Have you heard about Magoo yet? Well, you probably should’ve by now, as the Denver progressive bluegrass band continues anointing new acolytes across the country. With the band’s summer/fall tour getting into gear with nationwide dates scheduled into December, take a quick crash course on the band so that, when they come to your town, you can casually say to your friends, “Have you heard about Magoo yet?”
Born as a trio in 2023 before expanding to a four-piece, Magoo has described its style as “bluegrass with lasers,” bringing the electrified elements of jam bands to the time-honored traditions of bluegrass. Though the band is still relatively new, it’s already taken home first place at WinterWonderGrass‘ Clash of the Strings battle of the bands and first place at the UllrGrass Band Competition in Golden, CO.
Additionally, Dobro player Dylan Flynn took the top prize at RockyGrass Festival‘s dobro competition last year, while guitarist Erik Hill came in second in the Flatpicking Guitar Contest at the same festival. Rounding out the quartet are mandolinist Courtlyn Bills, who adds his vocals to give the band serene three-part harmonies, and upright bassist Denton Turner, the most recent addition to the band who solidified the lineup back in January.
Firing up the band’s 2023 self-titled EP, “If I Stay Cruisin'” provides the perfect introduction. The refrain “If I stay cruisin’ I won’t think of you at all tonight / I won’t be missing you tonight,” is instantly relatable, because who hasn’t tried to drive away from their problems? The traveling tune whizzes by while Flynn’s slick dobro blows like a chill breeze through browning foliage.
Fellow original “The Road” checks plenty of bluegrass boxes with a verse about mountains and mention of a train. A take on Frank Wakefield‘s instrumental “New Campton Races” emphasizes Magoo’s traditional side, while the closer “Colorado Rocks” (the band’s debut single) serves as the hometown anthem for the band’s bastion of fans in Denver, a vital asset for any jamgrass band. The Denver faithful came out in full last fall to sell out Magoo’s headlining show at the 250-capacity Globe Hall, and accounts for over 1,500 of the band’s 17,000+ monthly streamers on Spotify—nearly three times as much as any other city.
Magoo — “The Road” — Live From Fort Greene
[Video: Magootheband]
Perhaps just as vital as having a contingency of Denver fans, Magoo also uploads its live sets to nugs. As of publication, the live streaming platform has 21 Magoo shows dating back to March 2024. Checking out the band’s most recent upload from Rhythyms on the Rio in Del Norte, CO, the band closes out with a sequence of a 14-minute “Big Fall” followed by Bob Seeger‘s “Turn the Page” and finally ole “Slew Foot”. The latter starts off with a 26-second “weeeeelll” that’s already impressive enough before you factor in that Del Norte has an elevation of nearly 8,000 feet.
These big jams are not outliers but rather the norm. It’s routine to see over 15-minute versions of “Big Fall”, “Too Many Cats, Man”, and “The Road”, some of the band’s most reliable jam vehicles. Or it could be an 18-minute cover of Nirvana‘s “All Apologies”, like at the Crazy Horse Saloon in Nevada City, NV on July 27th, a show that also saw classics by Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, and Del McCoury, and closed with a huge 20-minute “Jam” > “Pretty Daughter”. As for Magoo’s improvisation, it’s pointed and focused enough to hold your attention while also free enough to conjure psychedelic daydreams. Pairs well with lasers.
Magoo — “All Apologies” (Nirvana) — Boulder, CO — 3/27/25
[Video: Ted Rockwell]
Magoo — “Too Many Cats, Man”, “Mighty Dark To Travel”(Bill Monroe) — Dallas, TX — 7/21/25
[Video: ScrapWoodMandolins]
Listen to Magoo’s music for yourself on the streaming platform of your choice and stream its live catalog on nugs. The band has dates in the Mountain West, Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Southwest, and Texas—including some Billy Strings aftershows. Find tickets and the full list of tour dates on the group’s website and check out Magoo for yourself. You probably should’ve by now.
Magoo — “My Sweet Blue Eyed Darlin'” (Bill Monroe) > “Salt Creek” (Traditional) > “My Sweet Blue Eyed Darlin'” — Boulder, CO — 3/27/25
[Video: Magootheband]
Magoo — “Everlong” (Foo Fighters) — Live From Fort Greene
[Video: Magootheband]
Magoo — Asheville Music Hall — Asheville, NC — 8/21/25 — Full Video
[Video: Iam AVL]
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