Update (8/25): Just got the drop on a late night party hosted by MySpace at Mile High Station featuring Nelly. Hold on. Before you start Googling Mile High Station, you should know that this event, a salute to the screen actor's guild, is another invite-only shindig.
Update (8/22): Welp, looks like the rumors were true. Flobots and the Railbenders are indeed performing at the DNC Media Party at Elitch's. The "as-yet-to-be-determined act" mentioned below: Debajo Del Agua. Kanye West is reportedly slated to perform on Tuesday night at a function sponsored by the One campaign and the RIAA at the Exdo Events Center. Oh, and, finally, this isn't necessarily event related, but it's still pretty cool: Just found out Bun B will be in Denver, live blogging for MTV and assisting BET with voter registration.
Update (8/21): Okkerville River, MURS and Jill Sobule have been added to Monday night's Cinemocracy bill at Red Rocks. We've also received word from the Boulder Theater that Public Enemy's show has been moved to Wednesday night. That's according to promoter, Mad Society Project, whose reportedly hashing out details with the band. Both daily fishwraps, however, are reporting that PE will be a no show next week altogether (straight from the lips of Chuck D. himself, evidently), including Tuesday's performance at Civic Center. Stay tuned. We'll post more details as they become available.
In this week's issue, we put together a partial list of DNC-related events. After the jump, we've compiled a more comprehensive rundown of what's going down next week. Keep checking back as we'll be updating this space continually with any new information or events. -- Dave Herrera
TUESDAY, AUGUST 26
What: Etown Where: Temple Hoyne Buell Theater Details: If you're familiar with the normal incarnation of ETown, this is just like that -- only on steroids. Nick and Helen Forster's guests for this extremely special, up-close and personal edition of the show includes Irma Thomas, Tom Morello, James Taylor, David Crosby, Graham Nash and Ani DiFranco. Odds of Getting In: None. This event is sold out.
What: Festival of Democracy Where: Civic Center Park (Broadway and Bannock), 2 p.m. Details: This free concert will feature performances from Public Enemy, Debajo del Agua, DKO, Melanie Susaras Band, Rebel Diaz, the Night Kitchen, From the Depths and Black Sheep Brigade. The event, as with all of the others sponsored by Re-create 68, will also include some guest speakers and poets (Isis, Ladyspeech, Bianca, Lucifury, Allende and Bobby LeFebre), as well as offering free food, free institution building and political training and access to a free 24-hour medical clinic. Odds of Getting In: Excellent. It’s free and open to the public.
What: Rock to Win Where: Fillmore Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. Details: Being billed as a celebration of GLBT equality, Rock to Win is the brainchild of Cyndi Lauper, who will perform at the Fillmore alongside Melissa Etheridge, Rufus Wainwright and Thelma Houston. The whole impetus of the Human Rights Campaign-sponsored concert is to educate and inspire folks on the importance of taking part in the political process (which seems to be a popular sentiment this week, for whatever reason), especially when it comes to making their voices heard regarding human rights. Odds of Getting In: Good. Rock to Win is open to the public. Tickets, which range from $98 for general admission to $500 for VIP can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
What: GRAMMYs Rock the Convention Where: The Church, 10 p.m. Details: Next to the Rock the Vote Ballot Bash, this could be the week’s biggest show — at least in terms of pop-star power. Being billed as an up-close-and-personal acoustic evening, it’s slated to feature Daughtry, Everclear and the Flobots (in their second of three DNC appearances). Curious how this lineup was conceived — at a wedding, perhaps? Something old, something new, something…uh, Daughtry? Odds of Getting In: Dunno. Got $500? That’s how much individual tickets are going for.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27
What: Tent State Music Festival to End the War Where: Denver Coliseum, 11 a.m. Details: This show, presented by Iraq Veterans Against the War and Tent State, is the most eagerly anticipated, hands down. Last Thursday, when the news came that noted firebrands Rage Against the Machine had been added to the bill (which includes likeminded acts the Flobots, the Coup, State Radio and the MC5’s Wayne Kramer), word spread across the blogosphere like a Malibu wildfire. Rage was an obvious addition. The band’s inclusion bridges the Flobots, which Rage presaged, to MC5, Kramer’s former outfit, which begat (at least ideologically) Rage. Besides that, every revolution needs a bomb track, and Zack de la Rocha and company are DNC veterans, having performed on the streets of Los Angeles during 2000. (I seem to recall RATM playing around that same time at the Coliseum during its Battle of Los Angeles tour. Coincidence?) Odds of Getting In: Decent, or at least as good as anybody else’s. Tickets to the event are free, but will only be available by lottery. To be eligible, you need to make your way to City of Cuernavaca Park with a photo ID between the hours of 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. between August 24 and August 26. Those selected will be notified via e-mail. Presumably to curtail potential scalping, the lucky lottery winner and his/her guest will both need to be on hand to pick up the tickets at the Coliseum on August 27, and must then immediately enter the venue (doors open at 9 a.m.). Any unclaimed tickets will be made available to the public after noon on a first-come, first-served basis.
