A Western Capitol Hill: The Business Section. (#1)

A WESTERN CAPITOL HILL

The novel A Western Capitol Hill (Owncoming Press, LLC) trains its literary eye on Denver—similar to how other popular humor has spotlighted the eccentric populace of New Orleans, poked fun at the hipster reputation of Portland, and dished out the bizarre and trashy side of Baltimore. It’s a darkly comedic tale of lust and avarice, set in the New West, complete with bad sex, bad drugs, and bad rock ‘n’ roll. Barbed satire as applicable to our recent national zeitgeist as it is to the Mile High City.

When a controversial bill at the Colorado State Capitol pits a Religious Right legislator against a transgender real-estate mogul, two lobbyists battle—in mercenary fashion—on opposing sides of the cultural war. Welcome to Denver’s Capitol Hill. It’s where the Colorado legislature meets. It’s also an eccentrically diverse neighborhood populated by gays, goths, anarchists, fascists, punks, ethnic activists, nouveau gentry, neighborhood-watch alarmists, the drunken homeless, and violent criminals. Last, but not least, it’s the stomping ground of a supernatural beast—the Denver Dragon—in addition to hosting a variety of ghostly apparitions.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gregory Daurer records songs under the moniker Gregory Ego, in addition to participating on the sonic collaboration Reverend Lead Pipe & His Pipe-Wielding Swingers. This is his first novel. As a freelance writer and photographer, Daurer has been published by Juxtapoz, Salon, 5280, Headpress, The Huffington Post, Draft, Culture, and High Times. His interviews with noted writers (T.C. Boyle, Tom Robbins, William Gibson, Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs) have been reprinted by, or cited within, scholarly books and a documentary film.

ABOUT THE COVER ARTIST:

Larry Hubbell (aka Harry Lyrico) is an illustrator and printmaker. Hubbell's graphics have been published by Icon, Last Gasp, the LA Weekly, and reprinted in a Fantagraphics collection of mini comix. His design work has included logos, book covers, fliers, graffiti, and posters.

Monday, June 25, 2007

The Business Section. (#1)

Here's a photo of one of the most recognizable, neon bar signs on East Colfax Avenue:

For a couple of years at the advent of the 1960s, the Satire Lounge hosted live music. Reportedly, the Smothers Brothers played there regularly, living in an apartment above the bar. According to historian Phil Goodstein, one irregular who showed up at the Satire to play his brand of Woody Guthrie folk got "hissed out of the place": Bob Dylan, in 1960, at one of his earliest gigs on the road. But did that stop eighteen-year-old Bob D. from ever playing again? Did he say in that whiny, nasal voice of his, "Oh, these lousy Denverites! I'm taking my harmonica holder and heading on back to Hibbing, MN!"? Of course not!

The days of live music are over at the Satire, but the drinks and Mexican food keep coming.

Using SketchUp software, my friend Tom Lundin has created some great drawings of the Satire Lounge's signage:

The satirical novel A Western Capitol Hill salutes the Satire Lounge.