On Jan. 12, 2011, the day after ’s first inauguration concert, “Will Hick be able to maintain his rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle as the guv? Keep reading Reverb to find out.”
Well, four years later, he did and we did. And itap not over yet.
On Tuesday Hickenlooper will celebrate his inauguration for his second term as governor with another star-studded rock concert at the Ogden Theatre. This time he’ll be throwing down with the Lumineers, String Cheese Incident, Big Head Todd and the Monsters and Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. Itap a wise lineup — one that gives a great example of some of the state’s finest musicians.
But, The Loop doesn’t just kick off his terms with huge shows. He keeps the music going year-round, showing up at festivals, at concerts, hanging with musicians and even hopping on stage at Red Rocks.
In honor of his second term, we’ve put together a timeline of Hickenlooper’s greatest music moments. And, will Hick be able to maintain his rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle as a second-term guv? Keep reading Reverb to find out…
Jan. 11, 2011: Hickenlooper’s first inauguration concert with DeVotchKa and OneRepublic.
“Packing the venue were liberal legislators, mayoral candidates and paunchy, would-be crowd surfers. Two fun seekers tried their luck at a stage dive –- both failed miserably, but chuckled their way back into the audience.”
May 26, 2011: Missing John Doe. Hickenlooper is also a huge John Doe fan. And when The Loop wasn’t in the audience for this show Doe called him out. (But it turns out Hick turned up to the Lion’s Lair too late for the show.)
Before railing into “Big Moon,” Doe commented on the conspicuous absence of the new governor, John Hickenlooper (a regular at past X shows) by speculating that, “Maybe the governor has a crush on Billy Zoom, and thatap why he’s always at the X shows, but he’s not here,” grinning widely.
July 9, 2011: Always an Avetts fan. Hickenlooper introduces the Avett Brothers’ first-ever Red Rocks Amphitheatre show.
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper introduced the band to the capacity crowd as “one of the best rock ’n’ roll bands on Earth,” and they returned the favor, starting things off with “Head Full of Doubt, Road Full of Promise.”
Nov. 20, 2011: Arty party time. Hickenlooper takes in a few DeVotchKa tunes at the opening party for the Clyfford Still Museum.
When frontman Nick Urata half-drunkenly took the stage, wine bottle in hand, Governor John Hickenlooper walked up to catch a few tunes and the Colorado pride was tangible.
Dec. 22, 2011: He makes an appearance at the first-ever Denver Acoustic Christmas with OneRepublic.
OneRepublic brought all the nightap performers back onto the stage for a finale of “Jingle Bells” (which nobody knew the lyrics to) that included a cameo from Governor John Hickenlooper and one final gesture from Tedder. And yes, he Tebowed.
May 30, 2012: Shakin’ it with the Shins. Kicking off his 2012 Red Rocks season, Hick caught the Shins concert at the legendary mountain amphitheater.
New summer kicks were getting their first taste of the crimson dirt, high school grads were reveling in their newfound freedom and Governor John Hickenlooper was rocking a radical hoodie 10 rows back from center stage. Some sort of ribbon-cutting wouldn’t have felt out of place.
July 2012: When fires ravaged Colorado, KBCO auctioned off tickets to the Avetts show that included a meet and greet with the band and their biggest fan, Gov. John Hickenlooper.
The donations went a step further when a fireman’s boot was passed around the venue both nights — raising $50,000 for the relief efforts.
Oct. 2, 2013: DebateFest 2012. Hickenlooper takes the stage with the Lumineers and Nathaniel Rateliff during the concert before the first 2013 presidential debate at University of Denver.
Governor Hickenlooper boasted that the whole world’s eyes were on Denver, and he seemed to relish comparing the city’s music scene to a cross between Austin, Nashville and Memphis before Denver (and Hick) favorite Nathaniel Rateliff took the stage.
Dec. 21, 2012: Denver acoustic Christmas round two. Once again, Hick is spreading Christmas cheer with his buddies OneRepublic.
