Before It All

Lawn Chair Kings

The fifth album from Lawn Chair Kings features Patrick Dressen (drums, vocals), Dan Leek (bass, vocals), Erik Nordstrom (vocals, guitar), and Hap Purcell (banjo, guitar).

“...subtle twang dances with click-clack punkabilly rhythms…they’re a band that connects the dots between Buck Owens and Camper Van Beethoven.” -Bryant Liggett, The Durango

The fifth album from Lawn Chair Kings features Patrick Dressen (drums, vocals), Dan Leek (bass, vocals), Erik Nordstrom (vocals, guitar), and Hap Purcell (banjo, guitar).

“...subtle twang dances with click-clack punkabilly rhythms…they’re a band that connects the dots between Buck Owens and Camper Van Beethoven.” -Bryant Liggett, The Durango Herald

"The Kings are at their best when they rock, and the 2019 lineup of original members Nordstrom (guitar) and Dan Leek (bass) and more recent additions Patrick Dressen (drums) and Hap Purcell (banjo, guitar) is my favorite of their incarnations. “Runaway Truck,” “Malacrianza” and “Food Fight at the Golden Corral” are welcome additions to their canon." -Chris Aaland, The Durango Telegraph

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Virtually Acoustic

Lawn Chair Kings

“Stripped down and un-amplified, the Lawn Chair Kings are just as fun, just as quirky, and just as killer.”-Bryant Liggett, KDUR

“...There’s decades of music fandom amongst the members, as a love of Camper Van Beethoven and The Meat Puppets is as equal to a love of Doc Watson and The Osborne Brothers, and all of that comes out whether plugged in

“Stripped down and un-amplified, the Lawn Chair Kings are just as fun, just as quirky, and just as killer.”-Bryant Liggett, KDUR

“...There’s decades of music fandom amongst the members, as a love of Camper Van Beethoven and The Meat Puppets is as equal to a love of Doc Watson and The Osborne Brothers, and all of that comes out whether plugged in or not. The acoustic version of the Lawn Chair Kings gives fans a chance to dig the lyrics of Nordstrom; you’ll find yourself climbing into his world of alien abduction, the acquisition of some cheap beer and the pursuit of the perfect punk rock show. No fluff. No predictable, Centennial State band rehashing of snow covered mountains and frosty rivers, as this is for the weirdos on Colfax or the punk-rock loving Durango 40-somethings taking a pull of a mini of fireball ready to become a lyric in Nordstrom’s next song.” -Bryant Liggett, DGO Magazine & KDUR

"The Lawn Chair Kings have morphed from garage rock to alternative country to bluegrassy Americana in their 17-year career. Quite simply, they’re the best bar band in town. They held the release party for their fourth record, “Virtually Acoustic,” last Saturday at the Ranch. The album was recorded in Erik Nordstrom’s scary basement a few years back. Ever since Patrick Dressen joined on drums and mandolin, they’ve mastered the subtleties of an acoustic set. Dressen is a four-decade veteran of the Durango bluegrass wars with such bands as the Badly Bent, Heart & Soul and, for you old-timers, the Marmot Mudflaps. Factor in ace-in-the-hole Hap Purcell on banjo and newcomer Alissa Wolf (fiddle, although the “Virtually Acoustic” recordings happened before she joined LCK), and you have the makings of a bluegrass tour de force. Anyone who has sat around or joined campground picks at Pagosa festivals in re- cent years knows that Nordstrom is an acoustic guitarist well- versed in classic bluegrass. And Dan Leek’s transition from electric bass to the doghouse has been remarkably seamless. Highlights from the disc includes “Rock and Roll Feelin’ in My Heart,” “Big Day in the City” (which features Robin Davis on fiddle) and “Alien Abductee.” The latter has been in the group’s repertoire since the beginning, first appearing on a hard-to-find radio EP called “Suburban Rock Favorites” and remaining a popular request at their shows ever since." -Chris Aaland, The Durango Telegraph

