Scene and heard: Lineup changes for Monroe Monroe and Boys, plus new-band alerts

There's been quite a bit of movement in the local scene over the past month or so. We've caught wind of some personnel changes and a few new bands to let you know about. In vaguely related Speakeasy Tiger news, Kyle Simmons, who previously fronted that band, has parted ways with her latest band, Boys, and her former bandmate Lauren Gale has likewise amicably moved on from Monroe Monroe.

We've also heard that our dear friend and veritable scene icon Robert "Goose" Guzman has left the Bonnie Situation and the Mighty 18 Wheeler, an outfit featuring fellow esteemed scene icon Bob Rupp on drums. No word yet on the status of replacements for any of the vacancies created by these recent departures.

Speaking of Rupp, some of his former cohorts in the band Shoot Romeo have formed a new group called Strip the Stars, an act being fronted by SR's David Frisbie, with Leo Zayas (aka Leo 7, formerly of Rubber Planet) on drums, former Esovae guitarist Brett Walston handling six-string duties, and Miles Marlin (Chaos Theory, Carolyn's Mother, Rocket Ajax) holding down the low end. Strip the Stars makes its live debut at the Toad Tavern on Friday, July 29.

A few other bands have apparently sprouted in recent weeks with other former and current members of some famed Denver acts. The first one, fittingly christened as Romero, is being fronted by former Sick/Drug Under frontman, Chris Romero, and features '80s metal heavyweights Jimmy D'Anda of the Bulletboys and Robbie Crane of Ratt. The new band debuted a few weeks ago at the Grizzly Rose on a bill with Cinderella.

Counterfeit Music Inc., meanwhile, comprises Romero's Sick/Drug Under bandmates, the Greenwall brothers, Aaron and Eric, along with Silver and Chris Reidy (also of Rubber Planet). Rather than play originals, the aptly dubbed Counterfeit Music Inc., which also played its first show a couple weekends ago at the Copper Rail in Brighton, plays a hand-picked selection of '80s covers.

Finally, Robin Edwards of Lust-Cats of the Gutters and CJ Macleod of SAUNA have formed a new band. We don't know the name yet or much else about it, but we hear the first show is supposed to happen sometime next week.