Shark Buffalo + Mirror Gods
Friday, May 27 // Doors at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15 Tour Supporter Ticket Who the hell is Shark Buffalo, that mysterious übergroup from a long-forgotten Missoula music scene of yore? More importantly, what the hell IS a shark buffalo? Do you picture a buffalo’s body with a shark’s head, like some kind of aquatic centaur? Or do you prefer to envision an elasmobranch fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton fused with the head and torso of a bearded bovinae? I digress. Shark Buffalo is comprised of a holy musical trinity: Keys, Drums, and Trumpet, with Cove Jasmin, Emmet Ore, and Nathan Crawford. Mirror Gods is a powerful quartet comprised of Jesse The Ocelot on vox/guitar/loops, Joshua Chai on drums/percussion, Sean Howard Burress on bass/gadgets, and Emmet Ore on guitar/keys. Mirror Gods create the perfect mix of organic and electronic music. Jesse’s ethereal vocals sore over Sean and Josh’s intricate rhythmic bass lines, while Emmet dazzles in with magical lead guitar. They are a full on rock band with atmospheric loops and layers. Making sure to let the music speak for itself and lead the way, they try to create something different every time, with about half of their songs being dialed-in performances and the other half being all about the feels and improv. You never know what’s going to happen at a Mirror Gods show. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
The Jazz Cats from Sussex School
Tuesday, May 10 // Doors at 6:30 PM // Show at 7 PM // $10 We are an ensemble called the Jazz Cats from Sussex School, an independent progressive school here in Missoula. We are a group of eight members in grades third, seventh, and eighth on bass, guitar, drums, vocals, and keys. We have been working together for seven months now. We are performing seven songs during our performance at the ZACC, with a large variety of song types ranging from arrangements of pop to rock – from slow, to upbeat, to fast. This show will be our culminating performance for all of the work we have done this year. We really hope to see you there! Watch out because the Jazz Cats are about to get jazzy! For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Jacob Rountree w/ Special Guest Chloé Little
Thursday, May 26 // Doors at 7 // Show at 7:30 // $10 // $15 Tour Supporter Ticket Jacob Roundtree is passionate, hypnotic, multi-dimensional, and poetic. Jacob Rountree (and supporting artists) are an alternative folk/indie rock group offering a dynamic sound. They have been best described as a passionate and relatable, multi-dimensional act with poetically introspective lyrics, a unique finger picking style, perfectly placed percussive hits, haunting harmonies, and dream-like effects. Chloé Little has lived in Montana for several years but is a California native. Chloe formed several Bay Area bands, but musically her heart lies in writing songs. For close to 15 years, she has used songwriting as a form of mental release and creative expression. She uses the outdoors, love, soul-searching, and self-discovery as inspiration. Through her songs, she aspires to spark connection with the audience – or at least plant a seed of thought. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Catnyp w/ SenterLine
Wednesday, May 25 // Doors at 7:30 PM // Show at 8 PM // $10 // $15 Tour Supporter Ticket Formed in Missoula, MT after front man/composer/producer/bassist/multiinstrumentalist Henderson K Shatner (HKS) returned to the US after 18 years of overseas adventures, Catnyp released “The Black Cat Trilogy” of albums sequentially in 2018, 2019, 2020. Shatner founded Brand Violet, a seminal UK surf-goth act signed to legendary Some Bizarre records in the early 2000s. Catnyp has drawn recent comparison to Pixies, Daniel Ash, David Bowie, and even Led Zeppelin — largely based on the fearless vocal experimentation Shatner employs on Catnyp IIII, channeling his favorite vocalists for different tracks. Melodic, agile bass parts invoke Beatles-era McCartney while surf guitar and clean overdriven tones provide a nod to California punk and Britpop. SenterLine is a new three-piece rock band based in Missoula, MT. It consists of Marcus Knight on drums, Matt Miller on bass/vocals, and Stanley Kipp on guitar/vocals. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
A Benefit for Girls on Shred – featuring VTO, Trans Future, & Girls Rock Camp
