Brent Jameson sets his sights on the horizon

Whitefish musician Brent Jameson has made a home in the Flathead Valley, but after years of sharpening his songwriting skills he’s ready for a new adventure.  

Originally from Cincinnati, he made his way to Montana after getting into trouble at 17, which resulted in his father sending him to live with his brother out West. He’s continued to live in Montana and other parts of the Northwest, making a name for himself playing his bluesy, jazzy, reggae inspired tunes.  

But he’s ready for his next chapter in life as he’s accomplished everything he set out to here as an artist.  

"I mean, living in a small town, the ego will tell you that you're good. But, if you watch the greatness of other people and their knowledge and stuff, you're really not that good. And so, I am going to put all my focus into learning and growing because I got kind of stale there,” Jameson said.  

Looking to move south and working toward a national tour that he says will require three to four years of putting his nose to the grindstone is the next step. It will be hard work, but he said he’s ready to dive into studying and trying new things with his music.  

“I'm kind of going for like, Marcus King with some reggae roots for sure,” Jameson said, referencing the American musician and songwriter who founded The Marcus King Band. “I'm really going to study music this next year and just learn as much as I can and then put it into what I already am.” 

When looking back on his career as a musician, he thinks about the songs he wrote at just 11 years old. He doesn’t really sit down and write songs, they just come to him, and he grabs a pen. Like his last single “Grace.” 

“I was in a bad place in my life and so that kind of came one morning after I woke up, I went out on this porch and wrote it. I didn't write any words down for ‘Grace,’ it just kind of came (to me,)” Jameson said. 

Many of his songs draw from the darkest times in his life. Like “Me and Eugene” which was written during a period of depression when he was in Eugene, Oregon. In his raspy, soulful voice, Jameson paints a scene of the people in the city on that rainy day. 

“I was depressed and it was raining in Eugene. I was sleeping on my friend's couch and  woke up and I just  started the intro riff. And then I was looking around, which I love Eugene ... I just kind of started looking around Eugene and applied it to the song and I really liked it,” Jameson said.  

It’s common for Jameson to get some of his best songwriting during these periods of depression in his life. More hard times came after breaking 10 years of sobriety. 

“I got all these good songs (during that time.) But I'm good on that. I want to stay healthy and strong where I'm at right now,” he said.  

His newest single “Mother Earth” is inspired by more positive energy, about the beauty of the planet. It’s expected to be released in August, along with a music video shot in Costa Rica.  

He worked with many other musicians on the production of “Mother Earth.” Collaborators that he said improved the final product. He said his current band is the best he’s played with in the valley.   

"My buddy Paul is a known drummer in the valley ... he’s by far the best drummer I've played with. And then I'm playing with my horn sections from Missoula and they’re amazing. Lana is my sax player and Bob on bass, he's amazing. I mean, their attitudes are all amazing. It's all positive and a very comfortable environment with these guys,” Jameson said.  

He’s also been collaborating with local musicians like Mike Murray and Ben Darce, the latter of whom will join him at the Daily Inter Lake’s August Press Play concert. A guitar player, Jameson said Darce is a “walking library of music.” The two have been playing together for years.  

"You just meet certain people in your life who you were meant to meet. And yeah, I'm really fortunate to have Ben in my life, he's a brother of mine and good friend. We do well together. We have fun,” Jameson said.  

Jameson has seen success with his previous singles and albums. He still performs with his band The Sordid Seeds. The group released two albums and an EP together between 2010 and 2016, songs from which ended up on the radio on the West Coast, Jameson said. Nowadays, he said the band tends to play three to four shows every few months, performing for more private parties.  

He plans to continue playing with the band, even as he focuses more on his solo work. After the release of “Mother Earth” in August, he plans to put out another single in the winter.  

Watch Jameson and Darce on Aug. 2 for Press Play, a lunchtime concert series held by the Daily Inter Lake. Subscribers can join for a unique music listening experience at the Daily Inter Lake by donating to the Newspapers in Education initiative. Concertgoers can bring lunch or purchase lunch from The House of S&M. 

Tickets are available at FlatheadTickets.com or by calling 406-758-4436. The performance will be live streamed on the Daily Inter Lake Facebook and Instagram pages 

Jameson’s songs can be found on YouTube and music streaming services under his name and the Jameson and The Sordid Seeds. For more information about upcoming performances, visit his Instagram at BrentJamesonMusic.  

Reporter Taylor Inman can be reached at 406-758-4433 or by emailing tinman@dailyinterlake.com. 

    Musicians Brent Jameson and Ben Darce in Whitefish on July 24, 2024. (Matt Baldwin/Daily Inter Lake)
  

    Ben Darce and Brent Jameson play as the Brent Jameson Duo for Aug. 2's Press Play concert, held by the Daily Inter Lake. (photo provided)