“I'm in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection. But with Montana, it is love. And it's difficult to analyze love when you're in it.”
- John Steinbeck
Kendra and I are out in Montana for a few days scouting around. We're doing some hiking, eating some food and going to see where General Custer got himself in a pickle. We're around Billings, Livingston and Bozeman, a beautiful area as you know, if you've been. In Bozeman, I saw a hat that read “Make Bozeman Montana Again.” There's some obvious signs of rapid growth present, like more than you'd think traffic and condo/apartment construction sprouting like mushrooms on the outskirts of town. You get the sense that Montana, like several other places, is suffering from an influx of California refugees flooding into their state. Among many of its charms, Montana has no sales tax…on anything. Can you imagine a Californian trying to fathom that idea, that there was some thing, transaction, idea or dream that politicians couldn't and wouldn't tax? I'm sure Montana makes up for it in some other way, but like a free cookie at the hotel you're spending $300 a night on, it's a little something.
Montana is the fourth largest state in the country, but it's the third least populated state. There are two and a half million cattle in Montana and only one million people. It has the largest grizzly bear population in the lower forty-eight states, with around 1,200. It also has around 15,000 black bears. Kendra and I saw one today out on the trail. We backed away slowly like they show you on the posters (don't run or climb a tree). There's nothing like a bear to make you turn around and go back the way you came.
Montana is where the largest snowflake was ever recorded which fell in Missoula in 1887. It was 15 inches across. It's the home of the oldest Chinese restaurant in the U.S. The Pekin Noodle Parlor opened in Butte in 1911 and is still going strong. Ted Kaczynski (The Unabomber) probably never ate there, even though it wasn't all that far from his cabin. The neighbors said he didn't get out much and kept to himself, you know.
Montana, like many states, hasn't gifted the world with a wealth of music. If I were asked to name one musician or band from there, I'd be blank. I had to look it up. There are a few players who have come from there and gone on to do bigger things, but as far as big acts out of Montana, very few.
Best Band: One of the good things about doing this Music of the States thing is, I learn about artists I didn't know about and I become a fan. These guys are one such example, The Kitchen Dwellers. They're a high octane, roots/ rock, bluegrass outfit that cranks out what some call "Galaxy Grass". They formed in Bozeman in 2010 while they were all in school at Montana State. They're a national act now. They've played all the big festivals: Telluride, Bonnaroo, and Under the Big Sky. They've also played Red Rocks in Denver and The Ryman in Nashville.
Best Solo Artist: Tim Montana would have to be the biggest music thing to come out of the state of Montana. He's a kid who grew up in a trailer with no electricity in Butte and taught himself guitar by candlelight. He's parlayed that gritty upbringing and the essence of his home state into a mighty fine music career. After graduating from high school he moved to Los Angeles to study music. He made some breaks for himself, and low and behold, David Letterman happened to hear him preform and was so impressed, personally invited him to be on his Late Night show (Oct 17, 2008). Later he put together a band and called them Tim Montana and the Shrednecks. During a recording session, he was introduced to Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and a friendship was struck. They co-wrote a song called The Beard Came Here to Party in 2013. The Boston Red Sox that year, bearded and wooly, adopted it as their theme song through the playoffs and on to a World Series win. And on it goes with Tim Montana. I was unfamiliar and now I'm a fan for sure. Another payoff for me.
Wildcard: On the strength of her brief career, Nicolette Larson is my pick. Larson was born in Helena in 1953. Her father worked for the government and was relocated to Kansas City, MO where Nicolette graduated from high school. She attended the University of Missouri for three semesters before moving to San Fransisco, dreaming of a career in music. She eventually found her way to performing background vocals for Emmy Lou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Neil Young. In 1978, she released an elegant cover of Young's song Lotta Love that went to #1 in the U.S. and became an instant classic. Her career was uneven after that and never achieved the level her talent merited. She died a sad death from liver failure due to chronic use Valium and Tylenol PM. She was 45.