Venue of the Month- Moe’s Original Bar B Que

Jenn Cohen | October 4, 2012 | 0 Comments

by Ryan Edwards

Moe’s Original Bar B Que is a newer establishment that has opened its doors to the public, not only as one of the best BBQ places in Denver–with a full bar and a bowling alley–but also as a legit live music venue, hosting bands like Power Man 5000, and local talent like the thrash-metal band Ploy for Extinction.

I sat down with Josh Ruff (bass/vocals) for Ploy of Extinction. He has played at Moe’s only a handful of times, but had positive feedback in regard to the stage, staff, audience, drink specials and the overall venue. Ruff feels that the stage and the audience are intimate, combined with really good sound, and a staff that is dedicated to good live music, and that it makes for a good experience for bands and patrons alike. “Moe’s is a great place to play. The audience seemed to respond well to the sound quality and set up of the stage. As a band, it’s very important to have good sound in order to deliver a great output. Moe’s definitely delivers. Plus the food and drinks are stellar,” Ruff said.
As far as playing at Moe’s again? “We are definitely down to play at Moe’s again, definitely a fun venue.”

As the night went on, I saw Fort Collins and Denver natives the Sickly Ferguson, a band with an original and upbeat sound that made the crowd grow. Afterward, I sat with Cody Kuehl (drums) and Phil Spencer (bass) and had a chance to pick their brains about their first show at Moe’s. “Moe’s was a great time. They have great sound on and off the stage, good set up for shows, good staff and a good audience,” Kuehl said. They also enjoyed the drink tickets for PBR that are given to the band members, and the overall sense of community of musicians and music lovers that come into Moe’s, sometimes spilling over from the Gothic Theatre. With so much going on at Moe’s, it’s pretty hard to get bored. But from a musical standpoint, Moe’s is another venue that helps local talent get noticed in the Denver community. “We have every different kind of music from jam bands, to punk rock, to singer songwriters. I think the music brings in a different clientele that would normally not visit our establishment,” said Greg Zaranski, General Manager of Moe’s.

Online: moesdenver.com

Tags: Moe's bar b que, ploy for extinction, power man 5000, the sickly ferguson, cody kuehl, phil spencer