BandWagon Magazine - February 2020 - Kyle Emerson by BandWagon Magazine

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album reviews

Saints Of Never After PG. 5 Satellite Pilot PG. 6 AMAYA AREVALO PG. 9

PUBLISHER

THE COLORADO SOUND’S my5 PG. 11

ELY CORLISS

EDITOR

KEVIN JOHNSTON

ART DIRECTOR

CARTER KERNS

CONTRIBUTORS DAN ENGLAND VALERIE VAMPOLA NATE WILDE ELLEN PILCHER CARTER KERNS

Marco Benevento PG. 13

LIAM & SOCRATES GARCIA PG. 15

kyle emerson PG. 16

PHOTOGRAPHY MICHAEL OLIVIER PEARY SCHROEDER

gm@bandwagmag.com Editorial Info/Requests:

Ani DiFranco PG. 21 3

SAINTS OF NEVER AFTER Return To Tower: Part 2

Nate Wilde

BandWagon Magazine

Saints Of Never After are Fort Collins’ answer to the amalgamous sub-genre known as post-hardcore. Combining somewhat contrary elements of metal and emo, creating a truly unique sound, they return with full force on their latest EP, Return to Tower: Part 2. Last spring, S.O.N.A. gave fans a taste of what was to come with Return to Tower: Part 1; what has arrived in 2020 is nothing short of a post-hardcore masterpiece. The record’s kick-off examplifies their capabilities: with the abrasive, melodic “All I’ve Known,” showcasing Nathan Lee’s impressive lead guitar work and Brian Robertson’s wide vocal skill set, channeling the “emo clean” singing style of New Found Glory and Jimmy Eat World, to full-on death and black metal screams. Robertson can literally sing you to sleep or scare the hell out of you. All the while, Brenden Tharp and Jordan Persons fiercely hold down rhythm section duties. The title track employs the same post-hardcore style, with the surprising

addition of proggy passages featuring piano and even bongos. But don’t think that the guys are getting soft — it transitions from mellow to brutal with impressive guitar solos, a long scream from Robertson, and a full-on sonic brawl ending. The album wraps up with songs about love and loss. “Wherever You Go” may be a bit mushy in subject matter, but it’s far from a flat ballad, showcasing the band’s virtuosity and underlying brutality. Finally, “Not Over You Yet” is a piece about exactly what you’d guess, exemplifying Saints Of Never After’s ability to balance emotive vulnerability and sheer heaviness. Return to Tower: Part Two releases February 21 at The Moxi Theater in Greeley with support from I Am The Owl, Vital//Signs and The Midnight Horrors.

Satellite pilot

Toad Tone & His Symphonic Swamp Creatures - Deluxe Laua Giagos

BandWagon Magazine

As far as local bands go, Loveland, Colorado-based Satellite Pilot can be a lot. Something like Dr. Dog meets Polyphonic Spree, Flaming Lips, and The Kinks, Satellite Pilot push all their weirdness to the front. Yet that weirdness feels as natural as sliding on an old pair of shoes. This is the case with their fourth full length album Toad Tone & His Symphonic Swamp Creatures - Deluxe: on the surface, it’s the psychedelic mess you might imagine it being, but underneath it’s so much more. Toad Tone is a home-brewed symphonic romp through 18 tracks, stumbling from song to song with surprising grace and the right touch of nuance. And while some songs are stronger than others, each track has a head-turning musical twist that brings the listener back into the moment, proving it wasn’t just slapped together to fill space. That being said, tracks like “Here Is The Sun,” “Source Code,” “Pretend Cycle” and “Sheep Serenade,” are the glue that holds the pastiche together. This heap of an album is ambitious (too ambitious at times) but it has a life to it which

so many local bands lose sight of during the creative process. It’s untamed, it’s the anti-polish of modern recording, and it taps into an unpretentiousness that often gets thrown out first thing in so many psych bands. It grooves where it needs to and lets it freak fly right when it should, creating a volatile mix that balances itself out. Above all else, Toad Tone has heart and moxie, allowing Satellite Pilot to walk into 2020 on strong footing, with a lesson snagged from Sgt. Pepper – life’s too short for more of the same. Get over yourself and put something weird out into the universe. Satellite Pilot release Toad Tone & His Symphonic Swamp Creatures - Deluxe February 14, at Pinball Jones Campus West in Fort Collins, with a children’s book co-written by the band, illustrated by Bailey Corimer.

