As Marquette rolls into Pride Month, it’s only fitting that The Bootstrap Boys are rolling into town with their outlaw brand of Queer Country grit and soul. Kicking off June with a heavy dose of heart, harmony, and honky-tonk, the band brings their Heavy Hearts Honky-Tonk Tour to the Ore Dock Brewing Company just as the country starts flying its rainbow flags.
Bear caught up with them for a quick e-mail Q&A ahead of the show to talk grief, grit, road life, and the stories behind the songs:
Bear: The Heavy Hearts Honky-Tonk Tour — that name hits with some weight. I know you lost someone close last year… has the tour been a way of carrying that memory forward?
Jake Stilton: We have been no strangers to grief and great loss in this band, but this was one of our own founding members, and it hit real hard. We go on because there is no other option that honors his memory or the years of hard work and dedication that we, as individuals and a group, have poured into this project. Yes, it is with very heavy hearts, but we do go on.
Bear: You’ve always blended tradition with grit — where would you place The Bootstrap Boys on the country music map? Closer to Cash, or just way out in the woods on your own?
Jake: Out in the woods on our own is how it feels, but I honestly don’t know if that sentiment translates to the gen pop or not. Johnny Cash is definitely still spinnin’ on the record player.
Bear: Songs like Poverty Line and ’57 Chevy paint vivid pictures. Can you share the story or inspiration behind one of those — or a newer one?
Jake:’57 Chevy tells the story of my father buying a car from a guy — before he shipped off to Vietnam — that didn’t think he would be returning. He bought it for $10 and then took it out in a field and rolled it, just for kicks. That’s the story as I remembered it when I wrote the song, anyhow.
Poverty Line is semi-autobiographical and the first song I wrote for this project, back somewhere in a blurry 2012–14 range of time.
Bear: You’ve hit a lot of rural spots across Michigan. How does playing in places like Marquette or Grayling compare to more metro crowds in other states?
Jake. We find the weirdos wherever we go. It’s like some invisible bat signal or something goes up, and the people that are tuned into that frequency just show up. It’s like, “Oh, you don’t fit in? Come say hi!” Or, “Oh, your friend group thinks you’re strange? Well, we think they’re strange! Get over here!”
The main difference is more about the time you get to spend with a smaller town’s more intimate crowd, versus sometimes being rushed with a larger metro crowd at a venue that’s ready for the next act as soon as you’re finished.
Bear: Touring can be both exciting and exhausting. How do you keep the energy up and the camaraderie strong on the road — or do you just fight it out in the van and hug it out later?
Jake: We have become adept at blowing off a little steam and then getting over it immediately. At this juncture, we mostly know what buttons not to push. I love a good view when traveling, and the drummer loves a good nap. Lil Mama likes to curate songs, and the bass player likes to game with headphones on. We give each other as much space as five adults rambling around in a 30-year-old RV can give each other, I would think. We also have a healthy inside joke catalog to draw from, and humor helps everything.
Bear: For someone hearing you for the first time at Ore Dock, what’s the one song they have to catch — and what does it say about The Bootstrap Boys?
Jake: Apropos to the tour name, Strong Drinks for Heavy Hearts is a song that’s resonating a lot with me right now. I suppose that’s saying we like to drown our sorrows. Inasmuch — come out and cheers us! Don’t make us drink alone. We’ll do it, but we’d prefer to cheers y’all back.
If you’ve been lucky enough to be in the know the last few months you’ve had the opportunity to catch some headline entertainment in Marquette for not a headline entertainment price. Now, there’s always great shows in town. FACT: We’re spoiled. However, it’s not every weekend we get national touring talent playing, let alone for no cover. This has happened twice in recent months, and both nights were absolutely memorable.
On February 25th “The One Man Hippie Band” Cash O’Riley played a solo night at Flannigan’s. Now, straight up at most there ended up being 20 people in the room. However, when they came in, they stayed, and Cash is why they stayed. O’Riley ran through 3 solid sets of ripping songs from his catalog as well as an array of old country, rock, and blues covers all through his punk rockabilly filter. He may be only one man, but he put out a much bigger sound. Very much representing the multi-tracked sounds that dominate his discography, but with a faster, gruffer live edge. However, that rougher approach wasn’t still palatable enough for your average rural bar goer. In fact, they ended up intrigued, and Cash ended up well-tipped.
