Who: Useful Jenkins

When: Tonight

Where: three20south, Breckenridge

Where does your name come from? Parts unknown

Your home base? UJ is based out of Mankato, Minnesota!

What type of music do you play? It’s been described as acoustic jamgrass, I think that fits.

If your band were a dog, what breed would it be, and why?

A honey badger, because a honey badger don’t give a shit…

If you had to compare yourself to another band, who would it be?

It’s hard to compare our sound to another band, we draw a lot of influence from a lot of different groups, and genres. Roots folk bluegrass jam music.

What sets your band apart?

We break more strings than anyone…

What’s been your craziest experience on the road?

It’s always crazy. But high up on the list would be on our way to St. Louis from Minnesota 2 winters ago we blew a tire on the bus an hour into the trip. Got it fixed, then a few miles down we hit some giant bird on the road. Next was engine trouble. We made it to a little town in Iowa and spent a couple hours trying to tear the alternator on the bus in -20 below zero. Ended up walking 2 miles to a motel and getting to St. Louis a day late.

Is your music geared toward mosh pits or foot tapping?

We like to see our crowds dance like no one is watching, shine in the sun, splash in the rain, and most of all smiling. If you’re having fun, we’re having fun.

Who: Arnie Green

When: Tonight, 9:30 p.m.

Where: Snake River Saloon, Keystone

Where does the name come from? Well, it was my father’s name before it was mine.

Your home base? Summit County

What type of music do you play? Afro Hillbilly

If you had to compare yourself to another band, who would it be?

Either Johnny Cash or Led Zeppelin, depends on the tune.

If your band were a dog, what breed would it be, and why?

An Akita. Get us started running, we don’t stop!

What sets your band apart? We are at least as much about listening as we are about playing.

Is your music geared toward mosh pits or foot tapping?

Foot moshing

What’s been your craziest experience on the road?

I’m not sure the statute of limitations is up. There was a venue we were booked in that had a huge backward swastika drawn on the wall. Nice! Dyslexic rednecks. We were a blues and funk band. That night we opened with “Help me make it through the night.” Talk about heartfelt!

Who: The Big Motif

When: Saturday night

Where: three20south, Breckenridge

Home Base: Denver, Colo.

Where does that band name come from?

Looking in the dictionary after years of searching for a meaningful name.

What type of music do you play? Funky/Bluesy/Naked Rock

If your band were a dog, what breed would it be, and why?

We would probably be a Bloodhound because we sing the blues like ’em and look a little like ’em too.

If you had to compare yourself to another band, who would it be?

We take influence from all different genres and music styles, so to compare ourselves to another band would be like comparing how a fruit salad tastes to how one of the fruits inside of it tastes by itself.

What sets your band apart?

We always try and make the songs we play fresh and new and different each time we play them. We never want the crowd – or us – hearing the same thing twice.

What’s been your craziest experience on the road?

We once played a show in Wisconsin where afterward a girl fell into the campfire…she borrowed my brother’s shoes to do it…the shoes were fine.

Is your music geared toward mosh pits or foot tapping?

A mix between thundering foot stomping and mild-mannered moshing.