Heavy Syncs and Dusty Grooves: Denver's Essential Week of Electroclash, Roots Reggae, and Rocksteady

Denver is staring down a week of masterclasses in legacy subgenres, starting with a massive mid-week dose of analog nostalgia. On Wednesday, the Oriental Theater hosts the legendary synthpop and electroclash outfit Ladytron. Known for their icy, precise hooks and dark wave textures, the British four-piece continues to prove that hardware-driven electronica has a soul, carrying the torch for late-night dancefloors that prefer their synthesizers cold and their beats relentlessly analog. Meanwhile, over at the Paramount Theatre on Saturday, new wave pioneer Joe Jackson returns to showcase his razor-sharp pop rock catalog. From his late-70s angry young man post-punk origins to his jazz-inflected experiments, Jackson’s live performances remain unpredictable, fiercely literate, and musically pristine.