Town Mountain brings Mountain Town Music to the Rockies
Town Mountain Crested Butte Bluegrass Festival Pictures - Photographer Mike Hardaker Mountain Weekly Colorado News
We chatted with the Ashville based bluegrass band Town Mountain as they drove into Colorado before a rocking performance for Bluegrass in Paradise during the Crested Butte Music Festival. Jesse Langlais and the guys from Town Mountain answered questions about life on the road, Colorado and traditional bluegrass music.
MWN: Town Mountain just released your 3rd album, Steady Operator (which sounds really good), how has touring in support of the new album going?
Jesse: Been good were on the second western tour, currently in a van about to cross into Colorado. We played a bunch of great shows in Colorado earlier this year in and had a really good response everywhere we went. The band has really come into it’s own definite sound.
MWN: Speaking of Colorado, Town Mountain has 3 sets of tour dates this summer throughout the state, do you find similarities between Colorado and back home in North Carolina?
Jesse: To be honest the Colorado music scene is a couple of notches above everyone else. The fans appreciate the traditional style of bluegrass music we play. Normally this style of bluegrass is found in the southeast, when we come to Colorado and play people really dig it. We’ve been coming to Colorado for 5 years and have made some good ties in the state.
MWN: With over 50 shows this tour, what sort of advise would you give to people driving across the country or up and coming bands piled into a van road tripping?
Jesse: Stay between the mayo and mustard, (laughing). Be nice in the van, drive over the speed limit but not to far over the limit. Don’t east gas station food, even though we always do. We want to get the Food Network to follow us around. Were in Kansas right now and there is no food for 50 miles in either direction. It can be hard to find heady supermarkets on the road.
MWN: Town Mountain has a few days off before your next festival performance in WY, will you guys be staying in Colorado and to checkout the Bluegrass Festival?
Jesse: Were going to spend all day Sunday and Monday in Crested Butte. We have friends that are good buddies in town. Really excited to see Ralph(Stanley), Seldom Scene those guys are legends, Larry Keel, the lineup looks really good. Were all pumped to get back to one of our favorite towns.
MWN: What’s the one thing people might now know about Town Mountain?
Jesse: (Laughing) Lots of things.. One time at a gas station in Nebraska a dude tried to come in and rob the store. Our mandolin player saved the day by smashing a coffee pot over his head!!
Thanks Jesse!
Editor’s Note: Town Mountain went on to play a rocking set of traditional bluegrass while wearing suits and ties, I would have never guessed from talking to the band. Jesse and Town Mountain are a group of extremely talented and laid back musicians. Be sure to make a point to check them out live or purchase a copy of Steady Operator on iTunes.
