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REVIEWS

June something, 2004

FLASHBACK ROCKS THE OPEN MIC
Local bar band/art vandals Flashback (SEE BIO) got their Open Mic series of shows at Ben's Sports Lounge off to a great start last Wednesday, spotlighting not only their one-of-a-kind spin on the blues and classic rock but also giving precious stage time to a variety of promising musical newcomers.
Ben's (you might know it as a bar that rhymes with the words �the hedge' wink wink) is a narrow, wooden floored saloon in downtown La Junta, Co. Longer than it is wide and thus reminiscent of the venerable NYC punk Mecca CBGB but that's not the only similarity. Thanks to owner Mardona Moreland it's also the one venue around that encourages and nurtures up and coming musicians by opening their stage to the widest variety of styles, giving young (and not so young) bands the chance to hone their craft and, more importantly, share their talents with others.
It was in this spirit that Mardona and Flashback conspired to establish a Wednesday Night Open Mic where anyone, even you, can be a star- if only for those famous 15 minutes, and if this inaugural show was any indication, the Arkansas Valley is crawling with talent just waiting for the chance to take it to the stage.
The evening opened, of course, with a short set of free jazz blues by our hosts Flashback. The band's modus operandi of taking a classic rock/r&b tune like �Mustang Sally' for instance, and mixing it up with elements as far ranging as Nashville approved country swing and Lower East Side avante-noise was in full effect. The best description of the band's deconstructionist boogie this reporter has ever heard came from a slightly tipsy pool player at a gig last month, to wit: "You guys take the old songs...... and make them new!"
The first act to grace the stage of the Open Mic was a startlingly original singer/sonwriter named Gavin Cook. Remember the name. Equal parts R.E.M jangle and Hank Sr's eye for the small, telling detail, Cook regaled the crowd with folk like songs that had the ring of truth about them. Tales of the human condition, words from the front. Songs like �Desire' and �Don't Drink and Think' (which contains the memorable line �Her boyfriend came out of nowhere') pulled off the nifty trick of sounding both brand new and, simultaneously, timeless. A strong debut from a major talent who bears watching.
Next up was Josh Whalen, guitarist extraordinaire. Armed with only an electric guitar and half stack, Josh mesmerized the crowd with his dazzling, fast as lightning instrumental technique. If you're a fan of such guitar virtuosi as Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen or Buckethead you owe it to yourself to get down to Ben's next Wednesday and check this guy out! Also, if you're a rock band looking for a lead guitarist come on down and talk to Josh, although I'd recommend getting there early as there's likely to be a long line!
After a less than successful attempt to get a free jam going (that stuff ain't as easy as it looks!) Flashback returned to the stage for a blistering set. After backing up Mardona's star turn on �House of the Rising Sun' they played what might have been the evening's high point, a version of the Velvet Underground's �Sweet Jane' that twisted and turned until it took flight in a full blown version of the Velvet Underground's �Heroin', a 2 chord tone poem that, in the hands of this gifted 3 piece, caused the room to levitate. Honestly.
Flashback was followed by singer/songwriter/guitarist Jeremy Allenbaugh, whose brand of Death Metal balladry shook the rafters with it's combination of Sabbath/Zeppelin crunch and the dirty soul of the late, lamented Afghan Whigs. Allenbaugh has the energy to light the world and, once again, if you're a band looking for an energetic, daring musician, come on down and get in line!
The night was also graced with the presence of Jeff Obsment and Allen Burns of local legends Money Shot. They were definitely the evening's most valuable players, performing not only a steller acoustic set of originals and favorites like �Long Haired Country Boy' and �When the Sun Goes Down' but also sitting in with various members of Flashback throughout the night for tunes as far ranging as �Wonderful Tonight' and �Keep Your Hands to Yourself'. It was great to see established performers like Jeff and Allen joining in the spirit of the evening and letting it all hang out. Great players from a great band you have got to check out.
Gavin, Josh and Jeremy all came back up to play additional sets while Flashback burned into the wee hours until Mardona called last call and everybody got up on the mics to sing backups on �Johnny B Goode'. Rock and roll is in good hands and a great time was had by all. I can only urge you to come down next Wednesday to see what happens next and who's going to be the next big thing on the local music scene. Thanks to Mardona and Flashback's Open Mic Night it could even be you!

