House Blend Band Returns

The House Blend Band kicked off this year's season of concerts in Niwot with a performance on 2nd Avenue Saturday, May 17. The closed-off street was filled with a cheerful audience sitting in a semi-circle around the stage in folding camp chairs, clapping and cheering on the band members.

This was the first concert of many scheduled for this summer, with Rock & Rails opening June 5.

The band, led by Old Oak Coffeehouse owners Michael Tomich and Patty Machen, was just one spectacle of the night, as the Old Firehouse Museum opened its doors for visitors, along with a preview for the Niwot Historical Society's new book, Niwot: The Spirit of Colorado.

Meanwhile, the Old Oak Coffeehouse was serving up drinks and spaghetti dinners to a long line of concert-goers. Of course, the main draw of the night was the music itself, which mesmerized the crowd. From "Come and Get Your Love" to "What's Up," the night was filled with joyful tunes.

When asked what they thought about the event, one concert-goer said, "I think it's a great way to bring the community together for the summer...It's nice to have community events in such a small town, [it] really brings people together."

Another said, "It's a great family friendly event, and the band is amazing. This is my first time coming out to one of these and it's been a great experience." That sort of family and community connection is at the heart of the event, and Niwot as a whole.

Right after the first song of the night, lead singer Paris Tomich said, "I see a lot of familiar faces here tonight." In a town where it seems almost everyone knows each other, community events can bring people closer to have a fun shared experience together. After the first set, a horn section, including two trumpets, a trombone and a tenor sax, joined in as the band performed several tunes by Chicago, including, "Does Anyone Know What Time It Is."

The 2nd Avenue Concert Series doesn't happen without a lot of hard work behind the scenes. Michael Tomich was out in the street setting up the stage mid-morning. "I've been here since 4 a.m." he said. The Niwot Local Improvement District provides funding for the concerts, which bring many visitors to Niwot.

Around halfway through the concert, a train came by, much to the amusement of the crowd. "My favorite part was the train coming by," one onlooker said. "It was so funny seeing all the people just rolling their eyes at it." Although the 2nd Avenue crossing is now a "quiet zone," the engineer sounded his horn as the train passed the concert, which has become a custom of late. While the train put a brief pause on the performance, no one left the concert.

As the evening cooled, the band wrapped up the concert. As the crowd dispersed and the stage cleared, the sun set over a happy night of music and town pride.

In addition to the 2nd Avenue Concert Series, the House Blend Band will perform at Rock & Rails in Niwot on Thursday, June 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Whistle Stop Park.