Latin Trap Artist Telly Brings the Essence of Colombia to Denver
Shantelle Diaz, also known as Telly and La Colombiana-Americana, has been an ever expanding musical force in Denver, Colorado. Channeling her Columbian roots into modern trap music, Telly uses her flow to empower and uplift. Telly understands how important it is for her to keep her music production full of variety. In the early stages […]
Chad Goes Deep: Mediations on “Stoke”
When a young Chad Kroeger (real name Tom Allen) and best friend JT Parr went before the Los Angeles city council eight years ago to fight for their right to throw house parties in the Hollywood hills, little did they know how pivotal that meeting would be. “I saw a video of someone doing a […]
Donny Benét Fulfills Your ‘Infinite Desires’
By Laura Giagos Italiano disco-funk bass provocateur Donny Benét, hailing from Sydney, Australia, has carved a distinctive presence in the indie music scene. Often positioned on the fringes, Benét’s infectious bass-driven dance grooves and hypnotic charm have made him unmistakably unforgettable. With his now-iconic skullet and handlebar mustache, Benét (real name Ben Waples) has captivated […]
Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers: Music for the Soul
Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers create music that feels like a celebration of life itself. With a sound that weaves together funk, soul, folk, and indie pop, this Michigan-based band promises to deliver more than just a concert—they offer an electrifying experience filled with joy, color, and energy. Led by Joe Hertler’s captivating vocals […]
Sam Tallent: A Hilarious Journey to the Top
Sam Tallent is killing it. The Colorado-based stand-up comic has become a source of pride for many of those who witnessed his rise to the top of the comedic mountain—and likely the source of childish resentment from his peers in the comedy scene still frequenting open mics, as it goes all too often. However, anyone […]
Afroman Is Running For President (No, Seriously)
When people picture a presidential candidate, Afroman certainly isn’t the first person to come to mind. His suits are typically covered with marijuana leaves, he carries a gold chalice with him nearly everywhere he goes—which he calls his “Pimp Cup”—and his Instagram page isn’t exactly family-friendly. But despite all odds, the “Because I Got High” […]
Birth, Death and Time In The Sun: SUSTO’s Justin Osborne Finds new Dimesion
“There were ravines growing between me and people in my life,” Justin Osborne tells BandWagon. “And with COVID, everybody got pushed back together. Some of those changes had to be faced head on.”
Osborne is the commandant of North Carolina’s Susto and he’s just gone through some of the most intense years of his life.
“If humans are dimensional,” he says, “there’s a whole new dimension of myself that was awakened.”
Susto’s sound sits between Americana, psych-pop and the indie-rock church of rootsy folk. A mix of satire and earnestness adds a roughness; a raised eyebrow setting it apart from rural radio. Its dark, drug-influenced sentimentality and staunch idealism is, at its heart, just barefaced American songwriting.
“There were a lot of attempts at reconciliation – my own beliefs with how I was raised,” he says. “I’m trying not to disrespect,” he says, “but to participate in these big life events.”
Permission to Shine: Shinyribs’ Kevin Russell Goes Big
Kevin Russell was nearing age 40, and given the upheavals in his career, should have been facing the clichéd mid-life crisis. Instead, he gave himself permission to be himself.
He left a band he’d played with for nearly 20 years, to focus on Shinyribs.
“The odds were against me for sure,” Russell said in a phone interview with BandWagon, “But I felt like I had to do it. It was a now-or-never kind of feeling. It was a gamble. But it was so great. We are now an instant party – wherever we go.”