by Merle Ann Loman | Feb 12, 2009 | music
See related posts about Pinegrass a Bluegrass Band
The four oldest children of legendary Top Hat bar owner Steve Garr, from left, Heidi, Nicole, Greta and Nate, spoke about their late father and about the future of the Missoula landmark Tuesday afternoon at the bar. Photo by MICHAEL GALLACHER/Missoulian
The Top Hat has always been a place of many faces. To some, the bar on Front Street has been a low-key daytime hangout, a place where the conversation flows like slowly poured beer and where you’re perfectly welcome to light up a cigarette if you so please. Later at night, it’s been a place where a somewhat younger crowd gathered to play pool and listen to local jam-rock bands, bluegrass ensembles or the occasional touring act.
Whatever was happening on a given night, the crowd at the Top Hat was never homogenous. Rather, it encompassed every walk of Montana life: barely legal drinkers playing pool with grizzled bikers; young professionals and dreadlocked hippies swing-dancing on the dance floor.
It is a place where the walls themselves are lined with memories of the diverse faces that have passed through. Photos of old blues musicians – some of whom count among the most respected and famous in America – share space with bass drum heads donated by rock bands that few people ever heard of in the first place (any Nite Snackr fans still out there?).
But when all was said and done, those many faces were, in a way, simply a reflection of the man who owned and operated the Top Hat these past 21 years: Steve Garr….
…..“The bottom line is that this is just about as heartbreaking as you can imagine for us,”
Steve’s son says. “It’s our dad.”
Read the rest of the original story about Steve Garr and the Top Hat on Missoulian.com.
Remembering
A potluck celebration of Steve Garr’s life will be held at the Top Hat this Saturday from 1 to 11 p.m. The event will serve as a fundraiser for Garr’s medical expenses. The event is open to the public, and musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments.
Pinegrass will play a few sets Saturday, February 7, at 6:30 pm. Richie Reinholdt will join them.
Note: Pinegrass played on Tuesday’s for about 20 years. We hope this isn’t the end of an era.
by Merle Ann Loman | Oct 20, 2008 | Friends
Above is a photo of Nate. Nate is originally from Missoula, Montana and is now in New York City in a band called New Heathens.
About the New Heathens! They have a great sound, you can check it out on their website http://www.newheathens.com/. Some of the reviews call them American Roots Rock or Rootsy Rock and Roll. I think their sound is more complex than that! Tell us what you think…
Members: Nate Schweber, Singer, Guitar, Harmonica; Butch Phelps, Guitar; Dominic Tiziano, Guitar; Eric Seftel, Drums; Brandy Wood, Bass
Genre: Rock n Roll Hometown: New York City
You can see by this slide show that Nate still spends time in Montana and fishing. We have quite a bit in common, including a love of music!
A Note from Nate: Thanks for digging the band. I’m working on trying to come up with the songs and, more importantly, money to finish a second record. We’re working with a producer named Eric “Roscoe” Ambel who played with Steve Earle and produced a bunch of cool bands that I dig including the Bottle Rockets and the Yayhoos. Making records is almost as expensive a hobby as flyfishing.
I tried my luck on Connecticut’s Housatonic River this past weekend. Beautiful fall colors. I hooked one brown trout on a nymph but lost him. Fish were rising all around but I couldn’t get them to take anything I was offering. I tried big nymphs, little nymphs, big dries, little dries, streamers and everything in between. Nothin’. To be honest, it reminded me of a few times I’ve fished the Bitterroot when the same thing has happened: fish rising everywhere, but not to any of my flies.
Well, Nate, we know what you mean. The fishing in western Montana this fall is amazing. The days are calm and beautiful; the water is like glass. That means the fishing is technical and even though the fish are rising, it takes a lot of effort to find out which of our flies and what size they will be interested in. At least you have targets to throw to. When you do hook up, though, the rewards are fantastic!
by Merle Ann Loman | Sep 20, 2008 | music
View 2007 Bitterroot Bluegrass Festival Album
Today Jack is performing at a wedding in Belgrade, MT with his band, Pinegrass. It is a welcome break in the fly fishing guiding season when he can play music in this kind of venue. Here is a slide show from a wedding in Missoula, MT in September of last year.
View Wedding in Missoula Album
by Merle Ann Loman | Sep 18, 2008 | Conservation/benefits/organizations, Friends, iii Fall
When: Tuesday 09/29 and 9/30/2008 at 7:30
Who: Smuin Ballet
What: Art : Dance – Ballet
Where: University of Montana
Description:
Debuting in March 1994, Smuin Ballet has quickly established itself as “one of this country’s most entertaining, original ballet troupes,” (Dance Magazine). Indeed, few names in dance are as widely known and recognized as that of Michael Smuin: at the heart of the company is Mr. Smuin’s singular ability to create pieces which merge the diverse vocabularies of classical ballet and contemporary dance forms.
Monday 09/29: Dancin’ with Gershwin and other selections. In the Montana Theatre across from the Adams Center. The Monday Gala ticket includes the reception.
Tuesday 09/30: Dancin’ with Gershwin and other selections. In the Montana Theatre across from the Adams Center.
Age Group: All Ages
To purchase tickets:
- call the Adams Center Box Office at 1.406.243.4051
- call 1.888.MONTANA
- visit Griztix.com
Where is the University Theatre?
The University Theatre is located on the Missoula campus of the The University of Montana. Driving directions, maps, parking, and much more can be found here. Also, the following PDF map includes the highlighted location of the University Theatre on campus.
We are very fortunate to have this company perform in Missoula and even more fortunate that Michael Smuin was born in Missoula and continued to cherish his home town. Sadly, he passed away last year. Come see the ballet and know that Missoula and Montana creates the people who can change our world as we know it.
You will also be supporting an important world changing institution, the McLaughlin Research Institute with another Montana native as Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee, Dr. Irving L. Weissman. Irv is orignally from Great Falls, MT and is now at Stanford University.
