AUGUST 2008 ONLINE EDITORIALS
Avogadro's Number in August
By Pat Hartman
Colleen Crosson started as a pianist, but when she was 12, her folks redeemed their books of S&H Green Stamps for a guitar. With “American Pie” the first song she learned, the newly fledged guitarist and vocalist embarked on the course that eventually led to performing as a duo with husband Mark Sloniker – like here on Sunday the 3rd, for instance. Master of the keyboard, Sloniker is well known locally and indeed throughout the world, via radio stations in such far-flung places as Spain, Japan, Germany and Canada.
Justin Roth is an innovative guitarist as well as an award-winning songwriter – he’s been a finalist in the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, the Telluride Troubadour Competition, and the Kerrville Folk Festival. Originally from Minnesota, Roth took up the guitar as a teen, going on to share stages with many musical luminaries. Take the opportunity on Friday the 8th to find out why he’s been called such things as “one of the best singer/songwriters I’ve heard in ages.” Chuck E. Costa will open this show.
On Thursday the 14th, we’ve got Taarka, perhaps the only ensemble describing its sound as “seismic gypsy hypno-jazz.” What’s that? A synergistic blend of folk, jazz, classical, rock, Celtic, bluegrass, Balkan, and on and on – issuing from guitar, violin and mandolin, culminating in a breathtakingly unique explosion of high-energy originality. They can hypnotize you or bring you to your feet, unable to not dance. Or both at the same time. Taaka is joined by Nathan Moore, who writes songs for a quartet called ThaMuseMeant.
A young lad started out as a Wyoming banjo picker, transmogrified into an electric guitarist with Iron Maiden wanna-be bands, and later mellowed into honky-tonk country mode. Now, the Jalan Crossland Trio, after three great years as a regional favorite, embarks on its first national tour, including a not-to-be-missed date at Avo’s on Friday the 15th. Call them bluegrass or call them alternative country, Crossland’s unusual songs of rural life in the 21st century will get your attention. Here’s their political platform: “We’ll abolish the two-party system and just make it one big gnarly f---in’ party, man!”
The Laws, Michele and John, are one of those couples who live, love, and make music together, in this case acoustic country with shades of jazz, blues, and folk. They’ve been touring up a storm, their original compositions finding enthusiastic reception in hundreds of venues across the country. John, inspired by Roger Miller and Johnny Cash, really started getting into guitar at 16 while recovering from a motorcycle wipeout. Michele learned from him how to play guitar and bass, and their vocal harmonies are a joy to experience. Greet them on Friday the 22nd.
Rebecca Folsom, who has published two books of poetry, says, “We may feel small--just a drop, but each one of us making a difference, together we are mighty!” As a child, she sang her sister to sleep, and started writing her own music at 13. One of her first influences was Carol King. More recently, Folsom has combined her talents with those of Celeste Krenz and Liz Barnez in a couple of different configurations. Now Folsom, her guitar, and her latest band - four guys who handle everything from tender ballads to rock – will be here on Saturday the 23rd. That’s the same lineup as the Water on Stone CD, so come and help celebrate this occasion.
Powerful and lyrical at the same time, the songs of Aaron English are marked by such characteristics as sophistication, deftness, vividness, and many other laudatory adjectives. English plays keyboards and he’s here with his band on Thursday the 28th with pop rock influenced by world beat. The Marriage of the Sun and the Moon was named among the ‘Best Albums of 2007’ by online communities The Pop League and Ryan’s Smashing Life, and earned 3-and-a-half out of 5 stars from the All Music Guide.
Coming up on Monday September 1 is Avo’s 2nd Annual Jazz Festival. Last year was a packed house (and a packed exterior too.) It was a huge success, and all that a jazz festival should be. This year, look for: Poudre River Irregulars, Tim Gauthier Trio, Aakash Mittal Quartet, Just Jazz Quintet, The Hugh: Jazz Combo, The Glenn Shull Orchestra, The Montgomery Jazz Group, and more. Get advance tickets!
Show times etc: see Avo’s web site, or the main Scene music calendar. Avogadro’s Number, 605 S. Mason in Fort Collins. Phone: 970-493-5555