7 Fort Collins bands that sound like artists you know
14 February 2021
By Ryan Tubbs
Whether you’re a newcomer to Fort Collins or you’ve lived here for years, you’ve likely heard about the town’s thriving music scene, but you may not be aware of some of the individual acts that make the community shine. Since live shows can’t be what they used to be right now, we have to find other ways to support and discover local musicians. Below is a quick guide to get you started — if you like any of the bands listed under each artist, chances are you’ll like what that artist is doing too.
1.) The Crooked Rugs
If you like: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Mild High Club, Cage the Elephant
Psych rock outfit The Crooked Rugs’ debut album, “IT!” just came out at the beginning of this year, so there’s no better time to get into their signature brand of acid-western jams. The spacey vocals, melodic guitars, progressive song structures, and Southwestern aesthetic hearken to the great psychedelic rock bands of the ’60s as well as modern groups in the genre like Australia’s King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, whose influence can be heard on songs like “Let Me Down” and the title track, “IT!” The guys have been busy during quarantine, and a debut as fun and exciting as this leaves us hopeful for more in 2021.
The Crooked Rugs on Spotify. Bandcamp. Apple Music.
2.) Co-Stanza
If you like: Rex Orange County, Dayglow, Still Woozy
Originally from the Chicago suburbs, bedroom pop artist Jack Costanza has carved out a place among other rising voices in the indie sphere like Rex Orange County and Still Woozy with an infectiously feel-good style and immaculate production. Co-Stanza’s mission is to share a sense of love and wonder towards the “world we are lucky enough to live in,” and all it takes is one listen to “Test the Water” or “I Don’t Mind” to connect to his vibe. Even his most recent song, “Better,” a slower, Dylan-inspired piece about parting ways with a lover, retains his “easy come, easy go” attitude and proves that Costanza is emotionally capable of much more than joyful pop excess.
Co-Stanza’s Patch of Grass EP comes out February 22. Link to Soundcloud. Spotify. Apple Music.
3.) Twin Riverz
If you like: Fiona Apple, Big Thief, Mitski
The power of Twin Riverz lies in her confidence to keep her music simple, leaving the listener to face lyrics of trauma, lost love and healing head-on. Many of Twin Riverz’ songs feature her voice and a single, desolate ukulele, reminiscent of Big Thief lead singer Adrianne Lenker’s deeply personal solo effort from last year, titled simply “songs.” Twin Riverz’ style is at the same time haunting and therapeutic — she has the talent to translate the catharsis of a good cry session into the music she makes so we can all follow her journey of growth and healing.
Twin Riverz on Spotify. Bandcamp. Apple Music.
4.) In The Whale
If you like: IDLES, Fontaines D.C., Rise Against, PUP
The sound of modern punk and metal is so exciting and raw — during a lockdown, it’s about the closest we can get to the exhilaration of a live show despite not being able to go to any. Unsigned rockers In The Whale bring a sound and attitude that just begs you to turn up the volume and get lost in their grimy, distorted guitars and dark, indignant vocals. Featured on Spotify’s “Noisy” curated playlist alongside IDLES and PUP, In The Whale is a must-listen for fans of those bands’ aggressively fun styles who are looking for some Fort Collins flair.
In The Whale on Spotify. Bandcamp. Apple Music.
5.) Write Minded
If you like: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Vulfpeck, Jamiroquai
Write Minded may be the hardest band on this list to categorize because they have a style that’s just so uniquely theirs. Combining the melodic fast deliveries of some of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ best tracks with the funky coolness of Jamiroquai and Vulfpeck, Write Minded finds success by blazing their own trail. Songs like “Goosebumps” off of their 2019 album Pieces of Mind immediately make clear what kind of sound the band has made their name off of, and their latest release “Roses” shows that the band keeps pushing into new territory.
Write Minded on Spotify. Apple Music.
6.) TARO
If you like: Kaskade, Avicii, LÉON, Kai
Named for the Alt-J song of the same name, TARO aims to capture the tragedy and beauty of life in their brand of female-led EDM. A track like “I Saw Fire” would fit easily into a club set with the likes of Kaskade or Avicii, and lead singer Cheyenne Duba’s powerful alto voice is reminiscent of high energy cuts from LÉON or Kai. Currently, the duo only has a couple songs uploaded to Spotify, but after their success in 2020, it seems likely that we’ll see a lot more from them this year.
7.) modrn
If you like: Clairo, Daniel Caesar, Bon Iver
The final group on this list is brand new to the Fort Collins scene, but their debut EP Bloom shows promise with a handful of chill R&B/pop tracks with varied instrumentation, soulful falsetto, and ethereal production. On “teenager tragedy,” your ears may pick up on some influence from Bon Iver’s signature melancholy melodies and songwriting style. If the personal, imperfect sounds of artists like Clairo and Daniel Caesar suit you, it’s worth checking out modrn’s first collection of songs as well as their releases on Bandcamp.
There are plenty of great musical acts sprouting up every day in the fertile soil of the Fort Collins scene, so it can understandably feel a little overwhelming to look at everything the community has to offer and try to pick out one or two that really speak to you. Hopefully this list can be a good jumping-off point into the world of FoCo music, but if you’re still hungry for more, a good place to start is 90.5 KCSU’s Local Band and Musician Directory, or by tuning in to 90.5 during their daytime rotation hours to hear new releases from bands around Northern Colorado. ||
