Trout Steak Revival- The Back Room at Colectivo, 8/15/19

Masterfully sweeping harmonies, on-point picking, and a true sense of joy showcasing their craft made the two-set performance by Colorado's Trout Steak Revival one heck of a bluegrass hootenanny last Thursday at the Back Room at Colectivo.  Trout Steak Revival is a quintet comprised of five stellar musicians with unique backgrounds that come together on stage as an air-tight bluegrass ensemble.  As is the case with many bluegrass acts, there is not one "lead" player, but rather a magical interchange between the band members.  Given the instrumentation of songs and frequent use of harmonies, the focus on the collective union of sound was very much center stage with Trout Steak Revival. The idea that the band is one voice with many sounds really came through in their performance featuring Bevin Foley on fiddle, Steve Foltz on mandolin and guitar, Casey Houlihan on upright bass, Will Koster on dobro and guitar, and Travis McNamara on banjo.  While billed as "Colorado bluegrass," Foltz and Houlihan have Wisconsin roots, with Foltz originally hailing from Rhinelander and Houlihan from Kenosha.

Over the two set show, Trout Steak Revival touched on tunes from all of their releases.  Some highlights included "Colorado River," and "Brighter Every Day" from 2015's Brighter Every Day record.  These two catchy numbers had the crowd tapping their feet and singing along.  "Last Chance" from 2017's Spirit to the Sea was also a feel-good jam that really showcased the harmonies between band members.  A well-placed cover with a bluegrass band can be a real set highlight.  This was the case with Trout Steak Revival taking on the classic Jimmy Cliff tune, "The Harder They Come," which was popularized in bluegrass circles by the Jerry Garcia Band.  This song, lead by the rich vocals of Foltz had practically the whole audience singing along.

With well-articulated jams and soaring vocals, Trout Steak Revival is an act that will continue to impress audiences and progress as musicians.  They're a can't miss bluegrass band for sure!

**All photos are courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch.