Achille Lauro

“Once upon a time, an Achille Lauro show was a rare and remarkable event. With multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter Brian Joseph on the road working sound for hotshots like the Fray and Bon Iver, the group just couldn’t pull together very often. A few months ago, however, Achille Lauro and Joseph decided it made sense to head in different directions. This decision has made for more frequent public appearances and has also completely transformed the band’s sound. More electronics have been added, giving the outfit a Steely Dan-meets-Radiohead vibe, and dueling frontmen Luke Mossman and Matt Close make an even stronger impression with their voices and musicianship. Even the songwriting seems to have taken a turn that is simultaneously more experimental and poppier. A recent gig at the hi-dive proved that Achille Lauro is a Denver act to watch — now more than ever.”- Westword

“Whenever I see Achille Lauro, I wonder how a band like that could have come out of Denver. The band follows no local trends I can identify and its music, at least since late last year, is incredibly polished, masterfully performed and still retains all the imagination, intelligence and emotional content that inspired it. From the incredible opening song, Lauro sounded like it was part Dark Side of the Moon and part Deserter’s Songs with dashes of Gaucho and elements of dub. Without missing a beat, these guys once again wowed me with some of the most fully-realized, experimental pop since I last saw Mercury Rev and Lake Trout.”- Tom Murphy Westword