You’re never too old to start playing music. Especially in a fertile music community like Durango, where an armchair musician’s best inspiration is voicing a want to learn to play an instrument with an already established player. That’s the story of local trio Galavant, a relatively new band on the regional music landscape who just a couple of years ago were three women whose musical aspirations lived on the back burner, a wishful hobby just waiting to grow into something larger.
After classes at iAM MUSIC and some pushing from Ashley Edwards from the downtown music school, along with some coaching from Jay Harootunian of local band Mojo Birds, Galavant, who are Nicola Dehlinger on bass and vocals; Merida Odiorne on guitar and vocals; and Jen Sokol on drums and vocals, are a full-fledged band with a newly recorded single ready for listening and a handful of upcoming shows.
Galavant’s next performance is July 12 at the Arboretum, which is part of EsoTerra Ciderworks.
If you go
WHAT: Folk, funk and blues with Galavant.
WHEN: July 12.
WHERE: EsoTerra Arboretum, 270 County Road 303.
MORE INFORMATION: Visit www.galavantmusic.com.
Dehlinger always wanted to sing but was told she couldn’t; to deter the naysayers, she started taking vocal classes. Odiorne had a guitar, but it took her a while to pick it up. Sokol had always dreamed of being a drummer, getting serious about learning the instrument during the pandemic. With the pushing of Edwards, who Dehlinger has referred to as an “alchemist,” came with a do-it-yourself mindset and don’t let anything stand in your way mentality; they’ve jumped into the music world whole-hog.
“We’re all learning together, and now performing, and that’s just inspiration to get better,” Odiorne said.
“We’ve also had so much help from Jay (Harootunian) and other band coaches, and just a lot of support,” Sokol said. “So, it’s a little DIY, but it’s also DIY with lots of support.”
Their Eagle Studio recorded single “Let Go” is a dose of soul with a subtle funk bass line ripe for a rootsy playlist.
They’re also proud additions to what is already a strong female music scene – from Acid Wrench to Pussyfoot, Dana Ariel to Mean Irene, Family Reunion to Alicia Glass, there’s a strong presence of female-fronted bands in the region.
“It’s been a really important part of everything for us,” Dehlinger said. “We’ve had much more experienced female artists come up and express how important it is to have other women doing this. That’s kind of something we didn’t realize was such a big deal until we got deeper into it, and it’s kind of becoming everything.”
Eighteen months ago if a soundperson asked any member of Galavant “what they’d like back in their monitor,” they wouldn’t know what they were being asked; but now they know how to do their own sound while picking up the jargon and other necessary functions of the music business. And while they’re not going to be quitting their day jobs tomorrow, and full-blown tours that include questionable rock ’n’ roll-like behavior that may or may not include that state they’d leave a hotel room in won’t be happening, they will continue to seek out fun and obscure tunes to cover, while also collaboratively writing new material.
They’re making it up as they go; they know how to play to their own strengths, take advice from their musical colleagues and keep an open mind with what comes next.
“If you had asked me 18 months ago if we’d be talking to media in a studio because we have a professionally recorded single, I’d think you were insane,” Dehlinger said. “I think the future is actually so blown wide open that we can’t even plan because we’re really just open to the next experience, and they keep on flowing.”
Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager. Reach him at liggett_b@fortlewis.edu.