Find Your Place in Music www.themusicdistrict.org 8

AMAYA AREVALO

Love Wears Many Faces Valerie Vampola

BandWagon Magazine

Amaya Arevalo is starting to make her mark in the Northern Colorado and Denver jazz scene. She frequents the stages at Dazzle and Nocturne, supporting various bandleaders and groups with her expressive saxophone playing or on accompanying piano. But jazz isn’t her only language. Her debut solo album Love Wears Many Faces shows her audience everything she can

do as she looks for her voice as a solo artist. Arevalo’s roots as a University of Northern Colorado jazz student make the record’s handful of straight modern jazz tracks come as no surprise. Tracks like the opener “When Butterflies Fly Away” feel like tunes from a contemporary jazz catalog with straight grooves and abnormal songforms. She even includes a fresh arrangement of “Bye Bye Blackbird” that sounds like something Esperanza Spalding could have arranged and performed. But in the middle of the album she gives us “Flower Amongst the Flames,” a singersongwriter piece in its purest form. Performed with only an acoustic guitar and vocalist Hannah Rodriguez, the intimacy and style is reminiscent of Joni Mitchell. She combines both identities

on “Would Things Be Different,” which shares the intimacy and vulnerability of the singersongwriter style but uses moody jazz chords along with poetrylike lyric delivery. Stepping forward from the bandstand as a leader, Arevalo’s clear compositional strengths come from her jazz background, S:7” but she decides to show off a

more straight-forward, soulbearing side as well. She’s still searching for a musical voice that is truly her own, but in the meantime, we can all enjoy the hunt with her. Amaya Arevalo releases Love Wears Many Faces with an event at 2 pm Saturday, March 7 at the Bean Plant Studio, 701 7th Street in downtown Greeley.

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. Colorado Sound’s 4th Birthday Party If it’s the first Leap Day since we signed on, so are we 4…or 1? Either way, come party with us Saturday, Feb 29 at Washington’s with Colorado’s own Kiltro, Son Little and The Seratones! 2. Analog Son – This Denver funk band has only one goal…TO FUNK! They’ll get closer to that goal when they release new music this year. In the meantime, we shall survive on the song “Ugly Mug.” 3. Robbie Robertson / The Band / Boulder International Film Festival – During the 16 years of BIFF, I’ve interviewed many stars; Robbie may be my personal fave. His new doc on The Band is out soon - where do I start with the questions?!? Check out biff1.com 4. 2020 Top 20 – Every month this year we’re asking for your input on a new Top 20! This month: ”Top 20 Under 20” artists. Who made it big before they turned 21? Tell us your choice at www.coloradosound.org 5. Vinyl Albums – Have you heard? Vinyl record sales have overtaken CD sales in some areas! The Colorado Sound is ‘Vinyl at heart’, and we bet many of you can relate. Support your local record store!

Margot: Weekdays 10am - 3pm 1. Dick Cavett interviews - Dick Cavett is a master interviewer and can make even the most aloof seem eminently human. Check out his interviews of Hendrix, Bowie, Lennon, and many, many more on YouTube. 2. Hoodoo Gurus - The fantastic Australian band Hoodoo Gurus are embarking on a rare US tour this Fall and they are coming to Denver! See them Halloween night at the Bluebird Theater. 3. Genealogy - Tracing your family history can be fun simply for the online documents you unearth. Lists of Revolutionary War prisoners,

maps, teaching certificates, marriage licenses, etc… History is fascinating and artifacts of your ancestors make it that much more special. 4. New Wave and Post Punk 2020 releases - Look for albums this year from The Cure, Psychedelic Furs, and Boomtown Rats, among others! 5. Music Fan Spring Cleaning - Know anyone who needs 480,000 band T-shirts? (I dread whittling down the collection but it must be done!)

Stacy: Weekdays 3pm - 7pm 1. Pitchers and Catchers Report for Spring Training! - Hope springs eternal for this Rockies fan, and I’m a sucker for spring, so let the games begin! First Spring Training game is February 22 and the Rockies home opener is Friday April 3 vs San Diego. 2. Wolf Parade: Thin Mind - 2019 brought some serious changes to Montreal-based Wolf Parade. Dante DeCaro (bass, guitar and synths) left the group, but the band continues as a trio, writing and recording Thin Mind, produced by John Goodmanson (Nada Surf, Sleater-Kinney, Death Cab for Cutie). 3. A Day On The Hill - This time of year, a trip up to the High Country makes me happy! I’ve spent the better part of my life above 8,000 feet and have a soft spot for Copper Mountain, the Basin and itty-bitty Ski Cooper, just outside of Leadville. 4. Matt Berninger (The National): Serpentine Prison - The National had a terrific 2019: a new album, touring, curating festivals and designing a signature beer: Reality Based Pils. Somehow their lead singer found time to record his solo debut, produced by Booker T. No release date announced yet! 5. New releases for 2020 - Destroyer: Have We Met, Tame Impala: The Slow Rush, The Killers: Imploding the Mirage, Caribou: Suddenly. Not to mention Foo Fighters, The Cure, The XX, Deftones, Kasabian, Ephemerals and Thievery Corporation!

