Downtown clubs are making more room for mainstream hip-hop nights, with new events drawing huge crowds. Lotus nightclub (1701 Wynkoop St., 303-718-6666) launched its new regular hip-hop night, “Cranberry’s,” on April 22.
The inaugural event brought more than 1,000 partyers into the club, leaving the previous “Shift Fridays” theme nights in the dust. Tonight, mix-tape hotshot and hip-hop producer DJ Tony Touch hits the decks.
Over at Vinyl, (1082 Broadway, 303-860-8469) Thursdays are now officially “Reggae on the Roof,” with reggae, classic hip-hop and R&B mixed in. It looks to be a major summer hot spot. Alvin LaCabe of event promoter 3 Deep Productions says they have live bands and big-name reggae artists lined up for the warmer months, with DJ Chief Rocka holding down a residence weekly.
“Remember when Jimmy’s was really good and Yardie Lounge was a staple?” LaCabe asked. “Hopefully we can bring some of those elements back and make it sexier.”
Dark string theory
It must be hard to play a cello in a petticoat. The “cello rock” band Rasputina claims to have formed in 1891, and judging by their ever-present Victorian garb, it’s almost believable. The creepy-cool trio just released “A Radical Recital,” a live CD recorded last Halloween which couldn’t be a more fitting way to capture the band’s dark, eerie sound and appears tonight at the Gothic Theatre. Break out your best vintage ensemble (think Goth or Victorian) and hit the show early to score a limited-edition copy of “21st Century Transylvanian Concubine,” a live single from Halloween that was intentionally left off the new album as a fans-only freebie.
Rasputina, with the Hazard County Girls, today at the Gothic Theatre, all ages, $15, 8 p.m., Ticketweb.
Jammy jam
I’ll admit I like to lounge around in my jammies sometimes. I’ve even been known to dash out the front door to grab the paper on occasion. But wearing my pajamas in public, at a nightclub? That’s just not my thing.
For those less inhibited, La Boheme Gentlemens’ Club (1443 Stout St., 303-820-3213) is hosting a Pajama Jammy Jam on Thursday.
“Bare what you dare” is the theme for the night. With pillow fights, satin sheets, and dancers and staff wearing and baring Victoria’s Secret negligees, there will be plenty of eye candy. But the crowd gets into this event as well, with many customers showing up in their own sleepwear. “More people dress up for this party than any of the other ones we throw,” said Lance Migliaccio the club’s marketing manager.
Ladies should feel free to join the slumber party, since La Boheme tends to attract more female customers than the average strip joint, especially during special events like this. “We get a wide range across the board, with women, couples and men, because our environment is more a mix of a night club and a gentlemen’s club,” Migliaccio said.
Hot or not?
A slew of local bands are signed up for a chance to join the Zippo Hot Tour, a national 10-city tour scheduled for November. It’s essentially a marketing ploy for Zippo lighters, where fans can flick a virtual flame online by voting for their favorite bands through June 30. You decide whether each band is “hot or not,” and the top Denver bands will compete live onstage in September. The local winner goes up against the winners from each of the 10 participating cities including Austin, Phoenix, Memphis and other midsize markets leading up to the national tour.
You can listen online to decide if each band is hot, and vote daily; Denver participants include Mudcrawl, Battery Park, Ion, Boondok Saints and more than 20 other local bands. Hit www.zippohottour.com to light a fire under your fave.
Kat Valentine writes about nightlife Fridays in 7Days. Reach her at kat@kingproduction.com or call 303-820-1568.
