Everything old is new again along East 13th Avenue, so it makes sense that the hip, revitalized retail and entertainment stretch is bringing back one of its most popular DJ nights for a special holiday reunion.
Shag, the Brit-pop music night founded by Denver musician and writer Jason Heller and DJ Matthew Serban, enjoyed a revival last year at Beauty Bar — formerly the spot of original Shag host (and notorious Capitol Hill dance club) the Snake Pit. But neither Serban nor Heller participated in last year’s reunion, so this installment takes Shag back to its founding days.
“The big thing was Matthew moving back to Denver from New York, where he lived for eight years,” Heller said. “With him back here, it was just like this big nostalgia rush.When you have friends who are particular to one part of your life, you tend to psych each other up about it.”
Whether you’re an old-school fan of Quid, Shag’s predecessor, or just a devotee of such inexorably Brit-pop acts as Blur, Primal Scream, the Jam, Elastica, the Stone Roses, Supergrass, Suede and Oasis, you’ll also be treated to a set of ’60s soul music from Heller’s collection.
“That whole block (of 13th Avenue) has seen a renaissance,” Heller said. “Beauty Bar’s a little brighter, … a little more welcoming than the Snake Pit. And they have an actual DJ booth!”
9 p.m. today, 608 E. 13th Ave. Free. 720-542-8024 or .
John Wenzel
