BandWagon Magazine - May 2012

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BandWagon Magazine Greeley’s live music and entertainment magazine MAY 2012

Shanna Sitton Crvshes It Kelly Langley-Cook BandWagon Magazine

May Brings new art to The Crvsh Room and Shanna Sinton’s bold illustration style to its hallowed walls.

Sitton is a woman who is connected to art. It’s in her roots. She emulates her artist grandmother while creating her own unique voice.

Although Sitton primarily creates art in drawings, she is constantly evolving and experimenting. “My creative process changes depending on my mood or the medium.

Lately I’ve been dedicated to portraiture. The process begins very elementary with a face. I meet someone or see an image that I love.

It may be the wrinkles around their eyes or the way their teeth are crooked… something unique to them. Once I find a subject I photograph them. It’s always an awkward process because most people are not accustomed to having their personal space violated. I have to get close, stare at them too much and push

the lens just ‘a little too close.’ This allows me to get the clarity I want. The act of looking at someone, experiencing them in person is completely different than viewing someone through a photograph.”

Sittons’ ability to waylay fear and capture the depth and emotion in the face is evident in this month’s show. Bright, skillful and emotional, Sitton’s go at portraiture for this months show is a delight. You see in each face someone you once knew, and perhaps a bit of yourself.

This recognition is certainly what Sitton wants to pull out of each piece and each viewer. It is clear that she has a common desire for the connection of humanity that comes from her authentic and honest work. Sitton is not afraid to share bits of herself as she creates, and this makes the work much more fulfilling to patrons. “I’m easily humiliated but I have moments of confidence as well,” Sitton confessed. “My artwork and how I share it expresses that.” Sitton recalls a drawing class at the

University of North Texas: “I was feeling lucky that day because I chose to sit facing the model head on, completely foreshortened.

I struggled with that sketch for hours before packing up my supplies, walking to the department office and dropping the class. I was so frustrated. It was as if that four-hour struggle [created a] capstone of all my short comings. I didn’t take another studio class for a year. I don’t know, I think its pretty heavy when a minor struggle can impact your confidence.”

Unlike many, Sitton bounced back with gusto.

Her work at the Crvsh is a delight and shows skillful thought and brave approach to the challenge. “I like to think I’ve found my medium.

Its working and I have no plans to change. Adventures, though, I welcome those.”

You can sit Sitton’s work on the first Friday in May, and all month long at The Crvsh Room, 915 16th Street.

Some of Sitton’s pencil drawings to be featured at the Crvsh Room gallery for the month of May. Pictured Right: “Scotty” Pictured Below: “1978, Nepal” Pictured Background: “Dirty”

BandWagon Magazine Greeley’s live music and entertainment magazine MAY 2012

ALBUM REVIEWS T. Moody

Outlaw Lunatic Scotty Anderson BandWagon Magazine TMoody’s website describes him as “a musician with MMPS (Multiple Music Personality Syndrome). This seemingly rare condition causes him to excel in several genres of music. There is no cure and the symptoms increase with time until in the end he will have mastered every genre of music that uses guitars.”

TMoody’s latest album, Lunatic Outlaw, is a throwback to times when outlaws ruled the roads as well as the Honky Tonks. His irreverent and unapologetic style couldn’t be summed up in just one genre, more than that, I don’t believe that he would want to.

TMoody calls upon the musical ghosts of Stevie Ray Vaughn, Ronnie Van Zant, and Robert Johnston to echo throughout his music. The highlights and my personal favorites of the album were his opening song “Trucker Metal,” a psycho-billy (esque) tune that really sets the record off, “Plan B,” one of his more bluesy tunes, and his instrumental PB&J where he really shows off his guitar chops. The last song “Hillbilly,” was an incredible finger-pickin’ bluegrass banjofueled rocket ship. After listening to the album, I was sort of bummed out by the lack of raw grittiness that is experienced through his live shows. I felt as though the textures of his music were

somewhat subdued on the album.

Although he has a vast repertoire to call upon, his lyrics can be a little campy at time, which may be off-putting to some. That being said, I enjoyed the album, but I feel that TMoody’s live performances are where you will really get the show you are looking for. Booking tmoody.com. You can listen to his information as well as upcoming album free at his youtube channel shows can be found on his website “tmoodyband.”

Allagaeon

Formshifter Lucas Wingfield BandWagon Magazine Since their formation in 2008, the melodic-metal outfit Allegaeon has been making huge advances in heavy music culture around the country. These four musicians already have some serious titles under their belts following the release of their 2010 debut album Fragments of Form and Function. They’ve reached Sirius Satellite Radio’s top 20 most played bands list numerous times, and were named Metalstorm.net’s #4 overall for the best records of 2010. After a long wait, Allegaeon stepped in to the critically acclaimed Lambesis Studios in California to record their latest release with Daniel Castleman (yea, the same guy that’s worked with As I Lay Dying, Carnifex, and Winds of Plague) titled Formshifter.

This record starts with a very calm, yet ominous introduction with a kind of flamenco vibe, but don’t be fooled. After the very first distorted guitar lick in the opening jam “Behold (God I Am),” I immediately fell victim to the melodic circus of weird scales and machine-gun tempos. The third track of the album opens with

a cool technical bass and guitar melody that highlights bassist Corey Archuleta. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Corey used to be in a local metal band out of Greeley called Crimson Reigns.

My favorite song musically off of this release was definitely the fifth track on the album titled “Twelve.” I particularly have never been a fan of songs over seven minutes long, but this track is so loaded with awesome shit that I had to listen to it a handful of times just to grasp the brilliance of the musicianship. They take a break the last three minutes of the song and bring back the ominous flamenco work that opens up the album, but they go way more in depth with the acoustic feel. For example, the recording is very raw because you can hear the microphone pick up guitarist Ryan Glisan’s breathing while he’s playing.

Another song that stood out to me was “The Azrael Trigger,” the sixth song, because this is one of the only times on the album that vocalist Ezra Haynes steps out of his normal style and works with different vocal ranges. He has a very solid signature scream, however, I wish that the album had more of this. It’s almost

catchy enough to sing along to when he says “Why did I program my controls?/Frequencies redesigned to open.”

This is definitely the most I’ve been interested in an album in a very long time. I was very impressed of how well they kept the first couple of tracks interesting for the listener. In a time where breakdowns and elements of hardcore have invaded death metal music, it’s good to hear a band that can just shred like nobody’s business over and over again. I wouldn’t be surprised at if this album makes it on bigger top ten lists and floods the charts in the music industry. Formshifter hits stores worldwide on May 8th via Metal Blade records, so go pick it up when it hits the shelves.

Hopefully you’ll still have enough time to come to terms with the fact that nothing that you do will EVER be as metal as these guys.

