There comes a time in some artists’ careers when they’re no longer simply playing for the room: they’re defining it. This weekend, over three frigid nights in Denver, Kitchen Dwellers manifested a series of performances that in no uncertain terms showcased their bona fides, their command over stages of different size and scale, and the loving and loyal community of friends, fans, and peers they’ve spent nearly a decade cultivating the galaxy grassroots way.
Between two nights at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom and a massive third show at the Mission Ballroom—their largest headlining show to date—the Dwellers proved they can harness the grit of a sweat-soaked club as well as they can fully utilize the high-production spectacle of a theater. Beyond the music, this run felt like a band purposefully paying it forward. By featuring past collaborators and rising talents like Jammy Buffet, Silas Herman & The Tone Unit, Lindsay Lou, and Mountain Grass Unit, the Dwellers weren’t just taking a victory lap: they were actively curating the future of the scene they’ve helped build.
Night one at Cervantes began with Jammy Buffet, the rapidly rising jam band who performs all covers, most of them written or performed by the late great Jimmy Buffett. To the uninitiated, this might seem like a lark, but as the Dwellers have demonstrated time and time and time and time again, they’re massive fans of the Mayor of Margaritaville. Lead singer and guitarist Bob Barrick charismatically led the five-piece band through a series of songs you know by heart, as well as some you don’t. Lead guitarist Brendan Mayer, son of longtime Coral Reefer guitarist Peter Mayer, steered the band into some spacier jams, supported by multi-instrumentalist Mickey Lenny, who brought his jazz background to bear as he played keys, trumpet, and an electric wind instrument. Drummer Tyler Gwynn brought the thunder behind the drum kit, staying in step with the newest member of the band, the legendary bassist Zeb Briskovich, who joined after founding bassist Andrew Cooney recently left to join Andy Frasco’s band…