The Dandy Warhols at Ophelia's Electric Soapbox

The Dandy Warhols hail from Portland, Oregon, of course, but the band was right at home in Denver during its two-night stand on July 12 and 13 at Ophelia's Electric Soapbox.

Nearly 25 years after its formation, the Dandies have endured as one of the most stable bands in rock. The Dandys were originators, along with the Brian Jonestown Massacre, of an alternative/psychedelic music scene that also gave birth to bands like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and the Warlocks.

Courtney Taylor-Taylor. (All photos by Christopher Windle)

Iconic frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor is the principal songwriter, but there's a lot of depth in the Dandys. Drummer Brent DeBoer sings harmony, and on the side, leads the band Immigrant Union. (When he can't make a gig because of another commitment, original drummer Eric Hedford readily steps in.) Original members Zia McCabe and Peter Holmstrom are there, too, seemingly having just as much fun as ever. Keyboardist McCabe deejays as her side gig (and dabbles in real estate as well). Guitarist Holmstrom helms the excellent band Pete International Airport.

We were there for the Thursday night show in the cozy venue packed with dedicated Dandys fans. It was a cool scene that was perfect for the Dandys, with surroundings seemingly straight out of one of the band's videos. And the city was perfect as well, because well, we all know that the band members like to partake.

The opening band, glam-rock throwbacks Uni, put on a surprisingly pleasing show. (The footage of the band on YouTube just doesn't do it justice.) Uni doesn't really break new ground, with songs that sound like they're from the movie "Velvet Goldmine." But its new frontman, clad in a partially see-through, rhinestone-embellished unitard, managed to transfix the appreciative crowd.

Peter Holmstrom

Still, there was no upstaging the headliner.

The Dandys played a well-curated setlist of 14 songs, some of them extended versions. The crowd ate it up, even the lengthy intro to "Boys Better" that somewhat resembled "Pete International Airport" (the song). The band opened with "Be-In" and also played "I Love You," though it skipped some better-known singles off the album "The Dandy Warhols Come Down." Also well-represented were "Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia" and the Nick Rhodes-produced "Welcome to the Monkey House."

Though it may be tempting to define the Dandys by the band's late '90s/early 2000s heyday, its most recent album "Distortland" is one of its best. The band made room in the setlist for two tracks off the album, "Styggo" and "Search Party."

Then there were the songs that must be heard, "Holding Me Up" and perhaps the band's finest moment, "The Last High,” played back to back. And "Godless" had its rightful spot in the setlist, flawless as usual.

Pete's pedals

And then there are the moments that only the Dandys can do. When Zia left the stage for a bathroom break, Courtney broke out a version of "Monkey House" that sounded exactly like the album version, with only his guitar and Pete off to the side of the stage for emotional support. Always fun.

It was a chill evening with a down-to-earth band and a crowd of some of its biggest fans, there for the handful of shows on the agenda for 2018 while the band prepares its next album.

Hopefully, the Dandys will keep on ruling into a third decade.