Salt & Shadow + Transcendental Express + Sarah Frazier
Friday, March 3 // Door at 7:30 PM // Show at 8 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Ticket Self dubbed as ‘Dystopian Folk Rock’, Salt & Shadow’s music has been described as ethereal and psychedelic, spacious and atmospheric, hypnotic and haunting. They have created a sound that captures the paranoia of a dystopian future, with a message of empowerment in the face of tyranny. Salt & Shadow is led by two female vocalists who seduce the crowd like sirens, with powerhouse vocals and soaring harmonies. Playing acoustic guitar and ukulele, with grandiose cello solos, they’ve weaved their music into a folk rock that is gracious to every ear. Transcendental Express aims to transcend negativity & bring people together through music. Their mission is to create a space where everyone is welcome, everyone is happy, and everyone is dancing. Sarah Frazier is an Electronic/Pop artist from Montana. She dabbles in the realms of synthesizers and vocal processing, with 29 years outstanding of creating musical scores across a vast board of poetic, melodious, and instrumental genres. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
The Appleseed Cast w/ SenterLine & Worm Womb
Tuesday, March 14 // Door at 7:30 PM // Show at 8 PM // $15 The Appleseed Cast is a band from Lawrence, KS. They formed in 1997, and released the first album in 1998. They have since released seven albums, including Illumination Ritual in April of 2013. The band was founded in the early days of emo by singer-guitarist Christopher Crisci and drummer Louie Ruiz. The Appleseed Cast has steadily evolved over the release of eight full-length albums with Crisci as the main songwriter. Currently the band’s lineup includes Christopher Crisci, Ben Kimball, Nick Fredrickson and Sean Bergman. Major acclaim first came in the early 2000s that earned them a 9.0 from Pitchfork for their album set Low Level Owl Vol I and Vol II. The band have enjoyed continued high praise for their work on Two Conversations, Peregrine, Illumination Ritual, and others. SenterLine is a 3 piece rock group based in Missoula Montana. Their sound is a blend of punk, classic rock and funk – rooted in the sounds and atmosphere of early 90s Grunge. Worm Womb is a Missoula based punk rock band. Chick singer. Awesome drummer. Good times. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
JAAG + At Nadir + Sarah Frazier
Wednesday, February 15 // Door at 7:30 PM // Show at 8 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter JAAG is a new band drawing from post-punk and 90s rock to craft a dark and driving sonic journey. The project was initiated by Hank Donovan on guitar (Magpies, Rattlesnake Cable Company) and recent homecomer Jamie Aaron Aux on vocals and guitar (Le Butcherettes, XVIII Eyes), acquaintances with long mutual respect in the Northwest music sphere, both agreeing to test the waters after each taking breaks from band life. With a handful of demos written, the two brought in John Sporman on bass (Wylie & the Wild West, Jupiter Beat, Shahs) and Christopher Baumann on drums (Mass FM, Victory Smokes, Dead Hipster) to kick the rock into high gear. Christopher and Jamie share a long musical history as former bandmates in the early-2000’s Jay’s Upstairs-era emo band, The Pleasure. The group has not yet recorded any material but probably will soon because that’s what bands do. IG: @_j_a_a_g At Nadir is a three-piece band playing original songs in the indie tradition of no-name chords, weird tunings, and volume minus the bro factor. At Nadir’s songs take oblique views of relationships between people and the world and the things people put between themselves and the world. The Helena, MT band formed after a fruitful 2020 spent in isolation, in which guitarist-singer Peter Dudlo spent evenings, “carving chords from refrigerator-sized blocks of salted dark chocolate,” to make At Nadir’s first few songs. When he crossed paths with former Downer Party bassist Kristy Fortman at the skatepark one day, the two concocted the idea for a band and were fortunate to enlist rookie-of-the-year drummer Emmett Brown. Sarah Frazier is an Electronic/Pop artist from Montana. She dabbles in the realms of synthesizers and vocal processing, with 29 years outstanding of creating musical scores across a vast board of poetic, melodious, and instrumental genres. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
But I’m a Cheerleader + Mido Skip + Intice
Wednesday, January 25 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter But I’m a Cheerleader is a band comprised of four nice queers living in Missoula, MT and all of their repressed feelings. They invite you into all their sweetness and rage expressed through song (if you’re into that kind of thing). From the great city of Missoula, Mido Skip started out as a simple idea, formulating into one of the biggest conspiracies to date. It is said that on a full moon you can hear the mad ravings of the nü-emo band from abandoned alleyways. Have you captured a glimpse of this enigmatic event? If you’re lucky enough, it could change how you look at yourself, and the world as you know it. Intice is a progressive metal/rock band based out of Missoula, Montana. They play the original music of their front man, Cameron Kinney, who plays guitar and vocals. Cameron started the band with guitarist Justin Brantley in Great Falls and met the rest of the band members while studying with them at the UM School of Music a couple years later. Along with Cameron and Justin the band features Josh Smith on drums, Lane Ulberg on bass and Jolene Green and Cade Chastain on saxophone. The band has two albums on spotify and is currently recording their second album. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Bluest w/ Violet Danger, Dylan Running Crane, & Worm Womb
