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BandWagon Magazine northern coloradoâ€™s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

ALBUM REVIEWS Twin Peaks Sunken

Jordan Wood BandWagon Magazine Not to be confused with the creepy David Lynch series, Twin Peaks is a musical act with a charming grit that makes them a new must-listen. Cadien James, Clay Frankel, Connor Brodner, and Jack Dolan are the 19-yearold guys behind the burgeoning Chicago band. After graduating high school and committing to college together in Washington state, the members of Twin Peaks embarked on a self-booked summer tour and decided to record an album. Sunken drops July 9th as their debut out on Autumn Tone Records. It is a natural next step for these budding musicians who impressed the crowd at SXSW this year with their energetic stage presence, and infectious sound. Sunken is an eight-track taste

of what Twin Peaks has to offer. They have an appealing rockabilly quality to it sets their music apart. It’s a refreshing blend of beachy melodies, and mellowedout-punk guitar riffs. They fit somewhere between a younger, rougher Best Coast and a lighter version of Wavves. Sunken boasts simple, charismatic lyrics supported by youthful and impressively executed instrumentals. The first track, “Baby Blue” opens Sunken with a delightful bang, which continues throughout the album. Each song moves naturally into the next, making it an album that is easy to listen to as a whole — a temporary cure for the modern affliction of musical ADD. Naming tracks that stick out from the rest is a tough job, but “Stand in the Sand” is especially infatuating with Cadien James crooning the cheeky lyrics. Just like most punk music, each track

is only 2-3 minutes on average. Sunken is a fast listen made to sing along with and move to. It’s a well-rounded, albeit short debut album that pairs perfectly with summertime. That’s not to say that Twin Peaks doesn’t have room to grow. These talented 19-year-olds have more to offer their listeners with more years of experience. However, Sunken is a engagingly delightful display of their talent. For anyone in search of an addictive new album to add to their library, Sunken is something to check out.

The Ghoulies The Ghoulies

Alex Graff BandWagon Magazine With an lively fusion of punk and blues, The Ghoulies deliver a pulse that revitalizes your spirit and love of rock n’ roll. The ensemble is comprised of Adam Moore (vocals, guitar), Jake Yergert (guitar), brother Dan Yergert (bass guitar), and Connor Randall (drums). Recently releasing their self-titled debut album, The Ghoulies’ multifaceted brand of rock is constituted by vocals reminiscent of ‘70s punk bands, guitar work that alternates between power chord punk, groove-oriented blues, and a rhythm section of bass and drums that invigorates a constant energy and excitement. Some of their major influences include AC/DC, Foxboro Hot Tubs, the Raconteurs, and the Misfits. They also love an array of old blues guitarists. The most refreshing aspect of this group is their innately groovy bounce amidst a classic punk sound, which is at the heart of all of their best tracks. This is largely due to the way the band came to be. The Ghoulies’ formation initially occurred in their adolescent

years and their taste reflected that stage of anger, change, and expression. For one member in particular, punk rock provided a soundtrack to his struggle. The band’s drummer, Connor Randall, had two heart-transplant surgeries. While recovering from his second, he discovered Green Day. With their (at the time) recent release of American Idiot, they had reinvigorated the punk sound and were unlike anything he had heard before. The legendary group spoke to him, and that voice can still be heard in the every drum beat. As a whole, The Ghoulies were influenced by pop punk bands and eventually started playing their own ska punk music. With the addition of Jake Tergert, the band evolved into a more original incarnation of rock n’ roll sensibilities. “When Jake joined the band, he added a lot of blues and rock and roll. He’s always insisting-no matter how technical or interesting a song isif it doesn’t groove, it’s worthless.” said bassist Dan Yergert on behalf of the band. That sentiment echoes true in their best tracks, such as “Triggerfinger,” “Vagabond,” and “Gasoline,” which all maintain an insatiable groove

while cultivating an instinctive familiarity. But when it comes right down to it, the band keeps it simple. “Basically, we just play what we want to hear.” remarked Dan Yergert. Each member fell in love with music in their adolescence because it was a means to their growth. “It gave us a sense of attitude and character that was hard to find elsewhere,” Dan affirmed. “For the first time, we had an undeniable sense of self.” This actualization has led four individuals to come together over a shared passion to create the kind of music that moves them. But it’s much more than that. The way that bands like Green Day and AC/DC have shepherded countless through the uncertain roads of adolescence, maybe, just maybe, will be the same way The Ghoulies ring true for some faceless kids in the crowd.

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013 Ramshakle Glory/Ghost Mice... Shelter

Austin Wulf BandWagon Magazine Funded by a Kickstarter campaign, Ramshackle Glory and Ghost Mice’s split album Shelter was first described by Ghost Mice lead singer Chris Clavin as being “about the ideas of shelter and home. Ideas like sleeping on floors and living in punk houses and not having anywhere to live at all.” These two anarchist folkpunk bands came together to produce a ten-track LP that resonates with the ethos of their past releases and, of course, sounds fantastic. The theme of the album is easily summed up in the first chorus of Ramshackle Glory’s song “Any Place (Growing Up):” “Hell, sometimes home is any place that’s dry.” This is an album split by two bands who have spent plenty of time homeless or on the road (often simultaneously), so the lyrics seem genuine. Each song deals with the nature of home, whether it’s living in cars (“House on Wheels” by Ghost Mice) or on the road (“Punk is the Worst Form of Music, Except for All the Others” by Ramshackle Glory). Ramshackle Glory’s songs deal with these ideas experientially, based on lead singer Pat the Bunny’s history with homelessness and drug addiction during his teen years. “Eulogy for an Adolescence Shattered Against Elliot Street Pavement (Here’s to Being Young!)” deals with that side specifically, with lines about stealing beer and buying whipped cream with food stamps just to huff it, with the helpless junkie refrain of “Here’s to being young / I hope I die before I get old / Hell, I just hope I die before the spoon gets cold.” The first half of Shelter, the five songs by Ramshackle Glory, has a sound unlike what most would consider

‘punk.’ Self-described as “punk rock with all the wrong instruments,” the inclusion of accordion, trumpet, and piano in addition to more traditional rock sounds, like electric guitar and drums, gives this band a distinctive sound. At times jaunty and at times sounding like the musical equivalent of a car crash (appropriately). Ghost Mice are also a folkpunk band with a sound few would describe as “punk,” but they are punks in every other aspect. This two-piece consists of a guitarist and a violinist, with the occasional overdubbed mandolin or ukulele, and two imperfect voices that harmonize beautifully. The songs on their half of Shelter touch on the idea of home in a more concrete way. For example, “House of Chaos (333 S. Henderson)” is about life in a punk house, paying the rent by shoplifting and trying to live as a cohesive, cooperative anarchistic unit. Then there’s “House on Fire,” that touches more on the ideas of property and capitalism: “I am caged, I am chained / We’re all slaves to the things we own.” Ramshackle Glory and Ghost Mice are both seasoned bands with solidly defined sounds, and the lyrical content of Shelter is well within both of their wheelhouses. Stream the album or buy a physical copy at RamshackleGlory. BandCamp.com.