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BandWagon Magazine Greeley’s live music and entertainment magazine MAY 2012 Odd Future

The OF Tape, Vol. 2 Mikey Unruh BandWagon Magazine

on a completely do-it-yourself approach to making music, keeping everything in house (with the exception of extremely occasional A little over a year ago, Odd guest spots from artists outside Future were a relatively unknown the collective), which has proven entity in the hip hop world, but to keep the group sonically unified with more than a dozen releases in many respects. However, with a available on their website for free, group so large, bringing different their time had finally come. Fame influences and ideas to the table, found them when group leader, collective mixtapes tend to sound Tyler, the Creator was asked to more like a collection of songs from perform a track from his 2011 various artist than an album from record on Late Night with Jimmy a single creative force. While the Fallon, early last year. Now they limited number of people involved perform for sold out tours, open with the OF recording process has pop-up stores on various street always kept the overall aesthetic corners that nearly all end up of each release feeling similar, with a line around the block, and it wasn’t until their most recent are asked to lend their talents to mixtape, The OF Tape, Vol. 2, that some of the biggest acts around the ideas of all of the contributors today (Frank Ocean working with truly came together to create a Kanye and Jay-Z, Tyler, the Creator collection of tracks that sound like working with the Game, etc.). they should be together.

And their growing popularity no The most profound change doubt contributed to the over- from their previous work is Tyler’s popularization of the word “swag.” diminished role as the front man Often compared to the Wu- for the group. That’s not to say that Tang Clan, Odd Future Wolf he isn’t as present as he was on the Gang Kill Them All have taken previous releases though. On the

Esperanza Spalding Radio Music Society

Dan Barton BandWagon Magazine

Esperanza Spalding has a new record out. If you’re racking your brain to recall where you’ve heard the name, I will direct you back to her 2011 Best New Artist Grammy upset over Justin Bieber. Among Bieber fans, prevailing discussions on Spalding most likely surround her downright theft of the Biebs’ birthright. Haters were probably just thankful that someone else took home the statue, but never bothered to look any further.

However, conventional wisdom should lead a person to reason that she must be pretty talented to pull of such a stunt. And indeed, Spalding,

a twenty-seven-year-old singer/ bass player, is phenomenally talented. A self-taught violinist, she was the concertmaster of the Oregon Chamber Music Society at age fifteen. She discovered the bass at fourteen, left high school with a GED at sixteen, and took a fullride scholarship to Berklee. She was hired on at Berklee upon her graduation at age twenty.

The idea behind her latest full length album, Radio Music Society, is to promote the idea of radio musi and that an unknown sound or concept “can surprise you; can enter your realm of knowledge.”

This is especially important for jazz, which experiences such a wide disconnect from the rest of popular music culture. On NPR’s

contrary, there are only a handful of the 18 tracks on which Tyler doesn’t lend vocals or production.

However, the increased presence of verses from Hodgy Beats and Domo Genesis and production from Left Brain show that there is more than one driving force among the group, and Tyler may be more willing to stay behind the scenes from time to time to let his friends shine.

The tape’s production ranges from aggressive to quirky to even a few that might want to make you drive around with the windows down on a summer night. This is a huge change from the original OF Tape, released in 2008, which lacks the same diversity, due in part to both the small amount of experience they had and the smaller number of members within the group at the time of recording. Similarly the vocals span a far greater range on Vol. 2, straying away from just being a rap collective and including some R&B and R&B inspired tracks and verses, provided by Frank Ocean and The Internet, a duo consisting of producer Matt Martians and Odd Future engineer, Syd tha Kyd, on vocals. Even the longest standing members of the collective bring something new on vocals,

Weekend Edition with Rachel Martin she gives insight into her thought process: “If you don’t already know about jazz music, how would you be exposed? How would you get an opportunity to find out if it spoke to you? If you get exposed to it enough, you might find a taste for it.” On Radio Music Society, Spalding has given herself a prime opportunity to give jazz that kind of visibility. She speaks her thesis on the album’s opening track “Radio Song,” celebrating the unpredictable and communal gifts of radio in the infernal horror of rush hour traffic.

“Black Gold” featuring R&B singer Algebra Blessett, is Spalding’s spirited ode for AfricanAmerican children specifically. The song opens a dialogue that extends beyond prevailing conversations about black culture (i.e. overcoming oppression) and looks for a “connection with pre-colonial

having developed their talents significantly in the past four years.

While Tyler’s unique voice will always set him apart from the rest his crew, Domo and Hodgy use this mixtape as their chance to do the same, to carve an identity as an individual, and not just part of a collective. The dominating number of verses they provide show they have the drive to become known aside from their affiliation with Tyler, and their talent proves what it takes to be grouped with other prominent rappers in the scene.

Closing the mixtape is “Oldie,” a ten-and-a-half minute track featuring a huge number of the OF family taking turns rapping, and probably the most exciting track for any devoted Odd Future fan.

The long absent Earl Sweatshirt, who has been missing for the past year, rumored to be at an all boys boarding school in Samoa. “Free Earl” became something of a motto for Odd Future and its fans alike, and it finally came true within the last couple of minutes of the mixtape, where he spits his first verse with the group in over a year.

While not surprising that his forced absence from the group would fuel his eventual return, the promising seventeen year old rapper out does

African culture.” You will probably hear India.Arie in the mellow soul of “Cinnamon Tree.” In her abstract sense of lyricism, she writes a text that is disarmingly successful in its sensuality. It’s either vivid symbolism and a clever love song, or you may find yourself falling in love with a certain Asian tree: “Cinnamon tree, wise and sturdy / Your roots are firm in the ground to soak up what’s around and make sweet seasoning.”

The world is taking notice of her newfound crossover potential: the album has reached number ten on the Billboard Top 200. Spalding recently got the ultimate nod of approval via her performance of “Crowned & Kissed” on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, who is an obvious admirer. After a series of shows in major US cities, her summer tour schedule will take her all across Europe, a market which, ironically, has been much more

himself, showing an understanding of rap that alludes many of his contemporaries.

Overall, The OF Tape, Vol. 2 is the strongest group release from the collective, giving each member the chance to bring their own unique sensibility to the tracks they are on, while complimenting each other’s styles in a way that seems planned, with the entire record in mind. It seems the members of OFWGKTA have each started to discover their individual strengths and how those define the role they play within the collective, giving them a better chance at further success.

supportive of our American genre in the past several decades. She will, however, be back in the states and performing at the Boulder Theater on September 25th. If you’ve always meant to give jazz a chance, Spalding couldn’t possibly be making the opportunity more accessible.

BandWagon Magazine Greeley’s live music and entertainment magazine MAY 2012 Floof and the Time Bandits

Mariah Foster BandWagon Magazine

This is Living

Originality is a rarity these days, making it such a pleasure to stumble across a band with a passion for creating true music. Floof and the Time Bandits is one such group, synergizing the talents and personalities of five impressively eccentric individuals. Each member of Floof is a classically trained UNC music program student or graduate, giving them an unparalleled edge in the local scene. Rather than compromising stylistically to create one definable sound, the band flexes to incorporate all their varied skills, creating a broad range of genres and styles within which they experiment. Flute, glockenspeil, clapping, whistling, and various sounds effects are blended masterfully with rock and roll guitar solos and uptempo drumbeats to create fresh sounds that are very easy on the ears. The band’s new eleven-track album This is Living provides just a taste of their ever expanding repertoire, bringing together some of their more intense and thought-provoking originals to give the listener immediate entertainment as well as lasting food for thought. The album opens with “Worker’s Comp,” a song that introduces the feel of the CD by building a bass line groove into some rockin’ drums, then adding the unique percussion of hammer hitting metal before topping it off with enthusiastic guitar riffs, and finally, the smooth vocals that bring it all together.

