by Tim Van Schmidt

Like the trains that kept blasting by Whistle Stop Park in Niwot last night, the Tennesee band Bonepony is a marvel of momentum. Bonepony appeared in Niwot as part of the town's Rhythm on the Rails summer concert series and once you get this three-man band in motion, there isn't much you can do to stop them.

But it isn't just motion that's on tap with Bonepony, it's motion propelled by positive energy- the kind that makes you want to move and shout. There's plenty of that on stage anyhow, especially with the dynamic performing style of vocalist, guitarist and percussionist Scott Johnson. Johnson is a powerhouse of a front man with a booming voice sounding as a clarion call to celebrate.

But Johnson's partners on stage, Nick Nguyen and Kenny Wright, keep plenty busy also, Nguyen constantly changing stringed instruments like some people change their minds. Wright also played some stringed instruments but mainly propelled it all behind the drum kit. Everybody on stage was active, sometimes with several instruments in hand at the same time, and that's just a great work ethic.

Bonepony's original music is some kind of cross between rock, soul and Southern-fried bluegrass but when it all comes down to the very basics, it's that strong underlying stomp beat that is the important thing. There are fine swelling hooks in the songwriting and especially Nguyen adds instrumental fire, but it's that incessant thump, thump, thump built into the bottom of just about every piece that keeps everything moving.

Consequently, the concrete pad in front of the gazebo where Bonepony performed was filled with dancers from the start of the band's two sets in Niwot. In between songs, Johnson kept encouraging the crowd, telling stories, giving shout-outs to dancers and people who knew the words until by the end of the evening, the pad was a happy mass of dancing people.

Whistle Stop Park is just the nicest little venue for a concert series with easy access off of the Diagonal. However, there was a sense that most of the crowd was made up of locals and there was an easygoing, small town feel to the event- people dancing and kids playing while a gorgeous sunset added to the show to the west and a big fat moon rose to the east. The live music series will continue on Thursdays throughout the summer. I might just have to move to Niwot if all the bands on the list are as rousing as Bonepony.