Lez Leppelin and The Cutthroat Drifters at the Bluebird Theatre in Denver CO on 1/29/16

It was an extremely mixed crowd that came out to see the female Led Zeppelin tribute band Lez Leppelin. They performed the sound track of the 1973 movie "The Song Remain the Same" in its entirety. There were kids with their rocker parents, teenagers with their multi-color hair, and same sex couples in their Lez Leppelin T-Shirts. Let's just say I wasn't "The Old Guy at the Show" that night.

Lez Leppelin wearing Led Zeppelin

The group started in 2004 by guitarist Steph Paynes sparking the beginning of the current all female tribute bands Hells Belles (AC/DC), Iron Maidens (Iron Maiden), and Cheap Chick (Cheap Trick) to just name a few. Led Zeppelin was a super group that started Heavy Metal as we know it. It's not easy to play. The music is a mix of unworldly guitar licks with incredible vocals driven by thunderous mythical drumming. Lez Zepelin recreated it admirably with passion.

A funny video with the band members re-enacting the beginning of the very seventies influenced film "The Song Remains the Same" started the show.

Lez Leppelin

After that finished, Steph Paynes came out wearing a Jimmy Page inspired Moon Outfit and vocalist Shannon Conley appeared wearing a very tight Robert Plant denim influenced ensemble. Sadly, bass player Megan Thomas and drummer Leesa Harrington Squyres didn't participate in the John Paul Jones/John Bonham clothing tribute.

"Dazed and Confused" with Conley's insane vocal range and Paynes' master guitar playing was definitely a highlight. Squyres played the lengthy "Moby Dick" drum solo. She looked so intense during her drumming the crowd started to worry about her (she's okay. Paramedics were not dispatched). Steph Paynes brought out a double neck guitar similar to the one Jimmy Page played in the movie that weighed more than her. After a few songs, she pleaded with the band for permission to put it down. Near the end of the evening the crowd starting yelling out requests that were not part of the movie missing the point of the show. But Conley charmingly declined and told them, "We will play the other songs another night." One of the inebriated fans offered his Beaver Baseball Hat to the "All Girls All Zeppelin" group. It was accepted with gratitude and puzzlement making the song lyrics of "Dazed and Confused" come to life.

Lez Zeppelin after completing their performance

The Cutthroat Drifters

The Cutthroat Drifters, a local band lead by Nick "Black Beard" Kjolhede, warmed up the crowd. The singer came out with a white fur coat, sunglasses, and rings on every finger. (I am so glad I didn't wear my similar accoutrements. We would have matched and that would be embarrassing.) The old school rock quartet played a high-energy set featuring the dancing styles of Kjolhede with moves somewhere between Axl Rose and Pulp Fiction's Vincent Vega. They ended with a cover of Bad Company's "All Right Now" getting the crowd ready for a night of Classic Rock.

See you at the next show.

Fruition, The California Honeydrops, and Gipsy Moon at Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver, CO on 1/22/2016

Scott Morill, the co-owner of Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom celebrated his birthday by having three spirited bands perform. The party sold out the 900 capacity venue. Audiences and the musicians appreciate Morill's efforts to keep the historic building alive. It's in the old Casino Cabaret located in 5 Points that dates back to the 1930's. Everybody from Benny Goodman, James Brown, and BB King has played there. Jack Kerouac described it his book "On the Road." It reopened as Cervantes' in 2003. I am geeking out on the history because it was the first time I attended a show there.

Fruition

Fruition is a self described Folk-Rock American Soul Blues Band based out of Portland, OR.  The three singers Jay Cobb Anderson, Kellen Asebroek, and Mimi Naja took turns leading the band though a mixture of soulful originals and classic rock covers. Mimi Naja wore a backward baseball hat and a tank top that read "Don't Worry Be Yonce." (Thank goodness because I was worried. I was in 5 Points.) She played the mandolin with an impressive bluegrass style that was a perfect fit for their cover of Led Zeppelin's "Hey Hey What Can I Do." Naja seemlessly switched to electric guitar on Joe Walsh's "Life's Been Good." Since they recently recorded an EP in Colorado, Fruition has many ties to the local music scene. Many of their musician friends joined them on stage throughout the night to celebrate. They ended their first set with the Colorado inspired, "Meet Me on the Mountain." I left before the second set because it was one in the morning and I am old.

