Boulder-based i.O. Underground is a modern rock trio that formed in 2018 and released its debut EP The Wonderside in 2020 around the time when all bands had their career in most meaningful senses put on pause much less a fairly new act like i.O. Underground. But the group came together among a group of veteran musicians looking to branch out of musical styles that had defined and limited their range of creative expression and the shutdowns of live music during the early part of the pandemic allowed for some woodshedding of songwriting and development of ideas and material for the 2022 EP The Underside. Lead singer/guitarist/bassist Grayson had come up through the New York underground blues and jazz scenes of the 1990s and 2000s having played the subways before one needed a permit to do so. Guitarist/keyboard player/bassist/vocalist Casey Kannenberg was part of the Chicago music scene before moving to Colorado and drummer/vocalist Beau Harding, from Boulder, was a touring musician with singer-songwriters like Jeff Brinkman and Lee Nestor. There is coherence to the way the musicians work together that speaks well to their use of cultivated chops in crafting affecting atmospheric rock songs that are clearly as informed by current sensibilities and production techniques as they are classic pop songwriting. There is some grit and some dark moods on the new EP as suggested by the title but it never gets mired in melancholic angst, more a catharsis after a prolonged period of feeling hemmed in by circumstances beyond one’s control and otherwise. The group has a practice space and occasionally performs at non-profit arts space Roots Music Project in Boulder where it had the EP release in July 2022, a fortunate circumstance these days when practice spaces aren’t so easy to come by and for Boulder having a place to showcase your music.
Listen to our interview with Grayson on Bandcamp linked below the video for “What U Do” and for more information on i.O. Underground and to give is music a listen please visit iounderground.com.
Queen City Sounds and Art 
You must be logged in to post a comment.