Meet Larry Lacerte | Music and Mountains

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

Hi Larry, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I’m always seeking new food for the inspirational fire and I like hearing stories from musicians that are further along in their careers. When asked about their big secret to success, to making it, many say things to the effect that they just stuck around longer than most everyone else, all the while doing the work and honing their craft. They put their work out to the world, kept progressing and stayed flexible in their path to success.

If you find something that ignites your passion, something that energizes you, something that gives you purpose; you’ll have a drive to keep going. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. It also might take trying lots of things to discover what gives you that drive to persist. For me, this driver is music. Pursuing my dream of being a musician is a process of dedication and a continual recommitment, to the work and to my evolving goals every day. I know when I’m feeling burnt out, I need to distill my goals down to something manageable for that moment- pick one thing to really go after. There are days filled with doubt and struggle. Those are the days I really have to refocus. Sometimes that means taking a break and doing something else for awhile. I’ll go for a walk, get outside, do something just for fun- that helps me reset. I’ve also learned it’s important to celebrate little victories and take some time to reflect on how far I’ve come. I think this is key in staving off burnout to keep going.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Music and Mountains are my greatest passions. When I first jumped into music, I wanted to be a writer for other people. I’m an introvert that is happiest writing and recording from the comfort of my own home. This was one of my first big challenges- getting my songs in front of people and putting my music out into the world.

I ski patrolled for a few years at Copper Mountain and eventually started a band called Broke Down Rodeo with some of my coworkers. We started off playing work parties and I played a lot of open mics. This pushed me to get out there and start gigging. I think I had to go through that process. I learned a lot. It eventually led to me gigging full time in Summit County for a couple years. Then I got really burnt out and took a year to go travel. That was a critical time in rediscovering my passion for music and the guitar. I’ve since refocused on writing and composing. It feels like I’ve come full circle, like I’ve completed one cycle only to go around again and again, each time hopefully growing and taking another step forward in my art.

Today, I release my lyrical Rocky Mountain Americana music as Larry Lacerte. I also release instrumental guitar as LaCerte. I’ve embraced being an artist and enjoy exploring other avenues in music. I’m proud of how far I’ve come since the days when I never thought my music would leave my living room and know I’m in this for the long haul.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If it’s summer, of course I’d recommend seeing a show at Red Rocks. I also really like The Gothic and The Ogden. The Walnut Room is a fun spot. We could grab a bite to eat at The Denver Biscuit Company/ Atomic Cowboy and grab a beer at one of the many great breweries. My other passion is the outdoors. If you need to gear up, get lost in the REI Flagship store for hours, walk down the street to The Wilderness Exchange or check out Confluence Kayaks nearby (they also do skis). The Mercury Cafe is a fun stop for food and a variety of events. The Denver Folklore Center is a great spot for musical instruments. If you’re really a guitar nerd, stop in at Wildwood Guitars in Louisville- it’s quite an experience.

After a couple days exploring the city, I’d branch out to Golden and Boulder. There are lots of great hikes close to the city- Golden Gate Canyon State Park and the Flatirons are great places to start. If the timing is right, catch dinner and a show at the rustic and intimate Gold Hill Inn, a short drive from Boulder. Estes Park and a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park is another great day trip idea. If you still have a few days to fill, head further west and explore the towns, trails and beauty of the mountains.

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?
Wow there are so many… the support of my family and friends is huge. I went to some writers circles in Denver that were very formative in my songwriting. If I have to pick one, I’ll dedicate this shoutout to The Music Lesson by Victor L. Wooten and my friends Grant and Andrea who first recommended I read it and lent me a copy. It is a very transformational book. I found it or maybe it found me at the right time in my pursuit of being a musician. It’s a mystical story and unlike any other book I’ve ever read on music. The book helped me think about Music in an entirely new way. It changed the way I practice and helped me look beyond a very regimented way of learning. It gave me a lot to consider as a gigging musician. There are a lot of life lessons woven into the story as well. It was exactly what I needed at the time- education, motivation, and inspiration. I go back and read it again from time to time. I’m always discovering new layers and learning something new.

Website: https://www.lacertemusic.com/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lacertemusic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCux0X4RK9eIoLnj1MoJ9Cag

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3FeExBobuCpdfdO2OTe7Hw?si=bRHrwWmXQumT4KEKsVh44A More Ways to Listen: https://linktr.ee/larrylacerte

Image Credits
Mia Tarduno, Tom Fricke, Julie Lacerte