Saturday, March 31, 2012

For the next ten days I'll be on the road, away from my gals.  I'm sad about this.  Today I'm off to North Dakota where I have a couple trucking runs waiting for me--one to Toronto and the other to Calgary.  Gotta earn some dollar bills and see some hollers and hills and foller God's will and swaller some little white pills . . .

Until then, adieu.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

One of the greatest things about having an office smack dab in the middle of downtown Missoula is that it's easy to network and collaborate with other artists.  In fact, I share my office space with Hana's and my friend, Joy French, who is choreographer at the Downtown Dance Collective.

Joy's modern dance company is called Bare Bait Dance.  Last Friday they began their full-scale production "Views from Grandma's Porch" which explores a tapestry of rural themes.  Hana and I--thanks to Mom taking care of Stevie--went last Saturday and were thoroughly enchanted.  Joy is a real story teller and she and her dancers, musicians, and stage hands, give it everything they have, physically and emotionally.

Here's a recent write-up by Joe Nickell:  New Modern Dance Company Steps into Missoula Spotlight.  Tickets for this weekend, FYI, are still available, but going fast.

When the weather warms up, Joy plans to take her troupe to some Montana ghost towns and record a video, and she may use one of my songs for the music.  If so, I'm thinking "Horse Graveyard."

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Saturday, March 24, 2012

I couldn't help but notice that today's Missoulian front page picture closely resembles the Nikki McClure cover art for my record Chemicals in the Wheat.

Similar, right?

Better examples of synchronicity can be found in the brand-spankin' new book by my longtime friend Andras Jones,  Accidental Initiations.

If you're acquainted with Andras, you might know about his Radio8Ball Show, his acting resume, his music catalogue, or that he's not afraid of confrontation and controversy.  His no-holds-barred attitude and mystical swagger upsets the timid and/or prudish among us, including me at times.

If you want a true portrait of Andras, though, and his unique interpretation of Olympia, don't be afraid to take off your shoes and join him on the mossy little adventure that is his book.  From what I've read of it so far via his blog, it's going to be an excellent debut.  We might hate it, but we won't be bored, and that's how I define great Rock & Roll.

Way to go, A.J.!  I hope you sell a million copies.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Loner Records, my music label, now has an office, and I couldn't be happier.

I'm right in the heart of downtown Missoula sandwiched between a head shop and a barber shop.  Almost every great music venue in this city is within a two block radius of my Sand Cave.

Time to start again.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

We took Stevie on her first road trip yesterday.  Lolo Hot Springs!  

We think she liked it.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Of all the songs about love and trains, this one has always been my favorite:

RIP to the Soul Train's creator and host, Don Cornelius, who passed away earlier this year.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Yesterday I had the pleasure of guest deejaying on KBGA's The Grassroots Show.  I co-hosted with Abe Coley.  It felt nourishing to spin old records by The McGarrigle Sisters, James Talley, Mahalia Jackson, Loudon Wainwright III, and Jonathan Richman, as well as newer ones by many of my friends.

Thursday, March 01, 2012

Music-related news from Sandland:

1. Tonight is the Boston (possibly world) premiere of the feature-length comedy PARTY LIKE IT'S A VERB.  Two of my songs are featured in it--"From Behind," and "Pillowcases."

2. Saturday night I will be performing some songs in Missoula in a shop called Zombie Tools.  Zombie Tools sells accessories for surviving an anticipated zombie apocalypse (serious).

3. March 11th I'll co-host The Grassroots Show on KBGA with Abe Coley.

4. April 24th I open up for The Hive Dwellers--at Zoo City Apparel here in Missoula.

5. April 26th I fly to Chicago for a show with Tony Rogers at The Hideout.