(as translated by Google): "Again a little difficult label to remember this ... After all this band from Durango shows itself than we on this fourth album in a slightly different side were used. The band had some personnel changes and evolved since about the album is recorded one year to five -al for the arrival of fiddler Alissa Wolf grades came amping the rock and punk approach of the previous records temporarily late in the closet and venturing into an almost acoustic setting to tunes that are rolled in country and bluegrass, and thus belong to the folk. However there is very little change to the pointed lyrics of frontman Erik Nordstrom and vocal harmonies sound still as committed as at the time of eg. "Lawn Chair Kings II" from three years ago. Ten songs are on this CD and which are, as far as I could tell that all the work of Nordstrom and they are in that "classic" that they in terms of instrumentation, vocals and ambience right look from the bluegrass to tribes. That means that the instrumental interventions Banjo Hap Purcell and the rhythm parts of drummer Patrick Dressen and bassist Dan Seemed rather refer to Bill Monroe than to Camper Van Beethoven, however the biggest impact of the tire, according to Nordstrom itself. In terms of feeling and intensity, we are again in the punk: you're a musician yourself as obliged to give you one hundred percent in a song, with less can not be satisfied. This attitude leads, along with the excellent song material to a festive image you 32 minutes hips or toetappend takes you on a tour that stops in places where "Who Drink All That Beer" is sung, which, like "Unrequited Love" Commander Cody could have been. With 5 minutes 11 seconds, "Got What You Need" length champion of the plate and the text about a young girl who has lost both literally and figuratively the road and enters eenmilieu that you do not wish for your daughter, a definite highlight. This is great songwriting, at least to my ears. The bittersweet "She Is not My Girl" is almost the antithesis of the Beatles' "She's a Woman" and "Little Me" reminds me again and again thinking of Jonathan Richman. In my musical scale horse is not at all a bad reference. The closing Song 4 U link I again Todd Snider and I think the least wrong. So what to think of this album as a whole? Super innovative is certainly not, but the record does provide a completely different view of a tire, which we had previously set aside a bit of a genre that is no longer ours. With this approach, they find themselves again and I must say that if I would see announced a concert of them, I would rush to the box office for a ticket. Some Youtube videos jive concerts confirm Lawn Chair Kings most rewarding wages to be watched and listened to; This record certainly does not say the opposite because she is witty, danceable, played well and sufficiently varied to captivate from beginning to end." -Dani Heyvaert, Rootstime (Belgium)

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Zombies Wake!

Lawn Chair Kings

“songs that walk the line between garage punk, cow punk and country ballads defined by the band as suburban rock, western garage or music for aging punk rockers who discovered classic country sometime in the early ’90s.”-Bryant Liggett, The Durango Herald

The third album from Durango, CO based Lawn Chair Kings features a raw trio sound with Chris

“songs that walk the line between garage punk, cow punk and country ballads defined by the band as suburban rock, western garage or music for aging punk rockers who discovered classic country sometime in the early ’90s.”-Bryant Liggett, The Durango Herald

The third album from Durango, CO based Lawn Chair Kings features a raw trio sound with Chris DiPietro on drums along with founding members Erik Nordstrom (vocals, guitar, harmonica) and Dan Leek (bass, vocals). Staying in the “western garage” tradition, the songs reflect country, rock, pop, and punk influences. Chris has since moved to Denver, but Lawn Chair Kings continue to provide catchy tunes and good-time performances to the Four Corners Region and beyond.

"It's pretty easy to get a feel for what the Lawn Chair Kings are all about from "Zombies," the opening cut on the Durango-based act's third release, Zombies Wake! While the band injects a fair amount of Midwest gritty rock à la the Replacements into the song's chorus, the verses have a bit more alt-country drawl. On the rest of the thirteen-track disc, the Kings clearly feel at home blending both worlds, sometimes favoring one over the other, as on the twangy "Getting' Pretty Good (at Feeling Pretty Bad Over You)," the cow-punky "Greasy Meal" and the country ballad "Smells Like Roses." Elsewhere, on "Local Dive" and "I Fell," they also show an affinity for the pop sensibilities of the Kinks." -Jon Solomon, Denver Westword, Dec 12, 2013

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Lawn Chair Kings ll

Lawn Chair Kings

“This is great grungy country, trailer park Americana, dented LeSabres and Fantas and those lawnchairs with cheap webbing that sag in the middle and fray on the sides—the best kinds! It’s clever, beautiful stuff.” —Katie Klingsporn, Telluride Daily Planet

Lawn Chair Kings have been on the Durango, CO music scene since 2000. They have celebrated a

“This is great grungy country, trailer park Americana, dented LeSabres and Fantas and those lawnchairs with cheap webbing that sag in the middle and fray on the sides—the best kinds! It’s clever, beautiful stuff.” —Katie Klingsporn, Telluride Daily Planet

Lawn Chair Kings have been on the Durango, CO music scene since 2000. They have celebrated a “western garage” flavor, with country, rock, pop, and punk influences. Known for their catchy tunes and good-time performances, Lawn Chair Kings have been a steady force in the Four Corners Region. They are currently plowing fresh, fertile soil with their exciting new release, “Lawn Chair Kings II”, a collection of new songs and old stand-bys, including “Mama She Carried a Heavy Heavy Load”, “Back Again”, “Time Will Tell”, and “What Were Ya’ Doin’”. The current line up features Dan Leek (bass/vox), Steve Mendias (drums, vox), Erik Nordstrom (vox, guitar, harmonica), and Kelly Rogers (lap steel, guitar, vox). While their static-producing retro TV set is broken, they are working to fix it. Special guests include Dan Peha (banjo), Josh Peters (keyboard), Chris Ross (trumpet), and Rick Quinn (accordion). "Lawn Chair Kings II" was mixed by Dale X Allen and mastered by Cris Burns at Fire Mastering in Austin, TX. The CD’s eye-catching design was completed by Rosie Carter. Lawn Chair Kings II has arrived just in time to save BBQ season! Scrape off the grill, let your bare feet settle into the astroturf, and open a cold one...

