Back in Zootown

And so glad to be here.

My road trip lasted six weeks, and by the end I was mighty homesick for Zootown. I drove back into Missoula Thursday, and the next day was First Friday, featuring art and music everywhere. Next day--Saturday Markets. Sunday, in addition to the market by the carousel, Higgins was closed from the Hip Strip to the Xs for all kinds of family activities.

I don't know the young man, but that is Bethany playing the saw and Caroline on the banjo.

Kate Davis with a red-tailed hawk from the Raptor Refuge appeared at Fact and Fiction on Saturday.

Jav performed second in a music show at Zoo City Apparel with art by Abe Coley on the wall. Pyro Spyders opened, and Goddammitboyhowdy finished that show.

Abe Coley hands on hips. Abe had art up in six venues around town for First Friday. He also has some pieces in a window at the old Macy's store. That must be some kind of record.

Meanwhile, Zeppo was playing over at the Union Club.

This batch of rascals are known as the Dodgy Mountain Men, and they produced their usual fun show at the Palace on Friday night. See the previous post for coverage of their appearance at the Top Hat with Hillstomp.

Not to be outdone, the Skurfs introduced a new look, as they capped the action at the Palace on First Friday, June 3, 2011.

Oh yes, there have been some additions over on the flickr archive. Check it out.

It's summertime in Zootown, and it doesn't get any better than this. I'll see you in the streets, at the markets and in the music venues.

First Friday @the Palace

Oh boy, people having fun, what more can one ask for? It is Friday night in the Palace, and my first print show has just opened. That's not what put the smiles on these folks.

A romping, stomping performance by Travis Seahorn created the smiles and general celebration. Earlier there was a raffle to benefit the American Humanics Student Association.

Mayor John Engen was his usual jovial self, as he drew and read the names of winning tickets.

Ross Voorhees opened the program with a folksy sound aided by a kazoo.

Thanks to friends, Maria Kendra and Hermina Harold, of Butter, and more of their friends, the show went up on Thursday night. The effort was complicated by Metal Militia night with sound volumes, which made communication by anything but sign language impossible. 

There was some wild drumming. 

One of my favorite groups, Walking Corpse Syndrome, blasted out their usual power rhythms with two drummers in the back. If I can just manage to capture a few more good images of the fiddle player, I will have a good grouping for an upcoming print show of metal bands. 

First Friday's Hottest Art Show

This was a personal favorite at the skateboard art show at the Badlander on First Friday. There was action all over town, as recorded in the previous two posts. Let this be the exclamation point to end the Friday report and move onto Saturday, which was just as busy, and lasted all day. This show and Great American Taxi at the Top Hat get the top ratings for this evening's events. 

There are more images from this show and the night in general in a set titled First Friday, over on the flickr archive. 

A Busy Weekend, Part 1: First Friday in May

My favorite torch singer was up front with Zeppo in the Loft, above Higgins Alley. It was just one of many major attractions around Zootown on First Friday.

The grand gentleman of zootown musicians, Russ Nassett, was playing the Union Club, and really rocking the place. The rugby people on the dance floor were a mass of flying elbows and knees. Too dangerous for an old goat like me, but I managed to capture some good looks. Russ's son is on the right. 

The drummer's wife wanted photos. There are a bunch on the flickr archive in the set with the matching title. 

This fellow looked almost as big as the truck he was in.

Elephant Revival opened for Great American Taxi (see previous post), at the Top Hat. Their bus barely made it to the venue. 

Yes, the cello player is back, and he's the real deal. That is to say he can play that thing. 

This piper advertised live music at Celtic Connection. 

Broken Valley Roadshow works the street, near the Badlander. They were playing later at Zootown Brew. 

Computer Central had their own street band, and an exhibition of b&w film work inside. As usual, there are many more images on flickr. 

Vince Herman @ the Top Hat

The band was swinging with an infectious rhythm, and the dancers were in heaven. 

Are there any Leftover Salmon fans out there? For me, the highlight of the weekend was Great American Taxi, with Vince Herman in the driver's seat, at the Top Hat. I had this one marked on my calendar for a long time. 

This event wasn't listed on missoulaevents.net, and I have asked several people why. Normally that site is a very reliable guide to what's happening in zootown, and it's color coded for people like me. However, if you have an event to post, be sure you include the address and the correct time. 

Vince is a personal favorite, since I saw him doing an MC bit at the first Mulberry Mountain Music Festival, up in the Ozarks near Fayetteville. I have photos from GAT's show at the Badlander and last year's Roots Festival, on the flickr arhive, and in previous posts. People who attended Roots will remember Vince played about three cords, a transformer blew out,up by the Bodega, and the block went dark...and silent. Vince came down into the audience with his mandolin, followed by the guitar and fiddle players, and did an acoustic set in the middle of the crowd in front of the stage. 

 

For a while, I didn't think I would get in, because there was a $10 cover, and I didn't have it. I prowled zootown, and found lots of other music, which will be reported soon. There was plenty to see and do on the First Friday of May. Saturday was more of the same, with music and happenings everywhere. I have 750 images from the weekend to look at. 

I returned to the Top Hat, for the last set, and negotiated a lower cover, something I could afford, two dollars. The guys were in late night, well-lubricated, musical machine mode, and a good time was being had by all. 

There are now more images from this event on the stove at flickr.

Coming soon: More First Night, with Russ Nassett at the club, and Zeppo at the Loft above Higgins Alley. There was also a skateboard art show at the Badlander. 

Zeppo Ignites the Union Club

Chuck Lester was particularly stylish this evening.

Two of my favorite people.

Good Lord, Pete isn't wearing the yellow shirt. Check many photos of Zeppo on the flickr archive to see how significant this change is. 

Zeppo can swing, and I've seen them swing many times, because they are a zootown favorite. This night, however, threatened to burn the place down. It was that hot, as band and fans merged in heated song and dance far beyond the usual.

Andrea Harsell goes onstage for a number.

Later, there is a guest harp.

There was a young face to replace Larry in the middle of the horn section.

There's never a cover charge at the Union Club, and Zeppo will return there on Friday, May 25.