Elks, Skurfs, Fun, Gavin, or is it Donny(?)

Gavin is new to me, since he returned to Missoula recently. Not long after I arrived in Zootown his previous band, Arrows to the Sun, held their final event at the Bike Doctor, I missed it, and Gavin headed to warmer climes. Now he's back with a band called the Skurfs, labeling their music mountain surf. This is the real deal. See them ASAP.

Gavin plays as Donny McBride. He and bandmate, Danny Venture, produced this show, where 15 bands performed on Friday, March 12, at the Elks Club. Minor glitches aside, this event was a spectacular success. Mike Avery covered sound, Gavin MC'd and a line up of Missoula new and different bands laid out some energizing music.

I arrived in time for the Chalfonts.

Next up, Bright Northern Light saw the trumpet and raised a French horn.

Love the Clerks t-shirt.

The audience was growing. I had to skip out to the Top Hat for Butter and the first few songs by Lukas Nelson, before returning in time for the Skurfs. The crowd was even larger. Only Hell's Belles at the Badlander had a bigger draw, and it wasn't nearly as much fun as what happened here.

Gavin was channeling Buddy Holly, and generally enjoying his work, which made the crowd happy to listen.

It was another great night in my hometown. There are 24 images of this event on flickr.

Butter Melts Hat

As I have matured over the decades, I have learned to keep my priorities straight. When four women I love are on stage at the same time, guess what my priority is? If you said getting my ass down to the Hat to see Butter, you would be correct. There was plenty of music in Zootown last night, and I have tons of material from the 13 or 14 band blow out at the Elks Club. Gavin of the Skurfs orchestrated that bash, which came off with a minimum of problems for an enterprise that big. Right now, I just want to give a shout out about some beautiful and talented women musicians. Well, shit, that's hardly fair. What do they call men like me who are prejudiced in women's favor? To be fair, there are two male musicians in Butter. Here is one:

Jesse Netzloff tuning his guitar, and below is Martin McCain.

Maria Kendra and Jesse Netzloff

Maria, Jesse and Lisena Brown

Hermina Harold

Bethany Joyce

Butter was opening for some national name...let me think...son of a real famous singer...what?

OK, dammit, it was Lukas Nelson, son of Willie. That's what the ads said, and then I walked into the Top Hat and saw a lot of promotion for "Promise of the Real." Turns out that's this young man's band, and the whole name is really Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real.

Hey, a bonus for the Kitchenpoet: this is a kick-ass outfit with attitude and style aimed for fun.

Drummers are often hard to photograph because they are behind everyone in the dark. This one also put up a half circle of cymbals right at head level for more protection from paparazzi.

So much music in Zootown, Kitchenpoet can't always keep up, and in my defense I say: no one could cover it all. All I can do is give it my best shot. Capturing the spirit of the moment is one of my many goals. Thank all you denizens of Zootown for welcoming me home, when I arrived.

Timeslip update: Now on flickr a full set of Butter. Click on the set, hit slideshow, let it play, and tell me what you think.  I'm processing a lot of material, again, as well as selling my photos on the street in front of Celtic Connections. I have to get some sleep. Still to come the 13 band blow-out at the Elks. It did wind up 13 didn't it? I'm not really sure, but it was a gas, and I've a bunch to work through.

Catch Up Underground, Part 1

It's colorful, danceable, underground, and unfortunately cut back to a monthly event, for the summer. It's Club Q, downstairs in the Elks Club. Tiny has been producing this alternative venue for over two years, and it has developed into an entertaining night spot for those who like to leave the beaten path.

Down in the basement of an activist household is another underground scene which has been a dependable provider of Off-the-Beaten-Path bands for some time. This night, it was the Taxpayers, who claimed to be an acapella cover band and started that way, before swinging into some of the most original material this side of Jupiter.

Beef Curtain at the Palace. Another underground band in another underground venue.

The father is introducing me to his daughter, when she interrupts, saying, "Hey, you were at the Beefcurtain show. I see you everywhere." Although I can't be everywhere, I do sometimes try, and then a day or two of recovery is required.

Weekend Music in Zoo City

Down in front; let the boys in the back show their stuff. I wasn't willing to pay $11 to Pray for Snow with the iNHUMANS, but they played a second show that day at the Elks. Did you know about it? I don't remember seeing iNHUMANS at the Elks listed either in the Independent or on the Missoula Events site. If Kyle's brother hadn't told me about this gig, when I encountered him at the Badlander, I would have missed it. And I don't like missing this group, because they are truly original.






Saturday night, I was delighted to see another of my favorite groups, when Zeppo played the Union Club.
Chuck Lester was also celebrating his 69th birthday.

Ruthie was in red last night, with the iNHUMANS, and this night wears a black version of the same dress, with Zeppo.