Noise& COLOR

the deadneks ...........................

10.2012

........................... ...........................
Montana votes on i-124
micro brews and hangover breakfast

crew
Bryce Turcotte } ----- executive editor Wayne Wilcox } -------------------------------------chief financial officer Sherlynn stewart Peter tolton -----editors James hickman Anna paige } ----------------- contributing editor bryce turcotte addam john ostlund david leet hall Jody P Dirt bryce turcotte

} ----- account executive

}---

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hannah r jacobsen kayla carranco pete tolton jody p dirt aka jodie tenicin smith isaac guilford anna paige james hickman david hickman douglas oltrogge courtney donovan tom aldrich kate olp lisa Hathaway-Huertas

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October 31st

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dont be a tourist lilac Mychal bogan The deadneks marijuana brews and breakfast ando ehlers gaberiel hink calendar fall fashion rainbow bar
nom nom nom

nom nom nom nom nom

by james hickman

What follows is a spontaneous weekend getaway to Red Lodge. In our last issue, I promised readers a simple overnight park-and-camp at East Rosebud Lake. The plan was to show that it is easy and economical for someone in Billings to have a weekend getaway without succumbing to tourism or a typical outdoor sports adventure. The idea is get a nature fix, luxuriously but cheaply. So, without being tourists or outdoor jocks how is this accomplished? East Rosebud was still on fire, so we headed toward Red Lodge with no plan and few supplies. Ben and I left Billings around noon on a Saturday. It was his birthday. So, we planned the day vaguely. Wed stop where we wanted and would drink, eat, and hang out at a cool camping spot. I piloted a Subaru filled with tents and sleeping bags, a cooler full of whiskey and beer, two camping chairs, and Ben with all of his extra supplies. Hes the guy that remembers things like toilet paper and extra clothes. I brought little other than a headlamp and my camera. We went the back way to Red Lodge, through Belfry and stopped in Bear Creek. We visited the Hungry Bear Cafe and tried their world famous banana cream pie. Its certainly the best Ive had, and came with a very rustic atmosphere. When we reached Red Lodge, we happened upon the Red Lodge Ales Oktoberfest event. It was a welcomed surprise. We bought large commemorative mugs and filled them with the seasonal beer. The event took place outside, in the grounds behind the brewery. German maidens, log sawing contests, sausages, music, and a genuinely hyper-German party vibe filled the air. Based on a tip from a local, we ended up camping at MK campground, about ten miles outside of Red Lodge at the base of the Beartooth Highway. We drove up in the dark, and I was terrified of deer. More terrifying, however, was the smell of smoke that filled the valley. It grew stronger and stronger, and eventually sirens and flashing lights appeared in my rearview mirror. In two minute increments, fire trucks and ambulances passed me at a blistering pace. We counted about six total. I was in awe at their ability to drive so fast on that road, especially in light of my deerparanoia speed. We feared we would not even be able to camp because the fire must have been so close. But, after another five miles on a rocky road, we found our camping spot. It was peaceful and private, and I situated my tent less than a foot from a gently flowing creek. We had no fire, because it was illegal. So, I placed a lantern in a tree and we sat next to an empty fire pit drinking and reminiscing. Without a fire, one feels much more vulnerable in the forest, so we we sure to make a lot of noise. We had our nature moment, too. Late into the night, just before bed, I shined my headlamp over the creek. There was a bat having lunch. He flew around in circles over the water, seemingly performing for us. I figured that our headlamps attracted gnats and moths, and he must have been thankful. But, thats anthropomorphic. In any case, the bat flew around and around, getting only inches from our faces. That fleeting moment with an animal is what I look for in such a trip. That slice of life in the forest reminds us that the whole force of will in nature is simply getting fed and reproducing. Sometimes we need to let go of the complexity of modern life and remind ourselves of the divine simplicity that fills our great state. The next morning, it was time to get back to Billings, but we made a last minute decision to speed up the first leg of the Beartooth Highway. This, in my opinion, is the best driving road in the world. As an enthusiast, I crave some space and driving dynamics on a road like that. We got it, and then went for a very short jog at the first lookout point. We descended and returned home tired and satisfied. A trip like that always instills a little wanderlust for me, which is healthy. It makes the daily grind just a little more interesting because I always remember theres something to look forward to later on down the road.

photo by jody p dirt

Chef Jeremy Engebretsons philosophy is simple: keep the menu small so you can keep prices low. Owner of Lilac, the new epicurean hideaway in the former Sweet Ginger location on Montana Avenue, Engebretson has created the latest hot spot on Montana Avenue with his minimalistic approach to culinary creations. The culinary creations of Chef Engebretson are made from scratch, even the mayonnaise used to make the ranch dressing. The entire kitchen is void of heat lamps, and each dish is served directly to the tableno waiting around on the counter. Engebretson has the chops necessary to cook amongst the most seasoned chefs, but hes still youthful enough to take risks. Sourcing his food locally, Engebretsons menu is diverse, because he never knows when certain foods will be available. Often Engebretson will craft a menue from the foods he has access to. Eating at Lilac is always a surprise, and I find myself following their Facebook page often to make sure I dont miss something great. Engebretson learned to be a chef at the famed eatery The Ranch Club in Missoula, working his way from Sou Chef to Executive chef in only two years. Taking cues from his training, Engebretson only sources fresh, in-season ingredients from local producers. I hope that people will like that because thats the only way Im going to cook. If it doesnt work, I dont know what Im going to do but Im not going to be another Sysco chain, Engebretson said. Engebretson regularly cooks with hard-to-find ingredients, such as truffles, morel mushrooms and foie gras. Speaking of foie, I had the best in my life at Lilac. The tender meat-butter was literally half the size of my fist, seared and served with a homemade cracker and creamy goat cheese and a plum sauce. Engebretsons approach to seasoning is admirable. So many people assault their meat with complex (and often incongruent) herbs and spices as in various combinations. Engebretson takes a more classic approach, adding just enough salt to enhance the flavor of the food. Often, seasoning becomes the main focus of the meal instead of the meat, but Engebreston is careful to balance the intrinsic flavor of meat. Regarding sweets, Lilacs sticky toffee pudding rekindled my childhood sweet tooth. Their chocolate cake, drenched in toffee sauce and served with honey poached apricots and an Earl Grey ice cream (made from scratch) is the best dessert Ive had in town to date. Lately Lilac has been host to dinner/wine tastings of five courses served with five choice wines paired by Lena Olson of Winegardners Wines. The $45 meal has two evening services on 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., held typically on Mondays when the restaurant is closed. Seats go fast, so keep an eye on their Facebook page. The 8 p.m. service has quite a crew of regulars. Engebretsons ultimate goal for Lilac is to serve head to tail cuisine, which includes foods such as sweetbreads, cheeks, and oxtail. The chef utilizes ingredients that are amazingly delicious, but have gone the wayside in lieu of over-processed foods and squeamish pallets.

