Indie out-of-towners Not My Weekend, Pocket Vinyl at Wild Joe*s
Spring is coming, even if the permafrost suggests otherwise! Warm the belly after a day of winter activity with a hot coffee accompanied by some live music at Wild Joe*s. Downtown Bozeman’s Coffee Spot is a great place to check out early evening and afternoon sets by local and traveling artists. And of course, their menu offers plenty of delicious caffeinated and other treats to enjoy alongside the tunes! Here’s a look at what’s coming up.
Friday, March 15th sees a solo set by Jackson Holte from 6–8pm. The Missoulian guitar player and songwriter has played with Newlyweds, Gooseberries, and now fronts his own band, Jackson Holte & the Highway Patrol. His solo set expands on the Americana sound that has made the latter a barroom favorite in Western Montana, also delving into his roots with folk songwriting and blues guitar playing. Holte’s dexterous picking breathes life into sturdy songs, bounding across genres to complement a mature voice that is alternately insightful or irreverent.
The next Open Mic Night will take place Saturday, March 16th from 6–8pm. Come for an evening of music performed by local musicians. Bring your guitar, sitar, zither, poetry, comedy, or theremin and take a turn up at the mic. Show Bozeman what you’re made of! Individual set lengths depend on the number of musicians who want to play. Sign-ups start at 5:30pm – first come, first served. Be sure to bring your friends and support live music in Bozeman! A modest contribution to the kitty will be divided by participating musicians at the end of the night. The more people who come, the more money in the pot. An additional Open Mic Night is set for Friday, April 5th from 6–8pm.
Wyoming-based Not My Weekend follow on Saturday, March 23rd from 6–8pm. Featuring Patrick Gilchrist on vocals and guitar, Nicholas Hudson on a different guitar, Noah Hammontree on drums, and Ed Ma on bass, the band draws from diverse influences in pop, punk, rock, and alternative styles to bring the best songs they can. Their latest single, “When You’re Around,” is an electrifying ode to pool parties and summer flings, built around a lively electric guitar riff alongside a driving rock beat and bass guitar, complemented by Gilchrist’s playful yet powerful lyrics and vocal delivery. The song is included on the Yellow EP, which released in August.
Singer/songwriter Kennedy Richards performs on Friday, March 29th from 6–8pm. Originally from Toledo, she recently moved to Bozeman by way of Nashville. Richards has been gigging since the age of sixteen, playing cafés, festivals, and radio shows spanning from Montana’s Pony Bar to breweries in Easthampton, Massachusetts, with influences spanning even further: Jack White, Captain Beefheart, James Booker, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Chuck Berry, and more.
Connecticut duo Pocket Vinyl will entertain on Saturday, March 30th from 6–8pm. Since 2010, their performances feature Eric Stevenson slamming the piano and singing (about beautifully uncomfortable things) while Elizabeth Jancewicz creates a painting on stage, which is then auctioned off to the highest bidder. They’ve released 5 albums, 3 EPs, a bunch of singles, and even a documentary feature called Drive. Play. Sleep. portraying a small touring musician’s life on the road. Bringing their artful music to venues all over the country, their latest album, Uncomfortably Unsure, and Old Sun EP are available now.
Wild Joe*s Coffee Spot is located at 18 W Main St. in the heart of historic Downtown Bozeman. Learn more about these and other upcoming events at www.wildjoescoffee.com. •