BandWagon Magazine - March 2020 - Old Man Saxon by BandWagon Magazine

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Submit your album for review: BandWagon MAgazine 802 9th St. Greeley, CO 80631 or kevin@bandwagmag.com

802 9th St. Greeley, CO 80631

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ELY CORLISS

BandWagMag

album reviews GLASS CASES PG. 5 MOUNTAINUS PG. 6 Gabrielle Louise PG. 7 SAFEKEEPER PG. 9

EDITOR

THE COLORADO SOUND’S my5 PG. 11

KEVIN JOHNSTON

ART DIRECTOR

CARTER KERNS

CONTRIBUTORS DAN ENGLAND VALERIE VAMPOLA KYLE EUSTICE NATE WILDE COLE PETERSON

Tyler walker & John Dewitt PG. 13

jim curry as john denver PG. 15

LAURA GIAGOS

Max Barcelow PG. 20

PHOTOGRAPHY MICHAEL OLIVIER KEN ARIAS JC PENNY

gm@bandwagmag.com Editorial Info/Requests:

Photo by Shiny Pastel

OLD MAN SAXON PG. 16 3

GLASS CASES In Between

Valerie Vampola

BandWagon Magazine

In Between, the debut album from Fort Collins trio Glass Cases, relates to the band’s own demographic: a generation disillusioned with adulthood. In their own ways, these 20-somethings found that coming of age isn’t a straight path to happiness. It can be rather dark when you can’t find a job to sustain a modest life – or worse, when a friend commits suicide. Combining synth-pop and alternative rock, Glass Cases create a vibe that’s both interesting and marketable, like Twenty One Pilots, Imagine Dragons, and even The Pet Shop Boys. Songs like ‘Caught’ showcase alt-rock drumming by Cameron Greene and the synth of keyboardist, vocalist, ukulele player Austin Seifert, who’s rapid, spoken-word lyrics rears their head halfway through the record. Co-lead-singer and bassist Alex Van Keulen’s vocal presence shines like Keane, as the band mix and match dark moods with danceable beats. The songs include musical shifts, flipping from Jukebox The Ghost influence to that of Muse or 311. It’s appropriate for the disjointed feelings the bandmates may have in

their lives, but the technique exhausts itself halfway through. It’s used more effectively in songs like “Man’s Compromise” and “Welcome Mat,” reminiscent of epic musical theater or symphonic metal. However, these shifts are a bit spoiled early on, creating a sense of incoherence, interfering with the band’s solid musicianship and well polished production. Glass Cases’ topical lyrics on social media and insecurity hit close to home for millennials and gen Z-ers, paired with a clear, sonic direction that acts as an excellent conduit. But song forms don’t have to shift as much as living situations can for young artists looking for a little stability. With In Between, Glass Cases have just begun that journey. It’ll be exciting to see who they’ll become. Glass Cases release In Between on March 21 at Red Rocks Amphitheatre as part of a Local Set Series

MOUNTAINUS

Captured Live At Chimaera Nate Wilde

BandWagon Magazine

Fort Collins has no shortage of feel good, stoner-friendly music. Colorado has become Weed Central in the last decade, exhibited by the acts headlining Red Rocks and playing April 20th every year, and the vibey feels at what many call “Loveland Woodstock,” the local favorite festival Arise. Since their inception, MountainUs has been leading the way in Northern Colorado’s expanding reggae world. The Fort Collins fivesome has a new EP, Captured Live At Chimaera , which holds the kind of energy that would never be attainable from a studio recording. The record kicks off with the eerie love song “Lion and the Wolf,” allegorically comparable to the classic tale of the beauty and the beast: Two figures find a love so strong and so raw that only two animals could serve as accurate representations. Another notable track is “Red Rum,” which shifts the vibe of the record from Bob Marley to Peter Tosh, going from love-based lyrics to a straight protest tune. The song thematically covers police brutality, inequality and drug violence, but the cherry on top is guest vocal appearance by Luna Shade frontman Andrew Ricci. To date, many MountainUs

fans would claim that the band’s standout track is the fourth on the album, “Show Me the Light.” The band has said that the chorus came to singer/guitarist McGill Jackson very spontaneously; as if Jah himself planted it into his head during a jam session. Finally, the cornerstone of the live EP is the over-sevenminute rendition of “Take Me Out.” It’s a quintessential reggae composition that takes the band and listeners on a spiritual trek, showcasing the utmost of Jackson’s guitar skills and leaving the listeners wanting more. Captured Live At Chimaera from MountainUs not only captures the pure, raw energy of the band, but it solidifies their continued position on the forefront of Colorado reggae. MountainUs release Captured Live At Chimaera March 13 at Hodi’s Half Note in Fort Collins with Zee Irelynn and more. Tickets at hodishalfnote.com

Gabrielle Louise

The Unending Alteration of the Human Heart Valerie Vampola

BandWagon Magazine

Gabrielle Louise lived alone for the past couple of years, existing in slow, rural life in Paonia, CO. Her new album The Unending Alteration of the Human Heart is the soundtrack to that life. She captures the earthy, folk essence with twangy guitars, acoustic bass, and her clean, lightly brassy voice reminiscent of Allison Kraus. The album is slow and sleepy, with most of the songs

reflecting a ballad or lullaby style. She adds subtleties and changes the textural nuances in her arrangements, separating each track from the other. Louise fills the space and keeps the music lush on songs like “Words,” and “See In The Dark” with interesting chord progressions, instrumental ornations, or with vocal harmonies. But she’s comfortable letting the music breathe by providing sparseness and leaving herself exposed in intimate tracks like “Time.” The album is appropriate for that quiet time spent alone on a snowy night by candlelight, but the average Coloradan’s life hardly allows for that same slow pace. After so many beautiful ballads, the soul craves something more upbeat. Louise gives us a couple tracks to make up for that, like the playful

