Preview: CITRA Will Light Up Your Weekend with Tomorrow's Armory Set Premiere
Photo by Mark Tepsic
It’s the weekend after Thanksgiving, and many people (myself included) are tired from all the cooking, turkey consumption, and Black Friday/Small Business Saturday shopping. Well.. what better to energize you right up again than a new CITRA set?!
Tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 p.m. MT, CITRA’s set from July 11, 2020 at The Armory Denver will premiere on Facebook and YouTube. The set is about as high-energy as they come and features stunning graphics and lights thanks to the digital-forward live-stream venue. If you haven’t seen a CITRA live show before, get ready to rock your f&#%in’ face off. With a sound inspired by true hard rock n’ roll plus the presence of an international headliner, Denver favorite CITRA owns the stage and will grab your attention, even through a screen. You’ll feel like you’re at a live show from your living room, kitchen, patio, or wherever you’re watching.
The set begins with Static Erratic, and an immediate dive into the kind of jump-up-and-down intensity we all miss from live music and live venues. In the current situation, this is the next best thing. The HIGH energy songs are perfectly balanced by a few slower tracks and some unrecorded material, though they still ring true for the grit rock that CITRA is known for. As the set builds up to its finale of Grant My Wish, the energy hits an all-time high, so lace up your figurative dancing shoes and have some water nearby. You’ll need it after the song hits its fever pitch.
Photo by Joel Rekiel
Throughout the live stream, you can help support CITRA during these strange times by donating directly to the band using Venmo (@citraband) or PayPal (merchandise@citraband.com).
If you’re new to CITRA, here’s a little bit about them. According to their website, “Denver grit rock ‘n roll group CITRA’s body of work has earned the band titles and nominations including “Best Rock Artist” (303 Magazine) and “Best Rock Band” (Westword, as well as the being dubbed “the premier rock group in the Denver music scene” (Ultra 5280). The band’s reputation for energetic, all-encompassing live performances and fearless gusto have granted them slots next to national acts such as Greta Van Fleet, X Ambassadors, All American Rejects, and Shinedown.
The dynamic four person outfit is comprised singer/guitarist Brandon Arndt, lead guitarist Augie Menos, bassist Sean Slattery and drummer Mauricio Jara. Hailing from various pockets of the country, the band found their collective home in Denver in 2015, where they have since made their electrifying mark.
A mere three months after their inception, CITRA dropped their debut EP Ocean (January 2016). Ocean’s immediate success and accolades from local publications promised a bright future for the band. The EP’s balance between unrelenting hard rock and eclectic melodies proved to be a combination that hit the city like a hot live wire.
In 2017, CITRA gained momentum with the release of two singles, Air and My My Mind, as well as their first music video. Their edge sharpened as their gritty and vivacious identity continued to take hold. This momentum carried them into the announcement of their sophomore EP release Mr. Copacetic. The five-track collection serves as the pinnacle of CITRA”s releases, as it stays true to the the band’s formative strengths, while providing the whip-fast energy fans know and love. Neon lights and lasers paired with belt-all vocals and hard-driving musicianship soon became the staple for all CITRA live performances, earning the group local notoriety.
CITRA has since performed at festivals like Westword Music Showcase, Underground Music Showcase, 303 Music Fest, Summerfest, Tour de Fat, and Taste of Colorado, as well as venues such as Summit Music Hall, Oriental Theater, Bluebird Theater, Levitt Pavilion, and Marquis Theater. Their tenacity, and insatiable desire for stylistic variation make CITRA the band impossible to nail down, and the ones to keep a close eye on.”
About The Armory Denver:
The Armory was designed by famed English architect William Quayle and built in 1889 to house the Colorado State Militia and related weaponry in Denver’s premiere Curtis Park residential neighborhood. In January 1893, a new Governor, Davis Waite took office. His single two year term as Governor ultimately involved with the State Armory. He mobilized the State Militia three times from The Armory, one to Denver and twice to Cripple Creek.
Today, the Armory is an Artist-Designed, Experiential space for the fabrication and development of tech-based, interactive and storytelling media. The digital armory provides artists the tools and creative space to become leading contenders in the denver arts and business markets. The digital armory is a place for artists to include the public in exploring the world of digital possibilities. The building now houses recording, video, and podcast production facilities, music studios, private performance venues, and a large space for community based multimedia art instruction, creation, display, and performance. The ultimate goal is to provide a safe nurturing space for musical, dance, and visual arts instruction, collaboration, and performance, and to incorporate traditional and digital recording technologies in an incredibly historic building.