Expect Americana, country, funk and everything in between from Colorado band

By Kristen Richard

There’s nothing quite like having the open road in front of you while the perfect song plays on the radio. It evokes a peculiar feeling of nostalgia for simpler times and excitement for the journey ahead all wrapped into one. Of course to achieve this, you need a collection of songs that hit a range of emotions and human experiences. That’s where music by Colorado-based group Drunken Hearts comes in. The band’s name has nothing to do with alcohol. Instead, “It’s an emotional state of being,” says Andrew McConathy, lead guitarist and vocalist.

Drunken Hearts Live
Catch Drunken Hearts at 6 p.m. Sunday, March 24, at the Shakedown Bar in Vail. Singer Andrew McConathy also hosts a songwriters’ showcase on Saturday, March 24, at Wibby Brewing in Longmont, as well as a show with other singer-songwriters on Saturday, March 16, at Eldora in Nederland. Get details here.

McConathy first formed the band over a decade ago. However, things changed when Covid-19 hit in 2020 and the original group fell apart.

“We’re all still great friends. There was no drama. It was just Covid-19 turned the world upside down. But I was going to keep going no matter what. I had to rebuild,” McConathy says.

But after a series of serendipitous events, a new lineup began to form in March, 2023: McConathy on acoustic guitar and vocals; James Dumm on electric guitar and vocals; Drew Packard on bass and vocals; Tyler Adams on piano, organ, and vocals; and Eric Low on drums and percussion.

Musically, as you might expect, a group with moving pieces is still finding its footing; specifically, a genre they feel they fit into.

“We call it high-country rock, which of course is a play on being in Colorado,” McConathy says. “But the easiest way to describe it would be country Americana. But sometimes, I think it hits a little harder than that.”

Indeed, the albums (both from the original and new lineup) weave together country, Americana, bluegrass and rock. Their lyrics draw inspiration from everything like the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of life, as well as other musicians and writers.

“I try to use some personal inspiration and background of my own life in my writing,” McConathy says. “But sometimes a Tom Petty line might stick out to me. For instance, I have a song called ‘Beat Up, Beat Down, and Broken,’ which has a line about California falling into the sea, which is something Petty touched on on the ‘Wildflower’ re-release. I also use a lot of Jack Kerouac lines for inspiration, which you can hear on the ‘Wheels of this City’ album.

Inspiration for the band’s song “New Reseda,” on the other hand, came while McConathy and his soon-to-be-wife were on a road trip that took them through Reseda, California.

“It’s about a truck driver driving home to see his loved one,” McConathy says. “And it captures this sense of longing that Reseda just seemed to embody.”

Then there’s “Forever Highway,” Drunken Hearts’ top song on Spotify with over 51,000 streams, which came about almost by accident. McConathy was in Nashville recording songs with Dave Pahanish, a producer and co-writer. He has written hits for country music icons like Tim McGraw and Toby Keith. After a few songs, the two realized they weren’t just recording singles, they were recording an album. But it needed something else. That’s when Pahanish said ‘“Hey, man, I have this cool chorus for a song that would work for you,’” McConathy says. “And it was ‘take my hand let’s be lovers. Calm my storm and I’ll still your waters, shelter you and we’ll take cover forever.’ Then we added the verses and chords. That one was probably the most organic 50-50 co-write we ever did.”

Then of course, there’s “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town,” a Pearl Jam cover that is streaming.

“It’s probably the most bluegrass song we’ve done, maybe ever, which is weird,” McConathy says with a chuckle.

In terms of live performances, Drunken Hearts approach shows like their music, as in they want everyone to have their own experience. “We want people to come, dance, have a good time, party, scream, and heckle us,” McConathy says.

Perhaps their vibe will best be summed up in the upcoming Yarmony Music Festival, June 28-29 at Rancho del Rio, which is a festival and float trip hybrid on the Colorado River. “We want our music and shows to embody that river vibe of taking advantage of every day. Carpe diem,” he says.

This story is in our March-April print issue. Click here to read the full magazine.

Kristen Richard is a drink and food freelance writer based in Denver. When she’s not traveling down rabbit holes of random esoteric booze knowledge, you can usually find her camping, hiking, hanging with her dog, reading or rocking out to metal bands.