Bob Wire: News

This thing is huge, man! It's Friday night, Nov. 14 at the Holiday Inn Parkside in Missoula. The NFR party is your chance to win a trip to the NFR finals in Las Vegas. Also, they'll be having a big send-off for Miss Rodeo Montana, who has a pretty good chance at winning the national crown in Vegas.
It's gonna be rip-roarin', beer-spittin', full-contact honky tonk for the most honky-tonkinest crowd of all. Get more details at Eagle 93, who's one of the sponsors. See y'all there!
<http://eagle93.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=52>

File under Sour Grapes:

Yeah, I posted a song on the Trail 103.3's website for possible inclusion on their compilation of Montana music. Did I campaign relentlessly for my internet "buddies" to go vote for me? Nah. Did I mention it at shows? Nope. I figured the song would stand on its own.
"Dirty Paradise" is my most consistently well-reviewed song, so that's the one I chose. I'm proud of it, and I think it'll hold its own with any other local artist's work.
But here's where I made my mistake in choosing that particular song: it's got a guitar-and-vocal intro and the whole band doesn't kick in 'til the 2nd verse. ai failed to account for the short attention span of the average web surfer. Don't bore us, get to the chorus.
So I figure a lot of people probably listened to the first ten seconds, pegged it as a spare folk song, and split. Likely the same with the judges.
Who knows? Who cares? I'm just venting. When an artist's work is rejected, oftentimes the artist himself feels rejected.
Pretty good Pscyh 101, huh?

Hey, I've just got to crow about this review I just received from Chip Withrow, a music critic from South Florida.
http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-bobwire-sentimental.html
Chip gave American Piehole a 7 out of 10 a couple years ago, but this one for Sentimental Breakdown is probably the best review I've gotten for the new CD. Bob sez check it out.

[Note: this is a new feature that I'll update as often as I can. Rusty has been bugging me about publishing his blog somewhere, and I thought this would be a good spot. Enjoy. And please remember that I'm not responsible for what goes on in his head.]

RUSTY'S CORNER
Well, this is my first attempt to make a blog for my dad Bob’s website thingy, so it might not be the best blog of all time. I chose to write about all the injuries that have been occurring lately. As all you dedicated, one or two, Bob Wire fans should know, Bob’s been handicapped from his makin’ of the guitar music, and is stuck with the tambourine and a old scratchy voice of his. He’s getting bruises on his thy from smakin’ that tambourine on his leg all night long.

Just the other day, I was playing football for Little Grizzly, a local football league for kids from 5th Grade to 8th Grade, many of you might know about this. I was having a great game, and had already had to walk, ‘er limp, off the field from a leg injury on my right side. I ran back on the field to kick off. After that, I was back on Defense. After getting the ball back, we attempted a “Quarterback Pass”, where I take the QB position, this being rare for I am normally a running back, I pitch the ball back to one of the running backs, then run out wide from the rest of the players, and catch the pass the running back throws to me. Well, I was out for the pass, when one of the other teams players came out to intercept it. He almost got it too, but I only accomplished landing on my leg wrong, it ending up being a strained Achilles Tendon. There’s a story about that, but that’s something totally different.

So today, Monday, was my first attempt on crutches at school. I made it out alive, sorta’. It’s crazy how we manage to Survive with Rusty and Bob down, but Speaker manages to lay down on the couch while Barb manages to do all the work.

I did get to steal Bob’s great recliner, which is SUPER comfy by the way, and watch some White Shadow, a TV series from who knows when, which is pretty cool.

So Bob and I, no, me and Bob get to do just about nothing, and attempt to live in these insane conditions, but we’re still alive… for now. So keep reading Bob Wire’s blog for the eventual continue of Rusty’s corner. Don’t forget to post all yer’ complaints and look for the free CD at www.boobwiremusic.com, no, www.BOBwiremusic.com LATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bye. It’s done. STOP READING MAN!!!!! Okay, I’m really done now. Maybe… ☺

http://topartists.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.topBands&genreID=11

Hey, David and I have been invited once again to invade the studios of Trail 103.3 this Friday at noon. It's their Live & Local segment, and we'll be churning out a couple of our songs, and swapping sparkling banter with the host, Anthony Pagniano. He has sworn me to secrecy regarding his unique tattoo, so that's all I can really say about that.

But it's going to be a beautiful day in the neighborhood this Friday! Don't miss it!!!

Hey, check out this glowing review of the new CD over on the Reviews page. w00t!

Well, I've finally sobered up from the CD Release party last month, and I have to say it was a damn good shindig. Everyone drinkin' and dancin' their asses off, lots of local celebs in the crowd, and just a whole big nightclub full of love. That's partyin' Bob Wire style.

Sentimental Breakdown is starting to get some airplay in Europe and Australia, and the songs are beginning to show up on digital download sites such as iTunes and Rhapsody. It's stocked in the local music stores, and of course we have them available at all our live shows.

