Outside the old Marquis theatre in downtown Denver, Kamtin Mohager sat down on the curb to enjoy a pre-show dinner. Every few minutes, a new face would walk by, some waving or excitedly blurting out a "hey kam!", one passerby even stopping to ask for a light of her cigarette. At first glance, it would not seem like Mohager was the headliner for the concert that night as fans were not crowding around him. But that is how he wanted it; less fans and more friends.

Mohager is the front man in the up and coming Denver band, The Chain Gang of 1974. Actually, he is the only man in the band. But it would not do him justice to compare him to the one-man-band acts that line the 16 th street mall on Saturday afternoons. Using a mixture of synthesized beats and melodic bass chords, Mohager is able to incorporate rhythm in his music that strikes memories of John Travolta and Saturday Night Fever.

"I would describe my music as dirty disco house dance rock," said Mohager.

But this is all old news to anyone who has been to a Chain Gang of 1974 show.

"I want every single song of mine to move someone, not emotionally but physically," said Mohager. "My motto is Dance or Die; I want someone to always say 'wow that was such a fun show'."

And The Chain Gang surely does not disappoint those who do come to his shows.

"Kam's music is like nothing I've ever heard, or really felt," said sixteen year old Parker Martin. "His beats fill my mind and fill me with a rush of energy and before I know it everything in the world is gone and I'm dancing the night away. His music becomes you and dancing is all that matters."

While his beats may be intoxicating, Mohager also knows how to put on a good show. During the first few songs, he jumped down from stage and dance with the crowd while still singing, living up to his motto, Dance or Die. Two microphones are set up on opposite sides of the stage so he can move around, and hype up everyone in the crowd.

"Don't think about how you look dancing or the clothes you are wearing," said Mohager. "Just come out to have a good time."

When getting ready to play his last song of the night, he pulled out bottles of silly string, and sprayed the crowd to get them ready to dance. This action, as if a trigger for commotion, caused herds of teenagers to run up on stage and begin to shake, shimmy and turn as Mohager sang.

But where does that name come from anyways? The inspiration for the less than normal name comes in two parts. Mohager is greatly influenced by the folk singer Ryan Adams. On Adams' album Rock n' Roll, the inside album art shows Adams' forearm where he tattooed his birth year, 1974. Wrapped around his wrists are chains. The chain gang idea, however, came from a band called the Ravenettes whose album was entitled The Chain Gang of Love.

Though the Chain Gang has already become popular with the teenage crowd in Colorado, Mohager began the band only six short months ago. With shows all over Colorado, Mohager also has scheduled shows in San Diego and Hollywood California in the coming month. His myspace.com friend count has already reached over 2, 900 and his play count exceeds 50,000.

Currently Mohager is working for Monster Energy as the Colorado music rep. Between his regular life he is able to schedule shows and write new music for his upcoming album. Mohager is greatly inspired by all types of music, and tries to incorporate that which moves him into his own.

When writing a new song, Mohager will lock himself in his room for hours, replaying the same song. He tries to rewrite the song in his own words, while staying true to the original vibe that influenced him. Mohager also puts emphasis on a catch phrase that he repeats throughout his songs to draw in his listener.

But the Chain Gang is only Mohager's side project.

"I didn't intend for any of this to happen," said Mohager. "I am just having a good time. I am blessed that people have taken a liking to it."

Though the Chain Gang of 1974's popularity is rising fast, Mohager still insists that he is just like everyone else; music just happens to be his passion, past time and job.

"I love driving," said Mohager. "There is nothing better than waking up early and putting in your favorite record and going to get coffee. I am just as normal as you can get."

For more information or to listen to The Chain Gang of 1974, go to www.myspace.com/thechaingangof1974