Welcome to RedEye’s “Song of the Day,” an ongoing feature where music reporter Josh Terry or another RedEye staff member highlights something they’re listening to. Some days the track will be new, and some days it will be old. No matter what, each offering is something you should check out. Check back every weekday for a new song and subscribe to the Spotify playlist below.
With it being Riot Fest Week at RedEye Song of the Day, there’s not a better time than now to highlight one of the acts deep in the lineup’s undercard: Elway, the band playing 12:20 p.m. Sat. at the Rock stage.
The first time I heard Elway was in 2011 when the four-piece got in trouble with a guy who shares its name, Hall of Fame NFL legend John Elway. Around that time, the Fort Collins, Colo. band changed its moniker from “10-4 Eleanor” to “Elway,” which, let’s be honest, is a much better name for a punk act. However, the real Elway, the former Denver Broncos quarterback who was very good at football but seems like the worst in real life, wasn’t too pleased with the decision and had his representatives ask the group to change it back. That didn’t happen, and because of the fact Elway stood firm, I became a huge fan.
Fortunately enough for me, the band saying no to a mega-successful multi-millionaire isn’t the only reason I ended up loving Elway. More than any anything, it’s because the group just slays. Its most recent full-length, 2015’s “Better Whenever,” is a dark horse contender for one of my favorite punk efforts of the year. Just take single “Albuquerque Low”: It’s full of massive guitar chords and even bigger choruses. It’s the kind of song I’ll need to hear to jolt me awake and kick off Riot Fest’s second day. Listen below.
In Concert: Saturday, Sept. 12 at Riot Fest.
[email protected], @joshhterry
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