Benji: Weekdays 7pm - 10pm 1. Nathaniel Rateliff: And It’s Still Alright Rateliff takes a break from the Night Sweats, returning to his folky side. The first song from his upcoming release exemplifies Rateliff as one of the strongest songwriters on the scene. Anxious to hear what the rest sounds like when it releases on Valentine’s Day. 2. The Morning Show - Apple TV’s program on the fallout of a harassment scandal that rocks a nationwide morning news program, stars Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell. Great acting and strong writing give us a glimpse into the cutthroat world of big time tv news. 3. Paul Kelly: “When We’re Both Old and Mad” - Paul Kelly has been called The Australian Bob Dylan. Not surprisingly, he put together an amazing, career-spanning greatest hits album Songs From The South. Along with old fav’s on the collection, we’re treated to this new nugget featuring fellow Aussie Kasey Chambers. 4. Cage the Elephant: “Black Madonna” Another great song from Social Cues. These guys can do no wrong: with a terrific catalog, endless stage energy and prolific songwriting, they seem poised to take the mantle as the reigning kings of rock. 5. The James Hunter 6: “I Can Change Your Mind - It’s been a while since we’ve had new music from Hunter. Nick Of Time is a return to Hunter’s roots and this tune is a bit of a throwback, but this time Hunter brings in a salsa flair to his style.

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

MARCO BENEVENTO Marco Benevento is celebrating at an airport in New York with a glass of champagne. He’s hitting the road with his trio in support of his 8th album, the piano-wizard, jazz/rock mashup Let It Slide. A Berklee graduate rooted in NYC’s underground jazz scene, Benevento came from playing places like Brooklyn’s tiny Bar4 to collaborating with Trey Anastasio, Ween, and even Freddie Gibbs and Madlib. An instrumental jazz pianist at heart, Benevento has always searched for new sounds, musical tools or ways of composing, though his newest discovery is that of his own voice, and that’s worth toasting to. “Back when we were just getting started, we put out all instrumental music – a blend of jazz and, like, an Elton John trio without singing,” Benevento said in an interview for BandWagon. “Those were searchin’ times,” Benevento said. “I was basically starting a new band. I put out 4 records of jazz tunes that sounded like rock in their melodies. “And then,” he says, “I just started singing.” “The transition point was Tiger Face,” Marco recalls. “I had two songs that I imagined vocals on. Kalmia Traver (Rubblebucket) sang on those and I thought ‘I like hearing my music with someone else singing it!’ It

was a whole new pathway for composing.” The record he made with the late Richard Swift took things further. “The doors opened to [me] singing when we made Swift,” he said. I had all these songs, vocal lines, melodies and lyrics. I was gonna bring Kalmia out to sing, and I thought, well, Kal’s not in the band – If I have someone else in the band sing, it’s always gonna be my music with someone else singing. So I just decided to sing the songs myself, bite the bullet and go for it.” As a pianist, Benevento has always had a “voice,” so to speak, and though writing with a focus on actual vocals is relatively new, he says his writing style remains his own. “Now I know where my vocal range is, so I’ll change the key of a song,” Benevento laughs, “but I don’t think [the writing style] changed that much. Our first record Invisible Baby has melodies that could have lyrics. Even before, in my duo with Joe Russo, it was almost like we were covering songs that originally had vocals.” “I’ve always been a melodydriven composer,” Benevento continued. “Not much has changed in that regard. It’s still me, but instead of the melody being played on a synthesizer, it’s being sung by me. There are words, of course, which

changes the whole thing – It’s like an instrumental songwriter gone vocal – which sounds like a disaster,” Benevento laughed. He’s aware old school fans might favor his instrumentals, but he defends his vocals as a direct extension of his composing. “It’s just like another instrument,” he says. “It’s the fourth member of our trio, but it’s still the trio.” “Karina (Rykman, bassist) sings with us too, which is cool,” Marco said, “and some songs, instead of being 8 minutes, are like 4 – a nice break from the jams and open ended songs. It’s almost like pop, but it’s still me.” Indeed, Benevento’s spirit of improvisation bleeds through the album’s pop-leanings, notably on the ear-turning “Gaffiano” interludes. “When I was recording with Leon Michels (El Michels Affair), he gave me the nickname Gaffiano,” Benevento says. “The piano sounded too piano-y, so I put gaff tape on the strings to make it sound muted. [Leon’s engineers] were like ‘what did you do to the piano?! Sounds amazing - leave it on there! Can you play, like, a Keith Jarrett solo?’ ‘Sure!’ I said - ‘Great, can you play something that sounds like Sun Ra?’ ‘Sure!’ I said,” and one of the record’s sonic keystones was born. “This all stems from me touring and playing a piano,” Marco recalls, “looking at the

The Fourth Voice In A Trio KEVIN JOHNSTON

BANDWAGON MAGAZINE stings right in front of me, thinking - what if I just put my hand over this thing?” The gaff tape trick was an adaptation of that idea, and adaptation has happened in his life too, having moved upstate to Woodstock from New York City a few years ago. The Benevento house and home studio are surrounded by the Catskills, but Colorado is still an invigorating tour stop. “Colorado is such a unique state,” Marco says. “I love everything about the mountains and the air, the beautiful starry nights. We’ve played some outdoor shows in crazy ski towns where it’s almost too cold to play,” he recalls. And though he couldn’t even feel his fingers at a few memorable mountain gigs, he’s always down to play. That joy of play is strong in the Benevento bloodline, as is the itch for the rock-star lifestyle. “I’ve got a 12 year old and a 10 year old,” he says. “Our oldest is like ‘I wanna come with you on tour,’ and I’m like ‘well, you gotta do lights or do sound or something!’ So she’s trying to figure out how she gets in it. She loves to sing and play piano - I think the music bug is in her and our youngest daughter too.”

