Green River Vibe-Interview
by Corey Blecha
The first time I met the guys from Green River Vibe was in one of my music classes at the College of Arts and Media, here in Denver. It was student-presentation day, and while everyone else was hooking up their laptops to the projector, Alex and the rest of the crew were hauling in a three-piece trap kit and a piano. They set up a full pseudo-stage in the small classroom, just in time to perform for the last few minutes of class. The raw emotion of lead singer Alex Mackenzie-Low’s voice, and the steady reggae rhythm of the guys around him, showed me that they were completely legit and, more importantly, they were in it for the right reasons. Instead of being just another assignment, they took advantage of the [classroom] situation, and used it as a testing ground for their newly formed band.
That was one of their first shows, and since then they have moved into bigger venues around Denver, even traveling out of the state recently to reach more fans. Far away from any ocean, these guys are bringing the smooth reggae “vibe” right here to Denver.
CMB: When and where did you form the band?
GRV: GRV was formed while the five of us were studying music at the University of Colorado Denver. The band started out by the initial collaboration between Alex Mackenzie-Low and Ted Kleist (lead guitar, vocals), and evolved to include Chris Harris (drummer), Chris Cook (bass), and Alex Cochran (keys). Our first show was February 5, 2011 at the Old Curtis Street Pub where Harris had joined the group two days beforehand.
CMB: What is the goal with Green River Vibe?
GRV: Our main goal is to create music that inspires people from all different walks of life. We are always aiming to break outside of the mold in ways that get people both thinking positively and moving passionately. Our shows are energetic and upbeat, and drive people to the dance floor, which is an important part of the GRV experience. That said, we really value genuine interaction with everyone involved in the music, and hope we can ultimately make a difference in people’s lives for the better.
CMB: I know some of you guys go to school for music business. How does this affect your outlook on the industry and decisions you make as a band?
GRV: Having three of us as music business majors, we’re consistently feeding off material we have learned in our studies, in and out of the classroom, and putting it into immediate practice. From booking to marketing to entertainment law, we have the foundation that allows us to make educated decisions as we move forward. Aside from that, our philosophy has always been to put the music first, and everything else seems to fall into place naturally.
CMB: Being a landlocked, cold state, Colorado is not your typical setting
for Reggae. What is the local scene like now and where do you see it going?
GRV: Although the setting for reggae music is not entirely ideal, the Colorado music scene as a whole is most definitely on the rise. We are all inspired day-by-day from the continuous progression of local artists, and die-hard fan support in the area. Besides that, our take on the genre has much more of a “mountain vibe” that appeals to all the jam-band hip-hop rock enthusiasts in the area. All in all, there is not a chance we would complain about being in such a musically prosperous place such as Colorado, despite the fact that reggae music isn’t usually found in the mountains. The huge following of passionate music lovers in this state outweighs all of this.
CMB: What are your plans for 2012? Any summer plans?
GRV: For 2012, we’re taking it one step further. Having just bought a trailer, we have already started gigging regionally, including our first out of state gig in Red River, New Mexico. Also, we are in the process of mixing our new EP, which is even more progressive than our debut album, Sun Comes Up. The EP will be released on May 12 with another CD release event at Quixote’s True Blue with a line-up of over 10 bands and local DJs. We are also planning out a west coast tour for July to get plugged in to the established California reggae scene, hoping to stir up some sparks for a new reggae movement.
CMB: Shout outs?
GRV: Most importantly, we would like to thank all of our friends and family for their passionate support. In addition, we would also like to give a shout out to all of our music professors at UCD, including Chris Daniels, Storm Gloor, and Stan Soocher. Also, we can’t forget about our good friends James and the Devil, Crown Line Music, and STB World. Last but certainly not least, we would like to spread some love to all of our fans that have supported us in getting where we are today. Much love!
Category: What's Up?
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
 |
 |
GRV is going to be huge. I remember last summer I was driving with Ted Kleist and our mutual buddy Nate the first time I heard my favorite GRV song Redemption. I actually teared up because I knew from the first time I heard them that they were going to blow up and the fact that I was listening to their songs before they were released with one of the creators made me feel incredibly lucky and honored to be privy to the start of something amazing. Being from San Diego I can’t wait for the west coast tour and I’m sure Ted can’t wait to get a chance to play for the hometown crowd!
This might be a proud dad speaking but, even though growing up on names like Eric Clapton and Leo Kotke I am totally impressed with the GRV music. Keep on making music you guys.