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013 Huff n’ Keen Foul I See

John Hann BandWagon Magazine Greeley, Colorado’s Huff N Keen just released a six-track mixtape called Foul I See earlier this year. The mixtape shows off the group’s unique style of production by combining hip-hop, jazz, electronica, and some classic rock to construct the tracks. Although some of the vocals throughout the mixtape are rather muddy and difficult to understand, the overall production is impressive and stays true to Huff N Keen’s soul-hop style. Foul I See utilizes a stronger soul-based sound to their tracks, unlike many of their mixtapes. It’s a great step in the right direction for the group, and showcases their high energy and constructive message through a new perspective. Foul I See is the shortest project the group has released yet, but does not disappoint and has several tracks that are worth checking out. “Funk Vol 2012 Contest” has an interesting hook, and demonstrates the

lyrical talent of the group to ride a catchy beat. “Life” shows off the group’s ability to flow fast and discuss the difficulties life throws at everyone, over a catchy piano and string-based beat. “I’m Free” is perhaps the most soul-based track on the album. The track is produced with jazzy piano, soulful background singers, and a simple hip-hop drum beat that brings their sound to the track. The rapping on the track is right on cue, fast, and provides a smooth flow to the verses. The final track is called “Kick Back” and is a sample of Grizmatik’s hit song “Digital Liberation Is Mad Freedom.” It’s the most upbeat track on the mixtape and talks about the group’s passion

for music and motivation to succeed while using “patience and peacefulness” to control their state of mind. A few downfalls of the track are the muffled lyrics and nearly the entire last two minutes of the track has no vocals at all. The local hip hop group has been working hard to produce some unique tracks, what they call “soul hop,” and have released another successful, underground project hip-hop fans

everywhere should give a listen. Huff N Keen’s mixtape can be found online at www. datpiff.com and is free to download.

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

Local Business Profile

Greeley Scooters Club Sets Up Shop on 11th Ave Jay Wallace BandWagon Magazine Chris Snyder and Scott Falconer have full-time day jobs: nights at Safeway and firefighter, respectively. But they have made a name for themselves running Greeley Scooters, a club of scooter enthusiasts who do group rides around town. Lately, the pair have taken some time off playing with scooters and decided to set up shop. This month, Greeley Bike and Scooter opens up at 2530 11th Avenue. The shop will be selling and servicing used scooters, used mid-range to highend bicycles, as well as selling disc golf gear and skateboards. The last time BandWagon spoke with the pair, both said they had no intention of opening up a shop. What’s changed? “The community needed a place like this,” Rioz said. “The last gentleman who just walked out, he wanted his scooter serviced.

Problem is, nobody else in town would even look at it, so we’re the go-to guys.” “Greeley Harley said they wouldn’t touch it, told them to come here,” Snyder said. “It’s pretty cool. So far, the other bike shops that have been awesome with us are sending people our way, because they get this question all the time.” Falconer and Snyder set up shop within two weeks. With their full time jobs and no employees, they’ve had their families, friends and associates within the Greeley scooter community helping them out. Dan Rioz, an art teacher at AIMS Community College, has been helping the pair since they opened up, which has been necessary at times. Snyder said at one point, there were ten people in the store at once, not long after they opened. “There’s been some times where it’s been a madhouse,” Rioz said.

“My first week open, I said, ‘I’ve never been so exhausted and so fulfilled with friends helping and customers and the support,’” Snyder said. “The thing that’s nice to see though,” Rioz said, “is that when a lot of the customer base ends up coming in, it becomes much more communal because even they start to interact more, and then they start finding commonalities between themselves, and there’s so many things that bring people together here, because there’s so many different avenues.” The shop is quickly becoming integrated with the Greeley community. GBS has hooked up with indoor skate park The Farm, they have spoken to the manager of The Cheba Hut and the guys behind Three Rivers Disc Club. The shop is going to be the only stop in Greeley for Bike-to-Work Day on June 26, with plans to serve breakfast the morning of. “We want to be kind of your neighborhood bike shop,” Snyder

said, “part of the community— obviously we already are with our scooter club, but we want to do events.” “We don’t want to necessarily take away business from anybody else, we want to work side-byside with them. We want it to be about Greeley being more, like, bike-savvy and being more open to these things.” “And they’ve been really great with us, too,” Snyder said. “Everybody’s been so supportive, the other bikes shops.” For those interested in getting their scooter serviced, looking for a nice used bike, or getting into skateboarding and disc golf, you can check out the store noon to six Tuesday through Saturday at 2530 11th Ave. For details, visiting their Facebook at www. facebook.com/pages/GreeleyBike-Scooter.

BandWagon Magazine northern coloradoâ€™s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

FILM REVIEWS This is the End 2013 - 107 Minutes – Rated R Jerry Hunt BandWagon Magazine I was doomed from the beginning. The day This is the End came to theaters, I was told this film is, and I dislike even thinking about this, better than Pineapple Express, and yes, even Superbad. More than people giving away surprise endings, I despise it when people raise my hopes to a level that cannot possibly be reached. This movie is funny. It was damn funny. Seth Rogen is at the top of his meta-fictional game with this flick. It’s about Rogen and his buddies, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride, and Jay Baruchel as themselves, in an end-of-the-world scenario. First indication it was the end of the world: a coked-up Michael Cera slaps Rihanna right on the ass. I apologize, I feel like I’m doing exactly what pissed me off about my expectations for this movie. As a huge fan of improv comedy, a style Rogen is known for in most of his

modern comedy classics, this movie brilliantly utilizes the art of making shit up on the spot. And this is perfect fodder for this type of humor: smugas-fuck actors having to deal with the shallow relationship issues they have with each other in the midst of the world coming to an over-the-top end. Oh. And the ending. Um... If you go into the theater expecting another stupid, overly blue comedy without any substance beyond satirized stoner impressions and pussy actor bitches... you won’t be disappointed. There’s plenty of that shit, but also a surprising amount of morality and commentary on the shallow behavior of Hollywood actors and their lifestyles. It kind of bothered me that the kings of shit, semen and piss comedy were lecturing me on being a good person. On the other hand, it was kind of nice to see these shitheads try and face themselves in a humorous light they have yet to try and portray on screen. They all come across as

genuine as they can while also putting on a show that Rogen/Franco fans have come to expect. Really, the root of the problem comes down to expectations. There are a lot of cameos in this movie, but Emma Watson gets the best appearance award. She’s so cute when she’s in survival mode. This movie pushes boundaries, even for those guys and it was a lot of fun to experience, but don’t expect Superbad, because that was a once in a lifetime powerhouse comedy phenomenon. This film is like the little brother that never quite makes their parents as proud so he goes off to be a journalist and put down other people’s art to feel better about himself. I do highly recommend this film. Oh and there’s demon rape, so that’s fun. Leave your parents at home, save yourself the awkward silence on the drive home. You can’t unsee this.