Marco Benevento brings his masterful piano dance-rock and wonderous jazz exploration to The Aggie Theater Thursday, February 6 in Fort Collins (tickets at aggietheatre.ticketforce.com) as well as February 7 at Public House in Crested Butte and February 8 at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver. Photo by Punkle

Photo by Michael Olivier

THE SULTANS OF SHRED :

GREELEY TEEN’S WORLD-CLASS GUITAR CHOPS RUN IN LA FAMILIA DAN ENGLAND + BANDWAGON MAGAZINE Instead of cartoons, Liam Garcia spent his early years watching jazz fusion concerts on DVD. By the time Wanda Vasquez-Garcia and Socrates Garcia gave him his first guitar, a small one most kids would treat like a toy, he was ready. The Garcias didn’t have to do much to nurture his talent, other than be the musicians they were. Wanda sang around the house and Socrates played guitar at night. Liam was already noodling on one of his father’s guitars at age 3. As he grew and his talent blossomed, Liam continued to watch the concert DVDs. “That’s what I fell asleep to at night,” he said. He’s now 17, a junior at Greeley West High School, and by all accounts plays guitar better than just about anyone else in the world his age (and honestly, most people twice his age). He traveled to London in September for the Young Guitarist of the Year competition as the only American selected for the finals. He plans to study at the Berklee College of Music’s summer school on scholarship - the third year in a row for him. He’ll decide about college soon, leaning towards the iconic institution because he listens to

everything, and believes Berklee can match his eclectic interests. Berklee got wind of Liam when he (with no help from dad) sent a video of himself playing a Stevie Vai tune to an administrator. He was all of 8. It instantly got a reply essentially telling him he had a spot waiting for him when he was old enough to attend. Vai, the world renowned rock guitarist, even mentioned Liam’s version of the tune in an interview. Socrates admits that Liam is much more advanced than he was when he was 17 and trying to make it in a heavy metal band. To put that comment in context, Socrates is kind of a prodigy himself. He’s the director of music technology at the famed University of Northern Colorado School of Music and a touring musician who also runs the well known Socrates Garcia Latin Jazz Orchestra. He began playing guitar when he was 6. Socrates won’t go quite so far as say Liam is better than he is now, but that rarely comes up, anyway. He prefers to stay out of his son’s way after he attempted to give him a lesson a few years ago. “We were like this,” Socrates laughed while bashing his fists together. “We butted heads too much.”

Socrates came to the United States to study composition and music production with Wanda when Liam was 2. They both had good music careers in the Dominican Republic but wanted a better life here. Wanda was 20, a great singer, pianist and conductor, but she gave that up to raise their two kids. Socrates both adores her for that and regrets it for her, even if she is now a music teacher for Pioneer Bilingual Elementary in Lafayette and a director for two choirs in the First Congregational church in Greeley. Socrates studied production and arranging, realizing when he was 25 that he didn’t want to spend his life on the road as a guitarist - a difficult way to make a living. He’s spent the last decade at UNC teaching, though he also got his doctorate there. He doesn’t want Liam to have to make t hose same difficult decisions right away. The trip to London, for instance, was wonderful. Liam got to learn licks from Marty Walsh (Supertramp), meet other incredible musicians his age and legends like Paul Gilbert, Devin Townsend and John Patitucci. They even endured the

30-minute wait to take a Beatlesmimicking photo of themselves crossing Abbey Road. It’s possible that Socrates has influenced Liam more than he believes, as Liam also wants to go into producing records instead of being a guitar hero. The music business is changing so much, Liam said, and producing and arranging are valued more than the ability to shred guitar. He’d do a hip-hop record, for instance, if someone wanted him to produce it. Socrates doesn’t take credit for Liam’s ability, but he is still Dad, and loves to talk about his son. He loved London, for instance, but prefers to talk about what happened a week later, when he asked Liam to join his latin orchestra for a show in Miami. It was serious stuff among world-renowned musicians, the kind of gig usually filled by one of Socrates’ colleagues at UNC. It was Liam’s first time with a professional orchestra and Socrates smiles at the memory of it. “He was playing with ME on stage, and that was exhilarating,” he said. “It made me a proud dad. But just seeing him around all the professional superstars holding his own…that was super cool.”

KYLE EMERSON Coming Down and Into His Own by Dan England At the end of every show on his first tour as a solo artist, Kyle Emerson found himself exhausted. Emerson supported his first solo record, 2017’s Dorothy Alice, with a lengthy tour and on most nights, the shows felt like grueling workouts more than a concert. That was, partly, the adjustment he simply had to make as a solo artist after being in a band, Plum, with three lead singers – all whom wrote songs. He had to grow into writing an entire album of songs, something he would do in chunks, as well as perform them live without a break.

his

put

Photo by Luka Booth

In exercising those muscles, he wrote a vulnerable, sad album that reflected the serious life-changing moments he was facing: moving away from home, ending a relationship and losing grandmother, his first real family death, he said. She watched him when he was young, bought his first guitar and paid for his lessons. He named the album after her. “The lyrical content didn’t me in the most fun headspace every night,” Emerson said in a phone

