Today we’d like to introduce you to Two Headed Trout Band. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Two Headed Trout began in 2017 as a group of friends with different musical backgrounds, enjoying jamming together in Logan, UT. There is a great community of musicians in Logan, and we’d joined various jam sessions until we decided to start working together to form our own band. We started playing at restaurants and bars between Logan and Salt Lake City, fundraisers for local non-profits we support, and summer festivals and markets. We all have families and careers not related to music, so this is our side gig. We get together to share original tunes and work out arrangements when we can. Plenty of time is spent having fun playing around with covers which we often cycle though our sets.
We work/share interests in areas of conservation and are passionate about adventuring in wild places, which is reflected in some of our original tunes. The name Two Headed Trout comes from a story about an actual two-headed trout found in waterways with high levels of coal ash contaminants. Our mandolin player, Danny, wrote a song about it and here we are.
Two Headed Trout has become a culmination of our collective music interests. We use traditional bluegrass instrumentation and a touch of the psychedelic to weave original tunes, bluegrass standards, and creative takes on timeless rock and americana into pure mountain jamgrass. Our influences include Greensky Bluegrass, Yonder Mountain String Band, Infamous Stringdusters, Leftover Salmon, Railroad Earth, and the Grateful Dead.
Over the past five years, we’ve enjoyed being a part of Logan’s music scene and have appreciated support from our community. We’re branching out more this year. In addition to our local gigs, we’re planning on performing at the Evanston Music Festival, Park Silly Market – with a few others in the works. We’re looking forward to another fun year together.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For the most part, things have been smooth. We work well together and support each other’s interests and ideas. Covid put a big damper on our plans, as it did for everyone. We had to cancel multiple shows even up to last summer- some of which were the biggest we’d been offered.
We’ve gone through as many guitar players as the Grateful Dead has keyboardists (ha ha). Actually, we’ve lost two main guitar players who have relocated, and we are just about to start with a new guitarist. Karl is our third bass player- they’ve gotten progressively taller. Each band member brings their own style and original tunes and we’re grateful for our time with them. There’s some adjustment, but we grow from it, and we’re really happy with our current crew.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Karl (bass) is known for long-distance runs, backpacks, his awesome wardrobe, and his very musical family! Karl works for an industrial sensor manufacturer. He has played in multiple bands and plays multiple instruments. Karl can be spotted on his bike- bass strapped to his back.
Torrey (dobro) is a wildlife biologist. He was recently in Peru searching for traces of spectacled bear DNA. He can be found in the backcountry with his dog on early winter mornings with fresh snow. His 4-year-old son is a budding rock star. Cutest one you’ll find.
Danny (mandolin) is a world traveler, beer brewer, and outdoor enthusiast. At home, he has summitted the highest peak in every county. If he would return from the backcountry, we could get some practice in! He’s also been in multiple bands. He maintains an awesome garden (Torrey too!). He also finds time to work at UPS.
Melanie (fiddle) works in renewable energy. Before taking a desk job, she worked doing backcountry vegetation surveys in parks of the Northern Colorado Plateau. She tries to find as much time as possible to adventure in beautiful places with her teenage boys. She’s lucky they’re willing and, for the most part, share her enthusiasm.
What matters most to you?
What matters most for Two Headed Trout, as a band, is being involved in our community and progressing musically. We all want to take our personal skills beyond where they are now. Doing it together and sharing it is great. The enjoyment that comes from that is why we do it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.twoheadedtrout.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/twoheadedtroutband?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twoheadedtroutband/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVQQjUwJR_Sjq6TSRXVlf9w
Image Credits
Ryan Choi
