Local favorite Last Men on Earth draws a crowd to Rock & Rails

On Thursday, Aug. 1, Rock & Rails continued its summer concert series with two standout performances that delighted the crowd.

The evening began with Strangebyrds, a folk/rock and Americana duo of Cari Minor and Ray Smith. With six award-winning releases under their belt, they kicked off the hot evening with a captivating mix of music. Their set consisted of covers and originals from all seven of their albums, including their self-proclaimed theme song "Strangebyrds," which sounds vaguely similar to a Tommy Tutone hit from the '80s. After claiming a spot in the grass and grabbing food and drinks, some attendees took to the dance floor during the duo's performance.

During the break from 6 to 6:30 p.m., Satir DeMarco, the event's emcee, took a moment to urge the crowd to try the food trucks on-site, including Sweet Cow, Tibet's, Los Dos Bros, Abo's Pizza, and Savory Saigon.

Last Men on Earth then launched into its set. Known for their classic rock covers, the band took the stage with electrifying energy and did not disappoint. They started the evening with "Your Love is Driving Me Crazy" by Sammy Hagar and spent the night singing a variety of covers, including hits by The Cars, Zac Brown Band, John Mellencamp, Huey Lewis, Foreigner, Journey, Billy Joel, Prince, and Toto.

A crowd favorite was "Jump" by Van Halen, for obvious reasons. The song was fun for both the crowd and lead singer, Greg Jacyszyn. The six-piece band also includes Tim Powell on bass guitar, Jason Olson on guitar, Reece Morse on keyboard, and Mark Trippensee and Mike Holubec, both from Niwot High, on drums and guitar, respectively. All members participate in the vocals for the band, as well.

Adding to the upbeat atmosphere, Last Men on Earth took a break from their set to recognize four audience members who had chosen to spend their birthdays at Rock & Rails with a fast-paced, rock "Happy Birthday."

Behind the stage, on the alternate dance floor, someone had brought a box full of colored sidewalk chalk for younger attendees to use. On their way out, concertgoers could see the vibrant drawings left behind by some creative kids. Paired with the hazy sunset, the evening had plenty of pretty colors to admire.

The tip jar recipients were Via Mobility Services and the Niwot Cultural Arts Association's Niwot Sculpture Park project. Before the concert, Via Mobility Services reached out to event managers and suggested that their portion of the tip jar go to fire victims, and the NCAA followed suit, dedicating all proceeds to help those affected by the recent wildfires. Throughout the concert, fire jets could be seen routinely flying overhead, a poignant reminder of the ongoing recovery efforts.

The tip total was over $2,900, a new high for the summer. The funds will be donated to the Lyons Community Foundation, which has been actively assisting those impacted by the fires near Lyons.

Rock & Rails is also committed to being a zero-waste event. This means any trash brought in with concertgoers must also be taken out with them, as there are no trash cans inside the venue. Instead, there are recycling and composting bins strategically placed throughout Whistle Stop Park. Atop these bins are volunteers, referred to as Gargoyles, who aid patrons in sorting and depositing recyclable or compostable material.

The Aug. 8 concert will feature headliner My Blue Sky, an Allman Brothers tribute band, featuring Niwot High grad Jamie McGregor, and Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame singer Dean Himes as the opener. The tip jar recipient will be the Niwot High School Education Foundation.