This New Band Is Bringing You Rock and Roll Straight From the Rockies

Despite the focus on skiing and outdoor excursions that most think of when discussing Colorado, the local music and art scene is a lively and diverse landscape, just like the famous Rocky Mountains. While artists in and around Denver have many opportunities to choose from when looking for an independent label such as Perception Records, or a recording studio like Couched Studios, the musicians who live in the more rural areas of the state have a different set of options.

One fresh group now on the rise and exploring the Colorado scene is Stereo Transmission, a three-piece rock group based in Summit County. Made up of Noah Lehman on guitar and vocals, Keith Schreiner on drums and Graham Shoeneman on bass and vocals, the band is taking steps to expand its audience, and is thrilled to have just released its first album, Stereo Transmission, on December 20, showcasing rock-and-roll grooves reminiscent of Led Zeppelin and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The members of Stereo Transmission came together two years ago through their local live music scene and quickly racked up experience playing open mics and brewery shows. Looking to grow out of the bars and cover-band genre, the group began shopping around for a studio that would be the right fit for its first album, and found just that with Evergroove Studio and producer Brad Smalling.
Just about 45 minutes from Denver, Evergroove is a high-tech recording studio tucked away in the mountain town of Evergreen, deep within the pine trees. Filled with instruments and complex recording equipment and guarded by a friendly outdoor cat, the studio is a treasure for local artists. Stereo Transmission's current practice space is a small wooden cabin with no running water on a friend's property, so Evergroove's woodsy retreat made the band feel right at home.

Not only does Evergroove offer fresh mountain air and vibes for recording, it also comes fully equipped with Dolby Atmos technology. This surround-sound experience is three dimensional, thanks to the new addition of height channels in the mix. This dimension of sound is exciting new territory, especially for longtime mix-and-master specialists such as Smalling.

"I can't explain how quickly this technology is coming," Smalling says. And as production and studio technology evolves, more and more unique sounds can be captured in the studio, helping bands showcase their authentic live experience or sonic quirks. In the case of Stereo Transmission, the full live recording of each song was an important detail that the band wanted to show the world.
"I can't wait to record again. It was a really amazing experience," says Lehman. In classic rock-and-roll fashion, charging drums and heavy guitar pave the way for brooding vocals in the project's opening song, "No Sleep," in which the studio's recording system really shines. While the vocals pulse intensely out of the front half, grungy and metallic sounds fill the back half, bringing the physical realities of the guitars and drums to life.

"We just wanted to capture the energy of the way we play live," says Graham. With the help of Smalling, this dream was actualized. With some songs on the project up to two years old, the release has been a long time coming. Thankfully for fans, Evergroove Studio is bringing it to life with high-quality recordings and Smalling's practiced hand.
Despite living in what some consider to be jam-band territory here in Colorado, Stereo Transmission has a clear addiction to the classic rock-and-roll sound. Heavy rhythms and catchy yet angsty choruses set a distinct and nostalgic tone to the album, with the slightest bit of Western twang.

"There's a lot of different music being listened to," says Shoeneman. "It's art, so everyone is contributing their piece, and it's somehow cohesive."

Lyrical narratives of money struggles, bad boys, women and drugs rise and fall over the heavy guitar and drum riffs. Palpable tension builds with each song, releasing the members' pent-up energies tied and tangled with love, life and internal battles. As the third track, "Red Dress," comes to a close, a moment of calm washes over the soundscape.

"The first three songs are the warmup," Schreiner explains, adding to the anticipation as the opening notes for the next track, "Bad Boys," set a new and ominous tone. Sustained intense energy keeps listeners on their toes and nodding along to each chorus as the second half of the album plays out.

The bandmates are full of ideas and have many unrecorded original songs, despite their beginnings as a cover band.  "We bring a song or an idea to each other and it becomes a question of, 'What do you hear next?'" says Lehman. Mixed in with the rocking grooves, the lyrics from the album are very personal to different bandmembers, often reflecting on past experiences and hardship. This raw storytelling unfurls details and depth for the more lyrically attentive listener, while the guitar and drums keep hearts pumping fast.

For those looking to get their concert fix up in the mountains, Stereo Transmission will perform at 10 Mile Music Hall in Frisco on Thursday, January 23, with the DJ Williams Band. But there's much more in store, as the band has intentions to reach further into the Denver scene.

Stereo Transmission with DJ Williams Band, Thursday, January 23, 8 p.m. at 10 Mile Music Hall, 710 Main Street, Frisco, Colorado. Tickets are $13.