The lineup of Chocolate Merlot consists of guitarist Matt Flaherty, drummer Scott “Scotty” Llewellyn, bassist Rob Garland, and the occasional appearance of keyboardist Dylan Teifer. All have played in different bands across the state over the years, and guitarist Flaherty refers to it as a “supergroup.” While Flaherty and Garland come from a more jazz-fusion background, all of them are into the group dynamic of jam bands. Garland claims the band met because of their shared love of “psychedelics, alcohol, and being weird.”

While some of the band members have music degrees, some of them are just playing music for fun. Garland started playing trombone in third grade, switching to electric bass by eighth grade. While he took a few music classes, such as music theory, in college, he did not graduate with an official music degree.

In general, the band got together for the fun of it all. Flaherty believes that the energy that the band gets from the crowd is one of the most rewarding aspects of being able to play live. He also feels that “music is a good distraction from the nonsense” of the world, and says that often in their shows, they will poke fun at current world events that they feel deserve to be made fun of.

Garland mentions that some of the band members have day jobs outside of playing for Chocolate Merlot, so “traveling and the excitement that comes with it” is a major highlight of being part of the group. He loves the freedom of expression that comes from performing live and how everyone plays off each other on stage. Being able to perform music is a highlight of their lives, and they hope to keep doing it and having fun.

You can catch Chocolate Merlot live at The Covered Wagon, 15 East 1st Street in Nederland, on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at 9 p.m. Here are the listings of live music this week! Check it out and support your local musicians.

Busey Brews

Sunday, May 8 at 2 p.m. - Kylie Brock

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BuseyBrews/

Website: https://buseybrews.com/

Email: contact@buseybrews.com

Location: 70 E. 1st Street, Nederland

Phone: 1-855-633-2739

Caribou Room

Friday, May 20 at 8 p.m. - Twang is Dead featuring Dave Watts

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecaribouroom/

Website: https://www.thecaribouroom.com/

Location: 55 Indian Peaks Drive, Nederland

Phone: 303-258-3637

Covered Wagon

Every Thursday at 7 p.m. - Karaoke

Saturday, April 23 at 9 p.m. - Chocolate Merlot

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coveredwagonrestaurantsaloon/

Website: https://www.coveredwagonrestaurant.com/

Location: 15 East 1st Street, Nederland

Phone: 303-258-7578

Gold Hill Inn

Friday, April 29 at 8:30 p.m. - New Family Dog w/Melly Sponselee

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoldHillInn/

Website: goldhillinn.com

Email: cfinn@goldhillinn.com; bfinn@goldhillinn.com

Location: 401 Main Street, Gold Hill.

Phone: 303-443-6461

Gold Hill Store & Pub

Every Saturday at 7 p.m. - Live Music Website: goldhillstore.com Location: 531 Main Street, Gold Hill Phone: 303-443-7724

Howlin Wind Brewing

Saturday, April 23 at 5 p.m. - Dakota Gray Trio

Saturday, April 30 at 4 p.m. - Jacy Anderson

Website: https://www.howlinwindbrewing.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/howlinwindbrewing

Location: 51 A Main Street, Rollinsville.

Phone: 309-825-5245

Jamestown Mercantile

Thursday, April 21 at 7 p.m. - River Arkansas

Friday, April 22 at 7 p.m. - Thomas Dow

Thursday, April 28 at 7 p.m. - Chris Sheldon and Friends

Friday, April 29 at 7 p.m. - Brandywine and the Mighty Fines

Thursday, May 5 at 7 p.m. - Matty G Band

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestown.mercantile/

Website: https://www.jamestownmercantile.com/

Location: 108 Main Street, Jamestown.

Phone: 303-442-5847

Knotted Root Brewing

Every Sunday at 5 p.m. - Nedtet with Blackdog

Website: https://www.knottedrootbrewing.com/home

Location: 250 N. Caribou Street, Nederland.

Phone: 720-248-7129

Last Stand Tavern

Friday, April 22 at 6 p.m. - Karaoke with PJ the DJ

Saturday, April 23 at 5 p.m. - David Booker

Friday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. - Karaoke with Phil the Jukebox

Saturday, April 30 at 5 p.m. - Derek Hall

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laststandtavern/

Website: http://laststandtavern.com/

Email: laststandtavern@gmail.com

Location: 32138 Highway 72, Coal Creek Canyon. Phone: 303-642-3180

Ned’s Cafe

Dam Jam on Thursdays at 10 p.m. Karaoke on Sundays at 7 p.m.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eatatneds/

Website: https://www.eatatneds.com/

Email: eatatneds@gmail.com

Location: 121 N. Jefferson Street, Nederland.

Phone: 303-258-0614

Nederland Farmers Market

Sunday, May 8 at 10:30 a.m. - Darcy Nelson

Sunday, May 22 at 10:30 a.m. - Eric Richard Stone

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NederlandFarmersMarket/

Website: https://www.nederlandfarmersmarket.org/

Email: nederlandfarmersmarket@gmail.com

Location: 85 E. 1st Street, Nederland.

United Center

Saturday, May 21 at 7 p.m. - The Bonnie and Taylor Simms Band

Website: http://www.unitedcenterinc.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnitedCenterInc/

Email: unitedcenterinc@gmail.com

Location: 1440 Colorado Boulevard Idaho Springs

Phone: 303-900-8689

Very Nice Brewing Company

Thursday, April 21 at 6 p.m. - Dan Williams

Facebook: www.facebook.com/verynicebeer

Website: www.verynicebrewing.com/

Location: 20 E. Lakeview Drive, #112, Nederland.

Phone: 303-258-3770

Did we miss you?

Did we miss your music listing in the Peak to Peak area? Do you have updates to your business? Please call 303-810- 5409 or email publisher1977@gmail.com to be included in the next edition.