mychal bogan
real hip hop real life
by courtney donovan Up and coming rapper Myke Bogan, cant even finish a beer without people interrupting a sip to congratulate him on his latest show or single. The L.A. native has gained steadfast footing in a music genre many feel has turned from poetic to superficial. Bogan says his goal is to return hip-hop to its real life roots, Bogan grew up in Lancaster, a suburb of L.A. He recalls growing up with his uncle who introduced him to hip-hop. Both my parents worked a lot, so I was kind of raised by my uncle. At the time, he was in his late teens, early twenties. Hes a huge music lover, so I was exposed to hip-hop pretty early. Myke Bogan left L.A. for the University of South Dakota. While majoring in mass communication, he got involved with music, and started collaborating with friends. I didnt start writing music til I was 20. Music at the time, it was bad. It was during the Soulja Boy era and there was so much bad music. Hiphop was dying and I just felt like I had thoughts and ideas that I thought were worth being heard. Myke Bogan spends most of his time recording in Portland and prefers the Montana lifestyle over the materialistic hustle of bigger cities. Bogan says hes aware he doesnt fit the typical image of a rapper, I get looks, not good ones, because I go out with my ripped jeans, my chops are dirty people seem kind of caught off guard. I fell in love with it when I came, like with South Dakota, what I liked about it, nobody was afraid to be themselves. In L.A. its all keeping up with the Joness. Here, its more about good times, good people and cheap beer. Bogan says thats the lifestyle he wants to emulate with his music, No matter what its about, I want people to be able to relate to it- no cars, no clothes, no chains, just real shit. Bogans manager, Kyle Palmer, says hes impressed with Bogans work ethic, He did everything he told me he was gonna do. He finished school, and I moved him out here in January. Palmer heard about Bogan from a friend and got in touch with him right away, I was like, call him up. I want to put some money behind him because I know hes that good. Myke Bogan records his music in Portland, and his music videos feature down town Billings locations. Rapping in front of Aspen trees and around friends poker tables, his views on you tube are climbing into the ten of thousands. Meanwhile, the local fan base is growing across the country. Anticipation for Bogans new music video Get Lifted is mounting. Bogan says its more of a short film than a music video. Bogan maintains a real life perspective, recently calling for people in the Portland area to come down to the local Dairy Queen and hang out while the team shot footage for the Get Lifted music video. Its growing so fast, I kind of get nervous, What if I cant write anymore rhymes? But its going well right now. Whats life without pressure?

photo by tim Slusarczyk

the deadneks .........................................

photo by bryce turcotte

by hannah r. jacobsen

the punk band from nowhere

A lot of folks say punk is dead, especially here in Billings. There are murmurs about the decline in show participation, the lack of bands, the shortage of all-ages venues, and the overall dismemberment of the scene. However, punk rock is not dead in Billings, or anywhere else. It is just changing. Its changing into something different, something a little closer to homea little closer to our western roots. Punk rock is joining forces with country, Americana, and bluegrass to create a completely new genre: deathgrass. The Deadnecks are leading the deathgrass scene here in Billings, bringing with them a whole new take on punk rock. As individuals, the three members of the Deadnecks have been playing in local bands for years. Before the Deadnecks started, Steve Nicol (vocals, bass) and Luke Lindell (guitar) were performing in Citizen Abortion, while Lukes cousin Johnnie Lindell (percussion) was playing drums in the trio 40 Oz. Heroes. Since the early 2000s, these guys have been performing in an array of punk bands. Today, they are true veterans of the scene. Their previous bands all played traditional punk rock, with no real deviations from that original, raw sound. After years of playing in standard punk bands, they wanted something more, something different. In 2008, the Deadnecks found their inspiration. One summer night, they drove up to the F.O.E and saw a show that

changed their lives as musicians. It was the Murder in the Mountains show, put on by the current owner of Farmageddon Records, a recording effort based in West Yellowstone specializing in deathgrass and country music. That night, they saw a take on underground music that they had never seen before. It was an array of rootscountry-punk bands, filling the F.O.E. music hall with an enticing mood of grit, blues, and small town punk rock. It was different, exciting, and above all, inspiring. After experiencing a falling out with their previous bands, the Deadnecks found just what they were looking for to jump start their creative abilities. It really opened our eyes to a whole different way to look at music, Johnnie said. I think all of us were kind of tired of it. 40 Oz. Heroes and Citizen Abortion both were cut and dry, generic punk bands and I think at the time in our lives we were all looking for different ways to bring different kinds of influences into playing punk rock music. It was influential in showing us to roots music and also showed us, Hey, you dont have to play just three chords and yell all the time. Throughout the night, the talents of Rachel Brooke, the .357 String Band, High Lonesome, Cicada Omega and Those Poor Bastards blew the guys away. By the end of the show, they were hooked. We all looked at each other and said, Man, lets start a country band. After that pivotal performance, the Deadnecks got to work starting their new take on music. For the first two years, the group played as a quartet with rhythm guitarist Ryan

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Racine. In 2010, Racine left the band, leaving just the three current members. Today, the dynamic trio plays deathgrass post-Americana punk rock. Deathgrass is not necessarily a new genre, but has been rapidly gaining popularity these last few years. Deathgrass utilizes a country sound with a rebellious punk rock attitude (or is it a punk rock sound with a country attitude?). Its hard to qualify what makes a deathgrass band, as many bands in this genre vary greatly in sound. Most deathgrass bands sound more like country than punk rock, and in this sense, the Deadnecks are unique. We definitely come at it with a lot more of a punk rock sound. With a lot of bands, they seem to be a roots-based country folk band that have a punk rock attitude, but we are a punk band with a country attitude, Johnnie comments. To the Deadnecks, punk comes first, but their influences stem from various genres. From the twang sound of Hank Williams III to the more mellow vocals of Nine Pound Hammer, to 80s hardcore punk like the Circle Jerks, the Deadnecks fall somewhere in the middle. Lead guitarist Luke comments, Well be playing a punk rock song and kind of throw a country fill in there. Its most of the time an even mix. The way you would describe the Deadnecks to someone from out of state would be to say that they sound like what you would assume punk from Montana would sound like, or, as Johnnie put it, punk rock from nowhere. Vocalist Steve Nicol describes their sound perfectly: Our sound is like if Johnny Cash and Hank Williams Sr. went and partied with Black Flag and the Misfits, we would be the band theyd listen to the next day when theyre hung-over. As the Deadnecks delved further into their music, they discovered the extent of the movement they had become a part of. Although deathgrass and post-Americana is still very underground, the band was amazed to see how widespread the impact has become. The bands we found because of Murder in the Mountains have really inspired us, and all the bands we found because of those bands. We found out there is a whole scene across the country of this type of music, Johnnie remarks. The roots/country/punk movement is taking the United States by storm, with incredible talents popping up all over the country, creating a diversified, yet unified scene. The movement is gaining momentum in many southern states, as Tennessee is host to the annual Muddy Roots festival, one of the largest culminations of roots music in the country. Several states are getting a taste of deathgrass as the genre makes its way through the Midwest and coastal areas. As far as the great state of Montana, we arefor oncenot several years behind the rest of the country. The Deadnecks have been rocking Eastern Montana, more specifically Billings, and their influence has acted as a catalyst for a huge wave of interest in the roots scene. The Helligans from Great Falls have been spreading the word there, and Tales From Ghost Town has been

tearing up Bozeman. The Montana deathgrass scene came to a highpoint last summer in West Yellowstone at Farmageddon Festival. The festival featured some of the nations most remarkably talented and extraordinary roots bands, creating a truly unforgettable show. Some memorable talents were Michigans gutterbillies the Goddamn Gallows, Austins Black Eyed Vermillion, Slim Cessnas Auto Club of Denver, Bob Wayne and his gang of sweaty banjo bangers, fiddle scorchers and upright bass slappers, and the metal-meets-country band Whisky Dick. The list goes on and on, offering an incredible line-up and a distinct taste of post-Americana madness. The Deadnecks opened up the second morning of the festival. As they began to play, their distorted guitar, smooth banjo and raucous vocals echoed across the Montana landscape, ensuing the first mosh pit of the festival, started by Billings own Deadnecks, at 10 AM no less! The Deadnecks have given punk rock in Billings a whole new homegrown sound, embracing their western roots and creating something new, something all their own.

