ANDY-little-smokies
“I think Montana and the subtle nuances of Montana thoroughly permeate our music in a way that’s almost too ambiguous to articulate.”
With their roots submerged in the thick buttery mud of traditional bluegrass, The Lil’ Smokies have sonically blossomed into a leading player in the progressive acoustic sphere, creating a new and wholly unique, melody driven sound of their own. The sextet, from Missoula, has been hard at work, writing, touring, and playing to an ever-growing fan base for the past 6 years. In anticipation of their upcoming Faultline North show on February 26th, the Rolling Zone was able to get a few of its questions answered by Smokies’ dobro player and vocalist Andy Dunnigan.
RZ: First of all, thank you for taking the time for this interview. You’re gearing up for your 2016 Winter Tour and I’m sure preparations are in full swing. How have you and the guys been getting ready for this Lil’ Smokies outing?
AD: Primarily, beet juice and push-ups… We’ve been practicing a whole lot and really fine tuning some older stuff that got brushed under the rug, while simultaneously writing new material and always keeping our ears perked up and cognizant of new cover song possibilities.
RZ: How does a band of this size and prestige travel? Are we talking load up in the Mystery Machine or do you guys skip straight to the Learjet? AD: We recently were fortunate enough to buy ourselves a shiny new sprinter, which has completely been a game changer for these longer road endeavors. Prior to the purchase, we were renting old raft guide vans that were far from ideal and worlds away from reliability. On one tour, all the doors broke except the driver’s and we all had to pile in and out of that door wherever we went. It was absurd. So this upgrade isn’t being taken for granted one bit.
RZ: You’re lucky enough to be based out of Montana, but have gained a following on a national scale. How do you think starting off in Missoula, Bozeman, and some of Montana’s smaller venues has shaped the band as it is today?
AD: I think Montana and the subtle nuances of Montana thoroughly permeate our music in a way that’s almost too ambiguous to articulate. It would take a lengthy explanation, but being a national touring band from Montana has in itself a shock value to it. Montana is not known for pumping out touring bands–not that there aren’t bands out here doing this, but it’s not WA or OR or NY you know? I think all of us in the band embody that Montana like-mindedness that people are really receptive to; almost allured by it. Being friendly, looking people in the eye when you talk to them, and generally just being appreciative. Those things can get you far.
RZ: As an extension of the previous question, how do your performances differ from place to place, if at all? Does a Lil’ Smokies show change with venue size and crowd variety?
AD: From show to show, we’re pretty wholly consistent in regard to what we are playing. Whether we’re at a Dog Show, a kids birthday, a theatre, or a loud bar, you’re gonna hear what we sound like. The crowd and the energy they render has a complete effect on our show though. It’s amazing to feel the symbiosis. It’s a complete natural high.
RZ: For those who’ve never had the opportunity to attend one of your shows, can you give an idea of what one might expect from a Lil’ Smokies performance? Why should those unfamiliar make it a point to attend the Bozeman Faultline show (or any other)?
AD: I think you can expect to be smiling a lot at one of our shows. There’s also gonna be plenty of emotion and intensity from one of our shows. It’s raw and naked acoustic music that has a lot of improvisational elements to it. We’ll always be labeled a “bluegrass” band, but we don’t think of it that way. We like melody driven rock songs and lyrics that make you think a bit. But we love to challenge each other night after night on our instruments so things can get technical too… Then we’ll throw in a couple 80’s covers here and there. I think there’s a little something for everyone. RZ: Live music is a big draw for Montanans. What can you say about our intimate local music scene and how bands such as yourself can use it as a platform to launch their careers? AD: Montana definitely loves live music, especially in the Summer–festivals! We basically started our careers playing in the alleys and in front of bars in Missoula. If you’re a bluegrass band in a warm climate and theres a handful of people around, anywhere is a venue.
RZ: Congrats on your win at Telluride. You’ve been festival favorites and shared the stage with genre-mainstays The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Greensky Bluegrass. Why do you think the bluegrass/folk and greater music community has been so welcoming of The Lil’ Smokies? Has this most recent accolade led to a busier performance schedule?
AD: I think the fact that we play our own music and haven’t completely endorsed one specific genre or sub-genre is a compelling element to our sound. We are influenced by so many different types of music. It’s all funneled into our own at the end of the night. Winning Telluride has definitely made us experts of gas station cuisine and we are seeing a lot more dotted yellow lines. Couldn’t be happier.
RZ: Fans can get their fix whenever they please with The Lil’ Smokies and New Year’s Eve – Live @ the Top Hat. How did The Lil’ Smokies look at its career after the first album was released? You guys were no longer a band defined exclusively by your live performances.
AD: At that time we were so excited to finally be writing and recording. We were just smitten… The irony of our studio album is that it was almost done completely live, just in a studio. We probably did 90% of that album live sitting around in a circle of high quality mics… We just played a lot different then how we’d play a live show–very carefully.
RZ: Are there any definitive plans for recording the next album, perhaps following this Winter Tour?
AD: We’ll be recording our next album in March. Secret is out now.
RZ: What are some of the major influences on your discography and setlist? Are there any we might not expect? AD: Influences are wide ranging. Obviously we all listened to a lot of bluegrass earlier on, which influenced us. Every person in the band brings their own influenced idiosyncrasy to the band. David Grisman, Chet Atkins, The Beatles, Paul Simon, Dawes, Punch Brothers, The Walkmen, Earl Scruggs, Bob Dylan, Bela Fleck…
RZ: Can you give a look into what The Lil’ Smokies recording process looks like? All work, no play or are the guys as fun as they seem?
AD: Oh we have fun–too much fun. Writing and recording and composing take a nice mixture of taking yourself seriously, but no too seriously. I think we’re definitely as fun as we seem though.
RZ: It’s always interesting to know how things came to be. That being said, what’s the story behind the name “The Lil’ Smokies?” AD: It we told you we’d have to kill you. RZ: Given your quick ascent to success, it seems pretty obvious The Lil’ Smokies are destined to prosper. Can the people of Montana get a solemn vow you’ll never get too big for our sometimes forgotten state up north? AD: Oh man, no way. We’ll never get too big for Montana. Our hearts are firmly lodged into the mountains, rivers, and tree trunks that comprise this triumphant State. Like Norman Maclean stated in A River Runs through It, “I’ll never leave Montana.” We’re lifers. The Lil’ Smokies will perform on Friday, February 26th with help from Grant Farm at Faultline North beginning at 8pm.
Tickets to this all-ages show are $14 and available now at Cactus Records and cactusrecords.net/. Doors at 7pm. •
