A review of the bands …
Rock bands are popping up all over the valley again, bringing back the classic mix of skate, rock and rebellious culture. Garage bands capture the spirit of youth — making music with friends and filling neighborhoods with the raw energy only live rock can deliver. These humble beginnings often spark lifelong passions and even music careers.
The Sopris Stars recently interviewed the bands [SALT], Neurotica and Mid Sentence Silence (MSS), each of which brings its own unique sound to the local music scene.
[SALT] didn’t start as a band, They started as kids at the local Rock and Roll Academy and simply refused to stop jamming. Eventually, their riffs, half-done songs and ideas sparked a dream that needed a name and a stage.
“We had jammed so much and written so many songs that we were itching to do something more, so we became [SALT],” the band said.
[SALT], I would say, is the easiest to get into, even if you don’t listen to rock. Their songs lean into punk energy and are fast-paced and catchy. If moshing is your thing, then they have a show on May 18 in Colorado Springs and May 22 at Deathslope Festival in Grand Junction. And if you aren’t willing to commute anywhere, you can support them by tuning in to Spotify or YouTube to hear their new release, “7 Deep,” or visiting their website, salttheband.com
If [SALT] is the gateway drug, Neurotica is the full plunge into classic metal — no soft edges, just riffs, drums and pure energy. Their history is classic garage band nostalgia.
“Noah, the guitarist, and Danniel, the drummer, friends since elementary school, decided to put their guitar interest to use in 2020,” a spokesperson for the band said.
It started as friends messing around with instruments, brothers joining in and then the lineup shifting (a lot), but the band finally landed where it is now. This includes the new addition of a singer: Cami.
Neurotica is heavy, technical and unapologetically loud. To find them, you can look on Instagram at @neurotica.official.band But if you want to get the full experience, they are playing on May 2 at the MayFest Battle of the Bands in Parachute, and on May 21 at Deathslope.
Where Neurotica leans into classic metal’s instrumental ferocity, MSS brings a grungier, deeper vocal style that sets them apart. They are also classic metal, with heavy songs and long riffs, but have softer, mellower songs, like “Kiss Me Goodnight.”
Their creative process is almost chaotic by design. It’s improvisational and messy; the kind of songwriting that feels like it’s pulled straight from the floor of a garage covered in cables and half‑empty energy drinks.
“Matt will usually just start playing random notes, and everyone just follows along,” a band member said.
MSS is also gearing up for the MayFest on May 2, and a DIY anniversary show in Rifle on June 6. Plus, they’re working on a new single and a debut EP they hope to release by the end of the year. Their first single, “Kiss Me Goodnight,” is already available everywhere. You can keep up with MSS by following their Instagram, @midsentencesilence
What makes these three bands special? It’s the way they represent different corners of the same musical world. [SALT] brings the fun. MSS brings the grit. Neurotica brings the fire. Together, they form a snapshot of a valley where musicians are building something real, one show, one riff and one garage at a time.
If you want to hear the future of local rock, you don’t need to look far. It’s already here — loud, sweaty, and ready to blow the doors off their next venue.