The California Honeydrops

Before Fruition took the stage, The California Honeydrops set the festive atmosphere. They describe their sound as Street Corner Soul, Roots, Delta Blues, Bay Area R&B, and New Orleans Style. (These bands like long descriptions.) Lech Wierzynski, who was born in Warsaw, Poland and raised by Polish political refugees, lead the Oakland, California Band through a fun set of sexually charged songs entitled "Like You Mean It," "Pumpkin Pie," and "Ride It Like a Pony." Playing the trumpet and singing, Wierzynski was ecstatic because this was the largest Colorado Audience the band had played. Stepping out from the drum kit Johnny Bones dressed in a vintage Denver Nuggets Jersey switched to the washboard. This changed their sound to a New Orleans Style making it even more of a party. They will be opening up for Bonnie Rait in March.

Gipsy Moon

Gipsy Moon started the night's celebration by playing their haunting gypsy style of folk music. They are a local band out of Nederland, CO. Andrew Conley's cello playing made the four piece have a remarkably spacious tone.  He played standing up with only the help of a brace on his back. The last time I saw the band was when they opened for DeVotchka on Halloween dressed as the Addams Family. The band was out of costume this time, but singer Mackenzie Page did have on a witch inspired hat. Making everyday Halloween.

Photo by The Rock and Roll Princess

After Frution's first set, it was announced a Soul Train Dance Line was about to start. Security parted the crowd with a open space to start the dance line. At that point, Michael Jackson's P.Y.T. (Pretty young Thing) played over the PA.  Since the audience was either too young or too stoned to know what a Soul Train Dance Line was, they just closed up the space and danced ... badly.  That's when it was time for me to leave.

See you at the next show.

Luke Schmaltz, Straight Outta Luck, Munimula, The Wow! Signal, and Ooh La La Presents at 3 Kings Tavern 10th Anniversary Party in Denver, CO on 1-8-16

3 Kings Tavern celebrated their 10th Anniversary on Friday with free admission to tons of bands, an art show, and burlesque dancers. The South Broadway crowd was a mix of everyone. I noticed many beards, aggressive piercings (it looks like those hurt), face tattoos, and women with rainbow colored hair. I fit in perfectly.

The Wow! Signal and Rosie

The Wow! Signal (named after a mysterious narrow-band radio signal detected in 1977 for 72 seconds and disappeared) opened the show. Their set consisted of fun yelling songs. Things got interesting when the drummer took his shirt off to the delight of the ladies (okay some ladies who like a Kevin Smith Body Type). Their "Summer Song" that was re-titled "Winter Song" had a respectable hook. That's when Rosie, their interpretive dancer, came out and frolicked in a t-shirt, high heels, and a g-string. The drummer carried her off after the last song as she yelled "God your sweaty!"

Munimula

Next Munimula (Aluminum spelled backward) a guitar and drum duo took the stage.  They were dressed like Mormon Missionaries that just got back from lumber-jack camp. They played Punk Jazz fusion between recorded dialogues. It was a really unique sound that I am probably not smart enough to appreciate.

Straight Outta Luck

Straight Outta Luck (a street punk quartet that formed in 2008) started their set by insisting an audience member join them on stage to blow out candles on a pizza with a pepperoni phallic design. The birthday boy didn't seem thrilled. Ryan Jacobs, the bass playing singer, lead the band through infectious songs that got the crowd's attention especially the mosh pit. I was enjoying their performance while hiding in a corner. I don't like Mosh Pits (it's a long story involving dental work).

Luke Schmaltz

Luke Schmaltz, lead singer of King Rat (a punk band that has been around for two decades), calmed the crowd down with a few acoustic songs. He states his main influence as the poet Shel Siverstein which is apparent with his song "It's Fun to F*ck A F*ck Up" with the lyrics "Because nothing is more boring than perfection." One of the mosh pit members failed to keep the moshing going to Schmaltz songs. Funny Acoustic Songs might be a great method to derail the next mosh pit formation.

