Fired up
January offers plenty of sonic refuge from the winter doldrums

Greetings, dear readers! Happy New Year to you all! This winter has felt like a strange holding pattern so far: short, balmy days; long, chilly nights; and the constant question of “where the hell is the snow?” While things feel a little (or a lot) off-kilter – in the news or pretty much anywhere but your bed – our music scene is anything but out of balance. This January, the local calendar is as robust and fiery as ever.

From the iNDIGO Room to Animas City Theatre, and everywhere in between, things are firing on all cylinders musically as the cold funnels us indoors. Album releases, stacked local bills and touring acts passing through are filling rooms and warming spirits.

Whether you’re chasing heavy riffs, folk harmonies, electronic experimentation or simply a reason to get out after dark, January delivers options across the spectrum giving us strong momentum all the way into Snowdown. Consider this your nudge to circle a date, text a friend and show up. As always, see you on the dance floor!

• Mojo Birds Album Release Party with special guests Dana Ariel and Ely Cartwright, Fri., Jan. 9, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre – This “funky flock” of local musicians just released its self-titled debut album. A year in the making, it was recorded in Nashville and produced by Jano Rix of The Wood Brothers. Come celebrate with a party, community and dancing your ass off. Their songwriting leans thoughtful and rhythmically textured, pairing naturally with the intimate, song-forward styles of local artists Dana Ariel and Ely Cartwright.

• Alex Dunn & The Real, and the Graf Yokel Duo, Fri., Jan. 9, 8 p.m., iNDIGO Room - Your favorite 60-person venue, the iNDIGO ROOM, hosts a roots-forward night that knows when to push and when to let things breathe. From Seattle to now calling the outskirts of Aztec home, Alex Dunn is an incredible songwriter. Expect a special Durango debut from Dunn and his band, The Real. Local bluegrass/Americana duo Graf and Yokel counter with tight acoustic interplay and a needed dose of Alexander Graf’s IBMA-worthy playing.

• Arsenic Kitchen, Death Mantra, Watch This World Burn, Anarchy Hammer, Sat., Jan. 10, 7 p.m., The Swarm at The Hive - If you haven’t been to a show at The Swarm, you’re missing out. And now you have no excuse to not catch what may very well be the heaviest rock show to hit town in recent memory. Arsenic Kitchen alone is worth the price of admission, not to mention the other three stellar acts rounding out this bill. Metal, hardcore and punk-driven intensity collide in a night that’s guaranteed to be loud, fast and cathartic. Best of all, it’s an all-ages sober space, making it a true diamond in the booze-soaked rough of Durango.

• Bluegrouse CD Release Party with special guests Snowy Plovers, Fri., Jan. 16, 7 p.m., American Legion - Calling all bluegrass lovers! A hometown release celebration for Bluegrouse, supported by the melodic indie-folk of Snowy Plovers, made up of Erik Nordstrom (Lawn Chair Kings, Farmington Hill fame) and wife, Shanti. Bluegrouse has been on the scene for more than 10 years and is one of Durango’s most beloved acts. Community-focused and roots-forward, this one feels as much like a gathering as a show.

• Desiderata, Fri.-Sat., Jan. 16-17, 7 p.m., iNDIGO Room - Two nights at the iNDIGO ROOM give our beloved Desiderata space to stretch into nuance and mood. Though they now call Fort Collins home, we’ll always claim them as our own. Expect both nights to sell out and the room to stay glowing long after the last note that Autumn sings.

• Andy Frasco and the UN, Sat., Jan. 24, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre - Roll out the red carpet for the band that has drafted local sax lord Sam Kelly and sent him around the world. Known for turning concerts into communal blowouts, Andy Frasco and the UN deliver funk, rock and unfiltered energy – plus, of course, my hero, Kelly. Expect sweat, Jameson shots, sing-alongs and a crowd that leaves smiling, hoarse and begging for more.

• FlamingoSos, DJ Harry, DJ Matteo, Thurs., Jan. 29, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre - If you’re looking for something a little more groovy, disco-laden and soulful, this dance-focused show is one to circle. FlamingoSos bring bright, club-ready energy, with DJ support keeping things moving and spirits high – perfect for shaking off midwinter inertia. Making his Durango debut, I met DJ Harry over the summer and told him the story of my brother introducing me to his infamous String Cheese Incident Remix Project back in the early 2000s. Hell of a guy and a great DJ. You know DJ Matteo is gonna bring the sickest vinyl disco cuts you’ve never heard, too.