Free Pizza and Pot: Sour Magic Puts on South Broadway Block Party

Sour Magic is riding high this 4/20 weekend.

Not only is the Denver psych group still celebrating its sophomore album — a concept record, The Hive, released last summer — but the crew picked up an unexpected sponsorship recently, when the local dispensary Good Chemistry caught a set and offered to support the band’s green needs.

“They’ll pop into one of our shows every few months and give us an ounce, and we always guestlist them for our shows,” says bassist Drew Morse.

The budding collab may even result in a Sour Magic strain sooner than later.

“It would be a hybrid because sometimes we feel a little low and sometimes we feel a little uppity with our music styles,” says vocalist-guitarist Eliseo Salinas.

“It would have to be like a Sour Diesel mixed with something with ‘Magic’ in it. It should be pretty easy to figure out,” Morse continues. “We’ll never smoke anything again. That will be the only strain for us.

“We always had it as a dream to have a weed strain or a beer,” he says. “Once we had the band name, we were like, ‘It really is perfect for a sour beer or a weed strain.’”

So keep an eye out for that. But in the meantime, Sour Magic and Good Chemistry are teaming up on a free 4/20 event, or pre-bake, if you will, on Sunday, April 19. The first fifty attendees who arrive at noon get a free eighth of flower and a slice of pizza, courtesy of Sexy Pizza. Public Offering Brewery and HomeDog are also sponsoring the event along South Broadway’s 1700 stretch. The Sexy Chemistry Block Party features vendors and music all day, too. Joining Sour Magic on the local slate are shadow work, RugBurn, Chroma Lips, Wave Decay, Moonlight Bloom and Charles & the Oddity.

“We were always toying with the idea of creating a festival or some type of block party,” says guitarist Mauro Hernandez. “But we were never thinking about working directly with Good Chemistry.”

“It was like, ‘Yeah, you can give us free weed for six months, and then we’ll do a music festival together,’” Morse quips.

The cannabis connect is also inspiring Sour Magic to write more, as the band is sitting on two new songs at the moment. The plan is to play them live for now, including this weekend and during the group’s next gig at hi-dive on Saturday, April 25, before dropping them as singles.

“We got the creativity flowing,” says drummer Danny Vallejo, who joined the crew in September. “It just clicked. I guess you can say there was sexy chemistry.”

The latest serenades see the four-piece exploring some different sonic textures, too, specifically Latin American grooves. There were hints of that throughout The Hive, particularly on “En Camino (On My Way),” but this recent material is undoubtedly cumbia-inspired.

“We don’t usually write cumbia songs, but if we want to jam on something, it just comes about,” Morse shares. “I feel like we surprise ourselves sometimes. We’re not a cumbia band, but we’ll just do a cumbia song out of nowhere.”

Fresh ideas, a new-look lineup and all the herb they can ever ask for? Yeah, it’s good to be Sour Magic right now.

“Imagine telling your high school self that you’re going to get free weed from the fucking dispensary because of your music,” Salinas says, adding, “it’s to our heart’s desire, for now.”

“They gave us two ounces the other day,” between flower and pre-rolls, Morse muses.

“Honestly, I’m already looking kind of low,” Salinas jokes.  

Sexy Chemistry Block Party, noon Sunday, April 19, 1700 Block South Broadway. Free.