On the road again: Local live music rolling back to life

From virtual plays to livestreamed and homegrown social media concerts, the novel coronavirus taught the arts and entertainment industry a thing or two about how to make the show go on.

But even amid creative solutions to draw audiences to their virtual doorstep, artists suffered. Financial loss, isolation and being denied that magical connection that accompanies live performance all took their toll.

Artists are resilient, though. And although musicians everywhere have been derailed for a year, here in the Flathead and beyond, they’re back on track for 2021.

Regionally, the Under the Big Sky Festival in July in Whitefish, Red Ants Pants Festival in White Sulphur Springs, Kettlehouse Amphitheater in Bonner and Big Sky Brewing in Missoula are all, at this time, a go this summer.

ON MARCH 7, 2020, when the New Wave Time Trippers performed at the Remington in Whitefish, they cheekily wore masks and threw rolls of toilet paper at the audience. Little did they know that after that show they wouldn’t perform again for more than a year.

“It became real,” band member Nick Spear said. “Now that I think of it, we probably could have been paid in toilet paper.”

Live performance, like a train, screeched to a halt. Bars and restaurants shuttered. The curtain dropped on local theater.

A popular Whitefish-based ’80s cover band since 2014, the New Wave Time Trippers fell prey — as all performing artists did — to the claws of the pandemic. The band celebrated its return to live music this year on May 7 … back at the Remington.

“It was kind of weird, but it felt good to play,” Spear said. “There were a lot of locals in the audience; people we hadn’t seen in over a year. I think it did everyone’s heart a lot of good.”

During 2020 while quarantining, Spear began collaborating with New York-based performing artist Susan O’Dea — a well-known performer in the Flathead, primarily with Alpine Theatre Project. The duo formed Big Sky City Lights and will be performing at this year’s sold-out Under the Big Sky Festival.

But last year performing artists struggled.

“Financially, it was brutal,” Spear said. “Events, parties, weddings were postponed.

“People from out of town moved here during the pandemic, including many talented artists,” he pointed out. “A rising tide lifts all ships. We have such an amazing wealth of talent here — writers, musicians, photographers, artists. I think everything’s going to blossom.”

Spear realized that until the lockdown no one was holding still.

“The pandemic changed that for everyone,” Spear said. “The break was probably good. I took starlight walks with my daughter. And now I’m careful what I want back in my life.”

Whether performing with the band, with O’Dea or solo, Spear is booked all summer.

“It’s daunting,” he said, “I’m just happy to be playing music and lucky to live in a place where the community is so supportive of live entertainment.”

The New Wave Time Trippers play June 12 at the Great Northern Bar and Grill in Whitefish.

AS THE pandemic was gaining hold in March 2020, the Bozeman bluegrass/new grass/folk band Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs were just coming off a strong tour in Colorado.

“Our momentum was picking up exponentially,” band member Josh Moore said. “We’d been booking ourselves the last seven years,” since the band was founded in 2013, “and playing throughout the Northwest — Washington, Idaho, Oregon and California.

“In this business it takes years and years to grow and get to a point where the momentum can keep it going,” Moore said. “We lost a year of work. We all picked up side jobs. Questioned what we were doing. But we came out on the other end better. We had a newfound, refocused goal.”

During 2020, Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs livestreamed a few big concerts, which helped raise funds to keep the band going. They received a grant from the Montana Arts Council and funds from the state of Montana, which helped generate money for a new album and some new equipment. And they spent the entire year writing music.

“It gave us a chance to stop and gain our bearings.” Moore said. “We found ourselves in a fog. It was the first time in years we had the opportunity to reevaluate where we were and where we want to be. The fog lifted. The creativity flowed as our world melted around us.”

Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs are releasing their fifth album, “Through the Smoke” June 18.

“We’re all real excited about it,” Moore said. “An album shows progress people can see. It’s the most exciting thing on earth.”

The band is back on tour. Earlier this month they played a gig at the Great Northern in Whitefish.

“The Flathead Valley is one of our favorite places in the world to visit,” Moore said. “It feels like we're pulling into home. We adore it. Word spreads in the musicians circle about places like the Flathead.”

As for what was hardest to survive during the pandemic, Moore said it was not seeing their fans for a year.

“Having that feedback does something for your soul.”

“I think audiences are really hungry and need live music as much as we do.”

Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs are also playing at Under the Big Sky.

“The festival line-up is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen,” Moore said. “It’s humbling and flattering at the same time. Being on a festival stage and reaching thousands is the rarest treat. It gives me chills.

"We just want to express our gratitude to our audiences and for the excitement of getting back to doing what we do. It’s a joyful experience.”

“Through the Smoke” is being released in stages on Spotify. The album can be pre-ordered now on their website, www.laneylouandthebirddogs.com

YOU’D BE hard-pressed to find a person in the Flathead who hasn’t been entertained by John Dunnigan. A singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and local legend for more than 40 years, Dunnigan has gigged all around the valley. From the Northwest Montana Fair, wedding and private affairs to his weekly shows at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, Craggy Range and the Great Northern, Dunnigan can be heard singing his heart out … doused with a hefty dose of his infectious humor.

But he sure wasn’t prepared for everything to shut down last year.

“It blew my mind,” Dunnigan said. “I can remember vividly getting paid in March 2020 after my gig at the Boat Club … by Sunday Big Mountain had shut down and Whitefish closed up like a drum. I’d had contracts for gigs all through the winter.”

The shutdown was all-encompassing, Dunnigan said. “It affected bartenders, waiters, valets — everyone.”

Dunnigan said he was really yearning to get back to work.

“No one could play anywhere, and without those gigs to entice you, it’s just you sitting at home through a long Montana winter.”

It was especially tough on his son Andy Dunnigan’s band, The Lil Smokies. The nationally touring band had major concerts canceled last year at the Grand Ole Opry and Red Rocks in Colorado.

“They went 14 months without a gig,” John said. “They lost two of their original band members.”

Now The Lil Smokies are back on tour and also will be at this year’s Under The Big Sky Festival.

Dunnigan agrees it is easier for solo musicians to ease back into live performances here in the Flathead Valley.

“The Flathead has more live music, more venues than anywhere,” he said. “We have Big Mountain, the lakes, the tourists.”

“I’m hoping we can return 100% to the way it used to be. I don’t ever want to go through anything like this again,” Dunnigan said, “… although some people did think I sounded better with a mask.”

Entertainment Editor Carol Marino may be reached at 758-4440 or thisweek@dailyinterlake.com