Top five reasons we'll miss The Cricket on the Hill

The Rocky

Friday, March 14, 2008

After decades of offering Denver's up-and-coming acts a friendly stage on which to test their musical mettle, The Cricket on the Hill (1209 E. 13th Ave.) is closing shop Sunday. Grizzled vets of the Mile High music scene shed single, meaningful tears when they heard the news - but why, you say? What was so great about that weird little bar? While we'd like to respond with "if you have to ask . . ." we'll instead ask you to read on for the Top 5 Reasons Denver Will Miss the Cricket on the Hill.

1 Egalitarian Booking

Young acts on the make always knew they could score a set at the Cricket - even if it was sandwiched among six other bands.

2 Denver Joe

Without the Cricket, where will Denver Joe go to insult college kids and cover Merle Haggard? Say it ain't so, Joe . . .

3 Central Location

You simply couldn't beat the Capitol Hill destination for ease of access - and ease of home-stumbling for the many Hill denizens who frequented the place.

4 Tumbler-Size Shots

Seriously. They might as well have served 'em in pint glasses.

5 History

That's it. Once you lose the legends, you never get them back - think of the Library of Alexandria. (Really, what's the difference between real estate developers and the marauding armies of the ancient world?)

The Cricket on the Hill will close with a rock 'n' roll bang. Catch sets by Cricket vets Wanker, A Band Called Horse, Truth of the Matter and Buckwild tonight, starting at 8; drop in at 3 p.m. Saturday for the last of Tony Medina's Open Stages, followed at 8 p.m. by a long night of tunes from The Swindlers, The Swanks, King Rat and Heeler. R.I.P.