That was amazing!
Thanks to everyone who came to the first Spunky presents show at the DNote this past Friday! [View photos from the show.]
I am convinced Robert Eldridge is one of the best guitar pickers in our state. His range of style and his preciseness is quite mind-blowing. Whenever I see someone like Robert play, I feel many things, including a touch of envy at such talent. I love music very much, and was schooled in it as a bona fide band nerd growing up, but I lack the patience and discipline to come anywhere close to what someone like Robert does, day in and day out. It’s moving and inspiring, and makes you realize how important it is to have in life, such music. All the performers made me feel this.
The show was the Denver metro debut for Hillbilly Inferno. The band is very much steeped in bluegrass and old-time but is evolving and will continue to evolve. “Chocolate Jesus” and “Pig in a Pen” brought the house down, as did original material of banjo player Keith Frankel. I took some video of “Pig in a Pen” but I confess my camera is not the latest and greatest, and the lights were quite low, so I don’t feel best to post it, but it was fun to review it and hear the roar of the crowd. The band hasn’t been together in its present incarnation for too long, having added vocalist Molly Zackary several weeks beforehand into the mix, and bassist David Pucul only a couple of weeks before as well. They’re growing by leaps and bounds so I can’t wait to see the progress they make as time goes by.
Halden Wofford and the Hi-Beams are the best country band in Colorado. That’s a big statement to make so I don’t take it lightly. I don’t say things I don’t mean, and I know there are some other AWESOME country acts in Colorado, but my heart lies with the Hi-Beams. Front man Halden Wofford is a modern renaissance man. Not only can he sing and play some mean guitar, he is a visual artist and a writer who has published his own book, The Long Gone Lonesome History of Country Music. Everyone in the band has an amazing list of credits and rich backgrounds, and they’re all super-cool nice guys. They’re great representatives for our state, and I know they’ve got a lot of touring around the country all summer long, so even if you’re not in Colorado, you can catch them in your town and I STRONGLY recommend you don’t miss them. Check out their tour calendar.
The Hi-Beams were so kick-ass that I barely could believe how awesome it was. I could have listened to them all night, could have watched them for as long as they’d indulge, and the crowd was right there with me. They kept asking for more and more. Part of the joy in all of it for me is to see how happy the audience was. The dance floor was packed and were responsive to everything Halden and the band said and did. When you’ve been around for a while and have seen the gamut of different bars and clubs, and audiences who range from full-on “into it” to completely ignoring the fact there is a band, or at worse, stares at the band with their arms folded like “so what?” well, seeing something like that, where all night long until the very end there is an appreciative crowd, it really gives a satisfaction that’s hard to come by most times. You really can’t ask for much more as it’s one of the sweetest feelings ever.
I am very honored that all these top-notch performers agreed to be part of my first-ever Spunky presents show, and I hope to keep working with all of them in some capacities. If you missed out this time, there will be more to come. All these acts will be performing so check their sites for when you can catch them next, and you can subscribe to my posts or connect with me in numerous ways to catch the next Spunky presents show TBA soon!
Halden Wofford and the Hi-Beams
Halden Wofford and the Hi-Beams
Hillbilly Inferno
Robert Eldridge
