Story: Slade Rand
Big Something brings its colorful live show to Denver this weekend after a slate of mountain town gigs to start the spring leg of its ‘Headspace’ tour.
The space-funk band out of North Carolina touches down at Mission Ballroom for the first time Saturday night, supporting Colorado locals SunSquabi and old friends lespecial. The three bands have bonded through years on the road, and could likely share sit-ins during their sets at Mission this weekend.
Big Something released its seventh studio album, ‘Headspace,’ in November 2023 ahead of a 50+ date cross-country tour that romped through the Southeast this past month. After Midnight caught up with Big Something’s Nick MacDaniels this week from his home in Lexington, NC ahead of the band’s trip West.
“It feels like this is the best we’ve ever started a tour,” MacDaniels said. “The energy and the music have just been great. We’re keeping each show pretty unique from the next.”
Photos Courtesy: Big Something via Facebook
The guitarist and vocalist said it’s like playing for the home team when he’s back in Colorado with his bandmates. Big Something headlined the Animas City Theatre in Durango and a sold-out Sheridan Opera House in Telluride this week, with final mountain gigs at the Public House in Crested Butte on Thursday and Schmiggity’s in Steamboat Springs tonight.
Click here to access ticketing for Big Something’s March 9 show at Mission Ballroom.
Big Something is MacDaniels on guitar and lead vocals, Matt Laird on bass, Casey Cranford on saxophone and his staple “electronic wind instrument,” Jesse Hensley on guitar, Josh Kagel on keyboards and trumpet, and Ben Vinograd on drums. Julian Sizemore and Ross Bogan joined the band behind the keyboard for alternating shows on tour so far, stepping in for longtime member Kagel after his last full shows during New Year’s. Bogan is on keys for the Colorado run, and Sizemore will return to the lineup later in March.
MacDaniels said ‘Headspace’ tour is the band’s first full run with the current lineup, and that the six-man-unit more than locked in during the opening leg in the Carolinas.
“That moment when the music takes over, and the six of us are all smiling and having a good time onstage, and we’re present with each other, and present with the energy and present with the audience… that’s what fuels and drives me,” MacDaniels said.
Highlight shows in Charleston, SC and Asheville, NC earlier this year saw Big Something bring on special guests for some explosive collaboration.
Aquarium Rescue Unit founding member Jeff Sipe sat-in behind the kit in Asheville for a 20-minute tear through ‘Timebomb’ off Big Something’s 2020 release ‘Escape.’ Charleston’s own Kanika Moore (Doom Flamingo, Tauk Moore) led the band through ‘Waves’ off of 2017’s ‘Tumbleweed,’ before covering Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ and Mark Ronson’s ‘Daffodils’ together.
“We’ve been enjoying the moments as they come,” MacDaniels said. “We’ve had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs.”
Click here to read our Nov. 2023 story on Big Something’s ‘Headspace’ release.
The band was last in Denver for a pair of shows at Cervantes’ Other Side in 2023. MacDaniels said he packed his skis and boots in the trailer last week feeling ready to get back to Colorado.
“It just kind of feels like a mecca for music lovers,” MacDaniels said. “It’s a special show whenever we get to play there.”
Big Something released ‘Headspace’ in November 2023 after two years of crafting songs and giving room for the album’s central theme to breathe. The hour-and-fifteen minute project explores ideas about finding peace, embracing life and personal wellness.
“Big Something is a reference to the universe and outer space, and with this album we were thinking about more of an internal space,” MacDaniels said.
MacDaniels hopes the themes of ‘Headspace’ can help people share community in an often chaotic world. At the start of tour, Big Something announced a partnership with the nonprofit Sound Mind Live to raise awareness and spread resources for mental health care.
“Once we had a group of songs ready for the album, it became clear that that was the focus of the material,” MacDaniels said.
According to Sound Mind Live, the organization “brings together musicians, music lovers, and forward-thinking organizations to build community and open dialogue around mental health – leveraging the power of music to catalyze social change.”
Looking down the road, MacDaniels said he’s excited about the summertime return of the band’s festival, ‘The Big What,’ in North Carolina. After taking a year off, Big Something celebrates the Big What’s tenth anniversary this August.
The Big What goes down Aug. 22-24 at the band-favorite Shakori Hills venue in Pittsboro, NC. Click here for more information, and look out for a full lineup announcement.
“It’s a grassroots, family feel,” MacDaniels said. “It’s a community of music lovers. We have a big focus on visual arts and southern hospitality.”
Big Something joins lespecial and SunSquabi at Mission Ballroom on Saturday night, with support from Underlux. MacDaniels said he’s looking forward to playing with his longtime friends and bandmates this weekend, and Big Something is ready for an energetic return to Denver.
Click here to access tickets for March 9 at Mission Ballroom.
After Midnight 
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