The Broken Spoke

“Talk of the Town” from Colorado Springs’ The Broken Spoke, available below for stealing, is a bit of a tease. The band recently released three tracks recorded at Hideaway Studios in Sedalia in late October, all available for streaming on their Bandcamp site. And the music is solid, for sure. “Talk of the Town” begins with drums and the muted melodic throb of an analogue synth before a haunting guitar emerges with Tom Skora’s voice and a chorus as catchy as it is progressive. There’s even a kick-ass guitar solo! This is The Broken Spoke sound: progressive and exploratory without neglecting to give the audience something to grab on to, and perhaps dance. Imagine an everyman’s Calexico.

So why is this track a tease? Because in December they are heading to Wavelab Studios in Tucson to record the follow-up to their self-titled debut with Craig Schumacher, who has worked with Calexico, DeVotchKa, Neko Case and countless artists who The Broken Spoke may call peers.
- The Denver Post Reverb

The band from Colorado Springs produces an interesting blend of indie country: think Wilco meets Hank Williams- Laura Eshelman - University of Colorado Denver Advocate

Tom Skora's quavering voice and evocative lyrics — along with co-founder Josh DeSmidt's understated approach to guitar, banjo, lap steel and harmonium — gives this 2½-year-old band a kind of high, lonesome Americana sound that deserves national recognition. "Downtrodden, brokenhearted / Never seen a play that I didn't feel a part of," sings the former cadet who made the unlikely transition from Air Force man to alt-country troubadour - Colorado Springs Independent

The Broken Spoke is an up and coming group that will be known through their musicianship, song writing, and live shows. Definitely download the album, and if you have the chance to make the time to see them live.. you will be thrilled that you did! -I-Tunes review by PossibilityNow - I-Tunes review by PossibilityNow

I find that The Broken Spoke provide a very nice example of twang done well. Even their nostalgic album title harkens back to a distinctly Western view of thinking; paired with slide guitars and steel drum beats it finds a comfortable home among predecessors ranging from Johnny Cash to The Avett Brothers. This is fitting — the Colorado-based band seem to have taken stock of their high-altitude surroundings and decided that this indeed remains the frontier. This is a band to watch, to be certain. -Lauren Sloss - Indie Shuffle

While beers, steers and tears may be staple ingredients in country music, there's always been another, more haunting side to it. And Broken Spoke tap into that perfectly on their new, self-titled album. Though founders Tom Skora and Josh DeSmidt began writing songs together just two years ago, the band's high lonesome Americana sound has already developed to the point of warranting national recognition. - Colorado Springs Independent

has an honest affinity for heartbreaks, hometowns and traditional American music. “Before There Were Easy Riders” is filled with the kind of grit and sadness that’s hard to find in commercial country music - Denver Post Reverb