Writer and photographer Alan Crandall submitted the following post previously published at TimesCall.com:
I knew we were already in for a big weekend. We had plans to see Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe and Anders Osborne Friday night at the Boulder Theater, The Motet at the Ogden Theater on Saturday and The Warren Haynes Band at the Ogden Theater on Halloween, and still the idea of the Great American Taxi with Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon playing an intimate “party” at the historic Stage Stop in Rollinsville, Colorado, on Thursday Oct. 27, was just too much to pass up.
(Bloggers note: look for more on the above mentioned shows later this week)
For me it was an easy decision. “Let’s go hang out with the cool mountain folk”… folks that I feel at home with, and check out a show with one of my favorite homegrown bands. The Great American Taxi, born from a local benefit concert have come into their own. You really don’t need to mention that Vince Herman plays with Leftover Salmon anymore, when talking Taxi, since the band has grown into a big national touring act itself and for good reason, the Taxi will take you for a ride that you wont soon forget.
Almost in an instant we knew we made the right decision to head up the hill to Rollinsville, Colorado. This show was intimate, fun and another great party at the historic Stage Stop. Vince Herman introduced himself as Jerry Garcia and lost it laughing when an audience member pointed out that Jerry grew his finger back. Guitarist Jim Lewin came as Van Morrison, and Chris Sheldon as Les Claypool. The audience was treated to many songs from the Grateful Dead’s catalog, some Van Morrison and at one point Sheldon broke into some amazing Claypool rifts that
rocked the room. The lighting was fantastic, the bar was offering 2 dollar beers and many in the audience were mountain folk and friends of the Nederland based band. The Great American Taxi with members Vince Herman, Chad Staehly, Jim Lewin, Chris Sheldon and Brian Adams are sure to please with their flavor of down home Americana bluegrass/rock.
If you missed the Great American Taxi Halloween shows, don’t fret, they just announced that they will perform at the Boulder Theater on Friday December 16th for the 9th Annual Mark Vann Foundation Benefit Show. This will be an event that you will not want to miss.