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we are a punk band with a country attitude

The Deadnecks will perform Friday, November 2nd at The Terminal (405 24th St. North, Billings) with Tales from a Ghost Town, Ando Elhers, The Helligans, The Rock Bottom Drifters, Justene Marie & the Lost Cowboy, and John Hancock & His Ten Flying Harpsichords. The Deadnecks split CD with Tales From Ghost Town,I Smoked Meth and All I Got Left is this Lousy EP, will be available for sale at this location.

photo by jody p dirt

oh no you didn't
by kate olp
Editors Note: The author of the article you are about to read has asked the N&C Editorial Staff to inform readers that it is inadvisable to peruse the following information while under the influence of marijuana, medical or otherwise. She has suggested that, given the convoluted state of affairs related herein, reading while under the influence would be akin to, and we quote, trying to follow a conversation between two drunken Dutchmen about theoretical physics in their native tongue while balancing on a rope bridge above a pool full of sharks... while high on marijuana. Revised Editors Note: upon further consideration, it has occurred to the staff of Noise and Color that reading while impaired may be the only way to understand this shizz. The current legal status of medical marijuana is such an unholy cluster that imbibers may find some mind-bending deeper meaning, even if everything that is happening makes no real, logical sense.

Being the well-read, intelligent (and attractive!) individual that you, dear reader, undoubtedly are, I imagine you have heard of the sociocultural phenomenon that we language experts generally refer to as Dumb Girl Speech. In case you have not, though, allow me to enlighten you. Dumb Girl Speech is a common verbal occurrence. The speaker of Dumb Girl is not necessarily a cognitively delayed female; rather, she or he is merely relying on a social convention that dictates that certain conversations, pertaining to topics of such monumental insipidity that they would debase regular speech, must conform to specific colloquial standards. In place of typical verbs, modifiers and exclamations, the speaker relies on phrases such as I was all like, seriously, you dont even know, and ohmigod to indicate the banality of the matter at hand. A typical conversation might play out as follows: So then I was all like, are you kidding me? And he was all like, whatever. And I was all like, seriously? Ohmigod. That is so uncool. I know, right? And then I was all like, I am out of here. I was so pissed. You dont even know. You may be wondering why Im taking the time to inform you of this verbal phenomenon in an article about medical marijuana in Montana. Let me explain. After roughly half an hour of research into the history and current state of decriminalized cannabis in our glorious state, it is hard to not be overwhelmed by the adolescent absurdity of it. After an hour, it is almost impossible to not hear the whole, silly tale playing out in your head entirely in Dumb Girl Speak. Now, that is not to say that that sufferers of chronic pain or legalization opposers are themselves stupendously puerile; I

am merely suggesting that the back-and-forth squabble, as it had played out in the legal sphere, is not unlike a sloppy, drunken cat fight at a frat party.

FIRST, MoNTANANS wERE ALL LIkE, LETS LEGALIzE MEDICAL MARIJuANA.

In November of 2004, Montana voters approved a ballot measure to legalize marijuana for medical use. And not only did they approve it, they overwhelmingly approved it -- 62 percent in favor, and only 38 percent opposed. Introduced by the Medical Marijuana Policy Project of Montana and the Montana branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, the initiative was lauded by proponents who argued that medical ganje is a safe and effective way for sufferers of serious conditions to deal with pain and nausea. Opponents of the bill, like Jim Shockley (R-Victor), argued that marijuana is addictive and dangerous, and leads to the use of other illegal drugs. They also argued, somewhat nonsensically, that it shouldnt be legalized because it has not yet been approved by the FDA. (Correct me if Im wrong, but Im pretty sure the FDA has no process for evaluating the medical soundness of illegal drugs; if were waiting on a the FDA stamp of approval before legalizing a drug that we must first legalize in order for them to approve, we might be waiting a while.) Both sides -- along with Montana voters -- were likely influenced in their opinions by the enormous prevalence of marijuana use across the state. According to Marijuana in Montana: Arrests, Usage, and Related Data (conducted by Jon Gettman, PhD), roughly 106,000 Montanans smoked pot at some point in 2003. Thats one in ten Montanans hitting the hash. For the proponents, this prevalence indicated an openness to the drug, particularly in safe and controlled

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oh migod ser iously you guys

environments; for opponents, these numbers were an indication of a major social problem to be overcome.

AND THEN FoR A wHILE EvERyoNE wAS ALL LIkE, CooL.

For the next seven years, the medical marijuana program grew steadily. At the programs peak in May 2011, 4,848 providers were legally growing and selling marijuana to qualified users, with 365 physicians overseeing 31,522 patients. Over half of all the patients in the program were over the age of 50, and only 15.8 percent of patients were between the ages of 21 to 30. Much to the surprise of at least one old white guy, no children spontaneously developed methamphetamine addictions as a result of the new law. Of course, this boom was not without its problems. The Montana Caregivers Network was heavily criticized for its use of mobile marijuana clinics; for $150, pretty much anyone could attend a clinic in a hotel room and receive a prescription from a willing doctor. Here in Yellowstone County, businesses selling pot were popping up with such frequency that the City Council used a emergency ordinance to ban all medical marijuana storefronts. This ban was a huge blow to the 16 storefront businesses operating at the time (and the 51 non-storefront businesses likely hoping to join their ranks). This blow was nothing compared to the legislative bitch slap that was to come, though.

