Dan England

45 stories · Page 2 of 3

FeaturesThrough Thick and Thin: Heartsick HeroineAllen and Hannah Maddox want you to believe that their world is pain.Dan England · Nov 9, 2020FeaturesWalking The Walk: New Greeley Murals Celebrate and Beautify the way DowntownFor her new mural on the Maddie Apartments in Downtown Greeley, Betony Coons found herself challenged with how to include Union Colony’s most famous principle: temperance. Not only is “the active moderation of libation intake” hard to paint, but ironically, one of the reasons downtown Greeley continues to thrive is the world class breweries and distilleries it inspired.Dan England · Oct 14, 2020FeaturesHungry for Humor: Comedy Fort Takes the Place of Hodi’s HalfNoteDavid Rodriguez’ first comedy set, more than five years ago, was at Hodi’s Half Note, the beloved FoCo rock club which recently announced its closing. He believes it’s fitting, then, that he will open Comedy Fort in the Hodi’s building, probably sometime in January. “When this opportunity came about, it just felt perfect,” Rodriguez said.Dan England · Sep 15, 2020FeaturesReunited and it Feels So Downtown – Greeley’s United Plaza and Socially Distanced DistrictDowntown Greeley’s been quiet since March, when the outbreak shuttered bars (for the second time now), restaurants and other fun places that made downtown as successful as it’s been in decades. But business owners hope to make some noise by closing 8th and 9th streets and putting open dining tables out. They also added an open container law that essentially extends the Go Cup law full-time until fall, only with loosened restrictions: Any alcohol is OK now, even if you have some from home, though the idea is to support the businesses on the blocks. The Greeley City Council approved the plan and began it July 1.Dan England · Aug 4, 2020FeaturesHayden Farr: Love and the March of an Angry IntrovertUntil recently, the pandemic, and our directive to stay put, wasn’t all that hard for Hayden Farr, baritone sax player for The Burroughs and Trash Cat.Dan England · Jul 3, 2020FeaturesGoing For It: Live Music Returns, At A DistanceThe Mishawaka Amphitheatre’s second live show during the pandemic happens at the night before Independence Day – and it’s not for the money. For independent music venues and clubs across Colorado, July 1 is perhaps as important as the day we celebrate our independence as a nation. Governor Polis’ new guidelines take effect that day, allowing the assembly of crowds which make live music possible, if not exactly feasible.Dan England · Jun 29, 2020FeaturesThe Fate Of Festival FutureEven right after she was the sickest she’d been in her life, Alison Hamling still cried after she essentially canceled Friday Fest in Downtown Greeley.Dan England · Jun 5, 2020FeaturesBand Together: National Independent Venue Association Saves Our Stages“There was no one to speak for us,” Stephen Chilton said. “Everyone was talking about the big events and festivals, and no one was talking about the mid-size venues and clubs.” Chilton heads the National Independent Venue Association which is fighting to #SaveOurStages in the fallout of coronavirus repercussions. “What is the most unsafe thing right now? It’s mass gatherings, and we produce mass gatherings,” he said. In two months time, more than 1,600 have joined NIVA, but it still pales in comparison to the thousands in the restaurant industry.Dan England · Jun 3, 2020FeaturesNoCo Music NoGo: COVID-19’s Massive Impact On Colorado’s Music Industry“It’s pretty easy to see how unprepared everyone was,” said Brian Claxton – a touring drummer and music educator based in Greeley, Colorado. Music venues, restaurants and bars across the globe and in Colorado have been ordered to close due to coronavirus precautions, essentially cutting off the lifeblood of the music industry. But the ramifications go deeper, from the 50th anniversary of the huge UNC Jazz Festival delaying one year to smaller bands such as Float Like A Buffalo cancelling their shoestring budget tours. “I think it will take a year to recover, not just in the economy but in the entertainment industry here,” Moxi Theater Ely Corliss said, “and that’s if we resume in April. If this goes until May 11 or so, it’ll be catastrophic for the Moxi and (his restaurant) Luna’s both.”Dan England and Valerie Vampola · Mar 25, 2020FeaturesInto The