Those of you familiar with Hodi’s Half Note, know it is a great Old Town spot to catch a show with a lot of sound in a more intimate space; the capacity of the venue being around 250 people. First of the night was Maxwell Mud. They classed the scene up, each of the trio wearing a sleek suit and skinny, black tie. You could feel the passion blaring through the speakers with each note they played. They finish their set with a flourish of humility and charisma. Students can see Maxwell Mud at LSC Live, free in the Ramskellar, Wednesday, March 9 at 3:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.
The crowd thinned a bit as Maxwell Mud was replaced by a single drummer, his seemingly low-key sound-check quickly morphed into something that made me a little giddy inside. As the Mama Lenny and the Remedy (MLTR) artists loaded their gear onto the stage, an act they have done at Hodi’s multiple times before, you could tell by their faces this isn’t any old concert, it was more of a celebration. Drummer, Crip Erickson started off with a complex solo, soon joined by bassist, Ben Prytherch, and guitarist, Ken Monks. The three of them become engulfed in a patterned rhythm that made me start to tap my feet. The rest of the band trickled in starting with Kelly Keeler (backing vocals), followed by Thalia Stevenson (keys), and Greta Cornett (trumpet). Last to appear is Mama Lenny herself, or Laniece Schleicher (lead vocals), who walks on with a suitcase full of props. Now I know it is about to get real’ interesting.
It only took seconds into MLTR’s first song, for me to notice the intense chemistry between them. The room is packed, and before long I’m just as captivated as the devoted fans around me. It’s clear they know their audience well. When Schleicher mentions how good it feels to be playing at home [in Fort Collins] again, the whole room roared back at her.
Their act seamlessly manages equilibrium between a strictly hometown feel, and all the sass you’d expect of a full fledged Vegas show. From the band’s carefree demeanor, to the fast paced quality of their jokes and stories, the crowd has quickly become a mass consumer of their product, for good reason.
The group is emotionally evocative in the best kind of way. They play with a fire that doesn’t just exist in what they play, but in how they play it. With a no apologies attitude and an air of complete confidence, Mama Lenny and the Remedy perform with the freedom to deliver something bold. It’s not until Schleicher pulls out a kazoo, as if it’s the most normal thing in the world, that I realize how versatile this band is.
About half way through, in unison the group pulls on matching sunglasses to announce that the next five songs are from their new E.P. “Rain Fire.” I can’t stop thinking back to that the fearless soul and gritty rock I’ve heard so far which is exactly what you want to see in a band.
As promised in “Rain Fire,” Mama Lenny and the Remedy not only made it rain that night, but did so in way that perfectly mirrors Colorado’s eclectic nature.
During the few days following the show, I’ve listened to “Rain Fire” over ten times. My final reaction is that while every song has something unique to offer listeners Mama Lenny and the Remedy are first and foremost live performers. Their charisma on stage gives context and meaning to their work. While the recorded work showcases their talent, the passion they have as seasoned musicians isn’t nearly as apparent. If you have the chance to go catch them live, do so. ASAP.
Collegian Reporter Saruh Fenton can be reached online at music@collegian.com.
