Holiday cheer is in the air this time of year and may very well be the only kind of contagion most of us want to catch. Good music abounds, bright lights are around every corner, and friends and family are able to come together to reminisce the year coming to an end and celebrate the one on deck. Last weekend, yuletide celebrations were in full swing events at The Black Box have been no exception. Our good friends Evanoff headlined on 12/20 as their improvisational alter-ego, EFFN-OFF, preceded by Swivler, Mag, and Xendolinguist. Nothing like an ugly sweater Christmas party and some intoxicating jammin’ to get your seasonal spirit soaring.

The Black Box is one of Denver’s favorite intimate and sought out venues for electronic based musicians, with each new show continuing to live up to the reputation they’ve developed. With dim-lighting, powerful acoustics, hypnotic visuals, high-energy crowds, and very loud bass, the venue gives off a very exclusive feel while being synchronously warm and inviting to all. In an attempt to accentuate the Holiday theme, The Black Box had sweet drink specials, a naughty Santa Claus photo booth, and an ugly sweater contest; which people took very seriously, might I add. They even took it a step further and made an effort to give back to the community this holiday season by holding an optional toy drive! If you brought a toy to the venue upon entrance your ticket was discounted to only $5, which I think we can all agree is a win win for everyone.

Cap’n Swivler came to us all the way from Albuquerque, New Mexico but has been getting very engaged with the Denver music scene. He is a bass oriented producer, incorporating what he calls “SwivelScapes” which include lots of womps, hops, and dubs. However, he was not the only bass beast that stepped onto the stage that night. Meghan Hennesy, aka Xenolinguist, is a very technical producer and DJ, with a deep-seated background in vocals, instruments and music theory. She has figured out how to bring all of her talents together and now culminates an original sound that reflects eclectic styles and genres. Xenolinguist is based out of Denver and is successfully making her way into the bass scene, which includes an array of amazing musicians.

Originally derived from the word maggot, MAG is a Denver percussion duo priding themselves on their continuous evolution, similar to that of a larva. MAG is known for weaving beats into their intricate drumming. Their sound has become impressively fluid after playing together for over ten years. MAG’s sound is an incorporation of modern electronic paired with Afro-cuban percussionist rhythms. They have an acute, genuine talent for performing in front of others, always smiling and making it clear they are having a blast on stage. From their undeniable chemistry and the crowds soaring reaction, it was clear that MAG has big places to go from here.

For the grand finale, Evanoff took the stage; clearly ready to show people what they are made of. This was no ordinary set mind you, the boys play as EFFN-OFF when they are going for an entirely improvised set. The crowd unequivocally went wild, energies ramped up and booties let loose. It was clear from the crowds reactions that a strong portion of people knew, either from personal experience or possibly word of mouth, that Evanoff isn’t in the business of playing around. 2019 has been an elevating year for this trio and their sound only persists to mature and develop. They have undeniable talent, playing shows and festivals all over the country, bringing their electrifying bass rock to fans far and wide.

Even though the show, and Christmas, came and went, the holiday spirit has not yet gone. Don’t forget to check what shows and events are happening at the start of this new year..and we’ll see you there!

EFFN-OFF and Friends Brought Christmas to The Black Box, With a Little Help From Booze and Good Tunes