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Acoustic Spotlight
Jason & Jamie
Spears
by
Phyllis Stark
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If you were watching a parade of acoustic music
promoters in our area, Jason and Jamie Spears would be at the
front of the group helping lead the way. They are the owners of
the Acoustic Coffee Lounge (ACL) on Centennial Boulevard in
Colorado Springs. In the short time it has been open, ACL has
brought a lot of great music to their audiences. “We are trying to
present performers we think are very high caliber. They may not be
big name, but we do guarantee the quality.”
Jason and Jamie are rather new to the coffee
lounge business. They both studied mechanical engineering at the
Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado and both worked in
that field for a couple of years. “We really love music and have
spent a lot of time in coffee houses. We just couldn’t get enough
music and would have gone to hear it every night if we could have.
As it was, we spent all of our extra money going to concerts. It
was the perfect stress reliever in college. After a while we
decided we wanted to do something professionally that had more to
do with our own interests.” |
Jason & Jamie Spears
photo by Werner Stark |
They got their feet wet working in different coffee
houses before opening the ACL in July of 2000. “It was a big step. We knew
we wanted it to be a place where people could come to hear high quality
performers, but we had no idea it would grow so quickly. It picked up much
faster than we expected. It was just great timing. People around here were
looking for more music. They let us know they wanted it and we responded
with more shows and more variety.”
You have heard the marketing philosophy, “If you build it, they will come.”
Jason and Jamie seem to have a philosophy more along the lines of, “if they
come, ask them why they came and what else they would like.” They make a
habit of asking folks what they want and people continue telling them they
want more music in a wide variety of styles. The music at ACL ranges across
the spectrum; from jazz, to rock, to acoustic guitar. It began as a coffee
house with just a few shows a week. Now they have live music nightly and
each night is a different set-up. Jason recommends that you check the
schedule and investigate the band before coming so you can choose the type
of music you like to hear. “Our goal is to have people show up because they
know they are going to hear music they like.” However, he does gently urge
you to come occasionally to listen to something new and different. “You
might find you like it.”
Monday nights are reserved for an open mike. “We have been fortunate to have
some very good local talent has come through. There are so many high quality
musicians in Colorado Springs. A lot of times we book them for a full
concert later. We feature poetry the last Wednesday of every month and hold
a running art show that changes each month. Also, we have held book signings
and screened a couple of movies. We try to promote different kinds of art,
always with an emphasis on variety and quality. We want to present shows
that are beautiful in one way or another and that get people talking.”
Jason was born and raised in Ft. Worth, Texas and Jamie grew up in Houston.
He says she plays guitar very well “but she won’t admit it” and she says “he
plays more than I and picks it up quickly.” Jason was influenced early on by
his grandmother who “sat me down and gave me piano lessons and encouraged me
to learn more about music.” He credits his grandmother with instilling in
him a love of music. Jamie learned to “search out different types of music
from my older brother who was really into it. I think you have to know
someone who opens your eyes to the possibilities of the variety of great
music out there. Sometimes you just need someone to show you and make you
aware.” Jason and Jamie have been in the Springs for three years. She worked
the first year on the lounge while he continued his day job. Their days and
evenings are filled running the business. “Right now we have little time for
anything else. We do like to play tennis but most everything besides the ACL
and our new project is on the back burner. Fortunately, we both really enjoy
what we are doing.”
Jamie and Jason’s love of good music will be felt even more in Colorado
Springs after the mid-September opening of their new American bistro, “32
Bleu,” downtown at Colorado and Tejon. This location will have a very large
concert hall where they plan to feature all kinds of nationally-known
musicians. With the new venue Jamie and Jason are certain to continue to
respond to area music lovers’ requests. You can expect more options to suit
your musical tastes as the Pikes Peak region rapidly becomes a mecca for
great live music shows. Strike up the band!
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