Three of the band members sing, constructing beautifully complex harmonies that add depth and diversity to each piece. Keyboard player AJ Wulf leads the majority of the tracks, utilizing the full range of his polished voice to emphasize the emotion behind the poignant lyrics. The band’s only female member, Linda Strasser,

Photo by Joe Lee Parker

Danielle Ate The Sandwich Two Bedoom Apartment

Scotty Anderson BandWagon Magazine Danielle Anderson, Local Colorado native also known by her stage name Danielle Ate the Sandwich, recently launched a Kickstarter to fund her forthcoming album and was

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surprised to find that she raised an astounding $16,236. Raising over $16,000 is pretty incredible for only a month on Kickstarter, but what’s more incredible is the fact that her original goal was $6000, and she reached that within a few hours. I guess it is not that surprising for anyone who knows Danielle, or has listened

her music.

The fact is, she is a great musician, and incredibly funny as well. Her charming personality comes through in her music, which is undoubtedly the reason behind her success. Danielle Ate the Sandwich’s (2010) album Two Bedroom Apartment is a clever one, full of indie singer-songwriter style music. Lyrically driven, Danielle sings about topics many of us experience in a tongue in cheek manner. Her quirky sense of humor reveals her vulnerability as a human being, which is something

puts her choral training to use sweetening the album’s charmingly lighthearted tunes. Guitarist Blake Smith fills out the groups vocals, further harmonizing and employing gruff guttural techniques when singing lead, emphasizing the tension of lines like “Words couldn’t cut it/ now we’re throwing plates, too” in “Propane Blues.”

Blake is Floof’s principal songwriter, responsible for the album’s musings on the stresses of life and love. “This is living/ we’re just living/ and I’m just losing my head” repeats the title track, one example of the all too relatable frustrations explored throughout the themes of the CD. Since the album’s February release, Floof and the Time Bandits has played gigs all over Northern Colorado and continues to gain notoriety as they perform before broader audiences.

“I feel the good times coming in my bones,” sings AJ in “Leave Me Be,” and, after experiencing the full impact of This is Living, it’s impossible to disagree. To listen to or download the full album, visit their bandcamp page. www.floofandthetimebandits.bandcamp.com

we can all relate to. In her album Two Bedroom Apartment she sings about death, loss, and the ending of relationships, as well as a journey towards acceptance.

In her post-break-up song “Public Property,” she sings, “I’m not yours any more than the dust owns the TV screen.” In other songs, such as “Soldier,” her lyrics are a bit heavier. “I used to date a beauty queen, and now I hug my M-16.”

Normally I hate comparing bands because, undoubtedly, people of a folkier (girl) version of early will most likely disagree with my Death Cab for Cutie, which is a comparison. But this reminds me compliment. Both artists are able to create imagery through creative analogies and are able to form an empathetic relationship with the listener. You should get this album and help support one of Colorado’s upcoming artists. You can find out more about Danielle Ate the Sandwich, at her website danielleatethesandwich.com, on which, by the way, you can listen to her entire album, as well as find information on her upcoming releases.

Scan the QR Code to see the official music video for “Where the Good Ones” Go

by Danielle Ate the Sandwich

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BandWagon Magazine Greeley’s live music and entertainment magazine MAY 2012

MOVIE REVIEWS The Raid: Redemption 2012 - 101 Minutes – Rated R Jay Wallace BandWagon Magazine Ever heard of Pencak Silat?

Probably not, unless you are a hardcore martial arts buff. It’s an umbrella term used to describe martial arts that originated from Indonesia. Pencak Silat is a blinkand-you’ll-miss-it, energetic fighting style that trades grace and flash for roughness and rawness. It’s also the fighting style used in the new martial arts-action epic The Raid: Redemption, and it is spectacular.

The Raid: Redemption takes place in Jakarta, Indonesia. It opens with Rama (Iko Uwais) doing his morning routine of exercise and gearing up for the day, giving his pregnant wife a kiss goodbye. It’s going to be a long day for Rama, as it will be for his fellow officers – Sergeant Jaka (Joe Taslim), Lt. Wahyu (Pierre Gruno), Officers Bowo (Tegar Satrya) and Dagu (Eka Rahmadia), and the rest of the young SWAT team assembled.

Jaka is leading the team by order of Wahyu to an apartment block that’s known as a hideout for Jakarta’s killers and gangsters. It is run by crime lord Tama Riyadi (Ray Sahetapy), and is considered impenetrable by

Riyadi’s rivals and the police. The mission at hand: take down Tama once and for all. But, of course, the original plan goes south, and the officers have to fight, shoot, and brawl their way out.

The film, as stated before, is spectacular. Without giving much away, the machete fight, the drug lab beatdown, and the three way showdown between Rama, Tama’s numbers man Andi (Doni Alamsyah) and Tama’s lead henchman Mad Dog (Yayan Ruhian) are amazingly to watch.

It’s far more energetic and raw than standard martial arts seen in Chinese and Japanese films.

Showcasing Pencak Silat is largely the point of The Raid.

Writer-Director Gareth Evans met Uwais while shooting a documentary on Pencak Silat and wanted to bring the fighting style to the world of cinema, which he first did with Uwais on the 2009 film Merantau, and then The Raid. But that doesn’t mean the quieter moments of the film lack in substance. The emotional aspects of the story (such as an encounter between Rama and Andi) pull you in further and get you to care about these characters, which is what all films should strive to do, but more often than not, action films

either skip this part or foul it up terribly.

The Raid isn’t perfect though.

The first blood-soaked encounter with the apartment dwellers was shot with the loathsome technique known as “ShakyCam.” The ten-minute long shootout has a perpetual, subtle jitter to it, like the scene was being shot during an earthquake, that was giving me nausea. The rest of the film, while shot handheld 90 percent of the time, was all right.

Still, nothing ruins a theater experience like getting motion sickness because the filmmakers couldn’t think up another, better way to shoot a chaotic shootout. If you get motion sickness watching The Blair Witch Project, take Dramamine before viewing it in the theater or on a large TV screen.

The music of the film should get a mention. When the trailer was released, what specifically caught my eye was that Mike Shinoda, the other front-man for Linkin Park, was co-composing the score for the American release. Shinoda along with film composer Joseph Trapanese, create something fairly reminiscent of pre-2007 Linkin Park, which is a serious plus in my book. It elevates

The Cabin in the Woods 2012 - 95 minutes – Rated R

Jay Wallace BandWagon Magazine A couple months ago, I discovered the ultimate internet timewaster: TVTropes.org, a wiki of every stock character, plot device, cliché, and stereotype used in film, television, literature, video games, comics, and even on occasion, real life. It’s crack for the pop culture junkie. I also suspect that Writer-Producer Joss Whedon and WriterDirector Drew Goddard, the pair behind The Cabin in the Woods, probably used it a couple times for reference material while writing their stealth parody of slasher films.

(It should be noted that there is a page for Cabin in the Woods on TVTropes.org, but I advise you to avoid at all costs. It’ll just ruin the film for you.)

The story of Cabin in the Woods sounds rather generic: Five friends spend a weekend in a cabin in the woods, and find themselves being terrorized by malevolent forces. The characters are the same characters (sort of) that you could find in a Friday the 13th sequel: There’s Dana (Kristen Connolly), the virgin,

who apparently just got out of a relationship with her professor.

