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Rockin

One of Missoula's favorite ex-patriots, Nate Schweber, is making his music career work in New York City. And, he's asking the governor to take notice.

Nate, the famous "gyrating," feather boa-ed, sequined University of Montana tuba player left Missoula amidst much fanfare several years ago (his farewell was actually covered by the Missoulian and a few local TV stations at the time). Today, he's working in the big city, stringing for the New York Times, writing home sporadically here on New West and of course, playing Rock and Roll. (Note capital R's) His band, the New Heathens, just released their first album and Track No. 8 is a touching tribute to teenage debauchery in the biggest state in Nate's heart: Montana.

It's such an ode, in fact, that Nate has sent Gov. Brian Schweitzer a letter asking that "July 1, Near Helena MT" be dedicated the "Song of the State of Montana" for July 1, 2006. (Click here to hear "July 1, Near Helena MT.") [more]

Missoula Music Soundoff

Does anyone personify a Missoula Friday better than Bob Wire? I think not.

So, for your Missoula Music Soundoff selection this week, we bring you "White Trash Paradise," track No. 4 on Bob Wire's latest album, American Piehole.

His new backing, the Magnificent Bastards, are well... magnificent... as are the lyrics on this new project. It's classic Bob Wire humor, mixed with some pointy messages and some serious, legit honky tonk -- none of that contemporary country crap. This guy's for real. It makes you want to breathe second-hand smoke while a brown bottle sweats into your palm.

So, click here to listen to "White Trash Paradise." Bob, my cowboy hat, while not as well-shaped as yours, is off to you.

New Sounds in Town

There's a new production company in town, and they hope to change music as we know it in Whitefish. SnowGhost Productions, the brainchild of Whitefish music enthusiasts Dave Gawe and Brett Allen, is geared toward producing and promoting new music and fresh sounds. SnowGhost is working on a ten concert series that'll unroll this summer. Its first band, Matador-signed Brightblack Morning Light, will play tonight at Grouse Mountain Lodge. [more]

MusEco Podcasts

This segment of Montana Muse, with MusEco's Scott Prinzing features Montana classical guitarist Stuart Weber.

Click here to listen to the program.

The MusEco Media and Education Project produces Montana Muse and a program called Waste Not Want Not as part of its mission to provide information on the environment, the visual arts, music and Native American issues. The shows are also currently heard on Yellowstone Public Radio.

Missoula Music Soundoff

Missoula musician Ryan Bundy claims he's only been playing music for four years. His self-released album, "nothing at all" tells a different story.

The Alaska native says, "I'm a late starter," but his music sounds rather mature: Melodic, careful meandering tunes with nice overlays and solid vocals. It's mostly just him and his guitar, he says, and most the music is folk/country/blues. "The more I listen and the more I get attached to it, the more traditional it gets," he says.

Click here to listen to the tenth track on his album, "Lewiston." And catch him this Friday, April 21 at the Liquid Planet. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. [more]

The Kingfisher Flyshop's 5-River Fishing Report

The April fishing has so far been lackluster due to high and off color rivers. While the beginning of the month started off well, the last week or so has been tough. Look for conditions to improve dramatically when the rivers drop and clear a bit more. We're still due, statistically, for some amazing pre-runoff fishing. [more]

Podcasts

This month on MusEco's Waste Not Want Not with Kris Prinzing: singing mice, wilderness safety and conservation politics. We’ll talk to researcher Dr. Tim Holy about his discovery of mouse songs and his Montana roots. We’ll take a look at "backcountry safety" in the second installment of our new series focusing on People and the Wild. And finally, we’ll talk to Theresa Keaveny of Montana Conservation Voters about the voting patterns of our congressional delegation as revealed in the recently published National Environmental Scorecard.

Click here to listen.

Podcasts

This edition of Montana Muse with MusEco's Scott Prinzing features Montana Songs of Spring.

The first day of spring, the Equinox, is the midpoint between the winter and summer solstices. We experience 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. Originally known as Eostre to pre-Christian Europeans, before it was co-opted by their conquerors for celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. As we begin this season of renewal and rebirth, we find that Montana musicians, like musicians everywhere, find inspiration in this time of year.

Click here to listen.

Missoula Music Soundoff

This week's featured show is Erika Luckett, a multilingual (both literally and musically) world-music maven who will play the Crystal Theater this weekend with local singer/songwriter John Floridis opening.

Click here to sample "Dust" from Erika's third album, "Unexpected" released just this year.

Erika brings world influences (she was born in Mexico, grew up in Venezuela and Brazil, lived in France as a teen and got a degree in film scoring from the Berklee School of Music) to the folk circuit with masterful guitar playing and a sultry voice.

Erika's show starts at 8 p.m. on Friday. Tickets are $12 in advance at Rockin' Rudy's and $14 at the door.

Missoula Music Soundoff

The featured musician this week is Colorado's Hit and Run Bluegrass, scheduled to play Missoula's Crystal Theater Friday at 8 p.m.

Rebecca Hoggan fronts the group with a true blue(grass), sweet twang of a voice that layers ever-so-nicely over some wicked banjo pickin.' To make it even better, the pickin is courtesy of one of Missoula's own, Lorenzo (Larry) Gangi, formerly of Iron Lasso. In a review of Gangi's latest album, "Fistful of Lonesome," the April issue of Bluegrass Unlimited says, "...'Fistful of Lonesome' is clear evidence that bluegrass music has taken root in the State of Montana."

Hit and Run made a stop here last year, when it packed the Crystal in March. Nothing quite signals spring like some good toe-tapping, thigh-slapping bluegrass and Hit & Run is perhaps the quintessential band to create just that. Click here to sample one of the band's songs, "Why Does This Old Town Look Better Now." It's a toe-tapper. [more]

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