Speaking of live shows, we're playing Sean Kelly's this Saturday, April 5th, after a 3-week layoff that has the Side Meat getting pretty itchy. We're working some new tunes into the set list, and it should be a great night in one of MIssoula's funnest clubs. Hope to see you there.

And if you made it to the release party, a big tip o' the Stetson to you, and I heartily thank you for your support. Now git!

I'll be in the studios of Trail 103.3 this Friday at noon, playing some songs from the new CD! David will be joining me on lead guitar and harmonies, and I'm sure we'll be giving away some schwag as well. Noon! Friday! March 14th! a-HENH!!

I've already mentioned the party, on Saturday, March 15, but just wanted to whet your appetite by telling you about a couple of the prizes we'll be giving away.

First, I've created a custom flash drive that contains all three Bob Wire CDs in mp3 form, and one extra special bonus track that is sure to have a major impact on your lifestyle.

Second, we'll be giving away one (maybe two) work of hand-crafted folk art that will impress your friends and keep wildlife off your porch. It's....well, I don't want to spoil the surprise. But I will tell you that it was lovingly created by our drummer, Bob Sularz (whose last name I misspelled in some of the CD booklets), and it is stunning in its attention to detail and clever functionality. You definitely want to be there when we unveil this baby.

And of course, the fabulous new CD, Sentimental Breakdown, will be available for only a sawbuck. That's right. Ten scoots gets you this handsome, highly entertaining collection of Bob Wire originals, and one scandalous cover song.

See y'all there. Now git!

We're finally finished messing with the new tracks, and Sentimental Breakdown will hit the streets on Saturday, March 15th. Eleven songs full of tears, laughter, puzzlement, angry disappointment and one jaw harp. I actually play a little mandolin here and there (very little; it's only 3" long!), and our face-slapping version of "Country Roads' is the lone cover tune.

We're having a CD release party at the Union Club on the 15th, and we'll be giving away CDs, schwag, prizes, and whatever else I can think of. Maybe I can talk Maggie into serving a special drink that night. You know, Red Bull and cough syrup or some such thing.

You can buy the disc at the show, and we'll also have them on sale at Rockin' Rudy's, Ear Candy, Budget CD's, and perhaps at the front desk at the Downtown Motor Inn. Eventually you'll be able to order one from CDBaby, and download individual tracks from iTunes.

I'll be posting tracks for you listening pleasure over the next few days, soon as I get this goddamn software figured out.

ALSO: Coming up Thursday, March 13, I'll be playing a solo show at the Bitterroot Brewing Company in Hamilton. Righteous!

It has come to my attention that some of the "advance pressing" discs for the new CD, Sentimental Breakdown, are messed up. If your disc is skipping or jumping tracks or getting stuck in your CD player, email me or bring it to me at a show and I'll replace it with a fresh copy burned on a professional grade CD.
(Man, that's the last time I buy a cakebox of Memorex CDs from some guy in the Albertson's parking lot...)

The full-on, retail-ready, tricked out final CD pressing will be done in a couple of weeks, and we'll have a CD release party around mid-March. Keep watching the skies!

Break out your dancing shoes and your lucky underwear—we'll be commandeering the stage at the Union Club Saturday night.
It's been a long month since we've played live, but we've used the down time to record tracks for the forthcoming CD. With eight songs in the can and four or five more to go, we should have this thing on the streets before the first day of spring. God, release dates are so arbitrary. But you can be sure I'll be promoting the crap out of it, so keep watching the skies.
The CD will include our foot-stompin' version of "Country Roads." For a live rendition, join us Saturday. It'll be swell.

[Rusty wrote this account of our Thanksgiving, and I thought it was great, so I'm posting it here for the world to see.]



Well, it’s around quarter ‘till nine and mom just went off to work out. Bob just got up, and is taking his morning dump. Speaker isn’t up yet, which actually surprises me with all the racket dad is making. If you haven’t noticed and need telling who wrote this, then stop getting drunk on the night before Thanksgiving. Yes, Rusty Wire is who is writing this blog entry. And if you didn’t get drunk last night and still don’t know who this is, that is one way you can tell you’re a noob to bobwiremusic.com. Well, that is enough teasing you, so back to reality. Bob just grabbed his Thanksgiving doughnut, and ran outside to get the paper (the weather channel says it’s 11 degrees outside, and they say it feels like 2), and amazingly, Speaker is still sleeping.

Well, Speaker just woke up, and playing with her cell phone. Dad’s asked here what’s for breakfast, and Speaker replied “Aren’t we having doughnuts?”
“I already ate mine.” Replied dad, and he finished it in a bout three minutes, and we’re not talking about your averaged sized doughnut here, this was one of those Albertson’s bear claws, those things are twice the size of your fist! Well, its nine ten, and Speaker is playing all her ring tones on high. I have no idea when mom’s gonna get back, but I hope it’s soon!

Well, its 9:25, and Speaker is eating her doughnut, I’m just messing around on the computer, looking for something to do. Why don’t I eat my doughnut you ask, because I will wait until everyone else eats theirs, then rub mine in their face, (not literally).