There’s Jules (Anna Hutchison), the blond bimbo who actually just dyed her hair blond. There’s Curt (Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth), the jock who’s surprisingly well-read and even-tempered. There’s Holden (Jesse Williams), the nerd who looks like a jock pretending to be a nerd. And finally, there’s Marty (Fran Kranz), who is the dictionary definition of The Stoner, and the guy you KNOW is going to die.

These five schmucks rent an RV and roll on up the cabin Curt’s cousin just bought. While checking out their rooms, they discover a two-way mirror between Dana and Holden’s rooms, which was hidden by a disturbing, gory portrait.

Later that night, the door to the cellar flings open by itself, and the five walking corpses take a peak downstairs. Dana finds a journal and recites a Latin passage against Marty’s wishes.

Bloodshed ensues.

The Cabin in the Woods is all about deconstructing the American slasher film. Much like what Hot Fuzz did for American

buddy-cop films, Cabin plays with the tropes of the slasher genre, but unlike Hot Fuzz, the film also mocks slasher film clichés with disdain. The relatively blasé attitudes of Whitford’s and Jenkins’ characters show this; it’s clear that their organization has done this many times, and yet they keep doing it. Why exactly?

Because, like horror filmmakers, they have an audience to please.

One screw-up, and… well, you’ll have to watch the film to figure why any screw-up in their plan is bad news. It doesn’t involve poor reviews and box-office returns.

Horror film junkies and film buffs will enjoy picking out the references littered throughout the film; rewatching it on DVD should be rewarding, to say the least. God only knows how many things I missed in the last half hour of the film. A unicorn is involved. There’s also a delightful cameo by a famed horror alumni no one will be disappointed by. And the film overall is surprisingly funny and clever. Beyond that, I cannot say much more other than… Go see The Cabin in the Woods. It’s not your standard slasher film; it just looks like one. 10/10

the energy that erupts during the fight scenes and cranks the tension up to eleven when things go horribly wrong. I would be interested in hearing a version of the film that contains the original score used outside the US, just for comparison. Hopefully there will be an extra audio track on

the DVD release.

In all, The Raid: Redemption is a fantastic action film; definitely has my vote for Best Action Film of the Year. (Trust me, Avengers and Dark Knight Rises are not going to be as bad-ass as The Raid. I’ll eat my shoes if I’m wrong). 7/10

BandWagon Magazine Greeley’s live music and entertainment magazine MAY 2012

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BandWagon Magazine Greeley’s live music and entertainment magazine MAY 2012

Megan T Takes Over Mariah Foster BandWagon Magazine Move over, boys- there’s a sexy new sheriff in town.

Megan Tritsch, known to most as Megan T, has captivated audiences all over Greeley and Northern Colorado, and she’s just warming up.

With a voice as strong and satisfying as a shot of whiskey and an apologetically feisty personality, Megan’s distinct musical performances make her the life of the party wherever she plays. “Singing gives me the biggest high,” explains Megan.

“There’s nothing in the world like it.” She says she’s always felt that way. When she was younger, her parents remember struggling to get her to sleep because she would stay up all night singing songs from The Little Mermaid soundtrack.

Megan’s unparalleled passion is what drives her to succeed, and she can be found playing at various local venues just about any night of the week, often collaborating with other local artists.

Megan began her study of musicial theater at UNC, though poor singing practices during high school caused her to fall into some destructive vocal habits. After a couple years in college, she began to develop nodules on her vocal chords; the same problem that caused Adele to cancel some of her recent tour dates before seeking surgical correction. Because of the damage done to her voice, Megan was advised to change majors; a devastating blow to both her confidence and her musical career. But Megan has never been the kind of person to give up on her dreams. She earned a bachelor’s degree in theater education and began substitute teaching, never

Photos By: Kaitlyn Sullivan

letting her misfortune affect her love for music. Megan drew encouragement from artists like Lady Gaga, who inspired her to always remain true to herself and her passions. She recalls watching one particular performance and realizing that the song was exactly in her range. “I can do that. No, I have to do that,” Megan told herself, immediately sitting down at her piano and learning to play song after song. “She will always be my inspiration,” she admits, happy to belt out “Born This Way” at any time of the day.

“Megan T is a kind soul with a big heart and a big voice,” says Johnny Nolan, one of many local musicians she regularly collaborates with. It was her peers that originally encouraged Megan to play at more than just open mic nights, and audiences

became immediately intrigued with her Janis Joplin-esque performances. Local bands began to invite her to open for them, and it wasn’t long after that Megan T became the headlining act drawing all the crowds. “We love Megan T!” Johnny exclaims, echoing a common sentiment. Megan T is the party-starter, the spunky sweetheart, and the girl next door. She plans to push her music career as far as it will go and would love to tour with other local acts this summer.

She is currently saving up to record her first CD, much to the excitement of her fans. Until then, she can be heard on Aims’ Locals Only radio show, every two weeks at Mad Cow with Ben Pu, and verious venues all over town.

Photo By: Woody Myers

BandWagon Magazine Greeley’s live music and entertainment magazine MAY 2012

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Marq Fraker

A Foundation in the Local Scene

Zach Martinez BandWagon Magazine

basically a recording device that lets you record a riff or strum pattern and then plays it back The lives of local musicians through the speakers while you are often extremely short-lived. play over it. It allows a performer Local communities slowly grow to play overlapping guitar parts. tired of the same old songs, and, However, they aren’t exceptionally unfortunately, balancing jobs, easy to use which makes Marq’s friends, and sometimes school ability to perfectly time his doesn’t allow musicians to crank previously recorded guitar riffs out new songs fast enough to that much more entertaining.

Marq’s ability to gather and keep the members of our modern, maintain a local fan base is instant-gratification-junkie generation interested.

Bands uncanny. It’s not easy to keep a seems to die almost as soon as they local audience entertained over a period of five or six years, but Marq begin.

Like every rule, however, this has. Even when hardcore and metal one also has its exceptions, and bands dominated the northern our local exception is Marq Fraker. Colorado music scene, he could be He has been playing music in found singing songs like “Bottle of northern Colorado for longer than a Bottle” and “Cold CO” in coffee I can remember, outliving some shops all over Ft. Collins, Windsor, of the most impressive bands in and Greeley.

Marq’s most recent release northern Colorado music, like The Chasing Dreams, produced by Josh Color of Money, Rosie, and What About Pluto?. I first met Marq Gagliardi, is a three song EP and is at an Entourage show at Higher more of the same great work we’ve Grounds, which is now The Depot. seen from Marq over the years. The At first I thought Marq was just first thing that struck me about like all the other skinny-ass dudes this EP was the recording quality. playing corny acoustic songs to It’s incredible, definitely not the girls who either didn’t exist or work of some guy who thinks that didn’t care. That, however, was having Garageband on the Mac his before he whipped out his loop parents bought him makes him an pedal, a staple of any Marq Fraker audio engineer. Take for example show. For those of you who don’t track two, “This Awkward Silence.” know what a loop pedal is, it is In this track, not only does Marq

show off his individual talent, but he also showcases his ability to arrange a string section to back up the melody and strumming.

I’ve been following Marq for a long time; I know the quality of music he’s capable of, and I was still surprised by “This Awkward Silence.” Furthermore, I don’t know whether or not the strings in the song were real or MIDI instruments, but in either case, its impressive. If the former is true, the acoustic was beautifully recorded. If it’s the latter, then the MIDI work is equally impressive.

