Aspen Hourglass perform ‘Justify’

Aspen Hourglass perform their song “Justify” at Second Story Garage music video studio in Boulder, Colorado.

Most people don’t play guitar like Grayson Erhard does. That’s because most people can’t play guitar like he does.

He often uses a difficult two-hands-on-the-fretboard technique that Eddie Van Halen first popularized but which players such as Erhard have developed beyond pop-rock vulgarity.

In the Fort Collins band Aspen Hourglass, Erhard is joined by two similarly accomplished instrumentalists — Elvin Holderfield on keys and Sean Hanson on drums. The trio has developed a sophisticated yet accessible sound that recalls prog-rock powerhouses such as Rush, which the band cites as an influence.

The sands of Aspen Hourglass have just begun to trickle — their debut EP, Navigate, was released this year — but something big seems to have begun. A solo video of Erhard performing his song “Ate” has drawn more than 50,000 views on YouTube in about a month.

When Aspen Hourglass visited the Garage, the trio played their songs “EVOLve” (see the love?), “Justify” and “Who Needs,” then talked with Quentin about their sound.

What they brought us: A license plate from the band’s first van, the Green Enchilada, and a copy of Navigate.

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