Volume 4, Issue 25
December 12, 2002 - January 8, 2003
by Vic Tanner
Photos by Sean Hartgrove
As always, Go-Go cares that you stay on top of things. That you have the latest info, the skinny, the 411. Or something. What we're trying to say, in a circular fashion, is that the holiday season is upon us, and you know what that means. So without much fur ther ado--or any chronological sensibility--here's a less-than-comprehensive list of things to do with yourself this holiday. Excelsior!
For instance, you aren't going to want to miss Denver's own-but-removed Slim Cessna's Auto Club , who will be interpreting the country muse as only they can at your favorite Bluebird Theater , on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31. Show up early both nights --on the 30th, Tarantella opens, and the 31st promises visits from Munly (who will, strangely, also be playing with the headliner. Hmmm...) and The Lee Lewis Harlots. For the tickets you will undoubtedly purchase, call 303-322-2308. The Bluebird Theater is located at 3317 E. Colfax, conveniently close to The PS Lounge .
On to other bits of musical fun--for fans of guitar jams, there is practically nobody on America's musical landscape more deservedly popular than Steve Kimock. The ex-Zero founder, who no less a turned-on love light than Jerry Garcia once called "my favorite unknown guitar player," is unknown no longer, and in fact played lead guitar with the remaining members of the Dead in their Other Ones incarnation. He is bringing the Steve Kimock Band to Denver on Dec. 30 and 31 for two nights at the most beauti-ful venue east of Federal Boulevard, The Gothic Theatre. Opening both nights will be Mountains of Venus . For ticket and time information, we suggest you call the theatre at 303-380-2333. The Gothic is located at 3263 S. Broadway, in the charming village of Englewood.
From guitar jams down south to electronica up north. On Dec. 31 we race up Broadway to the Golden Triangle, where we find the collaborative party to end all such --the team-up of Denver's two hottest DJ nights, Revolver (La Rumba) and Lipgloss (60 South) at La Rumba, 99 W. 9th St. The purpose of said team-up? To bring you the stylings of DJs Michael Trundle, Tim Cook and Tyler Jacobsen, and special guest Tim Burgess of the Charlatans (UK).
Burgess, who headlined the Glastonbury and Isle of Wight festivals earlier this year, is re-inventing himself as a DJ, following his career with the group New Music Express called "one of the biggest bands of the last 10 years." This party is a one-of-a-kind event, and as such should not be missed --the doors open at 8 pm, and the cover is $15 in advance, and $20 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at www.ticketweb.com. For more info check out www.denver3.com . The good people at Red Room and The Goosetown Tavern care about your holiday enjoyment. Don't believe us? Check this out, Doubty Doubterson: Winter Wonderland (Dec. 18th) at The Goosetown features $3 Colorado Bulldogs, $3 Pumpkin Pie shots, $2 Sol bottles and a complimentary holiday buffet. They'll also be giving away a 2003 Burton snowboard and dinner for two at the Red Room --which, for its part, will be offering a New Year's performance by DJ Ejay and friends, a free breakfast after midnight, free champagne when the ball drops, Stoli specials and a host of good-looking people (many of them employees). The Goosetown is located at 3242 E. Colfax Ave. , 303-399-9703, and the festivities begin at 9 pm; Red Room is at 320 E. Colfax, 303-855-4646 and you'll only have to pay the $5 cover after 8 pm.
For an earlier party of another kind, hie thineself to that hub of right-think known as Boulder for "Waiting For the Snow to Fall," --The String Cheese Incident's third annual holi- day benefit performance at the Boulder Theatre , Dec. 19. The night will begin with a sneak preview of the new Warren Miller movie about the String Cheese Incident, Waiting For The Snow To Fall, at 7:30 pm; then, of course, a concert by the Incident itself, all for the benefit of local Boulder charities. This year's beneficiaries include The Boulder County Safehouse and The Child Development Program. To buy tickets, visit the Boulder Theatre box office, at 2032 14th St., or call them at 303-786-7030. Tickets are $26.25 each and there is a two-ticket maximum per person. You must be 21 years or older to participate in the giving. You may also discover more at www.sciticketing.com or by calling 303-544-5875.
If, of course, you're interested in attending a well-heeled affair, you certainly can't go wrong with anything sponsored by those crazy kids at www.denvermix.com. This year, it's the New Year's Eve Gala at the Parkside Mansion , in cooperation with the Puksta Foundation . Booze? Try three bars. Music? How about the turntable stylings of Jonas Temple and Eloy Lopez of the 940 Project? How about Textiles, recently anointed by a larger and slightly less clever paper as Denver's Best Acid Jazz Band? There will be customized projections by Digital Grafitti , live video streaming and the event will be filmed and made available for sale. Oh, and catered hors d'oeuvres from Gourmet Alternatives (like Burger King?). All-inclusive tickets may be purchased at www.denvermix.com/new_years Prices run $75 for women, $90 for men and $160 for couples. For more info, visit www.denvermix.com.. And dress nice. This ain't the Lion's Lair.