“Ten years is an eternity to remain relevant in rock and roll, let alone as a local act. Thanks in no small part to pink flamingos, cocktail umbrellas and rusted-out trailers, the Lawn Chair Kings have cleared that hurdle. The outfit officially marks its first decade with the release of a second full-length album, cleverly titled "Lawn Chair Kings II."

For a quartet that has alternately dubbed its music "suburban rock" and "Western garage," the four-year wait between recordings was well worth it. Just like a spring wedding, there's a bit of old, new, borrowed and blue. Some songs are familiar: "Second Hand Store" is one the boys have been doing for years. There's freshness in surf numbers like "El Gato." The borrowed? Lots of guests make appearances, including Dan Peha's banjo on "Time Will Tell," Josh Peters' Question-Mark-and-the-Mysterians-inspired organ solo on "El Gato," and Chris Ross' trumpet, which lends a Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass feel just as it did to their eponymous debut in 2006. And blues - the kind you feel in your gut after a breakup - surface in "After What We've Been Thru."

The strength of this band has been frontman Erik Nordstrom's keen eye for kitschy Americana. Playful numbers have sprung up on LCK recordings and set lists since their 2001 EP featured such ditties as "Alien Abductee" - a staple on KDUR for years. The new release follows suit with tunes like "Horse Hockey," "Monster Trux," and the aforementioned "Second Hand Store." If you've ever attended a cocktail party or barbecue at the Nord's house, you realize it's not an act ... he really is the kind of guy who collected comic books as a kid and probably even wore a little red cowboy hat with a silver deputy badge.

One element of the band that continues to develop is its musicianship. Nordstrom, bassist Dan Leek and drummer Steve Mendias have gelled through the years. The addition of multi-instrumentalist Kelly Rogers (lap steel, mandolin and guitar) to their live sets added honky-tonk grit and energy; on "Lawn Chair Kings II," Rogers' lap steel roughens up the sound, which is a good thing in the wasteland between country and rock. Mixed in Austin, Texas, by Dale X Allen (you've seen him countless times playing guitar for Genuine Cowhide and Dave Insley & the Careless Smokers), the finished product will remain in your CD player for a long time.”-Chris Aaland, The Durango Telegraph

“We headed out with a big band of friends Saturday night to celebrate with one of Durango’s most iconic bands, The Lawn Chair Kings, who feted the release of their new CD at Durango’s most iconic bar, El Rancho Tavern. It was a match made in Purgatory. LCK shared the spotlights with The Freeman Social, who also were cranking out the tunes for a new CD. It was a rocking night for a packed house.

A friend of mine pointed out that when we someday look back, the Lawn Chair Kings will be the soundtrack for our memories of Durango in the ’00s.

Well, they may also become the soundtrack of the ’10s for Durango — and lots of other more far-ranging fans — if the new CD is any indicator of what’s to come from the band.

“Lawn Chair Kings II” is a fun and festive blend of well-written and polished alt-country tunes — done in a style the band calls “western garage.”

The band is fronted by guitarist and vocalist Erik Nordstrom…Backing Erik is Steve Mendias on drums, the versatile Kelly Rogers and lap steel and guitar, and Dan Leek on bass.

Garage, maybe; Western, fer sure. 21st century Western. It all says summer in the mountains to me. And when I’m heading up there (soon!) I know what’ll be pouring out my truck’s open windows.” –Ken Wright, InsideOutsideMag.com

"This is an album that will fit multiple music tastes. A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll, it is built on smooth melodies and brightly contagious lyrics. The perfect party album, it should played over and over for any occasion."-Cora Younie, Durango Living, Dec 1, 2013

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Lawn Chair Kings

Lawn Chair Kings

The debut album from Lawn Chair Kings--western garage from Southwest Colorado.

Formed in 2000, it took 6 years before Lawn Chair Kings released their first full album. Starring Steve Stokes on guitar, Steve Mendias on drums, Dan Leek on bass, and Erik Nordstrom on vocals and guitar, "Lawn Chair Kings" also features guest appearances from Anders

The debut album from Lawn Chair Kings--western garage from Southwest Colorado.

Formed in 2000, it took 6 years before Lawn Chair Kings released their first full album. Starring Steve Stokes on guitar, Steve Mendias on drums, Dan Leek on bass, and Erik Nordstrom on vocals and guitar, "Lawn Chair Kings" also features guest appearances from Anders Beck on lap steel, Chris Ross on trumpet, and Bryant Liggett on banjo. This is music that evokes the beauty and mystery of the four corners region: trailers, mountains, discarded TV sets, canyons, and barstools.

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