High Plains Tradition 
Doug Elrick - mandolin * Kenny Pabst - bass * Steve Gilmore
- guitar * Mark Leslie - banjo * Bobbie Vickery - fiddle
Profile by Sam Cohen, from Pow'r
Pickin', November, 2003
High Plains Tradition is one of Colorado’s most successful bluegrass
bands and has been for the past 15 years. Why haven’t we heard
more about them? Because it seems they’ve been touring the country
playing bluegrass for audiences everywhere. In the past several years
they’ve played concerts in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona,
California and Kentucky. They all have day jobs yet these guys are touring
like a fulltime band. They have appeared with Special Consensus, The
Grasshoppers, Doyle Lawson, J.D. Crow and many other national acts along
the way. They’ve gone from playing Rockygrass several years ago
to the IBMA showcase in Louisville KY. James King calls them one of
the top up-and-coming bluegrass bands. They are most definitely one
of the most hard driving bluegrass bands in the west, that’s for
sure.
They’ve got a silky smooth vocal style, perfect harmonies, rock-solid
song writing and the high lonesome sound that’s branded in traditional
bluegrass. If you like that high lonesome sound, you’ll love High
Plains Tradition. Their musicianship is absolutely top notch. They style
themselves after the sounds of Ralph Stanley, The Country Gazette and
Bill Monroe, with a dash of rocky mountain flavor sprinkled on top.
High Plains Tradition’s first CD, Prairie Wind, was produced by
Pete Wernick and released 5 years ago. Their second CD, “Where
The Woods Are Cool and Still”, was released in June 2003. It is
dedicated to their fans that have patiently waited 5 long years for
this next CD. It was well worth the wait. I had the pleasure of listening
to it and I think it’s great! The vocal harmonies and musicianship
reminded me of David Parmely and Continental Divide, Third Time Out,
Lonesome River Band and Union Station all rolled into one powerful and
dynamic 5-piece band. Their collective vocal harmonies, the driving
sound of Mark Leslie’s banjo, the tasteful and well-crafted melodic
solos and great songwriting from Doug Elrick were the first things to
catch my attention. These guys are stellar musicians. This is a very
well produced CD with some great original songs. 11 of the 14 tracks
are original songs and Doug Elrick wrote 9 of them. The title track
was co-written by Doug, Ken and former member Chuck Tinsley. This song
tells a story about a ghost who visits when the woods are cool and still.
If you listen to this track while looking at the CD cover, it might
give you goose bumps. Mona Simon’s
cover design depicts a ghostly translucent image of a woman meandering
through the woods in foggy mist. You’ve really got to see this
to appreciate it.
Doug Elrick: Mandolin, Lead Vocals and Songwriter
Doug was voted Songwriter of the Year as well as Male Vocalist of the
Year in the Rocky Mountain area at the Colorado Bluegrass Music Awards
in 1997. He has written most the original material in the band and his
vocals have given High Plains Tradition that high lonesome sound. Doug
is one of the original members of and has been with the band for 14
years. He currently has taken on the title of luthier with the completion
of his first hand-made mandolin he calls the The Columbine. When not
being a connoisseur of great gravies, Doug is a Denver CO firefighter.
Kenny Pabst: Upright Bass and Harmony Vocals
Kenny was voted Bass Player of the Year also in 1997 at the Colorado
Bluegrass Music Awards show. His strong bass rhythm gives the foundation
that makes the sound of HPT a hard drivin’ band. He handles all
the business aspects of the band, as well as drives the bus to and from
gigs. (It’s really a van but he can dream.) Kenny, as well as Doug,
has been with High Plains Tradition for 14 years and is one of the founding
members. Kenny currently works for a major airline in Denver CO.
Steve Gilmore: Guitar and Harmony Vocals
Steve has been associated with bluegrass music for more than 12 years
now. Originally a founding member of the Wyoming band, Turtle Creek,
he came to High Plains Tradition in 2001. His strong background rhythm
keeps the drive alive. Steve currently has the largest collection of
bad music this side of the Mississippi River.
Mark Leslie: Banjo and Harmony Vocals
Mark is the heartbeat of the band. His banjo styles are clean and very
traditional. He is formerly from the Colorado-based band, Open Road,
and came to High Plains Tradition in 2001. He is currently working for
the Department of Wildlife in the Ft Collins area.
Bobby Vickery: Fiddle, Lead and Harmony Vocals
Bobby is the newest member of the band. He comes from the Corpus Christi
Texas area. Bobbie adds a whole new dimension to the band. Bobbie sings
high baritone as well as lead and his fiddle work is dynamic.
While interviewing Ken Pabst, I learned that Ken is a past president
of CBMS and Doug Elrick was a past vice president in the early 90’s.
Ken was a guitar player before taking up the bass. He was a converted
bluegrass fan after seeing Hot Rize and Doyle Lawson (or as Ken calls
him “Doyle Awesome”) at Winfield. Then, at a jam in 1980 at
the Rocky Mountain Bluegrass Festival in Adams County, a woman handed
him her bass and asked him to hold onto it while she went to get a beer.
So he did and when she returned she showed him a few bass licks and
that was all it took. From then on, Ken was a bass player. One month
later he was recruited as the bass player for a band called “A
Grain of Salt”, a popular bluegrass/Folk band playing what was
then known as the “Putney Street Pub Circuit” in Denver CO,
El Paso, Tampa and Tucson. When they played the Rocky Mountain Bluegrass
Festival in Adams County he met Doug Elrick. This chance meeting would
eventually lead to the formation of High Plains Tradition.
They are working to re-introduce themselves to the Colorado Front Range
in 2003. They’ll start by playing the Kaddy Shack in Lafayette
CO on December 5th. I encourage everyone to go see them. You will be
glad you did. And be sure to check out their web site at www.highplainstradition.com.
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