BandWagon Magazine northern coloradoâ€™s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

Creating a Vital Force

SHIMON LIDMARK Sarah Kirby BandWagon Magazine Movement manifests in the form of a vital force that awakens each individual sketched in Shimon Lidmark’s artwork. And with a belief that everyone has a unique, creative energy budding within, the artist is producing a series of drawings shaped by a humanitarian cry for the viewer to get in touch with their own creative spirit. In many of her works, but especially her charcoal pieces, Lidmark’s fingerprints are mixed amongst the strokes and lines that make up a ballerina’s skirt or Eurydice’s face as she looks back at Orpheus, while being pulled back into the depths of hell. Lidmark’s optimistic, romantic, and modernist energy is literally imprinted in every artistic portrait she creates. She is a UNC English graduate student and has had her work on display at Istanbul

Local Artist Profile

Hookah Lounge in Garden City, illustrated a children’s book, and drawn wedding portraits for couples. Lidmark recently showcased her work June 8th at A Taste of Art, a benefit for the High Plains Library District. “I’ve been doing a lot of creating over the last few years, but I’m ready to share my work,” Lidmark said. She was inspired by Tim Burton’s classic film The Nightmare Before Christmas but didn’t take an art class until high school where she met her favorite teacher who never taught a lesson — the students were simply encouraged to create. “Just because one person, or a history of people, have figured out how to use a material to make it look good does not mean that’s the way it’s suppose to be used by everyone,” Lidmark said. “I feel that creating art intuitively and learning the materials by trial

and error is really important.” Charcoal, pastels, colored pencil, and water color are the mediums Lidmark enjoys working with. The current arts & entertainment editor for the UNC Mirror loves to use charcoal because it creates dramatic lighting. An admirer of Peter Paul Ruben’s sensual Baroque style, Lidmark finds many of her pieces laced with a chiaroscuro-like contrast adds high-drama to bring out the form and beauty of the life in her art. “The best art that I can create I just intuitively let go and do it. Charcoal is a bit different: your arms are moving, and your whole body is involved in a relaxed but energetic way. I think the way to judge a drawing is if it emotes some kind of energy. Society needs to be aware of their communication of energies because it affects the level of beauty around us.”

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

Rolling

with Rodney 16th St. Celebrateds the 3rd Annual Bikes on the Patio at Madison & Maine Kendra Hamman BandWagon Magazine

Rodney Barns’ is the President of the Madison and Main Gallery, which has offered gallery space to its members and consignment artist for twenty-six years. As one of the founding members, he has his masters and undergraduate degrees in the fine arts from the University of Northern Colorado. Each year Madison and Main gallery does a members-only show. Their contributing members create art in their medium that revolves around a particular theme. Last years’ theme was motion. This years’ theme: bikes. Barns is the director of the show and has himself created pottery plates decorated with gear-like shapes. For Barns, keeping physically active is a way to keep his passion for pottery going. He began running to stay in shape in order to haul his ceramics in and out of the kiln and all over the state to various shows. He took up biking around twentyfive years ago, but only got into the culture recently when the shortlived Greeley Revolution began in 2009. He found biking around town a unique way to get into the community. They organized weekly rides, races, and bike battles for a culture

that desperately needed to be cultivated in the Greeley area, but The Greeley Revolution went cold when it’s founder left Colorado to pursue his dreams. Nobody was left to pick up the torch. Rodney Barns recognized this absence and did what he could to keep his new found community alive by organizing ‘Bikes on the Patio,’ an annual bikes-meet-art show that takes place on the patio of what is now The Blue Mug @ Margies. In an attempt to marry his two passions, Rodney has done his part to keep the cyclists and fixie fiends’ flame alive in a small, yet significant way. In 2011, the first show featured only fixed-gear bicycles, which were widely unknown at the time in Greeley except mainly to the members of The Greeley Revolution. This show was brought people into the bike community and they became more familiar with fixed gear bikes. The bikes were hung all around Margie’s patio area for the reception on First Friday and drew a crowd. The show welcomed single-speed bikes in 2012, and a new group

Photos By Kendra Hamman

of people. A single-speed bike has a free wheel and the ability to coast, yet as its name suggests, it has only one speed. This year, on July 5th cruisers will be introduced into the Bikes on the Patio family. “Part of the goal was to intertwine art and bike communities together. Bikes really just fuel my passion for art, you always gotta’ have that,” Barns said. He explained that Bikes on the Patio intends to highlight individuality, and the freedom people have to customize their rides. This is also a reason fixedgear bikes are his favorite: they are cheap to build, efficient, and easy to customize. Come find a new cyclist community, and revisit your creative side July 5th at Madison and Main Gallery, 619 16th St.

BandWagon Magazine northern coloradoâ€™s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

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BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

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The Greeley Stampede has a long and colorful history with the people of northern Colorado. After 91 years and never missing a beat, the Stampede has become a tradition rooting the city in its past and grown into one of the biggest summer events in the region hosting around 250,000 visitors each year. Lasting from June 27th through July 7th, The Greeley Stampede is ten days of rodeos, carnivals, games, destruction derbys, MMA fights, and music. With the Stampede’s long history, comes the practice of bringing some of music’s biggest names both old and new to the Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley,

Colorado. Featuring performances from Los Lobos, Josh Turner, Los Lonely Boys, Jerrod Neimann, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and many others, the Greeley Stampede shows that this year will be no different. Recently, Jojo Garza, the bassist of Los Lonely Boys who will be headlining on June 30th, spoke with the BandWagon about their experiences in Colorado and what it’s like to be in one of the most prominent Texican rock bands to grace the stages of the Greeley Stampede. Currently on their Brotherhood tour with Los Lobos and Alejandro Escovedo, Jojo spoke how his excitement to be returning to Colorado. “Colorado is

a little drop of Heaven,” Jojo said. “There is something about the air and the mountains there. We’ve had a lot of great experiences in Colorado. I hardly drink, but when I do I drink Coors Light.” Hailing from San Angelo, Texas, but coming out of the Nashville music scene, Los Lonely Boys has long been a household name. Scoring a top 40 Billboard hit in 2004 with their infectious jam “Heaven,” Los Lonely Boys brought the Texican rock sound to a national and mainstream audiences. The success of their four studio albums and their longevity as a band has made them a pillar for the genre as well as a bridge

for outsiders to get a glimpse into what Texas rock is all about. For Los Lonely Boys success wasn’t something that just appeared one day but something they worked at. “I had several jobs before music,” Jojo said. “I was a cook and did hard labor. I just always imagined myself performing in front of audiences.” When asked when he felt he knew the band made it, he replied, “I guess when you’re standing on stage and you look over and see Tim MaGraw, Faith Hill, and Beyonce singing along, you know.” For Jojo, he loves his work but also understands how some musicians struggle

to maintain a certain level of passion in the music. But it’s finding the love in being creative that helps to fuel him musically. For Los Lonely Boys, creativity is the result of the world around them. To Jojo, what he experiences and what he sees other people experience makes up about 90 percent of the songs he writes. The other ten stems from his personal faith. “When you’re a musician, painter, writer, poet, dancer or whatever, you have a very deep connection with creation.” Creativity is a very spiritual experience for Jojo and he sees it as a way to better understand creation itself. Not ones to stay still, the Boys are

releasing a single on July 30th and have plans to return to the studio as soon as their tour is over. According to Jojo, that is where they spend most of their time when they are home. “They say you spend your entire life making your first record,” Jojo said, and although they their music has found success, the band is still out to make the perfect album. But he knows the struggle of staying creative at all times and how trying it can be on your energy to be a professional musician. His advice to up and coming musicians: “Keep the love in it. Even though it can be a job sometimes.”

