Pubdate: Tue, 17 Apr 2001
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2001 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: John Moore

END OF AN ERA

Bluebird Patrons Get Sober News

The interpretation of those two tiny words turned Denver's final live 
concert with alcohol at certain all-ages shows Sunday night into the first 
under a new city policy that bans alcohol when minors are present at venues 
with a capacity of fewer than 2,000.

Sunday's lineup of five punk bands at the Bluebird Theatre was intended to 
defiantly usher out a 10-year era during which alcohol was allowed to be 
served to those of age while minors were kept physically separated from adults.

But after publicity for the event came to the attention of Denver's 
department of licensing and excise, Bluebird management received a stern 
warning Friday that the new policy was effective as of April 15, not after 
April 15.

The punkers got punked. The show went on, but the bar was shut down, save 
for sales of bottled water and soda. To make up for the bar shortfall, the 
price of soda was increased 25 percent and bottled water 150 percent. 
Still, the countertop was dry, the tip jar empty and the electronic cash 
register dark as a mostly sullen crowd estimated at 170 watched the music 
with their backs to the bar. The lone bartender spent most of the evening 
sitting on a barstool quietly reading The Onion newspaper while one of the 
few bouncers present sipped coffee near the edge of the stage.

"Don't let all-ages music die," Shogun lead singer Warren Zeger urged the 
crowd, but the resignation already was apparent.

"We came out here to support this cause because we believe this kind of 
music is for everybody, not just those of legal age," Zeger added. "If the 
city wants to make a difference in kids' lives, they would cut out smoking 
in indoor places. That's something that would really benefit them."

The past three weeks, several area promoters have been predicting what 
happened Sunday at the Bluebird's bar, which is exactly the reason they 
will schedule fewer all-ages shows. That will result in fewer opportunities 
for minors to watch music, and fewer opportunities for area bands to land 
gigs. The clubs simply will not make enough money in $6 covers, such as 
Sunday's, to pay for multiple-band lineups. And higher cover charges, they 
say, would only drive minors away.

Last month, the Denver Police Department pressed for the removal of an 
exception to the city's alcohol policy, which since 1991 had allowed 
certain cabaret-licensed venues to split their premises and sell alcohol to 
those 21 and over. Police cited the need to fight so-called club drugs such 
as Ecstasy, but one patron who requested anonymity Sunday pointed out that 
removing the need for a split premises "just made it easier" for drug dealers.

Under the split-premises policy, mingling between minors and adults was 
forbidden, but is allowed because of the removal of alcohol. "Take a look 
around," he said. "If someone were selling Ecstasy here tonight, now he has 
uninhibited access to every minor in the place."

Members of the Denver-Boulder band Eiffel, which plays only all-ages shows, 
stood in the alley behind the Bluebird after their set wondering what, if 
any, future they have in the metro area. Several of their scheduled shows 
already have been canceled, they said.

"One of the few places we had to play at (The Cat) already has closed 
because of this," said drummer Joey McChan, , "and there weren't a lot of 
places to begin with."

Added guitarist Chris Sorensen: "All they've accomplished is breaking apart 
the local music scene."

Guitarist Adam Tymn said the all-ages problem has nothing to do with 
Ecstasy. "This is not a dance, trance-inducing scene," he said. "People 
come here for the music. Nobody is doing Ecstasy in there."

Lighting designer Greg Daniels said the police have taken the wrong 
approach. "Drugs are available anywhere," he said. "If they want to do 
something about that, why don't they shut down the schools?"

Many of the minors in attendance, some as young as 14, said it was 
important they attend Sunday's show to assert their right to be part of the 
local music scene. One of the few printable adjectives they used to 
describe what is happening: "It's lame," said 20-year-old Kory Grow of 
Longmont.

"They've taken away one of the only outlets for kids to go to," added Kerri 
Myers, a 20-year-old University of Colorado student. "There are dance clubs 
and there are places to see music. That is not what this place is about at 
all."

Caleb Quinn, a 19-year-old, admitted he didn't have much of a life to begin 
with, "but if I did," he said, "I'm sure this would really (screw) it up."
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MAP posted-by: GD