Roots with Epilog

Roots Fest in Missoula was a stop on the Leftover Salmon reunion tour, Saturday, August 27, 2011. They proved the biggest draw of the weekend, and the packed crowd in front of the stage resembled a mosh pit at times. It was dangerous in there, as bodies bumped and banged, elbows flew, and beer showered.

There's plenty of bluegrass around Zootown, while zydeco is an occasional treat. Bennie and the Swamp Gators provided a romping finale to the festival on Sunday afternoon.

Bennie's daughter plays washboard with the band, and his grand daughter is being groomed to follow the tradition.

Shooting into the sunlight was almost a complete waste of time. I wished I had left my camera home, and arrived ready to dance, because this was fun dance music.

Epilog: Serendipity and Synchronicity

The guitar player above, Gene Williams, appeared at Sean Kelly's weekly open mike the next night. He stumbled onto the Monday night affair, and arrived without an instrument. Beau loaned his, and Gene filled the last spot with a mix of original tunes and a few covers. He nailed Long Black Veil, and that is an easy one to mess up.

 Gene Williams

Beau offers up the guitar

On the flickr archive, you will find a set for Leftover Salmon, another for Bennie, and one for the open mike at Sean Kellys.

Butter and Fiancee, who performed at the Palace and Top Hat respectively late on First Friday, also have new sets. 

Movement

Movement is good, proves we're alive and brings new learning. The last edition of open mike at Brooks and Browns occurred on July 12, 2011. There was the usual mix of regulars and new faces, and the event was outside on the patio, until the weather threatened. The light went weird, before the sky began to grumble and flash. It was a suitable ending for the run at Brooks and Browns. The next week, Louis and Teri were  scheduled in the same Tuesday 7-10pm slot at the Lucky Strike Casino.

 Louis Bond

Teri Llovet

Brooks and Browns had been home to this open mike crew for about two years. There was always back-up waiting for any performer desiring assistance in the form of guitar and bass players, drummers, and occasionally dobro, saxaphone and other instruments. Bands formed and reformed among the instruments and mike stands in the Holiday Inn's bar. 

Now, the locale has changed, and many of the regulars have already relocated.

 Ciara @Brooks & Browns, June 28, 2011

 UFOkies @B&B, June 28, 2011

 Sister Fix with Roger on the drums and Sue guesting on fiddle @B&B July 5, 2011

 Ciara invites Kristin, her old Slowly but Shirley partner, onstage at the Lucky Strike, July 19, 2011.

 Suddenly, there are photographers coming out of the woodwork, as a group of RMSP students break out their gear. They are shooting everything from every angle.

 Sister Fix @Lucky Strike, July 19, 2011

 Big Sexy and the Meanfingers @Lucky Strike, July 19, 2011

New Faces @Brooks and Browns Open Mike

Ruthie Dada and Chris Duparri joined the weekly crowd at Brooks and Browns for Open Mike on Tuesday, May 4. Both of them can be seen in the many sets of Zeppo on my Flickr site. 

When the regulars faltered with the lyrics of a song they had done hundreds of times, another newcomer leaped in to steady the refrain. 

Another regular is often available to supply percussive support for open mike performers. Roger plays in about a dozen bands here and there. There's more of this evening in back of the Holiday Inn on flickr, along with several previous dates. All are shorthanded as BBMike followed by the date. 

Open Mike @B&B, Jan 12, 2010

I have developed a little problem. I tend to fall asleep in my chair or in the floor, while reading a book. Then I wake up close to midnight and go to bed. Tuesday night, I almost did it again, but woke about 8:30 and rushed to Brooks and Browns to catch some open mike action. The event takes place weekly, 7-10p, and is growing into something very special, indeed.

(?), Roger, Mike Avery, Teri Llovet are playing when I arrive. Louis is comfortable on sound.

Roger plays with more bands than I can count.

This gentleman writes music based on the poetry of Rumi.

Open Mike @B&B, Dec 1

Last night, Tuesday December 1, the open mike session at Brooks and Browns showed us something new, as Lefty Lucy led a rousing set of classics.

Every week, the regulars gather and are joined by some new faces to produce new combinations of performers and music in the bar of the Holiday Inn.

Last week, Sabin brought her guitar down from her room and launched into a Dylan song, followed by John Prine and a song she wrote. It wasn't the first time a guest at the Inn came down and joined the party.

Part of the attraction is having a professional handling sound.

Mando Mike Passes Through

Rocky Mountain School of Photography has started their free winter lecture series in the quarry at the school. I attended the first of the monthly events, and thus arrived for only the last hour of the weekly open mike session at Brooks and Browns. There was a duo named CaseyJo up when I arrived. Then they invited Mando Mike to join them.

I hadn't seen Mike all summer. Once upon a time he was one of the Bad Intentions, playing behind Amanda Cevallos. He turned up many places for music, including the Irish folk jam at Celtic Connection. He said he was working at Glacier and just passing through on his way to the organic family farm in Idaho. Later, he brought his guitar up for his own set.

Seth joined him with a harmonica, and Carla Greene contributed the bass.

Other musicians took their turns.

Mike Avery filled in for Louis, who was down with the crud. Teri Llovett MC'd, as usual. Many of the regulars were there, and most joined in for the group finale.

The open mike at Brooks and Browns occurs every Tuesday, 7-10, and is beginning to attract some original songwriters to join the talented regulars.

Brooks and Browns is the bar in the back of the Holiday Inn. In addition to open mike, it hosts other music on weekends. Baba ganoush played for hours there recently, as previously reported. Malarkey will bring their Irish sound there Friday, Oct. 30.

The flickr set which goes with this post is titled BBMike, October 20, 2009.

Tuesday Open Mike @Brooks and Browns

Open mike every Tuesday, 7-10pm, at Brooks and Browns.

Teri Llovet and Louis Bond have the open mike at Brooks and Browns going full steam ahead. They organize the event, maintain the sound and provide back up for any performer who wants it. Teri plays the bass, and, it seems, Louis plays damn near everything. How many songs does this man know?

"Where is Brooks and Browns?" you ask. B&B is the bar in the Holiday Inn, at the end of Pattee by the park. There's a restaurant named Riverbend and the bar on the lower level in back, with a patio and access from the lawn. The music has moved inside to avoid tuning problems caused by cooler weather. You can order from the restaurant menu in the bar. The burgers are large enough to be intimidating, and the sweet potato fries are good.

This is a good place for musicians to learn their chops. The support is professional and the atmosphere friendly.