Localized: Milk Money

It’s no secret that SLC’s music scene is severely eclectic, and it’s all thanks to bands like Mowth, Milk Money and frick. that add their unique sounds to Utah’s musical landscape. Check them out for yourself for just $5 at Urban Lounge on August 18 (doors at 7 p.m., music at 8 p.m.). SLUG Localized is sponsored by Riso-Geist and Uinta Brewing.

Melded from the hearts and minds of four lifelong friends, Milk Money emerged just over three years ago in 2019. However, that’s far from the beginning of these guys’ musical careers. Band members Dan Fletcher (vocals), Trevor Hale (guitar), Byron Colindres (bass) and Drew Davenport (drums) have been playing off and on in multiple bands for approximately 20 years. “We grew up playing hardcore together, and we always joked about having a dad rock band when we got old,” says Fletcher. Fast forward to 2019 when three of the four band members became dads (excluding Hale, the band’s staple successful single guy)—it was time for them to initiate “operation dad rock for moms.”

“I like to joke that this is our midlife crisis band. We all came together because we needed a change. Instead of buying a Porsche, we started a band.”

Growing up, music dominated the lives of the musicians in Milk Money, so much so that it became the sole passion and purpose behind their lives. “I’ve always been around music—my dad was in a band with his high school friends for like 30 years. They would practice at our house, so sometimes I would play with them,” says Hale. Bandmate Colindres also professes an obsession with music from an early age: “I learned that I loved [music] but I didn’t know why. It wasn’t until third grade when Nirvana came out that I realized, ‘Oh Shit! This is amazing songwriting and it’s pissing people off’,” he says. As a non-Mormon growing up in Provo, Colindres took comfort in the angst of hardcore rock. For Fletcher, much of his music education was brought on by his electric guitar–wielding older brother. As Fletcher’s interest deepened, his brother became maddened by his tag-a-long sibling and urged Fletcher to learn a different instrument. “He hated the fact that I wanted to play because he wanted to play, so he pushed me toward [the] bass and … I’ve been playing ever since,” says Fletcher.

Each member has inspirations galore when it comes to finding a sound for their band. When the quartet wound up together in a tiny practice space, Milk Money realized that perhaps there’s more behind the band than just playing music. “Because of the way we got together and how comfortable we were with each other, we decided [to] see what we have fun playing. If we’re having fun, let’s keep doing it; if it’s not fun, let’s not play that,” says Hale. Through this understanding, their band became a retreat from the stress and the daily duties of life. ”We long passed the point of caring how many streams we have or how many followers we have,” says Fletcher. “I like to joke that this is our midlife crisis band. We all came together because we needed a change. Instead of buying a Porsche, we started a band.”

“We grew up playing hardcore together, and we always joked about having a dad rock band when we got old.”

Pair Milk Money’s many years of mastering hardcore rock with their close-knit, impenetrable bonds and you get an extremely entertaining band fueled by fun and passion with a sonic vibe like the love child of Linkin Park and The Used. Curated by Milk Money for Milk Money, these guys don’t mind if you aren’t into their vigorously upbeat percussion, scratchy vocals, punky guitar and moody melodies. “We’re not being in a band for other people—we’re in a band for ourselves. If other people like it, awesome, but we’re not going to stop hanging out with each other,” says Hale. So whether or not you’re a fan of Milk Money, this band isn’t going anywhere

Check out more Localized features here:
Localized: Anonymous 
Localized: In Your Grave