The video is set in Schicke’s hometown of Fort Collins – the city that really inspired the song. As the last piece of their album cycle, it was important to the band to feature the local community that played such a role in the creativity and inspiration behind their work. “I love how “Ft. Collins” the song and video turned out,” says Schicke. “We recorded at Stout, a local studio, and we have two of the most amazing local musicians, Bevin and Saja, singing with us on the song, and we made sure to include lots of Ft. Collins features in the video, like CSU, Old Town, and Horsetooth Reservoir.”
For local listeners, the band will be premiering their new music video with a live show at The Lyric Cinema in Fort Collins. More information can be found on their website.
“West Side” Joe Schicke was raised in Memphis, TN, and earned his recording and performing credentials with Memphis’ Blues Rock Queen Reba Russell. After playing with Reba for five years, Joe started his own group, Minivan Blues Band, which became a staple of the Memphis roots rock scene. He also played gigs with Memphis blues artists Earl the Pearl, Billy Gibson, Larry Lee (guitarist for Al Green), and Big Joe Turner (bassist for Albert and B.B. King). Joe has shared stages with Charlie Hunter, Tower of Power, and James Cotton, and worked in the studio with legendary producer Willie Mitchell. Joe moved to Ft. Collins in 2007 and has since worked with local artists such as Saja Butler, Bevin Luna, Jeff Finlin, Lionel Young, John Magnie, and Al Chesis. Joe currently leads his band West Side Joe & The Men of Soul, who released their first album, Keep On Climbin’, in 2021 with a sound drawing comparisons to Los Lobos, Staple Singers, and Alvin “Youngblood” Hart. On drums and background vocals Steve Amedee of Colorado legends The Subdudes. On bass and background vocals is Taylor Tesler, who developed his talents on the road with American Idol alumni Casey Abrams.
