It was a beautiful two days in Bozeman, Montana. We open our first show August 4^th at 2 o’clock sharp. It’s the Sweet Pea Festival everyone has been waiting for all year, a 30-years strong celebration of the arts, with multiple stages of live music, dance, theater and a mix of arts and crafts.

Wind chimes sway and thunder strikes. A flash of lightning kisses the mountains, then disappears into Montana’s BIG SKY, and what a BIG SKY it is—an open space everyone in needs to experience at least once. I know it’s hard to get out when jobs hold us down. I felt so thankful to be doing what I love, working on the road as a musician in one of the most beautiful states in America.

The Buckwild was right there backing me up. My new bass player Jason Covey is only 19. He’s got an old soul, a beard, long hair, shoots wild life photography and reminds me of Kurt Cobain.  His humble persona makes him perfect for the band.  The photos you see here were taken by Jason while we were in Bozeman.

Chad Elrod is on drums. Ahh, I am so thankful to have this guy backing me up. He’s truly is a great drummer who loves to yell out loud and lift me off the ground. His favorite thing to say is, “Yeaaaa!!!” and “Let‘s rock . . .  whooooow!” Chad was born in Minnesota, and he started playing at the age of 9. He’s lived in Colorado, Wisconsin, Washington (Seattle), and just moved to California (San Jose). He graduated from Montana State in Bozeman, and so gave us a tour of the place. He brought us to a crystal lake behind some green and gold hills. “Come on Mr. David, you better go swimming. Be one of us.” I saw the fish flapping and splashing around, then jumped in. Jason hit the water next, then some old black lab walking off the road. It was so nice to cool down after our first show. It was our first moment to relax in ages.

When you wait all year for a festival like this one, there’s no holding back. This was a cool concert. The kind of children’s show everyone’s head bangs to. We open with “Jump in the jumpy House,” and everyone got up and jumped like crazy. This wild rowdy audience gave us even more reason to play our best. Kids were out there shaking to “The Stars Are Grains of Sugar” like hippies at Woodstock, with purple and blue water color on their hands and face.

“There’s a Grizzly Bear Behind You, Run!” was another big hit—probably because bears are a big deal in Bozeman. (There’s a local population in the mountains.)

We played outside, under unpredictable weather with no stage cover. It was a mix of bolts of lightning, sunshine and thunder. At the last go round of our set, it began to rain during “Reach Up,” and “This Land is Your Land.” Rain was dripping down on our amps and small children’s arms (but they didn’t care; it added to the excitement). The sky got ominously dark in the distance. Moms and Dads were still smiling like the rain was just a temporary breeze. That was another admirable thing about folks in Montana: they really loved their weather. It was dramatic and beautiful and changing by the hour. It definitely added a mystic touch to Sweet Pea Festival 2007. Mark your calendars for next year. Bring a fishing pole, and be ready to drive 1,053 miles.

Thank you to all the folks in Bozeman for being such great host, especially to Laura Prindeville and her family (Laura is director of the Children’s Museum of Bozeman.

I’d also like to point you to another great artist who was at the festival with me, Kuniko Yamamoto. Kuniko is a gifted storyteller who uses magic, mime, music and much more in her performances. She’s well worth seeing, if you ever have the opportunity.  Here’s what the festival says about Kuniko in her write-up.

Her work, based on folktales from Japan, is a combination of storytelling, song, original masks, origami, highly-stylized movements and just a touch of magic. The wonders of the East set the stage as Kuniko shares heartfelt stories from ancient Japan.

 Love Mr. David