Mancos gained musical notoriety in December by starring in the Stillhouse Junkies’ latest music video.
The band’s new single “(Mancos) Kind of Saturday Night” is an ode to small-town life. The music video was shot in a single take and features landmarks in town including the Mancos Opera House and the Columbine Bar.
“All three of us grew up in small towns, and we like the small-town scene and vibe,” said band member Fred Kosak. “And I thought it would be kind of fun to go over there and perform it.”
The performance turned into a video in town.
The Durango-based trio plays what they call “progressive American roots” – a blend of roots, blues, funk, swing and bluegrass music. The musicians include Alissa Wolf on fiddle, Cody Tinnin on bass and banjo, and Kosak on the guitar and mandolin. They’ve played together for almost two years, and all three share the job of vocals.
They have played many times in Mancos at Fenceline Cider and Mancos Brewing Co. and always had “great experiences” there, Kosak said.
“We’ve always had a great time, and Mancos folks like to come out and dance and show their appreciation,” he said.
So they decided to feature Mancos in their lyrics and music video.
The song itself is an upbeat, honky-tonk tune that aims to capture the essence of Mancos and small-town life.
The video opens with Kosak walking down the street. He then enters the Mancos Opera House and climbs up the stairs, where his bandmate Alissa Wolf fiddles on the stage.
The two then depart, are joined by the last member of their crew Cody Tinnin, and cross Grand Avenue into the Columbine Bar, where locals are hanging out and dancing. The three musicians pick up their instruments and finish out the tune before the video fades away.
It was shot in a single take, which required preparation and knowing the choreography well in advance, Kosak said.
“Fortunately, Mancos isn’t the hardest place to get a clean shot of the street without cars going by,” he said.
They also wanted some old cars in the background, and found volunteers willing to share their vehicles for the afternoon.
Stillhouse Junkies had never actually performed at the Columbine, and they arrived at the decision to feature the bar somewhat by a fluke. Kosak was working on the lyrics and was looking for a word that rhymed with “moonshine” – he arrived at “columbine.”
“That took on a different meaning,” he said.
They advertised and found locals and friends willing to dance and lounge at the Columbine for the shoot. The site ended up matching well to the song’s vibe, Kosak said, with its “Western roadhouse” feel and “honky-tonk vibe.”
“That’s the local place where we all love to go and spend time,” he said.
The band also is headed to Cortez Jan. 18, when they will perform at the Sunflower Theatre at 7 p.m. For information, visit their website.
ealvero@the-journal.com