Everyone knows, however, that first impressions are everything.

This is true of novels, if the first page doesn’t grab the reader, they will likely put it down. The same is true of music albums. The title track on Chasing Dreams is the best song on the EP. Some of the lyrics may offend, and in terms of content, they get a little cheesy at times. However, in terms of form, the lyrics are superb. A common feature of local artists’ lyrics is the forcing of words into the syllable pattern that has already been established. This is when you hear words like “I” stretched over multiple syllables when, in previous lines, those same syllables would have been occupied by multiple words. This happens a lot

when a melody is established by one line, and the artist is unable maintain this pattern when other lines are plugged into the melody.

This is not the case with “ C h a s i n g Dreams.” The melody is complex, and yet all the lines remain within the same syllabic pattern.

This quality of lyric bespeaks the time and energy Marq puts into his music. Take for example the outro, which features polyphonic female harmonies over the melody with whole note guitar strums and the chorus riff. The listener is eased out of the song by a beautiful ending, encouraging the listener to put the song on repeat.

Northern Colorado has been unusually accepting of Marq, and I think he is very deserving of his local celebrity treatment. The music scene needs a break from

the indie rock and reggae jam bands that are currently sustaining it. Going to a Marq show is like catching a Rocky Votolato set that happened to fall between Cannibal Corpse and Ziggy Marley. Marq offers diversity that is currently unmatched in Northern Colorado, and not only does he fill a niche, he fills it well. He’s not just another skinny-ass dude who plays corny acoustic songs; he is one of the most well sustained local musical acts in the scene today.

A

uthenticity cries out from rattling percussion, up-front guitar, and amplified horns on Paul Bevridge and Company’s first EP, All Can Burn.

Scheduled for release at Zoe’s with Anchient Mariner and Nottingham on May 19th and with Bones Muhroni, Casteway, and In the Whale at A.F. Rays on May 25th. I stopped by a nightly practice to ask Paul Beveridge and Company a few questions about their acoustic/indie/rock sound on the EP. Beveridge decided that he was ready to transition from a solo acoustic performer to a larger music project. The singer, songwriter, and guitarist intended to incorporate brass instruments, which would function as alternatives to traditional rock band’s bass guitars. Paul Beveridge and Company was formed over the course of a week. Paul asked Craig Basarich (trumpet), Brent Engel (euphonium), Jesse Spencer (drums), and Tim Veilleux (lead guitar) to join him in his unconventional music collaboration; however, the final product was very different from Paul’s original vision. Drummer Jesse Spencer said, “initially when [Paul] asked me to be part of the

band it was hard for m wanted an accordion, u we’ve worked with the a sound we love, and it The creation of A member’s relationship the outcome is a grassr notes of social justice. mention sex-traffickin water crisis. All five g provided a melodic sc Explosion in the Sky, M and MewithoutYou in composition. Paul said huge influence. He held of music, and, of course He’s got this falsetto t belting it vocally, I can guys began to jam toge and breakdowns all fel When Craig’s old moved to Denver for saw an opportunity to knowledgeable produc band mates have juggl Denver to record. Mich his wing while mixing guys admitted that the and required a certain that at times became a All Can Burn has mat

The Long awaited Album Finall

By: Willow Summers

PHOTOS By: Thomas Nash

me to see how I would fit in. Paul upright-bass, and a tuba. Instead, euphonium and trumpet to make sounds killer!”

All Can Burn tested the band ps, musically and personally, but roots-driven album that belts out In particular, the album’s lyrics ng, homelessness and the clean guys’ unique musical influences caffolding that weaves traces of Mumford and Sons, Local Natives nto an amorphous modern-day d,” local artist, Tim Coons was a d a mentor-role for me in the air e, I was looking to him stylistically. thing which I admire. As far as n’t really help that now.” As the ether chord progressions, bridges ll into a natural flow. roommate, Cameron Severn, r studio production, the guys o collaborate with a friend and cer. Since October of last year, the led schedules as they traveled to heal Olivie took the album under g and mastering each track. The e recording process was tedious n attention to technical aspects annoying, but eight months later terialized as a source of pride.

ly arrives

Craig admitted, “making a CD really taught us through thick and thin how to continue loving each other. A lot of bands get broken up with records, and I feel like we were definitely tested, but I can honestly say we are ready to put on the next project knowing that we have gone through hell already.”

Jesse created the grayscale cover art for the EP, complete with wisps of fire-orange around cursive print.

The graphic designer was inspired by a lyric on the last track of the album, which is also titled “All Can Burn”; it states, “if ash has replaced all my dreams, you’re the dream that I’d save.” A lyric that embodies the album’s theme. Paul explained how the album was centered on a point where it, where everything, falls apart, and all that is left is God. The intensity of this concept is illustrated through crescendos and big moments. Each track is textured with dissonant notes that are heavy at times and, as Craig states, to “pull the crowd in and punch them in the face.” The tension throughout each track develops from a soft-to-loud drama that is augmented by the unexpected rhythm of the horns. Brent said, “I was used to playing tuba and being in the back. Playing in the band the first time was like holy crap people can hear me and it made me really self-conscious. Then, I opened up to become very emotional through my horn.

There can be a darker maybe almost angry side and a prettier side to playing your horn.”

Honesty and genuineness in relation to the band’s faith was crucial to their overall message on the EP. The song “Street Corner Walkways” takes a sarcastic approach towards the church and its justifications,

while the song “What Good” questions the emptiness surrounding a broken moment or life. Still, the guys want to portray a love for Christ in their music, but don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable. Talking about his songwriting, Paul said, “I’m trying to offer a space in which conversation can be made. I’m not expecting people to convert or push Jesus down people’s throat.

We’re normal people. We do all the things everyone else does; we swear and drink. The point is we’re not above anyone because we believe in something.”

The conversation has only begun with Paul Beveridge and Company, as they are already prepared to release a few new singles at their upcoming performances in May. A gradual shift towards an even more complex sound, the band has several new songs that they were not comfortable with in October but now love to play. Even a few songs off All Can Burn have already dynamically changed. The hardest track to record on the album, “Tim’s Song” has altered its rustic yearning tones from the EP into an agile stream of guitar riffs melted in buoyant percussion. Lead guitarist Tim said, “‘Tim’s Song’ was difficult because it has a huge poly-rhythmic transfer, but with time we’ve totally revolutionized the way we played ‘Tim’s Song.’ We’ve made it one of our favorite songs to play.”

All Can Burn is available for purchase through iTunes, Spotify, and SoundCloud. For more information about new music and upcoming appearances check out Paul Beveridge’s fan page on Facebook.

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BandWagon Magazine Greeley’s live music and entertainment magazine MAY 2012

Liquid Assassin BandWagon Catches Up With Greeley’s Resident Hip Hop Star By: Dan Barton BandWagon Magazine Liquid Assassin, born Cardell Toombs Jr., now calls Greeley home. BandWagon caught up with him to get his thoughts on hip hop, independent music, and his craft. Interviewed and edited by Dan Barton BW: Just to get everyone up to date, a terribly generic question: What got you started in hip hop?

LA: One of the very first rappers I listened to was Brotha Lynch Hung. My older brother used to play his music a lot. I remember learning his lyrics, and rapping them to friends in the school hallways. It got to a point where people were asking me to rap my music again, and I would say, “That’s not me, that’s Brotha Lynch.” After that, a friend asked me to write my own lyrics and said I might be surprised by what I can do, cause I sounded good rapping Brotha Lynch’s music. So he is definitely a huge influence.

