Localized – Jesus or Genome, Color Animal and Nathan Spenser & Dylan Roe

Color Animal is:

Andrew Shaw – guitar and vocals

Nick Neihart – guitar

Tyler Ford – drums

Felicia Baca – bass

Color Animal may only be a few months old, but this four-piece group is made up of seasoned musicians with years of experience playing in the local scene. Formed by Andrew Shaw, who has played in bands such as The Platte and Calico, Color Animal describe their music as an energetic style of garage rock that gives people something they can groove and dance to.  “We have a unique sound as far as Salt Lake City goes. It’s kind of loose and jammy, and I haven’t seen a lot bands like that,” says Nick Neihart, who, in his mid-20s, is the band’s youngest member. “We try it to keep the music driving, not get too bogged down,” says Shaw. “I like when people move around, so I try to demonstrate—lead by example.”

The idea to start a group like Color Animal was floating around in Shaw’s mind for some time, but it got off to a rocky start. Shaw and drummer Tyler Ford were already playing together in Calico when they decided to start a new project that had a heavier rock sound to it. “I wanted to get a new band going about two-and-a-half years ago. Tyler and I tried to start a band with a buddy, but after our third practice, he called and said, ‘You have to come get your equipment because I’m going to be a foster dad,’ just out of the blue. So that band was done. But I’ve been thinking about doing another rock project for a long time,” says Shaw.

When SLUG approached Shaw late last year about playing at an upcoming Localized, he decided to take another crack at forming Color Animal, and recruited Neihart and bassist Felicia Baca to join him and Ford. “I wanted people that I really wanted to spend time with, because that’s really what bands are,” says Shaw. “Tyler and I are really good friends, but we don’t spend a lot of time together outside of the band. So I wanted to put together a band of people that I want to get to know better and hang out with.”

The band played their first show in early May at the Urban Lounge, and each member seemed pleased with the six-song set. “It was really positive,” says Shaw. “I thought we did a good job.” Baca adds, “I drew a smiley face on the neck of my guitar so I would remember to smile.” It’s clear when talking to them that one of the band’s goals is to simply have some fun playing together. They meet up once a week to practice—at a local middle school of all places—and hash out new ideas and songs from Shaw. “I bring up ideas sometimes, and then [Shaw] cuts them down,” says Neihart.  Ford, the band’s appointed comedian, also chimes in on their songwriting process: “Andrew opens up a new spreadsheet and then randomly inputs numbers,” he says. The truth of the matter is that Shaw is the band’s songwriter, and despite their humorous rhetoric, the rest of the band is fine with it being that way.

With no demos or recordings currently available, the band used their connections around the local scene over the years to help get Color Animal off the ground. The band has plans to release a debut album by the end of June, after they work out some more songs. “Today we know eight [songs], and by the end of today, we’re going to know eleven,” says Shaw. “Wait, we’re practicing today?” asks Neihart, “Can’t we just stay here and drink some beer?” 

With the newly formed band still in its infancy, the long-term goals of Color Animal are a bit hazy at this point, but each member seems on board with adding more shows to their schedule, as well as possibly hitting the road for a short tour later this summer. “We want to go on tour for fun. Right?” Baca asks Shaw. “Just, like, little tours,” adds Shaw. “We just want have to fun and play shows.” Even though the majority of Color Animal is made up of members in their early 30s, married and with full-time jobs to schedule around, don’t let that fool you. This band is intent on playing a fun, entertaining show, not just for themselves, but also, more importantly, for the people who come out to see them. With an album scheduled to be out by the time this article is published, look for Color Animal’s garage rock sound to finally grow some legs and stomp around the local scene this summer.

The music starts at 10 p.m. at Urban Lounge with openers Nathan Spenser and Dylan Roe, followed by Jesus or Genome and Color Animal closing out a great night of local talent.