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CU students follow the music wherever it leads them
by Adam Trask
Local rock quartet Almost Legends has a collective itching problem when it comes to pigeonholing themselves. “We felt, like right from the beginning, that we were going to play music that we enjoy regardless of what that ‘us’ sound may be,” bassist and CU student Zachary Flower says. “We’re not sticking to one specific genre. If we happen to write a metal song that sounds good, we’ll play that metal song, or if we happen to write a country song, which is horribly unlikely, we will play it if we like it.”
Far from country, one of the genres that the band has explored and wholeheartedly embraced is classic progressive rock as heard on standout tune “Act I Worth This” from their about-to-be-released debut EP. Along with its counterpart, “Act IV What I Have To,” the reference point is undeniable.
“Yeah, it’s definitely very Rush,” Flower admits with pride. “Rush is probably one of our top three influences.”
“Act I Worth It” contains segments of complex drumming and an overall off-kilter rhythmic feel, with the crowning jewel residing in the shimmery, chorus-laden guitar tones, à la 1982. “One of [Dustin Reed’s] favorite [guitar effect] pedals is his chorus pedal,” Flower points out. “I think a lot of people get a sour taste in it because nobody uses it properly anymore.”
“Back to the Blues,” while not as alluring as “Act I Worth This,” is another successful genre-swinging experiment that is structured nicely, with just the right amount of dance-inspiring energy and a memorable chorus. “We were just jamming some blues,” Flower explains. “As a joke, Dustin started singing, ‘the blues,’ as the chorus. We got a kick out of it and thought it was fantastic. If we’re going to write a blues song, that’s what it will be. It’ll be just back to the blues.”
What’s next on the foursome’s ever-changing musical output? Will it be back to the blues or shimmery guitar-laden prog rock?
Certainly not. After all, that would be too limiting for their joint artistic expression. “We just recently wrote a song that has a really, really indie feel to it,” Flower mentions. “Again it really doesn’t match with anything else we’ve written. It’s fun to always have something new to play. I think that’s the direction we’ll probably keep going and having something fresh, something new, something we haven’t quite played yet.”
- Boulder Weekly
Discography
EP "Our Lives in Notes" 2009
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Bio
Almost Legends is a band whose wide range of influences, from Rush to John Mayer, to the Jazz and Blues greats of old, drive their fresh funky new blend of rock and roll. Singer/guitarist Dustin Reed, drummer Jake Euler, and former bassist Zach Flower formed the band the summer of 2008. At their first show, Almost Legends wowed audiences at CU Boulder's Battle of the Bands by placing first. Ever since, they have been performing and gaining momentum. Almost Legends released the EP, "Our Lives in Notes" in February 2009 and began turning heads with their unique blending of styles. The recent addition of bassist Chris Cash brings a new energy and a funky fresh flavor to the group. They are currently working on a summer tour and a full length debut album.
Almost Legends is a coming home of sorts for these three. They try to blend all of the music that they love into a sound uniquely theirs, a little funk, a little rock, and a little blues. Most importantly, they play what they want to. Almost Legends just wants its audience to have fun, because they love what they do, and it shows.
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