SuDDENLy THEN THESE oLD wHITE GuyS wERE ALL LIkE, SERIouSLy, NoT CooL.
With the medical marijuana program booming apace, Mary Jane opponents decided it was time to take action. Legislator Mike Milburn (R-Cascade), introduced House Bill 161 to the 2011 Legislature to repeal the ballot initiative and re-criminalize medical marijuana. With votes mostly falling on party lines, HB 161 passed quickly through both the House and the Senate. I am super surprised that the most radical legislature in recent memory passed a bill ignoring the expressed will of 62 percent of voters and pursued its own private moral agenda! Said no one ever. And then the Feds were all like, You know what we said about not arresting you guys if you comply with state law? We were just kidding about that. Throwing flame on the fire of repeal, the Feds conducted a series of raids and arrests across Montana in March 2011, targeting mainly pot growers and distributors. Many of the individuals targeted defended themselves by pointing to a US Department of Justice memo from 2009 stating that users and growers acting in compliance with state laws would not be targeted by federal prosecutors. U.S. Attorney General Michael Cotter, after announcing the indictments of more than two dozen Montana residents, responded by arguing that Federal law is clear the manufacture, distribution, possession and use of marijuana remains unlawful under federal law. The US Department of Justice, as it turns out, is that freshman dormmate who gives you permission to date her ex-boyfriend, then slut-shames you on Facebook for dating her ex-boyfriend. Except the slut-shaming in this case is actually five to ten years in federal prison.

high above his head, Schweitzer cries out in the general direction of the Capitol building, Ohmigod, seriously guys, that is so not cool. And thus was HB 161 struck down. *They may have also been waiting to exhale lungs full of weed smoke. Im not here to judge.

So THE REPuBLICANS wERE ALL LIkE, oH yES wE DID AND wE wILL ToTALLy Do IT AGAIN
AND IF you DoNT LIkE IT, Too BAD, IM GoNNA TELL JENNA THAT you ToTALLy MADE ouT wITH MIkE AT THE PARTy

Led by Jeff Essman (R-Billings), Republicans in the legislature decided that if they couldnt repeal the initiative, they would regulate it out of all practical existence. According to Senate Bill 423: To obtain medical marijuana you must be evaluated by a physician (who can recommend no more than 25 patients per year, unless he or she wants to be audited by the Montana Board of Medical Examiners). Next, you must apply for a card through the Montana Department of Health and Human Services. This application involves a federal background check through the U.S. Department of Justice (which, incidentally, routinely prosecutes individuals just like you who use medical marijuana!). Next you have to figure out where to get the ganje: either grow it yourself (unless you rent and cant obtain written permission from your landlord, or you live with someone else who is a medical marijuana user that you arent related or married to), or find a friend who will grow it for you (unless, like most people, you would find it rather uncomfotrtable to petition your friends to supply you with your pharmaceutical drugs). Except, of course, that there is no legal way under the law to obtain the seeds or plants needed to be a legal provider -- which also requires approval from the MDHHS and the DOJ (which will still happily arrest you for growing, though not using, marijuana). Got it?

AND Now THE voTERS ARE ALL LIkE, wHATEvER, IM GoING To REPEAL youR REFoRM
AND IM GoNNA TELL BECky wHAT you SAID BEHIND HER BACk AT THE RAILyARD oN SATuRday

AND THEN SCHwEITzER wAS ALL LIkE, oH No you DID NoT

Although I wasnt actually present for the event, I believe it happened something like this: Helena. High Noon. Sheriff Schweitzer swaggers down Last Chance Gulch, VETO branding iron firm in hand. Not a sound was to be heard besides the steady step and confident spur-jingle of the man in charge; from the safety of their homes, men and women wait with baited breath to hear what the Sheriff will say.* Thrusting his veto brand

This November, thanks to the Montana Medical Marijuana Veto Referendum, voters will have the opportunity to veto the reform bill that followed the failed repeal bill that regulates the industry that those same voters approved in the first place. In other words, Initiative Referendum 124 gives voters the option to override the new regulations and go back to the old medical marijuana laws. In other, Dumb Girl words, IR-124 is the cat fight equivalent of a six-inch stiletto-kick to the last legislature. Of course, even if the current regulations are struck down, it is likely that there will be another attempt at regulation in the 2013 Legislature. With any luck, though, that regulation will be more of a sober attempt to address certain features of medical marijuana production, distribution, and program qualification that require regulatory attention, and less of a hair-pulling, fake-nail clawing, screeching mess. But for now, Im going to pop an Advil and lay down somewhere quiet, because ohmigod you guys, seriously.

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microbrews

hangover breakfast

uberbrew
2305 Montana Avenue Billings- MT
Lets get this out at the beginning: berbrew is currently out of their Coffee Porter. They will have it back in about four weeks and its worth waiting for and putting on your calendar. When it does come back,it is a special limited run of six kegs. Joel from Rock Creek Coffee Roasters sources the Tarrazo beans from the Santa Eleana Estates in Costa Rica. They are steeped for 24 hours in cold water. This translates as less acid and caffeine and more flavor. The coffee is pulled out and poured right into the Diesel Punk Porter and voila we have Coffee Porter. We frequent this brewery for many reasons. They are staffed with rad people we love. The modern, industrial style of the interior evokes a big city feeling. They are always willing to give a tour of the brewery side if you ask in a super nice way. And, they are innovative and come up with beer that you dont usually come across. So yes, you will have to wait on the Coffee Porter, but you have many more craft brews to try out in the meantime and you will not be disappointed.

the lucky cuss

2753 State Avenue Billings- MT
The Lucky Cuss will shower you with an unusual and down home feel simultaneously. The chicken fried steak is good and greasy with a pleasurable chicken friend steakiness. You will be treated to what we like to call South Side Chic. This is a memorable experience that cannot really be put into words so just go there. The TV seems to be set on mute. This gives you the chance to make up your own dialogue and create an entirely new show. Women of a distinguished age will serve you with a gritty glint in their eye. Your hangover selection of beer includes Bud Light, Miller Light and Coors Light. The ambiance indoors includes wild weekend tales from the cowboys sitting directly behind you and the outdoors gives you a wonderful view of the sugar beet factory. This will not be a boring experience.

montana brewing company

113 North Broadway Billings- MT
On my way to a local community theater production, my friend Kate and I thought we would stop in at the friendly old downtown stand by- the Brew Pub (Montana Brewing Company) and have a quick beer before the show. I was looking for an Oktoberfest brew, as per the season and the article, but they were not offering one this year. This was completely fine as they have a large selection of great craft beer. I chose the Stillwater Rye. Described as A zesty rye ale brewed with lemon peel, bitter orange peel, coriander and ginger. A local favorite that is wonderfully refreshing. The coriander finish is delicious while the citrus and ginger really are refreshing and give the tongue a nice zing. I also had a taster of Custers Last Stout - a rich brew with hints of caramel, nuts, coffee and chocolate. I found both to be perfect fall beverages. The Brew Pub provides patrons with a great laidback atmosphere and good pub fare right along with their thirst quenching beers. And their bartenders arent bad looking either. -Jody P. Dirt

harper and madison

The two drinks and Im done girl was assigned a greasy hangover eatery bit. As I had exactly two beers the night before and was not craving salt and protein, I opted for my favorite breakfast hang in all of Billings: Harper and Madison. Charmingly tucked into a residential neighborhood on 10th Avenue North, I made my way there on a Saturday morning on a borrowed vintage bike with my pal Lisa. Chef Shane delighted us with pumpkin pancakes accompanied by orange thyme butter and some killer bacon (sorry folks, bacon is not a regular on the menu) and their regular Huevos Rancheros made with heated gazpacho, refried black beans and gruyere cheese among ingredients. This is darn good eating my friends. Breakfast is served 6 days a week beginning at 7am and their menu always contains four items with Huevos Rancheros being its only regular as the other three change every six weeks. There is of course an array of pastries and rolls made fresh daily by the baker and owner Joanie. You cant go wrong with Harper and Madison unless you show up on a Sunday, when they are closed, and then its just too bad for you. -Jody P. Dirt.

