Here’s the latest installment of my series on music in Missoula.
1. August 28: Fitz and the Tantrums
Big Sky Brewing, $35. Los Angeles-based Fitz and the Tantrums are bringing their critically acclaimed soul-tinged indie pop to Missoula. They draw some influence from Motown and Stax-era soul, while still remaining quite original (and ridiculously catchy). They are currently touring in support of their eponymous third album.
2. August 31: Needtobreathe
Ogden Park, $33. South Carolinian Christian rock band Needtobreathe will be playing Ogren Park (where the Osprey play). They’re touring in support of their sixth studio LP, Hard Love. Founded by a pair of brothers in 1998, they have won numerous Gospel Music Awards, and were nominated for a Grammy last year for Best Contemporary Christian Music Song for their track “Multiplied.” Apparently, this show is also part of their Tour de Compadres with Mat Kearney, John Mark McMillan, and Welshly Arms (sic).
3. September 1: Parker Millsap
Top Hat, $10-12. Oklahoman singer-songwriter/folkie Parker Millsap has opened for Lake Street Dive, Jason Isbell, and Old Crow Medicine Show, among numerous others. The Americana Music Association named him one of the Emerging Artists of 2014. His music seems to fall somewhere between folk and blues.
4. September 1: Pretty Lights
Big Sky Brewing, $33.50. Pretty Lights’ music could probably be best described as ranging from vaguely ambient electro to more uptempo, higher-energy dance music. He’s been making music since dropping out of UC Boulder in 2006, and has since released four albums, played a wide range of festivals (most notably Coachella in 2010 and Electric Daisy Carnival and Bonnaroo in 2009), and toured with Bassnectar, the Flaming Lips, and Beats Antique, among others.
Emancipator, Big Wild, and Mikey Thunder will also feature.
5. September 1: Sam Waldorf / Zak James/Ratbath
Badlander, 18+$5, 21+ FREE. Local singer-songwriter/rapper Sam Waldorf will be playing the Badlander alongside Zak James, another local rapper, and folkies Ratbath. The show is 18+.
6. September 1: America
The Wilma, $45-60. Grammy-winning 70s folk-rockers America, best known for their song “A Horse With No Name,” will swing through Missoula on their 45th anniversary tour. They have been inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
7. September 2: Battle of the Bands showcase
Price unclear. Stage 112 will showcase the winners of a recent Battle of the Bands that was held at the fair. Tiny Plastic Stars, a self-described “Power psych rock pop” group will headline, with Kickboxer and Far Away Places as their openers.
8. September 2: Dodgy Mountain Men
Top Hat, $5. Local “stompgrass” four-piece Dodgy Mountain Men will be hosting an album release party for their latest release, Changing Lanes. Caroline Keys and the Lanesplitters will be the opener.
9. September 3: Gov’t Mule
Big Sky Brewing, $33. Southern jam band/ Allman Brothers side project Gov’t Mule have been playing together since 1994 as Gov’t Mule. Founded by Warren Haynes and Allen Woody (who has since departed), they have released twenty albums in about as many years, most recently August’s The Tel-Star Sessions.
Atlanta-based country rockers Blackberry Smoke and L.A.-based blues-rock trio The Record Company are the openers.
10. September 3: Andrew Bird
The Wilma, $35-45. Andrew Bird’s music could probably best be described as indie folk. The acclaimed violinist/singer-songwriter is touring in support of his latest effort, Are You Serious, which features Fiona Apple and Blake Mills.
Gabriel Kahane is a New York-based singer-songwriter and composer who attended the prestigious New England Conservatory.
11. September 4: Laney Jones and the Spirits
Stage 112, $7. Florida-based roots singer Laney Jones, once trained in songwriting at the Berklee College of Music, has risen from playing Florida watering holes to appearing on PBS alongside Alison Krauss and licensing music to Pixar. With her latest release, she has moved in a more rock-and-roll oriented direction.
12. September 5: Blank Range
Top Hat, $18-22. Nashville-based garage rock band Blank Range have opened for everyone from Death Cab for Cutie and The Mountain Goats to Alice in Chains and the Drive-By Truckers.
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, an Austin-based blues, funk, and soul group, are the openers.
13. September 8-10: Plus One Fest
Badlander/Palace, $40 for all three days
This three-day festival will include:
- Magic Sword, a deeply weird and strangely awesome Boise-based masked trio who play what could best be described as 80’s epic soundtrack music. They’re oddly compelling. Check them out.
- Kris Orlowski, a Seattle-based indie pop/folk singer-songwriter who tours with a four-piece backing band and is currently supporting his sophomore album Often in the Pause.
- Iska Dhaaf’s name translates to “Let it Go” in Somali, but their music bears no resemblance to Disney soundtracks. They draw heavy influence from Sufi poetry in their wide-ranging indie rock sound.
- Fauna Shade, an Everett, WA- based psych-meets-punk rock trio.
- Iron Eyes, a Missoulian dream pop band
- Steal Shit Do Drugs, a Seattleite reggae-punk quintet
- The Hasslers, a Missoula-based Americana band
- CHARMS, who have literally no online presence that I can discern
- Silver Torches, a pop-rock outfit hailing from Seattle,
- And apparently others.
September 10: Jared Blake Grizzly Harley-Davidson, $125
Jared Blake is a country singer and professional songwriter who hails from, surprise, Nashville. He was a contestant on season 1 of The Voice, reaching Top 4, and has been making music since the age of five. This concert is a fundraiser for Bikers Against Bullies USA, which almost forgives the astronomical ticket price of $125. At least it’s for a good cause.
September 10: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings / Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue Wilma, $45-55
Grammy-nominated soul singer Sharon Jones survived cancer to come to Missoula. And for other reasons, obviously. With the Dap-Kings, she has gained significant critical acclaim from a variety of sources over the past decade.
New Orleans- born Trombone Shorty began his career as a bandleader at six, toured internationally at 12, and has toured worldwide with Lenny Kravitz. His music with Orleans avenue could be summarized as funk/rock/jazz/hip-hop. His 2010 debut Backatown was nominated for a Grammy and topped the Contemporary Jazz charts for twelve weeks. He has appeared on numerous late night shows, including those of Jimmy Fallon and Conan, as well as performing at the White House in 2012 alongside B.B. King, Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck, and Booker T. Jones. At the most recent Grammy awards, he performed alongside Madonna and Macklemore. He’s kind of a big deal.
September 10: Jeff Crosby and the Refugees Top Hat, $5
Idahoan (Idahoe?) Jeff Crosby and his band play country rock and seem to come through Missoula fairly frequently. His music has been featured on Sons of Anarchy and has recently incorporated the sounds of Americana, folk, and 70’s psychedelic rock.
