“Lopez’s words feel like a sacred mantra for the coming days.” -The Boulder Weekly
“I’ve been moved in a way that I haven’t experienced since I first heard Nora Jones’s first album.
Antonio is a gifted singer/songwriter, the likes of which come along only on the tail of Haley’s Comet.”- The Pagosa Daily Post
“His words may be physically quiet, but spiritually they are louder than a riot.” -Taste Culture
“I’ve been moved in a way that I haven’t experienced since I first heard Nora Jones’s first album.
Antonio is a gifted singer/songwriter, the likes of which come along only on the tail of Haley’s Comet.”- The Pagosa Daily Post
“His words may be physically quiet, but spiritually they are louder than a riot.” -Taste Culture
Antonio Lopez is a musician, composer, and the executive director of the nonprofit, Sound Bridge Music. He is a quiet man who has something to say. His music is like an onion. It has many layers, each one revealing something more. At the core, Lopez is a singer-songwriter in service to the song. His adept guitar work and composition skills are never used in a showy way, but rather like the spices in a delectable home cooked meal. The result is a feast of emotions that is a delight to the listener.
Lopez was born and raised in Alamosa, CO, growing up steeped in the Chicano culture of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Since 2012 Lopez has been living in Longmont, CO. Speaking of the move he says “ I was green as they come when I first arrived on The Front Range, full of that naive small-town optimism. The first job I had was as a night janitor in the public schools, trying to hustle my first gigs in a new music scene.” That hustle ethic has paid off as evidenced by Antonio’s newest album, Roots and Wings, which was crowdfunded through a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign.
The concept for Roots and Wings was planted in the late summer of 2018 as Antonio and his wife Georgia were flying back from their honeymoon on Vancouver Island in Canada. While there, Lopez picked up a free newspaper called The New Agora with an article about stepping into this new form of masculinity and fatherhood with a quote from Goethe that hit him in the gut…”There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children, one of these is roots, the other, wings”. He read these words in the airplane, flying miles above the ground. Tearing up, Lopez reminisced on his childhood and all the sacrifices his parents made in order for him to have a better life than they had.
Lopez is the youngest of five children. His mother is a retired second grade school teacher who dedicated her life to educating generations of youth. She grew up the youngest of eleven children. Her father never learned to read or write and started working in the coal mines of Southern Colorado at a young age. Lopez’s father is an activist and attorney. He and his brother Reyes became lawyers in order to amplify the voices of oppressed people during the Chicano Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and 70s. During this time, the FBI formed a secret branch called COINTELPRO, aimed at infiltrating and disrupting domestic social movements. They often used illegal tactics, and it is believed that these operations lead to the death of his uncle Reyes in a mysterious car bombing at Chautauqua Park in Boulder, CO in 1974. The way they tried to silence Lopez’s dad was trumping up false charges, forcing him into exile and into relinquishing his license to practice law for over ten years. He was later exonerated of all charges and gained his license back, but the shadows of those events still loom over the family.
Even though these events happened before Lopez was born, they are an important part of his story. In his own words Lopez says “I choose to share this story with you because I feel the past informs the present. However, I believe the future is not defined by the past. Each of us alive right now are the thread that connects the past with the future. It is now our time. My songs come from my ancestors. My ancestors still exist because I am here. They exist inside of me. They exist through me. Basically, I am their dream. The life that I am able to lead is a life they could only dream of having. When I sing, I’m adding my voice to their voice. Joining them in both words and actions for a better tomorrow. A better tomorrow for me. A better tomorrow for you. A better tomorrow for ALL of us.”
Serving as the executive director of the non-profit Sound Bridge Music, Lopez vows to do what he can to support the Front Range music community navigate the challenges raised by Covid-19.
Lopez was born and raised in Alamosa, CO, growing up steeped in the Chicano culture of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Since 2012 Lopez has been living in Longmont, CO. Speaking of the move he says “ I was green as they come when I first arrived on The Front Range, full of that naive small-town optimism. The first job I had was as a night janitor in the public schools, trying to hustle my first gigs in a new music scene.” That hustle ethic has paid off as evidenced by Antonio’s newest album, Roots and Wings, which was crowdfunded through a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign.
