"A SCENE HAS ARRIVED"

This was the club's quote on the backpage of their ad on Euphony magazine. For most rock/metal acts, getting weekend gigs were very difficult to get. Located at I-70 and Chambers at a independent hotel, the exterior look would had fooled us all that live music ever could exist. But what The Blitz Room had was a lion named Bill Terrell that was hell bent on creating a metal scene in Denver. For roughly 2 years between 1997-99, that happened. Some weekends drew better than others, and the venue had some flaws, but The Blitz Room was a stepping stone for Terrell to create an opportunity to get a coveted Saturday night at the Ogden Theater in Downtown Denver

"Is that cop playing the bass with Riot Act?"

Located near 104th and Huron in Northglenn, there lied Oil Can Harry's. Plenty of parking, great patio, even better back game room where alot of debauchery took place. The stage was nudged in a corner near the front enterance. The bar was had about 12 chairs, but all too often people would order drinks to the bartenders with their body leaning way too closely against patrons sitting at the bar. They never had a cover charge- which had a great appeal to people but there was a trade off. They didn't have any form of happy hour. The owners Chris and Cindy correctly believed that they would get the money that they would have gotten from a cover charge by patrons ordering more drinks- which was more profitable.

“I got rejected by the mayor of Georgetown, Colorado”

Located near Kipling and Highway 285 in the southwest part of town, Eck's Saloon could be argued for the most perfect setting for a rock club that had the best of all the world going for it whether you went to meet a friend for lunch on a monday afternoon, going by after work to enjoy happy hour, or having a hot date on a saturday night to watch the ever entertaining band Itis, which in my book was the most entertaining cover band ever that warranted owner Mike Bruno to pay them a pretty penny, but he was smart to do so. On occassion, they'd host national acts like Ra, Pretty Boy Floyd and Jackyl. Their soundman, "Brother" Rob Bangert was regarded as one of the finest at their craft, and when he talked- it was wise to listen to him. They had the cover circuit Wednesdays through Saturdays, with the stage available to original acts on Tuesdays. They were the only club in the circuit that served Tuaca chilled from the freezer, which when I imbibed during that time put a special place in my heart.

"Thanks for coming, by the way it's last call for the kitchen"

Located at Iliff and Chambers on the south side of "Saudi" Aurora, Iliff Park Saloon during the 90's and 2000's was a staple of the music scene. Ownership changed in the early 2000's when Mike Bruno took over, with him having control of both Iliff Park as well as Eck's. And Mike's first change was an improvement of the menu, which prior to that borderlined on low grade dog food. I'll also add that the club sandwich at Iliff Park could be considered the best in town, with the french fries the crispiest as well. Iliff's entertainment schedule was on par with Eck's- cover circuit Wednesday through Saturday with originals on Tuesdays. Iliff also did new band night on Mondays, where bands trying to cut into the cover circuit like Reactor paid their dues. In terms of female clientele, Iliff Park had few rivals, and when it was Wish Doctor week, hooking up was a strong possibility. One particular tuesday when Depth Charge played, the bartender Cha-Chi muttered to me as I was on the stage. I nodded my head, I was a bartender too- we had an understanding. I got on the mic, "Thanks for coming, by the way it's last call for the kitchen". I'm also not the only guy who got lucky in the parking lot.

"NO TABS!"

Near 75th and Broadway, a "NO TABS" sign was behind the bar at the greatest dive bar/venue Denver could had possibly offer, as all the tables and chairs were 20 years old at the least, all the bar stools had dents, chips, etc. The bar operated on a cash only basis. The stage wasn't too small, and the acoustics were better than most. They had the cover circuit thursday through saturday, with originals on Wednesdays. But there was not a more open minded venue owner than Ron. He cared about making money, and if a new band could do that he wasn't afraid to try them. He was also one owner who let original acts open on thursday nights before the cover band got on. In which, most cover bands were fine with because it was one less set they had to play and Ron wasn't cutting their pay.

"The biggest disappointment EVER"

Now a medical care building, and located not too far from the newly remodeled Casa Bonita lied on the other side of West Colfax a bar/club called Rock and Jock. As a 20 year veteran of the bar/entertainment business- to me this was a brilliant concept.

