The Douglas County News Press and The Parker Chronicle cover Dean Station

Living the dream
By Chris Michlewicz, Staff Writer

While sitting in an apartment in Albuquerque, N.M., three years ago, Amanda Trainer got her first glimpse of Levi Dean’s creative song-writing ability. When she began to sing with him, their distinctly different voices fused, and the two realized they might be onto something.

That moment was the birth of Dean Station, a husband and wife “folk-Americana-bluegrass” band now based in Castle Rock. Since that time, the couple has worked tirelessly to create an inspiring collection of songs with calculated vocals and a variety of instruments, like the mandolin, bongos, spoons, fiddle and even some original instruments made with everyday objects.

Dean Station recently completed a seven-month nationwide tour out of the back of their gold Ford Taurus station wagon with dog, Bonnie, in tote. The three have shared cans of soup warmed on the car’s dashboard, and they have shared heart-wrenching moments. The summer tour to promote their self-titled debut album followed a path through quaint, countryside towns. They camped or slept in the rear of the station wagon, except on two occasions when the host venue paid for their hotel accommodations.

“We’re foregoing the comforts of home to live out our dreams,” Amanda said.

Levi, 24, and Amanda, 26, are still promoting their first album, but are working on new material for an album they hope to start recording in the fall. They are incorporating more percussion, plus a few unique instruments, to emit a fuller sound and “keep people’s attention,” Levi said.

Levi grew up playing music with his family in his home state of Virginia, and Dean Station’s sound is heavily influenced by the style of music that rises from the region. He later moved to New Mexico and formed a band with his brother called the Dean Boys, but the group disbanded because of the long driving distance between them.

Amanda admits she was “enamored” after meeting Levi through a mutual friend and seeing him play music. She first picked up a guitar at the age of 11 at the urging of her mother, but meeting Levi re-sparked her interest and motivated her to learn the ins and outs of the versatile instrument.

Levi sings in a self-described raspy voice, while Amanda’s singing carries a more soothing and sultry sound. But the collective power of their harmonizing voices, combined with the imaginative, if not rural, sound of their instruments, continues to impress audiences who crowd into coffee houses and festivals across the country.

Amanda and Levi’s journey, however, has not been without its share of adversity. Shortly before embarking on their summer tour and while shooting photos for the band’s Web site, Bonnie was shot in the side by a pellet. The couple never found the culprit who shot their Labrador-Pomeranian mix, but they were forced to pour their tour savings into saving their dog. The tour was nearly cancelled, but they quickly scraped some money together and received financial support from family.

The duo draws their inspiration for songs from a broad selection of life topics, from domestic squabbles to family troubles to touring through towns with only one stoplight.

After meeting Amanda, Levi wrote a song that expressed his frustration over the fact that she was involved with another man. She later broke up with her boyfriend, and after a brief courtship, Levi asked Amanda to marry him the best way he knew how: in song. He even skipped his college graduation ceremony to attend the wedding, but has no regrets because he still walked away with a bachelor’s degree in geography. It will be called on as a fallback, if ever the need arises.

The beginning of their whirlwind romance showed itself as the perfect opportunity to write new material. Despite its intimate meaning, the couple does not mind playing the song in which Levi proposed in front of a large crowd.

“When you fill the music with passion, I think it really comes across to the audience,” Amanda said. “People are attentive to the feelings of the song and the emotions that go along with the words.”

Levi Dean, who credits his dad and brother for inspiring his interest in music, likes to write songs that have a story, like the one he recently penned about a cast of characters in a burlesque show. Either he or his wife will tell the tale behind each song before playing it to a crowd.

Amanda Dean turns her poetry into song lyrics. Her musical influences include Tori Amos, Fleetwood Mac and Tracy Chapman. She secretly loves Billy Joel’s musical catalogue, although her husband is reluctant to let that tidbit be posted on the band’s Web site, www.deanstation.com.

The band has drawn comparisons to the youthful bluegrass group Nickelcreek, but Dean Station’s sound is unlike any other out there. It has piqued the curiosity of disc jockeys who spin country and bluegrass records and has led to increased radio play. Grassroots promotion often proves to be difficult, but the couple has managed to spread the word about their music and were even featured in an article for Albuquerque The Magazine.

The husband and wife team is now seeking a booking agent to help schedule regular gigs across the country. They recently advanced in a talent contest on an AM radio program on 630 KHOW called The Greg Hollenbeck Show. Dean Station stands out from the other contestants, which include hip-hop artists and a range of other musicians.

The band is also playing shows around Douglas County this month, including gigs at the Java Guru in Castle Rock on March 24 and the Parker Library on March 31.

The road to relative success has not been an easy one, and there is no telling what the future holds for the band, but the experience has already been worth it. The couple simply wants to be able to make a living off playing music for people. They don’t seek fame and fortune, but if it comes, it will certainly be welcome.

To borrow a lyric from a Dean Station song that preaches courage in the face of adversity: “When the sun breaks through them clouds/What’s going to happen is/Anybody’s guess.”

Contact Chris Michlewicz at 303-841-5497 or cmichlewicz@ccnewspapers.com.