ChickenJam West presents Reckless Kelly at Emigrant’s Old Saloon on Sunday, August 18th, with the music beginning at 8pm. Tickets to this all-ages show are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Doors at 7pm.
The Americana rockers’ latest album, Sunset Motel, is, like all its predecessors, distinctive in its own way while true to form. Self-produced and recorded in Austin’s renowned Arlyn Studios (where self-released debut Millican was made more than two decades ago) and mixed by Jim Scott (Rolling Stones, Dixie Chicks, Tom Petty, Sting, Roger Daltrey, Crowded House, et al.), it reflects Reckless Kelly’s attention to craft and continuity. The songs hit one emotional peak after another: the infectious “Volcano,” the urgent “One More One Last Time,” the desperate desire that comes full circle in “How Can You Love Him (You Don’t Even Like Him)” and the bittersweet title track. With steady guitar drive and a series of insistent choruses, they all ring with power and conviction that make Sunset Motel a breathtaking listening experience.
In Bozeman, The High Divers bring a performance to the Filling Station on Wednesday, August 21st. Emerald City indie rockers The Mondegreens will get the music started at 8pm. Tickets to this 21+ show are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. Doors at 7pm.
With anthemic choruses, lush three-part harmonies, and rhythms rooted just as deeply in Motown as in rock n’ roll of the past and present, The High Divers create songs that nod to the classics, while carving out a sonic space all their own. A fixture of the South Carolina music scene, the band is known for its charismatic on-stage swagger and ability to get the crowd completely and unabashedly involved. Their brand new EP, Ride with You, is available now.
Back in Emigrant, the Old Saloon hosts Mission Mountain Wood Band on Friday, August 23rd. Bozeman’s own Dusty Pockets will open at 8pm. Tickets to this all-ages show are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Doors at 7pm.
A veteran touring band of many years, Mission Mountain will showcase their unique blend of bluegrass, rock n’ roll, and country-rockin-Montana party music audiences have come to expect. They’re a six-piece band playing twice as many instruments, with all members hailing from Big Sky Country.
Get ready to get down! The 2019 Montana Funk Fest takes over the Cannery District Patio on Saturday, August 24th beginning at 3pm. Taste the audacious and delicious edge of Montana-brewed beer and kombucha before partying to the sounds of Sunflower State electro funk duo The Floozies. Music begins at 7pm. Delicious local food vendors will be available, as well as a full bar for those 21+ (with ID). Held outside Wildrye Distilling, Dean’s Zesty Booch and 406 Brewing, tickets to this all-ages event range $10–$30 (plus fees). Brew fest and concert tickets available individually or as a discounted combo admission.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band returns to Southwest Montana with an Old Saloon stop on Tuesday, August 27th. Local musician Jason Wickens will open the show at 8pm. Tickets to this all-ages show are $40 in advance and $47 at the door. Doors at 7pm.
The iconic and profoundly influential group, often cited as a catalyst for an entire movement in country rock and American roots music, continues to add to their legendary status earned through multi-platinum and gold records, strings of top ten hits such as “Fishin’ in the Dark” and “Mr. Bojangles,” multiple Grammy, IBMA, CMA Awards and nominations. With a refreshed lineup and newfound energy, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band remains one of the most accomplished bands in American roots. Following an extended 50th anniversary tour, the ensemble grew to a six-piece in 2018 for the first time since their early jug band days. Their latest release, Anthology, is a collection of 39 tracks spanning the band’s entire career.
Jenny Don’t & the Spurs visit the Filling Station on Wednesday, August 28th. The Dead Yellers provide the local support, opening at 8pm. Tickets to this 21+ show are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. Doors at 7pm.
The Portland-based Spurs call their music ‘Western outlaw garage.’ Recent singles “What Can I Do” and “Still as the Night” followed their latest full-length, Call of the Road.
Also at the Filler, Tylor & the Train Robbers follow on Friday, August 30th with help from Chain Station at 9pm. Tickets to this 21+ show are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. Doors at 8pm.
The Boise-based Train Robbers possess a depth of thought steeped in Americana Folk without losing its Country root grit. Hailing from small town Helix Oregon, lyrically focused frontman and songwriter Tylor Ketchum conjures up his long dead outlaw ancestor, Black Jack Ketchum, as the inspiration for their new album, Best of the Worst Kind.
Advance tickets for these and other upcoming shows are available in-store at Cactus Records and www.cactusrecords.net. For more information, visit www.chickenjamwest.com. •