By Jed Murphy

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

(SPOTLIGHTS)

THIS YEAR’S CONCERTS at the GREELEY STAMPEDE Brought to you by:

JOSH TURNER Best known for his breakthrough album and title track, “Long Black Train,” Turner is also heralded as one of country music’s biggest heartthrobs with his youthful complexion and low baritone voice that has women’s hearts vibrating to his timbre. Turner’s musical career, which began in the early 2000s, has made him a top notch country musician. He is responsible for crafting up a total of four number-one, top hits with, two of them coming in 2010. Without a doubt, such talent from a good-looking country star has Greeley excited about the upcoming summer kicking off with Turner’s performance at the Greeley Stampede. Currently, Turner is touring around promoting his fifth studio album entitled, Punching Bag. The album includes some well-known tracks such as, “Time is Love,” “Deeper Than My Love,” and, “Find Me a Baby.” Frazier, 20, is a young beauty from Breckenridge, Texas. After winning the highly coveted John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Frazier will follow up her achievement with the anticipated performance in Greeley. When you combine the sweet and melodic sound of Frazier’s smooth female voice with a five-million-albumsselling, female’s-dream-making, bass-grooving stud, then you will get a show no country lover in northern Colorado will want to miss.

By Scott Hartman Anyone who has ever driven down the open road with nothing but time and “Free Bird” playing knows the transcendental power of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Their iconic songs are forever etched in the canvas of our culture, to be passed along and played time and again for generations present and yet to be. Everyone has a favorite Lynyrd Skynyrd jingle. Maybe it’s their ode to

LYNYRD SKYNYRD

rural living, the instantly recognizable “Sweet Home Alabama.” Or it could be their deeply wise meditation on happiness and living seen in, “Simple Man.” Or maybe it should be what is arguably the greatest song in rock history, the ever eternally emotive epic, “Free Bird.” The list of hits goes on and so does the band, even through tragedy. Lynyrd Skynyrd came to prominence

in 1973 with their debut album titled (Pronounced ‘lĕh-’nérd ‘skin-’nérd). They continued to grow in popularity, acclaim, and success for the next four years until a plane crash in 1977 took the lives of three of the band members, including singer/songwriter Ronnie Van Zant. After a ten year hiatus, a new incarnation of the band was created, uniting many of the original members

with a few new musicians, one of whom is Ronnie’s younger brother Johnny Van Zant. Lynyrd Skynyrd symbolizes many facets of the rock n’ roll tradition. American, Southern, and ‘70s, are all form that they represent and are often associated with. But more than any label, they will always be important to us on a deeper and more fundamental level. By Alex Graff

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO Growing up in a musical family helped San Antonio’s Alejandro Escovedo fall in love with the art at an early age, and being raised around music has it’s perks. Escovedo is 62, and still rockin’ with an impressive resume to back him up. He has been a part of bands including Rank and File, The True Believers, and punk rock outfit The Nuns. He is a well-traveled career musician who has released fourteen studio albums. Escovedo has performed on Late Night with Conan O’ Brien, and can also boast a popular collaboration with Whiskeytown and Ryan Adams in the late ‘90s. To recognize Escovedo for his contributions in music, he

was awarded the AMA Lifetime Achievement Award for performing in 2006. He is among artists like Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris that have also won the prestigious award. Escovedo’s music is tex-mex country, with influences in folk and americana. His band complements his passionate Springsteen-esque vocals with horns, bass, drums, and equally passionate backup vocals. Fans of his will surely look forward to songs like “Sally Was a Cop,” and “I Was Drunk.” If you enjoy songwriters with earnest lyrics, skilled guitarists, and country music, be sure to check out Alijandro Escovedo at the Stampede.

By Jordan Wood

LOS LOBOS Los Lobos is an American Chicano rock band from east L.A. and are most famous for doing music for the 1987 film “La Bamba” that follows the life story of the 50s rocker Ritchie Valens. The band has been together for over thirty years and have worked to redefine their sound as a band. The musicians’ upbeat latin rock, tex-mex, R&B, folk, and rock sounds combine for a good concert that lifts crowds’ spirits and entertains. Los Lobos is Spanish for “the wolves” and this pack consists of David Hidalgo, Cesar Rosas, Conrad Lozano, Louie Perez, and Steven Berlin. The band plays an assortment of instruments including: guitar, bass, mandolin, accordion, keyboard, saxophone, flute, harmonica, violin, banjo,

JARROD NEIMANN Originally from Kansas, Niemann attended South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, pursuing an associate of arts degree while picking a guitar in local clubs and bars. Eventually, he self-released his debut album, Long Hard Road, in 1999. He released another album in 2004, titled Jukebox of Hard Knocks, but wasn’t signed to a major label until 2006. His first studio album, Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury, was released in 2010, hitting number one on Billboards’ US Country chart

and its singles, “Lover, Lover” and “What Do You Want,” hit number one and four. Niemann has also written singles for Garth Brooks and has had his work recorded by the likes of Flynnville Train, Neal McCoy, and Zona Jones. 2012 he released his sophomore album, Free the Music, which is much more experimental than other country music albums released in the last few years due to its use of acoustic guitars and bass, fiddles and horns – the instruments of the early

melodica, and various percussion instruments. Their catchy sound and well-arranged set is a great addition to this year’s Stampede. In 2010, they released a new album recorded in their hometown in East L.A. where they started in the 1970s. The songs on the album are filled with precise and bluesy sounds that are captivating and easy to enjoy, while the lyrics show the band’s ability to tell a passionate story. The well-crafted group has received several awards since they have been together, such as two Grammy awards for Best Pop Instrumental Performance and Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album. They also received an award from MTV for Best Video From a Film and a Kid’s Choice Award for Favorite Song.

By John Hann

days of country music. “I made this record in an effort to try and mix 1927 with 2027,” he said, “but I didn’t want to disregard 100 years of what people have already done musically. Instead, I wanted to take that and do it in a way that is also representative of the future.” Niemann will be sharing the stage with LoCash Cowboys on July 5th. For ticket information, visit http://www. greeleystampede.com.

