Schweber Asks Schweitzer to Make Pyromania Song Official Ode for July 1

By Courtney Lowery, 6-18-06

	Caption: Schweber, in red, and in true form at a show last year.

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.")

In the letter, Nate asks Schweitzer to "give it some sort of official thumbs up, because as far as songs about Montana go, 'July 1, Near Helena, MT,' whips 'Meet Me in Montana' by Dan Seals and Marie Osmond and it stomps the ever-lover stuffing out of John Denver's maudlin, 'Wild Montana Skies.'"

The song details what "Joe" sees when while driving on a mountain road: a burst of flames courtesy of a few teenagers spilling gas onto the highway, then throwing matches onto the spill just as the headlights get close. "This is, I believe, Montana's greatest and most unique contribution to teen culture," Nate writes.

Nate admits he does not have firsthand experience with such a performance. "I became privy to the prank while hitchhiking from Jerry Johnson hot springs back to Missoula late one night to work the graveyard shift as a disc jockey on the University of Montana's radio station KBGA," Nate writes. "I was picked up by a carload of UM freshmen who played this prank on several motorists on Highway 12. You may wonder why the song specifically ties the fine Montana community of Helena to this prank. Well, those frosh who picked me up all proudly informed me that they graduated from Helena High."

Sarah Elliott, Schweitzer's spokeswoman, said her office had not yet seen Mr. Schweber's letter but she would look for it.

Nate tells Schweitzer he will not hold it against him if he does not make his tune the "Song of the State of Montana" for July 1. "But if that's the case just bear in mind that the next time you're in New York City making a case at Columbia University for your fine idea of turning Montana's vast coal reserves into clean energy you might find your speech attended by a long-haired dancer playing a tuba while wearing skintight gold pants, a feather boa and nothing else. I have been known to don that getup." [End of article]