Over a decade ago, Eric Halborg and Cole Rudy met as part of the Denver indie music scene. At the time, Halborg played and wrote for the punk band The Swayback (he currently also plays for Wabi), and Rudy played for the groups Barnacle and Varlet. Striking conversations, the two realized they both loved old-school blues.
Halborg had practiced harmonica privately for a few years, finding time in the car after his stereo was stolen. When Rudy realized this, he asked Halborg to play for him, the first time Halborg had played harmonica for anyone else. From there, the two decided to form their own group, with Halborg providing guitar, harmonica, and vocals and Rudy providing guitar, lap steel, mandolin, and additional vocals.
Eventually, the two fleshed out the lineup and thus the group’s sound by adding a drummer/percussionist and a bassist – Carl Sorensen serves as the former, with the latter role previously filled by Casey Sidwell and currently by Hunter Roberts. However, Halborg and Rudy are still the core of the group, called Dragondeer, creating the basic structure of the songs that the whole band fleshes out. Halborg loves the spontaneous back-and-forth among the musicians when he performs with the group on stage, and he loves directly experiencing the energy of the crowd and fellow musicians. He hopes the audience recognizes the group’s love of their performances and feels inspired by their energy.
Despite sharing a name and having the same December 31 birthday, Tom Hamilton Jr (born in 1978) is not connected to Aerosmith’s bassist (not a junior and born in 1951). However, the younger Tom Hamilton has still had a storied music career. His father (Tom Hamilton Sr., of course) started as a drummer, and by the time Junior and his older brother Jim were born, seinor primarily played bass, performing in Philadelphia with a classic rock/blues band. For Junior, growing up with a band constantly playing in his basement, being a musician was a normal vocation for his family. His father never pressured him to play, but Junior felt it was a way to connect and communicate – he never focused on the idea of being successful.
However, he has constantly worked in music for almost 35 years, initially playing bars with Jim at around 12 years old. As a result, he has organically built success for himself and the material he writes and performs. His first dedicated venture came directly out of high school in the late 90s, with himself and three other classmates (including Jim) forming Brothers Past, a band that ultimately ended with a completely different lineup. By the late 2000s, Hamilton formed American Babies, which focused on a more acoustically-driven sound, and Electron, a casual jam band that still plays, but only occasionally.
In 2013, another new band was formed by chance. The Dean Ween Group, the side project of Mickey Melchiondo from Ween, was meant to perform at the Brooklyn Bowl but pulled out close to the performance. One of the members, Joe Russo, was asked to assemble a new group to fill the gap. Russo and Hamilton, having already played together in American Babies, considered a Grateful Dead tribute show. Russo toured with Bob Weir and Phil Lesh of The Dead in the group Furthur and Hamilton started performing Dead covers early on, so the two joked about playing Dead tunes without Russo’s “bosses.” Ultimately, Russo recruited Hamilton and the lineup from the former’s band Bustle In Your Hedgerow – experimental jazz musician Marco Benevento, Ween bassist Dave Dreiwitz, and guitarist Scott Metzger (also from American Babies) – to form Joe Russo’s Almost Dead as a one-time event. A recording of the show went viral, a second show they decided to perform sold out, and they’ve been performing ever since.
Hamilton’s most recent venture is Ghost Light, although he has many other credits. He has toured with four members of The Dead – Lesh as part of Phil and Friends and Bill Kreutzmann, Bob Weir, and Mickey Hart as part of Billy and the Kids. He even played at Red Rocks as part of Jerry Garcia’s 80th Birthday Symphonic Celebration. He produced an independent release for Kurt Vile early in their careers, produced and recorded the Disco Biscuits album Planet Anthem, and produced and recorded the Mason Porter album Thunder in the Valley.
He has always preferred playing with others, as the musicians can improvise and work off each other’s energy. He’s focused so much on group performances that it was only in 2024 that he started working on his debut solo record. He has always loved the sense of adventure that comes with performing and touring, and he hopes in some way, people are moved by the art he creates and the work he dedicates to his music.
You can see Eric Halborg and Cole Rudy of Dragondeer open for Tom Hamilton, Jr. and an accompanying band at The Caribou Room, 55 Indian Peaks Drive in Nederland, on Friday, September 27, 2024. Doors open and dinner starts at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. You can browse the massive catalog of Tom Hamilton, Jr. by going to tomhamiltonjr.com and learn more about Eric and Cole’s main project at dragondeer.com.
Music Events
Busey Brews
Sunday, September 15 at 2 p.m. - Ella Wren
Sunday, September 22 at 2 p.m. - Pineytops Duo
Sunday, September 29 at 2 p.m. - Dan Williams Trio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BuseyBrews/
Website: https://buseybrews.com/
Location: 70 E. 1st Street, Nederland
Phone: 1-855-633-2739
Gold Hill Inn
Friday, September 13 at 8 p.m. - Rolling Harvest
Sunday, September 15 at 5:30 p.m. - Silent Bear
Friday, September 20 at 8 p.m. - The NoGo Gilbillies
Saturday, September 21 at 7 p.m. - Natalie Spears Trio
Sunday, September 22 at 6:30 p.m. - Fly in the Ointment
Friday, September 27 at 8 p.m. - Matt Skinner Band
Saturday, September 28 at 7 p.m. - Greg Schochet Trio
Sunday, September 29 at 7 p.m. - Sturtz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoldHillInn/
Website: goldhillinn.com
Location: 401 Main Street, Gold Hill
Phone: 303-443-6461
Gold Hill Store
Thursday, September 12 at 7 p.m. - Matt Mitchell Music Co.