By Jay Wallace

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

Save The Dance

Chappelow Dance Program Seeks to Raise $45,000 on Kickstarter.com

have pictures or videos of a little kid standing in front of a stereo bouncing. And somewhere along the way that is taken away from us. It’s one of my Andrea Leggett is spearheading goals to let people find that again. It’s a campaign to save the dance such a beautiful, joyful thing,” Leggett program at Chappelow K-8 Arts said. Literacy Magnet School. The school, With recent budget cuts the located in Evans, is losing the dance school district was required to layoff program due to district budget cuts. 2.75 staff members, and Leggett, An indiegogo campaign is currently having only just completed her underway to attempt to reinstate the second school year, was still in the dance program. probationary period and her contract “I very much believe that was not renewed. She started the everyone dances as a baby. We all dance program when she was hired

Jerry Hunt BandWagon Magazine

and is the only dance instructor. “What that means is, because I’m the only person who teaches dance in the building, the program is gone. And there’s not the funds to hire another teacher to replace me,” Leggett said. The school district told her there was no longer enough money in the budget for her or the dance program, but that if she could raise the money herself, they would have no problem hiring her back onto the staff and reinstating the dance program for the students.

“I wouldn’t say the district has been 100% of a road block. Really, if they were being super helpful, they would find the money for us to have a teacher and the program. And they don’t have that. They’re not stopping us from doing anything at this point, they’re just very hands off,” Leggett said. The campaign up to this point has been slow moving for her and the committee of administrators, teachers, community members, and parents, due to the fact that the school is not registered as a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, as it is already registered as a government organization. Potential donors are weary of contributing to a for-profit, despite it being a public school. They have set up a pass through account through the Greeley Children’s Chorale, a non-profit choir program. “It’s been slow-going so far. But we’ve just finalized as much as we could to get an indiegogo up. We’re hoping that really draws in people’s attention. We’re pretty

positive we can make a dent in our goal,” Leggett said. The goal, which will include funding for a full time dance instructor, the performances, costuming and other dance-related needs, is $45,000. Before the recent creation of the crowd-sourced campaign, they had raised nearly $4000. She explained how the dance program is crucial for students to remain active, especially during what she described as an “obesity epidemic.” The school does offer a sports partnership with a nearby school, wherein students are able to attend the sports programs there, but she feels this isn’t enough and there should be something for the students at their own school with their own classmates. “It’s awesome that we have all these arts opportunities to offer, but they do take the place of the sports activities the other schools have. Dance is something that helps fill that need,” Leggett said. You can check out and donate to the Save Chappelow Dance indiegogo campaign by visiting http://igg.me/ at/savedance. Leggett feels strongly that her new home is dedicated to the arts and has total confidence that her community will pull together to save the dance program. “The parents have been really supportive. We have a committee set up of administrators, teachers, community members, parents, all working together to figure out how to make this happen. They are voting and ready to do anything that needs to be done. It’s been really nice to see that show of support from our community.”

BandWagon Magazine northern coloradoâ€™s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

COLORaDO CONCERT CALENDAR

Wednesday July 3rd Monday July 1st Kriz Kaliko @ The Aggie, Fort Collins- 8pm

Say Anything @ Summit Music Hall, Denver - 6:30pm w/ Eisley, HRVRD, I The Mighty Passafire w/ Fire Stick Fire @ Bluebird theater, - 9pm

Melt Your Face Monday @ Cervantes, Denver - 7:45pm w/ Tripmendous, Vine Street Vibes, Ashen Embers and Adoxo

Silver and Gold @ Moxi Theater , Greeley -8pm w/ Dividing the Skyline, Time and Distance, Origami Michael Franti & Spearhead @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison - 7:30pm

Bloodkin Acoustic @ Cervantes,’ Denver - 9pm w/ Hymn For Her and The Sneaky Bastards Acoustic Comedy night @ Hodi’s Half Note, Fort Collins -8pm

Tuesday July 2nd

Little Hurricane @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 8pm w/ Calder’s Revolvers

Trolley Snatcha @ Cervantes, Denver - 8:30pm w/ Pillow Fight

Alex Krug @ Hodi’s Half Note, Fort Collins -8pm

Choice City Stomp @ Hodi’s Half Note, Fort Collins - 8 pm

Thursday July 4th

Say Anything @ Summit Music Hall, Denver 7/1 -6:30pm Blues Traveler @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison - 7:30pm DrFameus Frat Allen Acoin of the Disco @ Cervantes, Denver 7:45pm

w/ Biscuits & Bread-O-Bees Feat. Jess Miller, Munson Meeks, Digital Beat Down Caravan Palace @ Bluebird, Denver - 9pm

Friday July 5th

Realifeactual Black @ Moxi Theater, Greeley - 8pm w/ Bill Smith, Mitch Black Travis Houle @ A.F. Ray’s, Greeley - 5pm

Digg & Mlima @ Cervantes, Denver - 9:00pm

Wandering @ Hi -Dive, Denver - 10pm w/ The Lantern Band, imian Circus

The Avett Brothers @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison - 7:30pm Eminence Ensamble @ The Aggie, Fort Collins - 8pm

A4 Animal @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 9pmw/ the Bell Hours, The Ole Stroma Gundle The Dirty Dozen Brass Band @ Bluebird, Denver - 9pm

saturday July 6th

Hard Fall Hearts @ Moxi Theater , Greeley -8pm w/ Jim Jamm Jimmy, Nasty Bunch of Bitches

Bad Brad and the Fat Cats @ A.F. Ray’s, Greeley - 9pm

Frontier Ruckus @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 9pm w/ Mosey West, The Ghost of Joseph Buck Featuring DJ Abilities of Ryhmesayers Entertainment @ Hi-Dive, Denver -9pm w/ Dj Gatsby, Joshua Genius Shel with Humming house @ The Hodi’s Half Note, Fort Collins - 8pm

Sublingual @ Gothic Theatre, Denver - 8pm w/ Hot Red honeys, Beyond influence, Scavenger Itchy- O @ Bluebird, Denver - 9pm

BandWagon Magazine northern coloradoâ€™s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013 Los & DRopSwitch @ Cervantes, Denver - 9pm w/ Audible & D Stylz

Topflite- hypnautic King Tef @ Hodi’s Half Note, Fort Colllins -8pm Nick Jaina @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 9:30pm w/ Clouds and Mountains, Christian Lee Hutson, Malamadre

John Williams and the Music of the Movies with the CSO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison - 7:30pm Nico vega / Crash Kings @ Bluebird, Denver - 9pm

sunday July 15th

Renegade String Band @ Hodi’s Half Note

Monday July 16th Kottonmouth Kings @ Hodi’s Half Note, Fort Collins 7/12 - 8pm

sunday July 7th Goodnight, Texas BBQ @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 7pm w/ birds of a Feather, oliver Bravado, Varlet, Fiction Is Fun

Josh Groban @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison - 7:30pm w/ the Colorado Symphony

Blendercats w/ The Big Motif @ Hodi’s half note, Fort Collins -8pm

monday July 8th

Widows Bane @ Hodi’s Half Note, Fort Collins - 8pm

tuesday July 9th

The Baptist Generals @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 9pm Dick Dale @ The Aggie- 8 pm

wednesday July 10th The Flumps @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 9pm Robert Plant Presents The Sensational Space Shifters @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison - 7:30pm

