Town Mountain Comes to Colorado for Spring Brew Fest

TipJar: How long has Town Mountain been around now? When did you start and how did it all come together?

Jesse Langlais (banjo player): The band has been together for 10 years. We started our journey on our first tour in Montana and Colorado. We had about 10 gigs in five weeks so it was also considered a vacation! We ended up at Rockygrass in Lyons, CO. We entered the band competition and won. We figured we should continue on as a band at that point.  

I hear you guys play at a cool little barbecue restaurant in Denver a few years back. How many times have you been out to Colorado and where do you usually play when you come out?

I can’t recall exactly but I’d say we’ve been to Colorado about 30 times. We’ve played all over the state.

How closely do you hold to a traditional bluegrass sound and who are some of your traditional influences?

That depends on who you’re asking. We certainly have traditional elements incorporated in our sound but there are plenty of modern influences there too. We all love several styles of music and that is certainly heard in our individual and collective sounds. Well as a band I’d say that we have a very strong Jimmy Martin and JD Crowe and the New South influence. Not that we sound exactly like them but we incorporate country music into our sound much in the way that they did.

(Town Mountain’s 5th album, Southern Crescent, produced by roots music luminary Dirk Powell, is out now and available at http://www.townmountain.net/)

Any artists in general that you really like?

There are too many to list but at the moment I’ve really been digging this band out of Austin called Greyhounds. I’m going to see them live tonight in Asheville.  

You put out a couple really nice Grateful Dead covers last year I think it was. How did that come about?

The joke in Town Mountain goes: the only two things we can always agree on are: The Grateful Dead and tacos. It’s true. Last year was also the Dead’s 50 year anniversary and what better way to celebrate that than to record a couple of our favorite songs they did.

Who all is in the band now? Has there been some personnel change over the years?

Myself, Jesse Langlais (banjo), Phil Barker (mandolin and vocals), Robert Greer (guitar and vocals), Adam Chaffins (bass), Jack Deveraux (pedal steel). Yes, there have been several personnel changes over the years but the core has remained the same. It’s common in bluegrass for the shifts to happen.

How much are you touring these days and where do you find yourself going a lot? Where do you like to go?

Last year we did about 130 dates. That’s a lot of touring! We have toured all over the country and a little in Canada and Europe. I like to go to the areas that treally love to support live music.  Colorado is one of those areas. There’s always great crowds who are there for the music and a good time. 

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Town Mountain is excited to be performing at the Denver Beer Co.’s Sun Drenched Music Festival and its After Party at Ophelia’s next Saturday, May 14th.

Denver Beer Co.’s Sun Drenched Music Festival is from Noon-8pm w/ Hot Buttered Rum, Town Mountain, Caribou Mountain Collective, Bill McKay Band & More! www.sundrenchedmusicfest.com

After Party at Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox Featuring Town Mountain & Hot Buttered Rum Door 8:15pm; A limited amount of $10 tickets are available while supplies last!

You must purchase a ticket to Sun Drenched in order to buy an after party ticket Ophelia’s is located at 1215 20th Street, Denver, CO https://nightout.com