3115 10th Ave N- Billings- Mt

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fat jacks
My day job is on the far west end, so I often look westward for after work pick me ups. On this particular day, I decided to ride off into the sunset, to Laurel, to enjoy a pint at Fat Jacks. Situated right on Main Street in the old Laurel Ford Garage, Fat Jacks provides a little relief to the other half dozen micro-breweries in the Billings area. I walked in to a warm greeting and a smile, and ordered their 90 Schilling. This beer is a scotch and brown ale hybrid, and I found a little familiarity in every sip. The beer was dark and with a malty sweet aftertaste. The initial flavor had the sharpness of the scotch, and reminded me of summers in Missoula drinking cans of Coldsmoke on the river. Overall, Id rank the Schilling as one of my favorite beers in the area. It would probably be the best if it had a touch more carbonation and a little less malt. Im not a fan of hops, though I tasted their IPA and found it more flavorful than any others Ive had around Billings. The hop mania needs to settle down, I think, and the Fat Jacks offering was just right. I sat on the patio and brought a bowl of pretzels with me. The place only had three or four tables filled, which was a nice contrast to the overflow and seat hunting Ive found at other brew houses. Even if it were full, the patio was massive with an indoor tap room to match. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and I cant complain about the price of the beer. It was only three dollars for a pint. Familiarity and laughter came from the table next to me, and the servers seemed to know everyone there except for of course, the Billings kids at my table. Because of the anonymity, low prices, and good beer, I rank Fat Jacks as my favorite brewery of the moment. Its definitely worth the short drive to Laurel. -Tom Aldrich

317 East Main Street Laurel- MT

the alpine casino

1116 16th Street West Billings- MT
The Alpine Casino is legendary. High quality, cheap food, and live keno have made it a destination for years. Located in the Alpine Village on 16th Street West, the Alpine serves classic diner style food, booze, and gambling. I visit frequently as theyve never let me down. The walls are donned with Elvis posters, and Andy Warhol-esque 50s ads. We sat down in an old wooden booth and were served hilariously tiny water cups, a matching carafe, and an entire pot of coffee. As we sat and decided on our order, I looked around. Ive seen the same staff working there since I can remember, and thats a good sign. Some of the women who work there grew up in the Alpine. I recall visiting as a kid. At the time, cigarette smoke filled the air and the live keno and machines buzzed and flashed. Its a little more calm now, and the faint smell of old cigarettes is now more closely wed with the inviting aroma of the breakfast fry. I filled out a couple of live keno cards, and lost. In this scenario, one only plays to pass the brief period of time before the food arrives, and the girl running the keno said she hadnt seen anyone win one hundred dollars in the two months shed worked there. I ordered the Alpine Breakfast: two eggs, two pieces of bacon, two sausage links, a nice pile of hash browns, and marble rye bread. The flavor of the food is always top notch. Diner cheap and traditional, but prepared with great care and wisdom. I should also mention that its delivered remarkably quickly. I drenched my breakfast in hollandaise sauce, and shared an order chocolate chip pancakes for dessert. Needless to say, the Alpine Casino served a perfect Sunday brunch to soak up the previous night. -Tom Aldrich

carters brewing
2526 Montana Avenue- Billings- MT
The India Pale Ale is a polarizing style of beer. Put it in front of a novice beer drinker or someone who doesnt actually like beer (you can pick these types out if they tell you their favorite beer is something like Blue Moon or Rolling Rock) and watch the insides of their mouth recoil in terror. As a lover of the IPA, this reaction allows me some snobbish satisfaction, as I feel much the opposite. Theres nothing more delightful than an IPA--its layers, its bitterness, its complexity. And there are few IPAs more delightful than Carters Derailed. At a brewery known for its adventurousness and diversity, it makes sense the house IPA would have to be good. Some would consider it the flagship beer of the joint. Looking around the taproom, it makes sense. Newspaper people and fishing guides, fake hippies and young professionals, the crosssection is that of beer lovers and lovers of IPAs. It makes sense when youre there. Swish a Derailed around in your mouth and survey the room: the hop bitterness, citrus aftertaste, and medium-dry finish will make sense with the surroundings. -Pete Tolton

the muzzle loader

4912 Laurel Road Billings- MT
Like some of the other restaurants in this series, the Muzzle Loader is a blast from the past. It is both easy-going and conservative, busy and slow-paced. When I go there on a morning when my tongue is a desert and the sun is a son of a bitch, I know that in the timewarp Americana wonderland that is the Muzzle Loader, no one is going to judge my gym shorts, my wrinkled shirt, or my indoor sunglasses even though there may be a family in their Sunday best sitting at the next table. On mornings like these, I often order biscuits and gravy because I want carbs with my carbs, damnit. Muzzle Loader biscuits and gravy cover the whole plate in a sea of white coronary bliss. The gravy is peppery and perfectly textured. The biscuits are just as biscuits should be- bready vehicles for gravy. Sometimes, I get hash browns, too (I would have written just about the hash browns if I could have), when I really want to push my unproductivity into the late afternoon. -Pete Tolton

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ando ehlers death polka

by hannah r. jacobsen a new movement of underground punk has been sweeping the country, bringing with it unique and unforgettable acts that surprise the audience with distinct renditions of a classic sound. Bending the old rules of punk rock, many musicians have been infusing their music with bits and pieces from other genres. drawing from this idea, Milwaukee-based accordionist ando Ehlers has created his own take on rock. He plays death polka, a rowdy and energetic combination of classical polka and hardcore punk. The marriage between punk rock and polka can be hard to imagine. Stylistically, lyrically, and musically they couldnt be more different. yet, when they come together, the product is irresistibly unique. For Seattle-based accordionist ando Ehlers, this combo of punk and polmisanthropy. His lyrics are poetic, beautifully written, and kawhat he calls death polkais very dark. However, ando himself is quite the opposite. He his way of expressing conflict in his is a very positive person, with an inspiring perspective on life and in the lives of others, and life and death. In addition to his musical talent, Ehlers is also a way to bring people together also a hospice nurse. Throughout his career, he has seen to let loose and take in his rowdy both the negative and also the positive sides of a tragic and energetic combination of classilife event. Working with people in the last stages of life, cal polka and hardcore punk. Ehlers Ehlers has encountered individuals with illuminating inmusic is especially distinct, as he sight, incredible inner strength and admirable senses of creates fast-paced rock with nothhumor. Life can be very difficult for a lot of us, Ehlers ing but an accordion. His sound is comments, Ive been very fortunate to work with a lot of consistent to punk rock, embellished patients that have such an amazing, hilarious sense of with dynamic classical composition. humor about some very difficult things that theyre expeThe effect is powerful, creating this riencing. His encounters with mortality have influenced angry and rebellious tone overlaid him as a songwriter, and through these experiences, he with 19th century accordion. His has gained a unique outlook on life, never taking the little sound is somewhat dark, gruesome, things for granted. For Ehlers, his profession has become and intense. as a solo act, his perfora means of enlightenment. I dont view it as a negative mance is lively and energetic. Gesthing in my life; its actually been a very positive thing. Its turing wildly to the crowd, he perbeen a huge privilege to work with people who go through forms in almost a theatrical manner. that. They give us a lot of gifts with what they teach us. as a vocalist and song writer, Ehlers Ehlers music has led him to many different places in life, is quite out of the ordinary. His and many different places around the country. as a touring dramatic vocals enhance the lyrimusician, he has met many people through his music. Im cal content, which itself, is nothing lucky to be able to be out playing shows, meeting different short of thought provoking. The lyrpeople and seeing different things. Ive been very fortunate. ics tell a story of the darker side of Not only with my work, but also the music itself has opened people, the disappointment in huup a lot of doors for me. Its all been very inspiring. This man kind, and a sense of general November Ehlers will launch his third U.S. tour, covering numerous states in the North and Midwest. He performs in Billings at The Terminal (405 24th Street North) on Nov. 2 with the deadnecks. He looks forward to the tour, always eager to see more of what life has to offer and experience an opportunity to grow as an individual and as an artist.

