Totally?

So the good people of Total Fest are slowly leaking the bands that will be playing this year's 9th annual Montucky DIY music fest!
And people...it's looking SO good!

Here's what I suggest - stop over to the Total Blog and have a look!
Want a teaser? THRONES is playing!
Yes, Joe Preston! The guy that's been associated with a million great bands that you love!

So, here's the link to the Total Blog!

Start making your plans! A late summer trip to Missoula is good for your soul!

For Totes

Total Fest IX: Open for Submissions (taken directly from the Total Blog)

Total Fest IX will break loose from its cage August 19-21, 2010 in majestic Missoula, MT. We've officially opened the submission floodgates. We'll consider bands, one -person acts, special performance art outfits and the like. We're officially a music festival, but like creativity in all its forms.

To submit, we need a few things from you:

1.) A good recording, CDRs are fine, of three or four songs that best represent your band. Once CD is fine. Electronic submissions are a hassle for us, so don't email us sayin, "just go to our myspace, dude. It's all there". We are old, traditional, luddites who like the U.S. Mail, CD players and tactile experiences.

2.) Some type of paragraph explaining your deal. Who you are, where you live, whether or not you like Hawkwind. We don't need a long list of the bands you've played with, but if a decent writer has written about your band, that's a helpful thing for us to have.

3.) Good contact information for you (i.e. a phone and email address).

4.) Your patience. We will listen to everything we get, discuss it, give it a fair shake and decide upon the bands and artists that most help us with our mission of Totality. Totally. Thank you.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: April 2, 2010.
Send to:
Wantage USA Attn: Total Fest IX Submissions
P.O. Box 8681
Missoula, MT, 59807

Your Crazy Heart, My Crazy Love, Repent Now

BBQ #3
Caleb and Silas are the consummate audience!
Great dancers...avid fans!

What a perfect scene!
Live music, the rolling hills that surround the Missoula bathed in the setting sun, a crowd of footloose peeps, and a buffet!

Faces!
Good faces!

And this face!
BRYRAM!

This guy is crazy talented, super smart, absolutely hilarious, has a phenomenal wife, and handsome son!
Perfect package and then some!

Thanks for being you Bryan Ramirez!
Check out the variety of Bryan's musical projects: Poor School, ExCocaine, and his record label Killertree!
He's worth keeping your eye on, I promise!

Taj Liszak - master curmudgeon and construction virtuoso.

My ladies...Mandith & Jenny Jen!

Amy performing her mom-ly duties.

But there's always got a be an end to the last BBQ.

And visitors (like the awesome New Jersian Lynch family and representatives of the Florence Weaver familly) have to clear out for more rock 'n roll!

God Damn It Boy Howdy!
The cutest!

Browning, MT never looked so good!

Wartime Blues - a Missoula band that is changing the face of the Missoula music scene...for the better.
I wanted to fall into their songs and never come back!

THE LIMBS!
Denver by way of Ohio!
A gentleman first and foremost - this is a show you will never want to miss!
Denverites - go see John...it will move you in ways you might not expect!
And his wife Amy is an absolute vision! They are people worth knowing!

ONE MAN BAND!

Pine Hill Haints!
Yes, that is a steel tub bass!
And it's a joy to watch someone play one with such masterful skill!

This band is ENTHRALLING!
If you have the chance...don't cheat yourself the opportunity to see them and be wowed by their presence!

They're wild!





Obvs, we were enjoying it!


The bass player went from thudding away on the tub...to playing the banjo blindfolded.

And the lead singer had no trouble picking up the slack!



And when that dreamy blond in the corner isn't scratching on a washboard or playing the mandolin...she's playing a musical saw!


And then, long time bro Dennis...introduced Thee Hedons!

Josh May

Scott Moore

Greg Twigg
These guys brought back some old school Missoula vibes and played a beautiful set that made everyone in the crowd go crazy!

And clearly, when I wasn't listening to music...
I was having heart to hearts with old friends!

