of Omaha, Denver and Chicago, and over to east coast dance hubs New York and Brooklyn, over 20 communities gather their DJ talent and fans each year to support these children in need. With a mantra of “Beats Builds Hope!” each event will donate a portion of their proceeds to NextAid to raise funds for the completion of NextAid's pilot project, the NextAid/Youth with a Vision Community Center and Children’s Residential Village in Dennilton, South Africa.

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The crystal ball critics of music in 2004 hailed The Duke Spirit as a group destined for greatness. It looks like those future-knowing gypsies would have done well to predict the financial crisis, but at least they got this one right. The sophomore release by The Duke Spirit, Neptune, has further launched the 5-piece into millions of wanting ears after their debut, Cuts Across The Land.

After getting the SXSW 2008 buzz from their appearances in March, Duke Spirit has continued to ride the enthusiasm for the a single from Neptune, “The Step And The Walk,” a track dripping with dirge-y, slinking basslines and the powerful vocals of Liela Moss, who could easily have gone head-to-head with Janis Joplin back in the day. “Into The Fold,” “Lassoo,” and “Send A Little Love Token” are among the other heart palpitators on the album, overflowing with evidence of The Duke Spirit’s rise in songwriting skills and layered, succinct rock orchestration.

There are also chances to catch your breath on “My Sunken Treasure,” which floats with a very British pop rhythm, which would work on a soundtrack for both the 1966 flick “Alfie” or 2003’s “Love Actually.” And the perfect swaying song arrives with “Wooden Heart,” a track that would fit in nicely before Elvis Costello’s “Alison,” on your rainy day mix.

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