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In my never-ending pursuit to educate myself about business, improve my networking skills, and create my own success, I find myself at the crossroads between understanding the hows and whys behind my decisions, and what stops other people from following the same trail of breadcrumbs. Rather than dwell on the reasons people dont pursue their ambitions, I would like to focus on the people that I admire and respect, and how they became what they are today. was it destiny? Did they create their own opportunities for success, or did they happen to be in the right place at the right time? what characteristics separate these people from the rest of us? How do they view themselves? How do they account for their success? Most importantly, what set them down the road that led to where they are now? The following is the first of _______, I hope to find some of the the answers to these questions, and, in doing so, give others the tools and skills to learn how to recognize opportunities and possibilities, and inspire them to take action to better their own lives. -wayne wilcox

The Mystery Machinea replica of the van used by Mystery Inc. in the Hannah Barbera cartoon, Scooby-Dois a Billings quirk. Maybe youve seen it cruising around town or at special events like Burn the Point. Maybe youve even wondered if Fred is at the wheel, busing velma, Daphne, Shaggy and Scooby to the scene of their latest paranormal investigation (think western Sugar, plagued by a former employee dressed up as the Pharaoh of Scamses). Then maybe you remembered Scrappy-Doo, and briefly thought about accidentally rear-ending any vehicle he could be traveling in or maybe not.

Gaberiel hink ...................................................

by lisa Hathaway-Huertas photos by bryce turcotte

It turns out that Gabriel Hinkthe man behind Billings Mystery Machineis a lot like The Gang themselves: part fun, part purpose, full of mystery, imbued with a sense of adventure, and replete with catchphrases. As I stepped into Gabriels Toys and Comics, I was greeted with a warm smile. kids love the Mystery Machine, Hink said. The look in his eye suggests that he does, too. Hinks office is unlike anything Ive ever seen. Its a tribute to adolescent loves and obsessions, strewn with classic collectibles, Star Wars figurines, model cars, a diner booth, and arcade games. on one wall hangs the iconic

poster of Farrah Fawcett, wearing her signature toothy grin and itty-bitty red swimsuit. Hink takes us through room after room, each full of inventory that would rival Santas workshop. And then, there are cars. Lots of cars. Some are complete, some are works in progress, some are there for parts, and some are theme cars like the Mystery Machine, waiting to be revealed. Though the themes range from super-hero to muscle cars (with a pit stop in an episode of the original Charlies Angels), everything has a place. As the interview progressed, it became apparent that Hinks lifelike his officeis far from ordinary. After

graduating high school, Hink was a busy man. He joined the uS Marine Corps, went to college, and got married. He got his black belt and started a martial arts school. He purchased cars, fixed them up, and then sold them. He had two kidsa daughter and a son. one night, Hink caught an afterhours infomercial with Carleton Sheets, the real estate tycoon, pitching his program for DIy real estate ventures. He ordered it. Then he and his wife bought their first home in Vegas.

The next part reads like a modern-day, pre-recession fairytale. we had an opportunity to buy a second home where I could work on my cars, Hink said. I sold my vin-

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tage Star Wars collections that gave us just enough money for the first down payment. I had no way of knowing the market would skyrocket in three years, but it did. Each of our properties increased in value by over a hundred grand in a very short amount of time. They sold their vegas properties and bought a house in Billings. A normal person might have banked the rest, or put it in a retirement fund. But Hink is not a normal person. I saw an opportunity to diversify, and I took it, he said. Starting in Laurel, Hink bought a couple shops, and then rented one of them back to the original owner. Then Hink bought the land in front of those stores, built four additional storefronts, and rented those out. This allowed him to run his shop without making his own rent or mortgage payment, demonstrating his mastery of the concept of putting your money to work for you. Having your money work for you, rather than you working for your money, he said. Its elementary basic, but so powerful when you figure out how to make that work. He has continued his career in real estate, and is currently the Director of the Billings Real Estate Investors Association. keeping track of all his ventures seems like

a monumental task, but Hink does it. He has worked to ensure multiple streams of income, so that if one fails or does poorly, the lose isnt a severe financial hit (his ventures vary from the toys and comics store to a hotel in Billings to billboards, among others). He shies away from hiring employees, both to save money and because he cant guarantee theyll always have a job. And he is actively involved in all of his ventures, which became apparent when he recited Gabriels Toys and Comics entire inventory a list thousands of items long, including the price he paid for each item and what it should sell for on eBayfrom memory. when asked if hes ever bitten off more than he can chew, Hink laughed and said, well, yeah, but one of my favorite quotes from a good friend of mine is, Bite off more than you can chew and just keep chewing! It might seem a little overwhelming, but Hink isnt afraid of screwing up. I fear not making mistakes and not learning, he said. If I dont take action on a deal, and see that it worked out and I should have acted, I make a mental note to act next time. Ill never beat myself up for making a bad business decision because Im going to make them sometime. He does worry about letting his

partner down, but feels that this fear makes him step up, work harder, and be more. Hink observed that many people seem to be caught up in the idea that there is a magical formula for success. He says that there is a simple success formula (slow growth and youll make money), but suggested a different approach: Find out wHy you want to be successful and wHAT will make you happy and model your success path that way. A successful person, to me, is someone who has found their calling and made their success by stepping on a heap of failures, he said. Someone that enjoys life, family, and the good things money cant buy. I was actually a stay-at-home dad until 8 months ago and did work from home. I make a point every night to tuck the kids in. My daughter is getting a little older, but my son has a whole ritual we have to go through, and he lives for that. I know there are only a couple more years that he thinks tucking him in is still cool. It pains me to think that, but I am mindful of the present. There is a bookturned-movie called The Peaceful warrior. The main guy in that book asks the question, what time is it? The answer to that question is, The time is now! That about sums it up for me: The time is now!

bite off more than you can chew and just keep chewing

Although hard-pressed to identify the exact reason for his success, it seems that Hink attributes it to passion and creativity. Successful people have vision, he said. I have used goals for many years and I have had a vision in my head of projects I want to dofrom cars to toys, buildings, even a martial arts school. I have been very fortunate to find success in chasing my dreams, hobbies and interests. At times, I am lazy just ask my wife. other times, I am so focused, it drives people around me crazy. And hes getting away with it, too.

