Any true insider knows local music is the best way to get a lay of the land. That’s especially true here in Boulder County, where you might catch anything from ambient Americana to good old-fashioned alt rock on a given night.
And with healthy hometown support, many groups are now taking their acts on the road — and, in one case, overseas. So whatever sound speaks to you, be sure to check out these local bands, wherever they play.
Card Catalog
Card Catalog has been at it for more than a decade at this point. But the Boulder County alt-rockers have recalibrated after the additions of original bassist Kelton Kragor and lead guitarists Davy Ford and Will Perkins earlier this year.
Coming off a headlining show at the Fox Theatre in August, Card Catalog, which also includes vocalist and rhythm guitarist Jenn Tatro and drummer Kevin Kirkpatrick, is ready to leverage the new lineup to take their sound to the next level.
“Between all of us there’s enough chemistry and energy to create some new original content,” Kirkpatrick says.
The personnel changes came after the release of the band’s Snow Moon EP in January, and the quintet is excited to get to work on what’s next. Card Catalog’s three latest songs find the outfit taking on a heavier tone than their previous blues-rock output. Tatro hints that the group may stay in that lane.
“Kelton and I have some ideas for sure. We got stuff that we’ve been working on privately,” she says. “I’d like to present some things and figure out if we’re going to keep going in that direction.”
In the meantime, the best way to see what Card Catalog is up to the rest of this year is by catching them live, either opening for Emily Wolfe on Aug. 29 at Denver’s Black Buzzard, during Left Hand Oktoberfest in Longmont on Sept. 27 or at Lafayette Music Fest on Oct. 5.
Pink Fuzz
John Demitro, guitarist of Boulder-born power trio Pink Fuzz, can barely catch his breath when talking about the band’s busy schedule.
After kicking off the year with two new singles — “Decline” and “Ain’t No Friend” — and a sold-out headlining show at Denver’s Bluebird Theater, Pink Fuzz hit the road for tours spanning the country, including stops at South by Southwest in Austin and Idaho’s Treefort Music Fest.
The desert-rock group, which also includes bassist-vocalist Lulu Demitro (John’s sister) and drummer Alec Doniger, made a home of the road since coming together in 2017. And John says that’s not going to change anytime soon.
“We’ve been hitting these markets at least once every three months and are excited to announce new tours going back to these markets and more major cities in the fall,” he says. “Stay tuned for dates.”
In August, Pink Fuzz announced its next album with their new single “Long Gone.” While an official release date hasn’t yet been pinned down, the guitarist goes over the plan of attack.
“We will be releasing five singles every six weeks up until the album drop, along with some music videos sprinkled in,” he says.
Recorded in five days at 5th Street Studios in Austin, the 10-song offering was produced by Kevin McKeown of Black Pistol Fire, while Alain Johannes (Queens of the Stone Age and Them Crooked Vultures) mixed it.
“It was a huge deal to have this group of people working on it,” Demitro says.
It’s safe to say Pink Fuzz isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Full speed ahead.
Prairiewolf
Prairiewolf quickly became a BoCo favorite after the synth-loving trio released their self-titled debut last year.
Stefan Beck (guitar and pedal steel), Tyler Wilcox (bass) and Jeremy Erwin (keys and synth) aren’t wasting any time with the follow-up. The ambient Americana outfit recently announced their sophomore effort, Deep Time, will be out on Sept. 20 via Nashville’s Centripetal Force Records.
Like the first album, recording took place at Erwin’s home studio in Nederland and features 10 tracks.
Wilcox explains that the new batch of songs “run the gamut from psych-motorik bangers to exotica-flecked jams.” Fort Collins multi-instrumentalist Matt Loewen, who performs as Rayonism, makes a guest appearance, too.
“He adds a ridiculously nice oboe solo to one tune,” Wilcox says.
While no singles have been shared yet, a local release show is tentatively planned for late September. In the meantime, Prairiewolf is burning up the local circuit by playing throughout the Front Range as much as possible, including recent gigs at Boulder’s own Trident Cafe and Globe Hall in Denver.