“Don’t Touch Me,” but it doesn’t make an appearance until you’ve already drifted away into a snoozy daydream. “Big Unbreakable Heart” sets itself up with a beginning groove that could have been inspired by early Steely Dan, but by the time the song reaches the chorus, it mellows out and melds with the rest of the album, leaving the listener wanting more. The individual tracks of The Unending Alteration of the

Human Heart are beautifully written with a clear sense of artistry. As a whole, it may not revitalize anyone through the rest of the day, but it’s perfect for fulfilling your small mountain town dreams. Gabrielle Louise releases The Unending Alteration of the Human Heart on March 20, with shows March 6 in Fort Collins at the Bas Bleu Theater, March 18 in Telluride, March 21 in Fruita, March 26 in Ridgway, and in Paonia on May 23.

SAFekeeper

bummer beach bonanza Laura Giagos

BandWagon Magazine

When it comes to making good music in Northern Colorado, everyone has their own approach. Some bands seek perfection with meticulous engineering and crisp productions, and others want a wall of sound made up of what feels like thousands of tiny moving parts. Then there are bands like safekeeper who just don’t give a shit.

bummer beach bonanza is the appropriate follow up to their 2018 EP, on sludge summit, and it is a glorious mess. Sludgy, gleaming, and often frantic, principal songwriter and band leader Zach Visconti continues to put his early Modest Mouse and Pavement influences on full display to everyone’s delight. Visconti returned to recording at his house in Fort Collins with drummer Matt Scorca and guitarist/bassist Ben Ward, carving out this five-track hunk of an EP over the course of 2019. While it is a noticeable improvement in production from on sludge mountain, it’s the messy lo-fi quality of bummer beach bonanza that gives it charm and that extra something special you need in making a stand-out indie rock record. Visconti doesn’t mess around on this EP as the whole thing clocks in at around eighteen minutes,

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including “CANNONBALL!!” a one minute blaster, because – why the hell not? bummer beach bonanza paints a dreary and apathetic picture of the West Coast in a strange and ponderous ode to the place where Visconti grew up. “mountain gods” starts off the EP in what feels like a foggy drive up the coast. “you’re all small” and “lonely buildings” are reminders of how small we are on this planet but it’s title track

“bummer beach bonanza” that summarizes it all: “Let’s go down to bummer beach and see how disappointing everything can be.” safekeeper celebrate, er just rock-out for he release of bummer beach bonanza on Saturday, March 21 at Pinball Jones Campus West in Fort Collins. Click on thesafekeeper. bandcamp.com and wait disappointedly until then.

DEAR MOUNTAINS, I’M HERE TO CLIMB. S:4.6”

See Your Local Toyota Dealer | EHRLICH TOYOTA - GREELEY, CO Prototype shown with options.

Ron: Weekdays 6am - 10am 1. Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band – If you didn’t get tickets to see this film and my talk with Robbie at Opening Night of the Boulder International Film Festival earlier this month, do yourself a favor: watch it online or in the theater! It’s a great lesson on the history of American music since 1969! oncewerebrothers.com 2. BIFF Ft. Collins – And for the 2nd year, Boulder International Film Festival is coming to Ft. Collins! Catch some of the films from BIFF at the Lincoln Center March 27-28. And the Singer/Songwriter Showcase has Liz Barnez, Shanna In A Dress and more! Check out biff1.com/foco 3. Bluebird Music Festival – The Colorado Sound is again thrilled to present this afternoon and evening lineup at CU/Boulder’s Macky Auditorium on April 18. It features Colin Meloy (The Decemberists), Wesley Schultz (The Lumineers), Josh Ritter, Jade Bird, Dave Simonett (Trampled By Turtles) and more! bluebirdmusicfestival.org 4. The new Colorado Sound Box Office – We know. You like hearing music and you like going to SEE music! That’s why we have an even easier way for you to win tickets. The Box Office is open 24 hours a day on our website. Just look under the ‘Live Music’ tab! coloradosound.org/box-office 5. Resistance – Another interview I did at BIFF this month was with Jesse Eisenberg and his new film Resistance. Who knew the mime Marcel Marceau was like Oskar Schindler, saving children during WWII? This film releases March 27 - watch it and see how 1 person really can change the world. ifcfilms. com/films/resistance

Margot: Weekdays 10am - 3pm Top 5 Female Musicians 1. Wanda Jackson - In many ways, Wanda Jackson is an unsung rock music pioneer. She had the nickname “the female Elvis” for a reason. She rocked hard in an era when it was unusual for a woman. wandajackson.com 2. Lorrie Collins - If you don’t know her, you are missing out. She was an accomplished rock guitarist with her brother Larry in The Collins Kids. Seek her out if you don’t know her work. It’s well worth it. wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorrie_Collins 3. The Wilson Sisters: Ann and Nancy - These sisters created a blueprint for female forward rock in the 1970’s, literally with Heart. heart-music.com

