Concert pics: B-52's at the Denver Botanic Gardens

Hurry up and bring your jukebox money

June 22, 2009

Members and non-members of the Denver Botanic Gardens started showing up around noon for the latest installment of the verdant venue’s Summer Concert Series. The reason? Only the B-52's, plus an opening slot filled by Denver natives and favorites Dressy Bessy.

The show sold out weeks in advance and most of the lawn seating area had filled up by 4:30 p.m. And when Dressy Bessy took the stage at 7 p.m. it was standing room only. While at first the crowd seemed content to sit back and enjoy their wine and cheese spreads, they were obviously just resting up for the headliners.

When the B-52's came on as the sun was starting to set, it seemed like the entire crowd took to heart Fred Schneider’s warning from “Hot Corner” that this was indeed their last chance to dance. Though the beehives might have been absent, that was about the only thing the B-52's had lost as they tore through a rousing set of classics and newer hits, finally ending with the crowd favorite, and much requested, “Rock Lobster.”

Even if you missed this particular show, the Botanic Gardens are offering plenty of other opportunities to catch music in the elegant and floral setting including Toots and the Maytals, Bob Weir and Ratdog, and a double bill of Los Lonely Boys and Los Lobos, plus Chris Issak and the Pretenders with Cat Power at the Chatfield location.