Also, Tech N9ne has got to be one of my biggest inspirations, along with Big Pun (R.I.P.).

BW: Being from Minnesota must have been a really great place to get started, seeing that it’s such a huge independent hip hop scene (Home of Atmosphere, the Rhymesayers label, and more). What was it like starting out there?

LA: Actually, it’s interesting how I look at it. Minnesota is a HUGE independent hip hop scene, so it’s really hard to get started or noticed coming outta that scene. Everyone looks at you as another local, or another rapper in my opinion. I remember back when I started, I asked and begged so many times to do shows, or get on collabs. But everyone really just did their own thing and didn’t come together like many other cities/ states. Places like Houston, Atlanta, and others represent real hard in the game, and there seems to be a “Let’s work together and put our spot on the map” type of attitude. There wasn’t much of that in Minnesota when I was coming up, but I think it’s changing and I’m proud to be from Minnesota. I wouldn’t want to be from anywhere else.

Photo By: Case Bredemeier of Vicarious Productions

BW: How can you compare that to the current scene in Northern Colorado? What brought you here, and what’s your connection to Greeley?

LA: I think it’s kinda the same everywhere. Rapping has just become the thing to do, I guess. As far as Greeley, my girlfriend is from out here—born and raised. I moved out here cause my job doesn’t really influence where I live, I’m always on the road anyways. So I just made it easier for my lady.

BW: What draws you to speed rap and when did you find out you had that skill?

How do you balance that technique with making sure your lyrics are understandable and connect with people?

LA: I speed up the flow depending on the beat I hear and how it feels to me. It kinda just came to me when I was rapping. I think it’s probably because I talk fast; I always rush to say everything and get it out fast. Even when I’m recording, I have the problem of rushing myself sometimes. But as long as I don’t rush myself, and

don’t rap fast for its own sake, my lyrics are pretty balanced and clear. The most important thing is my fans can understand what I wrote and can relate to it somehow.

BW: Obviously, your list of collaborations is pretty impressive. How did you connect with Tech N9ne, Paul Wall and others?

LA: Well, I’m in a group Grave Plott. We signed with Tech N9ne and Strange Music to a distribution deal in ‘08. Before that, we toured and played shows around the states. Just being around those guys making and listening to music, being in their presence a lot, you build relationships with people.

That’s how Tech and I came to work together. We’ve been featured on each other’s albums a few times. As far as Paul Wall, we became real cool over the years after doing the “Tech N9ne and Paul Wall Fire and Ice Tour” together. Paul is one of the most down to earth people I ever met—truly a great person.

BW: The music business is in a huge state of flux right now. With major label culture being kind of phased out, what kind of opportunities or struggles do you see by being an unsigned artist? What do you see in the independent scene today?

LA: I think it’s better for me.

I like to connect with my fans in person, not through a label or someone else. Having total con-

trol of my work and progress is a blessing. The downside is you don’t have the major promotion you’d get from a label, but with time and hard work, it eventually balances out. Right now, I think independent is the way to go for anyone who wants to make a living with music. A lot of up-and-coming rappers are still trying to be signed and give demos. Myself, I just think that is the wrong move with the way the game is today. If you do it on your own you have full control.

Plus, if you do it well, the major labels will come knocking anyway.

BW: What can fans can expect in the upcoming months from Liquid Assassin?

LA: Right now I’m writing my next mixtape, Seth Brogen, and I’m also working on a few tracks for another upcoming project. I been going real strong with my label, 42 Records— putting all the pieces together to make a strong foundation for success. I got a great DJ on the team, DJ Sh3vy from Colorado.

Also, an amazing producer, Mister Killer Audio (Mister KA), and a few artists I’m looking to sign in the future.

Shout out to my home town Saint Paul MN and the whole state of MN. Shout out to all my fans supporting Liquid Assassin and 42 Records. Hit me up on Twitter @LiquidAssassin, and on facebook.com/LiquidAssassin42. Thank you to BandWagon for having me, God Bless!

BandWagon Magazine Greeley’s live music and entertainment magazine MAY 2012

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BandWagon Magazine Greeley’s live music and entertainment magazine MAY 2012

Mitt Romney Eyes the White House Austin Wulf BandWagon Magazine With both Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich out of the race, Mitt Romney has pivoted to the general election to take on Barack Obama. There’s little doubt now that Romney will take the GOP nomination, barring an act of God or perhaps the return of Herman Cain, so it makes sense for Romney to campaign against Obama in advance of the general election in November.

The Colorado caucuses were a victory for Santorum back in February. Now that his campaign is suspended, what happens to his uncommitted delegates here in the Centennial State? Some have defected to Ron Paul. They, as Paul supporters often are, were the most vocal of the Colorado delegation at the state Republican convention in April. However, Romney also received a fair share of delegates at the state convention, including eight of our 12 at-large delegates, according to the Denver Post.

As Colorado delegates fight to support their choice of candidate, nationally, Republicans begin to coalesce around Romney. Mitt received several endorsements from ranking Republicans last month. Members of the Washington press corps are already taking bets on who will be his vice presidential

choice. Although nothing is set in stone until late August at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, it’s safe to view Mitt Romney as Obama’s challenger in November.

Nationally, Romney and Obama are nearly deadlocked in polls, with the incumbent carrying a slight lead (by about three points, on average,) as of this writing. Here in Colorado, Obama has a three point lead over Romney, according to a poll released on April 10th by Public Policy Polling. (This number, according to PPP’s press release, is up eleven points from their poll four months ago.)

Does that mean Obama will win Colorado’s popular vote come November? Not necessarily: Remember that Rick Santorum won our caucuses back in February. Santorum voters will not be quick to vote for Obama, even given their general distaste for Mitt Romney. Colorado conservatives will rally behind Romney this fall, if they haven’t already, if only with the express goal of defeating Barack Obama. Like the Democrats in 2008, Republicans’ highest aspiration this year is to get the incumbent out of the White House, with little regard to his replacement.

But don’t count Obama out yet. After all, he won Colorado by almost 200,000 votes in 2008. Democrats across the state (and, of course, nation-

ally,) are still behind him. Even if their excitement isn’t close to the level of Obama supporters during the last election cycle, few are likely to defect to Romney this year.

That said, some Democrats who Obama has disappointed in the last four years may choose to vote third party—or not vote at all—which could net Romney a larger percent of the popular vote. Disaffected Democrats are a big advantage for Romney, both nationally and in Colorado, for this reason.

Working against Romney is a lack of support from both women and Latinos—and what’s bad for Romney is, obviously, good for Obama. The right VP pick could make a difference. Analysts point to Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American Florida senator, and Nikki Haley, governor of South Carolina, (both of whom endorsed Romney prior to

their states’ primaries) as possible ticket choices. Whether either would help him win over some of his detractors is arguable.

The President, on the other hand, holds a few aces up his sleeve. Number one is a serious political machine. Fourplus years of organizing and, as BuzzFeed reported, almost 700 full-time employees will come in handy for Obama. And, while the Romney campaign has its fair share of cash, Obama’s team has more. Ten times more, roughly.