Doug Smith.
This guy...I love him...I miss him.

Doug's been married to Kia for 5 years - this picture was taken on their anniversary!
Kia has been a longtime friend and my love for them mutually is so much bigger than I can properly express!
Congrats on 5 years my dear amazing fucking friends!



Julie Tompkins - wife of the aforementioned BryRam.
She's a dream...she's a untapped wealth of brilliance, talent, and humor!
I'm better for knowing this lady!


Randy.
Randando.
FERD'S brother!

HOT JEFF A.
Always a Total Fest staple and a looker beyond all lookers!
His bands Lamborghiniz and The Lights are bands worth exploring...
Gentleman catch and then some!

Miriam flexing her sexy muscle.

Doug, Cyndie, Jen!

Millicent...

I've shared so many amazing times with Milli - I don't know where to start.
Cartwheels in hotel rooms, writing songs about polio arm, letting her sleep on a cot in my first Missoula home.
She's good people! She's my heart!

Smetanka!
Artist extraordinaire!
He's doing some amazing stuff with light boxes and you should get your lame ass on Google and learn more about him!
ANDY SMETANKA!


Mullet Elf.
So, for the first time since we were initially made wise to the world of the mullet elf...we were given an opportunity to be his friend.
He's been playing hard to get...and it's not like we haven't been stalking him for the past three years.
He let his guard down and we spent some quality time with Chris.
He's actually pretty god damn funny, totally adorable, and is a filthy, insatiable dirty bird!
Clearly, we're peas in a pod!

Whoever this guy was...he couldn't keep his hands off my lady friends...
Miriam exhibiting her distaste.

Joey...being nice.

Josh May and Doug Smith...together again, for the very first time.

The last show that I actually attended at Total Fest, while everyone else was getting their Drunkhorse fill, was THE COLOFFS!
I drug Miriam downstairs to see them in all their glory!

Joseph and I had an impromptu photo sesh while we were waiting for them to set up!



Lou came down to watch our old Seattle friends!

Were you a fan of The Valentine Killers!? Midnight Thunder Express!?
Well, many of us Missoulians were long time in love with everything that Stu and Brian were involved in!
And it's no different now!

They shred! Brian is a great front man!

And Stu Mother Fucking Miller will kill it every time!
Sorry if you were watching Drunkhorse and missed these guys...

And thankfully, every time I turned around during their set, I saw people that I knew and loved.
Punk Rock Jim, Josh May...

Punk Rock Anna, Milli...

And me and Joseph, of course!
Joey is my heart too...forever and always!

And when Total Fest was over...like, over for good...
We streamed out into the streets - drinking secret beers and smoking Capri cigarettes!

The Miriam/Jud Triptych



Jess...and Jen!
God damn we love you, Salt Lake City!

QEF.
Quality Elf Time!
Sweet Brice too!

We immersed ourselves in our goodwill mission to make the Mullet Elf our friend.


And our hard work paid off!



This guy...is responsible for the Mullet Elf's original hairdo...
And I can't remember his name, which is terrible, but what we may or may not have agreed to be friends forev.
I'm pretty sure we did.

Loves! My Punk Rock Jim and Anna!

Sexually ugly.

Ferd and Erin!
ENGAGED! Can you believe it? Someone who puts up with Ferd's unbelievable bullshit!
Erin looked great and I'm pretty sure she's a saint!

Yes, that's how Miriam rolls.

Richie Rowe FOREVER!

DD FOREV AND ALWAYS.

Jess...yeah, we remember that the carpet does match the drapes...

You perv.

PORTLAND PAUL!
Dude, you hung heavy when many gentleman wouldn't!
We salute you!

And then, when the after party was over...we kidnapped the Chris and Brice and shared stories about our wet asses.

We painted each other's toenails.

And had a ill fated dance party!



TOTAL FEST.
If it's going to end right...it's got to be with a dude in a pair of lady's leggings.

Thanks Missoula - maybe I'll come back next year!