Meet John Halloway | Vocalist in the band Pet Falcon

We had the good fortune of connecting with John Halloway and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
“She may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts, kid,”
This is a quote from Star Wars, where Han Solo addresses Luke when Luke first sees the Millennium Falcon.
This is a simple quote, but it carries so much weight looking back. The design of that spaceship is so strange, maybe even a little ugly. It has a clunky exterior, an asymmetric design, and is piloted by some sleazy smuggler. But it turns out to be an incredible ship, legendary within the story, and ultimately becomes one of the most iconic things in all of pop culture.
To us, this quote is all about being more than what meets the eye. It’s about something unexpected. Surprising yourself by discovering talents or capabilities you didn’t know you had. Showing that you can do great things even if others might not see your potential. A sort of “fake it til you make it” mentality.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
We’re Pet Falcon, an energetic indie rock band with post-punk elements. Our music is a projection of ourselves and our experiences, and we make the music that we want to hear. Most importantly, we want YOU to have a good time when listening to it. We want you to dance, sing along, get some anxious energy out, or escape into an alternate reality for a bit.

Our sound is somewhere between indie rock that you would probably never hear on the radio, and infectious pop songs that were written specifically to make it to top 40. We want to create songs that are right at home in a noisy underground punk club but still have a hook that Chappell Roan would be jealous of.

Lyrically, we are all about that cheeky observationalism and self deprecation. It’s relationships or friendships, and the drama that comes along with them. It’s fantasizing about your desires when you’re bored. It’s considering your place in a room full of people you like, people you hate, maybe even people you are jealous of.

When it comes to writing songs, the collaborative part comes pretty naturally for us. We can quickly whip up some catchy riffs and figure out the rest of the instruments to go along. The difficult part is coming up with the vocal melody and lyrics. We’ll spend hours or even days reworking lyrics and melody until something sticks. It would be great if that part was quicker, but as long as it gets done and we are happy with the result, the time put in is worth it.

As for what we want to share with the community, we want to share our music and our live performances. We want Colorado to experience something a little different when it comes to music. I think most people associate Colorado music with folk, bluegrass, and americana. We love that music and it definitely pairs well with the vibe of the beautiful nature in and around our mountains. However, there is another side to Colorado. We want to capture the noisy cities, punk rock clubs, and going too fast on your mountain bike and then busting your leg. That’s the side our sound is made for.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Boulder is full of hidden gems and well loved classics. There’s enough around town to appeal to any kind of person, and that’s what makes the city so great. These are some of the things around town that we love.

Food:
Bova’s
Sherpa Kitchen
A Takear
Pasta Jays
Dushanbe Tea House
Trident Coffee
La Choza
Bohemian Biergarten
Farmer’s Market

Not Food:
The Spot
Church Street
Pearl Street
Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art
Valmont Skate Park
Vintage Thrifting
Paradise Found Record Store
Boulder Canyon
Boulder Bookstore

The ideal week in Boulder would have a little bit of everything. We think the food scene is an especially bright highlight of our town, and Boulder has a lot to offer for a town of its size. Above all, though, would be the mom and pop stores as well as the community events that really breathe life into Boulder and make this city our home.

The thriving arts scene in Boulder is another foundation of our community. Artistic expression and individualism are the lifeblood of the city and are what bring the streets to life, especially during the summer. After living here a while, we think the best way to experience Boulder is to explore all the nooks and crannies of the city, and to connect with as many locals as you can.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
We think it’s really appropriate to give a shoutout to our significant others (wives/ girlfriends). Being in a band is demanding. It takes time and dedication to the process. Our SO’s are there for us, giving us encouragement, patience and space to go down this path. Our partners enable us to do what we love and support our vision every step of the way, and for that we are so grateful.

We also want to thank the little community we have built around our band. Composed of our friends and family, we wouldn’t be a band without everything they do to help us keep Pet Falcon going!

We have found that being in a band is mainly two things. The first and more visible aspect is getting out there and sharing an artistic vision. That alone takes a whole village of people to pull off, and we are so lucky to have found that kind of group. The second reason is all about bringing art and joy to the lives of the people around us.

Lastly, we are especially grateful for the local scene. Both the bands and individuals that make up the Boulder music community have been so accepting and supportive, and we are so lucky to be able to participate in such a community. Especially with the decreasing number of third spaces, which are accessible spaces besides home and work, we find it especially important to participate in and enrich the scene by having shows and playing with other bands.

Website: https://linktr.ee/petfalconband

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petfalconband/