Local musician Greg Schochet joined Will Two-Step on KGNU to announce the long-awaited High Beams reunion tour, with shows across Colorado and a return to the Dead on the Creek festival in California. He performed two original songs live, shared plans to reissue the band’s 2006 album Midnight Rodeo on vinyl, and teased a new record coming Fall 2025. (Interview date: 5/10/2025)
Will Two-Step: I am proud and honored to have Greg Schochet here.
Greg Schochet: Happy to be here. Always like an occasional KGNU visit. You know, this is my happy place.
Will Two-Step: Ah, thanks, man. It’s a pleasure. So, you’ve got some things to tell the folks?
Greg Schochet: Yeah, we’re here to talk about the High Beams reunion. This is exciting in my world—and hopefully yours. The High Beams are reuniting for, I think, five shows booked, maybe five or six. All of them are here on the Front Range, except for one that’s in California, which was sort of the impetus for this reunion. It’s been over five years now since we last played. Yeah, it was February of 2020—about a month before COVID really hit—that we took our hiatus. it may have been shorter if not for COVID, but here we are. We played at this festival out in Northern California—I think seven years in a row—called Dead on the Creek.
It’s a really cool, small festival. It’s kind of Grateful Dead–oriented. They liked us, and we liked them a lot ’cause they liked the Merle Haggard side of things—kind of that Dead-adjacent country music. They revived that festival and really wanted us to come play again.
So we decided it would be a hoot to go back out there. Along the way, we booked some of our favorite old haunts here in Colorado—starting in about a month up at the Swing Station, up in LaPorte, just outside Fort Collins on a Sunday afternoon.
Will Two-Step: Right. I think you noted that the presale tickets are sold out?
Greg Schochet: Yeah, the first batch of tickets sold out. There will be more if the show’s going to be outside. They’ve got a nice big patio out back that holds a lot of folks. So we sold as many tickets as will fit inside, and if the weather’s looking good, we’ll release another 60 or 80 tickets before the show.
Will Two-Step: Cool. And that is on the 15th of June, right? 3:00 PM?
Greg Schochet: Yep.
Will Two-Step: Cool. And where’s the next show, Chris?
Greg Schochet: I believe the next one is the Rail on the River Festival, the 27th, if I’m not mistaken.
Will Two-Step: Mm-hmm.
Greg Schochet: Yeah. That’s a cool, new-ish festival put on by our buddy Paul Rennick. It’s at the Parish Ranch—just west of town. Beautiful little facility, not far from civilization, but it feels like it. Paul’s doing a great job with a homegrown festival with a really sweet vibe, a nice big stage, and good sound.
He books a lot of bluegrass, Americana, and all kinds of stuff. Real fun. Recommend it highly.
Will Two-Step: Excellent.
Greg Schochet: The favorite—if every gig could be one gig—I’d make it the Gold Hill Inn, especially on the 4th of July. Right?
So yeah, that’s another perennial for the High Beams. We did that… I don’t know how many times. Possibly double digits. So that’s a real homecoming for us. And I think Bonnie and Taylor are on the bill for that, too. I don’t know who else—usually three acts.
Of course, it’s in the side yard there. Come early for the parade.
Will Two-Step: Yep.
Greg Schochet: Stay for the music.
Will Two-Step: That starts at noon, folks. And it’s July 4th. Speaking of the Gold Hill Inn—we’ll be doing The Charles there a couple weeks later. Sunday before RockyGrass.
Greg Schochet: Right.
Will Two-Step: And then you’ve got a gig in Lyons.
Greg Schochet: The High Beams are gonna do, kind of for old time’s sake—you know, we couldn’t skip Lyons. That was a really important place for us over the years—playing at Oskar Blues and other spots.
So this is the summer concert in the park thing, at Sandstone Park. August 6th. That’s a Wednesday night, I believe.
Will Two-Step: Yep.
Greg Schochet: The day before we fly out for the California thing. But yeah, you know, Lyons is music central. We want to make an appearance there, and then—kind of TBD—what we’ll do from there.
There’s been a little talk of other stuff, but you know, we haven’t actually gotten out there and played a note yet. First rehearsal’s Monday, if anybody’s worried we’re not gonna know what we’re doing.
Will Two-Step: On your way in, you noted I was playing Ashes on the Dance Floor, and you’re like, “Oh, that’s one of the ones I’ve gotta relearn,” right?
