OK, Denver, let’s start with this mantra: “I’m good enough. I’m smart enough. And gosh darn it …”
Some Denverites, fans and critics alike, fall all over themselves when a national blog (a la Pitchfork Media) actually writes about a Denver band. Whether a Colorado group is mentioned in passing or celebrated extensively with a feature or interview, some in our fair, mid-sized burg polish their bugles and play them loudly from the top of the state capitol — as if Denver and Colorado had never produced buzz-worthy music before.
Case in point: , a lovely, whimsical group that is good enough, smart enough and well-liked enough to get national press in the last few months. Tennis, headlining a great bill at the Larimer Lounge tonight, has seen love from everybody — seriously, spanning a canyon of media that includes both Pitchfork and Etsy. Much has been written about Tennis having seemingly arrived out of nowhere, and it really is a wonderful story to be told and celebrated.
from on .
But Denver, get over your small-minded cow-town past. You’re producing great bands at a never-before-seen (in these here parts) clip, and there’s no reason to be surprised when Tennis — or or or or countless others — are written up in national online (and , gasp!) media.
These bands deserve it.
And Denver, you deserve it.
You have bands out in the big leagues doing just fine — Issac Slade, Ryan Tedder and Nat Motte are happily rooted in Colorado and happily living the lives of platinum-selling rock stars. And now that your post-Apples in Stereo indie community is finding its feet and flourishing, we’ll learn together that there is a way to celebrate the talents within your city limits without coming off like a small-town hick.
Tennis and Gauntlet Hair play the Larimer Lounge tonight, and instead of blogging about other blogs fawning over Colorado musicians, head out to hear them actually play. (Much of Reverb’s staff will be in attendance, .) Additionally on the bill: and . (We love Vitamins — a band that enjoys the talents of , just so we’re above board here — and we’re psyched to know Flashlights.) Tickets, $8-$10, are available .
Maybe we’ll see you there?
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Ricardo Baca is the founder and co-editor of and an award-winning critic and journalist at The Denver Post.