Issovee @ Cervantes, Denver - 9pm w/ Bill Smith and Special Guests

Brass Bed @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 9:30pm w/ Strange Kids, Yankee Bang Bang

Barry Manilow @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison - 8pm

The Vine Brothers @ Hodi’s Half Note, Fort Collins, -8pm Blankets @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 9:30pm w/ Cruxvae, Verdugo Grass For That Ass @ Cervantes, Denver - 9pm Ft. Good Gravy! James and the Devil @ Bluebird, Denver - 9pm

Thursday July 12th Railroad Earth @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison -6:30pm w/ Galactic & Greensky Bluegrass

The A-Oks @ Gothic Theatre, Denver - 8pm w/ The Potato Pirates, be Like Max, The Last Slice, The Repercussions Under A Blood Red Sky @ Moxi Theater, Greeley -8pm

A U2 Tribute Band Victory Heights @ Summit Music Hall, Denver - 7pm

Dead for Denver, Eyes Like the tide, No Fair Fights,Chasing Addiction Lucero @ The Aggie, Fort Collins - 8pm The Good Luck Store Out @ Hodi’s Half Note, Fort Collins -8pm

Comedy @ Hodi’s Half Note, Fort Collins -8pm

RiverBeats III Half Color Ft. Members of Pretty Lights Music @ Cervantes, Denver - 7:00pm w/ david Starfire, Knight Riderz, Samples Ill Mannered, Sir Charles and SuperDre

Dopapod @ The Aggie, Fort Collins - 8pm

Tori Pater’s Big Bad Band @ Cervantes, Denver - 9pm w/ West Water Outlaws, We’s Us

Thursday July 11th

Ty Bray @ A.F. Ray’s, Greeley - 5pm

Possessed by Paul James @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 9:30pm w/ Delaney Davidson, Broken Spirits, Blood Lines Hot 8 Brass Band @ Bluebird, Denver -9pm

friday July 13th

Cobraconda @ Moxi Theater , Greeley -8pm w/ Giant Angry Bugs, Epoch When, Johnny EZ, Rhyme Progression, and Mikey Ultra The Dirty Femmes @ The Aggie, Fort Collins- 8pm

Kottonmouth Kings @ Summit Music Hall, Denver - 7pm w/ X Clan, Imperial Sound Clash

Robert Randolph & The Family Band, @ Gothic Theatre, Denver 9pm w/ The London Souls

ASG @ Larimer Lounge, Denver 9pm w/ Low Gravity, The Worth Melvins 30th Anniversary Tour @ Summit Music Hall, Denver 8pm w/ Honky John Mayer @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison - 7:30pm

The Quiet Ones @ Hi-Dive, Denver 9:30pm w/ Cutthroat Drifters Peter Murphy Celebrates 35 years of Bauhaus @ Summit Music Hall, Denver - 8pm w/ Ours, Youth Remainder

tuesday July 17th

John Mayer @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison - 7:30pm Herbie Handcock Tribute @ Cervantes, Denver - 9pm w/ Joey Porter, Dominic Lalli, Dave Watts, Garrett Sayers, Dan Schwindt, Jason Hann

Night Beds @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 9:30pm

Mugnight Comedy Night @ Hodi’s Half Note - 7pm Westword Music Showcase ceremony@ Bluebird, Denver - 6pm

wednesday July 18th Leghounds @ Moxi Theater, Greeley -8pm w/ Fresh hops

The Sonvolt @ The Aggie, Fort Collins - 8pm

Underground Music Showcase @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 6pm A Prairie Home Companion @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison - 7:30pm w/ Garrison Keillor

Wood Wire @ Hodi’s Half Note, Fort Collins - 8pm Grass For Ass @ Cervantes, Denver - 9pm Ft. Bluegrass Delta Force Prise Live @ Bluebird, Denver - 8pm

Thursday July 19th Night Beds @ Moxi Theater , Greeley -8pm w/ Tim Coons, A Boy and His kite

Global Dance Festival @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison - 6pm Feat. Beats Antique, Eoto

SWAMI @ Gothic Theatre, Denver - 8pm w/ Black Lamb, DreadNeck, Several Crowded Ghosts, Vice We The kings @ Summit Music Hall, Denver - 6:30pm w/ T. Mills, The Ready Set

Brandi Carlile @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison - 7:30pm Andy Palmer @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 9:30pm w/ The Belle Jar, Elin Palmer

Dopapod & Turkuaz @ Cervantes, Denver - 9pm River Beats @ Mishawaka Amphitheater, Bellevue -8pm

A Tom Collins w/ Post Paradise @ Hodi’s Half Note, Fort Collins -8pm

The Epilogues w/ Quiet Company, Drabkin @ Bluebird, Denver - 9pm

Saturday July 14th

Roadkill Ghost Choir BBQ @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 6pm w/ The Cutthroat Drifters, Dragondeer, The Whales

Cobraconda @ Moxi Theater, Greeley 7/13 - 8pm

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013 Ben Pu solo @ A.F. Ray’s, Greeley - 5pm

Etana & Rootz Underground @ Cervantes, Denver - 9pm w/ P-Nuckle

Taking Canyon @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 8pm w/ Count To four, Dimmer Switch, Goodnight Gravity, The Ghoulies

Bruce Hornsby & The NoiseMakers @ Mishawaka Amphitheater, Bellview – 8pm Underground Music Showcase @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 6pm Kill Syndicate @ Bluebird, Denver - 8pm

Friday July 20th

Over the Rail Good @ Moxi Theater, Greeley -8pm w/ The Commo Foxfield Four @ Gothic Theatre, Denver - 8pm w/ Vetta Star, Sleep Well Symbols @ A.F. Ray’s, Greeley - 10:30pm

The Underground Music Showcase @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 4pm A Mid Summer Nights Bloom @ Cervantes, Denver - 9pm ft. Kaminanda, Kalya Scintilla, Birdsof Paradise, Janover & reSunator

Global Dance Festival @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison - 5pm Feat. Savoy, Sander Van Doom

Jimmy Eat World @ Ogden Theater – Denver 9pm w/ X Ambassadors 40th Day (Reunion Show) @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 9pm w/ Sympathy F Ancranium @ The Aggie, Fort Collins - 8pm

THC/ Rudie Clash @ Hodi’s Half Note, Fort Collins - 8 pm Potcheen @ Bluebird, Denver - 9pm

saturday July 21st Global Dance Festival @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison - 5pm Feat. Mimosa, Griz Underground Music Showcase @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 4pm

Patti Fiasco @ Hodi’s Half Note, Fort Collins - 8pm

sunday July 22nd

Lauren Mann & the Fairly odd folk @ Moxi Theater , Greeley -8pm w/ Pual Beveridge & Company, Duchovny, LaRett

Mr. Capone - E @ Hodies Half Note, Fort Collins - 8pm

monday July 23rd

Youngsta @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 9pm Holy Ghost Tent Revival @ Cervantes, Denver - 9pm

