Half Way Home goes all out for the music

HALF WAY HOME

Hear the band: 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Martini Hut, 209 E. Midland Ave., Woodland Park; and 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. March 23, Ritz Grill, 15 S. Tejon St.

Personnel: Dena Samuels, lead vocals/rhythm guitar; Scott Stevens, lead guitar/vocals; Dan Ponder, bass guitar/vocals; Mark Lombardi, drums/vocals

Style: Nostalgia and alternative rock

Influences: The band members are diverse in their musical tastes, with influences including early '70s rock and modern alternative styles.

What the live show is like:

"Our band has a good mix of upbeat, fun songs to dance to, with some lower-key ballads thrown in," Samuels says.

"We choose songs that we like. We're starting to bring in originals, but mostly we play covers and we throw in some lesser- known artists such as Carbon Leaf, Garrison Starr and Guster.

"Our band is unique in that we play both acoustic and electric shows, and sometimes a mixture within the same gig."

Favorite clubs to play: The Wayfarer, and they members are pumped about the upcoming gig at the Ritz.

Find them on the Web: www.sceneinthesprings.com/HalfWayHome

What "making it" would look like: They think they're doing it right now, thank you very much.

Band history: Lombardi and Samuels had played together in another band before they teamed with Ponder, who had left the business for a time, and Stevens, who had played electric and acoustic guitar for many years and was performing solo.

They're called Half Way Home, Samuels says, because they each have fulfilling lives outside of the band, "but coming together to play music brings us halfway home."

Day jobs: Two are faculty members at UCCS, one is an engineer and marketing specialist, and one is a student. Three are married and have children.

Take on the Colorado Springs music scene: It's positive, with "a growing and supportive community of new, local bands; musicians who are interested in each other's music and gigs; and support from Web sites like www.scenein thesprings.com," Samuels says.

How to improve it: They suggest more venues that combine the dinner and after-dinner crowds.

"It's great to play unplugged while people eat, and then take the opportunity to plug in to get people up on the dance floor. It's fun for us, and it would make sense to have people who come for dinner stay at the venue," Samuels says.

CONTACT THE WRITER: Hey, local bands! If you would like to be considered for a feature in Band Spotlight and you have local gigs booked, call 636-0374 or e-mail Lnavarro@gazette.com.

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