PGCharlie Stevens

Charlie Stevens Charlie Stevens

Cole Peterson BandWagon Magazine

Charlie Stevens by Charlie Stevens is the first official album release from Northern Colorado’s young bluegrass extraordinaire of the same name. The first to ever graduate from the University of Northern Colorado’s world renowned music program with a degree in bluegrass, Stevens possesses dual credentials in classical and bluegrass guitar.

The album is what any bluegrass fan could ask for, featuring traditional elements of stringed instrumentals and folksy storytelling. “Success,” the album’s well received single, begins with an upbeat bluegrass bob. Lyrically, it ticks all the boxes with an overarching theme of denying gross materialism to realize what’s truly important in life, all while remaining lighthearted.

“Live Free or Die” pushes things forward with a slightly faster tempo, and stronger vocal emphasis. “England’s Hornpipe - Charlie’s Rant” showcases Stevens’ classical guitar chops with a long, solo guitar interlude effortlessly weaving between classical picking and small doses of modern accentuation.

“Bad Luck” and “Indigo Astroturf” bring the listener back to the bluegrass party before being whisked away by the album’s keystone track, “The Waltz For Nobody.” An instrumental waltz in the traditional sense, it showcases Stevens’ ability to musically execute on a grander scale than strictly bluegrass. The simple guitar arrangement evokes the sentimental imagery of a couple of many years swaying and falling in love for the second time.

“The Cat’s Meow” could be argued as the “bee’s knees” of the record, with a deeper prevalence of pulsing violin. The track’s feel tugs at the listener’s heartstrings before it departs with almost psychedelic use of vocal layering.

If you haven’t already heard Charlie Stevens (the artist) at a show around Colorado, know this: Charlie Stevens (the album) is a cohesive first release from an up and coming bluegrass artist, and is a great place to begin to appreciate his Coloradan combination of technical perfection and budding style.

Performer. Professor. Unifier.

Meet Nan at my Greeley.com

Estin & the 86’D Long Live the River

Nate Wilde BandWagon Magazine

If there is anything positive to come from the quarantine of 2020, it’s that a lot of new music has taken shape and is now being released. Colorado band Estin & the 86’D have such a release planned for their new full-length Long Live the River, out August 14. It’s “get out of town and enjoy the simple things in life” vibe will be just what we need during these crazy, socially distant times.

Long Live the River kicks off with “Third Street,” an ode to classic southern rock filled with pure, unadulterated attitude. With lyrics referring to being baptized in rock and roll, it’s a hell of a way to be introduced to the band.

The record on the whole is a comforting mix of southern rock, country and alternative rock, with hints at some of the more underground, forgotten music of the 90’s grunge scene; as if instead of drinking Starbucks back then, Estin and crew had a whiskey bottle in one hand and a Bud Light in the other.

Long Live the River then follows a bit of a storyline; that of being heartbroken, admitting mistakes, and turning to the bottle and the great outdoors for healing. In fact, three of the ten songs on the album, “Mile High Hangover,” “I Wanna Drink Beer,” and “Half a Bottle” have mentions of alcohol right in the title. Cheers.

The aforementioned “Half a Bottle” is the first single and easily one of the stand-out tracks. You can almost literally feel Estin’s pain and emotion coming through the speakers, as he sings about love, loss, and the feeling that follows.

Another stand-out is the upbeat yet melancholy “Pendulum” where Estin & the 86’D depart a bit from their country rock sound and get a bit more alternative, but stick with similar lyrical themes of heartbreak and relationship problems.

Full of emotion, great songwriting and musicianship, Long Live the River is like a stiff drink at the end of a long day: it may be a vice, but it sure helps to take the edge off.