A well-known name in Laramie, Patti Fiasco formed at the last minute in 2008 after being told that an opening band was needed for a show.
Founding members Dee Tyler, guitarist and vocals, and Alysia Kraft, singer and guitarist, had already played a few acoustic shows together. So, when the call came, the two hurried to put a band together.
“We got such a positive reaction and had so much fun that night that we realized we had to do keep doing it,” Tyler said.
The Patti Fiasco perform in the Union Ballroom Wednesday night to an estimated crowd of 250-300 people. (Photos:Seneca Riggins)
Almost four years later, the band has gone through a few lineup changes. Now, Niles Mischke plays bass, Sean Francis plays drums and Ansel plays electric Dobro.
Tyler said the band members all hail from Wyoming originally. The state is like a small town, so everyone knows each other in the music scene, he said.
“We all grew up with vast geographic distances between us, but we were all part of the same small community,” Tyler said.
Patti Fiasco has several shows planned for this summer. They will play with Mosey West for the band’s CD release party May 11 at Hodi’s Half Note in Fort Collins. After that, the band will play May 18 at Oskar Blues in Lyons, Colo.
The band has a self-titled full-length album available, named best alt-country album by The Colorado Sound in 2011. They also have an EP for sale called “No Bridges.” Both albums are available digitally on iTunes.
Tyler said the band plans to return to the studio in September to record a new full-length album.
“I won’t give too many details but I can tell you that this next album will have our best material yet,” Tyler said.
The group likes playing in hometown Laramie, because as Tyler said, the shows “never disappoint.”
Touring also plays a large role in the band’s endeavors. They recently did their first extended tour through New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. So far, Austin is one of the band’s favorite places to play, Tyler said.
Instead of conforming to any traditional genres, Patti Fiasco describes its sound in a unique way.
“We are rootsy but edgy, indie but country,” Tyler said. “I’ve heard us described as a rock band that isn’t afraid of a two-beat. A friend described us the other day as ‘Amerockana.’”
The band’s musical tastes differ from member to member, but Tom Petty, Brandi Carlile and Johnny Cash are a few favorites, Tyler said.
For more information and a complete show schedule for Patti Fiasco, visit www.pattifiasco.com.
