Contact CU Independent News Staff Writer Noelle Coultrip at noelle.coultrip@colorado.edu
Left Coast Country, a modern string band that adds a twist to traditional bluegrass music, known for its intense guitar-plucking and warm sound, is getting audiences all over the country to stand on their feet and feel the music. With a first-place award in the 13th Annual Northwest String Summit Band competition and multiple tours in the rearview mirror, the band continues to warm the hearts and touch the souls of anyone willing to listen.
With colorful art decorating the exposed brick walls of Cervantes’ Other Side, a cozy, intimate venue in downtown Denver, the room slowly filled with warm bodies of all kinds, symbolic of the diversity in Left Coast Country’s fanbase. As the minutes ticked down and the room reached maximum capacity, excitement bubbled over in anticipation for what was to come.
Moonshine Mountain performed a series of songs to start things off. They seemingly reached everyone, from the overly excited people practically climbing on the stage, to the solo people sitting on bar stools on the back wall pretending not to have a good time. Moonshine Mountain’s dedication to the folk-country genre was apparent in the music; the members effortlessly played their instruments and created a beautiful sound.
Finally, through the thick of voices chattering away, came a booming voice. “Hey guys, we’re Left Coast Country!” From there, the band enveloped the crowd in the magic of string instruments.
A few minutes into the set, Left Coast Country performed a crowd favorite, producing a deep country voice supported by twangy guitar chords. The crowd eagerly provided an accompaniment of feet stomping. The band’s music has an element to it that is honest and comforting, inducing daydreams of bonfires, back country roads and home-cooked meals.
The crowd’s reaction was undoubtedly positive — a man danced freely near the front of the stage moving along to the music and paying no mind to the other people in the room, while everyone else smiled genuine smiles, happy to be where they were for the night.
As the set progressed, Left Coast Country’s homegrown, organic sound took center stage with songs like “Sweetgrass,” a song that focuses on the band’s instrumental precision, plucking the chords with a strong passion.
As the set wound down and the crowd’s energy peaked, Left Coast Country performed a song with an unusual theme — a girlfriend-stealing bus driver. The song achieved its goal by getting a few laughs from the crowd and harnessing the energy in the room for its own benefit. The night ended on a slow note, blue lights sweeping the crowd, emphasizing the inevitable end.
The Portland natives connected a whole room of people, leaving a lasting impression of comfort and the feeling of home.
