Estes Park, CO is a vacation town in northern Colorado that HonkyTonk StepChild was lucky enough to visit last summer. There were taffy shops on every corner, cafés, T-shirt shops, and amusements galore, plus the Rocky Mountain National Park. Estes hibernates in the winter, so all the locals work double shifts during the summer while tourists swarm the mountain village.
Most of the action happens during the daylight, so we enjoyed ourselves jamming and people-watching on the main drag, Elkhorn Ave.
Most of the action happens during the daylight, so we enjoyed ourselves jamming and people-watching on the main drag, Elkhorn Ave.
Busking for tips is strictly prohibited, and we were under the watchful eye of Officer Frankie, so we followed the law. A good time was had by all!
Estes Park had ZERO nightlife. However there were small pockets of life in hidden venues on the outskirts of town. Our favorite was the Rock Inn Mountain Tavern. Out on the patio, magnificent mountains loomed around us, and the local
Estes Park had ZERO nightlife. However there were small pockets of life in hidden venues on the outskirts of town. Our favorite was the Rock Inn Mountain Tavern. Out on the patio, magnificent mountains loomed around us, and the local
beers on tap were delicious. By luck, we played for a young, hip crowd enjoying happy hour on a golden afternoon. These were the most gorgeous surroundings we’ve ever played in, on a perfect day.
We drove to Fort Collins on a Thursday. Interstate 34 lies deep in a rocky canyon beside the Cache la Poudre River, an adventurous drive, terrifying by Casey’s standards. Fort Collins is a college town, overflowing with music venues. People love and respect music there. Busking is free and unhindered by permits and police!
A fabulously wealthy woman named, Stryker, fosters this community love of music and art with her Bohemian Foundation. Everywhere on every corner we turned, sat a whimsically painted, functioning upright piano. Piano players of all levels, styles, and states of inebriation happily filled the air with the tinkling keys!! We were in love!
That night we played on the corner of College and Mountain Ave. Many others in the area were doing the same, with varying degrees of success. Mostly they were crusty traveling kids with dogs, hollering for handouts. This was one drawback of not requiring busking permits.
That night we played on the corner of College and Mountain Ave. Many others in the area were doing the same, with varying degrees of success. Mostly they were crusty traveling kids with dogs, hollering for handouts. This was one drawback of not requiring busking permits.
After we’d been playing for hours in the same spot, an angry young dirthead scared us away, howling at us that this was his space. Casey told him, “I’ve never been treated this way by another musician.” We moved down the road, but Casey repeatedly taunted him throughout the night, which surprisingly led to a sincere apology and an offer of our corner back.
Late into the night, Derek and Taylor, a couple of local musicians, spontaneously joined us, with an upright bass and guitar. Later on a passerby joined us to sing ‘The Thrill is Gone.’ Who was this mystery man? Maybe someday we’ll know!
Late into the night, Derek and Taylor, a couple of local musicians, spontaneously joined us, with an upright bass and guitar. Later on a passerby joined us to sing ‘The Thrill is Gone.’ Who was this mystery man? Maybe someday we’ll know!
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On a side note, the marijuana laws have loosened since I lived in Colorado (Manitou Springs / Colorado Springs,) although there is still much confusion about what is legal or not. We asked Derek and Taylor to fill us in on the laws. They seemed a reliable source since they worked for a medical marijuana grower. Yet their interpretation of the laws went over our heads. Still, things have changed a lot since I’ve lived there.
Around three in the morning we drove back through the canyon under the super moon. It was terrifying knowing a rock could slide down and crush us at anytime, but it was thrilling to be out in the Colorado summer night driving through the darkness!
Around three in the morning we drove back through the canyon under the super moon. It was terrifying knowing a rock could slide down and crush us at anytime, but it was thrilling to be out in the Colorado summer night driving through the darkness!
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