Thrifty Astronaut-Review
by Hannah Lintner
Nick Jones, a nineteen-year-old DU student born and raised in Fort Collins, created the one-person project that is the Thrifty Astronaut in 2009. Since then, he has released two EPs, two full albums, and a set of covers done by other local artists. Jones records all of his music in a spare bedroom; he used a tape reel to record his most recent CD, Apple Eaters, which was released in the summer of 2011.
Thrifty Astronaut played at Bizarre Bazaar for FoCoMX on Friday night. The used book and record shop had a surprisingly good sound system, and a makeshift stage set up in the back of the store. Jones and a drummer by the name of Sean Speer appeared onstage in matching blue jumpsuits and lime-green spray-painted hard hats. The show began with a new song, an acoustic piece, written about the flaws of distance, before moving on to songs from Apple Eaters. The set smoothly transitioned between slower emotional pieces and fast paced songs. It’s obvious that Jones enjoys performing. During a solo, he stepped into the crowd with his guitar and danced with the audience. Even though the show was the last of the night, the crowd gathered up the drive in order to enjoy the high-energy set.
Thrifty Astronaut’s music has evolved in the past year. His first CD, Caffeine Heartache, focused on the simplicity of a toy keyboard combined with a looping pedal to create a background beat. He mixed the sounds, acoustic guitar with fake flowers laced throughout the strings, and a set list filled with lyrics about pretty girls. His show now features an electric guitar and drummer Speer, but the little keyboard still has a home in his set.
Jones’ singing style is incredibly personal. His songs cover subjects such as skinny-dipping, city riots, and endless wandering. His absolute rawness allows the audience to imagine that his love song lyrics were written about them falling in love on warm summer nights. Apple Eaters contains a universal theme of youth, which most anyone can relate to, nostalgically or not. With song names such as “God is a Naked Woman” and “Everything is Shit,” Thrifty Astronaut will please your ears and steal your heart.
Category: Noco Music Scene
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