Sunday, funday, Greyboy AllStar Day. We’re ready. The crew rolls into Checkpoint Charlie, high-fiving concert security, with a craving. A hankering. A hunger. For funk. We all know Karl Denson from over the years in Vail: soulful sax, groovy group cohesion, tight fusion, ripped bod, gnarley goutee. He always makes a reference to Vail’s less-than-preferable weather. This time, he cites “this weather is balmy!” slightly disgusted. We live here, we don’t care, we know Vail weather, we dance in it.

Funkifying our lives, we contort, pop, chatter, and get down with the get down. Clad in my early 90s Redskins Starter Jacket, I am a “target.” To the enemy, the “cowboy” a Vail concert security guard peers over the rowdy local crowd. He does not necessarily like what he sees; he doesn’t necessarily dislike it either, he just stares. He does not act upon his thoughts. He wants to act, however. Cowboys are confused when they see Indians having fun. There are lots and lots of Indians in Vail.

The music takes us to the other place: groovetown, soulville, its all a part of Spring Back to Vail. Free music all closing week! This year’s line-up was SUPERB. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Shpongle, Stephen Marley, Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars!!

The concert starts out tight. The guitar player chicken-scratches his way through blues notes, cementing down an important layer. Karl D, poised, his elbow hanging out, displays a menacing glare that almost looks pissed. Only, his playful demeanor and music contradicts the misconceived intimidation. He is focused; in the zone. He cuts the crisp Colorado air with a charismatic tenor sax. Debuting new songs, slowing down the crowd, Karl D truly prioritizes variety. The drummer mechanically jives hip-hop beats with groovy funky rhythms and serves as the glue that holds the seams in the song together. The bass is always there. Constant, driving, ferocious. Female backup vocalists compliment Karl D’s sexy sax grit, like dark chocolate covering a salted pretzel.