Tatanka, a reggae band from Denver, is pictured at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom on Dec. 27. Tatanka plays on Saturday as part of Thunder River Theatre’s Pink to Black concert series. Tatanka consists of, from left, Pancho Tranmer on guitar/vocals, Mo Robbins on trombone and vocals, Andrew Maloney on keyboards and bass, Mike Caine on drums and vocals and Nate Adam on guitar and vocals.
In December, Thunder River Theatre Co. launched its Pink to Black concert series with a live musical performance by the Triptides from Los Angeles.
On Saturday night, the reggae band Tatanka of Denver plays the second performance in the series. The inaugural season’s third and final show, on April 5, is with Pink Fuzz, a brother- and sister-led three-piece band, also of Denver.
According to Missy Moore, artistic director of TRTC, Pink to Black combines the power of music and the magic of theater to transform TRTC’s black box theater into an immersive experience for concertgoers.
The name for the series is a nod to the black box theater and a reference to the Roaring Fork River and its section from Carbondale down to Iron Bridge known as “Pink to Black.”
“The black box will be activated in a completely different way Saturday night from our first show with the Triptides,” Moore said. “The stage is in a completely different place, we’ve added a VIP Lounge, and the immersion is a completely different theme.”
TRTC has partnered on the series with El Dorado Spirits and Legends, a bar on Main Street in Carbondale. El Dorado mixologists will be pouring craft cocktails developed specifically for the show.
Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Beep Bop Boop takes the stage at 8 p.m. and Tatanka follows at 9 p.m. Pink to Black is a 21-and-over event.
Beep Bop Boop blends 1980s and ‘90s synth sounds with modern electronic music. They mix smooth grooves, heavy drums and bass and deep synth with live jams that incorporate saxophone, flute, guitars and keys.
Tatanka describes their sound as “danceable tunes and positive vibes.” The band consists of Pancho Tranmer on guitar/vocals, Mike Caine on drums and vocals, Andrew Maloney keyboards and bass, Nate Adams on guitar and Mo Robbins on trombone and vocals.
Tatanka formed in 2009. Founding member guitarist and vocalist Ian Gastl (who left the band in 2018) and Caine met while students at the University of Colorado Denver and bonded over a mutual love of reggae music. They became roommates and eventually decided to start a band together.
Maloney grew up in Denver and went to school in Vermont at Middlebury College where he oversaw the student radio station’s reggae department in addition to playing in bands.
When he finished college, Maloney returned to Denver where he answered a Craigslist ad that Gastl and Caine had placed looking for a bass player.
“I had to vet Andrew before we brought him to the house because we had met so many weirdos through Craigslist,” Caine recalled in an interview conducted with the band between rehearsals in Denver. “He knew about John Brown’s Body and all these great reggae bands we loved. So we brought him to the house and we started jamming and the chemistry was instant. We had brought someone in to play keyboards and he was garbage. He left and then out of nowhere Andrew just walked over to the keyboard and started playing and just blew me and Ian away. We were like ‘you know how to play keyboards too?’ And that’s how we became a trio. Andrew would play bass with his left hand and piano with his right hand.”
The band took on the name Tatanka and began creating their sound that combines roots music from the Caribbean with pop sensibilities of the dance-oriented sounds from the American reggae scene, particularly “the Cali Reggae” sensibilities of bands like Stick Figure, Sublime, John Brown’s Body and Slightly Stoopid. Their shows were immediately celebrated for their infectious energy and positive vibrations.
“We just were so hungry to play we kind of played everywhere, sometimes for Taco Bell money,” Maloney said. “We got our foot in the door by just opening up for a lot of bands and doing a lot of shows.”
Tatanka’s first big break came in the parking lot of the Gothic Theater when the band met members of John Brown’s Body before one of their gigs. They introduced themselves as a new reggae band and a few of the members of John Brown’s Body went to their car to listen to a demo of some of their music. They were so impressed they offered them the opening slot on their next gig at the Fox Theater in Boulder.
“That gig opening for John Brown’s Body is how we really got into the door of the reggae scene in the Front Range,” Caine said.
The band found another ally in Denver in Scott Morrill, owner of Cervantes Ballroom in Denver. He took the band under his wings, booking the band frequently and providing rehearsal space for the band.
Tatanka recorded their debut 4 song EP “Sounds in Technicolor” in a friend’s basement in 2010. Tatanka followed that with their first full length studio album titled, “John Dunbar,” in 2011 as well as an EP in 2013 titled, “Cloudless Thunder.” The band’s self-titled album was released in 2014 and was produced by famed reggae producer E.N Young in his Imperial Sound Recording Studio in San Diego.
All the while Takanka expanded their touring footprint and began playing all over the U.S. and Canada. They shared the stage with many big-name reggae acts such as Stick Figure, Tribal Seeds, Fortunate Youth, and Easy Star Allstars. They also played festivals including California Roots, Powell-a-Palooza, Desert Rocks, Arise, and many others. Along the way, the band chalked up accolades along the way including Breakout Artist of the Year (2014) by The Pier, High Times’ Unsigned Band of the Month (September 2011), and nominated by Westword magazine for Colorado’s Reggae/Jam Band of the Year (2015).
Adams was introduced to the band by a mutual friend. One night, they invited him on stage to jam and after a great performance, they invited him to the studio to work on their 2013 EP “Cloudless Thunder.”
“We got Nate to record some parts on the record and the rest is history,” Caine said of Adams joining the band.
Robbins lived in Las Vegas and was a long time fan of the band. He had expressed his desire to join Tatanka. The fellas told him if he moved to Denver, he was in. Robbins made the move and joined the band.
Tramner was playing guitar in another reggae band in Denver. He toured with Tatanka at various times over the years and recently joined the band as a permanent member.
Over the 15 years since they formed, the members of Tatanka have balanced their life with other jobs, and all have musical side projects.
“Playing with other people allows the music to always stay fresh,” Caine said. “We’re always learning, incorporating new influences, and it always seems to remind us all how much we love playing in Tatanka and making our own music and playing too.”
In 2024, Tatanka recorded their first album in a decade, “Rumbla.” The album features 18 new tracks.
“We worked on the latest album for a long time,” Caine said. “Some of the songs we wrote over seven years ago.There were a whole lot of emotions that we went through over the past several years that went into that record.”
When asked what Tatanka hopes to accomplish with their live shows, Maloney said, “It’s about enjoying reggae, but also appreciating that it’s not just the same cookie-cutter sound. Sometimes someone will say, ‘Hey, man, that was totally original. I haven’t heard something quite like that before.’ That’s my favorite type of compliment because we love the genre and we’re trying to stay in the realm but also push the envelope a little bit, and create a unique sound.”
Caine chimed in, answering the same question, saying, “I went to so many shows as a younger kid that kind of just changed my life, so that’s what I would want to provide for someone else. People spend their money to come see us so the bottom line for me is just to entertain folks, make sure people are dancing and having a good time whether they’re coming in for a party, or they’re strictly just coming to enjoy some music.”
Aly Sanguily, the talent buyer for the Pink to Black concert series, predicts Caine will deliver on his hope to entertain.
“We’re beyond excited to bring nationally touring bands to Carbondale while shining a spotlight on our incredible local talent,” Sanguily said. “There’s nothing better than music bringing people together, and it’s exciting to host these performances in a venue that truly supports creativity and connection. Tatanka will deliver an electrifying performance guaranteed to get everyone dancing and having a blast. So bring your friends, your neighbors, and come enjoy a great night of live music on Main Street.”