DENVER, COLORADO
BLUEGRASS & AMERICANA
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About Us
SLAY is a dynamic, melody-driven band with deep roots and an original musical style. Their content draws inspiration from both real-life and fantastical experiences, all while paying homage to the rich traditions of bluegrass music and various other influences. Notably, SLAY earned the honor of being a finalist in the prestigious 2023 Telluride Bluegrass contest, a milestone that introduced their unique sound to a wide and appreciative audience of Colorado bluegrass enthusiasts.
Photo credits - Elliot Siff
Travis Stinson
Vocals/Guitar
Travis Stinson, a native of Nashville, TN, wears many hats as a founding member, vocalist, and guitarist. After studying at CU, Boulder, and touring with DURT, he returned to Nashville to forge ahead in his music career. Under his direction, the Volunteer String Band earned acclaim with regular gigs at renowned venues such as Layla's, Bootlegger's Inn, Bluegrass Underground, Music City Roots, The Caverns, Puckett's, and Loveless Cafe. Their performances ranged from the Bonnaroo Music and Art Festival to private gatherings, weddings, and Southeastern venues. Travis also held roles as an announcer at Bluegrass Underground and a brand ambassador at Music City Roots while gracing stages like the Grand Ole Opry and Late Show With David Letterman. Although he still occasionally performs in Nashville, Travis now resides in Golden, CO, actively participating in local bluegrass ensembles and contributing to two bands, Big Hooray Bluegrass and SLAY. These groups feature a diverse lineup of Front Range musicians, skillfully blending three-part harmonies and a repertoire that spans original, traditional, and contemporary bluegrass, along with cover songs, at breweries, private events, weddings, corporate functions, and festivals.
Scott Slay
Vocals/Guitar
The band’s namesake, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Scott stands out in the bluegrass music landscape with a distinctive vocal style, a repertoire of original compositions, inventive interpretations of traditional classics and modern progressive influences, creating a sound uniquely his own. He grew up on the East Coast playing and harmonizing in bluegrass bands with his father and other bands (Karl Werne Band, Kristi Stanley, Big Virginia Sky) and Denver, CO’s Scott Slay and the Rail. He has won multiple songwriting awards and was a finalist in guitar and mandolin instrumental competitions at Rocky Grass. He is a music educator and holds a B.A. in Music Education and Jazz Performance. He has collaborated and shared stages with artists such as Sammy Shelor, Scott Vestal, Sierra Hull, Sarah Jarosz, Josh Shilling, Jim Vancleve, Mike Munford, and many others.
Nick Einterz
Vocals/Banjo
Nick, a seasoned banjoist and singer-songwriter hailing from Southern Indiana, boasts an impressive career spanning decades, during which he has showcased his talents across a diverse range of musical genres. His banjo prowess is marked by its refreshing, smooth, versatile, and sophisticated technique, capturing the admiration of musicians worldwide. Nick's vocal delivery is characterized by its crispness and emotional depth, effortlessly traversing genres from blues to jazz, classical to bluegrass. His extensive background in various choral formats also positions him as an exceptional harmony singer. Additionally, as a songwriter, Nick weaves the timeless art of literary devices and American folktales into his craft, evoking both nostalgia and novelty in his listeners.
Pete Weber
Mandolin
Pete Weber is the Colorado heart of Slay. Born and raised in Golden, CO, Pete has brought his magnetic stage presence and incisive mandolin chop to bluegrass stages for decades. As a founding member of Thunder and Rain, Pete’s music has been featured in national publications. He's shared the stage with many prominent bluegrass artists, such as Peter Rowan and is no stranger to the state’s regarded bluegrass venues. In Slay, Pete brings a powerful mandolin chop, ripping solos and a stage banter that keeps the energy flowing. When Pete isn’t shredding the mandolin, he’s helping Coloradans of all ages learn to ski at his indoor ski school, Shredder.
Andy Reiner
Fiddle
Andy is an award-winning fiddler, singer, actor, and composer. Starting with the Reiner Family Band at age five he has evolved into his unique style of imaginative, rhythmic melodies infused with diverse world influences. With a B.M. in Violin Performance from Berklee College of Music in Boston, his career catapulted into global touring and teaching. Musical ventures have spanned from Heavy Metal (Devil in the Kitchen) to Folk/Hip-Hop (FiddleFoxx), Swedish/Appalachian (Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers) and Electronic/Celtic (Firecloud and The Earth Stringband) touring Southeast Asia on the 2011 American Music Abroad tour for the US Department of State. His music is featured in Netflix series "Godless" and "The Queen's Gambit” and has collaborated with Darol Anger and the Furies and Whitewater Ramble. He interviews musicians, scientists, and more on his "River of Suck" podcast and is an official Yamaha Performing Artist and Codabow Ambassador.
Evan Gohring
Bass
Evan, a Colorado native, seamlessly balances his passions for music, science and adventure. Having a parent who has been a music teacher, choir director, accompanist, and professional musician, he has been surrounded and influenced by music since childhood. He was a bass player in concert and jazz bands from elementary school through college, performed in the Colorado All State Orchestra, and was awarded a music scholarship from Colorado State University. He performed in the CSU Symphony and Jazz bands, and independent bands (Birds Of A Feather) and a gypsy jazz band (Dijon Vagabond) with local musicians. He boasts a background as a former Geospatial Analyst for NASA and currently serves as a Hydrologist at the U.S. Geological Survey. He studied bass under Greg Garrison (Leftover Salmon) and has shared the stage with Todd Sheaffer (Railroad Earth) and Bill Nershi (String Cheese Incident).
