50 States in 50 Weeks… Week 24: New Mexico
posted in: Features • Music News • Rock
Home of: John Denver, Neil Patrick Harris, Demi Moore, Xzibit, The Shins, aliens.
Fun Facts: State Flower: Yucca, State Song: O Fair New Mexico, State Insect: Tarantula Hawk Wasp.
The Venues:
New Mexico is the 6th most sparsely populated state and, not surprisingly, the music venue population is even less dense. Luckily, for the few bands that do decide to play a show off the beaten path in this beautiful state, there are some legitimate options.
Quite possibly the most fantastically named festival in the entire country, the annual ¡Globalquerque! World Music and Culture Festival in, well, Albequerque has been bringing culturally diverse music to the state since 2005. The event was co-founded by Tom Frouge in 2005 and features culturally-specific artists from all over the world” from India to Hungary to Peru”in the span of 2 days. As an added bonus, the attendees get the option to partake in group dance lessons!
Sandwiched between the University of New Mexico and the Rio Grande River, the Sunshine Theater has hosted a diverse line up of acts over the years”from the metal super group roster of HateBreed, Cannibal Corpse, Unearth, Born of Osiris, and Hate Eternal to industrial legends Skinny Puppy (yes, they’re still touring). The venue itself is somewhat small for the caliber of these acts, so it’s a safe bet the house will be packed most of the time!
The Music:
Northern Crowns hangin' out down South
Less than an hour from the Mexican border is the beautiful desert, oasis town of Las Cruces, NM, home to OurStage rockers Northern Crowns. The fashionable duo create songs sounding like traditional indie pop but convey a deeper meaning than the typical prototypes of this genre. Their introspective Man on the Phone will have you singing along and thinking at the same time!
A Lively Overman Family
Not surprisingly, the quirkiest musicians often come from the lesser known corners of our country. For instance, Ian of The Overman Family band learned to play the Banjo upside down, and never reversed the strings, giving the instrument a sort of backwards noise. Together with Gretchen and Obie, the threesome combine classic rock and folk with an old time sound and a flair for political storytelling. They have quite an extensive catalog on OurStage. Go ahead and indulge for some relaxing rock vibes!
Check out these acts and other great New Mexican artists in the Playlist below! Who are your favorite OurStage New Mexicans? Where do you like to see music in New Mexico? Let us know in the comments!