Echo of the '90s
By Nano Watson, Contributing Writer
In the early 1990s, Boulder was a hub of hippie and indie culture. The city was a hotspot for jam bands like the Samples, which formed in 1987 and Big Head Todd and the Monsters, which got its start in 1993. CU Alumna Amy Garris (PoliSci ‘95) was fascinated by the music scene at the time and sang in a folk-rock band called The Floodplain Gang.
“Things were definitely a lot looser, and there were no influencers around,” she said. “Boulder was a crunchy granola hippie scene back then. It was definitely groovy, you know, peace, love and rock and roll.”
Garris still sings today and says the music scene has changed since she was a CU student.
“When I go to Boulder now, the people in town look different,” she said. “The style of music that young people are into now is totally different.”
While you might catch a glimpse of ’90s rock today, electronic beats are now the jam. Students today are bumping to electronic dance music, known as EDM. Frat parties on The Hill and venues like the Fox Theater are packed for solo acts. DJs are hot, like John Galloway, whose stage name is Gallow.
“Everyone’s a DJ in Boulder now,” he said. “Being a DJ, you get a lot of attention, and I think people see that and want to do it.”
The fundamentals of being a DJ are relatively simple: a computer, some headphones and a mixing table.
CU student Daniel Mankin is majoring in creative technology and design. He started his own electronic music production company putting on concerts and events.
“There’s so many EDM shows that happen outside of fraternities in Boulder,” he said. “That’s amazing, and people don’t get the opportunity in other college campuses like that.”
Illegal Pete’s restaurant and bar on The Hill offered live rock music on weekends. Starting this spring, Assistant General Manager Kayden Muer says they will switch to DJs.
Garris says the shift is bittersweet.
“Paying a band is more expensive than paying a DJ,” she said. “A lot of it comes down to economics.”
Garris can still remember the old days: the peaceful and loving atmosphere, the drugs and the Grateful Dead shows.
“I hope that young people are still feeling the draw to organic music in addition to feeling the energy of some of the electronic stuff that gives you that different vibe and a different energy,” she said. “I have to think that there’s still a market for instruments and harmonies and all the cool things.”
