Colorado Bands On The Rise In 2017
Another batch of local artists ascending
By Eric Frank
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Let's face the facts: Colorado's music scene is on fire. Not only do we have world-class amphitheaters (Red Rocks... need we say more?), an incredible array of independent venues (Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom, The Fox and Boulder Theaters, etc.) and national tour schedules that increase annually in both quantity and quality, Colorado also boasts one of the absolute best local scenes in the nation. Of course Los Angeles employs thousands in the music industry and New York is New York, but find me a city that caters more to and thrives greater from local artists who know how to jam.
From funk to bluegrass, indy-rock to jam bands, electronica, folk and everything in between, Colorado offers quality music seven nights a week. Truly, I cannot believe the amount of sheer talent in Denver, Boulder and beyond. There are innumerable musicians who deserve a nod for their countless hours they put into their craft, but alas, I'm forced to determine a handful for the sake of brevity. The following bands, we believe, are set to have a big year and an even bigger future should they stay the course. With hard work and dedication, a devotion to their craft and the support of people like you, these bands are destined for big things.
CYCLES
Featured as COjam's Artist of the Month for October, 2016, Cycles have been relentless both in their tour schedule and their live performances. The power trio is comprised of Patrick Harvey (guitar), Michael Wood (drums), and Tucker McClung (bass/vocals) and together have proven that power trios are alive and well.As the band puts it, they're "on a musical mission to melt your mind" and would seem to have the ability to do so. Cycles' music is raw and resolute, channeling psychedelia from decades past while utilizing modern grooves and tones. An improvisational spirit is at the foundation of the band, an asset most appealing against tried and tired note-for-note performers.Their tour schedule doesn't slow down in 2017 either. The guys are back playing Colorado after a national tour that took them virtually coast to coast. You can catch Cycles at the Boulder Theater for Kegs & Cabbage along with Lady & The Gentlemen on Friday, March 17.
MAMA MAGNOLIA
Mama Magnolia stands out the way a single red rose stands out against a colorless landscape. The rose is curious, beautiful and perhaps even somewhat dangerous, but one cannot help but be drawn to it.Hailing from Denver, CO, Mama Magnolia pulls influence from soul music and infuses elements of jazz, rock and hip-hop to create a truly captivating sound all their own. A sound that both yearns and fulfills, has both loved and lost and which can antagonize and pacify all at once. The chemistry of the band is undeniable - two band members are even dating - and can be felt both live and on tape. The band aims to create music to make the body move and the brain think, but mostly, they simply want to offer the gift of music. Mama Magnolia is undoubtedly ascending so be sure to catch them in one of Colorado's more intimate venues while you still have the chance. The band's upcoming shows are mostly out of state but keep up to date with Mama's Magnolia's tour schedule HERE. Check out a past performance from Cervantes' Other Side below.
GREENER GROUNDS
Of the true jam bands here in Colorado, few have garnered more attention than Denver's Greener Grounds. Simply put, the band is here for your dancing pleasure, a goal perhaps more direct than other's on this list to this point. But point definitely taken.This musically fearless foursome has no trouble setting musical landscapes and aural atmospheres, inciting motion and emotion throughout the journey. The band invites a wide variety of sound and timbre which they use to impose their musical spirit unto its audiences. And those audiences are growing. Greener Grounds have landed performances at Backwoods Music Festival (Stroud, OK), Resonance Music Festival (Thornville, OH), Sonic Bloom (Spanish Peaks, CO), Arise Music Festival (Loveland, CO) and many more. Guitarist Joe Shur, keyboardist Jeremy McDonough, bassist Jay Rieder and drummer AJ Gillman are gearing up for a productive 2017 with shows in Colorado and beyond. Rumor has it that GG will also be releasing a live set or multiple live sets leading up to the festival season.
