They’re an Americana band. Well, actually, an Irish-Americana band, to be specific. They call themselves Romantica, and they might be one of the fan-friendliest groups you’d ever want to meet.
The four mellow fellows from Minneapolis (including one Irish immigrant) proved it to a fortunate few who turned out for a remarkable night of country comfort music May 21 at the Soiled Dove Underground in Denver.
On an evening when most of this sports-crazed city was caught up watching the Nuggets battle the Los Angeles Lakers on TV in Game 2 of the NBA’s Western Conference finals, there were only six dozen or so witnesses to the show headlined by rising star Carrie Rodriguez.
They were the lucky ones. With Rodriguez (left) providing her fiery fiddle and Romantica offering some cool tunes, the devoted following was treated to an up-close-and-personal performance.
Especially Sara Teig of Boulder. The young woman missed Romantica’s opening set because of transportation problems, but was rewarded for her loyalty and commitment with an after-show serenade by her favorite band.
Teig looked like she was on Cloud Nine as the quartet – Ben Kyle on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Luke Jacobs, Tony Zaccardi and James Orvis, slapping a snare drum – began to play. They surrounded her near the entrance to the bathrooms. (Better acoustics or an attempt to block out the crowd noise?)
Most of the fans that had gathered for Rodriguez’s meet-and-greet were unaware of the unplugged appearance that concluded with some autographs and a group photo. 
(Teig is pictured with, from left, Kyle, Jacobs, Orvis and Zaccardi.)
With the economy still spiraling out of control, musicians continue to seek ways to connect with the public, but this was an unusual and exceptional celebrity encounter. And the performances were just as tremendous.
Romantica was the opening act but it never quite seemed that way, thanks to a gracious Rodriguez, the sensational and versatile singer-songwriter-fiddler who is slowly but surely turning into a headliner after years of being a team player. She was Chip Taylor’s partner for three records before going solo, and continued paying her dues while working with other major roots-rock artists such as Lucinda Williams and Alejandro Escovedo.
Rodriguez certainly remembers her roots, though, generously treating the four members of Romantica like her own bandmates, Handsome Hans Holzen on guitar and Kyle Kegerreis on upright bass.
The Austin, Texas-bred Rodriguez knows how to play well with others, and gladly shared the stage at times with the boys in the other band that’s led by the charismatic Kyle, who moved with his family from Belfast, Northern Ireland to the States when he was 13.
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Article comments
1 - melanie
Thumbs up on this one. I really enjoyed this concert and your review.