I had my best friend from those days read my post about growing up in the 80s and the Facebook icons that represent that era for us. She asked me how I could have left out Rainbow Music Hall. To be fair to her, I’m adding a my Denver memory of Rainbow even though it has been slighted on Facebook.
The first concert I ever attended was at Rainbow Music Hall. I saw Modern English in 1982 for $4 (plus tax). Rainbow seated approximately 1300 people and the seating was always general admission. Enthusiastic concertgoers would line up on the east and west sides of the building for hours before the concert began. Depending on the show, the hairstyles of those in line could vary greatly running the gamut from magenta and teal mohawks to the heavily hairsprayed "big hair" more commonly associated with metal bands. CoverGirl did well with both the metal and punk crowds, though. Sales were up in the 1980s as gender-bending was high art in the music industry. And just like my time at the coffeehouse from my teen years, I found myself in a clove cigarette fog as I waited for the Rainbow doors to open when I had concert tickets. Along each side of the building, kids played hackey-sack or sat in their cars in the parking lot as their Alpine stereos blared music from the band we would all hear live in just a few hours.
I was in the ninth grade when I went to Modern English and I remember flirting shamelessly with some boys from Kent Country Day School, a private school in Denver. It was innocent and nothing happened, but it was exciting to meet boys (and yes, they were just boys) from another school after having contact with boys from our school only it seemed since third grade. Just not enough mystery there. Too many memories of our classmates snapping girls' bra straps and winging sharpened pencils at the Geography class ceiling, a la dartboard-style.
I don't remember how many concerts I saw there, but this was one of my favorite venues in Denver. I don't know that I ever paid more than $10 to see a show. In high school, I watched MTV daily and found myself looking forward to Friday nights to watch Teletunes on channel 12 to discover bands that were a little more obscure, a little more new-wave than those typically featured on MTV.
In the four years that I was able to enjoy Rainbow, I remember seeing the Alarm, the Psychedelic Furs, REM (I think Michael Stipe was stoned out of his mind at this particular show), Howard Jones, Icehouse, the Producers (for $2), and the Damned. I'm sure I've forgotten some since it was over 20 years ago, but hey, I'm getting old. What can I say?
Sadly, Rainbow closed in 1989 and was renovated shortly thereafter into a Walgreens. The horror. The marquee sign and the building were finally demolished in the last year or so. I guess I'll have to be happy with my memories and old tickets stubs.
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Comments: 31
You are getting old ?? Who says ??
Great write, Janell :)
That's a shame about missing the Beatles. :-(
I say I'm getting old. ;-)
It was a great time.
Excellent Post!!
I saw MODERN ENGLISH open for the RAMONES~ which is fokking funny in and of itself~ at the Asbury Park Convention ceneter waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in the early 80's~
It was open floor~no seating~ my galpal Bobbie and I were right up front~ and for the first half hour I was mesmerized by all the track marks running up and down the lead singer's arms~ the crowd ready to slam dance into black and blue bruises was in no mood for I melt With You~ but ME stuck through it and fipped the crowd off at least a dozen times~ what a venue~ we got trashed at an outdoor bar with Joey after the show~ ahhh those were the days~ =D
Sounds like your experiences at the Rainbow were alot like mine at a local place here.
Except my place burned down years ago. LOL
When I was in the ninth grade, the Beatles were still together, Janis, Jim and Jimi were still alive, and glam rock was just a glint in David Bowies eyes.
Heavy Metal bands existed and were called Led Zepplin and Deep Purple......
"Those were the days my friend...."
Sounds like you have some things you could write about too, Gary. ;-) I know that your love of music goes way back and covers a broad spectrum. Should make for interesting reading.
I didn't grow up in Denver, but I did visit this year. It's a beautiful and fun place to be. My sister took us to Aurora and its just beautiful. We went to that mall, different from the malls where I live. I really enjoyed myself, and I may go back to stay.