Surlie Temple

Between bands Ooh La La Presents performed avant-garde stripe teases with troupe members Kitty Crimson, Cherry Pop Pop Poppins, and Surlie Temple. The highlight was Surlie Temple's Undone Routine to Weezer 's "Undone (The Sweater Song)" in a sweater that unraveled. She has been performing it since 2009. The ladies only striped down to pasties. Keeping it classy Denver.

I left before the rest of the bands performed because Old Guy at the Show gets sleepy.

See you at the next show.

Top 5 Show Moments of 2015

Looking back at 2015, there has been numerous show moments that changed my life.  Okay.  Nothing that dramatic.  Let's just say they still make me smile. I have narrowed it down to five. Please keep in mind that I don't usually see big stadium shows and my taste is a little left of center. So drum role please..........  

Diane Coffee

5.   Diane Coffee, Ogden Theatre, 10-28-15 – Shaun Fleming, the former drummer of Foxygen, now has his own band named Diane Coffee. Fleming has stated, "He is Diane Coffee. His band is Diane Coffee.  We are all Diane Coffee." Their Psychedelic Motown Brand of Music was hypnotizing.  Fleming has an amazing vocal range, funny between song banter, and danced throughout the set with a recently broken foot.  You could see the pain in his face as he ran across the stage all in the name of rock and roll.

The Kids in the Hall

4.  The Kids in the Hall, Paramount Theatre, 6-6-15 –A Canadian Comedy Troop reunited for a rare tour. You might know them from their HBO Show that aired from 1988-1995.  The Kids in the Hall (now way too old to be kids) opened their live sketch show wearing wedding dresses. They took turns telling the audience why it was a good idea for a man to wear a wedding dress on a daily bases. Bruce McCollock stated, "I wear a wedding dress to punish society."  Proving that comedy can be as punk rock as any music act.

The Darkness

3.  The Darkness, Summit Music Hall, 10/16/15 – Justin Hawkins leads one of the best remaining live rock acts. Their most recent work is a concept album about Vikings and it's amazing (not to many bands can pull that off). Hawkins can hit high notes like Freddie Mercury and tell funny stories like Russell Brand.  When he rode on the shoulders of a bouncer while shredding on the guitar, I got inspired to start this blog.

Sleater-Kinney

2.  Sleater-Kinney, Ogden Theatre, 2/12/15 – I only knew singer Carrie Brownstein from her work as a journalist for NPR and an actor from the television show Portlandia.  When I heard she was in a band before any of that started, I was intrigued. Reunited after a nine year break, the trio did not disappoint. The most memorable part of their performance was when band-mate Corin Tucker performed “Gimme Love” with such power chills went down the spine of everyone in the audience.

Sign outside of The Hi-Dive

1.  Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats, The Hi-Dive, 8/24/15 – There is always a show every year you hear about that is impossible to attend. The planets aligned that day and a friend scored me a golden ticket for the local soul band breaking big. Rateliff wanted to give back to the 300 person capacity club that supported him throughout the years. I have never seen a band so happy and an audience so appreciative. It was only a 45 minute set, but the crowd singing along to their hit "S.O.B."(Rolling Stone's 19th best song of 2015) is still echoing in my head.   

Everyone here at Old Man at the Show Headquarters wishes you a Happy New Year.  See you at the next show.

Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox in Denver, Colorado at Paramount Theatre on 12-18-15

 

Back in October, I saw the band The Darkness perform their hit single "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" in the middle of a mosh pit. Little did I know, I would hear a 1940's New Orleans Style version of the same song performed by a runner up of The Voice a few months later.

Scott Bradlee is a music producer that started making videos with diverse musicians covering pop songs in different genres of music (Big Band, Jazz, and Swing). The videos became viral ...which lead to albums ...which lead to a tour.  A very talented backing band, exceptional singers, and one remarkable tap dancer make up the current touring version of Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox.

Postmodern Jukebox

The show almost didn't happen. On Friday, Interstate 80 was shut down due to the weather stranding them in Rock Springs, Wyoming.  The TSA also had issues with one of the musician's natural 420 remedy for Epilepsy. Despite these obstacles, The Postmodern Jukebox found a way to persevere. They ditched the tour bus for two Buddy Holly looking charter jets and flew into the Mile High City.

