Camped out for the Wheel, Bad Weather California and Young Coyotes

For me, Friday night's show at the hi-dive embodied everything that I love about Denver's shimmering live music scene. With three heavy hitters on the bill from three different-yet-complementary genres, I just wanted to camp out forever, right in front of the hi-dive's humble stage. Any one of the bands playing that night -- The Wheel, Bad Weather California or Young Coyotes -- could have been the headliner, and the near-capacity crowd knew it.

Perhaps because the show was an 18-and-up -- or maybe because people are drawn to bands with feral canines in their names -- there were plenty of neophytes at the hi-dive on Friday night. During the Wheel's opening set, a young girl turned to me and asked, "Who is this guy?" I was delighted. This was followed by Chris Adolf's Bad Weather California, who played a riveting set, even though it was not one of the band's best nights. Finally, Young Coyotes took the stage and proved that all the hype about their infectious melodies and ecstatic, unison singing is justified. This was only my second time catching Adam Halferty and Zach Tipton, and I think everyone around me (other than the drunk dudes who were trying to start a fight) was as captivated by their inside-out pop songs and passionate performances as I was. Throughout the night, the mix was perfect, thanks to Xandy Whitesel's expert ears.

• Commentary