Photo by: Whitney Van Cleave
Although most musicians in their prime are the epitome of confidence, there is one thing that most of them can agree on: they hated high school.
Gregory Alan Isakov is not different. Thus, returning to those godforsaken halls is not something that many artists would want to do. However, many of Colorado’s hottest local artists are hitting the stage at a local high school with more than a little enthusiasm.
In an effort to create a sense of community involvement in the arts, Kip Otteson, a beloved history teacher at Bailey’s Platte Canyon High School, has worked long and hard to bring a wide variety of musical acts to the school. Over the past four years the school has hosted such local heavyweights as the Hot IQ’s, Nathan & Stephen, Trace Bundy, The Photo Atlas, and now Gregory Alan Isakov and The Freights. Friday night’s performance by the Boulder-based quartet could be described as nothing short of mind blowing.
The school’s small auditorium was packed with students and community members alike. While the mood prior to the show was a bit tense, the palpable excitement was undeniable. When asked, many of them conceded that they were not really sure what to expect, but were happy to just be at such a great event in their own area. In a later interview, Isakov revealed that he experienced a similar feeling.
“I actually was a high school dropout for a little while but I ended up going back. Tonight I definitely found myself nervous. I was like yikes, I’m in school again,” he said
As Isakov and his band took to the stage, the audience clapped unsurely. However, as soon as the group launched into its first song, the crowd was clearly awestruck.
Each song proved to be a work of art in its own right. The tunes were a unique and refreshing fusion of folk, soul and the great traveling songs from days of yore. Instantly, one could draw comparisons between Isakov and Dylan in lyrical styles with songs about trains, heartbreak, and the world just beyond the front door. In vocal terms, Isakov’s voice possessed the vulnerability of Damien Rice and the powerful range of David Gray.
At points, the songs were so powerful the audience became eerily silently as listeners felt the music invade the recesses of their bodies, braving the deepest corners of the mind.
Although Isakov performs alone acoustically on many occasions, the presence of his full band The Freights really drove the performance home. Comprised of Jeb Bows (fiddle, mandolin), Jen Gilleran (drums, percussion) and Philip Parker (cello), The Freights are a loose collection of area artists who perform both individually and collectively. Together, the band creates an utterly expansive sound. The group’s arrangements seem simple at first, but in fact are complex, as each artist generates a distinct sound. Bows’ skilled fiddling was enough to send shivers up the spine as he toyed with soaring screeches and haunting bow slides. When he broke out a mandolin for one number, nearly every girl in the audience swooned.
Not to be forgotten, Parker and Gilleran worked their own respective magic on the cello and drums. Gilleran was particularly fun to watch as she bobbed in time with the beat. Overall, the performance exuded a perfect marriage of heartfelt honesty and undeniably masterful musicianship.
The show proved to be a great success as the audience obviously enjoyed every minute of the nearly two-hour performance. When it was over, the crowd burst into a fit of uproarious applause and gave the band a standing ovation.
Now, thanks to Isakov and the Freights, going back to high school actually sounds good.
