Kevin F Posted December 31, 2002 Posted December 31, 2002 What's up everyone. My wife and I are seriously considering relocating to Northern Colorado in late '03 or early '04. My question is: What is the music scene like out there? I currently have a great band going where I am now, but if it falls apart and we end up moving I would like to start another group and play. Specifically we are thinking about the Fort Collins area. Any information is GREATLY appreciated. Kevin
offramp Posted December 31, 2002 Posted December 31, 2002 I've lived here since '98. From Indiana. Why Fort Collins 'specifically'? As far as the music scene...well, my jury's still out. Better than Indiana. Otherwise, not bad...not quite as lazy. As far as the weather: Well...if you're looking for 'White Christmases', forget it. If you're looking for 'less humidity'...let me help you unpack. The dryness is totally addictive...imagine your bedsheets staying white because you're not sleeping in your own sweat; imagine being cold and actually enjoying it because it's not ripping at your bones. Imagine your guitars STAYING IN TUNE AND NOT WARPING AT THE NECK. Not being STICKY WHILE YOU PLAY. Imagine going for a walk WITHOUT A CHANGE OF CLOTHES. You can make whatever music you need to make, wherever you are...being comfortable is another issue. I've upped my standards; now, up yours.
urk10 Posted December 31, 2002 Posted December 31, 2002 Imagine living in a city with the best hockey team in the world! :D [url=http://www.coloradoavalanche.com/]Avalanche[/url]
Kevin F Posted December 31, 2002 Author Posted December 31, 2002 The weather is definitely better there. I was there over the 4th of July and people were complaining about how hot is was. It was nothing compared to the heat and humidity of eastern NC. As far as why Fort Collins, we have some friends who live there and my inlaws have bought a retirement home up in Red Feather lakes which is about a 30-40 min drive up into the mountains. It is kind of the best of both worlds, sort of a city life and it is close to the mountains. Only an hour drive to Denver. I am used to living in a town of about 50,000 and I am not sure that I would want to live in a large city, just close to one. :D
offramp Posted December 31, 2002 Posted December 31, 2002 Y'know, Denver doesn't feel quite so 'big', even when you're living in it. The mountains are pretty accessible from just about anywhere here. Fort Collins can get kinda stinky rather readily from cowshit, plus it's a college town, so there's that brand of idiocy to deal with a few times a year. Wherever you go, try to stay above or outside the edge of the brown cloud that hangs over both Denver and Fort Collins. Even though Excel energy recently announced it would be shutting down enough coal plants to reduce this cloud by 70%, it remains to be seen. You might also consider Golden. The only smell there is Coors; otherwise, a nice little place to live. I've upped my standards; now, up yours.
Kevin F Posted December 31, 2002 Author Posted December 31, 2002 Yeah, I saw the brown cloud when I was near the airport outside of Denver. I really would rather live up in the hills outside of town. I saw a great house listed outside of FC near Livermore that already had a studio built in it but it was a bit out of my price range. $300K I think, I could only do 150-220K. I don't mind a commute, I am used to having to drive an hour or more to get to a decent music store, and now that Guitar Center has bought out my favorite 'local' music store I am really pissed. There are 'local' music stores in my town but they suck and are overpriced. I went to buy some strings a couple of weeks ago and they were out, not just of the brand that I use BUT ALL PACKS OF 10's IN EVERY BRAND. They cater to school bands and leave us performing musicians out in the cold.
offramp Posted December 31, 2002 Posted December 31, 2002 You WILL mind the commute out here...trust me on this one. I-25 is clogged worse than Jackie Gleason's arteries were. Be very thorough in your house search. There are some real gems out there; when you find one, jump on it ASAP. I've upped my standards; now, up yours.
Kevin F Posted December 31, 2002 Author Posted December 31, 2002 I got to experience the traffic, it was crowded but the drivers weren't quite as insane as I-10 outside of LA. Or anywhere in D.C. Or where I live now. The county I live in is #3 in accidents statewide, really stooooopid drivers. But hopefully my commute would only be to do shows and to come down out of the hills from my studio for supplies. :D K
realtrance Posted December 31, 2002 Posted December 31, 2002 The classic NC "kill me now" driver move is, take yer old pickup truck, approach the local highway, make sure there's traffic speeding down it at way over the speed limit (i.e. most of the time), then pull in, REAL slow, right in front of the fastest moving vehicle on the highway. Or: just speed down any highway with frequent side-road access, and pretend you won't ever run into one of them thar pickup-truck drivers along the way. It's a perfect combination, does a great job of thinning the herd all the way around. SO: what part of the country IS the best place to live if you like snowy winters that won't kill you, and that actually has employment? My guess is still VT, correct? rt
Kevin F Posted December 31, 2002 Author Posted December 31, 2002 Visit NC often? You've nailed a good portion of the drivers. But they have so many other ways to annoy you and attempt to kill themselves in the process. :p
realtrance Posted January 1, 2003 Posted January 1, 2003 These two characteristics were memorable and distinctive enough to leave a lasting impression. :) Happy New Year's! rt
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