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NEXTnc's Conversation with Wild Nights |
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Written by Marissa Hutton-Gavel
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Thursday, 26 July 2007 |
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 If 40 is the new 20, then the gentleman who compose Wild Nights, a rock ‘n’ roll cover band out of Greeley, are in their prime as far as the music business is concerned.
Though they would never tell you, Ed Young, Paul Wood, Jim Morris, Steve Bagley and Rex Burchett are channeling their inner youth with the pluck of a guitar string or beat of a drum. These five men in their 50s and one 23-year-old lead singer make for wild nights wherever they go.
They aren’t exactly what you’d expect from a rock ’n’ roll band. While the story of how they came together is an age-old tale of a love for music, the events that led up to Hailey Smart, the 20-something blonde alto from Idaho, joining the band are anything but ordinary. The details are a bit hazy, but as Hailey remembers it, she had “a few too many drinks” and approached the stage where the previously all-male group was playing at a party.
“I came up to the stage to request a song, and they said if I could sing it, they would play it.”
NEXTnc: What’s your wildest memories with the band?
PAUL (bass, vocals): For birthdays I like to sing a little song for the ladies … let’s put it this way; She rode me like a pony. She embarrassed me instead of me embarrassing her.
ED (keyboard, vocals): We had to throw five buckets of water on him to get him to finish the set.
NEXTnc: You play covers of classic songs; is there a contemporary song you’d like to play?
REX (guitar, vocals): Simply Red’s “Holding On.”
PAUL: The theme from “Harry and the Hendersons.” You can’t find that anywhere.
JIM (drums, vocals): “If I had a million dollars” by the Barenaked Ladies.
ED: Anything by Coldplay.
HAILEY (vocals): “Heart-Shaped Box” by Nirvana or “Scarlet Begonias” by Sublime.
STEVE: I don’t even listen to new stuff.
NEXTnc: If there was a song written about your band, what would the chorus be?
PAUL: “Oh lord won’t you buy me a new PA. We all sound like crap now and we can’t get away…”
REX: Something about five men and a baby.
HAILEY: I don’t know. I’m not quick on my feet like these boys.
NEXTnc: If you had to change your band’s name, what would you call yourselves?
JIM: We’re old. We’ve been thinking about “Mild Nights.”
REX: …or Geritol.
NEXTnc: If you could learn to play a new instrument, what would it be?
PAUL: Lead guitar — that’s who all the girls go after.
REX: Steel pedal guitar.
ED: Piccalo…I’m tired of carrying those keyboards.
HAILEY: Harmonica or the banjos.
JIM: Guitar.
STEVE: Harmonica.
———
TO GO
Wild Nights at the Art’s Picnic
2:45 p.m., July 29
Lincoln Park
10th Avenue and 8th Street Downtown
Greeley
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|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
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|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
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I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
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|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
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| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
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