In the movies that were churned out during Hollywood’s classic era in the 1930s, journalists mainly handled stress with a bottle of bourbon in their desks and an unending string of half-lit cigarettes.
Luckily, there are healthier ways to deal with stress these days — as former Denver Post employee and longtime banjo player Barry Osborne can attest.
“I was the home page editor, so it required I stayed on top of breaking news, and you had to balance the interests of all the different desks and editors and drive up page views,” Osborne said. “It was a great job, but very stressful. I turned to music to destress. I started taking banjo lessons at Swallow Hill — where I now work — and got my technique down.”
Osborne recently released his debut EP “Back of the Title Page” — the culmination of years of tinkering with songs and lyrics going as far back as college. At the time, he played bass; it wasn’t until after college that he took up the banjo.
“I loved the sound, and I sort of loved that some people dislike the banjo,” he said. “I like instruments — and other things — that never completely fit in.”
After honing his skills at Denver’s Swallow Hill, an organization that connects people to music through learning, performances and more, Osborne started putting his recent experiences to melodies.
“I was inspired by getting older. I’m in my early 40s, which I don’t consider old or anything, but I’ve gained some perspective on life,” he explained. “I name-check some friends I’ve known since high school that have stayed creative in music, literature and activism. They stayed creative and passionate in their endeavors, and I take inspiration from that. I want to be like them — creative and willing to reinvent myself and be passionate about it.”
Recorded in the homes of Osborne and engineer, producer and mixer Brian Nelson, “Back of the Title Page” is a warm and personal album that deepens the more time listeners spends with it. Osborne performed at Denver’s Underground Music Showcase earlier in the year and is working on setting up more shows.
Stay up to date on Osborne’s musical efforts and get his EP at www.barryosbornemusic.com.
Great Pumpkin Nights in Adams County
Few objects speak more clearly of autumn than pumpkins. They’re popping up everywhere now, and that’s how you know fall is truly here.
Adams County has its own unique celebration of this symbolic gourd in Pumpkin Nights, which is hosted at the Adams County Fair and Regional Park Complex, 9755 Henderson Road in Brighton, through Nov. 4.
The immersive experience includes multi-sensory Halloween displays and eight pumpkin lands created with more than 3,000 hand-carved and foam pumpkins. The pumpkin lands include Pumpkin Pirate Cove, Maravilla Lane, Pumpkin Reef, Spider Alley, Forbidden Pumpkin City, Great Pumpkin Hall, Monster Mash and Pumpkin Passage.
There’s also Pumpkin Central, which features treats, seasonal beverages, a movie screening of Pixar’s “Coco,” a pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting and meet-and-greets with pumpkin artists carving giant pumpkins. Pumpkin Central will also host performers, including fire dancers, at the Spirit of Pumpkins Fire Show and offer activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Down with the blues at Lone Tree Arts Center
The blues is the keystone for practically all American music — one that is always reinventing itself and finding new vessels to carry on its ministry.
A genre this important and far-ranging can’t be adequately explored in one evening. But the Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St. in Lone Tree, will give it a go with “Low Down Dirty Blues.” The show runs from Oct. 18 through 27.
Brought to life by Randal Myler and Dan Wheetman, the creative team behind “Muscle Shoals: I’ll Take You There,” the show is a music revue that features such veteran musicians as Tony Award nominee Felicia P. Fields. The musicians gather for an after-hours Saturday night jam session to swap stories and share their favorite blues tunes from the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Billie Holiday, Etta James, Robert Johnson and many more.
The show features well-known tunes like “Rough and Ready Man,” “Born Under A Bad Sign,” “Shake Your Money Maker” and “Change is Gonna Come.”
Call 720-509-1000 or go to www.LoneTreeArtsCenter.org for tickets.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Troye Sivan at Fillmore Auditorium
One of the most exciting aspects about the pop landscape in 2018 is how diverse and eclectic it has become. For so long, only certain kinds of artists were given the spotlight, but South African Troye Sivan is rising to superstardom on his own terms.
He came out to the public as gay in a Youtube video in 2013 and since then has made no attempts to hide or apologize for who he is. This self-acceptance is a great example for everyone, and that alone makes Sivan worth celebrating. On top of that, he makes truly top-notch pop tunes.
Sivan is bringing the tour for his excellent sophomore album “Bloom” to the Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson in Denver, at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 22. He’ll be joined by Kim Petras.
“Bloom” is an album full of love songs, at times silky and sexy and at others big-hearted and yearning. Songs like “My! My! My!” and “Animal” are the kinds of music that can lead a full and happy life bouncing around in your head.
For tickets, visit www.livenation.com.
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.
