Bob Wire, Slowly But Shirley, Star Anna, Red Elvises and Weather

Where does the time go? My last blog concerned the second weekend of July, and August has begun. I have some catching up to do. The last chapter ended with Amanda Cevallos and Bob Wire at Ryan Creek Meadows. Soon after that, Bob was sizzling at Caras Park.

It was the weekly Downtown Tonight event on Thursday, July 22, 2010, and Bob was really cooking on stage.

Listeners were enjoying a spectacular Montana day, in addition to the music. 

I want you to come to Fact and Fiction tonight (Friday, Aug 6) and buy my book. I might sign it if you do.

note:Bob Wire did not pay for this promo. I think his lyrics are some of the funniest around, and I expect his book to be amusing, too.

Ciara Keeton, Angie Biehl, Kristin Janis, Teri Llovet

Not one Shirley in the batch, but the band is Slowly But Shirley. They played a big part in producing and playing Zulapalooza at the Top Hat on Saturday, July 24.

Teri Llovett

One of the powers which helped create Zulapalooza was Teri Llovett. Teri was with Full Moon Prophets, who played their final gig on this same Top Hat Stage, last November. See Good-bye Prophets in a previous post here and in a set on Flickr. That was a whing-ding and a half, featuring many local musicians who wanted in on the fun. Zulapalooza produced more of the same infectious fun. One high light was Joe Half Cocked. Joe is an entity, who was being channeled by a local performer, but now busts out when he pleases.

Joe Half Cocked, Kristin Janis, Ciara Keeton

The Missoula Winery has a new stage. Performers and audience are protected from the hot afternoon sun, as this is on the east side of the building. Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs played there on Friday, July 30.

Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs

Mother Nature chose to bring special effects to the event. It wasn't so much fun for the band, as the temperature fluctuations began to mess up the tuning. The guitar player just knew he was going to die, electrocuted on stage in Missoula, Montana. 

A few drops fell on the assembly, but the body of the storm missed us and moved off to the north-west. Did I mention The Winery has an incredible view of the entire Missoula basin? I should also say this old photographer had a great time with the changing light, noted with approval the evolution of the Winery and tasted some fine Cabernet.

The Red Elvises have made the pilgrimage to Missoula an annual event. I saw them in Santa Monica many years ago (15?/more?). They had changed their name from Limpopo shortly before that, and I bought the Limpopo CD, and the first Red Elvis CD, and enjoyed every minute of their performance. I missed their previous visits here, but I was determined this time.

Igor has sandwiched himself with a pair of women, since I saw them.

A throng of Red Elvis fans packed the Badlander to see them again.

Every day I thank the powers that be I found Missoula before I died. Yes, I have said that before. Brace yourselves, because I will say it again. Life is sweet, and it gets better every day.

If you aren't enjoying yourself, as much as I, try turning off your television and getting out to some live music.

PS: See more of these events on Flickr. Don't hurt yourself by trying to view everything on my Flickr archive, because it is too much. It is best to approach the archive looking for a band you know, or want to know, because the search function will allow you to find the images you want (if I have key-worded properly).

Reconnecting with Friends

Bob Wire and Amanda Cevallos

The stage was large; the crowd was small.

While thousands of Missoulians headed to the FREE folk festival in Butte, a small crowd of  fans went to Ryan Creek Meadows to see the Marshall Tucker Band on Saturday, July 10. They found a new, sturdy stage. Only the early arrivals knew a wind had taken down the fences and ripped off the stage roof not long before the gates were to open.

I was there on assignment for Amanda Cevallos, who re-visited Zootown briefly in order to perform on this ticket. I gave her a hard time as I do most who desert Missoula for some other place, but she found a home there and has steered her career very well. 

Why do I worry about being late? My timing seems to have improved in old age. For Example, of course, I was on time to catch Amanda going on stage. Good thing, too, because she put me on the guest list, and if I didn't get photos, she would have skinned me alive. It was great to reconnect with her, and to watch her strutting the strut on stage.

A full year had passed, since I had talked with Bob Wire other than a quick pass, while he was consumed with his book of Montana oddities. That book is available (unless sold out) at Shakespeare and Co., and Fact and Fiction. I'm ashamed I didn't make it to the release of the book, or his last CD, Buffaload. Bob and his band, which he sometimes calls the Magnificent Bastards, played material from all of their CDs and new songs, too. Bob, as always, was a kick in the pants.

39 years ago, Marshall Tucker Band came together and quickly jumped into the upper echelon of the southern music scene. If I understood correctly, these two are the only original members left. They are a stalwart crew of experienced musicians, who make their great sound look easy. They have class, too, as is evidenced by their ride.

Marshall Tucker has a set on the Flickr archive, while Bob and Amanda each have a Marshall Tucker Album. Go there to see more images from this event.

This Weekend

Marshall Tucker Band

and many others

Ryan Creek Meadows

Saturday July 10, 2010

Amanda Cevallos will return to Missoula to appear on the stage at Ryan Creek Meadows, this Saturday. Marshall Tucker is the headliner, with Bob Wire, Shane Clouse and Kira Means. This is my all time favorite image of Amanda. She on the other hand preferred the following shot, and put it on her business card. 

Previous posts on this blog, and sets on the Flickr archive, cover Amanda's history with Wolf Redboy and her own band, Bad Intentions. Just search for Amanda on my photostream.

Catch Up Caras

Right up there in the corner, it says I'm old and slow. I haven't covered The Downtown Association's splendid summer series for two weeks. Mark your calendars for Out to Lunch, every Wednesday, 11a-2p, and Downtown Tonight, every Thursday, 5:30-8:30p.

Now let's do the timeslip to Wednesday week and catch up four events.

Full Moon Prophets Out to Lunch

Jazzy oldies you can sing along with played in clean, hard rocking style with an emphasis on bass.

The emphasis on bass is my friend, Teri Llovet. She sings a Cheryl Crowe song that gives me goose bumps.

Bob Wire & Magnificent Bastards Downtown Tonight

Bob Wire was cooking at Downtown Tonight. Only lining the tent with foil could make this venue tougher on Thursday nights. Week after week, brave performers face this trial. Poor Bob's plump turkey thermometer was about to pop. Bob still poured his heart into his "extreme honky-tonk," until the timer went off, and then he ran for the shade and a cold brew.

This is the new proprietor of the Celtic Connection, and I can't spell her name in Irish to save my ass, but it's pronounced Keeva. I'm not sure whether she was telling me to take a picture, or telling me to stuff my camera. She's a delightful woman, and the revival of the Connection has already started.

RMSP photography students showed up in large numbers to shoot the event. It looked like superbowl with all those fancy cameras and lenses waving along the sidelines.

Secret Powers Out to Lunch

Secret Powers is usally fronted by Schmed on the keyboard (above), but they switched up a bit at Out to Lunch. This may be the most professional combo in town, with their technical expertise and polished performances.

Clumsy Lovers Downtown Tonight

The Clumsy Lovers are visitors from Vancouver, B.C. who play zootown two or three times a year. Their music is kicky stuff with a lot of influences, including Celtic, folk and bluegrass. They have several cds, stickers and t-shirts to choose from at their merchandise table. Also Celtic Connection will join the local merchants who sell the cds.

If you have not attended one of these events, shame on you. They live up to the old ad line "fun for the whole family."

There are more images on the flickr archive, although I am trying to cut back on how many I post. The 5000 images over there are overwhelming. There are also older sets of all the bands featured in this post.