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fort collins music

52 stories

Four people stand on a gravel road in dry grass, the woman in front with arms crossed and a bright bandana.

Bevin Luna: 105.5 The Colorado Sound’s Featured Artist“Madison & Angelus is a garage rock EP because it’s rock and roll. And it was literally recorded in a garage in LaPorte, Colorado,” Bevin Luna says. True to the garage band ethos, the 6 tracks mesh originals, covers and co-writes with big, fuzzy guitars, overdriven vocals and bashing drums. But the garage has a heart and some depth behind its door. Much of the writing discusses the turmoil of being a musician in the digital age, and as Luna puts it: “In the middle of a pandemic sandwich: never knowing where to begin or if it’s ever going to end – constantly trying to reassure ourselves that everything was gonna be OK.”Kevin Johnston · Jul 21, 2022

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MusicAlbum Review: People in General – friendsPeople in General are making the leap. Since their first release Piglet in 2019, the trio has grown into a full 8 piece band with horns, extra vocalists and more.Kevin Johnston · Jul 20, 2022

A man with long dark hair and a gray blazer plays a mixing board with colorful cables under purple stage lights.

FeaturesMichal Menert: Things Burn DownMichal Menert has been thinking about fire.Gabe Allen · Jul 12, 2022

Two women with orange and auburn hair pose close together outdoors in front of bare winter trees.

MusicAlbum Review: Companion – Second Day of SpringFort Collins based identical twin sisters Sophia and Jo Babb, otherwise known as Companion, release their debut folk/americana album Second Day of Spring with vocal harmonies that match as perfectly as their DNA.Valerie Vampola · Jun 8, 2022

A smiling bearded man in a cap, glasses, and plaid shirt stands in a crowded club under pink and purple lights.

FeaturesBlast N’ Scrap is Back on TrackMichael Gormley’s scrappy nonprofit has reemerged as the centerpiece of Fort Collins’ DIY scene.Gabe Allen · May 17, 2022

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MusicAlbum Review: Holdfast. – MoviesHoldfast.’s new album Movies brings their expected electro dark-pop and rock aesthetic but leans into other styles that open their doors to new fans. Singer Charlie Maddocks demonstrates a dramatic contrast in dynamics, one that MUSE’s lead Matt Bellamy is well known for, though Maddocks’ tone is undoubtedly his own, becoming one of Colorado’s most recognizable lead vocals. Holdfast. continues to deliver strong songs while experimenting with new sounds and textures.Valerie Vampola · Apr 6, 2022

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MusicAlbum Review: Big Brooklyn – Everyone EverywhereDenver based Big Brooklyn begs the question “what is jazz?” with their new album Everyone Everywhere, in which every track dips a toe into different sub-genres underneath the jazz umbrella.Valerie Vampola · Mar 9, 2022

A man in sunglasses and a red t-shirt plays an acoustic guitar and harmonica under tall palm trees and a blue sky.

FeaturesStill Thirsty: G. Love & The Juice Stir it UpThe band still carries his name, but G. Love is taking a step back from the spotlight.Dan England · Feb 23, 2022

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MusicSingle Review: Branson Hoog – “No Vacancy”Intimate and sexy, Branson Hoog’s nimble, close-up vocals evoke an alluring darkness. The NOT A TOY (fka Shatterproof) frontman employs deep and minimalistic beats on “No Vacancy,” the second release under his own name.Kevin Johnston · Jan 11, 2022

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MusicSingle Review: Co-Stanza – “20 Minutes”Dropping realness like a reference to FaceTime helped folks relate to FoCo’s Co-Stanza (to the tune of nearly 2 million streams on “I Don’t Mind”) and by the sound of this hooky new toe tapper, Co-Stanza will continue racking up fans with each tick of the clock.Kevin Johnston · Jan 10, 2022

Six members of Crescent City Connection pose in a row against a brick wall, framed over Mardi Gras beads.

MusicAlbum Review: Crescent City Connection – Yeah You Right!Fort Collins based Crescent City Connection brings New Orleans flavor to the Colorado funk-rock scene with their new album Yeah You Right!Valerie Vampola · Jan 6, 2022

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MusicSingle Review: Poinciana – Focus“Focus” features tender vocals by lead singer Sawyer Davis and beautiful acoustic guitar picking, but Poinciana doesn’t abandon high-energy rock.Valerie Vampola · Dec 6, 2021

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FeaturesINTHEWHALE Gets Real on Vanishing PointWhat sets Eric Riley and Nate Valdez apart from other heavy acts isn’t their musicianship (though it is excellent) but their ability to translate unflinchingly raw moments into music. Starting with INTHEWHALE’s last EP, Dopamine, the band’s tone shifted from the sophomoric humor of their earlier releases to brutally honest explorations of the darker moments of life. These explorations continue on Vanishing Point. The band wrestles with pharmaceutical addiction, suicidal ideation and gentrification. The pain and anger is palpable.Gabe Allen · Dec 4, 2021

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FeaturesWreckno: B-Queen Drops it Like a BossAn unlikely icon has burst onto the EDM scene. Brandon Wisniski, known eponymously as Wreckno, creates earth-shaking bass drops, raps about pulling up on your dad and refers to himself as a “FULL TIME BUSSY BOPPER” on Twitter. He may be the biggest, loudest, gayest producer the bass scene has ever seen, and he’s just getting started. Wisniski’s music melds together the aggression of old-school gangster rap with the manic energy of bass music and the glamour of a drag show. It’s a perfect fit, but it has never really been done before.Gabe Allen · Oct 14, 2021

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MusicAlbum Review: The Crooked Rugs – THAT!There is a cultural, dad-inherited fondness for flipping through AM radio channels while driving late at night.Gabe Allen · Oct 5, 2021

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MusicAlbum Review: We Are William – We Are WilliamListening to Fort Collins-based We Are William gives a refreshing perspective on just how difficult it is to play progressive metal, and the band deserves props.Dan England · Sep 7, 2021

Three musicians play guitar and bass on a blue-lit stage while a large screen behind them shows a drummer up close.

CommunityBuckle Up: FoCoMX Drive and Jive Continues Despite BoHo NoGoTaking place on Sundays this month at the historic Holiday Twin Drive-In, FoCoMX: Drive and Jive continued its live offerings last month with further programming into August and beyond. Reimagining the series to feature a mix of established veteran Colorado acts as well as “discovery” artists from the region, Drive and Jive aims to build engaged audiences and more. In light of yesterday’s news that the Bohemian Foundation’s recently announced Bohemian Light Music Festival is now in fact cancelled due to COVID precautions, the Drive and Jive series offers a live music format which has proved to function well under pandemic restrictions.Kevin Johnston · Aug 7, 2021

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MusicSingle Premiere: Cody – “I’m Not Really Listening”After years of solely identifying as the co-front man of Colorado’s adored brother-band Slow Caves, Jakob Mueller steps away from those familiar indie guitar shoegaze shores.Kevin Johnston · Jul 15, 2021

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MusicSingle Review: Lady Denim – “Old & New”Bright, energetic and bursting with pop polish has been the name of the game for Fort Collins indie rockers Lady Denim and it’s paying off.Laura Giagos · Jul 8, 2021

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MusicSingle Review: Slow Caves – “Before I Leave”When Slow Caves puts out a track, the Colorado music scene collectively gazes on in awe.Laura Giagos · Jul 6, 2021