May Day, 2010

May Day dawned wet and cold. After a round of the markets where vendors and visitors were scarce, and many were visibly shivering miserably, I returned home to stoke the fire in my wood stove and reassess. Later, as the clouds began to break up, I ventured down to Caras Park for the first summer brewfest. Weather means nothing to Zootown residents who thirst for beer, as a large soggy crowd was already present. 

Wartime Blues had bright sun in their faces, during their set.

May Day means many things to many people. Some people act as if it's the first day of spring, while others resurrect pagan rituals such as maypole dancing to celebrate the warming season. Local anarchists chose to remind Missoula of the holiday, which celebrates the working man.

Evening came with Zeppo on stage at the Union Club, and my favorite torch singer setting men's hearts on fire, as usual.

Are those Carhart's? I don't know, but I do know that Dave Johnson led Bridgebuilder in a lively set at the Hellgate Rollergirls Benefit in the Palace. Joey took a turn on the drums.

Keegan Smith and the Fam provided a tight and rigorous workout at the Top Hat, where I concluded the first day of May.

Hillstomp Headlines Palace Show

Due to a performance delayed by technical difficulties at another venue, I arrived late at the Palace. I missed the opening band, but arrived in time to see some old friends perform. There are multiple sets of Wartime Blues, including this night, on the flickr archive.

Hillstomp from Portland plays old blues in a fast, hard-driving fashion. I became a fan the first time I heard them play an RL Burnside song. The drum kit features some found items, and there's a homemade stringed instrument or two.

If I had any money, you bet I would have purchased some Hillstomp merchandise from this young woman.

See the flickr archive for more Hillstomp.

Hip Strip Block Party 2009

I encountered this striking individual on my way to the Hip Strip Block Party, and again on my way back.

Zeppo opened the big stage at the Hip Strip Block Party, Saturday, July 18, 2009. Look who's back on the bass.

A couple of my favorite people were up front.

Here's a happy crew, who wanted their picture taken. I apologize for taking a week to get this posted, folks.

Mudslide Charley was playing at the same time on the small stage, behind the Boone and Crocket Club. As usual, Marco was up front playing and singing the blues hard, while behind him--one stalwart saxaphone player, playing the harmonica and drums, as well as his sax.

I wasn't the only photographer present.

I've heard him before, love his contemporary poetry, and can't remember his name to save my ass. Well, he's good, and we'll see him again.

Wartime Blues followed Zeppo on the main stage. Below is Bethany playing the cello, as she once did with Good Neighbor Policy. I consider the GNP reunion promoted at another venue false advertising, because Bethany was not there.

Temperatures near triple digits, cooked the sparse crowd on the parking lot asphalt, during the music. The fashion show brought in an audience.

There are more shots of the bands and other scenes around zootown, on this day, on the flickr archive.

Wartime Blues Packs Another Venue

Let's count the band and the number of instruments being played. There's a cello, a mandolin, two guitars and a banjo...


Another Friday night produced another packed venue for Wartime Blues. Unlike the Old Post, the previous week, The Palace is a larger venue, allowing more folks to enjoy this solid Americana band. A plethora of sound problems prevented a dramatic launch of their set, but once the sound was handled this group sailed.




...an upright bass, a keyboard, and a switch to an electric bass. This outfit has it all, plays everything well and builds to an intensity, which has the crowd hopping.

Wartime Blues Lone Bright Spot

The only bright spot Kitchenpoet could find, Friday night, was the Old Post packed to the rafters for Wartime Blues. The Old Post is an intimate venue (that means small), where I have enjoyed evenings with Russ Nassett and Corn Mash. This time, it was wall-to-wall, SRO, and everyone was into it. I could barely squeeze in the back door, forget about coming in the front and working back to the stage. I squeezed off a handful of shots, before being squeezed back out into the alley. Yes, the squeeze was definitely on, and I can't work under those conditions.

Good for the Old Post. Size is limited, but the music and the food are good. Try their fish tacos and you'll never go back to La Parilla.

I love this band, and have some previous shots up on the flickr archive. This time I finally produced two fair shots of Bethany, previously of Good Neighbor Policy. There are shots of that band and Bethany on flickr. The next time you see them advertised, be there for some live, local music and look for the Kitchenpoet.

Timeslip update: see Wartime Blues at the Palace, Saturday, January 31.


The rest of zootown was quiet, including this old favorite spot. On this night, it was psychedelia on downers, nothing to enliven the spirit, with a thin crowd around a wasted dance floor.