The call came last week as we were barbecuing at Matty’s house. “Baca,” the voice shouted. “We’ll be in Denver tonight. Some (expletive) has gone down. We’ll tell you later.”
My friends The Giraffes, one of the most hazardous bands in rock ‘n’ roll, were coming to town earlier than expected. Singer Aaron Lazar was the mystery man on the phone, and my friend from Brooklyn sounded road-weary. It was Monday, and I was expecting them Tuesday, since they were set to open for the Eagles of Death Metal at the Bluebird that night. But here they were in Colby, Kan., and speeding toward the Colorado border … and so I told them to call when they got close.
After the Walkmen show at the Gothic that night, Matty, Nichole, Mark, Jessica and I hit 3 Kings Tavern for Needles and Pins, Fil and Tim’s discerning Monday-night DJ outing. The Giraffes met us there and looked grizzled, so I set up storytelling hour with PBRs and cheap whiskey shots all the way around.
Turns out their van broke down in Minnesota, and they left bassist John Rosenthal with the van as they continued on the Eagles of Death Metal tour sans their fourth.
“So that’s about it,” Lazar said, post-whiskey shot. His bandmates, guitarist Damien Paris and drummer Drew Totolos, were across the street at Kitty’s. “But hey, thanks for having us. I like this bar a lot.”
It’s tough not to like 3 Kings. The bar is a reunion for punk and music types from Denver’s past and present, and that makes sense, given its owners’ histories in local music. Johnny Cash and Wesley Willis are all over the jukebox – as is a ton of local music.
The band milled around the bar, paying close attention to the many velvet paintings and talking with locals. At closing, we piled into their rental minivan and headed to my house, which was their house for the next two nights. Their show the following night was a night of joy and passion and whiskey and ice-throwing. It’s something that needs to be lived to be believed, and you’ll have another chance when the band swings back through Denver on June 23 at the Larimer Lounge.
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Three Kings Tavern
60 S. Broadway; 303-777-7352
Funky: It’s impossible not to love South Broadway, which is one of the most interesting neighborhoods in Denver.
Skunky: Beware the Reverend and his mighty pour!
