Success often means making sacrifices. For eight years in a row the Denver-based jam band Eminence Ensemble returned to their childhood home of Summit County for an end-of-year celebration. Yet last year they had to cancel after getting the opportunity to open for the rock band Umphrey’s McGee at the Mile High City’s Fillmore Auditorium. That concert led to a 35-stop tour with Jewish rap and reggae artist Matisyahu, known for his song “King Without a Crown.”
However, this Sunday the group will once again play a reunion show for family, friends and fans with their first-ever performance at Frisco’s new 10 Mile Music Hall.
“It’s been quite a long journey with this same team,” said drummer Tanner Bardin. “We’re just really excited to be back in Summit County. It’s going to be a lot of fun for us.”
The majority of the band grew up together in the county, attending the various local elementary schools, Summit Middle School and Summit High School. While the makeup of the amateur bands ebbed and flowed over the years — sometimes they’d compete against each other — their friendship remained. As they attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, the sextet decided to have a more serious go at the music industry.
Bardin, who lived in Durango before moving to Summit when he was 11, originally had his eyes set on ski racing. He traded the gates in the San Juans for those in the Tenmile Range with Team Summit and got his first drum set in seventh grade. Yet in college he was the only one not in the music department, choosing instead to major in international affairs.
“That was kind of cool. … I got to learn vicariously through their degrees.”
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Around 2009 the band found their first gig, but needed a name before heading on stage. They flipped through a dictionary and landed on Eminence Ensemble. Though guitarist Justin Neely writes most of the songs, the group pulls from all of their influences — such as classic rock, jazz, classical music and funk — to fine tune their multi-genre sound. So far Eminence Ensemble only has one studio album, 2013’s “Mouse Hunt,” but they hope to release their 13-track “Real News” in early 2019. With another album under the belt they’ll be one step closer to their dream venue: Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
But before that there’s Sunday’s concert with opening trio Cycles, which takes place in the middle of a four-day run in Buena Vista, Steamboat Springs, Frisco and Vail. Then Eminence Ensemble returns to 10 Mile Music Hall in February with Turkuaz.
IF YOU GO
What: Eminence Ensemble with Cycles
Where: 10 Mile Music Hall, 710 Main St., Frisco.
When: Sunday, Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7.
Cost: $5. Visit 10MileMusic.com to purchase.