- Press -
Band Gets Its Ha-Ha On
Motorhome: Colorado's northern country rock sons step into the musical limelight
by B. Dutch Seyfarth
Here at the Colorado Music Buzz, we pride ourselves on scanning the horizon for the next thing in local music. Colorado is growing talented bands at a level never seen before.
It's fun as a music writer and music fan to watch the music industry excitement surrounding our state's incredible talented bands and performers.
Think about it: in the last 15 to 20 years, our fine state's music community has produced "the String Cheese Incident", Yonder Mountain String Band", Big Head Todd and the Monsters", "Leftover Salmon", "Drag the River", "Devotchka", "16 Horsepower", "Uncle Earl", and of course recent success stories with "Rose Hill Drive", "The Fray", "Single File", "Meese", "Tickle Me Pink", and "The Photo Atlas". Heck, this short list doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of bands that are out there touring nationally and internationally garnering critical acclaim and fans. So, in the spirit of the new year and helping talented Colorado bands gain exposure, I'd like to add the band "Motorhome" to the list of bands to watch in 2008.
"Motorhome" seemingly came out of nowhere in 2007 from Ft Collins although they were founded a few years prior in 2004. As of late 2007, they graduated to true headliner band status with a few high attendance Ft Collins Aggie Theatre shows. Of course, many people may take us to task on whether or not "Motorhome" is indeed a true country band. Well, here in Colorado, country music means a very different thing than most parts of the country. "Motorhome" brews it's own special blend of country music with uniquely Colorado musical elements of bluegrass, folk, and even a bit of psychedelic jam rock. Add cigarette and whiskey soaked vocals to the mix and there you go, you have a decent idea of what kind of music "Motorhome" plays.
"Motorhome" is comprised of Matt Thornton on guitar and vocals, Matt Mahern on guitar and vocals, Darren Radach on mandolin and numerous color instruments, Ben Prytherch on bass, and John Motley on drums. On the band's latest self release, the band combines a novelty song called "Johnson's Corner" about the famous truckstop along interstate 25, to more serious songs such as "Maria" which deals with the topic of veterans returning from war facing uncertainty back at home. Besides "Maria", perhaps the strongest song on the latest album release is "Razor" which has lyrical content focusing on the time worn topic of a poisonous love affair. “Razor” swells atop a power ballad song structure that incorporates mandolin, crunchy guitars, biting vocals, and wave after wave of background vocals.
Most amazing is that the band recorded their last album with incredibly lo-fi equipment including just a few mics and a computer with no outside professional assistance. When you get a chance to hear the quality of the recordings on the band's Myspace website (especially "Maria" and "Razor"), I think music fans will be amazed at what the band accomplished.
myspace.com/motorhome
upcoming local show dates:
Feb 2, 2008 - CACTUS JACKS SALOON, Evergreen, Colorado
Feb 9, 2008 - AGGIE THEATRE, Fort Collins, Colorado
Feb 20, 2008 - HERMANS HIDEAWAY, Denver, Colorado
Feb 21 2008 - BLACK NUGGET, Carbondale, Colorado
Feb 23 2008 - ALMA’S ONLY BISTRO, Alma, Colorado
Mar 5, 2008 - PEARL STREET PUB Boulder, Colorado
Mar 12, 2008 - THE LITTLE BEAR Evergreen, Colorado
BACK TO PRESS
