Canyon Collected @ Larimer Lounge

Canyon Collected performed at the Larimer Lounge on Wednesday evening (11/16/2016) opening for the Dustbowl Revival. Matt Rouch & The Sound Upstairs opened the show with a great performance and a set of well-crafted songs. Canyon Collected (plus) took the stage with two friends, Tom Mueller sitting in on guitar, and Frank Wott playing upright bass. Jake Heidrich tickled the mandolin, Tia Martini took the ukulele into uncharted cosmic waters, and Leon Elam kept the root down with his amazing banjo picking and singing.

They played a full-hour set between the other two bands on the bill, and they squeezed a lot of awesome music into that hour. Tia Martini uses her solos to transport the band (and its listeners) to another dimension. Jake Heidrich always adds the right touch to any song whether it is strumming, picking, or singing his signature song 'hWhiskey.' Leon always leads the band with confidence, and can steer the ship in the direction it needs to go - and that metaphor is true musically and also true as the captain of the vehicle which physically transports them from show to show. The addition of their friends Tom and Frank helped make this a special occasion at the Larimer Lounge. 

The most outstanding original of their set (in this author's less-than-humble opinion), is the song 'Bags.' It is a song which can find a home in your memory and feel like your own theme song - very relatable lyrics complemented by a free-rolling melody. Another highlight is their cover of the Band's 'Get Up Jake' and the ending of their set is highlighted by an impassioned cover of Al Green's 'Take Me to the River.' 

This was the first show since Leon and Tia became engaged, so it was kind of like an engagement party! Leon was playing a new banjo, and Tia was playing a new ukulele. The new instruments will accompany them in their new journey together. 

​You can purchase their most-recent album as a CD or a download from their website. Be sure to check them out on facebook, twitter, instagram, bandcamp, reverbnation, soundcloud, etc. 

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AUDIO: Canyon Collected 11/16/2016 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge