The Ventura Music Hall was busy. The bar was full, and everyone was having a great time waiting for the show to start. People were packed shoulder to shoulder. There was a mutual excitement for the night and good vibes were ready to be shared by all.
A sense of anticipation was building up for the headliner tonight. Denm was about to start his set. He had two openers that got the crowd hyped; everyone was ready. Chad Tepper and Surfer Girl had the energy and did their job warming up the place. They got the audience on their way for a memorable night.
Denm’s performance was epic. The first song Califas set the mood for the show and gave the audience a taste of the evening. It was powerful and got everyone warmed up. By the next song, Blow It Up, you forget there is a life outside the venue. All senses were focused on what was on stage and the music coming from it. Later in the show, there was a cover of Sublime’s Badfish that everyone rocked. The band was tight, and the audience sang along at the top of their lungs. While everyone was fully hyped, Denm went right into one of his songs he recorded with Surfer/Musician Landon McNamara called Wild Trip. That was a double dose of Denm’s talent.
This night was Denm’s second time playing at the Ventura Music Hall, but this time, they were the headliner. The last time they played at the Hall they were opening for Matisyahu about a year prior.
The guitarist on stage was extremely talented. It is not common for a band with a chill beach vibe to come out with screaming solos. It was a perfect fit. There were also some horns added to the mix. I am hoping that we hear some of those horns and that guitar on the new album that comes out in March.
Music has been part of Denm’s life at a young age. When he was 14, he taught himself to play guitar to replicate the entire Led Zeppelin 2 album. In 2016, he started to play music as “Denm” and came out with his first single called “Lit” in May of 2016. The song was featured on his first EP called Dreamhouse.
Denm was born in Santa Barbara, CA, but lived in San Diego until he was 14. He tried moving back to Santa Barbara but was kicked out of the house when he was 16. He is currently married with three kids. Santa Barbara was just 20 minutes from this venue so I am sure he felt familiar with the location.
The lyrics to the songs were positive. Denm’s last song, Life’s Too Short, was a crowd favorite. It gave the message to just enjoy life regardless of differences. I left with an overwhelming feeling of having a great experience. I remember walking back to the car clapping my hands and screaming “Whoooo” in the air. It was a good night.
