XLIV, Snowdown and Punk Rock Breakfast

by Chris Aaland

XLIV is upon us. Pats vs. Giants. Beantown vs. Gotham. Patriots blue vs. Giants red on white. It’s the only major professional sport where the primary teams from the East Coast’s rival cities get to wage war in a world championship. In basketball and hockey, of course, New York and Boston teams play in the same conference and could never meet in the finals. In baseball, we were treated to a classic World Series in 1986 … one that featured Boston’s Bill Buckner booting a routine grounder that helped the Mets take game six and, ultimately, the series in seven. But let’s face it: The Yankees are the true New York team and the best we can hope for is a Yanks/Sox AL Championship.

There’s little argument that Super Bowl XLII was one of the best ever. The Patriots were overwhelming favorites to drub the Giants and complete a perfect 19-0 season — the first perfecta in the NFL since the 1972 Miami Dolphins went 14-0 in the regular season and 3-0 in the playoffs. What everybody remembers is Eli Manning eluding a sure sack and finding little-used New York wideout David Tyree for a 32-yard gain. Tyree famously trapped the ball against his helmet and fell backwards, securing the first down and New York’s chances. Four plays later, the Giants had a 17-14 lead with just 35 seconds left.

What folks don’t remember is that the Giants actually led 10-7 midway through the fourth quarter. Tom Brady, who was ineffective for most of the game, marched the Patriots 80 yards in 11 plays to give them a 14-10 lead with 2:42 remaining before Manning and Tyree stole the show.

New England swears XLIV isn’t about revenge. I agree. A win would put Brady in the elite company of Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as the only quarterbacks with four Super Bowl championship rings. It’s all about the bling. The Top Shelf prediction: Good Guys 27, Bad Guys 17. And in case you’re wondering, I always root for Boston over New York. Choke on that, Bambino.

Fortunately, this nasty business of Snowdown distracts us from the national onslaught of dumb questions by sports reporters about Rob Gronkowski’s ankle (warriors don’t miss Super Bowls with ankle sprains) or which Manning is the better quarterback (Seriously? Did they already forget about Peyton’s 11 4,000-yard seasons between 1999 and 2010?) I won’t waste our time by listing the major Snowdown events; just go to www.snowdown.org. Consider finding a schedule to be your personal Snowdown scavenger hunt. Or just wander into a bar and wonder why everyone is wearing fairy wings.

Snowdown is always a busy week at Ska Brewing. Not only have we been graced with “Fairies Wear Boots” this year — a gingerbread brown ale released in honor of Snowdown — but we have music, sweet music, to fill our ears. This week’s Ska-B-Q features the blues and rock sounds of Kentucky Deluxe at 5 p.m. tonight (Thurs., Feb. 2). Old-time music fans can get their groove on Saturday night in Bodo Park with the Six Dollar Spit Fighters, a collaborative effort between Denver’s Low Land Spitfighters and our own Six Dollar String Band. Then on Sunday, Punk Rock Breakfast returns from 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the Lost Dog. This features grub and plenty o’ punk for just $5. Beer costs extra.

Because the planets have aligned (or at least the first Friday of the month falls during Snowdown), Steamworks has gotten into the act with the tapping of “Black Fairy Firkin” at the brewpub at 3 p.m. Friday. This stout is based on Steamworks’ popular Backside Stout, which already features complex malt and oak flavor with roasted and chocolate overtones. Backside has been re-fermented with dark maple syrup and anise seeds. Spencer Roper (yes, he of “Roper Is God” fame) says the polarizing flavor of anise is calmed down by the syrup. Word to the wise: Firkin Friday beers go quickly and the joint is always extra-packed on Snowdown Friday. The Fairy cask will probably run dry by the time the parade is over.

Looking for post-parade music? The Summit is always a popular choice. This year features the Deadesque sounds of Red Eyed Djinn immediately following the parade, followed by the monthly First Friday pairing of music (this month it’s DJ Abilities) and live visual art.

More Summit boogie includes the jam, funk and soul of Salt Lake’s Marinade at 10 p.m. tonight, the bluegrass stylings of Trout Steak Revival from 6:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday and still yet even more Kentucky Deluxe at 11 p.m. Saturday.

At Moe’s, DJ Matteo spins a post-parade disco party at 8 p.m. Friday. There’s also a DJ battle from 8 ‘til close Saturday.
Rumor has it that Psychedelic Mojo was one of the show-stealers at the recent KDUR Led Zeppelin Cover Night. Catch them live at 8:30 p.m. tonight at the Wild Horse Saloon.

Also of note: Black Velvet plays back-to-back nights at the Diamond Belle Saloon Friday (5:30 p.m.) and Saturday (6 p.m.)

Super Bowl Sunday also means epic halftime shows. For the second year in a row, though, the NFL has laid an egg. As if the Black Eyed Peas weren’t tough enough to stomach last year, XLVI springs Madonna, Cirque du Soleil, Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. upon us. Every few years, football’s braintrust approves an odd collection of pop stars that stupefies beer-gutted America. Think of Janet Jackson’s nipple slip in 2004 in a show that flanked her with P. Diddy, Nelly, Kid Rock and Justin Timberlake. Or Aerosmith shredding all dignity by having ‘N Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige and Nelly join them for “Walk This Way” in 2001. Or the Kiss Army being subjected to Gene sharing the stage with Chaka Khan, Gloria Estefan, Stevie Wonder and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy in 1999. Yep. I was made for loving you, baby.

Yuck. Memo to Mr. Commissioner himself, Roger Goodell: Lars and James have this little quartet called Metallica. This week’s Top Shelf list longs for simpler times, when rock bands simply rocked at halftime:
1. U2 in a 9/11 tribute in 2002
2. The Who, 2010
3. Bruce Springsteen, 2009
4. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 2008
5. Rolling Stones, 2006
6. Paul McCartney, 2005

Little skirt’s climbin’ way up the knee? Email me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net.