Connor Davison, Kerry Alexander and Chris Hoge
Last night, I could have easily been at a show in Minneapolis. Bad Bad Hats headlined, there were numerous Macalester grads in the audience, and the crowd sang along to every song like they've known about the band forever. But I was actually in Denver, Colorado, at the Hi-Dive. Who knew Bad Bad Hats had such a following out west?
Kerry Alexander and Chris Hoge met while attending Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. In 2012, they formed indie pop rock band Bad Bad Hats with friend and bassist Noah Boswell, and began performing around the Twin Cities. That's where I first saw them in 2013 (perform an acoustic set in an unfurnished living room, no less) and fell in love. They've now released an EP and two full length albums, and are only just getting started.
For Lightning Round they again worked with producer and collaborator Brett Bullion, who also produced their first LP, Psychic Reader. But sadly, Lightning Round signals the departure of original band member Boswell, who has left the group this fall to pursue a master’s degree in (where else, but!) Denver. Boswell at least got to be at this show, and I think that made a huge difference in the authenticity of the performance.
Now that I live out in Colorado, I see much less live music than I did when I lived in the Twin Cities. It frustrates me and truly, I miss Minneapolis' music scene. But last night I got to see Kerry, Chris, Connor Davison (joining the band on bass) and Reece Kling (joining on drums for tour), hang out in a vocal, appreciative crowd, and listen to some of my favorite music live. Sure, I had driven 45 minutes down to Denver on a weeknight and was at a venue for the first time ever. But I didn't care where I was. I just felt at home.
For Lightning Round they again worked with producer and collaborator Brett Bullion, who also produced their first LP, Psychic Reader. But sadly, Lightning Round signals the departure of original band member Boswell, who has left the group this fall to pursue a master’s degree in (where else, but!) Denver. Boswell at least got to be at this show, and I think that made a huge difference in the authenticity of the performance.
Now that I live out in Colorado, I see much less live music than I did when I lived in the Twin Cities. It frustrates me and truly, I miss Minneapolis' music scene. But last night I got to see Kerry, Chris, Connor Davison (joining the band on bass) and Reece Kling (joining on drums for tour), hang out in a vocal, appreciative crowd, and listen to some of my favorite music live. Sure, I had driven 45 minutes down to Denver on a weeknight and was at a venue for the first time ever. But I didn't care where I was. I just felt at home.
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