Greg Schochet: Deep into it. I just really dived in. I’ve had a really busy last six weeks or so with other stuff.
Part of what’s fun about this reunion we’re doing—we’re taking Midnight Rodeo, which was kind of our first recording as the lineup that started in 2003 (the band existed for a couple years before that). We made Midnight Rodeo in 2006—or 2005 or 2006.
We’ve had it rereleased on vinyl for this run of shows. Part of what we’re gonna do is play the whole record.
Will Two-Step: Nice, nice. A classic, beautiful album.
Greg Schochet: Yeah. So I’ve been deep into relearning those tunes. It’s been real cool—time travel for me to hear those songs again, reference some live recordings, too.
You know, enough time goes by, you forget a lot of notes and chords. So I’ve gotta remember those. And just hearing the energy of the band when we were first really ramping it up—and how much we’ve changed—is really fascinating.
Will Two-Step: And Greg, you’ve got your guitar here.
Greg Schochet: You know it.
Will Two-Step: Can you play a little live music for the listeners?
Greg Schochet: Yeah, yeah. Sounds good. I’d be happy to. I’ve been writing a bunch of songs, which has been really fun. Well, some songs. I’ve been starting a bunch of songs and finishing a few—I think people know how that goes.
So this is a new one called Broken Down Chair. I think this is the most country song I’ve written in a while, so figured this was the time to play it. It’s a little silly country waltz.
[Performs “Broken Down Chair”]
Will Two-Step: Nice. You said you’ve been writing, Greg. Are you gonna release another album, or what’s the plan, man?
Greg Schochet: Yeah, I’m going to release it after I record it. But yeah, I’m making plans to record later this year—probably in the fall. October or November.
I’m gonna call it Little America. Other than a couple singles or one-offs that I’ve recorded, I haven’t made a Little America album. And we’ve got the tunes now. I’m looking for it to be maybe about half my tunes, half featuring the other guys, and half covers we’ve sort of made our own.
Will Two-Step: Cool.
Greg Schochet: Working on it.
Will Two-Step: Got 13 minutes, man. How about another tune?
Greg Schochet: Sounds good. All right. This is one I did record. It’s a western swing tune—a little throwback to some of the clever cowboy songs from the ’30s and ’40s.
Some of my favorites are about how inauthentic a cowboy you are. This is my entry into the crowded field of cowboy songs written by Jewish guys from back East. It’s a surprisingly crowded field.
This is called I’m Not a Cowboy (But I Play One on Guitar).
[Performs song]
Will Two-Step: Ah, yeah. Thanks, Greg. Steve goes wild.
Greg Schochet: Yeah, the guy behind the board goes wild. Indeed.
Will Two-Step: Ladies and gentlemen, Greg Schochet here live with us. The High Beams—four shows in Colorado. You want more information? That’ll be highbeams.com—High Beams HR.
Greg Schochet: I think that is actually officially updated, so—yeah, I’m looking at it. Info on shows and tickets are up there.
Will Two-Step: Yep, looking at it right now. So yeah, maybe we’ll see you guys at one of these shows, ladies and gentlemen. And what’s your own personal website if people want to get your tunes?
Greg Schochet: That’d be gregschochet.com. Good luck spelling it. You’ll probably get there no matter what. The Little Miracle will be playing next Friday at Oskar Blues in Lyons.
Will Two-Step: Oh, cool.
Greg Schochet: Yeah, Friday the 16th at 7 o’clock.
Will Two-Step: Nice. Full band?
Greg Schochet: Full band—all the guys. Right on. Hope to see you there, too.
Will Two-Step: Right. I heard you mention the other day that you’re playing in the Springsteen thing with Damon?
Greg Schochet: That’s right. Damon—the High Beams and Little America drummer—has a Bruce Springsteen tribute band called Colorado Springsteen. I’m sitting in with them tonight at the Boulder Theater.
Will Two-Step: Excellent.
Greg Schochet: Yeah, I got to do a whole gig with them in the fall, which was so fun. I grew up with that music. I was happy to learn all the tunes. They’re a great band. Damon does a great job—he’s the frontman, plays guitar and sings—and it’s kick-ass.
Will Two-Step: Excellent. And then highbeams.com for more information about the reunion tour. Ladies and gentlemen, Greg—thank you so much for coming in.