4. Pat Benatar - One of the first female solo musicians to sell out arenas in the 1980’s. Trained as an opera singer she made that training totally rock. benatargiraldo.com 5. Chrissie Hynde - The Pretenders cut through the Punk scene in 1980 with their sparkling debut led by Chrissie Hynde. Chrissie’s mixture of rock filtered through punk created an important sound that has been often imitated. chrissiehynde.com

Stacy: Weekdays 3pm - 7pm 1. No Time To Die – The twenty fifth 007 movie comes out in early April with more double crosses, thrills and chases. Rami Malek is the Bond villain Safin and Billie Eilish becomes the youngest person to write & record a Bond theme song. www.007. com/no-time-to-die 2. Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl) – This Oscar-winning doc short film shows the story of young Afghan girls learning to read, write and skateboard in Kabul. It highlights Skateistan, an organization whose mission is to teach under privileged children in Afghanistan, Cambodia and South Africa. skateistan.org 3. The Orb: Abolition of the Royal Familia Get your electronica on with The Orb’s 16th studio album due out 3/27 featuring guest appearances by Youth, Roger Eno, Steve Hillage & Miquette Giraudy, GAUDI, David Harrow and many more. theorb.com 4. Hinds: The Prettiest Curse - The Madrid-based band releases their 3rd album April 3rd. It sees the band move away from lo-fi and more towards a power pop sound. It also has them singing in their native Spanish for first time on any of their records. See them May 26 at the Bluebird! hindsband.com 5. Cherokee heirloom seeds sent to Global Seed Vault - With close to 1 million samples from nearly every country on Earth, this vault inside the Arctic Circle has the largest collection of seeds and other plant specimens in the world. The Cherokee Nation became the first Native American tribe to contribute seeds of their own heirloom crops, predating the arrival of Europeans on the American continents. croptrust.org/our-work/svalbardglobal-seed-vault

also the cause of its downfall. Definitely worth spending an evening with. creemmag.com/pages/ documentary 2. Logan Ledger: (I’m Gonna Get Over This) Some Day - Bay area musician Ledger struck gold on his debut release. Not only did he get legendary producer T-Bone Burnett to produce the album, but he put together an all-star band to back him up. Players like Marc Ribot and Dennis Crouch add depth to a very impressive inaugural album. loganledgermusic.com 3. Dave Simonett: Red Tail - Trampled By Turtle’s front man has released his 1st solo effort and it’s impressive. Red Tail shows off his genre defying style and places us firmly in the woods of Northern Minnesota where the album was created. Simonett has a gift for creating enormous space in his recordings, allowing us to breathe and just enjoy the music on its own merits. You can enjoy Simonett when he performs at the Bluebird Music Festival April 18th and The Armony in FoCo April 19. deadmanwinter.com 4. Pokey Lafarge: Rock Bottom Rhapsody - It’s been a few years since we heard from Pokey. His new album, Rock Bottom Rhapsody sees Lafarge going in a different direction that the previous ragtime minstrel sound. He ventures into more roots, rockabilly sounds with impressive results, sounding more like the Everly Brothers instead of Leon Redbone. pokeylafarge.bandcamp.com 5. The Final Four - Even if you’re not a sports fan, there’s something compelling about the NCAA’s March Madness and The Final Four. Everyone likes to see the kid from next door hit the game winning shot. Plus, it gives you a chance to bond with your co-workers and sympathize when your bracket implodes in the office pool. ncaa.com

Benji: Weekdays 7pm - 10pm 1. Boy Howdy! The Story Of Creem Magazine This documentary tells the story of the legendary Creem Magazine which showcased some of the greatest rock critics of our time like Lester Bangs and Dave Marsh. The magazine had a Rock and Roll attitude which was its biggest strength and

TUNE IN TO 105.5 FM THE COLORADO SOUND. AIRING ALL ALONG THE FRONT RANGE!

TYLER WALKER

JOHN DEWITT ROCKY MOUNTIAN COUNTRY MUSIC

s the talent booker for the Greeley Stampede’s music acts, John DeWitt always liked the Tyler Walker Band. They were crowd pleasers who played both covers and original tunes – a good fit with the headlining, young country acts DeWitt brought to the Stampede every year. They kept the fun going on the Free Stage after the crowd, still buzzing from the big act, cleared the Island Grove Arena. They were also good guys who did what DeWitt asked, without complaint, even when the Stampede couldn’t pay them what he knew they deserved. But now that he’s in the band, he’s an even bigger fan.

“I left my other two bands for Tyler’s because he’s an amazing songwriter. Tyler was my favorite. I believed in him for a lot of different reasons.” - John DeWitt This story is really two stories, but since last April, when Walker proposed DeWitt joining the band on keyboards, you can’t have Tyler’s without the John’s. DeWitt, a successful real estate agent who currently builds houses, was the eventual chairman of the Stampede committee, a volunteer, gogettin’ organization that runs Greeley’s biggest event of the year, but now he’s living the dream for a third time as a musician. That appears to be working out for him: He was nominated for Musician of the Year in the Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards, a show iHeartRadio presents to honor the best