Thanks in part to the Occupy movement, Romney’s wellknown status as a “one-percenter” is another disadvantage for him. Four years ago, it might not have been a big issue. However, with financial inequality in the foreground this election, Mitt’s big-money work at Bain Capital and his tax rate, lower than most middle-class families’, aren’t going to win him any

supporters.

Obama shines light on those facts by hammering at the message that Americans who “work hard and play by the rules” are not treated fairly. The economy is the top issue for most voters this year, and the President drives that point home in almost every speech. Economic fairness is his game, and he takes every opportunity he can to use Romney as an example of what’s wrong. Call it dirty, call it cheap, call it whatever—it seems to work.

Once August ends and Romney is officially the Republican nominee, expect to see both candidates blasting each other back and forth until November.

Colorado is a battleground state this year, and we’ll be seeing plenty of both men. This will be a close election, and surely one that will be interesting to watch unfold.

Illustration By: Natalie Cutrufello

BandWagon Magazine Greeley’s live music and entertainment magazine MAY 2012

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ROLLER DERBY 2012 Home Bout Schedule

May 5-6 Mayday Mayhem Tournament Featuring: SDG Prime Cuts Junction City Roller Dolls Pueblo Jailhouse Jawbreakers Foco Girls Gone Derby Castle Rock N’ Rollers May 19 SDG Bone Saw Bruisers vs Pueblo Renegade Rollers June 23 SDG Prime Cuts vs Treasure Valley Aug. 18 Porterhouse Dollz vs Junes Cleavers Sept. 15 Porterhouse Dollz vs Junes Cleavers Sept. 28 Prime Cuts vs Central Coast Oct. 6 Bruisers Vs Foco Punchy Brewsters Nov. 17 Prime Cuts and Brusiers vs Cheyenne Capidolls and Punishers Dec. 1 5th Anuual Snow Brawl

@ the Kill Floor 237 22nd St, Greeley CO

www.slaughterhousederbygirls.com

18

BandWagon Magazine Greeley’s live music and entertainment magazine MAY 2012

A Short Story By: Jed Murphy Troy and Odonus had barely settled in to watch Odonus’s favorite movie Excalibur when a knock came at the door. They both had a long day at their jobs, and their intense session in the gym left them sore and tired. Thursday evenings had become a time for them to relax. It was one of the only nights of the week that both of them had off at the same time.

Usually, a few people would come over and they would watch a movie or two, their friends would drink a few beers, then everyone would call it a night. Tonight, they weren’t expecting anyone, but they still kept their place pretty much open for people to stop by any time.

Odonus was slow to get up and answer the door as his muscles ached in his shoulders and legs.

Odonus had been an athlete most of his life but lately, working out with Troy was taking his physical strength to the next level, and he was feeling it now. He opened the door and standing there was a man much shorter than Odonus and almost bone skinny. He looked to be in his forties and his brown hair was wispy and thin as it lay over his scalp. He had a nervous grin and his teeth were stained yellow. The smell of cigarettes lofted up to Odonus off of the man’s old leather jacket.

“Hey fellas,” he said with a thick New York accent. The title screen for Excalibur blared through the old wooden speakers they jerry-rigged into a home theater so the man had to speak up. Troy stood from his reclined seat and turned the volume knob down. “My name’s Terrence and my sister and her daughter live upstairs. You probably know them.

No? Oh, well my niece just got out of the hospital from a broken leg and all they gave her was a busted pair of crutches. Could you help us get her upstairs?”

Troy and Odonus looked at each other. Troy didn’t like the sound of the man’s question but they couldn’t say no to helping someone with a broken leg and not feel guilty about it later. “I… sure. No problem.”

The man smiled and shook their hands. “Thanks a lot guys. I’ll buy you a drink when we’re done.“ “Yeah…” Said Odonus as he scratched his head. He and Troy exchanged another look as they put their shoes on. “Have you ever seen the people who live upstairs?”

Troy just shrugged, “I don’t know.” Troy woke up early each morning and was out the door at seven and wouldn’t normally come back until well into the evening.

He didn’t pay much attention to the people around their apartment complex because most of the time he was focused on either coming or going. “Have you?”

“I don’t know either. I think I have, but I’m not sure. I hope it’s not the people I’ve seen up there lately.”

They followed Terrance outside to the courtyard between the apartments and the parking lot. The courtyard was nothing more then a few grassy hills with some sidewalk going between them. Terrance pointed and Odonus’s heart sank.

“There she is, over there, with her mom.”

Lying in the grass was a large,

Take Your Vitamins round woman with her right leg in a full cast. Her pale belly peaked out from under a purple tee shirt much too small for her and over a pair of jean shorts. She lifted her head and looked at them, then shied away in embarrassment. Standing over her was a much older woman who was obviously the girl’s mother. She was not as large as her daughter laying on ground but she was still up there.

She was draped in a flower print dress and she rested heavily on a cane. Her wide brimmed hat was bent low against the fading sunlight and around her neck she wore large, fake pearls.

As they got closer Troy realized that Terrance’s niece was much younger than he thought and had to be only in her early twenties.

Her mother’s face seemed set in a permanent frown as she eyed her brother’s choice of help.

“It’s alright Sheila, these boys said they would help. That’s my niece there, say hi to these nice gentlemen, Maryanne.”

Maryanne looked up at Troy and Odonus, her acned, broad cheeks shinning with sweat. “Hi,” she said in a high, embarrassed voice. Her small green eyes peered over her cheeks at them then her head sank down again.

“Um… hello.” Odonus said looking down at the helpless girl, and Troy just raised his eyebrows and gave a slight wave.

Next to Maryanne was a pair of wooden crutches. “You said the crutches were busted?” Troy said as he picked them up.

“Yeah,” Terrance looked at the ground and scratched the back of his head. “Those rickety old things couldn’t hold her up. I think the screws aren’t tight enough or something.”

They seemed okay to Troy, but he wasn’t about to say anything. She obviously didn’t get much sun and he knew the result of a poor diet when he saw one. Webs of purple veins spotted her exposed belly and around her joints. Her arms and legs were thick; skin puffing out in folds over her wrists and the ankle of her unbroken leg. The cast was too tight around the broken one and he could see discolored swelling around the top and where her toes were sticking out.

“Well, you got them out here, Terrance. How are we getting my baby upstairs?” said Sheila, scowling at her brother. His tired politeness irritating her to no end.

Terrance deflected the question onto Odonus and Troy with a glance.

The two guys looked at each other with dread. “I’m taller so I guess I’ll get the legs.” Said Odonus.

“Fine,” muttered Troy.

“Maryanne, I need you to sit up for us, okay? I’m going to try and get you by the shoulders from behind.”

Maryanne cringed and nodded, and with the help of her uncle and Troy, she sat up to a point where Troy would be able to get in under her shoulders. He squatted low, making sure to keep his back straight and his legs ready to take the weight.

The ache from their workout earlier that day burned deep in his thighs and lower back. He reached his arms under Maryanne’s, the skin

damp and sticky. Sweat from her armpits poured over Troy’s arms as he tried to find a place to take hold.

Her smell reminded him of burnt oatmeal and body odor. He looked up at Odonus who had his hands under Maryanne’s legs. “Ready?”

Troy said to them.

Maryanne began whimpering but didn’t object. Odonus nodded back and they lifted. Troy grunted as he pulled back with his shoulders and locked the muscles in his legs.

