Envy Alo is Kevin Hinder on guitar, Aaron Pettine on keys, and Tyler Gwynn on drums. Aaron and Tyler both play with other outfits, Booster and Tenth Mountain Division respectively, and they commented that playing in a trio brings its own set of unique challenges, but resolved that these challenges are actually a major driver for their creativity. For instance, Kevin covers as much ground on one guitar that would be expected from a lead and rhythm two-guitarist setup, and since they lack a bassist, Aaron takes over that duty from the keys. Naturally, I was ready to make the Ray Manzarek comparison,... Read More

  This week, I sat down with Michael Whalen, guitarist and vocalist for Denver-based funk/jam band Wonderlic, to talk about their new album, what it’s like to be a band in this area of the country, and how surprisingly similar jazz and jam bands really are. To backtrack a bit, Wonderlic features Allen Galton on electric mandolin and vocals, Michael Whalen on guitar and vocals, and James Dare on bass. They see a rolling cast of drummers: Ryan Elwood, Zach West, and sometimes the original drummer on their first album, Alejandro Castano. They’re often joined on stage by friends... Read More