Whiskey Bill's at this point wouldn't even give original bands the time of day, much less even a monday night. However, the owners of Rock and Jock had heard of the success of The Blitz Room, so they decided to try both circuits. I got involved as soon as I possibly could with me having a motive to have orignal all ages shows there on Sundays.

The concept made total sense. Entering this place, it had all the feel of a sports bar, complete with a kitchen. Downstairs lied a music room that could fit about 100 people or so. My eyes were in awe of this place's potential, and I wasted no time seeking out the owners- telling them if they play their cards right, they could knock Whiskey Bill's out of business, which wasn't too far from them.

But- after a promising start, the owner who was keeping things in line was absent, with me being told "He's on a leave of absence", with those remaining to run the place- it was spotty at the best. And I saw first hand one bartender pour cheap kentucky tavern bourbon into an empty Jack Daniels bottle. That to me showed the beginning of the end of Rock and Jock.

"Tuff Shed with Gargoyles"

At 112th and Irma sandwiched between Northglenn and Thornton, my friend Reggie described House Of Rock as a Tuff Shed with Gargoyles. He wasn't necessarily exaggerating. It was a very small building with a nice back patio area. The stage was tiny, but the sound was always good. They poured cocktails using the berg system- which is a machine that measures what's being poured out. As a bartender, this system was insulting to use and I flat out refused to order one from this place. I did however, enjoy their draft beer. The only food they served was personal sized Tombstone pizzas that they would bake in a tiny oven, and more than once I indulged because my stomach growled. What made HOR special is that they chose to go for a mostly originals entertainment schedule, which attracted many bands of all sorts of diffrent draws, and for a period of time did all ages shows on Sundays.

“Avs game on the left of me and hookers on the right, so here I am, stuck in the middle with John Bollack”

I had only 2 reasons to go on East Colfax east of Quebec. This joint and dates at The Mon Chalet.

"Playing To Crickets"

The venerable Buffalo Rose, located on Washington street in downtown Golden near the Coors Brewery is the westernmost club in the circuit. In theory when it comes to quality- the BR's stage, backstage dressing room, size and capacity to hold several hundred people is as good as it could get. They hosted national acts like Saigon Kick, Testament, Grand Funk Railroad to name a few. But in terms of drawing people for local shows? We hear from those who would know.

“Sorry Ty, I didn’t keep track of it!”

Located near the defunct Cooper movie theater in Littleton, lied a club called The Zone that went through multiple ownerships over the years. But in 1998, a guy named John got word about some of the success The Blitz Room had with original acts on the weekends and in 1998- the forementioned circuit started it's way there. John's format in theory on how bands got paid made sense. He issued tickets to each band and would pay them on how many got turned in that night. The problem was, he didn't always consistently give bands diffrent colored tickets, and that caused problems. And along with that was inconsistent communication on when which band would play. John's errors were two things I had to clean up on a band's behalf, and I made one particular band's shit list holding my ground, and that took 2 years to rebuild an instantly burned bridge. All that said, a certain waitress in which a friend who will keep secret for now worked there, and my friend said "Dude, she is stacked!".

"Man, the bartender looks just like Goldberg!"

Located near the corner of West Colfax just a nudge east of Wadsworth Boulevard in Lakewood- lied the club prior to 2003- was a cover circuit club only. For the bands, their schedule consisted of Tuesday through Saturday night. They had a pretty consistent crowd, but in 2003 a diffrent ownership group took over that included Bill Terrell, who made the switch to original/national acts, that not all the long time goers of the club agreed with. But this place created alot of memories and not just myself. However, after Bill took over I went there one night to catch some bands, and en route to the bar went to my friend "Man, the bartender looks just like Goldberg!". His name was actually Warren, and he was a super cool guy. He eventually got married to a girl named Jen who worked there with him. They had a show at the club to where they asked their favorite bands to play. Warren picked me and Depth Charge, and I was insanely flattered. Jen picked This Side Up, a very talented group which confirmed her good taste. Many personalities from both sets of the circuit spent good time there, and here's what they have to say.

The greatest dive of Denver with the greatest soundman Jeff Johnson who had a brilliant note taped to his soundbooth:

"I AM NOT INTRESTED IN YOUR SUGGESTIONS, COMMENTS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THE SOUND, PLEASE GO AWAY! THANK YOU"

Coming October 2025

Coming October 2025

Coming October 2025

Coming October 2025

Coming January 2026