The guest list at the Ogden read like a who’s who of Colorado. Scattered throughout the sold-out venue were popular radio personalities, record label execs and even Gov. John Hickenlooper — who contributed to the founding of the Denver Acoustic Christmas.
April 22, 2013: Did Hick love Snake Rattle Rattle Snake a little too much?
Without doubt, Snake Rattle Rattle Snake is a Colorado treasure. Rumor has it Governor Hickenlooper’s staff has banned the darkwave band’s album “Sineater” from the office because Hick has played it thin.
April 29, 2013: Hickenlooper reacts to the death of legendary concert promoter Barry Fey.
“Reading the news that he’d died, it was like, ‘He can’t die’,” Hickenlooper said. “He’s a part of the firmament. He’s part of the social architecture of Colorado. He is the foundation for the musical architecture of Colorado.”
July 21, 2013: During the Denver Post’s Underground Music Showcase, a relaxed and cheerful Hickenlooper took the stage to introduce Nathaniel Rateliff’s Born in the Flood. (watch at the five hour and seven minute mark below. And if you’d like, watch the whole third day of the UMS main stage).
From the main stage, the Loop gushed about his love of Nathaniel Rateliff (even predicting that the singer-songwriter will become “one of the biggest musicians in this country”), the number of venues in Denver, the music community and drew more comparisons between The UMS and SXSW.
Oct. 25, 2013: True story: I once watched a Katy Perry concert at 7 a.m. with Gov. John Hickenlooper in a high school gym. Hick enjoyed himself. He made a reference to the Beatles. He was wearing a Katy Perry t-shirt. It was magical.
“I couldn’t be more proud. Itap as if they’re my own children,” Hickenlooper said. “I think itap a jolt of energy for the community. It shows what a great principal they have and what student leadership does.”
His Twitter account tweeted a photo of him wearing a “Roar” T-shirt. “Itap a little like when I was a kid and the Beatles first came to the United States,” he said.
Oct. 27, 2013: More charity concerts. Hickenlooper raises money for Colorado flood victims with Dave Matthews, the Fray, the Lumineers, Big Head Todd and the Monsters and DeVotchKa.
“I just met Dave Matthews back stage and I told him I wanted to name a mountain after him. He said no. So I told him I would name a tree instead. He said maybe, but only if it was a small tree. But with all these artists, I’m going to have to name an entire forest,” Hickenlooper said.
Dec. 20, 2013: Acoustic Christmas round three. Hickenlooper makes his third appearance at Denver Acoustic Christmas with OneRepublic.
“The governor is here,” Ryan Tedder said. “A round of peppermint schnapps on the governor!”
July 16, 2014: Pickin’ with Old Crow Medicine Show. Hickenlooper hops on stage at Red Rocks Amphitheatre to perform (sing and play banjo) with Old Crow Medicine Show.
On the song’s second verse, Hickenlooper even takes the microphone himself to sing, “You were standin’ in the kitchen in that morning gown.”
Aug. 14, 2014: Back with his buddy Ryan Tedder, Hickenlooper films a campaign video of the OneRepublic frontman teaching him to play “Counting Stars.”
“Thatap technically not a note,” Tedder says while the two sit around with acoustic guitars. “What you just sang actually doesn’t exist.”
Aug. 15, 2014: Hick praises Planet Bluegrass for recovering from the devastating floods a year prior in Lyons.
“I’m here to say how important Planet Bluegrass and Lyons are to Colorado,” shouted Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper before introducing Imelda May at the Folks Festival on Saturday evening.
Nov. 28, 2014: Hickenlooper reacts to the death of jazz legend Joe Bonner.
“He was, without question, the most talented piano player I’ve ever heard. I’d give him a CD and he’d come back the next day and play the whole thing. He had perfect pitch and perfect retention,” Hickenlooper said.
Jan. 13, 2015: Inauguration concert round two. Hickenlooper celebrates with the Lumineers, String Cheese Incident, Big Head Todd and the Monsters and Nathaniel Rateliff at the Ogden. Read about it after the show.
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