A fresh musical ensemble has emerged in the Peak to Peak area, known for its distinctive use of the organ, offering a dynamic and versatile performance in various lineups. The core group, called the MMB3 Organ Trio, features Ryan McCurry on the Hammond organ, John Massone on guitar, and Stephen “Steve” Balgooyen on drums. All three musicians also contribute vocals to their performances. When McCurry is unavailable, the trio becomes the MVB3, adding Todd VanSelus on electric bass and Massone switching between guitar and organ. Occasionally, the stars align, and the group performs as a quartet, with all four musicians playing together.
The idea for an organ trio has been a long-standing passion of Balgooyen. Having been involved in various musical projects over the years, including the local group Trickster Carousel, he had always envisioned starting an organ trio. Massone shared this vision, even posting a Craigslist ad to find musicians for the band. Balgooyen responded, mentioning a few potential organ players. Meanwhile, VanSelus called Balgooyen to ask him to fill in as drummer for The Atom Collective at St. Julien’s. It was here that Balgooyen met McCurry, a regular keyboard sub for the band. After McCurry filled in for the night, Balgooyen invited him to join the trio, and thus, the MMB3 was formed with its original lineup.
Balgooyen’s journey into music began at a young age. Growing up in Maine, he was already performing paid gigs at bars during high school, even playing at dances. He recorded an original album in his family’s barn and later attended the University of Maine to study jazz performance. Balgooyen transferred to Earlham College in Indiana, where he earned a BA in Theater Arts while continuing to pursue music. After graduation, he moved to Austin, Texas, and joined The Barkers. During his time with the band, they won Best New Band at South by Southwest in 2000, enjoyed a residency at Austin’s Continental Club, and recorded two albums: Burn Your Piano and The History of the Golden Delicious.
In 2004, Balgooyen relocated to Colorado and became involved in several bands, including Eleven Foot Fall and Idlewhile. He was the original drummer for Idlewhile but stepped away to focus on his family when his daughter was born. Balgooyen also has a son, born two years after his daughter. During his time in Colorado, Balgooyen rediscovered his passion for the musical traditions of New Orleans. He won a scholarship in 2014 to study with Stanton Moore, the drummer for Galactic, and attend his drum camp. This led to regular visits to New Orleans, where Balgooyen had the opportunity to perform with renowned musicians like James Singleton, David Torkanowsky, George Porter Jr., Tony Hall, and Nick Daniels III, who tragically passed away in April 2024. Currently, Balgooyen is also part of the Boulder-based jazz group Rampart Street Stompers.
Drawing inspiration from his time in New Orleans, Balgooyen now focuses on the organ trio format in Colorado. The trio plays a blend of covers, arranged in their unique style, and original compositions from the band members, including Balgooyen and Massone. Balgooyen hopes that their music resonates with audiences, not only allowing them to appreciate the passion behind each performance but also helping them discover new music to love. Through their carefully crafted covers, they aim to share their musical discoveries and inspire others to fall in love with the music they hold dear.
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