Durango’s had plenty of bluegrass bands, but the one that has left the biggest mark on the town’s music scene so far was The Badly Bent.
Formed in 1998, the band rose to prominence among bluegrass audiences with high-energy shows and a diverse repertoire of original and traditional bluegrass numbers. The band played countless shows and festivals, toured around the West and returned from the 2005 Telluride Bluegrass Festival as winner of the coveted band competition.
After a dozen years, the band broke up.
Since their farewell show in October 2010, former members have forayed into other bands of different genres and pursued other projects.
The Badly Bent will formally get back together tonight for a show at the Henry Strater Theatre. The reunited Badly Bent lineup is Mark Epstein on banjo, Pat Dressen on guitar and vocals, Cindi Trautmann on fiddle and vocals, Robb Brophy on mandolin and Jimmy Largent on bass.
“It’s really more than a reunion; it’s a reunited,” Epstein said earlier this month. “A reunion implies to me it’s a one-time get-together.”
The first time any members of the band had plucked strings together was in one of the many informal jams in the Henry Strater Theatre at last year’s Durango Bluegrass Meltdown. It was an unplanned pick: Dressen, Brophy and Epstein just happened to be standing next to each other. It was coincidental luck. But they went with it, and that could have been the spark that lit the fire.
“I don’t know that it started the ball rolling, but it pumped it up a little bit,” Epstein said. “But it was very impromptu. We happened to be hanging around and said ‘why don’t we pick some?’
“ ... It was a pretty magical moment. ... We had a great response from the crowd. Everybody was pumped.”
It was last December when practice started leading up to tonight’s show and those to come. It took a few rehearsals to get to the place where they were musically four years ago, but ultimately everything was aligned for the band to pick up where it left off.
“I think we’re all jonesing for some good bluegrass. Timing was right,” Epstein said. “Seems like bluegrass in town isn’t quite as prevalent as it used to be. I’ve been itching to play some bluegrass.”
The group already is making plans to play more shows, including a set at this year’s Meltdown and other events close to home. It’s not a moneymaking venture. It’s the pursuit of a good time for band members and loyal fans through the exploration of American bluegrass.
“It’s absolutely the most musically rewarding group I’ve been around,” Epstein said. “At the end of the day, it’s really a lot of fun.”
Liggett_b@fortlewis.edu. Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager.
Bryant’s Best
Today: Bluegrass with the reunited Badly Bent, 7 p.m., $10 advance/$12 day of show, Henry Strater Theatre, 699 Main Ave., 375-7160.
Monday: Sihasen will perform for the Fort Lewis College Buffalo Council Symposium, 5:30 p.m., Student Union Ballroom at FLC, 247-7292.
