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Lyons flood leads to inspired songwriting

In 2013, a flood in Lyons destroyed businesses, wrecked homes and drastically changed residents’ lives.

Musician Terry Kishiyama’s house was spared, but the bridge to his home was taken out; it still hasn’t been replaced.

After the disaster, the guitar player and vocalist for rock band Interstate Stash Express, began writing songs, which currently are being recorded for an album due this year.

“The flood changed me personally,” Kishiyama said in a phone interview last week. “If people know our music, they’ll be surprised to hear our new stuff, because it’s got a much darker twist. The silver lining was songwriting, a life-changing event, and here comes the songs.”

Interstate Stash Express, which in addition to Kishiyama, are Thom McKee on drums and James Smith on bass, will play the Balcony Backstage on Friday night.

Kishiyama and McKee’s musical relationship began in Nebraska; a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park resulted in the two bailing on the Midwest and relocating to the Front Range. That was 15 years ago when Nederland and surrounding communities were blowing up with bluegrass and jam bands.

“We knew something was going on out here,” Kishiyama said. “We landed here, and we didn’t have our feet at all. But we were here, and we were stoked.”

After relocating, both came and went in other musical outfits, then a loose jam with bass player Smith resulted in the trio.

They’re more than a jam band among the many other jam bands on the Front Range. There are extended solos and improvisation, much like the Allman Brothers. But they also are a power trio, leaning more toward the aggressive sound of Cream than the laid-back and loose musical interpretations of the Relix Magazine genre. For press needs, they dubbed their sound “Psychedelic Americana.”

“It’s a blend of, I say Americana, because there’s so much going on. There’s blues and jazz and fusion and country and bluegrass and honky-tonk and heavy metal and rock and roll,” Kishiyama said. “We still talk about it, like ‘What are we? What are we called?’ I think in the end it’s rock ’n’ roll.”

They’re recording their forthcoming record in their own studio. It’s about the music, but it’s also about the three people making that music. They’re a cohesive unit; there’s no interchangeable parts, and they won’t replace one part with a new part if something isn’t working.

“It’s been the same three original dudes since we formed. There’s a lot of bands around that say, ‘We got a new keyboard player, the drummer’s different,’” Kishiyama said. “We pride ourselves on being like ZZ Top. It’s three of us. If one of us goes, the band is no more.”

Liggett_b@fortlewis.edu. Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager.

Bryant’s Best

Friday: Rock music with Interstate Stash Express, 9 p.m., the Balcony Backstage, 600 Main Ave. upstairs, 764-4083. No cover.

Saturday: Folk music with Elle Carpenter, 7 p.m. Steaming Bean, 915 Main Ave., 385-7901. No cover.



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