Denver bands pay homage to Nirvana to mark Nevermind’s 20th anniversary

With the 20th anniversary of the release of Nirvana’s music industry-altering Nevermind on the horizon, two things are certain: We’re going to see a lot of nostalgic tributes, and a lot of middle-aged rockers are suddenly going to feel kind of old. For Denver, the Le Divorce-engineered Come As You Are tribute show should take care of the former; you’ll still have to reflect on your mortality on your own.

Le Divorce joins six other bands—The Swayback, Force Publique, Night Of Joy, Il Cattivo, Pacific Pride, and Hearts In Space—Sept. 24 at Hi-Dive to pay respects to the architects of the alt-rock revolution. Each act’s tapped to play three or four Nirvana tunes as a less-than-tacit acknowledgement of the impact Kurt Cobain’s music and legacy left on their lives. Before you get inundated with Nirvana nostalgia next month, The A.V. Club spoke with Le Divorce singer-guitarist Kitty Vincent about how her heart—and those of so many members of her generation—will always feel most comfortable in flannel.

The A.V. Club: The Come As You Are lineup draws a lot of different bands together that don’t usually appear on the same bill. How’d you organize that?

Kitty Vincent: We really wanted bands to play who didn’t hang out together all the time, and to sort of show what a wide range of influence Nirvana had on bands. It helps to bring Denver together in a way we’re not always doing.

AVC: Nirvana was a monumentally influential band for anyone who grew up in the ’90s and was into any sort of underground music. Do you think Generation Y can even understand that impact?

KV: I don’t know. That’s a good question. We’ve got Force Publique playing, and they’re 20 years old. One of them was born the year this album came out. They’re excited to participate. It’s interesting. I see 15-year-old kids walking around with Nirvana T-shirts on. Now, it’s like retro and kitsch—like we were walking around with Stones T-shirts on—but I think it’s still relevant and meaningful to them, which is what’s so special about that band.

AVC: There’s always talk of waiting for the next Nirvana. Do you think that was the last time music was really shaken up so profoundly?

KV: I think that’s a loaded question. Music has changed a lot. There’s always new people coming in and bringing new things. For me personally, that probably was the last time that there was a complete shift in a way that was honestly meaningful to me.

AVC: Do you think your age at the time that Nevermind blew up plays a big role in the band’s lasting influence on you?

KV: Absolutely. I was 12 years old, so I was super impressionable and super angst-ridden. That was the perfect thing for me at that time. I think for a lot of my generation, that was also the case. If I had been 30 when that record came out, would I have cared as much? Maybe not, maybe so. [My age] certainly played a huge role.

AVC: When Le Divorce released its debut EP, you spoke about your band’s unapologetic love for ’90s alt-rock, so it probably shouldn’t surprise anyone that you’re hosting this.

KV: It’s true. We’re definitely into that. I was certainly influenced by that era. When Michael [Trundle, Vincent’s boyfriend] said we should do a show after I had mentioned it, I said, “I don’t think we should. I think it’s too obvious. I think we’re too much of a ’90s band, and it will just be too obvious.” I brought it up with a couple of different people and they were like, “No, I don’t think you sound anything like Nirvana.” Although we are influenced by them in a way, I guess it’s not as obvious to other people as it is to me.

AVC: Could that be because that era had as much impact on your personality as your musical aesthetic?

KV: Totally. That whole era has influenced me in general, just my personality. I’m sure it’s more obvious to me than other people.