Ello

Ello, pronounced as the British say hello, is the Top Hat Artist of the Month for April. As such, they play 6-8 pm every Thursday this month. We are halfway through April and there are two more opportunities to take the whole family to hear this band in a bar, if you can believe that, as this is an all ages, family friendly event. I can witness to the fact that kids transform and elevate the energy in a bar.  Drop into the Top Hat on Thursday or Friday between 6 and 8 to see for yourself.

Going into the weekend, the Friday events are well attended, but more folks should take advantage of the Thursday offerings.  These guys have a solid sound and deserve a larger audience. In addition to playing the Hat on Thursdays, April 21 and 28, they will be on the Trail 103.3, live with Tracy Lopez on Thursday the 21st, at 9am.

Jason on bass, Greg doing vocals, Justin on drums, Chris on guitar

Here are the drink specials for the month, in case you are interested.

First Friday--Feb, 2011

Wolf Redboy @the Break

Wolf Redboy has consistently produced some of the most original music in Zootown. On First Friday, he brought his newest music and songs to the Break. He also had some new players with him.

Nate Biehl

Mickie

Louie Bond was on sound and waiting in the wings for the right number to join in. Previous commitments took me elsewhere, and I'm wondering when we will see more of this combo.

Family Friday and DIY @the Hat

Ello played a tight, rocking set for the early 6-8 show at the Top Hat. 

The Top Hat has family friendly hours every Thursday and Friday, 6-8pm. Kids are welcome and sometimes take over the dance floor and the pool tables. Thursday performers rotate on a monthly basis, while Friday nights are  individually booked. I'll be covering more of this soon, and catching up a bunch. I have images of Stellarondo and Butter, previous monthly artists, as well as the current group Black Mountain Moan. 

DIY is a First Friday arts and crafts fair. On this night, February 4, 2011, Jason was creating a new painting, and the place was full of beautiful homemade crafts and beautiful craft persons.

Ax Raccoons @the Palace

Madison Schroeder leaped back into the Palace action with her latest band, Ax Raccoons. 

Yes, Mary is back from Minneapolis. She played in previous bands with Madison, and also with Thomas Pendarvis.

Each of these events has its own set over on the flickr archive, with these and more images captured on Friday, February 4, 2011.

When I was young, old folks sometimes described down times as "being under the weather." Since I've loved the weather in all it's diversity this winter, I don't want to use that phrase. I have, however, not been firing on all cylinders for a few months. It is time to start moving again. I have a ton of photos to review and so much more to say about the Zootown scene. 

Go Comics is a large alphabetized listing of comics; Arcamax is a smaller listing, but has some not on the other list. I put those links up in the right column. I recommend starting every day with a few laughs. Laughter really is the best medicine, and music is a close second. Therefore, I also recommend getting out to a local venue to support your favorite band, or to check out a new band, and to support Zootown health and happiness.

PBR, Week 1, January 31, continued

Here we have a British-style, guitar, super-group. The Hermans have the musical chops and showmanship to keep that from being an overstatement. Think Clapton, Beck and Winwood or a similar combination. The above photo appeared in the Missoulian, without the photo credit I was promised. I now embed my copyright in every image (at least when I remember to).



'Ello adds an English accent to the anguish of Michael Stipe, with an echo of psychedelia. They had the audacity to perform a Doors' song and improve on the original.

There's a great slogan: Live and Local. And so it was at PBR.

After 'Ello, Luau Cinder, who termed their music dub/funk, took a turn.

This t-shirt classic advocates closing the School of the Americas, which teaches torture techniques to foreign police and military. The department of propaganda changed its name to Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Kick-ass Training, or some such a few years ago.

No one can mention the count, without mentioning he once played with the International Playboys, a prestigious Missoula band. They broke up just after I arrived here, and I didn't make it to the farewell performance. I did buy one of their CDs, and maybe I should buy the other before I start judging, but I like every band I've heard so far with an IP alumnae better than I like what I heard on that CD.