He gritted his teeth and strained as he took the weight. The girl was much heavier than he originally thought and she began to move around, causing Troy to stagger. Her whimpers grew louder until they became cries and she let out a gasp. ”Don’t. It hurts.”

“Put her down! Put her down!

You’re hurtin’ her,” Chirped Sheila as she poked Odonus with her cane.

Odonus glared down at the woman and they lowered Maryanne to the ground.

“Maybe there is another way we can do this.” Said Terrance from his spot well clear of his niece and her helpers.

Troy wiped the moisture from his forehead and looked back at the stairs they had to go up. Maryanne’s mother began complaining about her feet hurting and gave Terrance her keys to get her a chair. Troy and Odonus watched Terrance run to the stairs and stop halfway up to catch his breath. Never had a single flight of stairs seemed so far away or so daunting. Shortly after, the man came back toting a folded up lawn chair, sweating and coughing as he muttered something about the altitude. He set the chair up for his sister then lit up another cigarette.

For the next twenty minutes they tried several ways to get Maryanne up to their apartment and each time they met with failure.

They tried picking her up by her arms, wrapping them over Troy and Odonus’s shoulders, but she couldn’t lift her casted leg out in front of her for very long, so it kept falling and hitting the ground with each step. After only a few feet, she began crying until they sat her back down in the grass. They tried getting her up on one crutch while Odonus held onto her other arm, but the crutch began to shake and buckle. The joints creaked, and looked like it couldn’t stand much more, so they sat her down into the grass again. Whenever Maryanne looked like she was experiencing any pain, her mother would begin firing off comments from her chair.

“You boys need to be more careful with my Maryanne! She ain’t no rag doll for you to toss around.”

By now, Troy and Odonus were sweating heavily. Troy had lifted Maryanne enough times that his muscles no longer ached but burned as the adrenaline pumped through his veins. His patience was wearing thin with the whole situation. Sheila’s shrilled badgering each time they got Maryanne up, Terrance’s inability to do anything other than stand and watch, and most of all; Maryanne’s health. Troy was friends with a lot of large people. He knew a lot of men and women who were big, but

were at least healthy. He knew that if they were to break a leg, their own strength and a pair of crutches would get them from their cars to the door of their homes. Maryanne angered Troy in how much he pitied her. His rage began to boil up as he watched her lay helpless in the grass where they left her. She looked so embarrassed and miserable he felt his face get red. No one should live like this, he thought to himself.

The evening light was beginning to fade, and above them what looked like rain clouds began to form. Troy had enough and looked up at Odonus and saw that he did too. They both knew what they had to do. He knew that Troy wanted him to dig deep because anything less would be failure. Odonus nodded back and they both knelt down and took hold of Maryanne.

With a groan, Troy lifted the girl, unassisted, off her back to a sitting position, and she let out a gasp of surprise. Troy reached under her arms from behind again and got ready to lift.

“Um… I thought that didn’t work before,” said Terrance with a nervous laugh.

Sheila began sounding off.

“What are y’all doin’? What are they doin’ Terrance? They’ll hurt her!”

“Go open the door, Terrance.”

Troy said, securing his arms under Maryanne’s sweaty armpits and geared his legs underneath him for the lift. Terrance made no move to respond and just stared. Together, Troy and Odonus lifted the girl as she began crying about her leg, but Troy ignored her. “I said go open the fucking door!”

Terrance jumped and looked at Troy in shock as he fumbled his words. Troy’s face was red and intense, silencing the man’s feeble excuses, turning him towards the stairs. Troy reached his arm around Maryanne so it wrapped across her chest and he pivoted, tucking the girl underneath his arm like they were carrying a rolled up mat.

“Put me down! Put me down!”

She cried out.

“What are you doin’ to my baby!” Her mother shouted, poking Odonus with her cane repeatedly.

“You brutes put Maryanne down!”

Odonus had Maryanne by the legs and held them together under one arm. With his free hand reached over and snatched the cane and tossed it in the grass a few feet away from the woman. “Stop it,” he said as she scowled at him.

“Let’s go!” Troy shouted. They took off at a run, catching up to Terrance in a moment. The man had little time to react as Troy and Odonus bulled towards him. “Open the door, Terrance!”

Terrance panicked and bolted towards the stairs as they came right up behind him. They hit the steps at full speed, forcing Terrance to leap up them two at a time, keys in hand. Troy was shouting now as the muscles in his shoulders and arms burned deep. Maryanne was crying loudly, combining with Troy’s voice, echoing off the tall apartment walls.

His hands were starting to slip and each step caused him to lose grip more and more. Terrance hit the top of the stairs and struggled to

Jed Murphy is the Edior of the BandWagon. He has a degree in Political Science and a minor in Being Fantastic.

find the right key for the door. His hands trembled and shook as sweat poured from his face.

“Open the door!” cried Maryanne and Troy at the same time. They came to the top and the door wasn’t open yet, but they couldn’t stop. If Troy slowed he would lose his grasp completely. Terrance looked over his shoulder at them in terror and at the last second, he got the key in the lock and turned it. They collided into Terrance’s back sending him tumbling into the dark apartment and they rushed in.

Troy had nothing left now. He was desperate and his body screamed for him to let go. He glanced over his shoulder and saw a couch along the wall and he staggered towards it. He turned, and with a stumble he fell onto it, taking Maryanne with him. He collapsed into its cushions, finally surrendering to his own exhaustion. All of Maryanne’s weight came down on top of him, completely smothering him in sweaty flesh. He couldn’t breath and his ears were muffled but he didn’t care. His body was useless and broken down. At that moment he couldn’t do anything else except sit and let the warmth of this large woman’s back spread over him. He felt strangely alone and separated from the world in that moment, like he was in a place far away from the responsibilities of his life. There was a nothingness that hypnotized Troy and the only constant was the steady breathing of Maryanne. He let himself sink into it as the rhythm steadied and lulled him into the darkness…

Suddenly, light and air came rushing in as Maryanne rolled to the side. Odonus reached down and pulled his friend to his feet.

Troy stumbled as the blood came rushing back to his head. He took in deep breaths of air as he felt his mind come back around. Terrance was helping his niece lay out on the couch and no longer had his leather coat on. Once she was settled, he lit up a bent cigarette and turned to Troy and Odonus. “Well, thanks for your help, boys. You’re a lifesaver.

Want a soda?”

Troy looked around the apartment and his disgust returned.

Stacked in the corner were five twenty-four packs of soda next to a few gallon jugs of Hawaiian Punch.

On the counter were boxes of Little Debbie snacks; most of them open with only a few missing, like they ate one then opened a new box. Piles of pizza boxes and fast food wrappers filled the small kitchen’s floor. Troy suddenly became aware of the smell of burnt oatmeal and rot that laid heavy in the air.

“No thanks.” Troy said, and they walked out the door. They went down the stairs and at the bottom was Sheila walking gingerly towards the steps. Behind her the chair still sat where she left it. She stopped and glared at them with contempt, irritating Odonus.

“You’re welcome.” He said and before she could say anything, they went back into their apartment and locked the door.

BandWagon Magazine Greeley’s live music and entertainment magazine MAY 2012

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HUMOR onGreeley’s The Wagon - Slightly Relevant - Humor on The Wagon BandWagon Magazine live music and entertainment magazine MAY 2012

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