Bozeman’s newest music venue, Faultline North is the dream of owners David and Nancy, inspired by growing up in the musical whirlwind that was San Francisco in the late 70s and early 80s. Their mission is to bring a more eclectic music scene to Bozeman, one that introduces new genres, fresh acts, and puts local bands on stage. Metalheads as well as software engineers, David and Nancy both possess an obsession for melody, technology and precision that fuels Faultline North’s flawless sound engineering. As parents, they’re especially invested in raising the next generation of musicians and listeners, hosting camps and workshops when they’re not too busy hosting an ecclectic blend of live musicians.
Here’s a look at what’s coming up in December. The Cold Hard Cash Show, a Johnny Cash Tribute, will come to the Faultline stage Friday, December 18th at 9pm. Tickets to this all ages show range from $12 in advance to $15-$30 the day of the show. Doors at 8pm. The Cold Hard Cash Show is an original and innovative tribute to the music of Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Three! Fronted by guitarist and singer Merle Travis Peterson, The Cold Hard Cash Show brings to life classic Cash songs from the Sun & Columbia Records Catalogs to the modern American recordings, performing with the energy of the Live at Folsom and San Quentin albums with a sound so accurate you’d think you’re listening to The Man in Black himself! The band formed in 2005 and in addition to Merle Travis Peterson fronting the band on vocals and guitar, the lineup includes long time member Fel Torres on drums and Trebor Riddle on upright & electric bass. Since the formation, they have performed on hundreds of stages often sharing them with a diverse variety of artists such as as Darryl Worley, John Anderson, Eric Church, Charlie Daniels, Lonestar, Eddie Money, Eli Young Band, Los Lobos, James Hunnicutt, Dale Watson and countless others as well as performing at several high profile private functions with guests such as Katy Perry, Shawn Colvin, John Oates, Justin Timberlake, David Ryan Harris, John Mayer and have at times performed with a few of them! In 2008 the band made their National Television debut when they performed on The Late Show with David Letterman, gaining a solid worldwide fan base and landing them on stages at several nationally known festivals such as Memphis in May Festival (Memphis,TN), Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (Sturgis,SD), Daytona Bike Week (Daytona,FL), Lonestar Rally (Galveston,TX) and Johnny Cash Festival- Roadshow Revival (Ventura,CA). In 2014 the band recorded a song for long time Eddie Money drummer Glenn Symmonds and were featured on his “Friends of Glenn’s” album along with multiple artists including Eddie Money. The band continues to tour across the country non-stop spreading the great word and music of The Man in Black, Johnny Cash! The Cold Hard Cash Show is an excellent band, excellent show, excellent experience and hands down the BEST Johnny Cash Tribute around!
Tickets are on sale now for Kentucky folk/soul artist Ben Sollee, performing Sunday, January 24th at 8pm. Tickets to this all-ages show range from $12-$15. Doors at 7pm. Musicians often claim they are “giving themselves” to their listeners, but it’s rarely as true as on Ben Sollee’s fourth album, “Half-Made Man,” a revealing, deeply moving album that explores a man trying to figure himself out, just as we all are. Known for his thrilling cello-playing that incorporates new techniques to create a unique mix of folk, bluegrass, jazz and R&B, Sollee possesses rough-smooth-smoky vocal stylings and a knack for intricate arrangements that has brought about comparisons to Sufjan Stevens. Sollee shares himself completely with his audience, whether it be by personal lyrics, or his commitment to the environment. Sollee can often be found riding a bicycle to his concerts (cello strapped to the back), which have become legendary for their intimacy. The album, produced by Sollee himself, boasts a sublime cast of musicians, including Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket) on electric/acoustic guitar and pedal steel, Alana Rocklin on bass, Jordon Ellis on percussion, Jeremy Kittel (formerly of the Turtle Island String Quartet) on violin, and guest vocals by Abigail Washburn. Sollee contributes octave mandolin, guitar, and of course, his signature cello. “I wanted it to have a raw, real-time performance quality,” Sollee says. “This is kinetic expression. I dug deep into myself and asked the musicians to go there with me. To my ear, it sounds like musical search party; we often find what we’re looking for in between defined styles and genres. It won’t be easy to place this in one category, but I, and my generation, are measured by a little bit of everything these days.” Sollee first gained major notice with his 2008 debut, “Learning to Bend,” which led NPR’s Morning Edition to call him one of the “Top Ten Great Unknown Artists” of the year. Later, All Things Considered called his debut “an inspired collection of acoustic, folk and jazz-flavored songs, filled with hope and the earnest belief that the world is good.” Around the same time, Sollee was touring the world with Abigail Washburn’s Sparrow Quartet alongside Grammy nominee Casey Driessen and multi-Grammy winner Bela Fleck. Sollee’s music drew the attention of My Morning Jacket frontman Yim Yames, who produced his second full-length album, a collaboration with Daniel Martin Moore. In 2010 they released “Dear Companion,” a stunning collection of songs meant to inspire environmental stewardship. The next year Sollee contributed his cello stylings to My Morning Jacket’s hit album “Circuital” and released “Inclusions,” a sonically awe-inspring album about relationships that was called “structurally brilliant” by Slant and “stunning” by No Depression. Through it all, Sollee has garnered a rabid following of listeners devoted to his music. They will be greatly pleased with this, his most personal and adventurous album yet. His voice is grittier here, and the instruments–fiddles, lovely in their sawing, and electric guitars grinding out love and disappointment and every emotion in between–mimic the urgency and passion so evident in his vocals. “The vocals are more off the cuff and freer,” he says, stressing that the production strives more for rawness than perfection. “We steered our ears toward getting the right energy for each song. The takes took on their own life and led us along. The machines and mics had a weighty sound that we could use to drive the story through the lyrics and arrangements.” The songs give us the many facets of a human being who is acutely aware of the world around him and his own faults. The album is novelistic in its scope and theme as we travel with the narrator who reveals everything about himself as a father, a spouse, a musician, and more. We are along for the ride as the narrator sings of selfishness, joy, impatience, romance…being human. For more information on these upcoming shows or to buy tickets, visit faultlinenorth.com or cactusrecords.net. Faultine North is located at 346 Gallatin Park Dr., just on the edge of Bozeman. •