I grew up listening to older music and having a record collection that was always the stuff you’d find in old coffee shops – old Neil Young and Fleetwood Mac. It’s just in my DNA at this point” interview for BandWagon. “Especially if I have to do it night in and night out.” Even so, Emerson didn’t shy away from deep lyrics on his November release Only Coming Down, but this time he was conscious of what it would mean to play the songs live nearly every night, and he wrote it partly with that in mind. The result is a livelier, more layered album, one he’s excited to play on his current tour. Among other Colorado stops this month, Emerson plays at The Moxi in downtown Greeley on Thursday, February 20. “Maybe I wanted more of a driving feel,” Emerson said, “or I fell in love with a beat that kept pushing the song along. Some of these songs led to a different type of connection with the crowd. I definitely sense a bit more of an energy in the room, and it’s way easier to feed off it.” That energy is apparent on the singles “May You Find Peace,” “Better” and

“I Can Change.” The album begs for a road trip so it can jangle around the car on a long stretch of highway with it’s classic, 70s feel, something that Emerson’s love of Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen leans on, though a healthy dose of alternative sheen gives it a modern edge. “I went through a phase of listening to Bruce and Tom Petty,” he said. “I grew up listening to older music and having a record collection that was always the stuff you’d find in old coffee shops – old Neil Young and Fleetwood Mac. It’s just in my DNA at this point.” Emerson enjoyed recording Only Coming Down as well, saying it was more of a collaborative process with his band. There were certain songs that his guitarist, Miles Eichner, would rearrange to fit his own style, for instance. He says that regardless of the fact that it’s a Kyle Emerson release,

it’s actually much more of a band effort, perhaps even a hearkening back to his collaborative days with Plum. “I think there’s a beauty in hearing one person on a whole record,” Emerson said, “but I did enjoy the best of both worlds on this one.” The album was recorded in Colorado, and Emerson calls both Colorado and L.A. his home, splitting time between the two. He will play in Colorado for a good chunk of February and with that time on the road he doesn’t feel the need to choose one home. He also doesn’t feel a need to choose just one style or method for the record. “I just know myself a bit more now,” he said, “both what I’m into musically and what I want to say.”

105.5 The Colorado Sound presents Kyle Emerson on Thursday, February 20 at The Moxi Theater in Greeley with special guests The Velveteers. 17

CONCERT

CALENDAR FEBRUARY

Marco Benevento

FEB

01 Lady Denim w/ Holdfast., The Red Scare

06 Marco Benevento w/ Jeff White 07 Shakedown Street 08 Head for the Hills w/ The Great Salmon Famine

12 Brother Ali w/ Mike Eagle, DJ Last Word

13 WhiteCatPink w/ Chunderfins, Lonely Cloud

Brother Ali

FEB

14 Devotchka presented by 105.5 the Colorado Sound

15 Tubby Love & Amber Lily and The Reminders

16 KBong w/ Sensi Trails 17 Blunts & Blondes w/ Subdocta, Bawldy

18 Crobot w/ Aeges, Like Machines 19 Jerrod Niemann w/ Buckstein, Benjamin Bell

20 Ott. w/ Dynohunter (DJ Set), Kwillow

G. Love

21 Eoto

& Special Sauce 22

FEB

Dead Floyd w/ The Nightshades, All Night Train

28 G. Love & Special Sauce w/ Jontavious Willis

29 Hunks vs. Punks - 2000â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dance Party

MARCH 01 Whitey Morgan 02 Durand Jones & The Indications w/ Kaina

05 All My Friends Are Skeletons: Chris Cornell Tribute w/ Post Paradise as Radiohead

06 Marvel Years + Russ Liquid w/ Funkstatik, LonSoul

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

Ani DiFranco S t i l l R i g h t e o u s Af t e r A l l T h e s e Y ear s BY VALERIE VAMPOLA

Photo by GMD Three

Since the 90’s, Ani DiFranco has been steadily creating a legacy for herself. She released 20 albums under her own record label Righteous Babe, and inspired an entire movement of women artists and industry professionals to push society’s definition of what they can achieve. Now the year is 2020, and the industry has changed once again. But Ani’s message hasn’t. “I think there’s many people who think ‘whatever, feminism is not important and doesn’t seem urgent,’ but you can’t prevent imbalance without addressing it,” said DiFranco in a phone interview for BandWagon. Today, DiFranco remains a strong feminist activist, finding ways to address inequality and stand up (literally, in this case) to “the man.” In 1990, it meant starting her own record label. DiFranco didn’t feel like a part of a scene. She was an independent girl with her guitar driving around playing shows. But she always believed society placed this idea that being a “real” musician meant signing to a label. On the surface, that seemed like a great opportunity to get noticed, but when DiFranco analyzed the industry, she realized a label wasn’t something that aligned with her purpose. A label meant molding her image to fit someone else’s definition of her music.

