Page 40 - ION Indie Magazine_JanFeb 2019

It was a perfect Colorado summer evening as
the crowd gathered in an outdoor
amphitheater that is part of the Royal Gorge
Park and Bridge. The Royal Gorge
Amphitheater is part of a 360-acre
amusement park located on the edge of the
Royal Gorge just South of Colorado Springs,
Colorado. The Royal Gorge Bridge,
constructed in 1929, spans the gorge,
making it the highest bridge the United
States, sitting 955 feet above the Arkansas
River below.

Everyone getting ready for the “Park After
Dark” concert in the soft, grassy natural
outdoor amphitheater had to walk across
that bridge to get there. From the first note
that night, there was no doubt it was worth
the breath-taking, knees-shaking walk across
the Royal Gorge to see The New Respects
and The Record Company.

When they first came out on stage, the
crowd, not sure what to expect, was
instantly head-bobbing and clapping in
unison. They quickly enjoined the crowd in a
feel-good dance-filled energy that remained
constant for their entire set. Jasmine, the
lead singer, is backed up by bassist Alexis,
guitarist Alexandria, and drummer Darius --
all of which have smooth, polished voices
which could be heard throughout the
evening as they harmonized with each other
beautifully.

Jasmine joked in the middle of the set that
growing up in Nashville they actually tried to
form a band together back in high school. It
was an absolutely awful Mumford and Sons-
influenced folk group that could not play the
banjo and accordion that they used for
instruments. Lucky for us all, they kept at it
and traded in those instruments for guitars
and a drum set.

The New Respects are comprised of twin
sisters Alexandria and Alexis Fitzgerald, their
brother Darius, and their cousin Jasmine
Mullen.