Don’t Stop the Music Denver!

Back on March 16th Gov. Jared Polis ordered Colorado bars, and restaurants closed due to COVID-19. Also included in this order were all movie theaters, concert venues, and nightclubs. The shuttering of these venues caused an eerie silence in the Denver area. Luckily a silence that would not last even 24 hours, as the Dropkick Murphy’s refused to let the Coronavirus kill the music. The band live streamed a St Patrick’s Day show straight into people’s living rooms. People danced in front of their televisions, and offered socially distanced cheers. All helping to provide a sense of normalcy in uncertain times. Not only pints were lifted, but people’s spirits too in only the way that music can.

34 days into “Sheltering at Home” and the music still has not stopped. Musicians and DJs won’t let it stop! Whether by YouTube, Facebook Live, Instagram, or Twitch, artists continue to share music. Musical artists have embraced the new gig mindset. Although it is difficult not having a live audience in front of you, the new normal brings a sense of freedom, openness, engagement and accountability, to the music and the fans. Whether for the art, staying relevant, making money, or just getting people through our current situation the musical gig mindset has and should be embraced, not resisted.

In May, the governor is now moving us from a “Shelter at a Home,” to a “Safer at Home” order in response to COVID-19. This new order focuses on sustainable social distancing, individual responsibility, and a phased-in reopening of some segments of the state’s economy. Bars, restaurants, and venues will stay closed for the time being. Where, when, and if we will physically attend live music again is still in question.

Like musical artists, local venues refuse to let the music stop. For venues like the Oriental Theater, one of the last large independent venues, these health orders, although necessary, are extremely difficult. I was talking to venue owner Andy Bercaw and he said, “We are going to have to take out a pretty serious Small Business Association loan, but we will make it. Just going to be tough the rest of the year. March through May are typically our biggest months.” Andy and the Oriental believe so much in bringing Denverites music in these uncertain times that after City Park Jazz was cancelled, Andy stated, “we aim to repurpose the theater as a setting from which bands can live stream performances. Obviously, it depends on whatever the city and state regulations are as we get into the summer, but as long as we’re allowed to do it and we have all necessary health and safety protocols in place, we will.”

Covid-19 is having a social, economic, and public health impact. This is not an easy time for a lot of people. Thank goodness, now more than ever, for organizations like Punk Rock Saves Lives. Punk Rock Saves Lives is helping the Punk Rock Community and beyond to focus on health concerns, equal rights, human rights, and more. Rob and Tina Rushing, PRSL founders, believe one of the keystones of the music community, especially Punk rock, is the ethos of taking care of one another. Although the shows you would normally find them at have been canceled or postponed, PRSL is still active hosting weekly chats on Facebook and Instagram focused on positive mental attitude, mental health, and helping others. They are also working with musical artists to produce and/or promote live-streams that entertain and engage the audience while raising monies for the bands and the causes that are important to them. If you don’t already know about Punk Rock Saves Lives check out their website, and be sure to “Like” their page on Facebook where you will find out about ongoing activities and live-streams details like the ones for this weekend’s Reno Divorce show on Sunday at 2pm!

If musical artists, venues, and organizations won’t let the music stop, Denver we can’t let the music stop. Let’s keep the chant going, “one more song, one more song…”