Monday, July 21, 2014

2014 UMS Band Interviews #6

For everything you need to know about the UMS Click Here
Andy Hamilton & the Whiskey Hitchers 

Sunday  July 27th 6:00 pm

Gary Lee’s Motor Club and Grub








Where/ When are you playing for the UMS?
Sun, July 27, 2014
6:00 pm-7:00 pm
Gary Lee’s Motor Club and Grub
176 S Broadway
Denver, CO, 80209

In twenty-five words or less, describe what somebody who has never heard of you/your band might expect from your performance at UMS this year.
There oughtta be some drinking and some story-telling, a little bit of swearing and a whole lot of dancin! Country music as it ought to be played; honest and dirty!

What was the first music you remember using your own money to buy?
When I was 13 I bought my first two cassettes with money from tossing newspapers. I went to the store and bought a Muddy Waters album, who was the first blues singer I'd ever heard, and Van Halen 1984. Both those fellas inspired me to pick up guitar and throw away the rest of my life.

What has been your favorite album of 2014 so far?
Willie Nelson blew me away with Band of Brothers. Willie is a legend for a reason, he's passionate, doesn't take anybody's crap and he's still one helluva singer and songwriter.

Do you have any advice for new bands?
Don't play music to try and make a living. Play music because you can't live without it.

Have you planned out who you want to see at UMS this year? Who are some of your highlights?
Ya know, I haven't gotten too familiar with the lineup yet. I know I'm gonna see Broken Spirits, Pale Sun, Tjutjuna, Two-Tone Wolf Pack and a bunch of "The" bands. There are so many good bands playing, it's gonna be real difficult to catch them all!

If you've been to UMS before, what three words would you use to describe it?
One helluva time!

What has been your most memorable experience at UMS to date?
Closing out the Hi-Dive with Houses a few years back. That was one of the most incredibly loving and drunkenly excitable crowds I've had the pleasure of entertaining!

Any tips you'd like to give the novices for making the UMS experience even better?
Drink plenty of water. Choose your shows wisely; you're not going to catch all the bands you hope to see!

Is there any place you're looking forward to eating during UMS?
My backyard, by the fire, where it's quiet. I'm looking forward to some damn good food trucks really!

What is your favorite shop on South Broadway?
Ironwood. The folks who run it are dear friends and wonderful people. Every time I walk in there I'm reminded of times with my grandpa.

Who is your all time favorite Colorado band?
Sugarloaf. No one ever knows who I'm talking about, but in 1970 they recorded "Green-Eyed Lady." That entire debut album is smokin! and NOBODY plays organ like that anymore!

You're working the counter at Twist & Shout, and a customer is interested in expanding his music collection.  What three albums would you recommend?
1 The Best of Lightnin' Hopkins. Buy it on vinyl, pour yourself a stiff drink and listen to "Bring Me My Shotgun."
2 Steppenwolf by Steppenwolf. This band has so much more to offer than just "Born to Be Wild."
3 Testifyin' by Clarence Carter. Get ready to boogie!

Is there anything we forgot to ask you about the UMS that you think people need to know?
Nope. Let's get weird!



  Colfax Speed Queen 

Friday July 25th 10:00 pm

3 Kings Tavern



Where/ When are you playing for the UMS?
We will be playing at 3 Kings Tavern. The madness ensues at 10pm!

In twenty-five words or less, describe what somebody who has never heard of you/your band might expect from your performance at UMS this year.
Think of early 1980's cocaine blown right into your ass. Or maybe it's like sticking your tongue on a live Tesla coil.

What was the first music you remember using your own money to buy?
The Lethal Weapon Soundtrack, Yo! MTV Raps, Snoop Dogg, Ace of Base, Depeche Mode, Cranberries, Offspring

What has been your favorite album of 2014 so far?
Thee Oh Sees - Drop (2014)

Do you have any advice for new bands?
If you don't have jokes as good as Zebroids, just shut up and play.

Have you planned out who you want to see at UMS this year? Who are some of your highlights?
Dirty Few, Zebriods, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Native Daughters, DragonDeer, Ned Garthe, Residual Kid, Bud Bronson, In The Whale, Best Creeps, The Outfit, Dilated Peoples

If you've been to UMS before, what three words would you use to describe it?
PARTY PARTY PARTY.

What has been your most memorable experience at UMS to date?
Playing to a jam-packed Irish Rover crowd last year. It was at capacity so people were even dancing on the sidewalk out front!

Any tips you'd like to give the novices for making the UMS experience even better?
Eat some drugs, wear good shoes. Stay hydrated.

Is there any place you're looking forward to eating during UMS?
Food trucks, street dumplings!

What is your favorite shop on South Broadway?
Fancy Tiger. We love Matthew, he's a great dude.

Who is your all time favorite Colorado band?
The Omens or Kingdom of Magic

You're working the counter at Twist & Shout, and a customer is interested in expanding his music collection.  What three albums would you recommend?
Bazooka - S/T (2013), The Velvet Underground (any album), Goat - World Music (2012)

Is there anything we forgot to ask you about the UMS that you think people need to know?
Come hang! If you don't, you might miss your favorite new band.   


Leftmore 

Friday July 25th 10:00 pm

The Hornet


Where/ When are you playing for the UMS?
1. We are playing at The Hornet on Friday, July 25th, at 10pm.

