Modern Leisure is the songwriting project of singer/guitarist Casey Banker. The latter grew up in the Denver metro area and played guitar from a relatively young age before attempting college at UNC in Greeley where he ended up meeting like-minded musicians and forming his first band that played live that anyone who was part of the late 2000s Denver underground music world has heard of called The Don’ts And Be Carefuls. The group made a mark in Denver with well-developed songwriting and exuberant energy as a live band with poetic lyrics that truly channeled the experience of being young and experience all the strong feelings that come from being in your early 20s. Banker’s lyrics were clearly telling stories that felt vivid and thoughtful and the music like a post-punk band with a knack for dance rhythms and evocative melodies. The band faded out by the early 2010s and Banker joined dream pop group Shady Elders for a time until forming a project that could be a vehicle for his creative vision and Modern Leisure was formed in the mid-2010s and garnered attention for Banker’s strong songwriting and charismatic live performances. Before the end of he decade Sumner Erhard joined the band and brought his own accomplished musicianship to the band. But like many musical endeavors Modern Leisure went on hiatus with the pandemic. Banker went on to develop his DJ business as DJ Kay Bay and affiliated with the Weird Touch night when it had a residency at what is now The Roxy on Broadway. That experience gave Banker his current career as a DJ for events including weddings. But of course he had songs in the can and a new set of material he wanted to write and develop and Modern Leisure returned to life with Banker recording new songs with contributions from studio musicians and a producer Jake Supple formerly of the psychedelic rock band Plum and contributions from Will Walden of ambient/psychedelic rock band StaG. The new live edition of Modern Leisure debuted on July 2, 2026 at the Hi-Dive with a lineup that included Erhard and his Dollpile bandmate Isadora Eden proving the continued vitality of the older songs and the vibrancy of the new songs. The lead single “tied in a knot” was released on July 21, 2026 and expresses a catharsis from the oppression of the working class by the oligarchy. Expect further singles to be released throughout 2026 and a new album in 2027.
Listen to our interview with Casey Banker on Bandcamp and follow Modern Leisure at the links below. Modern Leisure will perform at Blucifer’s First Rodeo on Friday 24, 2026 at 7PM at Adrift Tiki Bar.
Queen City Sounds and Art 
You must be logged in to post a comment.