"I think there's many people who think 'whatever, feminism is not important “F--k all of that,” and doesn't seem urgent, 'but she said you can't prevent imbalance while recalling those formative without addressing it." years. DiFranco went on to found Righteous Babe Records, where she began self-distributing her own music at the age of 19. Since then, other artists, including women, have started their own labels and more women have actively taken charge of their careers. Often, those who she inspired feel compelled to relay it back to DiFranco herself. “My favorite thing is when people tell me their story: ‘Because of you, I did this,’” DiFranco said. An icon, prolific musician and a seasoned business veteran who’s lived by her own rules, DiFranco still has to make adjustments, though many work both in her favor and for her die-hard fans. Patreon, a content subscription service through which she releases music and more, allows her a home life with her two children while satisfying her audience with new content monthly and

every new full moon via a “forget the Roman calendar” option. She still gets out of the house, including her upcoming Colorado tour stops in Fort Collins, Breckenridge and Steamboat Springs this month, because she still wants to get her activism message out there with the use of live music and artistic expression. While she is putting together material for a new record and stoking the Patreon fire, her most recent musical project includes collaborations with folk musician Zoe Boekbinder on an album called The Prison Music Project, a collection of songs, poetry, and rap written by current and former incarcerated artists of New Folsom Prison. The project involves many musicians and producers, having begun a decade ago, with the intention of illuminating the humanity of people and creating a conversation about mass

incarceration. DiFranco, however, doesn’t limit herself to music as a way of artistic expression. Last May, she released a memoir: No Walls and the Recurring Dream. To DiFranco, writing a memoir was a new artistic challenge another opportunity to practice transparency and welcome the nakedness of telling her own story. The memoir evolved from a retelling of her life stories to rekindling the fire that burns within her. And telling stories is what DiFranco does best. Well, that and playing guitar. When she comes through Colorado and plays her favorite songs from her extensive catalog, she comes in pursuit of social healing and attaining equality. “When you bring women to the table, we begin on the path towards healing and achieving peace,” DiFranco said.

Ani DiFranco performs on February 8 at Washington's in Fort Collins, a sold out show. Tickets are still available for her February 7 appearance at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge and February 9 at Strings Music Pavilion in Steamboat Springs. 21 21

Don McLean Singer & songwriter

Celebrated for his clean acoustic sound and his poetic melodies, Don McLean is well-known for his touching ballads including “American Pie,” “Vincent,” “Castles in the Air” and several other classics.

Saturday, March 28, 2020 · 7:30pm

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CONCERT CALENDAR

Saturday, February 1st

@Fox Theatre – Boulder, 7 PM

Lady Denim @Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, 7:30 PM w/ Holdfast. and The Red Scare

thursday, February 6th

BKG Artist Showcase & Talent Show @Hodi’s Half Note – Fort Collins, 7 PM w/ Celeste Kay, Brock Barrett, Indie Haze, Bobby Boofiani, O.Z. Lorenzo, Skorpio Wendy Woo @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 8 PM Summer Camp: On the Road Tour 2020 @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 8:30 PM The Wailers @Boulder Theater – Boulder, 7:30 PM w/ Policulture

Sunday, February 2ND Local Set @Red Rocks – Morrison, 5:00 PM w/ Sugar Britches, Joel Ansett

MONDAY, February 3rd Mug Night: Stand-Up Comedy @Hodi’s Half Note – Fort Collins, 7 PM w/ Luke Gaston Shakey Graves - For The Record / An Acoustic Tour Night One @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 7 PM

Tuesday, February 4th Avo’s Open Mic @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 7:30 PM Shakey Graves - For The Record / An Acoustic Tour Night Two @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 7 PM

Wednesday, February 5th “These Jokes Are For You” @Moxi Theater – Greeley, 8 PM w/ Patrick Richardson Avo’s Open Bluegrass Jam @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 7 PM Shakey Graves - For The Record / An Acoustic Tour Night Three

Ally Venable @Moxi Theater – Greeley, 8 PM w/ special guests Marco Benevento @Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, 7:30 PM w/ Jeff White The Kitty Project @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 8 PM w/ Luna Shades, MountainUs Magic City Hippies @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 8:30 PM w/ Tim Atlas

Friday, February 7th Van Cruelen - Tribute to Van Halen and Motley Crue @Moxi Theater – Greeley, 8 PM w/ Larry and the Pour Boys Shrek the Musical @Union Colony Civic Center – Greeley, 7:30 PM Shakedown Street @Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, 7:30 PM Joseph @Washington’s – Fort Collins, 6 PM w/ Deep Sea Diver Grant Farm @Hodi’s Half Note – Fort Collins, 8 PM w/ special guests The Poudre River Irregulars @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 4 PM Alfonzo @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 8:30 PM Late Night Radio (Live Band) @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 7:30 PM w/ Star Kitchen, Recess

Saturday, February 8th Shrek the Musical @Union Colony Civic Center – Greeley, 7:30 PM