I had the privilege of becoming acquainted with Cash on this evening, I can officially vouch that he’s a cool cat who’s living it. Like many of us with heavier roots, the fully sleeved, O’Riley has found his home in the alternative & outlaw country realm. He brings a fairly unique psycho/rockabilly style that I’d compare to acts like Rob Coffinshaker & Coffinshakers with vibes that could easily still fit with the more extreme acts like Those Poor Bastards or more any, more, straight-up outlaw style country act. He also brings us all this in a custom van with his dog Ruby, just give ‘em a place to park for the night and they’re happy.
Sure, it wasn’t overly well attended, but I know some folks who have some pull were in the room and I’m not the only one who saw how Cash controlled it. Whether it’s as a solo artist, or with his new band The Five & Dime Poets, we need to get Cash back to Marquette. He’s extremely approachable, and down for just about anything if the price is right, and that price may be less than you think. Wanna book him? on******************@***il.com
Fast forward a couple weeks, and on the cusp of the VERY cool, Mountain Top Boogie at Indianhead in Wakefield (I’m going to actually get back to that), Rachel Brooke FINALLY found herself playing a Marquette venue with a full band.
Now, I’m not going to lie, this as close to fanboying as my jaded ass gets, but I’ve been waiting 10 years for this to happen. Sadly, I just was never in the proper position to do it myself, even though, through my work with the Peninsula Arts Appreciation Council I was able to bring Barry “The Banjo Picker” Van Guilder’s family band in to play the Okla-Ho-down as promotion for the upcoming production of “Oklahoma.” Why is this relevant? Well, Rachel’s maiden name is Van Guilder, and she grew up playing in the family band. Anyway, when Rachel reached out to me earlier this year, even though we’ve been near overwhelmingly busy at the office, I was determined to help her find a show. Thankfully, it wasn’t all that difficult because Rachel is the shit, and Khris at the Ore Dock knew it. Unfortunately, things didn’t quite work out for that second gig (Congrats to the new owners of The Orpheum Theater in Hancock on the birth of their child!! That’s definitely more important.), but Rachel and crew came across from Wakefield on Saturday and set up at the Ore Dock for a night that anyone who attended isn’t going to forget anytime soon.
The band took the stage and Rachel immediately started off with a solo performance. Her sultry voice tore through the Ore Dock causing a momentary pause where everyone was looking at the stage. Now that was only a pause, but when the full band kicked in at the end of the opening song I saw multiple groups of intended “passers through” stop dead and stay for the set. One particular group of ladies surprised me and even joined in with the dancers, and oh, were there dancers. I don’t honestly think there was a full band moment where there wasn’t at least one couple dancing (this couple I don’t think left the dance floor).
Rachel & her band of J’s…
…Jordan Siden (Guitar/Slide Guitar), Jason Oberliesen (Bass) & Justin Rossan (Drums)…
…ripped through two sets that covered the span of Rachel’s discography. The crowd heard old school country, bluegrass, dark folk, Mississippi Delta crossed with Chicago Style Blues, and even a little bit of acoustic indie-pop (from her side project Modern Mal), and then some new ones from an album they’re heading into the studio for very soon.
If you’re familiar with Rachel’s catalog you’ll know her style leans towards the of slower, more melancholy, sometimes gothic, oftentimes murderous. Not that she doesn’t have some blazers, especially on “A Killer’s Dream” (which they killed this night), but I REALLY wondered how that was going to go across to a crowd that usually is looking for faster happier music. Well, I shouldn’t have worried, because Rachel and crew are pure performers, and of course, everything’s a little faster live.
