Last week I was a bit of a downer. In keeping with a planned prompt, I wrote about the worst parts of the offseason. Today, I'm participating in another Fansided initiative. This one is all about team lore.
The story of how 1999 pop-punk hit became a staple for Colorado Avalanche home crowds might seem pedestrian. It involves their in-house DJ, Craig Turney, better known as DJ Triple T, hearing the ear worm on a Throwback Thursday broadcast and taking a chance.
On that seemingly random day in 2019 Triple T recognized the track as nice little hit of nostalgic charm. Still, there was no way he could have guessed how much it would eventually resonate with live crowds in Denver.
Why exactly did the Blink 182 song work so well? The catchy chorus being both familiar to the masses and fun to sing along with are the easy answers. But the song did not become a signature until they learned precisely when to deploy it to full effect.
Fans might remember hearing 'All The Small Things' during the bubble-era playoff run for instance. But by the 2022 season the club understood it was best used as a third period signature. Especially in late game situations with the Avalanche leading, the number hit like a depth charge of positive vibes.
It feels obvious now of course. Your average fan can agree that "work sucks, I know" they will even enjoy yelling it at the top of their lungs over mid-game beers. Yet a little patience and a goal or two later and the lines " Say it ain't so, I will not go. Turn the lights off, carry me home" have whole new kind of organic magic.
That is how you get an entire arena belting out the lyrics in unison. Sports fandom is a communal experience rife with special traditions and unique lore. As an audiophile myself, I'm stoked that Colorado so fully embraced this one.
Avs' Faithful have indeed made the anthem part of their shared identity. Look no further than @AllTheAvsThings, an X account dedicated to documenting the story with video clips.
For those who are still learning the @Avalanche tradition of the All The Small Things sing along, this lyric video is for you. #GoAvsGo#AllTheSmallThings pic.twitter.com/n735UqsCw9
— 🎶All the Avalanche Small Things 🎶 (@AllTheAvsThings) July 19, 2022
Even so, the beloved tradition has been gradually phased out of such a prominent role in the live playlist at Ball Arena.
Why has it gone away?
To put things simply, the anthem has served its purpose. It endured for a few good years and helped fuel the home crowd through a championship. But DJ Triple T, and the team, didn't want to cheapen the value of it by letting the song become stale shtick.
Obviously this is't going to please everybody. Among Avalanche circles there will always be those who want it to come back. In fact, in researching this piece, one of the top results is a reddit thread lamenting the change.
It hasn't been banned by any means. However, now it is used sparingly upon special occasions. A good example was for Erik Johnson's first return to Colorado in 2023, as a member of the visiting Flyers.
I think this is a prudent choice. Play it for 2022 roster alums, who will appreciate the memory. I only hope they remembered to play it for Nicolas Aube-Kubel, who was once caught on camera singing along to the song on the bench.
A new Avalanche Anthem
The Colorado Avalanche need a new anthem. It might be a difficult sell at first but if 'All The Small Things' has taught us anything it is that this is a fanbase that can rock the house like few in the National Hockey League.
So, the next logical question then becomes how do you find a new song that could possibly compete with the old one? Honestly as someone who literally has my own playlist series built around Avalanche playoff assists, I have too many thoughts on this subject.
By the same logic though, I felt I had to try to come up with at least one killer candidate: I should also add that in order to make the exercise manageable, and hopefully, extra topical - I limited the scope of my thinking to Colorado artists.
I have no idea if the bands I've considered are Avalanche fans, but I do believe there is a strong chance of that being the case. When I think of this factor I think of one of my all time favorite bands the Old 97's and how they are linked forever to my least favorite franchise.
The Old 97's are from Dallas, and as such are verified Stars fans, They have even played during intermission at games. Most notably preforming their biggest hit 'Timebomb' in the 2007 playoffs. Thank Lord Stanley's ghost Dallas didn't win it all that year and cement that as tradition. I don't think my heart could take it.
Looking at the local scene in and around Denver provides many possibilities. If you want to stick in the pop-punk subgenre maybe nod to one of my Mile High favorites A Place For Owls, or maybe the grungy, lovely stylings of Tiny Tomboy.
If the mood is meaner and you don't mind making people angry with protest punk throw on Dead Pioneers and let it rip! No, seriously they probably shouldn't do that, no matter how loudly I would cheer.
In all seriousness I realize that my pitches so far are probably way too indie to get serious consideration. They all make great music I love. Tiny Tomboy even has a song called 'Gabriel' that I would make Gabe Landeskog's goal music if they let me in the booth. Yet, even I concede that part of the anthem criteria rests on wider familiarity.
So it is with more mass appeal in mind that I came to a pair of Denver based bands as the likeliest candidates.
First up is Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats who are an absolutely raucous live band. If you want a band people can sing along with, they absolutely check that box a hundred times. Although their biggest hit might have your pious aunt covering her ears.
One of the Sweats, Andy Wild even went to school with my sister. She loves the band and is the person who showed them to me over a decade ago now. If the Avalanche used their songs officially it wouldn't erase the image of Rhett Miller of the Old 97's in a Stars sweater from her memory, but she would be the happiest Avalanche fanatic on the planet.
Unlike many of my earlier pitches Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats feel like a distinct possibility. They have an actual history with the club. Not only do they preform at Ball Arena regularly on tour, but they have even done the National Anthem before an Avalanche game.
The biggest indicator it would be a great fit - Nathaniel Rateliff is was the exclusive music partner for A Clean Sheet Docuseries about Gabe Landeskog. If connections to the captain don't count for cred with the organization I don't know what will.
I saved my sentimental favorite for last. They are probably the best known act on my truncated list with two Grammy nominations to their name. It's The Lumineers. Similar to Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, The Lumineers are folksy rockers who can surely get a crowd singing together.
I say they are my top pick because I immediately know the right song. The 2012 lead single from their debut self-titled album 'Ho, Hey'. This song has it all, simple and easy to remember lyrics, a beautiful chorus about love and belonging, and it sounds better when everyone joins in.
The Lumineers have performed at charity events attended by Avalanche players in the past, and have at least a few fans in the locker room. I can remember The Lumineers getting shoutouts from both Andrew Cogliano and Ross Colton.
The Colorado Avalanche may never have another anthem as fondly remembered as 'All The Small Things'. Certainly they won't have one as delightfully random as to how it caught fire with the fanbase. I appreciate the song and it's unexpected legacy. Although I don't mind that it got retired like Blink 182's ex-guitarist Tom DeLonge who is happier searching for aliens now. Seriously, look it up.
The end of 'All The Small Things' as a mainstay at Avalanche games does not have to be a gloomy occasion. In fact, with a little hometown favoritism, the club might even find an anthem with deeper more meaningful Colorado roots.