Head for the Hills @Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, 8:30 PM w/ The Great Salmon Famine Ani DiFranco @Washington’s – Fort Collins, 6 PM w/ Jesca Hoop Zach Deputy @Hodi’s Half Note – Fort Collins, 8 PM w/ special guests The Swashbuckling Doctors @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 7 PM Joseph @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 7 PM w/ Deep Sea Diver The Big Lebowski - Live on the Big Screen! @Boulder Theater – Boulder, 7:30 PM Mish Under the Moon @Mishawaka – Bellvue, 7 PM w/ Float Like a Buffalo, House With a Yard, and The Goons

Mungion @Hodi’s Half Note – Fort Collins, 7 PM w/ Amorphic Storyhill @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 6 PM Trixie Mattel: Grown Up @Boulder Theater – Boulder, 7 PM Local Set @Red Rocks – Morrison, 5:00 PM w/ Stylie, Kayla Marquee

monday, February 10th

Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal Thursday, February 13th at Moxi Theater in Greeley

Dr. Dog @Washington’s – Fort Collins, 6 PM w/ Michael Nau

Brother Ali - Secrets & Escapes Tour 2020 @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 7:30 PM w/ Mike Eagle

Speakerbox @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 8:30 PM w/ Brazen, EXO, Yoko B2B Skizoh, Optix B2B Derpstra, and more

wednesday, February 12th

The Doo Wop Project @Boulder Theater – Boulder, 7 PM

Sunday, February 9th

Tuesday, February 11th

Shrek the Musical @Union Colony Civic Center – Greeley, 2 PM

Avo’s Open Mic @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 7:30 PM

Brian Claxton @Moxi Theater – Greeley, 8 PM w/ Steve Kovalcheck, Tom Amend, Jon Hamar

friday, February 14th Mike and The Moon Pies @Moxi Theater – Greeley, 8 PM w/ The Vegabonds

Brother Ali - Secrets & Escapes Tour @Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, 7:00 PM w/ Mike Eagle, DJ Last Word

Devotchka presented by 105.5 The Colorado Sound @Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, 7 PM

Avo’s Open Bluegrass Jam @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 7 PM

Ozomatli @Washington’s – Fort Collins, 6 PM w/ SuenaTron

Once Upon a Tune @Magic Rat – Fort Collins, 8 PM

Homeboy Sandman @Hodi’s Half Note – Fort Collins, 8 PM w/ Quelle Chris, Phonosapien, TMC!

Zach Deputy @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 7:30 w/ Luca Wolf, Cous

thursday, February 13th Josh Hoyer and The Soul Colossal @Moxi Theater – Greeley, 8 PM w/ Grace Kuch Band

Cupcake Cabaret @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 9 PM Patrick Dethlefs @Magic Rat – Fort Collins, 8 PM Tribal Seeds @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 8 PM

WhiteCatPink @Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, 7:30 PM w/ Chunderfins, Lonely Cloud

The Marcus King Band - “El Dorado Tour” @Boulder Theater – Boulder, 7 PM w/ Dee White

The Lil Smokies @Washington’s – Fort Collins, 6 PM

Valentine’s Weekend at the Mish @Mishawaka – Bellvue

Knuckleball @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 7 PM w/ Synergistic Effects, Aloysius

Saturday, February 15th

Stillhouse Junkies @Magic Rat – Fort Collins, 8 PM Tubby Love & Amber Lily @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 8 PM w/ The Reminders Piff the Magic Dragon @Boulder Theater – Boulder, 7 PM Valentine’s Weekend at the Mish @Mishawaka – Bellvue

Local Set @Red Rocks – Morrison, 5:00 PM w/ Raquel Garcia

Coldreplay @Moxi Theater – Greeley, 8 PM The Simon & Garfunkel Story @Union Colony Civic Center – Greeley, 7:30 PM Tubby Love & Amber Lily @Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, 8 PM w/ The Reminders Joe Jencks @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 7 PM

Taarka @Magic Rat – Fort Collins, 8 PM

Avo’s Open Mic @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 7 PM

Ozomatli @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 8:30 PM w/ Quilombo Sound System, Suenatron

Second City: Laughing for All the Wrong Reasons @Boulder Theater – Boulder, 7 PM

Martin Sexton @Boulder Theater – Boulder, 7 PM

wednesday, February 19th

Valentine’s Weekend at the Mish @Mishawaka – Bellvue

Jerrod Niemann @Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, 7:30 PM w/ Buckstein, Benjamin Bell

Local Set @Red Rocks – Morrison, 6 PM w/ Red Petals Band, TMULE

sunday, February 16th Sugarshack Sessions presents KBONG @Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, 7:30 PM w/ Sensi Trails Red Not Chili Peppers @Hodi’s Half Note – Fort Collins, 8 PM All Night Train @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 3 PM w/ Cowboys Dead Jauz @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 8:30 PM w/ Habstrakt, Tynan The High Kings @Boulder Theater – Boulder, 7 PM

monday, February 17th Blunts & Blondes @Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, 8:30 PM w/ Subdocta, Bawldy, Waylo b2b Sektah The High Kings @Washington’s – Fort Collins, 6 PM

tuesday, February 18th Crobot @Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, 7:30 PM w/ Aeges, Like Machines Donavon Frankenreiter @The Armory – Fort Collins, 7 PM

Avo’s Open Bluegrass Jam @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 7 PM