THE OTHER BLACK
The Other Black is a curious band, and perhaps by design. They seem to be a bit of an enigma, a puzzle that requires distinctive attention in order to solve some unknown equation. Solving that puzzle begins with the band's front-man, Wes Watkins, otherwise known as Cosmic Slim. Watkins, band leader of the Other Black and trumpet player in Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, formed the band in the fall of 2012 with a "mere" 9 members. Since then, the musical multitude has blossomed to harbor upwards of 30 musicians in an ongoing collaborative effort. Most of the musicians come from existing Colorado bands, including Birds Of A Feather, Bonnie & The Beard, Petals of Spain, The People's Abstract and more. But they have nonetheless settled into a groove uniquely their own.The band's artistry is as evident as a back-hand to the cheek and just as forceful. From their fresh threads to their neo-soul chunky-funk sounds, the Other Black is simultaneously a tribute to past dernier cri and the experimental spirit of the modernist vanguard. The band oozes sex appeal but doesn't let it get in the way of their vocation. They employ humor without any loss of earnestness. In short, these cats are the real deal.
CARIBOU MOUNTAIN COLLECTIVE
Perhaps its best known musical attribute, Colorado has long shared an affinity for mountain music. Whether folk, bluegrass or something on the fringe, Colorado's acoustic musicians have found a niche here in the Centennial State. Enter Caribou Mountain Collective, the perfect representation of Colorado string music from the perfect Colorado string town, Nederland. CMC does indeed sit somewhere on the fringe of traditional bluegrass music, employing elements of jazz, country and blues into the greater folk-grass soundscapes they create. Each of the four musicians - Miles Perry (guitar), Curly Collins (upright bass), Etienne Cremieux (fiddle) and Allen Cooke (dobro) - contribute vocally to the band to create lush harmonies amidst truly memorable melodies."We are really looking forward to putting out another album in 2017," says Perry. And we're looking forward to it too. But until the album drops, we'll have to settle for seeing Caribou Mountain Collective live and in the flesh. Some choice opportunities to do so are with the Wisconsin-born Horseshoes and Hand Grenades (see also WIjam: The Wisconsin Jam Scene) on April 7 and 8 at Vail Ale House and the Bluebird Theater, respectively. CMC will warm up the crowd when The Railsplitters + Front Country headline The Fox Theater in Boulder, CO on April 19 and also perform at the 4th Annual Upslope Get Down Festival, held May 20 at Upslope Brewery's Flatiron Park location.
Of worthy mention...
THE SWEET LILLIES
The Sweet Lillies’ high-energy, melodic tunes have quickly captured the hearts and music souls of fans in Colorado and beyond. The band, formed in November of 2013, credits its appeal to the original and compelling songwriting of all four of its members. The magnetic combination of Julie Gussaroff on the upright bass, Becca Bisque on the viola, Danjo Lynn on the banjo and Melly Frances on percussion and guitar–together with powerful three-part female harmony–give this band a rare and alluring sound.
TRASHCAN JACKSON
Full disclosure: I am in this band! But fuck it… we’re all a little shameless, right? Trashcan Jackson is a 3-piece, hard-hitting post-funk outfit that utilizes the strange into their performance. Sure, you can call it funk. You can call it rock, or soul, or fusion. And while it’s all of those things, it’s simultaneously none of those things. The band captures audience's attention first with its precision vocals and unique song-writing, but peaks one's interest with their ability to improvise. Guitarist and vocalist Sam Bee mesmerizes crowds with his uniquely powerful and soulful voice as the rhythm section – Brian Saulig (bass) and Eric Frank (percussion) - challenge one’s musical expectation.
FLASH MOUNTAIN FLOOD
Flash Mountain Flood is a 5 piece, Boulder-based psychedelic rock n’ roll jam band with a classic feel that is committed to preserving one of America’s greatest music cultures with their unique approach to their live shows and extensive catalogue of original songs. Flash Mountain Flood delivers their loyal Front Range fanbase a true concert experience with their fresh take on American roots music. Fans show up with an expectation for improvisation, diverse genres of original music, surprise covers and a true sense of musical community.