Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Playing Around
by Sara Gallagher
click to enlarge
Andy Clifton with Teddy Nazario (drums) and Steve Hoke (trimeister)
The Ritz Grill, 15 S. Tejon St.
Every Monday night, 9 p.m. to midnight
635-8484
Andy Clifton solo
The V Bar, 19 E. Kiowa St.
Every Thursday except Thanksgiving, 9 p.m. to midnight
471-8622
Most of the time when musicians talk about integrity, honesty, and love for music and performing, it sounds like complete bullhockey. What a refreshing member of the Colorado Springs music community, then, is Andy Clifton. Clifton is a self-managed acoustic guitarist who plays roughly 200 shows each year, making music his full-time job. He has been playing live music in the Pikes Peak region since he arrived at Fort Carson as a soldier 11 years ago. His musicianship was recognized this year with the Individual Popular Music Award from the Pikes Peak Arts Council. Regarding live music, Clifton says, "You can tell musicians who don't give a crap. You can see it in their eyes, how they barely play their instruments ... What you get with me is a love for what I'm doing." With Clifton, sincerity is paramount to his performance.
--Sara Gallagher