CROBOT Tuesday, February 18th at Aggie Theatre in Ft. Collins

Molly Tuttle @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 7:30 PM w/ Twisted Pine 2020 Fly Fishing Film Tour @Boulder Theater – Boulder, 6:30 PM

The Vagina Monologues @Hensel Phelps Theatre – Greeley, 7 PM EOTO @Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, 8:30 PM

thursday, February 20th

CO-OP feat. Staying Stokes @Hodi’s Half Note – Fort Collins, 8 PM

Kyle Emerson @Moxi Theater – Greeley, 8 PM w/ The Velveteers

w/ Gentry Fox, AlieNation, Elijah Alexander

Ott. @Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, 8:30 PM w/ Dynohunter (DJ Set), Kwillow HIRIE Dreamer Tour @Hodi’s Half Note – Fort Collins, 7 PM w/ Nattali Rize, Jason J Proxima Parada @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 8 PM EOTO @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 8:30 PM Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real @Boulder Theater – Boulder, 7 PM

friday, February 21st Saints of Never After @Moxi Theater – Greeley, 8 PM w/ I Am The Owl, Vital//Signs, The Midnight Horrors

The Just Jazz Quintet @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 4:30 PM Laney Lou & The Bird Dogs @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 8:30 PM w/ Pioneer Mother

Songs from the Road Band @Magic Rat – Fort Collins, 8 PM Marchfourth @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 8:30 w/ The Pamlico Sound Tauk + A Special Tauking Wonder Set @Boulder Theater – Boulder, 7:30 PM w/ Eminence Ensemble Local Set @Red Rocks – Morrison, 6:00 PM w/ Horizon Line, No Touch

Saturday, February 22nd Sabotage - a Tribute to Beastie Boys @Moxi Theater – Greeley, 8 PM w/ Guerrilla Radio - Tribute to Rage The Vagina Monologues @Hensel Phelps Theatre – Greeley, 2 PM & 6 PM Dead Floyd @Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, 8:30 PM w/ The Nightshades, All Night Train

THE BALLROOM THIEVES

Dweezil Zappa @Washington’s – Fort Collins, 7 PM House With a Yard @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 8 PM w/ The Charlie Stevens Band North Mississippi Allstars - Up and Rolling Tour @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 8 PM Ott. @Boulder Theater – Boulder, 8:30 PM w/ Dynohunter (DJ Set), Mxxnwatchers

sunday, February 23rd Molly Tuttle @The Armory – Fort Collins, 6 PM Arias at Avo’s @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 4 PM Tom Paxton & The DonJuans @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 7 PM w/ Amy Speace Rapsody @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 7:30 PM

monday, February 24th Mug Night: Stand-Up Comedy @Hodi’s Half Note – Fort Collins, 7 PM w/ Luke Gaston

tuesday, February 25th Robert Earl Keen @Washington’s – Fort Collins, 6 PM w/ Aubrie Sellers Avo’s Open Mic @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 7:30 PM Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival Night One @Boulder Theater – Boulder, 6 PM

wednesday, February 26th Ultrasloth @Hodi’s Half Note – Fort Collins, 8 PM w/ kLL sMTH, Dufrey, and bioLuMigen

Friday, February 28th at the Moxi Theater in Greeley

Avo’s Open Bluegrass Jam @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 7 PM Ian Ferguson @Magic Rat – Fort Collins, 8 PM Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival Night Two @Boulder Theater – Boulder, 6 PM

thursday, February 27th Arrested Development @Washington’s – Fort Collins, 6 PM Kendall Street Company @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 9 PM J Calvin @Magic Rat – Fort Collins, 8 PM Vincent @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 8:30 PM w/ Prince Fox, Brazen, KLO, Roses & Rubies Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival Night Three @Boulder Theater – Boulder, 6 PM

friday, February 28th The Ballroom Thieves @Moxi Theater – Greeley, 8 PM w/ Special Guests G. Love & Special Sauce @Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, 7:30 PM w/ JONTAVIOUS WILLIS Antibalas @Washington’s – Fort Collins, 6 PM Strangebyrds @Avogadro’s Number – Fort Collins, 8 PM w/ South to Cedars Son Little @Fox Theatre – Boulder, 8 PM

Electric Hot Tuna - Night One @Boulder Theater – Boulder, 7 PM Local Set @Red Rocks – Morrison, 6:00 PM w/ Dream Feed, Murphy Band

Saturday, February 29th The Greeley Chorale presents: the 25th Pops and Pasta! @Greeley Recreation Center – Greeley, 1 PM & 6 PM

99.9 The Point and 94.3 the X Present: Hunks vs. Punks 2000’s Dance Party @Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, 7:30 PM Seratones @Washington’s – Fort Collins, 6 PM w/ Son Little, Kiltro Comedy Showcase @Hodi’s Half Note – Fort Collins, 6 PM w/ Jordan Doll Love Shack! 80s Dance Party @Hodi’s Half Note – Fort Collins, 8 PM

SHOT OF THE MONTH

PHOTO BY MICHAEL OLIVIER

SILVER & GOLD| MOXI THEATER Â« 12.19.19