What: Unconventional ’08 Where: Andenken Gallery Outdoor Stage (2990 Larimer), 6 p.m. Details: Presented by Manifest Hope and San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsome, Unconventional ’08 features a slew of indie-rock acts such as the Silversun Pickups, Cold War Kids, Nada Surf, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, as well as a performance by DJ Z-Trip. The event is being produced in tandem with Manifest Hope Gallery, an exhibition of visual artists including Shepard Fairey, Sam Flores and Ron English, among others, that runs from Sunday, August 24, through Thursday, August 28, at Andenken. Odds of Getting In: Slim and none, unless you’re among the fortunate few that have been “pre-allocated” tickets. Ditto the VIP show on Wednesday that will feature performances from Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie), Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley), Zooey Deschanel (She and Him), Matthew Caws (Nada Surf) and Jonathan Rice.
What: The Creative Coalition Concert and Party Where: Fillmore Auditorium, 9 p.m. Details: This fundraiser features a performance from the Black Eyed Peas. Odds of Getting In: None, as far as we can tell, unless you purchase a corporate sponsorship package, which range from $10k to $100k.
What: Democratic National Party Fundraiser Where: The Church, 9 p.m. Details: Moby will be on-hand spinning a DJ set for this party, which is as we’ve noted above is a fundraiser for the Dems. Odds of Getting In: Great. Tickets are available for $30 through GrooveTickets.com.
What: Floyd’s 99 DNC Party Where: Floyd’s 99 Barbershop (16th and Champa) Details: This party, according to Rob O’Brien, Floyd’s 99 co-founder, is especially for the locals and will feature performances from Hot IQs and the Epilogues. There will be complimentary appetizers and live tattooing on site. Odds of Getting In: Excellent. It’s free and open to the public.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 28
What: The War for the White House Gala Where: La Rumba, 8 p.m. Details: Presented by the Onion, this bill rivals Unconventional ’08 in terms of the cool factor. Headlined by alt-comedy yucksters Eugene Mirman and Neil Hamburger, the War for the White House Gala will also feature a steady dose of pure indie rock from the venerable Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, as well as DJ sets from Lipgloss residents Tyler Jacobson and Michael Trundle. Make laughs, not war. Odds of Getting In: Excellent. Tickets are free and available by sending an RSVP to [email protected].
What: DJ Jazzy Jeff Where: The Church, 9 p.m. Details: Although the ad for this event, which features a DJ set from DJ Jazzy Jeff, touts the Church as being the perfect place to celebrate after the historic DNC acceptance speech, this peformance doesn’t appear to be sponsored by any particular organization. Odds of Getting In: Excellent. Tickets are available for $15 through GrooveTickets.com.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29
What: Rock the Vote Denver 2008 Where: Denver Performing Arts Sculpture Park, 10 p.m. Details: Yes, the DNC will have packed up by the time this concert takes place, but we’re still here — and the local scene is reason to party all year long. Starting now. Kicking off at noon in the Sculpture Park on Speer Boulevard, Rock the Vote Denver 2008 will go until midnight with performances by ALL, Rose Hill Drive, the Heyday, Kinetix, Animo, Photo Atlas, the Mansfields, Meniskus, American Relay, Spools of Dark Thread and more. Odds of Getting In: As good as Obama’s chances of securing the Democratic nomination the night before.