Thursday, May 12 // Doors at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 A gnarly Girls on Shred fundraiser to benefit rad noncompetitive snowboard and skateboard events for female and non-binary folks in and around Montana. Come hang out with Missoula fun punks VTO, New Wave Rock-and-Soulers Trans Future, plus the awesome Girls Rock Camp bands (Cat Water & Top Banana Dog!). Check out some alley-way skateboard shredding demos from Girls on Shred and friends. Enter a raffle and buy some merch. 70% of proceeds go to Girls on Shred! For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Hibernator + JERF + Mido Skip
Saturday, May 7 // Doors at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $10 // $15 Tour Supporter Ticket Hibernator hails from southwest Montana. Hibernator began in 2016 with Phillip Yanzick on guitar and lead vocals and Zachary Jurcich on lead guitar. The band attracted the attention of Anthony Vesco and Ricky Schade, now the drummer and bass player respectively. The sound of the band includes elements of post rock with flares of ambiance and early 2000s emo. For fans of Balance and Composure, Citizen, and Movements, Hibernator has its own way of catching listeners’ attention through heavy rhythm sections and melodic vocals. JERF is a multi-instrumentalist, pinball wizard, soccer player, movie watcher, and songwriter steeped in the tradition of the traveling troubadour; part Americana, part Indie Rock, and full of the same positive vibes that came from the California Folk-Rock scene that spawned Jackson Browne & Tom Petty. His songwriting reflects a perspective about the world that is both critical and full of joy, and he is passionate about questioning how we can do better with the unique experience that has been given to us as human beings. 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. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Naomi Moon Siegel Trio featuring Ed Stalling & Tommy Sciple, + Opener Jenn Adams
Sunday, May 8 // Doors at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $15 Trombonist and composer Naomi Moon Siegel has “crafted a truly unique aesthetic, combining elements of straight-ahead, fusion and modern jazz with world-music flavors in a way that sounds entirely of the 21st century” (JAZZIZ). A recipient of the Montana Arts Council Artist Innovation Award, Earshot Jazz Golden Ear Award, and member of the 4th Mutual Mentorship for Musicians cohort, she has released two albums as a bandleader to critical acclaim. Playing music inspired by the Black American Music tradition, Siegel will be joined by local phenoms Tommy Sciple on bass and Ed Stalling on drums. Twisting the corners of folk, blues, and jazz into immediately personal songs, Jenn Adams is internationally recognized for her distinctive sound and well-crafted songwriting. With an extensive wealth of experience and craft, her songs scale a diverse foundation that refuse to blend into the ordinary. Sparsely decorated, bluesy ballads are her trademark but by no means a limitation. Known for her warm and inclusive live performances, she is widely regarded as one of the most genuine artists on the acoustic circuit. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Jackson Holte & The Highway Patrol w/ Joseph Running Crane
Wednesday, May 18 // Doors at 7:30 PM // 8 PM // $10 // $15 Tour Supporter Ticket Jackson Holte & The Highway Patrol are a Grammy-eligible rock and roll band from Missoula, MT, formed by several of the town’s greasiest bar-band veterans in 2017. Jackson Holte is a hard-nosed, soft-spoken folk singer who aspires only to possess the cathartic wit of John Prine and the biceps of Kris Kristofferson. The Highway Patrol are Landon George on drums, Eric Rudnick on guitars, and Marko “The Midnight Shadow” Capoferri on bass. They have been called “a pretty rippin’ band” by U.S. Senator Jon Tester, “a cavalcade of horses on the plains of America” by an independent Portuguese music podcast, and “heroes” by the owner of a small Chinese restaurant in Virginia City. Their most recent album, Last Rain of the Summer, was released in March 2020. www.highwaypatrolrocknroll.com @highwaypatrolrocknroll Joseph Running Crane is a singer/songwriter from Browning, MT, the cultural and administrative center of the Amskapii Piikunii nation of the Blackfoot Confederacy. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Horse Feathers / MAITA