TRAIN COMIN' ROUND THE BEND: FLASHBACK OPEN MIC WEEK 2
By Teresa Stern
The momentum is building, slowly but surely, at Flashback's Open Mic Night, the second of which raised the already high temperature at Ben's Sports Lounge in La Junta last Wednesday. Despite the 100+ degree evening, an even larger crowd than the previous week's debut performance ventured out to enjoy and share the promise of the rock and roll night. And what a night!
Coming into the bar before sound check (I wanted to get a good seat!) I was impressed to see Gavin Koch, who's strong debut last week was definitely a high point of the show, already hard at work at the end of the bar, polishing lyrics for a new tune. Tim Byrnes and Dan Guerra from Flashback came in through the back door, lugging speakers and drums and laughing like fools. The boys were hyped for this one, that's for sure and there was an air of expectancy hovering in the heat.
Mics were set up, amps were tweaked and before you knew it, Flashback started their sound check which turned into a 4-song mini-set that set the tone for the night. SMOKIN'!!!!!! Opening with the blues classic �Kansas City', Flashback hit a loose groove and ran with it. Tossed off asides about �.....going to Kansas City with a shotgun in my hand' mingled with Byrnes' precise guitar attack, Guerra's thundering drums and Kenny Morgan loopy, elastic basslines and sent a very clear message to the blueshounds in the house: There's A New Sheriff In Town And It's Name Is Flashback. The band followed �Kansas City' with a stunning versions of �Stormy Monday Blues', �Crossroads' and �Mustang Sally'. Each tune raising the stakes and jacking the intensity up, notch by notch until the set ended and we all sat drained and cheering.
Gavin Koch was the brave man who followed Flashback, debuting that new song he was working on when I came in. I didn't catch the title, I was too busy having fun. Gavin is (so far) the real find of the Open Mic Night. A talented singer and writer, with an easygoing stage presence that does what all the greats do: he makes it look easy. Performances of last weeks tunes like �Desire' and �Don't Drink and Think' were met with approval from the punters. I even noticed a few people singing along to the choruses, the mark of popular success.
THE evening's newcomer, Gerald Berumen was next. Armed with only and acoustic guitar, Gerald brought a new spin to some classic tunes, his driving guitar rhythms reminiscent of Jimmy Pages's open tuned explorations on some of Led Zeppelins quieter tunes. Drawing from the great rock and roll songbook (�Black Magic Woman', �Eleanor Rigby', �Cowgirl In The Sand', �Dust In The Wind') Gerald invested the old songs with a new spirit, a new interpretation and a harmelodic sense of wonder.
After Gerald's set, Tim tried yet again to get a free jam going and, well this week's was a little better than last's thanks to drummer Dan Guerra's funky but chic turn at vocals and harmonica on the Them chestnut �Mystic Eyes'. With Kenny on bass, Gavin on guitar and Tim on schizophrenic drums (pick a beat, son, and stick with it!) The song rose and fell and clattered (but only a little) while the crowd rooted the boys on. �Mystic Eyes' was followed by a cool, smooth version of the bar band stalwart �Sweet Home Alabama', with Dan back on drums and Tim fronting the band , singing and moving like some bastard son of Morrissey and Dean Martin. Great rock and roll? Maybe, maybe not, but it's the fact that Flashback and Friends are willing to take these kinds of chances, to count to 4, let her rip and see what happens that makes these nights so special. Rather than stick to their prescribed set list (I don't think they have one, although Tim kept squinting at a notebook throughout the evening) the band is fully committed to the proposition that the brightest moments sometime spring forth from the happy accident.
Once again, Jeff Obsment and Allen Burns from Money Shot were in the house and kicked everybody's ass with a set of covers and originals, borrowing Kenny from Flashback to play bass. Looser than this reporter has ever seen them, they played a raucous, punk-approved �Long Haired Country Boy' that had the crowd howling like coyotes in love with the night. Jeff surprised everyone by playing �All American Sob Story', a song he wrote when he was 14, the 1st song he ever wrote and one that could have been a hit last summer and, if there's any justice, WILL be hit by next summer!
The heat was turned up again by Flashback's return to the stage, looser and even wilder than before. Their 12 minute version of �born on the Bayou' alone was a history lesson in American Roots Music, morphing from Bayou Blues, to Urban Funk, to Free Jazz to Industrial Metal and back (and front and sideways). Byrnes' guitar work is, and there's no other word for it, genius. Speedy yet swooping, no restraint yet contained and respectful, Byrnes takes the conventional notion of bar band guitarist and sets it on it's ear, defying expectations and drawing from sources unheard by most others who ply the same trade. More Johnny B Coltrane than Johnny B Goode, Byrnes' punk/jazz sensibilities ensure that no song comes across like anything other than Flashback and this is a good, good thing.
The night was marred by violence, but only a little. A fight broke out during Flashback's second run at �Sweet Home Alabama' (this time with the full band and a rock steady, dub approach). The band kept playing, turning what might have been a drag into a laugh by playing the �Bad Boys' theme from �COPS' while the La Junta Police took the malefactors away. As the cop cars drove away I noticed two officers strandling in the doorway, grooving to Flashback's acid-rock take on Neil Young's �Rocking In the Free World', looking like they didn't want to leave.
A sentiment shared by us all that night. Flashback's having a party at Ben's every Wednesday this month and you're invited. Come on down, join the party, be your own star for a change.