Local Gold: Liver Down the River

Liver Down the River, a Colorado-based band known for their unique bluegrass sound and high-energy performances, joined KGNU’s Neil Smart in the studio. They performed a few songs and previewed their show at the Goosetown Tavern (Interview date: 11/23/2024)

Neil Smart: I am going to be joined live and in person by Liver Down the River. Now, folks, I’m going to give you a little warning. There’s going to be an electric bass. There’s going to be drums. There’s going to be a piano. We have entered the New Grass portion of the program for sure. So welcome, Liver Down the River.

Liver Down the River: Thanks for having us.

Neil Smart: The crowd goes wild in here. Very nice. Cool stuff there. Tell me about that piece.

Liver Down the River: That song’s called “The Shape We’re In”. This is Patty speaking. Patty Storen. It’s a song I wrote about rivers and canyons and the metaphors they can give us for tough times in life.

Neil Smart: That’s real nice. Folks, we’ve been joined in the studio here by Liver Down the River. Got a big show coming up tonight at Goosetown Tavern, correct? That’s the Goosetown Tavern on Colfax, not the other Goosetown that’s in Golden.

Liver Down the River: Correct.

Neil Smart: I believe that show time’s 8:30 tonight, is that correct?

Liver Down the River: The show begins at 9 o’clock tonight with PJ Moon kicking things off with a solo set and then Tonewood String Band. We’ll be going on around 11 o’clock.

Neil Smart: Ah, cool. Lots of fun with Tonewood. They are a ton of fun. And so are y’all. Why don’t we find out who’s in the band? That’s always a good thing. Patty, you just started it off, so you might as well keep going.

Liver Down the River: I’m Patty Storen and I play the mandolin. We got Will Kung on the piano over here. He’s our latest addition. We got Jake Hasluck on the bass, electric bass, that is. Dom Fante on the drums. We’ve got Tom Buswell on the git and Emily Winter on the violin.

Neil Smart: Emily was having all kinds of fun in there. I was watching.

Liver Down the River: Yeah, we’re rocking in here.

Neil Smart: Goosetown Tavern tonight, about nine o’clock. The music’s gonna start. Get there early because it’s not a huge venue. You’re gonna want to get there and get lubricated and get ready for liver down the river. I would be remiss if I didn’t ask the obvious question. Liver Down the River. Is it just a rhyming scheme, or did you all just sell your Livers Down the River in a drinking game or something?

Liver Down the River: It comes from rafting culture, as it were. Down the river, despite popular belief, is actually a very good place to be. One who lives down the river is a happy person, in my opinion. That’s my nonsensical response.

Neil Smart: How about we make sense of another tune?

Liver Down the River: Sounds great. The song’s called “The Cosmic Groover Boat”. This is the title track of our new record. Which drops today, by the way, so go stream it wherever you like to stream your music.

Neil Smart: Very cool, y’all. That’s a whole lot of fun. Folks, you are listening to Liver Down the River. You can catch them tonight at the Goosetown Tavern on Colfax in Denver. Music starts about 9 o’clock, get in there a little early because you’re going to want to bring your dancing shoes and have room to move and groove as the case may be. Thanks so much for coming in, y’all.

Liver Down the River: Thank you so much for having us.

Neil Smart: If we can prevail on you for one more, we’ll give these tickets away and let y’all take a nap before the show tonight.

Liver Down the River: Alright, this is called “Welcome Home”.

Neil Smart: That was plum beautiful, y’all. That was really pretty. Folks, Liver Down the River has been with us here for the past half hour or so. Thanks so much for coming in at this very non musician friendly hour and getting ready for your show tonight at the Goosetown Tavern. Do get out and see them. Thanks again for coming in, y’all.

Liver Down the River: Thanks, Neil.