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Music of inspiration comes to Glenwood
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The soft stylings of Erin Bode and her band will fill Hotel Colorado Monday.
Courtesy photo
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By Stina Sieg
Post Independent Staff
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
April 18, 2008
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GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — It’s hard to describe Erin Bode’s sound in full sentences. Instead, her voice conjures up a multitude of adjectives, from sweet to jazzy, soulful to smooth. During a recent interview from her home of St. Louis, the 30-year -old musician spoke much less about the way she sings than why she does. For her, it’s really about sharing, wherever she can. So far, it’s led her around the country, and even to South Africa. On Monday, it’s bringing her here, to the Roaring Fork Valley.
Along with bassist Syd Rodway, drummer Derrek Phillips and Adam Maness on piano, Bode will soon be filling Hotel Colorado with gentle, original music. Modestly, she said she just hopes people “enjoy” what they hear.
| Smooth sounds |
WHO: The Erin Bode Band, performing live
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Monday
WHERE: The Hotel Colorado
COST: Free
WHY? Bode’s tunes are soft and flowing, immediately likable — just what most people could use on a Monday. |
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What brought you to music? “I have two brothers and a sister, and everybody in my family was into something, played instruments.”
“I’m grateful to have parents that were really supportive for us to do whatever we wanted.”
She went from band, choir and musicals in high school to studying classical music in college, she said. After beginning to play with a few fellow musicians, she started to see the limitations of classical form. That’s when new types of music began to catch her ear.
“I just really got involved in putting my imprint on music and doing it my way.”
“I wanted to be able to express my emotions and communicate thoughts and feelings to an audience. I guess just jazz and folk and pop appealed to me. I could put my own feelings behind it.”
What keeps you making music? “I think the possibility of always getting better and sharing and how we can do things in different ways.”
“We’ve always tried to write new music. We’ve always trying to write from new inspiration.”
She went on to describe her band’s recent trips to South Africa. There, they made music with teenagers at the Themba Trust, a boarding school. In 2006, the band recorded an album with the girls from the school (available at www.thembagirls.org), and then they returned a year later to work with the boys. That CD will be coming out soon. Both trips were sponsored by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
“Going to South Africa and hearing how they make music was incredibly inspiring. It’s overwhelming. It makes you believe that rhythm came from Africa, because it’s so beautiful and natural.”
“It reminded me why we make music. It’s a very loving thing to make music. You can use it to communicate with people. It’s just a very honest form of self expression. It was very moving.”
Did you feel nervous traveling to Africa? “I wanted to do the best job I could and do the right thing for them (the students). In that way, I was kind of nervous, because I’d never done anything like that before.”
“And I know this is something I’m going to be involved with for the rest of my life. So I’m just really grateful that we had that experience.”
Do you have any musical heroes? “Paul Simon is definitely one of them (she was referring especially to “Graceland”). I really like Edie Brickell, James Taylor, people like that. Nancy Wilson, Margaret Whiting. And that’s just jazz, pop, folk. Yeah, there’s just so many.”
What do you want people to get from listening to one of your shows or recordings? “I just hope that they enjoy it, you know? Yeah. I hope that it makes them feel the way good music makes them feel.”
“When I go to a concert, I feel inspired to make good music, so I hope the audience feels inspired to do whatever they need to do.”
What’s the most important thing in your life? “I guess my faith in God. I wouldn’t be very far if it wasn’t for that.”
Contact Stina Sieg: 384-9111
ssieg@postindependent.com
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SUNNY 44°
