Support your local venue
by Adam Brown
Music Reporter
Summer is just around the corner, music fans, and with it those oh-so-attractive,
but likewise pricey blockbuster concerts at venues like Red Rocks, Pepsi
Center, Invesco Field or the newly renamed Coors (formerly Fiddler's Green)
Amphitheater.
Got a hundred bucks to throw away? If you do, you might be able to see
Jimmy Buffet, but hurry, because the show is on May 18.
Or, if you were too late for that one, maybe Sting and Annie Lennox at
Pepsi Center strikes your fancy. Tickets to this outrageously overpriced
event range from just under $40 to just over $140.
But that's not all, 1980s pop-rocker Prince, no longer known as a symbol
or, "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince," will delight audiences
at Pepsi Center for only $75.
The Dead, including three former members of the Grateful Dead, will play
five shows at Red Rocks this summer, each costing their loyal followers
nearly 70 dollars.
Those of us who can't afford to blow a few day's worth of wages on a
concert, however, will be forced to stick to the smaller venues, which
feature, of course, smaller bands.
But this isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, smaller venues such
as the Gothic, Ogden, or Bluebird Theater frequently feature somewhat
popular bands, usually for under $20, and the tickets typically aren't
hard to come by. Often they can be purchased at the door for even less
than that.
But what about local talent? While the aforementioned venues do host
some local bands, much of their booking comes from bands on tour. Local
DIY, or do-it-yourself venues, are the best place to view local talent
up-close and personal and with most shows ranging from free to $5, it's
hard to argue with the price.
That in mind, here's a list of some underground, or DIY venues around
Colorado.
Breakdown Book Collective, 1409 Ogden St., Denver: This underground bookstore
includes media that is marginalized, or shunned by society, such as radical
books, magazines, pamphlets and videos. They also have a book loan program,
art for sale and a membership club. On top of all this, they throw really
cool shows.
Past musical genres of the shows include Folk, Rock, and Hip Hop.
Monkey Mania, 2126 Arapahoe, Denver: Located just outside the hip part
of LoDo, this ancient warehouse is really just that, an old, unused warehouse.
No stage, no bar, just bring five bucks and your own refreshments, and
you're in.
The Highlife House, Colorado Springs: With countless shows under its
belt, this party house turned rock venue in the heart of Colorado Springs
has been a hipster favorite for years. With its odd 1950s feel, the cellar
of this old house is where the cramped shows take place. Oddly enough,
even though it is surrounded in close proximity by houses on all sides,
the police have never been called to the house in response to a noise
complaint.
These smaller venues exist almost solely because of word of mouth. They
aren't trying to make a huge profit; they simply want to throw good shows,
where people can go to have a good time.
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