From the first note, I was hooked. Never have I seen a band with such unique style and just – total badassery. The drummer drilling the skins, the sultry voice of the wild-eyed brunette, the rowdy gyrations of a smokin’ hot bass player and the leader of the band jumping up and down, jamming on the guitar and singing his heart out – this is Ryan Chrys & The Rough Cuts.
ALL photos by Darylene Iacovetto Photography
When Ryan Chrys was a kid, he thought he wanted to be either a musician or a cop but when he hit his stride playing in his college band, he knew he didn’t want to do anything else. After playing lead guitar with several bands and watching the bands dissolve, Chrys decided to start writing his own songs and form his own band. Chrys, now based in Denver, started his band The Rough Cuts in 2013.
The Rough Cuts are Michael Jochum on drums, Susan Phelan on bass and vocals, Maria Colvett on vocals (previous vocalist was Lauren Michaels, who is now home caring for her new baby) and Ryan Chrys on guitar and vocals.
The Rough Cuts did a Northwest Tour this past spring 2023, which included New Mexico, Montana, California, Wyoming, Missouri, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Utah. And they returned to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August. They played shows all over Colorado over the summer – we caught up with them on the Western Slope of Colorado at the Fruita Fall Festival on September 23, 2023.
This was my first time at the Fruita Fall Festival, a festival to celebrate Autumn in Colorado with family, food, crafts and of course, live music. We caught the end of Colorado’s own Blue Canyon Boys’ set and became instant fans! And then Ryan Chrys & The Rough Cuts lit up the stage with their Outlaw Country. Kids were doing cartwheels, people were dancing and singing and there was a sense of community I haven’t felt for a long time.
The highlight of the evening was when Colorado Country Music Hall Of Famer, Peggy Malone, joined Ryan Chrys & The Rough Cuts who were named Colorado Country Music Hall Of Fame Band Of The Year in 2019. Peggy and The Rough Cuts did a couple classic country tunes together and the crowd went wild! Peggy, who resides in Fruita, made Patsy Cline proud!
Here’s a quick but meaningful addition to this article. It’s a quote by Michael Jochum, drummer for The Rough Cuts in response to this feature article. Thank you, Michael, for sharing your keen and meaningful insight on an independent artist’s life on the road.
Ryan Chrys & The Rough Cuts are currently working on a new album and hope to release it this fall. Stay tuned to #VWMag for updates and be sure to follow The Rough Cuts via the links below:
FOLLOW Ryan Chrys & The Rough Cuts via the links below:
Official website: RoughCutsBand.com
TikTok: Ryan Chrys (@ryanchrys) | TikTok
LISTEN to Ryan Chrys & The Rough Cuts on Spotify below:
