Music and Venues continued from page 98 1215 20TH ST. DENVER, CO FRI APR 8 SAT APR 9 13 WED APR 15 DRUM&BASS/NEO SOUL FRI APR 16 SATI APR 20 WED APR 21 THU APR 22 FRI APR 23 SAT APR 28 THU APR 30 SAT APR TOM HAGERMAN TRIO VIOLIN PLAYER FROM DEVOTCHKA GRASS BLUEGRASS PARTY FT. MEMBERS OF LEFTOVER SALMON ANDY THORN & BURING PICKIN’ ON THE DEAD W/ TYLER GRANT, MICHAEL KIRKPATRICK, & ACE ENGFER MIDNIGHT SNACK FT. CASEY RUSSELL, ISAAC TEEL, TAYLOR FREDERICK, & DAN AFRICANO HYPE DANCE PARTY 90’S DANCE PARTY DRAG SHOW 90’S DANCE PARTY NEOMA W main room, as well as revelers that bubble up from the caverns of Milk Bar below. Best EDM Club The Black Box 314 East 13th Avenue blackboxdenver.co The Black Box boasts a well-curated mix of popular and underground talent, fed through one of the best sound systems in the city. Bass music might be its bread and butter, but that doesn’t mean this club sleeps on other genres. Within the venue’s walls, music seekers can hear styles ranging from main-stage EDM to a more refi ned palate of house, leftfi eld and drum-and- bass. While its mutant Basscouch Sound system is often touted as one of the best in the state, the Black Box’s wooden fl oors are the real game-changer, allowing for a luxurious dance experience that doesn’t wear on you physically, like concrete does. Best DJ Mr. Frick 102 CHECK WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO PURCHASE TICKETS AT OPHELIASDENVER.COM soundcloud.com/mrfrick Mr. Frick exploded out of the pandemic. Using the shutdown downtime to ramp spanning many genres, but it takes the prize for welcoming local hip-hop stars and national acts alike. The northwest Denver spot, located in the corner of a strip mall, has brought underground fa- vorites such as Westside Boogie, Kirko Bangz and Gangsta Boo (coming in July) to Denver’s long-ignored hip-hop fans. But we love the Venue for giving some of Colorado’s best rappers a stage to rock, including DNA Picasso, Forty $even and Rev. da IV. Keep an eye out for open mics and other talent showcases, where you just might fi nd your new favorite MC. Best Jazz Club Nocturne 1330 27th Street 303-295-3333 nocturnejazz.com When Scott and Nicole Mattson opened Nocturne in 2015, they wanted to create a space that made jazz more accessible while also offering a quality aesthetic experience and elevated dining options. With live music fi ve nights a week, you can enjoy the best of local jazz talent (as well as nationally MAGIC GIANT ROCK GOOD MORNING’S RETURN TO NORTH AMERICA! INDIE ROCK FROM AUSTRALIA MNGSGN R&B/DANCE/ELECTRONIC LTJ BUKEM relies on its spontaneity, you can always ex- pect to meet good people on the fl oor. Best Club Theme Night TheUnderground Milk Bar/Bar Standard 1037 Broadway coclubs.com/milk For eight years, TheUnderground has fi lled Milk Bar every Thursday night, bringing in quality local DJs and various touring acts that focus on forward-thinking dance music and keep fans expecting the unexpected. TheUnderground saw some changes dur- ing the pandemic, recently moving into the Red Room that connects Milk Bar to Bar Standard — but the move has only upped the ante, as dancers now include the migrating crowds that come down from Bar Standard’s up his original productions, he pre- miered two EPs of house- and techno- infl uenced booty breaks. Since then, he’s played regular gigs across the city, with shows at Meow Wolf, Club Vinyl and, most recently, a headlining slot at Bar Standard during its STEAM event, which normally highlights international tour- ing headliners. Frick’s sound is uncom- promising, especially for a city that has a strict love affair with bass music and tech-house. Best Hip-Hop Club The Venue 1451 Cortez Street 303-428-3339 thevenuedenver.com Let’s be clear: Denver is sorely lacking in bars and venues that are even hip- hop-friendly, let alone dedicated hip- hop clubs. The Venue hosts musical acts continued on page 104 APRIL 7-13, 2022 WESTWORD | BACKBEAT | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | westword.com GETTY IMAGES