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gym runs Our e es, aaemcal mth: es to thls, bikg nd lliptiu ac in and mil

Tread t; free weights r cardio workou ramp up you rease streng th ; s to tone and inc machine lax you after team rooms to re saunas and s on of a long day. ss and commoti the stre 're here for you, hat time it is, we y No matter w da ! urs a 24 ho

131 Moore Ln. 406 259 4566

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fall fashion
by isaac guilford illustrations by kate fischer Fall is upon us. Though no one would care to admit it, it wont be long before we awake to a frosty bite in the air. Its my opinion that there need not be any other season than the almighty summer, when we can frolic in the sun and work as whimsically as we wish (maybe thats just me). However, there is one saving grace: Fall fashion. In fact, all seasonal fashion. while everyone else discusses the changing of the leaves and the start of school, Im noting the slow coming of jackets and scarves and waving a goodbye to short skirts and tank tops. Fall isnt quite so bad except that it is immediately followed by winter. on the bright side, lets address this fall and all the glorious options this year. The options to look at this year for lads and lasses are borderline decadent with every way one can look great while remaining individual and original. First, lets start with dudes!

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we have three looks to look at for now: Biz, Party, and casual. All three of these looks for this fall involve layering. Not just layering fabrics, but patterns, too. (Side note about contemporary pattern clashing). Lets start with layer one! The coat or sweater. With so many options, there is just no excuse to fuck this one up. First off, consider a layered dress shirt with button vest and slim tie or a grey vest with a fine pattern shirt and black polka-dot tie. Showing the clash of tie and shirt can actually look sharp. Second, its time to revisit that awesome 90s sweatshirt with the tapered cuff and waist! Grab one (you might find one lurking in your garage or attic) and rock a casual, smart look with any collared shirt under it. Even try a tie to add color and class. (Side note: this look is excellent with the sleeves pulled up and even exposing some of the undershirt.) And, for partying on those late evenings, when the temp bobs back and forth from pleasant to frigid, try something that can work for both. A good medium jacket consists of a stiff, tall, and prominent collar. And as always, fit and form are the zenith of a good look. (Side note: to save cash for shots at the bar, pick a coat that is a neutral color and can go with everything, instead of needing a new coat for every outfit.) Bombers are timeless and surprisingly versatile, although they were never really intended to be anything but military wear. However the more contemporary designers are embracing them as their favorite adopted children and molding them into masterful works of unending fashion. For a Biz look, autumn is a perfect time of year to break out the wool blazers and sport coats. Its okay to go a bit vintage in a blazer, but be sure to be modern in the rest of your ensemble if you do take that route. Spruce it up with a scarf with some color or a cool cap, or, better yet, rock a business top with a casual bottom and go with some wellfit, colored denim, or skinny trousers. (Side note: avoid three button coats unless its a vERy business-oriented occasion, and even then make sure it fits perfectly. As you can easily look like a televangelist.) As far as shoes go, its wide open and this could be a good opportunity to individualize your look even more. As always, Chucks work with every casual look, from rock star to prepster. If you want to bring it up a notch, go for the caramel and bronze brown slippers and loafers. Laces arent really the look this time around, so aim for some buckles on the outside of the shoe (not kidding) and steer clear of square toes soooo jersey shore! (picture) of a proper toe) Also, lace-up boots and riding boots are always a great option. Now for the dudettes! As usual in the world of fashion, you get to have all the fun! Its all about layering again, but you have about 2 billion more ways of doing it than us bros. Jealous! Its all in the tunic this year. Sweater tunic dresses and blouses alike. They can be tricky to find, but if you can, there is a myriad of choices. To accommodate this diverse piece, use colors underneath, in leggings, scarves, hats, etc. A great way to wear the tunic is with a tessellated accent under and some nice, warm leggings or even some

sexy wool thigh highs for the truly fashion-forward. when it comes to showing some skin while being realistic, the best way to expose is in the shoulders and thighs. work in an oversized sweater with some cutoff jean shorts and some cableknit thigh highs and you will be rocking one hella sexy look (Illustrate). This will be more casual and can be rocked at the bar or out at the park walking the dog. For a more professional yet sophisticated style, try some colored denim with a nice blouse and boyfriend blazer. Even with an ascot or girl tie. It looks ravishingly hot, completely comfy and you can be as colorful or conservative as you want. Another bit of good news for the ladies is just because its fall doesnt mean you cant wear shorts and skirts. These also look great with tunics and layered knits like camis with net sweaters. Although I hate to admit it, the best place to look for great tops for this look is Abercrombie and Fitch. And yes, I said A&F! Now, for those dreamy formal nights. I generally steer clear of overly long dresses as there have been few designers (in our price range) who really tackle the difficult task of making these dresses meet the requirements, Sexy, classy, and contemporary. But, as I browse with an open mind, and people watch, I have begun to see some emerging long dresses that can be extremely flattering and totally classy. One important tip with these dresses is to never over- bling. keep your accessories to a minimum and let these gowns showcase your figure. Note: there is a gown for every figure out there. You just need a friend mean enough to tell you yes or no and BE HoNEST ABouT IT. No one is doing any favors by being polite, not when it comes to how you dress. As far as colors and patterns to keep an eye out for this year, look for moody purples and rusted oranges. Copper tones and greens are also up. For patterns, look for some pseudo-gothic floras, with the aforementioned colors swilled in with blacks. Accessories are easy every fall. They are everywhere and generally affordable. you can subtly individualize with hats either big, oversized sun hats, ect, or small with fedoras and knit beanies. Naturally, scarves will be out. As far as Im concerned, the last few years have become the glory days for scarves as there are now more ways than ever to present them. Ladies have all the boyfriend accessories to work with as well. Bowties, ties, and BF beanies can be excellent replacements for the everyday look. And, with jewelry, its a never-ending wonderland of opportunity that I could carry on about forever. So, Ill spare you. Go have fun! There is almost no wrong way to wear the add-ons, though there may be some staunch metropolitan stylists who would hang me for saying that. So, there you have it, B-town: A fun and easy guide to the best ways to look this fall. Dont be afraid to try something new and if you dont like what I write here, then great read other magazines. At least youre making the effort, which is more than can be said for the majority of people I see in this area. Lets change that and have the sexiest fall billings has ever seen!

