YOUR AD HERE »

Glenwood’s youth resistance

Stina Sieg
Post Independent Staff
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado
Courtesy photo by Brian Luce
ALL |

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado ” The virtues of living in Glenwood Springs are many. But all-age music venues? That’s not always one of them.

Until the Eagles came along.

Thanks to the help of member Leaf Johnson, the club has recently become a hotbed for shows with a youth appeal. Their names might sound crazy, and their tunes might be out there, but these young groups are making their voices heard.



Tonight will be no different.

Local bands Midnite Resistance and Beanbag will join Denver’s Potato Pirates and Insomniaxe for an evening of hard rock, “psychobilly” and ska. Proceeds will go to improving the place’s sound system.



A few days ago, Midnite Resistance was knocking back beers, laughing and explaining just what this Glenwood music scene is all about. Here’s a little of what Westin “Stone Grizzle” Vitany (bass/back-up), 24, Christopher Fernald (guitar), 21, Mike Inverso (drums), 21, and Jon Michl (vocals), 24, had to say.

Mike: “For me, it’s the only thing that makes me feel good. I listen to a song, and I feel like a super hero. I feel like I can punch through walls. If I can give that to someone else, that would be the ultimate thing.”

Westin: “‘Cause it’s something to do. ‘Cause it’s way cooler than what anyone else is doing. What can I say? … I think the two greatest things in the world were invented in America: skateboarding and rock ‘n’ roll. That’s what it’s all about, getting together with people you love and playing music for people who like it.”

Chris: “The day my mom gave me Megadeth’s “Cryptic Writings” on tape when I was six, that’s when I got into music. I picked up guitar at 11 and really started getting serious about it. Me and Mike went to Hollywood to learn about music … Just playing music everyday keeps me going. Don’t know what else I’d be doing.”

Westin: “Cheers to that. It’s better than doing drugs and being on the streets.”

Jon: “I don’t know. It’s just always been a big part of my life. It’s probably the best distraction from all the b” s” that otherwise I’d have to be dealing with.”

Westin: “Yeah, reality sucks.”

In the beginning, Mike explained, they used to be The Vamps ” until they decided that sounded like a “chick band.”

Mike: “We realized that The Vamps sucked, so we went to Midnite Resistance. And I think we’re a better band for it.”

Chris: “I think every individual sound is different ” at least for every individual song. We don’t stick to any genre with what we play. I think that’s what brings us together.”

According to the guys, each one likes something different ” from punk to Phil Collins. And everyone has a healthy appreciation for heavy metal.

Jon: “We usually get really wasted when we’re playing together, so that kind of lubricates the machine, makes it blend together a little better.”

Westin: “I wouldn’t say it’s so much political. I play it because I enjoy it.”

Jon: “I think there’s a lot of people who understand, who are pissed off by a lot of the same things we are. But there’s no one saying it.”

Westin: “There’s no doubt about it, there’s a lot of messed up s” that’s going on in the world, and it gives us a lot of inspiration. … With everything that’s going on in the world, we’re still here, rocking out.”

Chris: “It’s getting better. There’s definitely a good group of kids, doing their thing.”

Westin: “There’s just not anything to draw people here, because there’s no venues.”

He used to live in Raleigh, N.C., he explained, where the town was just bursting with

places to play live tunes.

Westin: “There’s nothing, nothing like that here.”

What would you like to see change? Jon: “Just have a venue downtown, open to everyone … there’s a huge social gap in this town, and the youth is just stranded.”

Mike: “It turns you into a different person.”

Westin: “For sure.”

Mike: “It gives you the power to punch through walls.”

Jon: “When I go out on stage, I feel it’s my job to channel all that energy in the

audience. We’re just the vehicle who transfers all that energy onstage.”

Jon: “Having a good time.”

Mike: “Doing what makes me happy, which would be, in quotation marks, rock ‘n’ roll.”

Chris: “Enjoying life, making people move.”

Westin: “I like coloring.”


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Glenwood Springs and Garfield County make the Post Independent’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.