Exit Interview: Tyler Jacobson of Lipgloss
The Denver DJ kisses his weekly residency goodbye
Lipgloss started out eight years ago as a monthly dance night at 60 South (now known as 3 Kings Tavern) and has evolved into one of Denver’s best-known Friday evening throwdowns. DJs and co-founders Michael Trundle (a.k.a Boyhollow) and Tyler “Danger” Jacobson serve up everything from The Jam to Kid Cudi. Doing it big at La Rumba for the better half of Lipgloss’ lifespan, the duo has brought in the likes of Carlos D of Interpol and Andy Rourke of The Smiths to guest on the decks, keeping its crowd returning to the dance floor. Tonight Jacobson ends his residency with Lipgloss (Trundle will stay on); he spoke with The A.V. Club about new projects, old crowds, and a budding family.
The A.V. Club: Why leave a still successful gig?
Tyler Jacobson: Since Lipgloss became popular and we started seeing 700-plus people coming in the door, in came a large crowd who didn’t understand what we were doing with the music we were playing. This new crowd didn’t get why we wouldn’t field a request to play, say, Britney Spears or Justin Timberlake. It’s like they don’t understand what we’re trying to do. Requesting those songs is like walking into Taco Bell and ordering a cheeseburger—you can’t expect to get that. I just did an interview with another Denver publication and after I read it, I felt like I sounded as if I was being mean to our crowd—and I didn’t like it. I don’t want it to sound like I have a foul taste in my mouth, because that’s not the case.
AVC: Where did all those people come from?
TJ: Definitely the move to a larger venue changed things, but it was the Westword’s “Best of” awards that I think brought in a crowd that wouldn’t have known we existed otherwise. They came down and checked it out; many of them stayed and became regulars, while others sort of stepped in and couldn’t understand why we weren’t playing hip-hop. At a club, you can’t control who walks through the doors. I want to connect with people who care about music and don’t just use it as a backdrop. If you pick any other club in the city, you can hear whatever you want—so why are you walking into my club and giving me shit because I’m not playing what everyone else is playing? It wasn't a financial decision to keep doing Lipgloss every week, but it’s gotten to a point where I’ve begun to feel like an outsider at my own night. I’m just choosing not to be there anymore.
TJ: It is. I have two kids, both under the age of 8, meaning this is what I’ve been doing every Friday night for their entire lives. When I was getting ready for Lipgloss last week, my son asked me, “Why do you have to go to work tonight?” I don’t want to use the “family” excuse too much because I’m in a pretty unique position as a DJ, but, man, I want to hang out with my kids some Friday nights.
AVC: You and Michael were friends long before Lipgloss was born. Was it hard to tell him you were ready to leave?
TJ: It went really well. I was timing it. It wasn’t like this idea just popped into my head and I had this big conversation with Michael. I sat and mulled it over with my wife and talked to people in my inner circle about it. I was getting crap from people about my inability to hear as clearly as I used to. [Laughs.] And friends were saying things like, “You know you can do better than this, Tyler.” I was very comfortable with my choice to leave, and when I talked to Michael about it, it went well. He said he knew it was coming, he just didn’t know it was coming so soon. Michael and I see it as a mostly positive experience—it creates a lot of opportunity for him.
AVC: Any parting words?
TJ: It sounds so final! [Laughs.] But what I can say is, I do not want anyone else’s fan base—I want mine. I know who my crowd is, and I have a certain feeling about these people. They are smart and care about music and know its history and where it’s going because they’re so passionate about it. I want to keep them close.
Tyler's "Danger Radio" podcasts are broadcast every Saturday night from 8 to 10 p.m. and are available for download at indie303.com. The DJ also hosts Mile High Soul Club, happening the last Tuesday of every month at Rockbar.
