MUSIC PLAYLIS T Rhythm and Booze BY JON SOLOMON In a 2020 article for a series about “cities where live music has exploded,” Rolling Stone turned the spotlight on Denver, pro- claiming that our city is “in the midst of a huge live-music boom.” Some would argue that our scene has been that way for years — and not only does Denver have its share of venues dedicated to live music, but there are a number of bars and restaurants around town that host live music, as well. Here are our picks for the ten best: Appaloosa Grill 535 16th Street Mall Appaloosa Grill has been a staple on the 16th Street Mall for the past two decades, but it’s also been one of the few spots in downtown Denver to offer live music every night of the week. These days, a good part of the bar and restaurant’s live-music program is dedicated to weekly residencies, including rock band the Westway Bells on Mondays, jazz/hip- hop act Brant Williams & Many Colors on Tuesdays, jazz trumpeter Gabe Mervine on Wednesdays and power trio Mixed Apes on Sundays, with a variety of acts on Fridays and Saturdays. There is usually no cover charge. Goosetown Tavern 3242 East Colfax Avenue For many years, the Goo- setown Tavern was just a great neighborhood hang, but when Chris Swank (who owns the Bluebird Theater across the street and Mezcal next door) bought it from the Wyn- koop Group in 2014, he had a new stage built and new sound and light sys- tems installed. Since then, live music has become much more of a focus, from rock and punk acts to weekly karaoke and open-mic nights. Cover charges vary. Herb’s 2057 Larimer Street 26 Located a block east of Coors Field, Herb’s has long been a hot spot for jazz (it’s owned by jazz saxophonist Laura Newman, who leads Alive on Arrival) and other genres such as rock, blues and funk. Jazz pianist and organist Glad Girshevich holds court on Mondays, trumpeter Gabe Mervine on Tuesdays, Diana Castro with a funk jam on Wednesdays, bassist Dave Randon on Thursdays, and a mix of acts on the weekends. There is usually no cover charge. Lincoln’s Roadhouse 1201 South Pearl Street Lincoln’s Roadhouse is known for its Cajun grub, but on the weekends, live bands play in a small space next to the front door. Lincoln’s is big on the blues (Westword has named it Best Blues Club three times), and it brings in some of the area’s fi nest blues acts, such as Johnny O and Michael Horn- buckle, along with the occa- sional national act, and local rock and rockabilly bands. There’s no cover charge. Lion’s Lair 2022 East Colfax Avenue Decades before it became the punk and rock haven it is today, the Lion’s Lair was a jazz club where legends like Billie Holi- day and Dexter Gordon once played. It’s also got one of the oldest liquor licenses in Denver. While the storied dive bar is perfect for downing a beer or four, you can also see local bands there. Every so often, the Lair hosts big names in punk, such as John Doe or Mike Watt, and former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra occasionally puts on his own DJ dance party. Appaloosa Grill offers live music on the 16th Street Mall. opened as an underground bar with the intimate feel of a log cabin. Since then, the bar’s weekly jazz nights have cultivated a certain reputation for nurturing up-and- coming musicians: For starters, the Lum- ineers played at the Meadowlark’s open-mic nights long before headlining arenas around the globe, and Nathaniel Rateliff and the Wheel played intimate sets there back in the well as DJs spinning at weekend brunches. Megan Rice hosts singer-songwriter open-mic nights twice a month. Cover varies. Herb’s hosts live music most nights of the week; Specifi c Ocean performing live at the Meadowlark. Number Thirty Eight 3560 Chestnut Place Number Thirty Eight, which opened in August 2020, has a taproom with rotating brews and serves food, but the spot’s most impressive element might be its massive outdoor patio area that boasts a huge stage. Number Thirty Eight hosts live music out- doors most Thursdays through Sundays, and the majority of shows are free. The Meadowlark 2701 Larimer Street Nearly sixteen years ago, the Meadowlark day. These days, you can catch live bands and DJs on the weekends on the outdoor patio stage. Cover charge varies. Roxy on Broadway 554 South Broadway Roxy on Broadway opened in August 2019 and was starting to hit its stride before the pan- demic shut down bars, restaurants and music venues. But owner Paula Vrakas, who also owns a Roxy in California, was persistent and kept the spot going; at one point, she had musi- cians play from the patio to the patrons inside. There’s live music most nights of the week, as Wash Park Grille 1096 South Gaylord Street Although best known as a restaurant and bar, Wash Park Grille has long hosted live music, both bands and solo artists. There’s live music Thursdays through Sat- urdays starting at 8 p.m., with local jam musicians such as Eric Martinez and Bill McKay. According to the restaurant’s website, reservations are recom- mended for the lounge because of limited seat- ing capacity, but the music can still be heard from the west patio, street seating and dining room. While there’s no cover, a $10 tip for the musicians is highly recommended. Zio Romolo’s Alley Bar 2400 West 32nd Avenue The folks behind Tony P’s Pizzeria (Tony Pasquini and his mother, Judy) also operate the adjacent Zio Romolo’s Alley Bar. Once a working alleyway, Zio Romolo’s is decked out in Art Deco style, with antiques from the 1930s and ’40s, including a cash register and matchbook dispenser. The intimate spot also hosts live music most Friday and Saturday nights, with no cover charge. Email the author at [email protected]. DECEMBER 2-8, 2021 WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | LETTERS | CONTENTS | westword.com JUSTIN CRIADO DANIELLE LIRETTE BRANDON JOHNSON