The concept for Roots and Wings was planted in the late summer of 2018 as Antonio and his wife Georgia were flying back from their honeymoon on Vancouver Island in Canada. While there, Lopez picked up a free newspaper called The New Agora with an article about stepping into this new form of masculinity and fatherhood with a quote from Goethe that hit him in the gut…”There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children, one of these is roots, the other, wings”. He read these words in the airplane, flying miles above the ground. Tearing up, Lopez reminisced on his childhood and all the sacrifices his parents made in order for him to have a better life than they had.
Lopez is the youngest of five children. His mother is a retired second grade school teacher who dedicated her life to educating generations of youth. She grew up the youngest of eleven children. Her father never learned to read or write and started working in the coal mines of Southern Colorado at a young age. Lopez’s father is an activist and attorney. He and his brother Reyes became lawyers in order to amplify the voices of oppressed people during the Chicano Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and 70s. During this time, the FBI formed a secret branch called COINTELPRO, aimed at infiltrating and disrupting domestic social movements. They often used illegal tactics, and it is believed that these operations lead to the death of his uncle Reyes in a mysterious car bombing at Chautauqua Park in Boulder, CO in 1974. The way they tried to silence Lopez’s dad was trumping up false charges, forcing him into exile and into relinquishing his license to practice law for over ten years. He was later exonerated of all charges and gained his license back, but the shadows of those events still loom over the family.
Even though these events happened before Lopez was born, they are an important part of his story. In his own words Lopez says “I choose to share this story with you because I feel the past informs the present. However, I believe the future is not defined by the past. Each of us alive right now are the thread that connects the past with the future. It is now our time. My songs come from my ancestors. My ancestors still exist because I am here. They exist inside of me. They exist through me. Basically, I am their dream. The life that I am able to lead is a life they could only dream of having. When I sing, I’m adding my voice to their voice. Joining them in both words and actions for a better tomorrow. A better tomorrow for me. A better tomorrow for you. A better tomorrow for ALL of us.”
Serving as the executive director of the non-profit Sound Bridge Music, Lopez vows to do what he can to support the Front Range music community navigate the challenges raised by Covid-19.
LISTEN
NEWS
To celebrate the release of Roots and Wings, My band and I are having an album release live-stream from Stone Cottage Studios on Saturday, January 9th. We'll be streaming in both hi-def video and audio. It would mean the world to me if you joined us! There are different ticket tiers (including pay what you can donation). A portion of proceeds benefit Sound Bridge Music, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit that supports and empowers local musicians to make a difference, enriching our community through music. Save $3 with code AL3. .
Roots and Wings is RELEASED.
It's here. Today is the release date for
Roots and Wings! Streaming everywhere and available for purchase. The album has already been receiving some critical acclaim in national, regional, and local media, for which I am grateful. Songs are seeds scattered in the wind. When you release them into the world, you hope they take root in listeners' minds and hearts. 2021, by default, is a year fueled by hope. I hope this album will play a part in making 2021 a better year for people - a soundtrack to start a new year. A big thank you to everyone who helped fund this record through the Kickstarter Campaign. I shipped out all the pledge rewards to backers over the past few weeks. If you were a backer and still haven't received your rewards, please send me an email. New Single '42 Ford is out now
‘42 Ford is set in the 1940’s during World War II. There is a high school aged boy named Jacob who is saving up money to get a car. He wants to take his girlfriend Kathleen to the drive-in movies, but before he is able to do so he gets drafted off to war. In February of 1942, Ford stopped making cars for civilians and instead shifted its manufacturing towards equipment for the military. Technically, there are a small number of Ford consumer automobiles made in 1942, but I took poetic license on this one to sing “There’s no such things as a ‘42 Ford, Ol Henry wasn’t building cars that year.”
