WhiteWater Ramble jams into Summit

SUMMIT COUNTY - To know WhiteWater Ramble is to hear them live. That's why the band decided to make their debut album, "WhiteWater Ramble: Red Alert Live," a compilation of live shows.

Patrick Sites, who plays acoustic and electric mandolin and is a vocalist for the Fort Collins based band, said they pulled highlights from a series of shows last year at the Aggie Theater to make the CD.

"We left off more originals and played more covers because we want to use our originals in a studio album," said Sites. He said money raised from their debut will go to funding a studio album.

Guitarist Brian Coddington added, "We also did a live disc because we are a live band. We play many, many shows a year. We want to be a band you want to see live."

Along with Sites and Coddington, Howard Montgomery on upright and electric bass, Joe Turman on fiddle and Alex Jacobson on drums round out WhiteWater Ramble.

Sites said their music will move from reggae style to techno, then to bluegrass and rock 'n' roll to blues in one session.

"It's hard to come to a show and not be entertained by some aspect," Sites said.

Along with the diverse genres, the band also brings an intense energy to the stage.

"It's physically trying, playing so fast and so hard on a two-and-a-half-hour set. It's almost as exhausting for us as the fans dancing the whole time," Sites said.

Coddington added, "We're known to play 25 minutes solid."

"We share the energy (with the audience)," Sites said. "The more fun they're having, the more fun we're having."

WhiteWater Ramble usually plays two-night gigs in an area, with Summit County as no exception. They will be at the Goat in Keystone Friday for a 9 p.m. start. The next night they'll be at the Salt Creek Restaurant and Saloon in Breckenridge. Show starts at 9:30 p.m.

The band's CD will be available at both shows.

- Leslie Brefeld