In twenty-five words or less, describe what somebody who has never heard of you/your band might expect from your performance at UMS this year.
2. Expect whatever you want to. Or maybe, expect to see four friends sincerely perform their guts out and love every second of it.

What was the first music you remember using your own money to buy?
3. Chris: Smash by Offspring
    Geoff: Bad by MJ and Sports by Huey Lewis and the News
    Matt: River of Dreams by Billy Joel
    Joe: Our Newest Album Ever by Five Iron Frenzy

 What has been your favorite album of 2014 so far?
4. Chris: Phantograms by Voices
    Matt might say St. Vincent's self-titled.

Do you have any advice for new bands?
5. Chris: Stick it out until you're old bands. That's when it gets good.
    Joe: Identify the true reasons you are driven to make music and focus on feeding them.

Have you planned out who you want to see at UMS this year? Who are some of your highlights?
6. So many good bands that we'll have to devise rendezvous plans to make sure we're all on stage by our set time. El Toro de la Muerte is killer, though. Really happy to see The Noise FM from Chicago coming through. Nice Dudes. Hope to catch We Are Not a Glum Lot and LAMA Live, too.

If you've been to UMS before, what three words would you use to describe it?
7. Energetic, honest music.

What has been your most memorable experience at UMS to date?
8. Chris: It's a tie between falling in love with EVERY member of Paper Bird and watching Rubedo stomp around like madmen at Denver Wheel Club 404.

What is your favorite shop on South Broadway?
9. Chris likes the Army Surplus for Less. Candidly, The Hornet is a special spot for Leftmore...it's where we solidified our lineup by running into Geoff (now our bass player) on New Year's Day.

Who is your all time favorite Colorado band?
10. Chris: Lucida Tela
      Geoff: Abracastabya
      Matt: The Gamits
      Joe: Five Iron Frenzy (and I'm not afraid to skank it)

You're working the counter at Twist & Shout, and a customer is interested in expanding his music collection.  What three albums would you recommend?
11. Prime Prine by John Prine, Chicago by Chicago, and Time by ELO

Is there anything we forgot to ask you about the UMS that you think people need to know?
12. UMS is the dedicated, collective effort of hundreds of music lovers; an effort so remarkable that it's gaining national notoriety. It's easy to get caught up in it all and lose sight of the fact that if you attend, perform, or work at UMS that you are representing that great collective effort. It's a privilege not to be taken lightly. Let's show everyone what we can do in Colorado, with respect, positivity, and some of the best indie music being made today.
 

 Dragondeer 

Friday July 25th 9:00 pm

Skylark Lounge


Where/ When are you playing for the UMS?
Dragondeer plays Friday July 25th at 9PM @ Skylark Lounge

In twenty-five words or less, describe what somebody who has never heard of you/your band might expect from your performance at UMS this year.
Psych-blues laced with improvisational sections played on mandolin, lap steel, harmonica, guitar, bass and drums that you can shake your bones to

What was the first music you remember using your own money to buy?
Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill. I heard it on an Arizona radio station and begged my Grandma to take me to Kmart so I could buy it. Life changing 

What has been your favorite album of 2014 so far?
My favorite album that I discovered in 2014 is Burning Spear's 1973 debut Studio One Presents Burning Spear

Do you have any advice for new bands?
Have fun. Demo your songs yourself so you can hear what needs tweaking. Bands are a collaborative art project where the visions and energies of each member combine forces to create something that is often greater than and transcends a single member's vision...if you can't dig on that then maybe be a solo act?

Have you planned out who you want to see at UMS this year? Who are some of your highlights?
Haven't planned anything but there are a ton a bands I want to see:  A Tom Collins, Chimney Choir, Yawpers, Colfax Speed Queen, The Baltic, Eldren, Mosey West, Ark Life, Mike Clark & the Sugar Sounds, Ned Garthe Explosion, Patrick Dethlefs, Ancient Elk, Branded Bandits, Joy Subtraction, Road Kill Ghost Choir, Speedwolf, The Blue Rider

If you've been to UMS before, what three words would you use to describe it?
Best party in-Denver

What has been your most memorable experience at UMS to date?
UMS 2012 when Dragondeer played Gary Lee's. It was one of the first shows where we had drums in the band and it felt so good and crowd reacted really positively and it dawned on me that I was going to be putting my energies into Dragondeer for a long time

Any tips you'd like to give the novices for making the UMS experience even better?
Eat a bunch so that booze has a base 

Is there any place you're looking forward to eating during UMS?
I'm not looking forward to it, but I always seem to eat at Famous Pizza during UMS

What is your favorite shop on South Broadway?
Ironwood for sure. Beautiful art, plants, and crystals galore. Dragondeer's (or what became Dragondeer) first show ever was at Ironwood for UMS 2011 and the selenite wands that I bought there definitely influenced/powered the making of 'Don't That Feel Good"

Who is your all time favorite Colorado band?
Hard to say but the first two that came to mind are Ark Life and Slim Cessna 

You're working the counter at Twist & Shout, and a customer is interested in expanding his music collection.  What three albums would you recommend?
Steel Pulse True Democracy | Stone Roses S/T | The Grateful Dead Workingman's Dead

Is there anything we forgot to ask you about the UMS that you think people need to know?
Pace yourself. For real. One of the best times I've had in a long time was skateboarding in the basement of Buffalo Exchange at 5AM while Mario Zoots spun tunes at a UMS afterparty...you can't make it to those choice moments if you're all haggard early.
 

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