Brass of the Jukebox

Blake Lewis, a runner-up on the sixth season of American Idol, was the Master of Ceremonies. Not only did he do a impressive job of moving the show along, his Louis Prima style version of Sisqo's "Thong Song" was amazing. To refresh your memory, some of the lyrics are "She had dumps like a truck and thighs like what." He even figured out how to bring his beatbox skills to a jazz version of Imagine Dragons'  "Radioactive."

Joey Cook, a contestant from the fourteenth season of American Idol, was very charming.  She performed a 1920's era version of Plain White T's "Hey There Delilah" complete with an accordion solo. You almost felt like you were being transported back to time despite her blue hair.

Sadly Haley Reinhart, the singer in a large majority of their videos, was not along for this part of the tour.  Malya Sykes, a contestant from The Voice season seven, competently took her place.  Her haunting jazz version of Radiohead's "Creep" really brought out the profound lyrics.  Of course, my favorite was her New Orleans Style version of The Darkness' "I Believe in a Thing Called Love."  She delivered a female perspective to the song singing, "I want to kiss you every minute, every hour, every day."

Ariana Savalas and Sarah Reich

The funniest part of the evening was not from song lyrics.  It was when Ariana Savalas, the daughter of film and TV actor Telly Savalas, interacted with the a "silver fox" in the front row. She brought the "handsome man in the smart looking fleece vest" to the stage for an uncomfortable embrace before launching into a 1920's Gatsby Style version of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance." She was accompanied by tap dancer Sarah Reich from So You Think You Can Dance.  Later Reich tapped to an impressive Star Wars Medley in a sparkling gold outfit.

Casey Abrams is All About the Bass

Casey Abrams, the bearded man-bun wearing contestant from the tenth season of American Idol, was the crowd favorite.  His New Orleans versions of Sam Smith's "I'm Not the Only One" and Guns N' Roses'  "Sweet Child of Mine" transformed the songs with energy and fun.  He also played the stand up bass throughout the evening which came in handy when all the singers sang a Swing version of Meghan Trainor's "All about That Bass."  (By the way, can't we have just a little treble?)

During an after concert nightcap at a nearby tavern the original version of The Darkness "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" started to play to my amusement.  (What are the odds.)  Bringing the evening to a full circle.

Postmodern Jukebox's Denver Selfie

Michael Franti, A Great Big World, and The Rua in Denver, CO at the Ogden Theater 12-9-15

Seeing a Christmas tree on stage along with local disc-jockies wearing ugly Christmas sweaters, I was fearful that I entered an awful office holiday party.   But instead of hearing songs about a supernatural reindeer freak, three amazing striped down sets were performed with only one Christmas song (that was quite good).

Michael Franti and J Bowman

With all the horrible news from Paris, Colorado Springs, and San Bernardino, it was refreshing to see Michael Franti performing with a positive message about peace.  The six foot eight inch dreadlocked vegan barefoot musician from San Francisco, California was inspiring. Accompanied only by J Bowman on electric guitar, Franti performed his hits between stories about his life, family, and positivity. During his song about his new bride, "Life is Better with You" a couple near the front got engaged.  Franti witnessed it and made them re-create the moment on stage which moved Franti to tears.   (She said yes by the way.  Maybe she didn't want to say yes, but was pressured by the moment to say yes.  Anyway, I wish them the best.)  Michael Franti introduced the song "Once A Day" about overcoming the challenges of his son's kidney disease.  The song begins as a rap and turns into an anthem about rising up.

A picture of people taking pictures

Franti jumped off the stage and joined the crowd to perform  "I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like)." With a wireless mic, he danced through the crowd and climbed up to the balcony all in his bare feet.   This is not an easy task since the floor at the Ogden is disgusting to walk on even in shoes.  It was very powerful to hear the repeated chants about being alive with the crowd jumping up and down in unison.  Michael Franti repeatedly asked the audience to hug the one they love.  This made my single friends ask if they should slash their wrists.  (They didn't. They're alive and doing well.  Stop worrying.)

Appropriately, Franti ended his set by playing Bob Marley's "One Love" and jumping into the crowd once again.  He stayed to take selfies until a few mesmerized woman got a little too touchy.

