Going out hot
Steamy December nights to say goodbye to 2024 (and keep you warm)

Local favorites Desert Child, along with Desiderata, play a NYE show at the Lightbox.
Greetings, dear readers! Welcome to the dark night of your heating bill! Here are some steamy shows to keep you from going frigid while your self-proclaimed “adventure athlete” roommate lowers the thermostat 10 degrees to test your environmental ethics and human resolve.
As any “thermally delicate techno-psych-rock-old-time enthusiast” might, I’m going to see Billy Strings in Austin later this month (going by boat, don’t worry, no carbon footprint.) It’s a reunion well in the making, as I haven’t been back to my home state of Texas since 2018, and I haven’t been to Austin since 2010. This seems like a fitting occasion to return to the live music capital of the world. I’ll report back post haste from the frontlines of tech bros, tacos and a whole lot of gentrification.
As always, be sure to check the local concert calendars, because the month is stacked. Reward local venues when they bring high-quality music to our community over cheap drivel. Let’s build our music scene to even higher heights in 2025. Sending you much love and warmth this holiday season. See you on the dance floor!
• Vincent Antone, Phyphr, Forest Thump, Animas City Theatre, Sat., Dec. 7, 7 p.m. - Speaking of Austin, multi-instrumentalist Vincent Antone, straight out of the 512, is playing the Animas City Theatre this Saturday, featuring Phyphr and hometown heroes Forest Thump. A contemporary of acts like Pretty Lights and Gramatik, Antone spans diverse elements of dance music punctuated with live instrumentation, providing a must-see-it-to-believe-it show. And don’t sleep on the openers, especially Forest Thump. The Durango duo has been turning heads for well more than a year with their blend of bass-laden Celtic fiddle anthems sure to put a smile on your frosty face and a jig in your step.
• Magic Weens, Animas City Theatre, Fri.-Sat., Dec. 13-14, 7 p.m. - No, this is not the epic gathering of weenie dogs wearing cloaks, gallivanting as dungeon masters and Hufflepuffs that I was hoping for. But this is definitely worth the price of admission. The Magic Beans, undeniably Boulder’s best funked-out jam band, are rolling in for a two-night run at the ACT, donning special sets honoring the music of Ween. Cycles and Squeaky Feet are on direct support for what will be a pair of sold-out nights.
• Bar D Wranglers, FLC Community Concert Hall, Wed., Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m. - Nothing brings more seasonal joy than catching the Bar D Wranglers for their annual holiday show at the Community Concert Hall. Since 1969, the Wranglers have been virtuously extolling only the finest (and silliest) musical elements of cowboy culture and Western Americana. Look no further for the perfect excuse to dress up in your finest Wranglers and pearl snaps. Just remember to take your Stetson off indoors, as any true cowpoke knows.
• Posh Josh and Spark Madden, Black Heron Lounge, Sat., Dec. 14, 9 p.m. – These two local DJs have helped pave the way for the Durango dance music community as we know it. Taking the torch from bygone ravers Brian Ess and Ben K, Josh consistently gathered a wide, party-ready audience, specifically the playa-curious, for much of the 2010s. Durango’s DJs continue to have their christening sets at the Black Heron, and now it’s Josh’s time to emerge from his longtime southside residence thanks to an invitation from Durango’s hardest-working DJ, Spark Madden.
• John Craigie & Dana Ariel, Animas City Theatre, Thurs., Dec. 19, 8 p.m. - Proud teacher moment! My former student, advisee and all-around badass Dana Stahl is set to open for ramblin’ Woody Guthrie devotee John Craigie at the Animas City Theatre. You freaking rock, Dana. Let’s make sure we pack the place for Dana and ol’ Johnny boy, a top-notch singer-songwriter who has shared countless shows with the likes of Jack Johnson.
• Cody Tinnin & Weminuche, The Tangled Horn, Sat., Dec. 28, 8 p.m. - Cody Tinnin is back, baby! Those lucky enough to catch his set at the Animas City Theatre with his splendid band, Weminuche, know he has a few tricks up his sleeve. Weminuche is the Polyphonic Spree of La Plata County, and Tinnin is its mustachioed, eagle-eyed conductor. Along for the ride are Sarah Vader and Westfield, which means the Tangled Horn is going to hit capacity. Better get there early if you want to check out one of Durango’s up-and-coming hotspots hosting Durango’s favorite new band.
• Desert Child, Desiderata, The Lightbox, Tues., Dec. 31, 8 p.m. - Desert Child and Desiderata are bringing a truly unique NYE bash to Stillwater’s immaculate Lightbox venue. Desert Child will channel The Beatles, while Desiderata takes on Fleetwood Mac for their “Legends of Rock” NYE party. EsoTerra will be running the bar. Don’t say I didn’t warn you – get your tickets as soon as you read this.
• BabyDel, Disco Dolly, Black Heron Lounge, Tues., Dec. 31, 8 p.m. - What’s New Year’s Eve without dancing in a styled-out, sweaty, low-ceiling den of sonic sin with a few hundred like-minded souls? Nothing makes me happier than seeing non-male artists take the DJ reins locally. Before BabyDel, there weren’t any local female DJs playing out – and certainly none selling out. Disco Dolly is an exceptional talent and a perfect choice to round out an evening of local house heroes taking us into 2025. Play some Sylvester for me! ?
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