Before you ask – the answer is "yes". a. Tom Collins is the great-great-grandson of Tom Collins, creator of the eponymous gin cocktail. Other notable relations, near and distant, include British monarch Anne Boleyn, second-man-on-the-moon Buzz Aldrin, fictional detective Hercule Poirot, and saxophonist Clarence Clemons. But here we are, in the present moment, the only time that actually exists – according to Zen Buddhism (and The Stooges) – and a. Tom Collins walks among us; taking note of the wilderness of horrors and occasional blips of joy that are this waking Life – and turning them into boozy, moody, stomp-and-wrangle-worthy anthems of the Now Times. With inexhaustible insight and a smoky voice, Collins slithers, smooths and seduces his notes into your skull and soul; lilting and tilting the moments between awareness and suffering; the hot potato game of tragic flaws; leaning on and propping up love, alternately. When not hammering at a piano and caterwauling the damnable Truth with his amazing band, a. Tom Collins enjoys raising rare and endangered cacti (and select other succulents) in his sprawling conservatory, non-competitive baton-fighting, and sitting alone in a darkened room smoking bidis and watching 16mm loops of WWI newsreels.

Known for their distinctive brand of emotionally rich American indie-rock, Flashbulb Fires has a genuine conviction to push the boundaries of popular music. The Denver band's knack for combining dynamic song structures with beautifully magnetic arrangements is instantly recognizable, while their live show is immediately captivating, blending polished artistry and raw electricity. With an energy akin to the Arcade Fire and lyrical sketches reminiscent of Pedro the Lion and The National, Flashbulb Fires' music is both evocative and meticulously crafted.

"Bonnie and the Beard has a wayward traveler-feel about its sound — if Vaudville Americana were a genre, the local trio would be at the top of it."
(Bree Davis, Westword Backbeat)

Bonnie and the Beard is a vivacious group– often quite salacious, lost deeply in dream and delirium. They spin tales of outlaws, redemption and longing through their own brand of boot-stomping southern-blues/gypsy-rock.

"They deliver their songs with such a charming playful seriousness it's hard not to get sucked into the fun."
(Peter Washington, Concerted Effort)

They began playing together after spending a hazy summer writing as the old, dusty cowboys they admired. Wandering through canyons and sharing fireside meals with their wolf dog, their stories of reckless rebels began to pour into rousing and passionate songs. They're almost a wheelin' dealin' circus band. Their raw energy and husky voices conjure up images of open desert road, nights under the stars and rusty Cadillacs.

"Bonnie and the Beard possess a sound that is both sweet and sultry yet still raw and rawkus. Combining a bit of delta blues with indie-rock sensibilities, Bonnie and Beard sing about the struggle of human existence with the pipes to knock the dust off the highest rafters of any smoky bar."
(Illegal Pete's / Suburban Home Records)