Naturally, any rundown of Front Range fun would be incomplete without a visit to The Fox Theatre in Boulder, where the sound is as clear as the air isn't. On Dec. 30 and 31, The North Mississippi Allstars, who Rolling Stone once said "came closer to true blues credibility than any other recent great white hopes, including Jonny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepherd" will bring their southern roots-blues-rock-jam to your front door. Well, not literally. But close enough. The shows both start at 8:30 pm, and the person at the door will need to see an actual, legal ID, not that thing with the photo taped onto it. The Fox is located at 1135 13th St. Call 303-443-3399 or visit www.foxtheatre.com for more info. Back in Denver, meanwhile, The Copa Cabana presents New Years Eve 2002, featuring Cabaret Diosa and Onda , at the 1770 Sherman Event Complex , at 18th and Sherman. There will be a complimentary top shelf bar featuring mojitos, margaritas, sangria, cuba libres--is there a theme here? The Samba Room will provide the complimentary buffet, Smoker Friendly the complimentary cigars in the margaritaville VIP cigar lounge, Sauvecitos the fashion show and The Crystal Rose the Old Havana-style casino gaming. Whew. Doors open at 7:30, tickets are available at www.ticketweb.com. and all King Soopers locations. For more info, call 303-206-3494.
Then there's the chance that you don't want anything to do with any of the above events. There's the chance that you would prefer a New Year's Punk Rockin' Eve , preferably at that chalet of good taste and cleanliness, the 15th Street Tavern. Okay, chachi. Reno Divorce, local rock and rollers extraordinaire, will be playing a set of music just for you at that very venue on that very night. Better than slugging Robitussin in mom's basement for the 14th year in a row, right? The 15th Street Tavern is, always has been and always will be located at 623 Welton St. Call them at 303-572-0822.
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum we have Neil Diamond. Yeah, you laugh, but not really, because you know every word to "Forever in Blue Jeans" and "Love on the Rocks." The Diamond himself has decided to grace Denver with his regal--if short--presence on New Year's Eve at the Pepsi Center. Tickets range in price from $41.50 to $79, the doors open at 8:30 pm and the show starts at 10. Ring in the New Year the right way --the Diamond way.
For those who don't care to rub shoulders with the unwashed, we have LoDo's Biggest Private New Year's Bash,at Club Purple, 1523 Market St., Denver. The folks behind this soiree promise free drinks(!), free party favors (tin noisemakers, hopefully) plenty of giveaways and what they describe as "incredible entertainment." We have no idea what that's about. Hey, this stuff is private--can't just give away every piece of info to just anybody, especially us. We'd just turn around and tell you. To find out what the big hoo-hah is about, or just to order tickets, call 303-800-1222.
For those of a more adventurous bent, get yourself to 2637 Welton on New Year's Eve for Afterdarkkmedia's Sinncity 2003 with DJs Ty Tek, Demon, Ahwoo, IX, and our very own DJ Rexual will be spinning a variety of libido-loosening tunes, there will be body worship, edible boy/girl buffets (cannibalism!), fashions by Slave1 and Bunkerbunnie, fruit girls, El Diablo Exotic. pretty much the most fashionably erotic time you can have yourself 'round these parts. Presale tickets are available at FashionNation, 613 E. 13th Avenue, and the first 200 are but $15, so get cracking. After that, they're $22. 50, and at the door, $30. The door opens at 8 pm. Dress to impress, because people in streetwear will be spanked at the door. Visit www.afterdarkkmedia.com for more info.
Club kids will most likely want to party like it's 2003 in clubs--fair enough. We happen to have several fine ones in Denver, like The Church, with its three rooms of music, sushi, wine and cigar bars, midnight champagne toast, drink specials and giveaways, this beautiful club at 1160 Lincoln promises to be the such place. Unless, of course, you're going to Vinyl, 1082 Broadway, which plans special performances by Chicago DJs Bad Boy Bill and Steve Smooth. Either way, you can't go wrong, so go. Call The Church at 303-832-3528, Vinyl at 303-860-8469.
Anything else? Sure. Too much to list. We have to stop somewhere, you know. Take what we've given you and put it to use --celebrate the onset of 2003 the right way: with a drunken orgy of consumption. Have fun!
All Rights Reserved © 2002 Go Go Media, LLC, Denver, Colorado