Revered musicians Tab Benoit, Lyle Lovett bring fall tours to Bozeman
ChickenJam West presents singer/songwriters Martha Scanlan and Jon Neufeld on Friday, September 20th. The Filling Station performance begins at 8pm. Tickets to this 21+ show are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Doors at 7pm.
Anyone familiar with Scanlan and frequent collaborator Jon Neufeld’s unique alchemy on stage will not be surprised by the sense of being taken into the moment – their shows are in themselves a journey of improvisation; the way Neufeld’s brilliant innovative guitar playing weaves effortlessly around Scanlan’s timeless songwriting is simply magical. This magical alchemy is at play throughout The River and the Light, released last fall. The album presents some of her finest writing yet, and what has earned her the loyal cult following that seems to be steadily growing in spite of, or perhaps because of, her tendency to spend time off the grid rather than on it.
Neufeld’s production on the album, his ability to add layers and depth while maintaining the raw vulnerability of everything happening in the moment, is masterful. The addition of haunting old time fiddles and Cajun accordion of celebrated roots musician Dirk Powell and Black Prairie’s Annalisa Tornfelt seem to invoke something ancient, something deep in the American psyche in songs that are already layered with the complexity of belonging; this is not only a journey of the soul but a journey of the times we are living in.
Grammy-nominated musician Tab Benoit brings his gritty, soulful Delta swamp blues to the Filler on Saturday, September 21st at 8pm. Tickets to this 21+ show are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Doors at 7pm.
One of the most impressive guitarists to emerge from the rich Bayous of Southern Louisiana in recent years, Benoit’s guitar tone can be recognized before his Otis-Redding-ish voice resonates from the speakers. He doesn’t rely on any effects and his setup is simple – a guitar, cord, and Category 5 Amplifier. The effects heard come from his fingers. Over the course of his three decade-plus career, Benoit has recorded and/or performed with the likes of Junior Wells, Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver, Maria Muldaur, Cyril Neville, Kenny Aronoff, Kim Wilson, Jimmy Thackery, Charlie Musslewhite, Ivan Neville, Jim Lauderdale, Anders Osborne and Alvin Youngblood, among many others.
Visiting the Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture on Friday, September 27th is the one and only Lyle Lovett and his Acoustic Group at 7pm. Tickets to this all-ages show start at $65. Doors at 6pm.
A singer, composer and actor, Lovett has broadened the definition of American music in a career that spans 14 albums. Coupled with his gift for storytelling, the Texas-based musician fuses elements of country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel and blues in a convention-defying manner that breaks down barriers. His latest album, Release Me, is quintessential Lyle. The LP mixes a smart collection of originals and songs written by some of his favorite songwriters that show not only the breadth of this Texas legend’s deep talents, but also the diversity of his influences, making him one of the most infectious and fascinating musicians in popular music.
Back at the Filling Station, Helena-based Los Marvelitos perform with help from Bozeman’s own Road Agents on Saturday, September 28th at 8pm. There is a $5 cover for this 21+ show.
Los Marvelitos are a Latin-influenced roots and folk band. Located just south of the northern border, they specialize in blending tropical cumbias and borderland ballads with sounds more familiar to a Big Sky audience. Band leader Garrett Smith grew up in New Mexico surrounded by the sounds of norteño, conjunto, and Tex-Mex rock ‘n roll, and was later influenced by cumbia, a style popular throughout Latin America. Los Marvelitos strive to bring these sounds to the northern latitudes, while mixing in more familiar folk, pop, jazz, and surf rock elements. The rhythm of the music is anchored by bajo quinto, with upright bass and hand percussion. The festive energy builds with layers of vocals and the melodic interplay between horns and electric guitar.
Portland-born Dirty Revival return to the Filler stage on Thursday, October 3rd at 9pm. Tickets to this 21+ show are $9 in advance and $12 at the door. Doors at 8pm.
Dirty’s soulful sounds and energetic beats deliver an atmosphere that enraptures any audience. Led by the soulful vocals of Sarah Clarke, the ensemble has made its mark on the Pacific Northwest. The unique group of players deliver powerful original tracks and superbly arranged classics with a resounding presence, no matter how big or small the venue. The dynamic, seven-piece soul outfit shines on stage, and defines influences from funk and soul-infused icons of the past. Dirty Revival’s self-titled debut album and recent single “So Cold” are available now.
Golden State foursome Próxima Parada follows with a Filling Station set on Friday, October 4th at 9pm. Tickets to this 21+ show are $11 in advance and $15 at the door. Doors at 8pm.
The band blends soulful melody and hard-hitting rhythm into a sound distinctly their own, groovy and uplifting. Próxima’s music makes introspection and human connection sexy again. Their new album, Kind Reminder, features the new single of the same name and “Musta Been a Ghost.”
Progressive jazz-rock project Marbin visits from Chicago with a Filler stop on Saturday, October 5th at 9pm. Tickets to this 21+ show are $9 in advance and $12 at the door. Doors at 8pm.
With a do-it-yourself approach, Marbin started touring extensively in 2011, bringing their original instrumental music to every part of the United States. Through word of mouth, the band has gained hundreds of thousands of devoted fans all over the world and has sold tens of thousands of albums. Last year’s Israeli Jazz marked their seventh album release. Marbin regularly plays in clubs all over the US and in jam and jazz festivals around the world.
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. •