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Trio makes music a family affair

Kelly Silva

— Local musicians have been around the block probably more than a dozen times.

The network of musicians in Northwest Colorado continuously interweaves throughout the years a drummer in one band may have spent years in another.

But one such local, classic rock ‘n’ blues band has tried to keep networking minimal and family ties strong.



Blue Rooster, based out of Northwest Colorado, began with a father and son duo bass and guitar before adding friend and newfound family member Joe Sharp as the drummer.

Now the trio is complete with Steve Ghirardelli on bass, Brian Ghirardelli on guitar and Sharp on drums.



Being among various networks of musicians since the age of 16, Steve Ghirardelli said he’s never felt such connections in a band like the one he’s helped create with members of Blue Rooster.

“One of my main things was to get my kid out there,” Steve Ghirardelli said about son Brian.

Ghirardelli found the triumphs of fatherhood when going through the daily work grind wasn’t paying off for Brian. Although intentions began with a step in the right direction for Brian, Steve Ghirardelli found playing music with a close family member has helped light a fire in him.

But like with any family, or family band, tensions can build and emotional explosions can occur when packing, loading and late nights become more common.

But when Blue Rooster steps on stage to begin a night of rock ‘n’ roll and blues covers, Ghirardelli said all the misunderstandings float away.

Music already familiar to the ear is how Blue Rooster has developed such a strong reputation since their start Labor Day 2000. People want to sing and dance to music they know in a comfortable venue, Ghirardelli said.

“Musically, we like to get feedback. We’re starting to pick up some steam here.

“We opened for Tab Benoit at the ski hill this summer,” he said of one of the first free concerts during summer 2001. “We’ve had some high-profile gigs.”

And Ghirardelli said he plans to call John Waldman of Great Knight Productions to plan more upcoming high-profile gigs.

Ghirardelli said he’s been dreaming of accumulating more gigs in the Steamboat Springs area and thanks to Old Town Pub, Levelz, The Olde Milner Roadhouse, the Sheraton, Steamboat Grand, Great Knight Productions and KFMU, Blue Rooster has begun a winter trend for 2002.

And with plans to slowly introduce more original songs and music to the crowd as well as begin to make weekend trips to favorite blues venues in Colorado, Blue Rooster has no intention of expanding the band or finding people outside the family to join them not yet, anyway.

Sharp now has his own spot at the family dinner table and Ghirardelli’s wife, Deedee, always has her arms out ready to carry the next load to and from the van.

“She helps us out so much. That truly has made it a family thing,” Ghirardelli said of his wife.

Brian Ghirardelli has played guitar since the age of 9, developing an act for learning songs simply by listening to them.

“It’s our pleasure playing with him. He used to lock himself in his room and learn every single Guns ‘N Roses song,” Ghirardelli said sarcastically. “He’s very emotional and that comes through in his music.”

Now as the night manager at Safeway in Craig, many times Brian doesn’t sleep at all when he plays music in the day and works at night.

Ghirardelli said he’s glad Brian’s youthful agility can keep them playing music and keep his son having new experiences in life.


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