A Great Big World in their gay apparel

Before Michael Franti took the stage, A Great Big World, a duo from New York made up of singer songwriters Ian Axel and Chad Kings performed in their holiday sweaters.   Axel played the keyboards with such intensity it was hard for him to remain seated and in his deer sweater (he took it off half way through their set).  Kings remained calm with a constant smile on his face probably due to the chilly penguin that adorned his sweater.  The highlight was when Ian Axel played their hit "Say Something" alone on stage.  The version was so impressive, I almost forgot that this was performed with Christina Aguilera on the recorded version. 

The Rua

The show started with The Rua a charming band from the United Kingdom made up of siblings Roseanna Brown on lead vocals and guitar,  Alanna Brown on vocals and keyboard, Jonathan Brown on vocals and violin, and a laptop on drums. When Roseanna stopped the first song when she realized her guitar was not plugged in and declared herself an idiot,  I became a fan.  I was surprised how confident they were on stage for being so young.  This was explained when they revealed acting in the Harry Potter films at an early age.  They even had the crowd guess what houses their characters attended at Hogwarts for sweets.  (I didn't win because those movies are for children and I am the old guy at the show.)  The Rua played the only Christmas song of the night, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" with impressive harmonies from all three of them.   It made it difficult not to be in the Christmas spirit.

Ryan Bingham in Denver, Colorado at the Ogden Theatre on 11-27-15

Photo by The Old Man at the Show

Can the crowd ruin a show?  The people around you can either enhance or diminish your experience.   Unfortunately the inebriated audience at the Ogden Theatre for Ryan Bingham hurt it.

It started before the opening act, Jamestown Revival, even finished.  A scary large Ogre with braids yelled, screamed, and swore at two terrified woman in the balcony for absolute no logical reason.  This of course made the mood uneasy and filled the space with a weird tension for the remainder of the night.   A couple near the front of the stage couldn't take their hands off each other to the extent they got kicked out of the venue.  A circle of 'Bros' near the front of the stage moshed to every fast paced song shoving and elbowing everyone near them.

Consumed by two drunk girls

Two drunk girls beside me were extremely annoying.  They screamed loudly during every pause in the music and asked me if the tiny guitar Ryan Bingham was playing was a banjo.  It was a mandolin by the way.  At the end of the show, I saw the numerous empty cups that fueled their rude behavior.  I have no idea how the drinking machines were still standing.  The majority of the concerts I attend have people enjoying alcohol.  But it usually just makes them (Okay me) dance badly not become annoying and hostile.

Ryan Bingham and his band

Ryan Bingham is a singer-song writer from Texas now living in California.  He won an Academy Award for his song "The Weary Kind" from the film Crazy Heart starring Jeff Bridges.  You have to respect a guy that writes for "The Dude."   More than half of his band is from Boulder, Colorado. They were very talented.  But when they left Bingham on stage alone, he shinned.  Bingham played some impressive Mariachi Style guitar and sang in Spanish during the song, "Boracho Station."  Too bad nobody seemed to notice.  Ryan Bingham had to stop during "Broken Heart Tattoos" a song about his new born to plead with the well lubricated crowd to stop talking, yelling, and screaming.  They didn't.  The band came back to join Bingham for a very lengthy set which included a jam with the James Town Revival an appearance from Country Music Icon Terry Allen, and Bingham's dog Boo.

Jamming with Jamestown Revival, Terry Lewis, and his dog Boo

Towards the end of the night, one of the 'Bros' body slammed the wrong person and ended up getting punched.  A cartoonish fight broke out getting people hurt towards the front of stage. Security broke it up, but Ryan Bingham had to stop the music again.  He wanted to know if everybody was alright stating, "You should feel safe coming to my show.  We can't have that happen."  The music continued but so did the drinking.

Jamestown Revival

Openers Jamestown Revival, were a good match to Ryan Bingham with their Austin, Texas sound.   Lead by childhood friends Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance. One of the highlights was their Eddie Rabbit cover "Driving My Life Away." They tried to slow things down during their song "Medicine" about their troubled friends.  But it was interrupted by the already drunk knuckleheads.

As I was leaving the venue after the long evening with obliterated idiots, I saw a sea of Pabst Blue Ribbon Cans and empty cups.  I asked one of the security guys if he thought the show was out of hand.  He said "tonight was a fun crowd.  Now, the Jam Bands are trouble because they are drunk and on drugs."

The aftermath