back porch buddha
dennis hardin

Dennis Hardin grew up in the near shadows of St. Louis. Already a garage-band kid at 13, he and his brothers first learned a repertoire of songs by The Doors. He followed his musical muse through prog-rock, bluegrass, southern boogie and more by the time he arrived in Wichita in the 80s.

His Wichita resume is impressive -- first as guitarist for area bluegrass favorites Cause for Concern, then as sideman to evil genius Paul Elwood in Zillion Simoleans. He dug his cleats into the folk turf with regionally-acclaimed Matfield Cafe and, years later, with the swingin' Pragmatics.

Notable was the altgrass combo Stick Men, which fostered Dennis' courtship with the mandolin. Along with Barney Byard and Bryan Masters, Dennis and guitarist Mark Horton stitched an airtight guitar/mandolin tapestry that was a full decade ahead of its time. After Stick Men disbanded, Dennis and Bryan continued to play together until ... well, now. Dennis also keep company with his other musical project, Pop and the Boys.

Dennis is also a seriously great cook. If Dennis offers to feed you, accept the offer. He is also a devoted bicyclist, participating in those insane bike rides wherein otherwise rational people will ride upwards of 150 miles per day. For fun. And Dennis will extol from the mountaintop the virtues of fixed-gear bikes. Seriously.

He is also an all-around nice guy, and he is threatening to exhume his dusty, rusty fiddle from its 15-year exile. Eager ears await.