START-TRACK AT SHOW: Rosali & Mowed Sound + Trummors + Palamara @ Lost Lake – August 11, 2025

Well, what’s there to say? It’s Tuesday afternoon, just shy of 1:00 pm, and my brain feels a bit like porridge. Those late-night shows really catch up with you when you’re in your thirties, and last night’s wasn’t even exceptionally late. It was a three-band bill at Lost Lake in Denver—Palamara, Trummors, and our beloved Rosali Middleman (known mononymously to most) + Mowed Sound—that kicked off around 8:00 pm and capped off around 11:00. Some post-show mingling ensued, and we were finally home in Louisville by midnight. My wife, being someone who is not on vacation nor actively leaving her job, is likely more tired than I am today; I’m just slightly off pace. Worth it, though, well worth it indeed. I’ve got my copy of Rosali’s 2021 LP No Medium on the turntable as I write this, sporting the superior t-shirt I purchased from her yesterday evening (props for the decision to go with Comfort Colors, by the way). Clearly, I am still reeling from the experience.

This was my first time seeing a show at Lost Lake. My wife and I are still relatively new to Colorado, having only been residents since July 2024. As far as Denver-specific venues go, I’ve been to the Hi-Dive, HQ, the Marquis, and Globe Hall for local shows and then Mission Ballroom and the Gothic Theatre for slightly bigger touring acts. I was taken aback by how cozy it was inside the venue; it certainly looked quaint enough from the outside. Interestingly enough, we ended up getting there early. A mutual friend, Tyler (of Aquarium Drunkard, Doom and Gloom from the Tomb, and the instrumental band Prairie Wolf), reached out asking if I happened to have a 12-string acoustic guitar for the opening act, Trummors, to borrow; their guitarist had unfortunately had his stolen in Santa Fe. My old Gibson has largely been sitting in its case since Moon Orchids’ hiatus, so I was happy to have someone show it some love. When we arrived at Lost Lake, we were greeted warmly by Anne and Dave of Trummors as well as Rosali and Mowed Sound guitarist Jim Schroeder. I suppose loaning a guitar is as good an icebreaker as any!

The show began around 8:00 pm as advertised. Up first was Palamara, a singer-songwriter local to Denver. While his recordings display a fleshed-out full-band sound, he opted to deliver his material with simply his voice and an acoustic guitar. The format worked well for his songs—mostly cuts from his new record Tomorrow Is a Friend—sung from the heart with plenty of space for reflection and subtle humor.

Denver-based singer-songwriter Palamara is warming up the crowd.

Next on the bill was Trummors, a husband-and-wife duo based in Taos, New Mexico. I had become acquainted with members Dave Lerner and Anne Cunningham via the emergency guitar loan, but I hadn’t had the chance to get familiar with their catalog prior to the performance. Similar to Palamara, they performed stripped-down renditions of more fully arranged album cuts, leaning primarily on material from their 2024 LP 5. Anne occupied the harmonium while Dave strummed the guitar, occasionally interjecting with a lonesome harmonica, both trading lead vocals and harmonizing all the while. I joked to a friend that I need to stop loaning my guitars to people who are better than me; Dave’s fingerpicking dazzled throughout, especially given the added complexity of the 12-string guitar. Trummors delivered a charmingly loose set full of good songs and good spirits, leaving the stage as comfortably and jovially as they came on.

Anne Cunningham and Dave Lerner of Taos-based Trummors on harmonium and 12-string acoustic guitar

Finally, Rosali and her backing band, Mowed Sound—low-hanging Crazy Horse references aside, an excellent group in their own right—took the stage with a storm. Jim had told me before the show that they would mostly be playing material from 2024’s Bite Down LP (released via Merge Records), which was no problem for me. It’s a classic ten-song record with hit after hit throughout, each track flowing seamlessly into the next. Were it released in the early to mid-seventies, it’d have easily been one of the greatest records of its era; as it is, we’re incredibly fortunate to have it with us today. I had initially caught them in Englewood opening for Mdou Moctar last fall and subsequently fallen in love with Bite Down, so my expectations were high. I figured I knew what I was getting into.

Rosali and Mowed Sound are digging into the performance.

However, Rosali is not simply a very good artist but a great one, and great artists subvert expectations. While the set list was familiar, the performance was something else altogether. Things quickly became positively psychedelic in that modest Denver club last night, tight song structures torn down in lieu of crashing drums and guitar noise. The band appeared to be in great spirits throughout—bassist David Nance grinning and stalking the stage while slamming down on his vintage Gibson; drummer Kevin Donahue hunching over his kit with an expression reminiscent of The Muppets’ Animal; Rosali and guitarist Jim Schroeder occasionally locking into a Thin Lizzy–esque dual-guitar standoff, seemingly ready to burst into laughter at any moment. The group left the stage to unanimous applause, quickly returning to deliver a brief encore before fading into the night.

Bassist David Nance always looks like he’s up to something.

Rosali and guitarist Jim Schroeder in “Live and Dangerous” mode

This band is a formidable live unit, and one can only hope that last night’s performance was recorded. As a note to the group: if this author’s opinion means anything, the world needs an official document of this leg of the tour; to again mention Crazy Horse, these gigs are just begging for the Weld/Arc treatment. If Rosali’s beautiful voice wasn’t enough, she’s also a fluid, intuitive musician who really leans into her guitarist role when her compositions have a chance to open up with the synergy of the band. I’d also like to give a special shout-out to Mowed Sound guitarist Jim Schroeder, who continues to stun me with his mastery of electric guitar feedback, seemingly always knowing exactly the right notes and textures to apply at any given moment. The chemistry among these musicians is truly a thing to behold, and it is most evident in their live performances, when the songs take flight with all caution thrown to the wind.

Written by Jacob Simons

All photos were taken on iPhones by Jacob Simons and Gazelle Mazda.