PoPville Taps The Spirit of Acoustic Wunderkind John Denver (RIP) for new BLOG Experience

John Denver courtesy Hughes Television Network

From a press release:

“JOHN DENVERVILLE is coming to D.C. thanks to the Patrons of PoPville. Dan Silverman is leading the charge to bring one of his favorite musical acts to his brand’s viral Web log experience, aka BLOG.

Beginning Thursday, September 6, the iconic Aspen-based adult contemporary singer (RIP) — who used to call D.C. groovy and also co-wrote here (along with Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert) his number one hit song “Take Me Home, Country Roads” one night after headlining at the Cellar Door in 1970 (true story) — will take over one of PoPville’s rotating columns based in North Cleveland Park (or possibly Tenleytown, it’s one of those confusing neighborhoods.)

JOHN DENVERVILLE will feature a 29-year retrospective of the singer’s signature hairstyles as well as a 20,000 word elegy on the dearth of good sushi in the 70s sung in rhyme. Other highlights include YouTube search results for such hits as “Leaving on a Jet Plane”, “Annie’s Song”, “Rocky Mountain High”, “Calypso”, “Thank God I’m a Country Boy”, and “Sunshine on My Shoulders”. The BLOG will also feature a limited-edition JOHN DENVERVILLE calendar and a merch store where old pictures of Dan playing youth soccer will be for sale.

JOHN DENVER was born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. December 31, 1943 and passed away, way too early on October 12, 1997. Starting in the 1970s, he was one of the most popular acoustic artists of the decade and one of its best-selling artists. By 1974, he was firmly established as one of America’s best-selling performers, and AllMusic has described Denver as “among the most beloved entertainers of his era”.

Dan Silverman: Citizen of the District of Columbia.

“I think of John Denver as a much funnier Hank Williams, on Barbiturates, during a TEDx Talk peppered with the sounds of an angel and a little Adam Horovitz,” says PoPville founder Silverman. “His stage show was almost indescribable. Let’s just say there will be a lot of hand clapping, that’s for sure.”

JOHN DENVERVILLE will be circulating Sunday mornings through October 31 pending notifications of emergency metro track work.”

Photo Credit: Karlin Villondo Photography

Also:

“GWAR PUB is coming to D.C. thanks to the super fans at Drink Company. Derek Brown is leading the charge to bring one of his favorite musical acts to the brand’s viral pop-up bar experience, aka PUB.

Beginning Thursday, September 6, the iconic Richmond-based heavy metal band — which calls D.C. its home away from home — will take over one of the spaces at the rotating pop-up in Shaw (1839 7th Street NW).

GWAR PUB will feature a 34-year retrospective of the band’s signature stage props and costumes, including a 20-foot World Maggot that has swallowed Jerry Springer (and was featured in 90s cult classic Empire Records) and an intergalactic battle scene between late band leader Oderus Urungus (Dave Brockie) and Mr. Perfect. Other highlights include band members’ classic costumes, a hall of blood with an Instagrammable blood suit and a mobile of GWAR’s interplanetary journey. The PUB will also feature a limited-edition Oderus Eternal Tiki mug and a merch store where T-shirts and GWAR-related memorabilia will be for sale.

GWAR is a Grammy-nominated metal band formed in 1984 by a group of VCU art students in Richmond, that went on to become one of the most famous cult bands in music. They’re best known for their satirical messages and outrageous stage antics, including dispatching every president since Reagan (even Obama and the current president have not been spared) and spurting gallons of synthetic blood onto the audience (though they’d claim it’s real). In all, the band has released 14 albums, 13 feature videos, appeared with Jimmy Fallon, Joan Rivers and on The Onion’s AV Club as well as Fox News and more outlets. GWAR has also created comic books, cartoons and an entire universe of monsters, band members and backstories.

“I think of GWAR as a much funnier KISS, on steroids, during a WWE stage show peppered with intergalactic horror themes and a little Damien Hirst,” says Drink Company president Brown. “Their stage show is almost indescribable. We’ve been able to bring that to D.C. in the first-ever GWAR pop-up and it’s a one-of-a-kind experience.”

GWAR PUB will be open Sunday through Thursday, 5pm to 12:30am and Friday and Saturday, 5pm to 1:30am and will run through October 31.

WHERE: 1839 7th Street NW, Washington, D.C.

MORE: Guests must be 21 or over to visit. Cocktails are priced $12 to $14 each. Halloween will be ticketed and all door sales will be donated to DKMS in their drive to delete blood cancer. GWAR guitarist Mike Derks (Balsac Jaws of Death) was diagnosed with myelofibrosis in 2017. Members of GWAR will be in attendance on September 6 for the PUB opening and will be available for pictures.

Oderus Eternal $12
St. George Green Chile Vodka, Manzanilla, Grapefruit, Perrier
**$52 with limited edition Hail Oderus Tiki Mug

Jagermonsta Colada $14
Plantation Pineapple Rum, Manzanilla, Amontillado, Coconut, Pineapple, Salt, Jagermeister Float

Undead Scumdog* $14
Sherry, Brandy, Maraschino Liqueur, Grapefruit, Cinnamon, Fig Grenadine, Lime”