About Joe
Joe Kuckla calls Lyons, Colorado home, but his roots come from the coal mining town of Old Forge, Pennsylvania, where he discovered his first love–Rock and Roll. Playing air guitar to Mark Knopfler solos were his first jams until his brothers bought him an electric guitar as an outlet for the rebellious teen, and he soon began rocking out to Led Zeppelin. Naturally, Joe formed a rock and roll band with his buddies in high school. Joe recalls, “I remember me and my buddy Dino got on stage with the band at the prom and rocked the place!” Soon after, Joe formed his first professional band focused on Blues music and then a jam band until he followed a calling to head West.
In Colorado, Joe worked on a cattle ranch where he discovered Country Western music. The stories and images of country life plus the “twangy” sound of the music resonated with Joe in his new-found Colorado lifestyle. With an acoustic guitar in his hands, he began to learn old classic country ballads and cowboy songs. His great love of music led Joe to seek a bachelor’s degree in music, including vocal training and learning some classical and jazz guitar.
Joe’s eclectic background with the music of many genres is found in his songwriting and performances–rock and roll, story-telling cowboy songs, and country ballads, using the country flavor of pedal steel guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and banjo, but with a love of blues and soul. He describes his sound as Rocky Mountain Country Soul–and when he rocks out with his full band, Irons in the Fire, Joe says, “It’s gotta have drums!”.
In 2020, during the challenging times of social distancing, Joe felt an obligation to his community and created a platform for mobile music on a flatbed trailer where he showcased local bands and drove them around the neighborhoods in Lyons, Colorado, to bring badly needed live music to people. In 2022, he made a 300-mile journey with two horses and a guitar along the Colorado Trail, taking campfire music to strangers along the trail and nearby towns. The trip inspired his latest single, “Something About a Horse” which also has a video version. At the 2023 Rocky Mountain Folks Festival’s songwriter competition, Joe received an Honorable Mention for his song, “So Long” which made the next to last cut where the finalists were selected.
Joe always has several new songs he is working on in the studio and plans to take to the road again in 2024. He can be seen as a solo performer or with the full band, Joe Kuckla & Irons in the Fire, in Lyons and nearby communities, playing a guitar he made with his own hands.
The SongRider Tour
I once read a book about a man who rode horseback from Mongolia to Hungary. That set a spark in me to try my own adventurous, horseback trek. Mine would be designed around my interests, combining songwriting and live music. I wanted to experience a little taste of horse travel like the old days, and how a bond develops between horse and rider when you spend day after day, night after night together while relying on each other for survival. I imagined having plenty of time to my thoughts to dig deeper into my creative songwriting. This vision distilled into what I call the SongRider Tour.
I drove to Challis, Idaho with my buddy, Taylor Sims, and bought two big ‘ol ranch horses from his brother, bought a pack saddle, more tack, and lightweight camping gear. Two months later I was on the trail. I chose the Colorado Trail as it is one of the few trails in the West where you can truly ride a horse all the way through from start to finish–480 miles.
I had a lot to learn about how to properly pack a horse, especially how to pack a guitar on the back of a horse. I had to learn how to pace myself and the horses to go that long distance, setting up and scheduling supply stops. This all started with an estimated guess that I worked out as I went.
I looked at a map of the trail for nearby towns where I might score a gig at a house or local bar, but I couldnʼt commit to a schedule in advance with all of the unknowns. It had to be spontaneous and simple. As I traveled I found opportunities to break out my guitar and play for folks along the way who were hiking or camping. I made friends on the trail who had connections to folks in towns nearby who would be willing to host a concert at their home or even just a resting place for my horses, or a shuttle ride back to my van and horse trailer to get re-supplied. I also found an occasional bar that had an opening to fit me in for a gig on the spot.
The amazing scenery along the way gave me great opportunities to stop and video myself singing a song or telling a story to post on social media whenever I could find WiFi. Friends and fans seemed to really enjoy going along on the trail with me, virtually. Besides music, I also shared some of the challenges I had with my horses. Both of my horses sustained injuries that I had to carefully tend to, including seeking out veterinarian services. One of them had driven a branch 4” deep into his shoulder early on in the trip, and the other eventually developed an abscess on his withers which ultimately ended my trip at approximately 6 weeks and 300 miles. I'm glad to say they are both fine and sound on this day and I plan to get them back out on another SongRider tour one day soon!
Looking back on the trip, I got the adventure I set out for and I enjoy telling the stories! On the next tour I should be able to plan ahead and schedule much better so let's stay in touch. If you see me coming your way, let's book a gig!
Here are some pics and some of the videos I took along the way.
.~Joe
A man, a guitar, and two horses...
Click photos for description
Take a trail tour
The Band Wagon
When people needed live music most...
In 2020, when it seemed like live music had come to a screeching halt, Joe Kuckla brought music to the people of Lyons, Colorado. He invited fellow musicians to play on trailer to get pulled around the neighborhoods of Lyons, Colorado.
In Joe's own words:
Well, Im thinking back on the "Band Wagon" tour from this summer. Im sure glad we did it, and there are a lot of folks I want to thank for makjng it all happen. I should start with the Lyons community. Thank you all for generously supporting our local musicians out of work by both donating to LEAF and also dropping your dollars in the tip jar on the wagon. Between the tip jar and the generous Sponsorship of the bands by both Spirit Hound Distillers and Laura Levy, each band was able to get a paid gig that amounted to more than would be at the typical local venues! So Thank you!
We had a string of amazingly talented, local musicians that played on the wagon. Mostly on a first come basis. It did my heart well to see all my friends up there. I want to thank them all; Jesse Garland Band, Brian Mccrae, Eric Thorin, GOGO Lab, Wayward Circus, Arthur Leeland with Carter Sampson, Human Cabaret, Spidercat, and of course my band, Irons in the Fire.
It turned out to be real fun way to do a gig. We got out there right up into people's business. (Safely of course!) It got personal. I liked it. We all did! good times were had! I might like to do it again sometime.
I also need to thank the ones who made the rubber hit the road. Larry Beck owns the wagon we used and he also donated his time, and truck to drive us around. Scott Conner also filled in one weekend when Larry coudnt make it. Matt Eckhardt provided the generator. Colin Mahoney helped as a sound man, and Kara Bauman was a great production assistant and navigator! Thanks to Craig Fergussen for the shade tree where we set up. If i remember someone ive forgotten, i'll follow up later. Oh, Electric Dave had a hand in there too! And our Mayor Nick Angelo.
Anyway, Lyons is a great community that loves it's music, and im lucky to have so many friends there! A big thanks to y'all!
Contact: JOE KUCKLA
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