DAN ENGLAND

BANDWAGON MAGAZINE country music from the ninestate Rocky Mountain region. This year’s show takes place March 13 in downtown Greeley’s Civic Center. Walker and his band both have garnered numerous honors in the past, and Walker will make an appearance in a tribute to Chris Ledoux this year. But the formation of the Tyler Walker Band’s lineup was a bit less glamorous. Brian Sunde, TWB’s other original member, was the only one to respond to Walker’s first Craig’s List ad asking anyone interested to put a band together. Sometimes those internet connections spark magic, as is the case with DeWitt joining the band. Sunde saw DeWitt playing in a rock and roll fantasy camp on Facebook, a platform full of dreamers who pay big to “play alongside,” shall we say, veteran rock musicians via the internet. But the clip impressed Sunde, who admitted that he didn’t know DeWitt could actually play. DeWitt, whose nomination shows his real chops, loved the experience so much that it stoked the fire in his belly to play again, even though he was a busy agent. Now he’s even busier. Though serendipitous, DeWitt and Walker honestly seemed like a mismatch despite DeWitt’s respect for the band. DeWitt loved hair metal and rock and roll — he put together VOA, a Sammy Hagar tribute band — and his bio doesn’t hide it, stating that he takes full credit for the comeback of the keytar. Walker also isn’t interested in running a party band: He’s trying to make it as a real country artist playing his own originals, opening for bigger acts and turning down the security of

PHOTO: RHETT HANEY four-hour bar gigs. But DeWitt and the band welcome that change, with sights set on longterm goals. “That means we play less,” Walker said, acknowledging that even when the band gets gigs, they’re usually for an hour as an opener. “But the payoff in the end is greater if we sacrifice now.” Walker himself received a recent honor when he was chosen to be part of a writer’s roundtable at the well-known Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. He received feedback on his songs from respected peers in the industry. “It gave me some insight to the publishing side of things and what they are looking for,” Walker said. “Reactions to music are so personal and relative, but they gave me some good tips, even though you have to take them with some salt.” The end-goal is worth it, but it’s harder to make it as a band that writes and plays only originals, even if it does present the opportunity to open for touring acts such as Big & Rich. “It’s hard to get out of that

cover band mindset because covers are such a crowd pleaser,” Walker said, “They want to dance. You get more of a reaction. But we are trying to step out of that.” The band will continue to work toward that, entering the studio at the end of March to record songs that Walker hopes to release by this summer, one single at a time. “That’s the goal every couple years: to put out new music and promote it,” Walker said, “and you just hope something will get some attention.”

The Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards featuring Tyler Walker and John DeWitt among others, starts at 6 pm on Friday, March 13 at the Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Avenue in downtown Greeley. Go to big979.iheart.com/calendar for tickets.

JIM CURRY IS NOT JOHN DENVER DAN ENGLAND + BANDWAGON MAGAZINE ...well, no #@%*!, you say, but when you see Jim Curry sing on stage, you may have doubts. Heck, maybe he IS Denver, or maybe Denver is a demon who now uses Curry’s body as a vessel, or maybe Denver faked his own death and “Jim Curry” is his alias. Curry, alas, is just a guy who never tried to sound like John Denver, the deceased singer-songwriter known for “Rocky Mountain High” and “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” He swears he didn’t have plastic surgery to look like him either. In fact, he didn’t embrace the similarities until 2001, when he started a third career as a tribute act playing Denver’s music. That act comes to Greeley, performing with the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra on March 6 at the Union Colony Civic Center. When Curry says he’s not Denver, he’s not just saying he’s his own man. He’s pointing out a distinction between himself and other tributes: He doesn’t portray Denver on stage. He tries to look and even dress like him, sure, but he does so to allow concertgoers to maybe lose themselves for a song or two, as

if they are seeing Denver onstage in his early ‘70s heyday. That’s impossible now, of course, as Denver died in a 1997 plane crash. Curry doesn’t want to detract from that experience, but he also doesn’t want to cheapen it. He respects impersonators, like the Elvis acts that arguably started the tribute band movement, and isn’t comfortable going that far, but admits with a laugh: “I did grow my hair longer.” This philosophy led to his career. Curry ran into Pete Huttlinger, Denver’s lead guitarist, asking Huttlinger if they could do a tribute show, as Denver’s death left fans clamoring for his music. Huttlinger didn’t know Curry, but said yes, and Denver’s old bandmates played a four-hour show with Curry after one half-hour rehearsal. It was a hit. A year later, Curry started a decade-long friendship and business relationship with him until Huttinger died of a stroke in 2016 at age 54. “I think that’s why they were willing to come on board,” Curry said. “It’s more like an original band. We do Denver’s music, but we do our own thing with it.” Curry studied voice, but worked in commercial art for years, preferring to do honest work for honest pay while playing bluegrass as a hobby. Curry started the Denver career when tribute bands were still unknown outside of those honoring the Beatles and Elvis. People didn’t know what to make of tributes, but Curry didn’t see it as a risk, approaching it with an open mind like a business wherein he could make a good living. That paid off in 2009, when the Kansas City Symphony called Curry, asking if he would like to do a show. He didn’t have the orchestration at the time, but emailed Lee Holdridge, who worked with Denver when

adding full orchestra to his shows. Holdridge wrote Curry back with two words: “Call me.”

I NEVER DID EMBRACE THE IDEA THAT I COULD HAVE A MUSIC CAREER. I DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO BE DISCOVERED. I DIDN’T WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT ROUTE “I was a big fan, so that was a big thrill for me,” Curry said. He calls his work with Holdridge “rebuilding the music of Denver,” as many of the original orchestrations were thrown away after Denver died. That’s also why the Greeley Philharmonic wanted to book a show with Curry: it seemed more authentic than simply adding strings to a famous singer’s music. “It’s far richer than that because it was written for a symphony,” said Nick Kenny, the Philharmonic’s executive director, who hopes to recreate the successes of recent sell-out Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel tributes at the UCCC. “We are in Greeley, you know, “Rocky Mountain High,” and Denver is country, pop and folk,” Kenny said. “It’s hard to dislike it. It might not be your go-to, but you hear his music, remember it and enjoy it.” Denver is not simply a country artist, and Curry enjoys pointing out that the show is more varied than many may believe. “The struggle we have is with someone who wants us to do only the opening half of the show. It’s so cliche to pick a country song to show what he was about,” Curry said. “He was more theatrical than country. Those songs branded him, but things evolved and they didn’t know where to put him. He didn’t really fit that category.”