Well, mom’s still not home, and Speaker’s messing with her guitar. She’s trying to tune it, and of course, she got, and is now composing a song. Its 10 ‘till 10. Oh, the garage door just went up, which means mom’s home. I’m still not dressed, but someone’s gonna making get something on soon. Dad’s going to Washington Middle school to play an adult football game with some of his friends. Mom’s making a pumpkin pie, and I’m helping. I just got finished ironing some fabric napkins, and Speaker is now ironing a table cloth.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade just ended and it’s about 12:20. Dad turned the channel to the Visa Half-time report. I’m thinking about reading my book, but I don’t know. We’re getting ready to eat lunch, pizza of course. The dinning room table looks pretty good; Speaker is a master at dressing up things like that. The half-time show just ended and I think the pizza’s ready, and it’s about time! I’m starving!


Man, Thanksgiving is more of a work day than the weekdays! I just got out of the shower, and then I had to peal four potatoes. Dad’s playing with his Mandolin, trying to figure it out, he’s got a couple songs down, sort of, but so far, so good. Why do they say that, I mean what does so good mean anyway?

Okay, it’s 7:35, we’ve finished dinner, our friend Lee came over and ate dinner with us. Now Speaker and I are watching TV, while Mom, Dad, and Lee are playing guitar, well not Mom. The fire’s crackling, Bob singing, Speaker vegging out on the tube, yeah, this has been a great Thanksgiving.
-Rusty J. Wire

Well, the finals were last night and I won the trophy for Best Overall Entertainer. It's a fabulous looking piece created by Dave Rummel, a friend of mine. He also gave me a glass guitar slide. Thanks, Dave!

Lots of talented musicians in the finals last night, and two rappers.

One musician in particular stood out, though. I was blown away (as was everyone else there) by Lee Ryan's solo performance of one of her original songs. She came on right after us, and we had just finished pinning everyone's ears back with "Alabama Hoodoo Witch." She was not overshadowed by our bombast, though. She had soul and style and passion to burn, and everyone in the joint was totally captivated.

I had met Lee three years ago at the Magnificent Bastards' inaugural gig at Bennie Murphy's post-Thanksgiving house party. Lee came up to the mic during a break and read some of her poetry. She was very nervous and shy, but her words impressed a lot of people even then. She was all of 18 years old.

She has made a quantum leap in the three years since that party, and last night she had that crowd in the palm of her hand. She looked great, sounded amazing, and flat out sang her ass off. She won the trophy for Best Songwriter, and I don't mind losing to someone as talented as Lee. She totally deserves it, and I expect big things from Lee Ryan in the future.

I finally got the guitar of my dreams, a big ol' Gretsch hollow body. There's a picture of it over in the photos section.
Many of my favorite artists play a Gretsch, and after a few conversations with some knowledgeable buddies, I realized that I should be playing one too. So Pat Sandefur, generously loaned me a couple of Gretsches for several weeks so I could test drive 'em. I love the tone, the feel, and the flat-out playability of these things.
So I got the orange 5120, which looks like the Nashville 6120, made famous by Chet Atkins, Rev. Horton Heat, Brian Setzer, and a ton of other country and rockabilly heroes. I'll be dropping in a set of locking tuners, but other than that it's a peach right out of the box. Bought it from Sam at Outlaw Music. He gave me a great deal, threw in a few extra goodies, and made sure it was set up and playing well. Outstanding service, and I recommend Outlaw highly.
I'll be slinging the Gretsch when we return to the stage on Saturday, Sept. 22 at the Union Club.

The only way I can deal with all this smoke is play some naked guitar. Now try gettin' THAT image out of your head! You're welcome!
Hey, I just uploaded my full-on recording of "Smoke Song," my tribute to the smoked-out Missoula valley. You can download the mp3, free of charge, over on the music page. Hell, they might even play it on local radio once or twice.

Like the shifting sands in the Mojave Desert, the lineup for my band has once again changed.
New bass player is actually the old Fencemender himself, John Walden. And banging the Ludwig kit now is Bob Sularz. Is this band big enough for two Bobs? We'll soon find out.
I snagged these two guys at Swizzlegrit's going-out-of-business garage sale last month. So far, so good. They're straight-up honky tonk players who are joined at the hip musically, and been playing together forever.
Gotta go.

I have finally hit the big time!! This Wednesday I will be doing an in-studio performance on the Pea Green Boat. That's right, Wire-heads, your crusty ol' Uncle Bob is going to be playing his music on Montana's most popular kids' radio show. I'll start throwin' down at about 4:00 on Wednesday afternoon. The station is KUFM, at 89.1 on your dial. And as a special surprise, I'm bringing Rusty and Speaker along to add their two cents! Don't miss it!

'Skin Deep Boogie' was written three years ago. Kind of my reaction to the whole tattoo-and-piercing crowd. I knew a woman who was tattooed over 80% of her body, with various piercings and different color hair every week. She was as vapid as they come, and, just like in the song, all the ink and steel WAS her personality. Sad. She voted for Bush.