Atmosphere @ Mishawaka, Bellvue 7/30 Adam Ant & the Good, The Mad and the Lovely Posse @ Ogden Theater, Denver -8pm w/ Prima Donna

Mechanical Roots @ Hodi’s Half Note, Fort Collins - 8pm

The Maine @ Summit Music Hall, Denver - 6pm w/ A Rocket To The Moon, This Century, Brighten

John Hiatt @ Mishawaka Amphitheater

Wayne “The Train” Hankcock @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 9:30pm w/ Marty Jones

Splyt & Shelton Harris X Tyler Dopps @ Cervantes, Denver - 9pm w/ Matty Mac and Pizzie Trash Talk @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 9pm

Mugnight Presents w/ Comedy @ Hodi’s Half Note -8 pm

tuesday July 25th Ted Nugent @ Ogden Theater, Denver – 8pm w/ Laura Wilde

Up Until NOW @ Cervantes, Denver - 9pm ft. David Murphy & Jeremy Salken w/ Special Guests Dax Riggs @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 9pm w/ Violent Summer Lost Optical @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 9:30pm w/ The ever

Casey Veggies & Travi$ Scott @ Gothic Theatre, Denver - 8pm w/ Trev Rich, FL of Foodchain

Dessa @ The Aggie, Fort Collins - 8pm

wednesday July 26th

Hollywood Undead @ Fillmore Auditorium, Denver – 6pm Craw Fish Boil @ Cervantes, Denver - 9pm ft. Big Sam’s Funky Nation Johnny B @ A.F. Ray’s, Greeley - 5pm

Rx Bandits @ Summit Music Hall, Denver 7:30pm w/ Northern Faces

Mickey Avalon @ Gothic Theatre, Denver - 9pm The String Cheese Incident @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison - 7:30pm

Passenger @ Larimer Lounge, Denver - 9pm Andy Thomas @ Hi-Dive, Denver - 10:00pm w/ Arliss Nancy, PrettyMouth

Zos @ The Aggie, Fort Collins - 8pm

thursday July 27th

Cody Simpson @ Ogden Theater, Denver – 7pm w/ Ryan Beatty and Before You Exit 40 Oz to Freedom @ Cervantes, Denver - 9pm w/ Hot Phost Peppers: A Sublime and Red hot Chili Peppers Tribute

BandWagon Magazine northern coloradoâ€™s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

ROLLER DERBY 2013 Home Bout Schedule May 3-4 Mayday Mayhem Tournament Featuring: SDG Prime Cuts Junction City Roller Dolls Pueblo Jailhouse Jawbreakers Foco Girls Gone Derby Pacific Roller Derby Sioux City Roller Dames Central Coast Roller Derby Cheyenne Capidolls May 18 SDG Bone Saw Bruisers vs Naughty Pines June 15 Home Team Bout Aug. 24 Home Team Bout Sept. 28 SDG VS Ark Valley Double Header Oct. 5 SDG Primecuts VS Castlerock Nov. 16 Home Team Bout Dec. 7 7th Anuual Snow Brawl

@ the Kill Floor 237 22nd St, Greeley CO

www.slaughterhousederbygirls.com

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

Callisto

A Creative Story by Christopher Kennedy

I’m awake. Like an arrow through the heart, I am aware. A crash. The ground shifts. Everything is blurry. I try to focus and look at my feet. They’re bare—exposed from under a plain black blanket. I am lying on a raised bed. It’s pretty hard, barely cushioned. There are no windows in this room. The lighting is artificial—florescent. The shaking intensifies. More crashes. This room looks made for order, but it quickly deteriorates into chaos. Various carts and stands tumble down in an explosion of tools and instruments. Sparks rain down from the light fixtures above. There appear to be others here. My vision is still blurry but they appear to be on the same beds under the same plain blankets as me. I throw the blanket off and hop down. The floor is metal—cold. The shaking stops. I take a breath and try to blink the blur away. I’m in what looks and feels like a wet suit. Looking around, I can tell everyone is in the same clothing. It’s quiet, just the murmur of confused voices and the buzz of florescent lights. Then it starts again: a slight rumble, then a slam. The whole room shifts. More wheeled carts and stands roll across the room and fall over. I’m knocked down. More lights shatter and I feel weightless for a moment, then fall, but slower than I expect. The glass from the broken lights slows before it hits the ground. A piercing howl breaks the silence. Dim, red lights kick on with an industrial clunk. A door opens. A figure charges through, barking orders I can’t understand. I can’t make much of the figure but it looks like it’s holding a weapon. I remain on the floor, apprehensive, but for some reason I don’t understand I feel ready to fight. A sharp pain sparks in the middle of my forehead. My vision goes light for a second, and then the pain disappears. The others who are dressed like me stumble toward the figure at the door, grasping at their foreheads like they must have felt the same thing. I stand, almost knocked over by a quaking shift that brings part of the ceiling down. I find my footing and follow the others out into a corridor. It’s narrow, with more dim red lighting. That screeching howl is much louder here. At the end of the corridor is another figure that looks like the one that led us out. It too, is barking incomprehensibly. Just before I reach the figure, there’s a low boom, like a distant explosion. Everyone is on the floor. The dim lights flicker, threatening to leave us in pitch dark. The figure clamors up and continues barking. I can only make out one word: “Callisto.” I can’t tell if they are speaking a different language or if the alarm is just drowning them out. The

ceiling is giving way. I look up at the lights and see the corridor is starting to buckle. My vision begins to clear and I see cracks develop at the corners of the ceiling. The structure groans. The door to the first room slides shut, slamming with a plume of smoke. Smells like oil. The door buckles as if something is hitting it from the other side, then buckles the other way and disappears as if sucked into the first room. A few of the men close disappear with the door. A heavy blast door slams down from above, separating half of the corridor. There were still at least ten men on the other side. I continue on, trying not to think about the men I somehow know have just met their doom. The figure at the end of the corridor pulls me up and leads me through the door at the end. I’m met by more of these figures. My sight is clearing up. The figures look almost robotic. They hand out boots and clothes, still shouting orders. They cannot be speaking English. I take the clothes given to me and look around. The lights are brighter here but it’s still hard to get a sense of where I am. There’s a heap of twisted metal on fire at the far end. Wherever I am, this place is huge. The fire looks to be nearly a quarter mile away. Not sure how I can gauge that, but I know it is. Above me, probably 100 feet or so, I see pods or something attached to the ceiling. They appear to be winged. While trying to figure out exactly what they are, I see blue light emanate from casings on each wing of the one I’m watching. It detaches from a ceiling mounted clamp and screeches toward a tubular exit, up high. Another crash. I’m down again. This falling stuff is getting old. I sit up, and put on the coveralls I’ve been given, then the boots. I stand up and immediately buckle at the knees. Another sharp pain in my forehead. It’s more intense this time, as if someone is slowly pushing a dull knife through the center of my skull. The image of a dark room of fluid filled glass cylinders, each large enough to contain a grown man, flashes into my mind and then disappears. The pain subsides and I stand, met by another of those robotic looking figures. My vision is clear now, almost unbearably sharp. I can make out the numbers on the crashed ship at the end of the hangar. I see now that the robotic looking figures are men in mechanized armor. One of them directs me toward a staircase. “Blue gate! Blue gate! You’re T-38!” He shouts. Whatever that means. The staircase leads to a catwalk around the perimeter of the ceiling, leading to each of the little jet craft I saw before. At the