If y’all missed this show, you may have missed the last time you could have seen Rachel for free In Marquette, or honestly, at least I hope so. After this Saturday night I know I’m not the only one clamoring for her return. Though the Ore Dock may benefit if they procure a local opener next time, as the show did feel a touch “short.” Of course, the U.P. is pretty damn demanding on what they expect from a band (sets/length), and those standards can be high especially for more seasoned national touring groups.
I mentioned earlier that Rachel came across from Indianhead’s “Mountain Top Boogie.” Now I only heard of this show because Rachel said she was playing it, but D-A-M-N if it didn’t have a killer line-up and we’ll be watching for it next year. I’ll admit I don’t know who The Peoples Brothers are, and well, Charlie Parr may as well be local, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive when you add in insane one man show Possessed by Paul James, Joseph Huber of .357 Stringband fame, Rachel and a fine array of regionals including Dig Deep (who I’d love to see in Marquette) and Buffalo Galaxy.
If you’re a fan of the more outlaw side of Country, Bluesy Americana, etc, this region is turning into a total powerhouse. Them Coulee Boys have been back since the Rachel Brooke show. Local boy Ethan Bott is starting to make waves, check out his new EP “Saddle Up” at your favorite streaming outlet, we should probably get together with him at some point here. Finally, this summer’s festival line-up is completely off the charts with Thunder on the Iron Range’s “Upper Michigan Music Fest” (Blackberry Smoke, Hellbound Glory, Band of Heathens, Cecil Allen Moore) & The Lake Fanny Hoo-down (Ricky Skaggs/Joe Nichols) leading the charge (look for a story about our AMAZING experience at last year’s Lake Fanny Hoo-down next week). Hiawatha is back, Bluesfest just dropped a killer line-up, and as May goes on we can’t wait to see what else this summer of gettin’ back to it has in store.
Thunder on the Iron Ranges pushes forward with the Upper Michigan Music Fest
Thunder on the Iron Range 2019 on Iron St, Negaunee. Photo Courtesy of TOTIR
UPDATED: Obviously y’all know that no festivals went down in 2020. Tis life. Hopefully we’ll see this ‘fest return with the potential to be the coolest in the Midwest in 2022.
It’s obviously been a rough couple months for everyone, not just the music scene. Sure, we’re seeing loads of AMAZING remote performances from artists on every level, but we haven’t been able to get that in person fix for weeks. We also don’t know when we’re going to get that fix.
How ‘bout lookin’ ahead to the festival season? Well, the first to drop would have been the Way UP Fest, which was supposed to be mid April, who was really looking like they were going to take a HUGE step up this year. Next to fall was Marquette’s Harbor Fest. Now, lots of folks may not give that little show the credence it deserves, but let’s just say that the majority of those “tribute bands” that have been booked are full of musicians with serious musical credentials. If that hasn’t hit ya in the gut hard enough, after 42 consecutive years Hiawatha had to make the difficult decision of looking towards a grand return in 2021, and the Marquette Area Blues Society is still up in the air on their 17th Labor Day Weekend classic.
“Geez Bear, why ya bringin’ us down?!?”
That’s not my goal here, just gotta lay out facts before we talk about one of the ‘fests that hasn’t just NOT CANCELLED but is still MOVING FORWARD. A festival that, actually, even without all the chaos going down this year, was on track to become the premiere Upper Peninsula music festival. In its second year, downtown Negaunee is going to be ROCKING August 14 to 16. Tickets are ON SALE NOWONLY $10 A DAY!!!!
The view from the stage before David Allan Coe
Last year’s Thunder on the Iron Range promised big and produced. Thousands from across the region gathered in downtown Negaunee for a day of real Country & Americana music IN THE MIDDLE OF IRON STREET. Last year’s show brought two international touring acts to the stage underground outlaw journeyman Cecil Allen Moore and the legendary David Allan Coe. The rest of the day was filled up by regional greats Tom Katalin & Highway 41, Chad Borgen & the Collective, and regional Bluegrass stalwarts Chasin’ Steele. This year the ante has definitely been raised.
