Chain Station is a 4-piece, high-energy, get ‘em out on the dance floor string band born high in the mountains but based in Denver, Colorado. Their music is well-steeped in Americana roots with vocal harmonies that are high, lonesome, and tight. Their picking ranges from lightning-fast to mountain mellow. A bluegrass band that would satisfy a picky old-timer and delight fans of newgrass, a delicate balance indeed.
In the summer of 2006, Alex Thoele and Jon Pickett met while playing guitars around a campfire, high on a mountaintop in Estes Park, CO. The two have been entertaining and writing music since. In 2010, they were joined by mandolin player and fellow midwesterner, Jarett Mason. The newest addition to the band as of December 2018 is Chris “C-Bob” Elliot on banjo and vocals.
They’ve become known for winning over crowds with creative, fun original songs that flow from the mountains, through them and right back to you. Pure Mountain Music! It’s obvious these guys love what they do, engaging their growing fan base with insane energy and stage antics that guarantee one hell of a fun show.
This band has been living life through music and adventures together for more than 7 years. Relentless gigging in their home state of Colorado, the mountain west, the midwest, Pacific Northwest and a 2018 Summer Canadian tour has made this band of brothers one of the tightest and most professional little gang of muppets on the scene today.
As winter in the mountains prepares for its annual retreat, Chain Station ushers in the spring touring season with the release of Backroads, an album of original bluegrass songs inspired by the highways, landscapes and residents of the band’s Colorado home. The full length record is set for release on May 3rd.
Today Glide is excited to premiere “Gravity”, one of the standout tunes on Backroads. The song is a quickfire, fiddle-driven rabblerouser that seems to have a lyrical and vocal vibe of a rock and roll anthem, set to a bluegrass soundtrack. Bringing to mind acts like Trampled By Turtles, Yonder Mountain Stringband, Split Lip Rayfield, and Greensky Bluegrass, it’s easy to imagine the band turning this tune into a high octane jam vehicle in the live setting. They manage to capture some of the same energy that has made them such an appealing live act on this studio recording, getting us excited to catch them on the road this year.
The band shares the story and process behind the song:
“Alex Thoele sang a verse and chorus of ‘Gravity’ to Kyle Tuttle, Backroads producer, at a late night studio session and he loved it. We were excited to run with the idea of adding a short, hard-hitting song to kick off the album. Alex wrote the song, but wanted Jon Pickett on bass to add his ripping vocals to the track. The song features a rock n’ roll bass line and vocals by Jon with creative mandolin work by Jarett Mason that acts as an electric guitar. Intricate melodic lines on fiddle round out the song by Dan Andree and double time banjo by Chris Elliott brings it home. The song’s lyrics personify gravity and other beautiful, yet sometimes destructive, aspects of nature.”
LISTEN:
For more info and music visit chainstationmountainmusic.com.
Chain Station 2019 Tour:
4/18- S.D Strong Distilling- Parkville MO
4/19- Chasers- Effingham IL
4/20- Dockside Bar & Grill- Ottawa IL
4/25- Cold Shot- Appleton WI
4/26- The North Street Cabaret- Madison WI
4/27- Ladies Of Bluegrass- Green Bay WI
5/2- Bourbon On Division- Chicago IL
5/3- The Livery- Benton Harbor MI
5/4- Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom (record release concert)- Denver CO
5/17- Road To Rich’s Tie Dye Party- Ramah NM
6/14- Palisade Bluegrass & Roots- Palisade CO
6/20- Moccasin Creek Festival- Effingham IL
7/5 & 7/6- Pembina River Nights- Rangeton Park, Alberta Canada
Photo credit: Johnny Brewers
