From Living Rooms to Stadium Lights
We didn’t even have a name yet. Our first “official” gig was in a living room in North Boulder. People were standing on the stairwell. We were just hoping no one asked for their money back!
A few years later? We were introduced by Clint Eastwood. Sang for tens of thousands at a Broncos game. And signed a wall near Michael Jackson.
Somewhere in between, we:
• Became a fire code issue
• Lost all our sound and kept singing
• Missed a gig because no one wrote it down
• And played for 8 people like it was 8,000
This month, we’re looking back at the venues that shaped the last 25 years. But here’s the thing: It’s not about the size of the stage; it’s ALWAYS about the connection in the room. And if you’ve ever been at a Face show — even once — you’re part of this story.
Scroll down and relive some of the stages that became part of The Sounds of Us!
EPISODE 1: The Living Room Where It Started (1 min) - Before theaters. Before tours. Before we even had a name. Our first real gig was in a tiny North Boulder living room - with people watching from the stairwell. It wasn’t glamorous… but it was the beginning.
EPISODE 2: It's Better Than “Butt”! (2 mins) - There was no production budget. Sometimes not even a band name. Just a tent at the farmers market, a tiny triangle stage, and the occasional senior threatening to bring out the hose. Somehow, those scrappy rooms became the foundation of everything!
EPISODE 3: Stephen Missed The Gig (1 min): Back then, there was no shared calendar. Just phone calls, scribbled notes, and hope. Which is how one of us missed a show entirely.
Steve Shenk, Owner, Red Fish Brewery 2001-2008
"My best memories of Face back in the early days at Redfish were the energy they brought to Redfish's back music room every time they performed, getting to know them as people and watching them grow into the amazing performers they are.
When Rol Sharett approached me about doing a regular a cappella night, I immediately said yes as I have always been a fan of the genre. He booked 3-4 groups per show and when Face first performed I was like WOW, these guys are really fun! After a few performances in the group format, Mark approached me about doing solo shows and every night was a packed house. It quickly became obvious that they would outgrow Redfish's little back room. Seeing them sell out larger venues like the Boulder Theater gave me a little sense of pride that my instinct was right :)
One of Face's best qualities (in my opinion) is their storytelling and really making the audience feel like they are part of the family. It was fun getting to know them both on and off the stage and watching their families grow as well. You can immediately tell they genuinely like each other and love their craft. That is still apparent in their shows today and definitely how they grew to be such an amazing group and are still growing 25 years later."