Jim Curry as John Denver plays with the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 6 at the Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave. in downtown Greeley. Go to ucstars.com for tickets or call 970.356.5000 15

Saxon Old Man

Out Of The Perils

“This is like some horror movie shit.”

BY KYLE EUSTICE

Old Man Saxon is looking back on one of the scariest moments during the 13 months he was living in his 2001 Ford Explorer Sport while trying to “make it” in Los Angeles. It was the middle of the night and he was sound asleep when a loud noise jolted him awake.

PHOTO: JCPENNY

“My car got broken into while I was sleeping,” he explains. “But I didn’t wake up from them actually being in the car. The door slamming is what woke me up. I see this pickup truck with its lights on behind me. I was too

tired to react, so I fell right back asleep. Then I heard something hit my car. So I wake up again and it’s the same pickup truck. They drive off again. I turn on my car to get out of that area. I patted my pockets and realize my wallet was gone. So I drive back and it turns out they’d taken all the money out of my wallet but threw the wallet back, which had my I.D. in it. That’s what I heard hit my car. Really, they were the nicest, most horrible people [laughs].” At this point, the Colorado native had been used to the routine. In many ways, his bout with homelessness was strictly by choice. Stuck in a dead-end job and working 10 hours a day for a video game company wasn’t what he wanted — so he quit. It turned out to be the best decision of his life. “After I quit my job, I realized I was spending 10 hours straight doing something I didn’t want to do,” he says. “After I quit, I just ran out of money. I ended up getting into a fight with my roommate at the time and I didn’t really have a place to go, so I just decided to sleep in my car. That one day turned into 13

months. I could have, at any point, gone back to Denver and told someone I needed help. But I just kind of hid it and stayed in my car because I was writing a lot of good music. For some reason, that restriction of being in my car helped me write really good stuff.” Ultimately, a producer friend offered him a place to stay, ending his temporary personal housing crisis, but the idea of “The Perils” had already been birthed. With over four million YouTube views, the song by the same name put Old Man Saxon on the hip-hop map. His brutally honest account of homelessness resonated with countless people with lines such as “6 AM wake up all alone/Like what can ya boy say?/ Shit shower shave’s taking the whole day/ Thinking with no pay.” “That first verse, nothing is exaggerated,” he says. “It’s a real ass thing. It’s the most simple shit and it’s amazing that so many people were connected to it. That means I did something right. I really communicated that experience well.” With homelessness

in his rearview, Old Man Saxon was able to focus on his next adventures, which included landing a song on HBO’s Silicon Valley soundtrack (“That was a miracle,” he says), a teaching role at the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood where he taught rap and a spot on the Netflix competition show Rhythm + Flow. Even with those high profile placements, it was his inclusion on the Silicon Valley soundtrack that meant the most to him.

didn’t really do anything. The things that got me the most fans is “The Perils” and Rhythm + Flow.” Now back in Denver, Old Man Saxon is focused on his upcoming tour and being the best father he can be to his 1 and 3-year-old daughters. “When I was 21 or 22, the tour was like the thing I wanted to do,” he says. “Now, I have two kids and it changes everything. I’m doing this tour now because I know in my heart I need to do it.”

“It’s hard to judge In terms of the future, what are the things Old Man Saxon had an that got me to the ‘next epiphany a few years level’ ‘cause Silicon ago that he was going Valley was big for me, to be “one of the best but I don’t know how big it was for my fans,” entertainers” ever. he says. “For me, it “If I wouldn’t have — was about being on to be cliché — ‘risked it the same soundtrack all,’ then I wouldn’t be as Wu-Tang Clan and here,” he says. “If I can these people I really make this into a bigger looked up to. It was a brand than just rap, confidence booster to then that’s what I’m know I’m good enough going to do.” to be on the same soundtrack as legends. As far as Old man Saxon fans, kicks off a nation-wide it

Spring tour at Hodi’s Half Note in Fort Collins Friday, March 27 as well as a Black Sheep in Colorado Springs March 28. Visit www.imoldmansaxon.com or hodishalfnote.com for tickets and more.

CONCERT

CALENDAR

Sam Bush

March

MARCH 01 Whitey Morgan w/ Casey James 02 03 04

The Crystal

Method

March

Prestwood Durand Jones & The Indications w/ Kaina Mason Maynard w/ French Pressed, MassTree b2b Tony James, Anthony Cole b2b LER, Magnolia Sessions ft Lois & The Lantern All My Friends Are Skeletons: Chris Cornell Tribute w/ Post Paradise as Radiohead Marvel Years + Russ Liquid w/ Funkstatik, LonSoul NoCo Live: Mitchell James & Anville Sam Bush w/ Coral Creek

10 11 Generationals w/ Sarah Jaffe 12 Lawrence w/ Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers

13 Protohype & Jantsen w/

Aqueous

March

G-Space, Pitta Patta, Maia 14 The Crystal Method w/ ILL. Banks, Jimeni 15 Sound & Light: Round 2

