Sep 234 min read

Everclear with special guests pack the Gothic Theater in Englewood Colorado September 22nd, 2024

I greatly appreciate it when I am asked by a band's pr people to cover a show for them, especially when it’s a band I have covered before and enjoy. Add to that, it was at one of my favorite venues to cover shows at, the Gothic Theater. Arriving at the venue it was no surprise to see the line of fans stretching down the block and more coming from all directions. I was not familiar with the two opening bands and I did not do my usual by checking them out before the show. I thought, maybe I’ll be surprised, and was I!

Guitarist, lead vocalist, and founding member Jimi Haha made his way on stage with his guitar and was getting settled in as the other members followed him out doing the same. They are known as Jimmie's Chicken Shack, a rock band from Annapolis, Maryland. They started their set with, “Dropping Anchor” from their 1997 album, Pushing the Salmanilla Envelope, and the fun began. Jimi greeted everyone with, “Welcome to our encore”! The energy level rose in a hurry as the band members would move about and interact with each other and the crowd. Between songs Jimi would talk with the crowd and at one point as he was quietly making an adjustment on his guitar he said, “I’m tuning my guitar” and laughter and cheering came from the crowd. Their music has been described as Rock, Alternative rock, Post-grunge, Funk metal, and Funk rock. With my ears I would add Rockin Blues. As their set was winding down, before the last song Jimi asked the lighting guys which he appreciated, to bring up the house lights and then asked the crowd to turn their backs to the stage and applaud them. It was quite the sight to see. They finished their set with “High” and taking their bows the crowd roared showing their appreciation for a great show.

Jimmie's Chicken Shack members:

Jimi Haha

Island Styles

Christian Valiente

Jerome Maffeo

Matt Jones

Setlist:

Dropping Anchor

Seconds Slip

Lazy Boy Dash

Sunsets For Sale / Retrieving Stars

Simple Concept

Do Right

High

Next up was Marcy Playground, a three piece Alternative/Indie band from Minneapolis, Minn. Guitar and lead vocalist John "Woz" Wozniak along with Dylan Keefe, bassist and backing vocalist created Marcy Playground in 1994 and in 1995 they signed to Capitol Records. The band opened their set with Poppies from the 1997 self-titled album. The band moved through their set at a pretty good pace with “Rock and Roll Heroes”, “Special” all the while bassist Keefe was very animated throughout the night. The crowd was into the music as I would see people rockin out in tight quarters with such a packed house. When fans want to move, just give them a few inches, they will do their thing. Though Marcy Playground's sound was a little different, that did not slow down the energy pouring out from the stage and the crowd.

When the band played their big hit, “Sex and Candy” the crowd was singing along and moving along with the band. Finishing the set with, “Sex and Candy” the threesome thanked the crowd and they poured it back to them.

Marcy Playground members:

John "Woz" Wozniak – guitar, lead vocals (1996–present)

Dylan Keefe – bass, backing vocals (1996–present)

Shlomi Lavie – drums, backing vocals (2009–present)

Setlist:

Poppies

Pigeon Farm

Rock and Roll Heroes

Special

Saint Joe on the School Bus

Rebel Sodville

Good Times

Bye Bye

Wave Motion Gun

Punk Rock Superstar

Sex and Candy

As the stage was being turned over for Everclear, I got to thinking about the 2 bands I did not check out before the show. They were 2 very pleasant surprises! I might have to do this more often.

The lights dropped and the crowd roared as Art Alexakis headed to the mic at the front of the stage with his band mates of Everclear following right behind. Taking the mic Art yells out, “Denver we are so happy to be back”, with that the band started their set going back to 1997 with “So Much for the Afterglow” from the album of the same name. The venue was electric with the crowd cheering and singing and the animation from the band was in full swing. The crowd of young and old were lost in the music and the stage presence of the band. There were 3 of us covering the show from the pit and we moved about in a tight pit with smoothness and courtesy for each other. That makes for a great time because watching and following the Everclear members move a round stage was a journey of its own.

Art again would talk with the crowd asking, “how many of you were here last year”? A deafening roar came back from the crowd. Everclear went back and forth through time with songs, “Unemployed Boyfriend” from 2000,

“Heroin Girl” from 1995 and “I Will Buy You a New Life” from 1997. Bassist and backing vocalist Freddy Herrera seems to be in a world of his own as he moves about raising up his bass and meeting in the middle with Art and guitarist Dave French. Sitting back and watching the show, the energy between the band and the audience was amazing to watch as they would interact with their fans.

Everclear finished their evening with “Brown Eyed Girl” and “Santa Monica”. The appreciation from the crowd and the band flowed back and forth for a great show.

There are still 23 more drops on the Everclear tour, I highly recommend that you catch this tour. The bands were outstanding, you will not be disappointed!

Everclear members:

Art Alexakis – lead vocals, guitar (1992–present)

Dave French – guitar, backing vocals (2003–2009, 2009–present)

Freddy Herrera – bass guitar, backing vocals (2009–present)

Brian Nolan – drums (2018–present)

Setlist:

So Much for the Afterglow

Everything to Everyone

Unemployed Boyfriend 2000

Heroin Girl 1995

You Make Me Feel Like a Whore

Otis Redding 2000