It would mean so much to me if you took a moment to go listen, like and follow. If you dig it, share with a friend. Thank you for the support. Feature in The Boulder Weekly
I am humbled by the feature on me in the Boulder Weekly. It is a surreal feeling when a talented journalist such as Caitlin Rockett takes the time to interview, research and craft an in-depth article about you. 2020 has been a hard year so when you “get a win” it feels extra sweet. Check out the article in print or online.
Taste Culture Feature
There is more press coverage coming in on the new single! It is a surreal feeling how well journalist Robert Mayper from Taste Culture was able to capture my spirit. "Antonio Lopez is described as a quiet man with something to say. His words when spoken are ones of connection, and when acted upon they are ones of empowerment. What he says is what he does, and what he does is capture and energize humanity. His words may be physically quiet, but spiritually they are louder than a riot." Read the feature here.
Thank you Taste Culture!" 
NEW MUSIC ALERT! My next single “Going to the City” is out now. The song is a precursor to the full length album Roots and Wings which is coming out January 1, 2021. In the single, I am bearing witness to the mass urbanization of the planet and mourn the loss of wild places and biodiversity. “Going to the City” chronicles my migration from rural southern Colorado to the more populated metro area of the state so that I could pursue a career in music. Find it where ever you listen to music now!
I am happy to announce that I am stepping into the executive director role for the non-profit Sound Bridge Music. In taking on this role, I vow to do what I can to support the Front Range Music Community as we navigate through this difficult time. It pains me to see the financial hardships that many of my peers and myself are going through as the result of lost income from event cancelations and all the venues being closed. It haunts me to think about what the climate is going to be like as a working musician after this. One thing is for certain, none of us are going to be able to weather this storm on our own. The way we are going to get through this is people helping people.
A little background on Sound Bridge Music: Sound Bridge Music is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation incorporated in 2017 in Longmont, Colorado. The organization was founded as a grassroots effort to use the power of music to make a positive difference in communities across the Front Range. Harnessing the talents of local musicians, Sound Bridge Music connects artists with opportunities to bring music to those in need of the unique comfort, empowerment, healing and sense of belonging that only music can provide. Thanks for making The Kickstarter Campaign for Roots and Wings A Success!
My friend Greg Johnson and myself are putting on a music festival! Casey Jones Music Fest will be at Parrish Ranch on September 6-8. Parrish Ranch is one of the sweetest places in Colorado I’ve ever been. Just 10 miles NW of Longmont, it has plenty of shade trees and the river running through it. For anyone that was at Georgia and my wedding this past summer, this is the place it was at. Join us for three days of music, camping, and community. CJMF features 18 acts, workshops, a songwriting contest, and an open stage. Festival attendees can hang out in the festival field after the main stage performances to play acoustic music and celebrate the joy of making music under the Colorado sky. Bring your instrument and BYOB! Get your early bird tickets before prices go up on July 31 by clicking here.
The Episode of The Songwriter Hour that Antonio was featured on is now available to listen to at thesongwriterhour.com or on Spotify and iTunes. The Songwriter Hour is hosted by Kyle Donovan and is taped in front of a live audience at Still Cellars in Longmont, CO.
My last show of the year is this Wednesday, December 5th at eTown Hall in Boulder, CO. I will be performing as part of Boulder in The Round’s 4th Anniversary. We will be upstairs on the main stage! Other songwriters performing are Shanna in A Dress, Pamela Machala, Heatherlyn, Theresa Peterson, Kyle Donovan, Dave Tamkin, Hunter Stone. Be prepared for many collaborations between the artists and even some special guests. eTown is the best sounding concert hall in Colorado, this is going to be a special one. Get your tickets here.
HOLLER!WEEN Music Festival
Antonio Lopez Band is proud to be part of The Holler!Ween Music Festival on Saturday, Oct 20th in Fort Collins. In it's 16th year, Holler!Ween is hosted by Michael Kirkpatrick and the Sustainable Living Assocition. Bring 2 or more non-perishable food items for the Food Bank. Your ticket includes camping and your first beer. |
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