top of the staircase it forks. One side is red, one is blue. Guess I’m blue. The little jet crafts all have a logo with “UNAC” on the side, along with a letter, followed by a number. There it is, T-38. Just before I reach it, a flash and a crash. The catwalk collapses and I drop. Now I’m in a fiery twisted mess. I don’t appear to have sustained any injury somehow. I climb out of the warped catwalk and stand up. The ground shifts again. There’s another groan and a creak. Small fractures creep from the corners of the ceiling to the center. I better get out of here. There’s a large door at the other end of this hangar, presumably for large ground transports. I start that direction. The ground stops shaking. What a relief. Before I can take another 20 steps, the door at the end of the hangar starts to spark. It turns red hot, then white hot, then melts, releasing the pressure in the hangar. I’m sucked toward the opening, unable to breathe. I’m in the air for what seems like a minute before I’m hit with a shock-wave from the opening. I’m knocked on my back, disoriented. I can breathe again. I’m quite a bit closer to the door than I was before. There’s a glowing blue energy field covering the opening now. It doesn’t appear to be any hindrance to some very large, bipedal figures charging through it. These figures look considerably less friendly than those who gave me clothing. They glow red hot, as if smoldering. They shriek and grumble as they sprint toward me. Gunfire erupts from behind me. It does exactly nothing to these creatures. One charges me. I feel a surge inside like an intense adrenaline rush. My vision goes red and the whole room seems to stretch. I black out. When I come to, I’m on one knee. Before me lay the creature that charged me. I hold what looks like a face mask in my left hand. I stand up; blinking, disoriented, and drop the face mask. My hands are burning. I look at them and before my eyes, the burns heal. Other creatures charge toward those of us who remain in the hangar. I watch as the other men level a few more of the creatures with their bare hands. Some of the men further back in the hangar have found heavier weapons. Rockets snake from behind me, taking out a few of these creatures at a time. Looking out the hangar door, I see a smoldering spire coming out of very rocky ground. It looks molten, like the creatures. The jets I saw earlier swarm around the spire, firing upon it, futilely. The spire emits a single beam per jet, annihilating them without a trace. No explosion. Nothing. What is this place? I am clearly not where I think I should be. I am not on Earth. Not sure

how I would know. I don’t think I remember anything before this. Why do I know what it is? At this point, the creatures pour into the hangar like flaming cockroaches. Time to leave. I see a door with a flashing red light above it. Seems like as good a place to go as any. There’s a number pad by the door. 11381138. That’s the number. I don’t know why, but that’s it. I type it in as if I’ve done it a million times and the door opens with hiss. There are others nearby. “In here! In here!” I shout. A few follow before the horde catches on. Two more friendlies make it in before I’m forced to shut the door. Turning around I see space suits that look similar to the mechanized armor. Without thinking, the three of us begin putting on the suits. There’s another door opposite the one we entered. I know this is an airlock, but again, don’t know why I know that. As we scramble into our suits, the door through which we entered begins to buckle and dent. I seal my helmet quickly, nod to the others, and pull the airlock. An alarm sounds and the pressure releases. Then the exterior door creeps open. Why do they have to make airlock doors as slow as possible? The other door begins to spark, then goes red hot, then white hot. Before they can get through, though, the three of us roll under the slow moving airlock door and begin a sprint toward a towering triangular structure in the distance. At this point I realize that, something enormous is looming overhead. Jupiter. All I can think is, “What the hell?” Then I know where I am. Callisto. But how? It doesn’t matter now. Just keep running. As we near the structure, I look to see how close our fiery friends are. Close enough. We reach another airlock. Turrets deploy at the base of the structure and cover our backs. Thank God. We enter the airlock and I collapse. My head feels as if it’s going to explode. I see the image of the room with the cylinders again. I see that there are now men in the cylinders, clothed the way I was when I awoke. I see we are in the cylinders. Then I remember words: “Free from the bounds of emotion. Enhanced strength, vision, and endurance.” I come to, disturbed, and furious. The other men help me up. I don’t think they have seen what I just did. We exit the airlock and find ourselves in another hangar. This one much better lit, and much more massive. In the center there are two transports, one in front of the other. They’ve got delta wings and a fuselage that looks ready to carry tanks. On the side of each ship is the same

UNAC symbol I saw before. Just below each ship, about 25 or 30 men feverishly throw boxes and cases into the belly of the ship. A man approaches us at nearly a full sprint. “How the hell? You still had eighteen hours to go! The neural shock alone—” Should have killed us. He doesn’t say it though. Comforting. “Come with me. We’ve got to get out of here and back home. You guys need to incubate a bit longer.” He starts sprinting toward another staircase, much like the one that collapsed under me earlier. I’m apprehensive. Just as we reach the stairs, the airlock door from which we entered begins to spark. There are other airlocks all around the perimeter of the hangar. All of the doors begin to spark. We rush up the stair and onto the catwalk. The engines of the front transport fire with a low boom and it’s off. All of the airlock doors have melted and the creatures pour in. There must be hundreds of them. We reach the door to the rear transport just as the engines fire. The door sucks closed behind us. My ears pop, accompanied by that sharp pain in my forehead again. It’s gotten easier to manage. Outside we can hear the clatter of the creatures on the hull, trying to get inside. We blast out of the hangar with wreckless abandon that knocks me down once again. The clatter on the hull stops. For the first time I feel safe. For the first time I can think clearly. I stand and dust myself off. There are rows of seats along a wall of windows. I see Jupiter looming, the spire, and the other transport. It appears the spire drilled up out of the core of the moon. At its base, creatures pour out of the cracked ground. The surface of the moon looks molten. “It’s reclaiming itself,” says the man who led us in here. I nod, not entirely understanding what he means. “The moon,” he continues, “we disturbed it.” I nod again, looking back at the chaos below. I walk down the aisle, find a seat, and begin to reflect. Free from the bounds of emotion? Aggravation nags. I exist, but my existence is a lie. I am manufactured for destruction. I feel for the men who lost their lives here today. I am therefore not free from emotion. And for that, I am thankful. But I am also resentful. I will not bend to those who seek to play God. I am not expendable. That’s about to become painfully clear to those who did this; those who ooze their filth onto other worlds for their own gain. When we reach “home,” these people are going to have quite a different war on their hands than they bargained for.

BandWagon Magazine northern coloradoâ€™s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

BandWagon Magazine northern colorado’s arts & entertainment magazine july 2013

GAMES

SUDOKU © 2013 Knight Features. Reprinted with permission of Universal Uclick. All rights reserved. WORD ROUNDUP by David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek © 2012 Reprinted with permission of Universal Uclick. All rights reserved.

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