$4Junkers @the Club

These shots of Cash for Junkers were taken at the Union Club on Friday, November 19, 2010. There are more images from this show on flickr. More importantly--

Cash for Junkers plays at the Union Club again tonight!

Today is Saturday, December 11, 2010. The music will start on time at 9:30, or heads will roll.

The Turtle trudges onward, hoping to catch up...

Halloween--2010

Party at the Broadway Inn

My hipnhot award for best Halloween party goes out to the Demonlily production at the Broadway Inn on October 30, 2010. These folks are into costuming and make up 100%. 

Finalists in the Scariest Costume category above, and the winner below.

Blessiddoom

High Voltage

Meanwhile at the Union Club

Russ Nassett and the Revelators were on stage, 

Disney characters were in attendance, 

and everyone was having a terrific time. 

Next stop--the Top Hat

Lil Smokies were providing the music, 

and another favorite character was seen. 

Other sightings:

Yes, this old man is way behind again. Can you imagine, just getting to Halloween, as the world rushes to Christmas? Well, there was this computer crash, as I was putting together my Top Hat show, and I have a bunch of other excuses for being slow. Instead of speeding up, in some cases I slow down. For example: being offline was terribly frustrating at first, then mildly annoying, and then I was reluctant to return to the Internet. 

Several sets have been uploaded to flickr, since I rejoined the digital web. This might be the blog introduction of High Voltage, but they have other images in the archive. Blesseddoom and Russ Nassett have several sets on flickr. Lil Smokies were recently at MAM in addition to their regular performances at the Hat. I'm working on several new images of them. 

Of course, there are also more images of all the venues and events covered here on flickr.

Belated Thanks, Part 1

Cue Joe Cocker (and allow slight lyrical adjustment): 

I get by with tons of help from my friends. 

My ego said I could produce a photo exhibit for the Top Hat, to open on the First Friday in November, and a music program to go with that show on the first Sunday. Wrong. Several things happened after that, including: a computer crash, cancellations, scheduling conflicts, nervous breakdowns #19-21 and an "Elizabeth I'm coming to join you" moment (Does anyone remember Sanford and Son?). 

I thank all the powers that be in the universe for my friends, who came from all directions and saved my scrawny ass. And for that, I want to thank all my friends. There are too many to cover adequately here, and that is why the title includes Part 1. I'm back online, after more than a month, but I still cannot access all my images, and I have piles of catch up. Future episodes will include Kevin Van Dort, music director at the Winery and Brendan Stewart, who installed the big pieces in the Top Hat, and oh so many others.  Here are the folks who appeared in the music program at the 

Missoula Winery and Event Center

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Darah Fogarty

 Meggie McDonald

 Ron Dunbar

 Slowly But Shirley: Kristin Janis, Ciara Keeton

New Hijackers

 Caroline Keys

Travis Yost

Angie Biehl

Today is First Friday a month later. It is time to check where the action is tonight. More choices to make...

Favorites @the Palace

Hillstomp is another group I try to see every time they come to town. This hard driving blues duo plays it like no other, like there's no tomorrow. Their repertoire starts with Robert Johnson back from the crossroads with a new sound and continues through delta blues greats like R.L. Burnside.

Hillstomp's loyal followers packed the Palace for their performance on Thursday, September 30, 2010.

Earlier, Timmy Arrowtop led his band, Birds Mile Home, on stage to open the event. I covered this band in a previous post, and mentioned then Timmy is one of my music heroes.

There is a set for each band in this post on flickr. 

Playing Favorites @the Hat

I'm working on a show titled Top Hat Women, which will open in the Top Hat on First Friday in November. Bonnie Paine of Elephant Revival will be in the show, as will the fiddle player. Elephant Revival is one of my all-time favorite bands, and I try to see them every time they visit Zootown. Their last visit was on Saturday, September 18, 2010.

Elephant Revival brought their friends, the Mile Markers,with them to play during the break. Here was another talented violin player teamed with an energetic guitar player/singer. Bright, original material added to the freshness.

Ragbirds will return to the Top Hat on Saturday, October 23. This drum combo joined my favorites list the first time I saw them. All drumming, all the time, free-wheeling, carefree, danceable drumming. Get with it at the Hat.

Whoa! I screwed this up in the original post. Po' Girl returns to the Hat next month on November 26. I apologize for getting the date wrong. This amazing outfit has built a local fan base with previous appearances here and at the Badlander. Don't miss this one. I will have an exhibit of my photography up in the Top Hat for the month of November. The members of Po' Girl will be able to see themselves in that show.  

Do I need to tell you there are sets for all these bands over on the flickr archive?

More Jazz, Please

Jazz, oh jazz, sweet jazz filled the airwaves of Oregon and Washington, coming from college stations everywhere, particularly Seattle and Portland. This wasn't an hour or two of jazz sandwiched with other genres and NPR news and talk; this was hours of uninterrupted jazz. I do believe I have found a deficiency in my Zootown paradise. 

I must mention two jazz programs on KBGA. Four hours begins at noon on Sundays with the Awful Truth about Jerry Lundegaard, followed by the Outside Edge at 2pm. That's the best block of jazz to be found on local radio. 

There are some promising developments on the live scene. Returning to winter hours, Jazz Martini Night at the Badlander now begins at 7:30 on Sundays, allowing us old fogies a chance to hear some jazz before our early bedtimes. The Missoula Winery is also offering performance by jazz combos at comfortable hours. I recently went there to photograph the Indulge Jazz Quintet. 

The Indulge Jazz Quintet at the Missoula Winery

Ed Stalling

Kevin Van Dort joins the Quintet to belt out a blues number.

A full set of Indulge Jazz Quintet can be found on the Flickr archive. 

Margi and the Smoking Jackets are rehearsing for a more active appearance schedule, which will include a performance at the UC, during the First Night Celebration.