“We made our first foray out of Colorado this spring, taking things out West for some great shows in Los Angeles, Oakland and Salt Lake City, playing with some of our favorite musicians — guitar phenom Hayden Pedigo, pedal-steel maestro Chuck Johnson and ambient genius M. Sage,” Wilcox says. “We’re hoping to do some more touring later this year, or perhaps early 2025, on the East Coast or Midwest.”
No matter where it is, Prairiewolf is sure to mesmerize and surprise.
No Signal
Don’t let the name fool you — Boulder’s No Signal is never out of service. In fact, as vocalist and guitarist Riley Schmelzer confesses, the music is full bars all the time.
“No Signal’s music is an immersive experience,” he says.
That’s how it’s been since the 22-year-old started putting out original work under the name in 2018. Now with bassist Jake DeMarco and drummer Nic Kubes on board, the trio is diving deeper with their latest release, Distorted Reality.
Dealing with themes of self-destruction, technology and Big Brother, Distorted Reality is No Signal’s modern-day rock opera. But as Schmelzer points out, there is more than one storyline to follow throughout the 16 tracks.
“There is a choice to take the tracks as chapter pieces or as standalone stories,” he says. “Either way gets the listener closer to the overall story of the record.”
It’s ultimately up to the listener to decipher the meaning behind the music. Schmelzer won’t spell it out for us, but instead teases what’s next.
“I can tell you that there are two EP-length projects in the works,” he says. “Our best work yet, so we are quite excited for it.”
The Dirty Turkeys
Touring is the best way to learn what being in a band is all about, especially the ruthless grind of a DIY run. The Dirty Turkeys are currently taking a crash course.
The Boulder psych group featuring Brad “Gonzo” Hansen (vocals), Russ Hansen (guitar), Sam Baker (bass) and Ty Tullar (drums) is criss-crossing the West this summer, wandering from Colorado to California and back for a finale at the Fox Theatre on Aug. 30.
“We really have learned a ton about our industry and our band dynamic by jumping head first into a two-month tour,” Tullar says. “We’ve learned how to work with different venues every night, work with each other and promote our music efficiently.
“At the end of the day, it’s us versus the world,” he continues. “And while packing five grown men into a van for eight weeks is bound to stir some disagreements, we maintain our shared passion for music and the friendship this band was founded upon.”
While passing the road test with flying colors, the next assignment for the five-piece is sharing more music. After releasing “Benny” in May, the Dirty Turkeys dropped “Undercover Billionaire” in July from the road. Next up is a new song in September, according to Tullar.
“We’ve continued writing songs and working on new material while on the road,” he says. “We plan to continue putting out the best work we have to offer.”
Cellista
Freya Cellista of Longmont is a world-class cellist in her own right, but the virtuoso’s shows are unlike any classical performance you’ve likely ever seen.
Cellista is an aerial cellist, specializing in playing her instrument from a trapeze perch 15 feet above the stage. This chamber circus of sorts is best exemplified in her latest multi-disciplinary performance, Élégie, telling the story of a curious blackbird as it navigates a dystopian world.
“It combines live cello music, static trapeze and immersive storytelling to explore themes of loss, memory and transformation through the tale of a shape-shifting blackbird that awakens one morning to find that the citizens of the city she lives alongside have mysteriously vanished,” she says. “The work invites audiences into a deeply emotional and visually stunning journey, blending elements of classical music with contemporary circus arts.”
Since debuting the piece at the Dairy Arts Center in March, Cellista has brought Élégie to the West Coast and U.K. She says her two engagements across the pond, in London and Cardiff, were particularly exhilarating.
“Both shows were well-received and introduced me to new, enthusiastic audiences,” Cellista says.
While she’s not done with Élégie yet, Cellista is looking forward to joining the ATLAS B2 residency at CU Boulder this fall, during which she’ll work with digital artist Monica Bolles.
“This project explores the intersection of fantasy and science fiction, blending themes of mystery, nature and technological innovation,” she says.