Rock Goddess Lita Ford
Expanded and split over three days, the Upper Michigan Music Festival kicks off bringing you ROCK! with local neck wreckers SPUN topped off by THE QUEEN of 80’s heavy rock Lita Ford on Friday night. Whether it was rockin’ with The Runaways; her platinum selling solo career; or even just the near chart topping “Close My Eyes Forever” with Ozzy Osbourne, Lita was a hard to miss force throughout the late 70’s & 80’s. Sure, Lita disappeared for a decade in the 90’s to raise her kids, but she’s been back rockin’ like it’s still the 80’s since 2008.
Rock Night will be followed by two days of the best Outlaw Music this region has seen in quite a while. I say Outlaw music because even though the headliners are “Country/Americana” there’s still plenty for rock fans.
Saturday will kick off with a handful of local and regional acts including the family band, formed around 19 year old guitar phenom (and Otsego, MI native), Myron Elkins and the Dying Breed and nasty North Carolina Southern/Stoner rockers The Dirty Soul Revival (fans of Lynyrd Skynyrd to Clutch take note). We hope to have a lot more on both of these killer acts in the coming months.
Cecil Allen Moore, Country Outlaw
Another family band, the one backing, Cecil Allen Moore returns to Negaunee with their own Outlaw style somewhere between Waylon Jennings and Bill Monroe (with a bit of a rock aesthetic at times). This must have been an easy call for organizers as Cecil, and REAL country music still being alive, had more buzz after last year’s show than the legend that followed him. Of course, as I mentioned his band consists of his wife Nicki plucking and slapping her baby around, and their eldest playing rhythm. One of the coolest stories in Outlaw Country, a REAL family band. The next international act on the list is one that I should have been pushing to get up here years ago, Hellbound Glory.
Having toured with the likes of ZZ Top, Leon Russell, Kid Rock, and the Supersuckers, Hellbound Glory are no stranger to the spotlight. Which makes the fact that main man Leroy Virgil is one of the most down to earth cats you’ll ever meet (and a dude who just wants to jam around the campfire all night after they play) pretty damn special. Musically they should be able to please anyone from a country to a rock to a straight blues fan. If you haven’t checked these guys out yet, get on it, their diversity alone really sums up this festival.
New Hellbound Glory, from their upcoming release “Pure Scum” due out 6/5 on Shooter Jennings’ Black Country Records , dedicated to “the men & women in red & blue.”
Saturday’s headliner is one of those acts that is impossible to pigeonhole. A heavy rock fan would call ‘em Country, a diehard Country fan would call ‘em rock, I just call ‘em kick ass. Underground Americana Legends The Band of Heathens will top off the Upper Michigan Music Fest’s Saturday night. If you haven’t heard their rendition of the Leon Everette classic “Hurricane,” which they brought to #18 on Billboard’s “Hot Rock Songs” chart in 2018, well, the link is embedded right here. Get on it:
Austin’s Band of Heathens take on the 1981 classic “Hurricane.”
Sunday continues the Americana trend with the Keweenaw’s Tom Katalin & Highway 41 busting through a set of modern and classic real Country cuts to start off the day. Tom tells us there may be some of his originals thrown in as well.
Those nasty North Carolina rockers The Dirty Soul Revival will hit the stage for second set for the weekend. This band is one of those bands that I could see just about anywhere. They fit this bill perfectly. They could open for Country, Rock or Heavy Metal. Hell, I saw a similar band open for GWAR back in the day. Alright, I have to admit, these cats are a new discovery for me, and I’m wondering A) how they escaped my attention before, and B) why they aren’t already making regular stops through the Yoop. I highly recommend their 2017 full length “Brave New World” (not to be confused with works by Aldous Huxley or Iron Maiden). Their 2016 debut is solid too, and has some fun sax work that doesn’t get carried on into later works.
Jams for Rock, Metal, Country and Blues fans alike from these West Virginia badasses!
