The Artisan Thieves

During a hiatus, late in 2014, I took a phone call from a dear friend of mine, Jim Dalton, of the Railbenders, Hickman-Dalton Gang, and Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers. I met Jim in my Denver years, those of which are for another story, another time. Suffice it to say we became good friends.

Jim informed me that platinum recording artists, Cracker were coming through Utah and looking for an opening act, at The State Room, one of the premier listening rooms in the state. How the hell do you say no to that? Simple answer, you don't.

Mike and I scrambled to splice together some musicians and officially form a real band, something we hadn't done by this point. It was a train wreck from the start. But, it was a glorious mess at that.

Again, with help, from good souls like Jason Jones, Melody Pulsipher, KC Sledge, Matt Alllen and others, we strung together enough material for a 50 minute set, and ventured yet again into the great unknown, playing live, in a sold out venue, opening for a legendary headliner in Cracker.

On Valentine's Day evening, 2019, The Artisan Thieves took the stage and played their guts out. It wasn't spectacular, but it was monumental. And most importantly, it was an absolute blast. We were even smart enough to consider that being unknown was a strike against us, so we arranged with Johnny Hickman, now also a friend of mine, to accompany us on stage, in the performance of one of his solo songs, during our set. That moment, in and of itself defined The Artisan Thieves and everything we might have been.

And through all of it, music was there. Always music.

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