The ten best concerts this weekend: Dec. 28-30

Britt Chester

String Cheese Incident will be at the 1STBANK Center for a New Year's run Saturday, December 30 through Monday, December 31.

As we gear up for the New Year's Eve weekend, it's looking like an epic line-up for shows, including Yonder Mountain String Band's four-night stand at the Boulder Theater, String Cheese Incident's three-night run at the 1STBANK Center, the Lumineers' two-nighter at the Odgen Theatre, the Black Angels' two-nighter at the Bluebird Theater and Slim Cessna's Auto Club's two nights at the Oriental Theater. While we've got all of the shows this weekend listed in our concert calendar, keep reading for the ten best concerts this weekend.

See also:
- Weekend's best dance music: Kenny Glasgow, STS9, Tipper and more
- The ten best New Year's Eve shows in Denver
- New Year's Eve celebrations: sixteen sweet options

10. GLOWING HOUSE @ LARIMER LOUNGE | SAT, 12/29/12
At first listen, it's easy to mistake Glowing House's debut as a vehicle for Jess Parsons, the outfit's lead vocalist and pianist/guitarist. But the more the sumptuous and heartfelt songs sink in, the more the whole project feels like a real band. And a good band. Sidestepping the trend of precious, quirky chanteuses such as Ingrid Michaelson, Parsons's songs are soulful and impeccably arranged, yet never full of shit. The weight of her tender frustration is palpable. Of course, the gracious democracy of the group means that guitarist Steve Varney takes the occasional lead vocal -- and while his voice has a depth all its own, it basically serves as a placeholder until Parsons retakes the spotlight.