Original: Tyler Walker & John DeWitt at the RMCMAsAs the talent booker for the Greeley Stampede’s music acts, John DeWitt always liked the Tyler Walker Band.Dan England · Mar 6, 2020FeaturesJim Curry Is Not John DenverJim Curry is not John Denver. Well, no #@%*!, you say, but when you see him sing on stage, you may have doubts.Dan England · Mar 3, 2020FeaturesCover Story: Kyle Emerson – Coming Down and Into His OwnAt the end of every show on his first tour as a solo artist, Kyle Emerson found himself exhausted.Dan England · Feb 7, 2020FeaturesSultans of Shred: Greeley Teen’s World-Class Guitar Chops Run In La FamiliaGreeley’s Liam Garcia is 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, but the biggest exhilaration is playing with his dad Socrates on stage.Dan England · Feb 5, 2020FeaturesTheo Katzman: Modern Johnny Explores The Darkness With The LightIn 2017, Theo Katzman’s father died, he had a bad breakup, and he lost a bunch of money on what he thought was a cool professional opportunity. This is how he discovered his sense of humor. “Out of the wake of all that was sort of this ‘f— it’ attitude,” Katzman said, and though a core member of the very funny Vulfpeck, he says: “I don’t think I’m making comedy music. If I’m doing my job right, the people in my audience at times will be insanely sad. You can explore the light along with the dark.” Katzman released Modern Johnny Sings: Songs In The Key Of Vibe mere days ago, “tackling the issues” of our times with unique poignancy.Dan England · Jan 15, 2020FeaturesHit The Ground Running – Hodi’s Half Note: 10 Years of the FoCo Music Mainstay“I have a deep love for music,” Daniel Mladenik, owner of Hodi’s Half Note says. “I feel like this is what I was put here to do.” Mladenik may be the big boss at Hodi’s now, but he began his time at the Fort Collins music mainstay as the “heavy” demanding derailed drunks to chill. This January 24, Hodi’s celebrates 10 years on North College Avenue with a performance by Dave Watts and Friends, a Motet / String Cheese Incident supergroup.Dan England · Jan 10, 2020FeaturesRebirth Brass Band: Old Tradition, Different GrooveThe Rebirth Brass Band have to answer two questions every time they play a gig: 1 – Are you going to play some traditional stuff? 2 – Are you going to play your own stuff? “We’re not trying to recreate the wheel,” founder and and bass drummer Keith Frazier said, “but we want to do something different.” Catch the Grammy-winning band October 25 at Washington’s in Fort Collins and October 26 at The Ogden in Denver.Dan England · Oct 14, 2019FeaturesFirst Class: Greeley Arts Legacy’s Hall Of Fame“We do not want to forget what happened,” said Ed Rogers, chairman of the Greeley Arts Legacy board. “It’s easy to select what we know, but we also want to go back and make sure our past is remembered.” The Arts Legacy board did just that, honoring Ruth Savig, a visual artist for decades in Greeley, Hellen Langworthy who started Little Theater Of The Rockies 80 years ago, the Greeley Philharmonic and more. Friday, October 4 at Union Colony Civic Center, all 6 inductees will be celebrated.Dan England · Oct 2, 2019FeaturesCharley Crockett: Full Of The Fire – The Old Sounds Of StruggleCharley Crockett spent a decade on the street, making a living off tips he earned as a busker.Dan England · Aug 5, 2019FeaturesIt Takes A Village: Arise Festival Leaves No TraceIf you’re considering the Arise Music Festival in Loveland August 2 – 4, here’s a tip: Bring your own water bottle. The festival provides water itself, but no single-use plastic. They even plant a tree for every ticket sold. Bands and performers who follow the guidelines of ‘Leave No Trace,’ headline the event: Tipper, Leftover Salmon, Railroad Earth and more. “We are more than a music festival,” organiser Mo Hnatiuk said. “It’s a movement. Music is supposed to feed your soul.”Dan England · Jul 23, 2019FeaturesThe Longest Curve: DeVotchKa returns, plays The Moxi“Songwriting was the longest curve,” Nick Urata of DeVotchKa says. “You have to write all these bad songs before a good one comes out. It took a lifetime really.” Formed in the 90’s, each member of the band make up an orchestra themselves and they each ‘got it’ from the beginning. After years as a famed Colorado act, DeVotchKa play Greeley for the first time July 17 and 18 at The Moxi Theater.Dan England · Jul 17, 2019