17 St. Paddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day with Canyon 19 20 21

Collected, Swashbuckling Doctors, the Reel McCoys Ghostland Observatory w/ Tabernacle Shlump w/ Eazybaked, Phlo, Unkle L*Roy, Notorious Conduct Entre Nos 2020 Live Tour Sponsored by HBO Latino Aqueous w/ The Higgs

27 28 Sierra Hull 31 The Del McCoury Band w/ Wood Belly

Aggie Theatre | 204 S College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524

MAX BARCELOW THE FRAGIE BIG TIME AND SAYING YES For Max Barcelow, life as a professional musician living in Fort Collins has had plenty of twists and turns. Drumming for numerous projects over the years, Barcelow eventually found himself playing with the prolific folk artist Gregory Alan Isakov. That gig took him everywhere from Red Rocks to Europe, and even a performance with the Colorado Symphony. Iskov’s 2018 album Evening Machines

received a Grammy nomination for best folk album, and nothing Barcelow experienced in his years gigging and recording would prepare him for being nominated, and then being at the ceremony in Los Angeles on the day famed basketball player Kobe Bryant died. “Having the privilege to be present for what a lot of musicians consider the most important day of their musical life, then having thousands of

LAURA GIAGOS • BANDWAGON MAGAZINE

people gathered outside holding a vigil for Kobe … it was this weird clash of worlds,” says Barcelow. The Grammys were held on January 26 at The Staples Center in Los Angeles, which has long been dubbed “Kobe’s House.” The result was an evening torn between continuing the celebration of music while hastily trying to address and honor Bryant. For Barcelow, witnessing the pomp and grandeur of the Grammys while this was going on was a reminder of how fragile life is, and how no one can escape that fragility – even with success and money. “It’s funny how death just brings it all back home,” Barcelow said. The experience was a moment of reflection for Barcelow on all the people he has lost over the years, a list including two band members and several artist friends. It showed him how lucky he is to have arrived at this point in his life. Being a professional musician was always a dream for Barcelow but it didn’t become a reality until he relocated from Minneapolis to attend Colorado State University. He was asked to tour playing drums

for local band Baker London, and on a whim, he put his education on the back burner and hit the road. In order to cut out a living for himself, Barcelow knew he would have to make sacrifices and say yes to a lot of stuff that came his way. Eventually that attitude led him to a few practices with Isakov. “I think it’s easy to do that as a drummer because you can migrate. You’re slightly more nomadic than a singer songwriter or a guitarist. I feel like drummers are always in pretty good demand,” says Barcelow. Barcelow recognizes the sacrifices he had to make regarding his relationships and education to become the go-to drummer. His parents were not supportive of his first tour and dropping out of school is never an easy decision. But eventually his parents came around as he began to make a living and he eventually earned his degree in Spanish and business. Barcelow enjoys life in Fort Collins, and feels no pull to move to Boulder, where he records and practices with Isakov. He also recognizes that it can be a solitary

experience to come home from tour to a city that is constantly changing without you. And while Fort Collins is considered a big music town, it can be a difficult scene from which to break out. “There’s this weird ceiling that every project seems to hit before fizzling out,” Barcelow says, “but they’re punctuated with moments like ‘f#ck yeah we’re opening for Lucero,’ or ‘wow we got the Tour de Fat gig,’” says Barcelow. “That little string to success can lead you right out of Fort Collins.” The summer of 2020 is already packed for Barcelow as he gears up for a tour with Iskov supporting The Lumineers, including a show at Coors Field in Denver. Still, in between tours he likes to stay busy and grounded by working on other projects and getting involved in the local scene. You can find him bartending around

Fort Collins, primarily at Pinball Jones Campus West because of the underground shows hosted there.

teaching drums as a side gig, imparting some of the knowledge he’s learned as a professional.

Looking ahead, Barcelow says he can see himself getting into

“There are a lot of great drummers out there who have excellent chops but they don’t know how to honor a song. They can figure out the beat and chug through from start to finish but they can’t wrap their hearts around the song and the lyrics,” says Barcelow. It takes life experience, dedication and a realization of life’s fragility to wrap your heart around a song. Barcelow knows the place to earn all that isn’t at big award ceremonies, but by staying grounded and saying yes.

DEATH JUST BRINGS IT ALL BACK HOME PHOTOS: MICHAEL OLIVIER

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D A R O O D L A O R N O R T NORTHE COL RT R E C N CO LENDAR COLORADO CONCE AR ND O T CA E R L E A C C DO CON DAR OLORAD A R O L C CO ERT CALEN T R E C N C CO LENDAR CONLENDAR CA CA

CONCERT CALENDAR

Sunday, March 1st Whitey Morgan (Acoustic Set) @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 7:30 PM w/ Casey James Prestwood JJ Grey @Washington’s - Fort Collins, 7:00 PM J Stone @Hodi’s Half Note - Fort Collins, 7:00 PM w/ Fashawn, Keifer, YoungBoy37, D-nOm, AVG Rebecca Folsom @Avogadro’s Number - Ft. Collins, 6PM w/ Buddy Mondlock and Liz Barnez

MONDAY, March 2ND

Naughty Professor @Moxi - Greeley, 7 PM Oscarella @Magic Rat - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM All My Friends Are Skeletons: Chris Cornell Tribute w/ Post Paradise as Radiohead @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 7:30 PM Murder By Death w/ Slim Cessna’s Auto Club @Washington’s - Fort Collins, 6:00 PM Caskey w/ Thin Air Crew, Staying Stokes @Hodi’s Half Note - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM

