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House party hero
By Michael Hargrove
mhargra1@mscd.edu

Guitarists are worthless. Their egocentric personalities have become obsolete. What the world needs now are more cellists, sweet cellists.

Ian Cooke is a genuine artist among hacks. He is a breath of life in a city stagnant with hipster rock, cover bands and druggy dance parties. Those lucky enough to witness a show as intense as Cooke’s are often left in a trance-like state – distracted from their binge drinking, flirtation and trite conversations. They are taken aback by the hypnotizing and subduing effect one man can have on a crowd thirsty for a good time.

Cooke’s debut album, The Fall I Fell, is a mix of chorused vocal lines, piano melodies, sound effects, cello and synthetic drum beats. It is an emotional testimony of love and loss and an inspiration for classically trained musicians to think, sing and play outside the box. Cooke’s music flows like the work of a maddened scientist with the gentleness of a mother’s touch.

March 10 and 11 were magnificent for those seeking live music outside the confines of ordinary venues. Two houses in one weekend were blessed enough to host solo performances by Cooke. A success in most regards, longtime Cooke fans and newcomers alike were entranced by the delicate musings politely bestowed by a man, his cello and his sampler pedal.

“A ghost is playing piano in this one,” joked Cooke as his foot tapped a floor pedal equipped with sampling and loop capabilities. “I like to have complete control,” he said about his stage performance.

As he played on, it became apparent by the audience’s quiet participatory singing that his song “Flood” was especially popular.

“The lyrics are about unattainable love,” Cooke said over his chocolate-cake shooters.

“It’s funny,” he said. “I wrote that song right before hurricane Katrina. It’s a song about being overwhelmed with emotion.”

Classically trained by public and private instructors, Cooke has artisan expertise to back up his styling. Originally from Australia, Cooke studied music at the University of Northern Colorado for two years before dropping out to start his own career.

“I was interested in what they were teaching, but playing on my own just motivated me to practice more often,” he said.

That practice has paid off, and Cooke is getting noticed in Denver. But it hasn’t always been so easy. Cooke lived in his van after dropping out of school. It was in his mobile home and practice space where he lost the love of his life.

“My old cello was murdered,” Cooke reminisced. “The case fell and crushed it in a stacking accident. The very thing meant to protect it ended up destroying it.” He acquired another cello, played countless shows and started to write and record The Fall I Fell.

“Some of the recording was done in my sound engineer’s basement,” Cooke said. The vocals were mixed and mastered by Bob Ferbrache of Studio Absinthe.

The Fall I Fell is theme music for the holocaust of arena rock. Cooke’s modest conveyance of his heart and soul is another nail in the coffin of those all too eager to get famous, rich and laid.