Jesse Daniel slipped onto my radar mid-2019. In fact, I was promised “new music by the end of the year,” and it didn’t happen. Instead, “Rollin’ On” dropped in March, and there was no disappointment. It’s easily one of the most well rounded pieces of country music I’ve heard in years and should appeal to most folks who “don’t like new Country” as this album calls on a lot of styles from the 70’s through 90’s all while putting a touch of that modern underground flair to it. This ‘fest should go a long ways to to change the mind of just about anyone that currently believes that “new Country” is only that twangy R&B or Southern Bro-Rock-lite, and hates it.
A fun light-hearted jam from California’s Jesse Daniel.
It feels kind of funny that I’m only getting to one of the local acts this late in the article, but it’s honestly absolutely deserved. Adam Carpenter is a staple name in this region, be it for Chasin’ Steel and his musical ventures; having the number 1 radio show in the region “Adam Carpenter’s Outdoor Show,”; or his various business ventures over the years. He’s put in his dues and Adam Carpenter & the Upper Hand is probably the best material he’s put out yet. I assume the recorded material, further than “U.P. Life”, will be circulating before this festival, but as of now I’ve only heard a few of the tracks. However, I did have the privilege of seeing ACUH in, near, it’s full glory with members of One Ton Trolley handling steel and some leads, mesmerize a crowd at a small U.P. bar literally in the middle of the woods with 3 sets of nearly all original tracks. Let’s just say this is nearly unheard of in the rural Midwest. They call it “Frostbitten Outlaw Country” I call it real country, with real feel, and influences from all over the spectrum. I can’t wait to see how far these cats can bring this material.
A fun rendition of this U.P. opus by Adam with One Ton Trolley’s Bill Arnold.
That brings us to the final announced headliner, and this writer could hardly be more excited. Originally from Flint, Whitey Morgan and the 78’s have been trucking around the Midwest for over 15 years. In fact, back in the days when they took their soundboard recordings from random gigs and put them up on the Internet Archives (there’s tons of sets available dating back to 2008). I pushed to get them up to a local venue, but was sadly ignored at first. Of course, when someone finally realized how much they’d kill up here and tried to get ‘em, well, let’s just say we never heard back. When Mike (Ridenour, promoter of TOTIR) told me they’d be headlining, I almost jumped out of my skin. I honestly have a hard time naming another modern Country artist who embodies everything that traditional Country music fans are looking for, yet also has that outlaw edge that will appeal to more open minded rock fans. Fans of Jones, Waylon and Garth should all agree that Whitey Morgan is the real deal and is what should be being spun on the radio instead of the monogenre-ic pop music Nashville pushes instead.
Country Music the way it’s meant to be played.
Yes, this is a big festival full of names you may not have heard. I implore you to check out the examples littered throughout this article. Play them for like minded friends; check out the artists on the streaming service you prefer, and GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! because they’re gonna go up and 3 days of AMAZING music for $30 right now (until May 15th) is seriously one of the most unbeatable festival deals in the ENTIRE COUNTRY.
“WHAT IF THE FEST GETS CANCELLED BECAUSE OF THIS DAMN VIRUS?!?!”
Unfortunately, these times force this question to be asked and answered. Thunder on the Iron Range fortunately has covered their bases with a full Covid-19 cancellation/postponement policy on the website (refund/tickets good for new dates). You can buy in advance with confidence that if Covid-19 shuts down the ‘fest you’ll get your money back. Of course, under otherwise normal circumstances this ‘fest is rain or shine so be ready for anything.
Finally, a little bit of full disclosure here. I was not involved in the planning of this festival, however, the parent organization to the festival is in the process of becoming a non-profit organization and I have been asked to be a part of said organization. Not that this fact would change ANYTHING I’ve said in this piece, I do feel it’s important for you all to know that I do personally have a little heart in this game. Also, I work closely with Adam Carpenter & the Upper Hand, but again, I’m long notorious for telling my friends their bands suck, do you think that has changed at all?
Get your tickets for this festival and give yourself something GREAT to look forward to in these uncertain times. I can’t wait to see this go down in August, and I can’t wait to see it continue to grow to potentially be not only the premiere annual U.P. music festival, but one of the premiere niche fests in the Midwest if not the nation.
