Dance Party Time Machine at Cervantes' [Review]
Stacked lineup includes Tom Hamilton, Marc Brownstein, Aron Magner, Jeremy Salken and Eddie Roberts
By Matt Bryant
March 28, 2017
This past Saturday night (March 25, 2017) was another awesome example of the high caliber music we as Coloradans have grown to anticipate as a “normal thing” on any random weekend night at Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom.
As an avid live music fan and someone who holds the bar very high for what I expect out of a show these days, talent buyer Scott Morrill and his production crew (and every other person associated with that venue, for that matter) humble me and truly bring the house every single show. I love that venue and pretty much everything associated with it. Saturday was no different.
I felt lucky to see Saturday’s show despite missing out on what was supposed to be a very hard hitting Electron run with a very similar lineup earlier in the week. I very much enjoy listening & watching Eddie Roberts (New Mastersounds) bust out some serious funk riffs and have been a Big Gigantic fan since 2006 or so. This was a lineup that I was really able to get behind.
As much as I hear from my close friends (editor of this publication included) that they are tired of hearing “cover bands,” I myself get a bit of a guilty pleasure out of it. But only when they’re redone in the artist’s own style and can take a bit of a new direction all by themselves. These guys CRUSHED the covers. There wasn’t a song that was performed which I would have gone back and switched or changed. Everything was done tastefully and (with as much crap as was put out in the 80’s) was a really quality setlist that had everyone singing out loud and getting down to.
The crowd may have been what made the night for me. They were in it to win it the whole way. I saw outfits and flare you’d only see on a good Halloween night in Vegas. It was excellent! Everyone was having a blast and really feeling the easy going vibe of the night. In what can sometimes be an over cramped and uncomfortable, oversold atmosphere, I found people making room and creating dance space for others where there really wasn’t much to begin with. I love seeing that at shows.
It should be noted, there was a truly awesome show going on next door (Cervantes' Other Side) featuring members of Dark Star Orchestra (doing a benefit concert) and my friends Eric Frank and Trevor Jones as that show’s supporting act, Trevor Jones Band. I was having a hard time deciding where I should be spending more of my time! Probably my biggest issue with that venue (Denver problems).
All and all, Cervantes' brought the heat once again. I am thrilled and looking forward to seeing what this summer schedule has in store for us. Until next time, crank up the music my friends. I’ll see you at the next show!