UNC Writer’s Conference: Craig Finn @Moxi - Greeley, 6:30 PM

Los Toms & Spiff Tank @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 8:30 PM

Durand Jones & the Indications w/ Kaina @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 7:30 PM

ZZ Ward - Stardust Tour w/ Patrick Droney @The Fox Theatre - Boulder, 7:30 PM

Tuesday, March 3rd

Friday, March 6TH

Mason Maynard w/ MassTree b2b Tony James, Anthony Cole b2b LER, French Pressed @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 8:30 PM

Eldren @Moxi - Greeley, 8 PM

Local Talent Showcase @Avogadro’s Number - Ft. Collins, 8 PM Durand Jones & The Indications w/ aina @The Fox Theatre - Boulder, 8:00 PM

WEDNESDAY, March 4TH Young Dubliners @Moxi Theater - Greeley, 8 PM w/ The Stubby Shillelaghs

John Denver Tribute w/ Jim Curry and the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra @Union Colony Civic Center - Greeley, 7:30 PM Marvel Years + Russ Liquid w/ Funkstatik, LonSoul @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 8:30 PM Keller Williams @Washington’s - Fort Collins, 6:00 PM Two Scoops w/ Jimeni, Marl Cologne @Hodi’s Half Note - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM

Magnolia Sessions ft. Lois & The Lantern @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 7:00 PM

Poudre River Irregulars @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 4PM

Pushing Chain @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 7:00 PM

Amorphic w/ Special Guest @Avogadro’s Number - Ft Collins, 8:30 PM

Bluegrass Jam @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 9:00 PM Mason Maynard w/ Disco Lines b2b Parmajawn, Lando Burch @The Fox Theatre - Boulder, 8:30 PM

Fox & Kyle’s Birthday Party ft. Kyle Hollingsworth Band w/ The Magic Beans @The Fox Theatre - Boulder, 8:30 PM Local Set - Sugar Ridge & Oli McCracken @Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison- , 6:00 PM

Saturday, March 7TH Ben Pu & Crew @Moxi Theater - Greeley, 8:00 PM w/ Bones Muhroni, Silver & Smoke Stumble Monkey @Key Largo Lounge - Greeley, 8:00 PM Willy Porter @Magic Rat - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM NoCo Live: Mitchell James & Anville @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 7:30 PM

THE MOVERS & SHAKERS

David Wilcox @The Armory - Fort Collins, 6:00 PM Brixx w/ Waylo, Jakattak, Eschaton @Hodi’s Half Note - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM The Tale Spinner Lounge @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 7:00 PM Kitchen Dwellers w/ Head for the Hills @The Fox Theatre - Boulder, 8:30 PM

Sunday, March 8TH Benefit for Jam-C w/ Presidio @Moxi Theater - Greeley, 8:00 PM Funky Business & 2nd Choice City 7 @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 4:00 PM

Friday, March 13th at Moxi Theater in Greeley

TUESDAY, March 10TH

William Apostol & Todd Herrington) @Washington’s - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM

Sam Bush w/ Coral Creek @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 7:30 PM

RE:TURN @Hodi’s Half Note - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM w/ Fullmetal, Flats Stanlie, Alex Knox

Local Talent Showcase @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM Generationals w/ Sarah Jaffe @The Fox Theatre - Boulder, 7:30 PM

WEDNESDAY, March 11TH Generationals w/ Sarah Jaffe @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 7:30 PM Phab 4 (Anders Beck, Paul Hoffman,

Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards @Union Colony Civic Center - Greeley, 7:00 PM

Bluegrass Jam @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 7:00 PM

SATURDAY, March 14TH

THURSDAY, March 12TH

Corb Lund w/ Lauren Morrow @Moxi - Greeley, 8 PM

Chicago Farmer & The Fieldnotes @Magic Rat - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM

Counter Point @Key Largo Lounge - Greeley, 8:00 PM

Lawrence w/ Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 7:30 PM

Rich Little @Union Colony Civic Center - Greeley, 7:30 PM

The Infamous Stringdusters @ Washington’s - Fort Collins, 7:00 PM w/ Banshee Tree

The Crystal Method w/ Ill.banks, Jimeni @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 8:30 PM

Dead Jam House Band @Hodi’s Half Note - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM

Galactic @Washington’s - Fort Collins, 6:00 PM w/ Anjelika Joseph & Naughty Professor

Summer Salt w/ Okey Dokey, Breakup Shoes @The Fox Theatre - Boulder, 7:30 PM

The Unlikely Candidates @Hodi’s Half Note - Fort Collins, 7:00 PM w/ Castlecomer, RH2

FRIDAY, March 13TH

Elmer Funk @Avogadro’s Number - Ft Collins, 7 PM

The Movers & Shakers (Dinner Show) @Moxi - Greeley, 5:30 PM Featuring: Luna’s Tacos & Tequila

Lespecial w/ Chewy&Bach, Kaleid @The Fox Theatre - Boulder, 8:30 PM

Chirstopher Paul Stelling @Magic Rat - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM Protohype and Jantsen - Good Times Tour w/ G-Space, Pitta Patta, Maia @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 8:30 PM Los Lobos w/ Neal Francis @Washington’s - Fort Collins, 6:00 PM MountainUS w/ Zee Irelynn, Yuppie Wagon, Dj Wadada @Hodi’s Half Note - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM Jimmy’s Friday Night Follies @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 9:00 PM