Friday, September 13 at 8 p.m. - Ollella
Saturday, September 14 at 7 p.m. - Silver Steven
Sunday, September 15 at 3 p.m. - Lottie’s Cookout (with live music)
Friday, September 20 at 7 p.m. - Charlie White
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gold-Hill-General-Store/
Website: https://www.goldhillstore.com/
Location: 531 Main Street, Gold Hill
Gregory Plaza
Saturday, September 14 at 5 p.m. - The Sisters of Rock
Saturday, September 28 at noon - Jennifer DeDominici and Jonathon Hayes
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackhawksharddistrict/
Website: https://blackhawkharddistrict.com/
Location: 317 Gregory Street, Black Hawk (Mountain Poppy Boutique)
Phone: 720-669-0665
Howlin Wind Brewing
Saturday, September 14 at 4 p.m. - Windy Pines
Sunday, September 15 at 3 p.m. - Matt Mitchell Music Co.
Saturday, September 21 at 4 p.m. - Steepland String Band
Sunday, September 22 all day - Pop up with Justin Rice
Saturday, September 28 at 5 p.m. - NoGo Gilbillies
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/howlinwindbrewing
Website: https://www.howlinwindbrewing.com/
Location: 51 A Main Street, Rollinsville
Phone: 309-825-5245
Jamestown Mercantile
Thursday, September 12 at 7 p.m. - Violet Breeze
Friday, September 13 at 7 p.m. - Pass the Snakes
Sunday, September 15 at 12:15 p.m. - Foggy Tops Bluegrass Band
Wednesday, September 18 at 5 p.m. - Open Mic
Wednesday, September 18 at 6 p.m. - Mike Clark and The Sugar Sounds Duo
Thursday, September 19 at 7 p.m. - Johnny Blueheart
Wednesday, September 25 at 5 p.m. - Open Mic
Thursday, September 26 at 7 p.m. - Unpaid Bills
Friday, September 27 at 7 p.m. - Fast Floyd
Sunday, September 29 at 12:15 p.m. - The Matt Katters
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestown.mercantile/
Website: https://www.jamestownmercantile.com/
Location: 108 Main Street, Jamestown
Phone: 303-442-5847
JKQ BBQ
Friday, September 13 at 6 p.m. - Jeremy Lewis
Saturday, September 14 at 5 p.m. - Jeremy Lewis
Friday, September 20 at 6 p.m. - Adam Pause
Saturday, September 21 at 5 p.m. - Adam Pause
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JkqBbq/
Location: 200 Gregory Street, Black Hawk
Phone: 720-316-1361
Knotted Root Brewing
Saturday, September 14 at 5 p.m. - New Family Dog
Saturday, September 21 at 5 p.m. - Break Signals
Saturday, September 28 at 5 p.m. - Gratefully Acoustic
Fridays at 7 p.m. - DJ Night
Every Second Friday at 7:30 p.m. - Reggae DJ Night
Sundays at 5 p.m. - Jazz Sundays
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knottedrootbrewing/
Website: https://www.knottedrootbrewing.com/home
Location: 250 N. Caribou Street, Nederland
Phone: 720-248-7129
Nederland Farmers Market
Sunday, September 15 at 10:30 a.m. - Stellar Jays Duo
Sunday, September 29 at noon - Kutandara
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NederlandFarmersMarket/
Website: https://www.nederlandfarmersmarket.org/
Email: nederlandfarmersmarket@gmail.com
Location: 85 E. 1st Street, Nederland and 80 E. 2nd Street, Nederland
Old Gallery at Allenspark
Friday, September 20 at 6:30 p.m. - Open Mic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAPOldGallery
Website: https://www.theoldgallery.org/
Location: 14863 Highway 7, Allenspark
Phone: 303-747-2906
The Caribou Room
Friday, September 13 at 7 p.m. - George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners w/ Damon Wood’s Harmonious Junk
Saturday, September 21 at 7 p.m. - White Trash Adult Prom
Friday, September 27 at 7 p.m. - Tom Hamilton (guitarist for Joe Russo’s Almost Dead & Billy and the Kids) with full band with Cole & Eric from Dragondeer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecaribouroom/
Instagram: thecaribouroom
Website: https://www.thecaribouroom.com
Location: 55 Indian Peaks Drive, Nederland
Phone: 303-258-3637
Very Nice Brewing Co. (Gilpin County)
Friday, September 13 at 6 p.m. - Poorfree
Saturday, September 14 at 5 p.m. - Tony Crank
Friday, September 20 at 6 p.m. - David Tilmon
Saturday, September 21 at 5 p.m. - Windy Pines
Friday, September 27 at 6 p.m. - Ella Wren
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verynicebeer
Website: https://www.verynicebrewing.com/
Location: 180 Jankowski Drive, Black Hawk
Phone: 303-582-2015
Very Nice Brewing Co. (Nederland)
Friday, September 13 at 6 p.m. - Mad Dog Blues
Saturday, September 21 at 5 p.m. - Chris Smith
Saturday, September 28 at 5 p.m. - Mountain ReVerb
Sunday, September 29 at 5 p.m. - Rick Lobato
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verynicebeer
Website: https://www.verynicebrewing.com/
Location: 20 E. Lakeview Drive, #112, Nederland
Phone: 303-258-3770
Did we miss you? Want to submit your music listing in the Peak to Peak area? Do you have updates to your business? Please call 303-810-5409 or email info@themountainear.com to be included in the next edition.
