Rialto hosts country rocker Nikki Lane, electronic act Random Rab
Downtown Bozeman’s Rialto Theater features loads of fantastic live entertainment for music-lovers this and every month. Here’s a look at just a few of the upcoming happenings.
Nashville’s Nikki Lane is back in Bozeman with a show on Friday, July 12th. Americana artist and fellow Tennessean Carl Anderson will get the music started at 8:30pm. Tickets to this 18+ show range $22–$30. Doors at 7:30pm.
Touring in continued support of her stunning third album Highway Queen, Lane has emerged as one of country and rock’s most gifted singer/songwriters. Co-produced with fellow musician Jonathan Tyler, this emotional tour-de-force blends potent lyrics, unbridled blues guitars and vintage Sixties country-pop swagger. The music resonates as easily with Lana Del Rey and Jenny Lewis fans as those of Neil Young and Tom Petty.
Highway Queen is a journey through heartbreak that takes exquisite turns. The record begins with a whiskey-soaked homage to Lane’s hometown (“700,000 Rednecks”) and ends on the profoundly raw “Forever Lasts Forever,” where Lane mourns a failed marriage – the “lighter shade of skin” left behind from her wedding ring. On “Forever” and the confessional “Muddy Waters,” Lane’s lyrics align her with perceptive songwriters like Nick Lowe and Cass McCombs. Elsewhere, “Companion” is pure Everly Brothers’ dreaminess (“I would spend a lifetime/ Playing catch you if I can”). She goes on a Vegas bender on the rollicking “Jackpot,” fights last-call blues (“Foolish Heart”) and tosses off brazen one-liners at a backroom piano (“Big Mouth”). The album is available now.
International electronic music artist Random Rab brings a performance to the Rialto on Saturday, July 13th at 8pm. Tickets to this 18+ show are $16. Doors at 7pm.
Emerging from his own distinct corner of the West Coast electronic music scene, Rab offers a powerful and unique contribution to sonic exploration. Often referred to as “The Master of Emotion,” his music is patently beautiful and melodic. With diverse influences ranging from trip-hop, classical and Arabic to bass-driven compositions, his songs are considered anthemic and timeless. As a multi-instrumentalist and singer, his tracks are organic, uplifting and stand on their own as a distinct genre. Listeners of all types of music can find something they can relate to in his sound. His recently released album, Anew, is available now.
Check out a Local Rock Showcase on Friday, July 19th. The evening will feature the talents of Panther Car, Modern Sons and Steady Trees with the music beginning at 9pm. Tickets to this 16+ show are $10. Doors at 8pm.
Panther Car comes in the shape of a traditional rock band yet sounds far from it. Their amorphous brand of pop music teeters between the radiant iridescence of psychedelia and the murky darkness of dreams. Every moment is a door that opens into a new room. Songs progress through tangential wormholes as in an ecstatic conversation; music that is equal parts meditation and celebration.
With a wall of sound so thick, the Modern Sons can’t help but captivate their listeners. Each of the four members bring their own layer to a ubiquitously sonic ambience in an attempt to cultivate something organic and new. The band’s influences include Pink Floyd, Spoon, The Vines, The Black Keys, 311, Band of Horses, and Silversun Pickups. Lyrically, they cover a wide range of themes with one more recent caveat which is writing music about sustainability, social responsibility, consciousness, and living in the moment.
Steady Trees is an indie rock band inspired by the changing rock n’ roll styles of the ‘70s and ‘80s. A driving backbone of bass and drums paves way for everything from hollering guitar licks, to subdued riffs reminiscent of the Grateful Dead. Prepare for a musical journey through the sounds that connect us.
Future summer shows include Hawaiian reggae ensemble The Green, Texan ensemble Asleep at the Wheel, veteran singer/songwriter and performer Steve Earle, the Bozeman return of James McMurtry, and so many more. Stay tuned for details!
The Rialto is located at 10 W Main St. in the center of historic Downtown Bozeman. Peruse current happenings and buy advance tickets at www.logjampresents.com/rialto. Follow the Rialto on Facebook and Instagram for the most up to date event announcements. •