Friday, January 20 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter Bluest is an indie rock band out of Missoula MT, orchestrated by the longings and hauntings of Noelle Huser. Her songs are chalked full of early adolescent nostalgia and sweetness, soured by the biting existential dread of figuring out who you are in it all. With pleas of empathetic anger a la diary-scrawled lyrics, she pays homage to her 90s/00s angst pop and country influences Alanis Moirissete and Sheryl Crow. Bluest’s chilling debut album Cold Sweat, sifts through dreams and nightmares to find solace in serenading ghosts. It is emboldened with a hunger to return from dissociation back into the body, finding oneself in the present, feet on the ground, blood boiling, head in the clouds and heart on the sleeve. Cold Sweat will be released in January 2023 through Anything Bagel. Violet Danger’s music is self-described as kinda pop, country, and rock. Dylan Running Crane is a singer-songwriter from Browning, Montana – a place that remains the subject of most of her work. Her vibe is country meets rez-folk meets tender and silly. Kelsey Star is the front woman of Worm Womb. She grew up in Montana playing rock music with friends and participating in live theatre. She loves performing live, and believes music is medicine for the soul. Kelsey is currently learning music engineering and just released her first (partially self produced) album out of Pyrymyd Music Studios, with the help of another musician and mixing extraordinaire, Angel of Discord. Stream Worm Womb’s album Desert Honey on Spotify NOW and find out more about Kelsey on Instagram @kelseystarart – many thanks, many blessings! For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
**CANCELED** Cosmic Sans + Tree Form + Molly Liu Buchanan
This performance has been canceled due to unexpected flooding and lack of running water at the ZACC. Thursday, January 19 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15 Artist Supporter From the ashes of a renaissance of garage rock and psychedelia ravaged by a global pandemic, a new contender emerged from the small but robust Missoula DIY music scene: a one Cosmic Sans. Cosmic Sans consists of a multi-instrumentalist music teacher holding down the low end, an underground hip-hop producer splaying syncopated rhythms behind the kit, an experimental rock/contemporary folk enthusiast fingerpicking unintelligible noise, a chicken pickin’ Montana boy playing modal jazz boomer-rock riffs, and a wannabe punk waxing poetically through a microphone. We emerged not from a place of want, but from a place of necessity in a community with a dearth of fresh musical blood. Cosmic Sans weaves their collective inspirations through a fine line in a way that can only be described as… Cosmic. Tree Form, a new Missoula quartet, is inspired by the traditions of soul, funk, and jazz. The band dedicates themselves to rhythmic exploration and a creative harmonic palette. Their debut album Fever Dream, is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp . Come enjoy a selection of originals, standards, and ear worm jams, designed to serenade the senses and leave behind all terrestrial ties. Molly Liu Buchanan is a singer and songwriter writing about belonging, identity, growth, and loss. Her lyrics are filled with natural imagery with a surreal twist. She will accompany herself with finger style guitar. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Disq w/ Bluest & JAAG
Wednesday, December 7 // Door at 7:30 PM // Show at 8 PM // $13 Advance // $15 Day of Show With their debut album Collector, the Wisconsin-bred alternative rock outfit Disq seemed to have everything required to take the world by storm. They had the full support of revered veteran indie label Saddle Creek. They’d received favorable notices from outlets such as the NME, the Guardian, and Stereogum. They had an energetic live show which was sure to convert a sea of devotees, and an international tour booked to prove it. Most crucially, they had an album of winning and memorable rock songs, polished to a fine sheen by legendary producer Rob Schnapf. You could not fault these five fresh-faced youngsters for betting it all, but their big mistake was one that no musician could have seen coming : their release date, March 6, 2020. Within days, the world Disq was poised to conquer ceased to exist. Undaunted by a storm of misfortunate which would have crushed a lesser band, Disq now returns to take what is rightfully theirs, with their sophomore effort Desperately Imagining Someplace Quiet, a record which reaffirms the charms of Collector while pushing the sound and dynamic of the band in exciting and unexpected new directions. Rather than splintering and surrendering to their cursed circumstance, Disq has emerged a stronger band, more daring and more defiant, ready to finish the job. It is fitting that the clever backronym effectively makes this the band’s self-titled album, as it introduces the public to a new Disq, a band both seasoned by experience and newly invigorated toward vivid new heights. Bluest is an indie rock band out of Missoula MT, orchestrated by the longings and hauntings of Noelle Huser. Her songs walk the edge of nostalgic confession, using that