Lawrence w/ Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers @The Fox Theatre - Boulder, 8:30 PM

SUNDAY, March 15TH The Copper Children & Handmade Moments @Moxi - Greeley, 7 PM Sound & Light Round 2 @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 5:30 PM Robyn Hitchcock @The Armory - Fort Collins, 6:00 PM Tyler Rennix & The Joshous Tree-oh @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 7:00 PM

MONDAY, March 16TH Skerryvore w/ Once Upon a Tune @The Armory - Fort Collins, 6:00 PM The Tallest Man on Earth w/ Courtney Marie Andrews @Washington’s - Fort Collins, 6:00 PM Grieves + The Holdup w/ P.MO, Voz 11, Kruza Kid @The Fox Theatre - Boulder, 7:30 PM

TUESDAY, March 17TH

POWERMAN 5000

The Stubby Shillelaghs @ Moxi Theater - Greeley, 8pm Shen Yun @Union Colony Civic Center - Greeley, 7:30 PM St. Paddy’s Celebration ft. Canyon Collected, Swashbuckling Doctors, The Reel McCoys @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 6:00 PM Local Talent Showcase @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM

WEDNESDAY, March 18TH Shen Yun @Union Colony Civic Center - Greeley, 7:30 PM

Tuesday, March 24th at Moxi Theater in Greeley

Ghostland Observatory @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 8:30 PM

SATURDAY, March 21ST

The Subdudes w/ Liz Barnez @The Armory - Fort Collins, 6:00 PM

Fox Creek Ramblers @Key Largo Lounge - Greeley, 8:00 PM

Glitteratti w/ Special Guests @Hodi’s Half Note - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM

Boy Named Banjo @Magic Rat - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM

Orgone w/ Mountain Rose @The Fox Theatre - Boulder, 7:30 PM

Entre Nos 2020 Live Tour @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 7:30 PM

FRIDAY, March 20TH

Krushendo w/ ELCTRX, The Medicine Men, Comisar, Enenra @Hodi’s Half Note - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM

One Flew West w/ Lighterburns, Lady Denim, The Able Dogs @ Moxi - Greeley, 8 PM

Songwriters in the Round @Magic Rat - Fort Collins, 7:00 PM

Shlump w/ Eazybaked, Phlo, Unkle L*Roy, Notorious Conduct @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 8:30 PM

moe. @Washington’s - Fort Collins, 7:00 PM

The Subdues @Washington’s - Fort Collins, 6:00 PM

Bluegrass Jam @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 7:00 PM

Just Jazz @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 4:30 PM

THURSDAY, March 19TH

Bonnie & The Clydes w/ Liz Barnez, Bonnie & Taylor Sims @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 8:30 PM

Shen Yun @Union Colony Civic Center - Greeley, 7:30 PM

Ghostland Observatory w/ Haasy @The Fox Theatre - Boulder, 8:30 PM

Sean Waters EP Release @Avogadro’s Number - Ft Collins, 8 PM

Shlump w/ Eazybaked, Skinny Limbs, Manfish @The Fox Theatre - Boulder, 8:30 PM

Sunday, March 22ND Titonic & Pipin’ Hot @Avogadro’s Number - Ft. Collins, 7 PM

Tuesday, March 24TH Powerman 5000 @Moxi - Greeley, 8 PM w/ Heartsick Heroine, Killing Creation, & Luciferin

Local Talent Showcase @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM

Bound for Peaches - Allman Brothers / Tedeschi Trucks Tribute @The Fox Theatre - Boulder, 7:00 PM

WEDNESDAY, March 25th

SATURDAY, March 28th

Overtime @Moxi - Greeley, 8 PM

Evanoff & Space Bacon w/ Amorphic @Moxi - Greeley, 8 PM

Bluegrass Jam @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 7:00 PM

Black Water @Key Largo Lounge - Greeley, 8:00 PM

The Heligoats @Magic Rat - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM

THURSDAY, March 26th David Cook @Moxi - Greeley, 7 PM Mattson 2 @Magic Rat - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM Wrekonize w/ Special Guests @Hodi’s Half Note - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM Dylan & The Dead ft. Joe Marcinek, David Gans & Friends @The Fox Theatre - Boulder, 8:30 PM

FRIDAY, March 27th Sam Grow “Whiskey Don’t Freeze Tour” @Moxi - Greeley, 8 PM

Don McLean Shen Yun @Union Colony Civic Center - Greeley, 7:30 PM Sierra Hull @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 8:30 PM Teenage Bottlerocket w/ Brendan Kelly, Bricheros @Hodi’s Half Note - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM Quemando Salsa Band & Dance @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM Aqueous w/ Dizgo @The Fox Theatre - Boulder, 7:30 PM Sugar Britches @Magic Rat - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM

SUNDAY, March 29th

Aqueous w/ The Higgs @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 8:30 PM

Opera Fort Collins Guild @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 7:00 PM

Old Man Saxon w/ Special Guests @Hodi’s Half Note - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM

Tuesday, March 31ST

The Robert Wilson Blues Band @Avogadro’s Number - Fort Collins, 8:00 PM

The Del McCoury Band w/ Wood Belly @Aggie Theatre - Fort Collins, 7:00 PM

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SHOT OF THE MONTH:

scott sessions 1967 - 2020 PHOTO BY Ken Arias