Get Real Denver » Music Q&A: Breezy Porticos

Music Q&A: Breezy Porticos
by John Wenzel on October 9, 2008

Denver’s Breezy Porticos. From l-r: Andy Falconetti, Jeffrey Almond and Eric Van Leuven. Photo by Sarah Cass.

If jangly, doe-eyed indie pop seems like a thing of the past, well, it’s because it sort of is. The sort of charmingly guileless, three-chord tunes that dominated college radio in the ’90s has largely gone the way of the Elephant 6 collective. Which is to say, kaput. Sure, scattered holdouts exist (The Apples in Stereo, Of Montreal, Dressy Bessy, etc.) but these nerdy, Beach Boys-loving kids have either traded in their detuned guitars for synths or stowed them altogether.

That’s why it’s no surprise to hear that Denver indie pop mainstays Breezy Porticos have decided to hang up their sunny harmonies after nearly a decade on the scene. Unfortunate, but no surprise. Luckily we’ll have one last chance to see them on Friday, Oct. 10 at the Hi-Dive, with openers Bad Weather California and Tornado Alley.

We e-mailed the band — Andy Falconetti, Jeffrey Almond and Eric Van Leuven — earlier this week to pick their brains about their final show, what they’ll miss about playing music in Denver and the importance of supporting local bands.

What would you say you’ll miss most about recording and playing music in this town?

Andy – As the Breezy Porticos, we made a lot of good friends with the bands we played with and I treasure those memories as well as the great times the three of us have had. That being said, I don’t think any of us will stop playing music — it just won’t be as the Porticos or necessarily with each other.

Eric - I’m not going to quit playing music or living in Denver, but I will miss hanging out with all the other bands and getting to know all the great people in the scene.

Jeff - I’ll definitely miss hanging out with Andy and Eric. I also feel like I might lose that last tenuous hold on Denver’s music scene.

How have you seen the indie scene here change since you first started in 1999?

Andy – There are more bands and clubs now. When we started Denver was known for its Elephant 6 affiliation (Apples in Stereo, the Minders, Neutral Milk Hotel etc). Now it’s known for the “Denver sound” (Wovenhand, Czars, Slim Cessna, et al).

Eric - I first started playing in the punk scene in the early ’80s, when there were not a lot of venues to play and most bars didn’t want punk rock, they wanted classic rock. We had to be creative and book our own shows, so bands worked together to put on the shows, which made it a more “all for one” feel. Now there are a lot more venues to play and they seem to be more open about the music, but there are a lot more bands that are playing, so the competition for shows is greater.

Jeff - I think support for local music has increased considerably — more clubs, more good bands. I’m kind of on the outside looking in lately, though, having a baby and all.

What’s the primary reason for the band’s final show?

Andy - Nine years for a band is a long time!

Eric - We have made a good run at it, but for me I need to take a break from playing (off and on for 24 years) to re-energize. I think we are playing our best musically right now, so it’s good to go out on a high note.

Jeff - I’d rather focus on the tertiary reason: Having a baby and all…

Who are you favorite local acts of the moment?

All - Bad Weather California / Pseudo Dates / Dressy Bessy / Action Packed Thrill Ride / Six Months To Live / Kingdom of Magic / Everything Absent or Distorted / Cowboy Curse.

Any partings words of wisdom to our readers? Recipes? Jokes?

Andy - Thanks for all of your support throughout the years! Oh, and Jeff likes Rush and makes good baba ghanoush.

Eric - Bring back music in schools!

Jeff - Not words of wisdom so much as a request: Go see local bands.

Check out the Hi-Dive’s website for more information about tomorrow night’s show.

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