Thursday, May 19 // Doors at 7 PM // Show at 7:30 PM // $15 HORSE FEATHERS “On Horse Feathers’ sixth album, their introverted persona has thawed, revealing a surprising affinity for the joy of Stax-era and countrified-soul.” —Pitchfork “…from Justin Ringle’s sandy-voiced warmth to lush string arrangements to fatalistic lyrics that undercut the surrounding swirl of sonic comfort food.” —NPR “The arrangements are beautiful, borderline orchestral, and contribute to an expanding Horse Feathers soundscape… Horse Feathers are forging a new way forward.” —Exclaim! “Horse Feathers has evolved expertly, and Appreciation is a case study in artistic growth.” —Pop Matters Horse Feathers, and their re-imagined string ensemble of seasoned players are returning to the road in the spring of 2022 in support of their April, Kill Rock Stars re-issue of their 2008 breakthrough release “House With No Home.” Justin Ringle and longtime violinist Nathan Crockett will be backed by new additions of upright bass (Luke Ydstie: The Hackles, Blind Pilot), banjo (Kati Claborn: The Hackles, Blind Pilot) and violin (Halli Anderson: River Whyless). The group will be performing selections from “House With No Home” as well as old favorites, highlighting the acoustic characteristics of earlier orchestral arrangements as well as the energy of recent releases. MAITA Growing up in Oregon splitting time between her mom’s Japanese-speaking home and her father’s English-speaking home, Maita-Keppeler found an expressive avenue out of her shyness through music. “I was getting so much out of songwriters like Elliott Smith, Feist, and Cat Power at a point when I really needed them,” she says. That fiery devotion brought her to perform at open mics in college, to connect with other people through art. Along with guitarist/producer Matthew Zeltzer, bassist Nevada Sowle, and multi-instrumentalist Cooper Trail, the Portland-based singer-songwriter tapped into that intimate longing, recording I Just Want To Be Wild For You in a recording studio located in the basement of a church. After the critical success of MAITA’s Kill Rock Stars debut, Best Wishes, Maita-Keppeler and her bandmates dedicated their time to reinforcing their already heady compositions, adding a deeper echo of the label’s indie rock legacy. From the churning glow of “Pastel Concrete” to the riotous give-and-take of “Honey, Have I Lost It All?”, I Just Want To Be Wild For You frames the complex emotionality of Maita-Keppeler’s lyrics in visceral songs that sink immediately into the heart. By picking apart the smallest moments of confusion, uncertainty, and disconnection, Maita-Keppeler’s songs discover the heights of emotion. “I write songs by listening and watching, trying to get to the truth of it all,” she says. The catharsis produced in that process comes naturally, and conveys to the listener just as easily as it does to Maita-Keppeler. In those moments of disconnect, of confusion, of isolation, I Just Want To Be Wild For You thunders ahead, forging unexpected connections along the way. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
Renee Ross + Stephen Jay Clement + Gabrielle Tusberg
Wednesday, April 27 // Doors at 7:30 PM // Show at 8 PM // $10 Renee Ross has been a dedicated lover of all things “pizzazz” from a young age. Her passion for the performing arts originated seated at a piano, while simultaneously training as a competitive figure skater at the age of 6. Attending Fresco Arts Academy as an adolescent artist, she studied voice and music composition through her teenage years. After landing the role of Hope Harcourt she realized the magic of putting all her passions together: dance, song, and expression. Since then, she went on to be highly involved in many of University of Montana’s dance productions, straight plays, and musicals while earning her BFA in Musical Theatre Performance. Stephen Jay Clement is a Missoula-born singer, songwriter, and actor. With a background of undergraduate studies in musical theatre, music composition, and ecomusicology at the University of Montana, Stephen draws inspiration from a broad variety of musical, theatrical, and environmental influences. Gabrielle Tusberg is a singer songwriter from Portland, OR. She has been writing her own music since high school and enjoys conveying deep emotion with her raw and honest lyrics. She is inspired by female artists like Jewel and Fiona Apple and hopes to come out with a complete album by fall of 2023. For further information, accessibility, and inquiries please visit https://www.zootownarts.org/meet-the-zacc/about/.
