Moments like that remind me why I've spent my life searching for the sounds and people that move me. Watching the tenuous expressions on Slade's face as I listened to the disc was priceless. In an industry full of jaded and arrogant people, it's refreshing to be around that kind of naiveté. He has absolutely no idea just how good his band is -- and let's hope it remains that way, because there are more than enough artists getting high on their own product. Slade was kind enough to give me a copy of the record -- which I've had on repeat for the last three days -- to hold me over until the CD-release show, slated for later this year.
But for every good new band we get, we lose another. Kallisti, formed in 2000 by ex-Skull Flux members -- singer Conrad Kehn, drummer Dave Hesker and bassist Steven Millen (later replaced by Lawrence Kung) -- with guitarist Brandon Vaccaro, Kehn's-music school compatriot at the University of Denver, has disbanded. Kehn says the band was frustrated by its inability to attract attention -- and he's willing to shoulder much of the blame.
"We weren't drawing really well, and I really felt like it was our own damn fault, because we weren't promoting hard enough," he confesses. "And I really overestimated what I thought my name and the Skull Flux name was worth, as well. Everybody was like, ŒOh, yeah, we remember you; Skull Flux was awesome.' But they never came to see the new thing.
"And everybody is getting a little older," he adds. "Nobody really likes to go out every night anymore to watch a bunch of bands they don't really like and get drunk. You know, none of us is 21 anymore. That drive to go out on Tuesday nights just really isn't there anymore."
Although Kehn is speaking generally, it's clear that he's one of those who have grown up. And after years of being in a band, writing music with other people, he's realized that he just might be happier on his own.
"I don't know," he admits. "I have this notorious history of relationships -- be it band relationships or girlfriends or whatever -- of trying my hardest to keep them together long after they're dead. And I felt like it was a real growing up on my part just to say, "Okay, let's walk, then.' When the bass player left, he was like, "Look, I just really feel like I need to be doing my own thing. You know, I write all these songs.' And it made me realize that for fifteen years now, I've been writing my own songs, putting them on CDs on a shelf and not playing them.
"You know, I don't understand what the hell I was thinking. There have been numerous times that I've busted them out and played them for people and they're like, "Why aren't you playing this?' And I started wondering why I wasn't."
Kehn won't have to ponder such matters much longer. He's going to try his hand as a solo act after the first of the year. In the meantime, he won't be far from music -- he's on the DU faculty using his two degrees in music composition and passing his gifts on to the next generation of homegrown talent.
This just in: Last week, the owners of Linden's Brewing Company in Fort Collins announced to employees that they would be closing for good after Saturday, October 11. But three days before the place was slated to go dark, the Larimer County Treasurer's Office accelerated the process. Citing over $14,000 in unpaid property taxes from 2002 and 2003, the office issued a distraint order on October 8, according to administrative manager Diane Martell, effectively shutting down Linden's immediately.
After delivering a flawless set at Herman's this past weekend with his band Ordinary Poets, Mark Sundermeier (last seen in the October 9 Beatdown) discovered that he's about to double his workload. As if this guy didn't have enough to keep him busy, late last week Mike Makkay -- with whom Sundermeier had been splitting booking duties at the Soiled Dove -- parted ways with the club, and now Sundermeier will book the Dove all by his lonesome. Although he says he's eager to absorb the added responsibility, even Sundermeier recognizes that it's a two-person job.
The Dove has also canceled its weekly Sunday-night local-music showcase, dubbed Locals Launch. I'll be watching closely to see what Sundermeier and the Dove -- whose collective efforts helped galvanize the scene -- put in its place.
Upbeats and beatdowns:The Bright Channel beams its signal to Lion's Lair barflies this Friday, October 17, with the Situation; Saturday at the Lair, Curious Yellow will color outside the lines, with Adios Esposito filling in the blanks. On both Friday and Saturday night, Chris Daniels & the Kings hold court at Brendan's Pub.
Finally, props to the Late Jack Reddellfor putting his money where my mouth is. Over the last month, Reddell -- who plays folksy Americana like no other and is a fierce performer in his own right -- has been spotted all over town (at Herman's, the Cricket, the Dove, the Blue Mule and the Lair), supporting acts as disparate as Dr. Neptune and King Rat to Ordinary Poets, the Soul Thieves and Ion. This past Saturday, while people were standing around waiting for King Rat to take the stage, someone spotted Reddell at the bar getting a beer and commented, "I would let that guy date my daughter." Thataboy, Jack!
Scenesters can return the favor and catch Reddell this Tuesday, October 21, at the Blue Mule.