to cut through the assumption that softness is weak. Empathetic pleas of anger a la diary-scrawled lyrics pay homage to 90s/00s angst pop and country influences like Alanis Moirissete and Sheryl Crow. Bluest’s debut album Cold Sweat, sifts through dreams and nightmares to find solace by serenading ghosts. Emboldened with a hunger to return from dissociation back into her body, she finds her feet on the ground, head in the clouds and heart on her sleeve. Cold Sweat will be released in January 2023 through Anything Bagel. JAAG is a new band drawing from post-punk and 90s rock to craft a dark and driving sonic journey. The project was initiated by Hank Donovan on guitar (Magpies, Rattlesnake Cable Company) and recent homecomer Jamie Aaron Aux on vocals and guitar (Le Butcherettes, XVIII Eyes), acquaintances with long mutual respect in the Northwest music sphere, both agreeing to test the waters after each taking breaks from band life. With a handful of demos written, the two brought in John Sporman on bass (Wylie & the Wild West, Jupiter Beat, Shahs) and Christopher Baumann on drums (Mass FM, Victory Smokes, Dead Hipster) to kick the rock into high gear. Christopher and Jamie share a long musical history as former bandmates in the early-2000’s Jay’s Upstairs-era emo band, The Pleasure. The group has not yet recorded any material but probably will soon because that’s what bands do. IG: @_j_a_a_g For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Hemlock Blue + Larysa Blavatsky + Tuskerz
Sunday, September 25 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 Hemlock Blue is an indie-rock band based in Missoula, MT. With music inspired by the sound and tradition of singer-songwriters, Hemlock Blue is excited to be premiering its batch of original songs. The songs, written by guitarist Matthew Knight, were composed with the sole pursuit of writing the ‘perfect song’. While they never quite achieved that, what resulted is a lineup that Hemlock Blue is thrilled to be debuting as an ensemble. Hemlock Blue is guitarist and vocalist Matthew Knight, drummer Willie Baltz, bassist Connor Racicot, saxophonist Cade Chastain, and cellist Kat Burgstahler. Tuskerz is a funhouse mirror, it’s a wet kiss, a dreamsicle with spikes, a Big Gulp filled to the brim with lava. Tuskers are a three-piece from Missoula with nothing to lose. Larysa Blavatsky is a multi-talented musician with a folk-pop sensibility. She’s a violinist, pianist, guitarist, organist, and vocalist who was raised in Butte, where she began her musical journey. She’s now in her last year studying music education and violin performance at the UM School of Music. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Infinite Ammo + Simp (WA) + But I’m a Cheerleader
Thursday, September 8 // Door at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15 Tour Supporter Ticket Infinite Ammo came out of the swamps of Missoula changing the local music scene forever. Started in March of 2021 with just a short song developed for a demo at Subtower, Steven Seagull the first song ever written didn’t even have a full band, it was just for fun. Then we decided (Keith S, and Cameron) to start a new band, playing grindcore/powerviolence. With the addition to the band, Moses on Drums, and Elli on Bass, the band was set to take off. During Covid we created a sound and practiced 2-3 times a month until December when we played our first show with Big Laugh(Milwaukee). Keeping it going we played shows at multiple different venues in Missoula as well as Mosh In the Mountains in Libby, and a show in Moscow,Idaho. Recently we did a two date run to Dreyfest. The sound is ever changing with Keith stepping down from guitar and Brady stepping in. Our newest song SPEEEEED is thrash with doom riffs. We decided we are forever changing our sound whether its hardcore punk or grind we want to do something no one does in this ever changing local music scene. Simp is a hardcore band from Clarkston, WA, that sounds like if Ted Nugent had a child who disowned him. But I’m a Cheerleader is a band comprised of three nice queers and all of their repressed feelings they sing about. They invite you into all their sweetness and rage expressed through song (if you’re into that kind of thing). For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
KFGM Summer Showcase / New Old Future + 1nfinite Now + John Brownell
Friday, August 26 // Doors at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 The KFGM Summer Series boasts some of the great talent the Missoula music scene has to offer. Each show will showcase two great bands, cross genres, and offer a platform for audience members to discover and engage with some of Missoula’s best artists. KFGM’s desire for this series is to highlight some of their favorite local artists and for Missoula Community Radio’s listeners to tune-in to a true local experience. August’s artists are New Old Future supported by 1nfinite Now and John Brownell. New Old Future says – “It’s like this: We are the New Old Future and we play rock music. Doug from Built to Spill likes us. Sometimes we travel through time and tweak the future and past to bring the freshest beats and booms!” 1nfinite Now is music and creative content composed, produced, and performed by LeRoy Menahan and various artists. This will be their live debut! John Brownell is some dude in Missoula, Montana. He’s also a prolific songwriter that has helped to shape the Missoula Music Scene. He’ll be debuting a new solo set. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