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photo by bryce turcotte

if these walls could talk...

by douglas oltrogge A mountain of a man, in tight wranglers and a Dawson County High School wrestling shirt, dated 1999, announces his wager as he walks through the door. I bet 500 bucks that there ain't a man in here who can take me down once. A dull murmur spreads from among the most hardened and seasoned patrons lining the bar. I've seen this before. Hey big guy, did ya hear what I said? The behemoth says. Alright, Jack, I heard you, I answer. I don't have five hundred bucks, but I will make you a counter bet: I bet you 200 bucks, and that's all I got, that I can take you down nine out of ten times, even wearing these flip flops. My editor, James Hickman, eyeballs me over the drunkards shoulders, now square to me. Not ten out of ten, uh tough guy? Buddy, I got you pegged for a one-trick pony, and one thing is for damn sure. you're not getting me twice... And the rest, as they say, is history. My editor, bail bondsman, and sometimes literary agent, James Dean Hickman, asked me to do a short piece on the history of The Rainbow Bar, the Montana Avenue Institution, which is equal parts famous and infamous. I snaked, I snarled, I said, I can't do it. The Rainbow to me is too much a part of my own history. Its history is in the making... I just don't think I can do it. I mean, I'm no historian, man. Hickman snarled right back, you listen here, and you listen good. This is your last chance, I'm tired of putting my neck out there only to have you flake out and leave me holding the bag. These guys want you to write the story. youve got insight to the place. This is the very story you've been asking me to give you, and I told them I would get you to do it. If you screw it up this time, I'm finished with you. I'm done trying. Threats? Really, Hickman, threats!?! Fine! I shot back, the hard lessons of cheap wine still playing out from the night before. Fine, but Noise & Color has my bar tab and you are my ride. Plus, I need smokes before we even get there. Those are my terms: booze, smokes, and a ride. If you want a history of The Rainbow, then you had better be ready to go into the belly of the beast. you have to capture its history from the inside looking out, and this costs money, so make your calls and lets get going. Later, I told him, The Rainbow is timeless. It exists today as it did seventy years ago. Its history is in full bloom, ripe for the picking, and you, Hickman, you are my ride and we are going this very instant. you want history? I'll give you your history... It takes more than a couple minutes, but my editor secures funding for our research. It is the twilight hour, and we stand on the sidewalk, chain smoking roll-yourown cigarettes and generously sipping at stiff drinks. I contemplate the idea of a personal history, of how I can write an article about my life at the Rainbow that won't deter first time patrons from coming down and having a drink. The Rainbow Bar has a history unto itself and its owners. Hell, the same family has owned the place for 77 years. But this isn't that kind of history. This is a People's History, written from the seat of an individual perspective; this is a history caught in the current of a story still unfolding, moving ahead, wrestling in the wake of the ever-developing and succumbing present, where the chaos of the moment gives way to the stability of hindsight. This is my history of a place central to my life. I can think back to characters I've met at the Bow who have forever enriched my life. Punk Rock Timmy, for example, who went around wearing a tattered Ramones shirt and a scowl of contempt, but who, on the inside, was this soft, compassionate and amazing artist, a humanitarian in wolfs clothing. Ten years ago, I watched a woman get shoved to the ground by her boyfriend, and when I stepped in and knocked the dude to the dirt, she, the abused woman, came up from the ground and scrambled my nose with a beer bottle. Don't touch him, she said. I love him... Good lord, that woman was crazed. Punk Rock Timmy sat on the sidewalk next to me, bringing me cups of water to wash the blood out of my eyes and reassure me that I was a victim of trying to do the right thing. You find the purest of hearts in the darkest of corners. I think of Dick, the bartender. He was like a dad to me for

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about five years: trash-talking, chewyour-ass-out, Dick. I am sure there will be people who will read this and think, you poor slob, Dick the dick was like a dad to you? The answer is no and yes. I have a father, a damn fine one, who I use to hide from at the Rainbow; it just so happens that Dick has a son, and Dick can tell when sons are hiding from their dads. you're not a loser, kid, Dick would say to me. But if you spend every night in here drinking like a fish, it won't take you long before you are one. one night, after about a year of hanging out on his shift, Dick asked, Do, you need a job, kid? I need a bouncer on my night shifts, and Ill pick you if you want it. I'll tip you out every night. Dick knew I needed a place to hide, and he knew that if I was working I wouldn't be a pain in his ass, drunk by ten o'clock every night. I spent a year and a half watching football with Dick, getting my ass chewed when I screwed up, getting patted on the back when I did the right thing. you need to get back into school before it is too late. Don't waste your life, kid, he told me. Dick still works at the Bow, but he works days, and I haven't seen him in a couple years. But, I know the next time I do, he'll ask how schools going, he'll ask if I'm taking care of my priorities, and as long as all the answers are to his approval, he will sit me down and pick up the conversation where we last left it off. A hardened bartender with a harder reputation, but a heart of gold, I need to see him sooner than later. Hickman breaks away from the conversation he's been engaged in for the last twenty minuets. He turns to

me, and asks if I need another drink. Always, I answer him. Are you formulating a game plan? Do you know what you're going to write about? he asks me, but only as a means to ensure I'm staying focused. I'm working on it. I just need to get the words straight. I want to capture The Rainbow as it exists to me, but I'm not sure where to start, I answer him. Well, start by finishing that smoke and coming inside, and then just put pen to paper. I need to know that you're working on this, and we're not wasting time and money here. I'll waste you, Hickman. Don't insult me. It can't even be past 9:30 yet. The night is young. I ash out my smoke, slam my drink and pitch the plastic cup in the trash. when Hickman pulls open the door, the music and mayhem of a bar filled with life pours out like a wave and washes into the street. we are somewhere now, in the AM hours, with a cash tab that could ransom a king, now nearly spent. The back mirror reflects the same images of different carpenters, different concrete workers, tradesman, a few college students, a mix of musicians, and some hard kids congregating at the end of the bar. These are my people, and, at any of the different stages of my life, I have stood in their shoes. I was the angry kid at the bar's end, some fifteen years ago. I have been the callous-handed tradesman, chilling a hard and hot days work with cold PBRs. I have been the college kid trying to put off until tomorrow that which should have been done

yesterday. I have worked the door and, in turn, was worked over, more than once and with the scars to prove it. Throughout the seasons of my life, the Rainbow has been the constant. It has been as reliable as the sun, and now, well into my thirties, it has become that familiar groove to which I return when a life of responsibilities affords me the time. I look with crossed eyes into the mirror reflecting a face scarred and defined by deepening wrinkles. I'm not the child of twenty-one anymore; Do you recognize me, mirror-mirror behind the bar? what was that? Chris, the bartender, Hotpocket, as I call him, is looking at me like maybe its time to cut me off. Oh, nothing man, I am just talking to myself. Just imagining if that mirror could speak, I say. If these walls could speak, they'd probably scream. Chris pours me another whiskey. How is Hickman's cash tab holding out? you guys have about broke the bank, there's maybe twenty bucks left. Good god! You'd better pour me another before it's spent. Its time to double up. As Chris pours my drink, I see Hickman working his way through the mayhem toward me. Can you feel the history? I yell above the ruckus of a dozen conversations. Hickman is entirely oblivious; his eyes are closed and he's singing at the top of his lungs to Tom Waits blaring on the jukebox. He doesn't hear me, he's lost in the moment, and now, he too is part of the Rainbow's history. He's frozen in the

bar back mirror, reflecting decades of patrons, reflecting more patrons who also called that same space at the bar home away from home until 2 AM or until they were kicked the hell out. I stand at the bar, scribbling madly at napkins with a fast-fading felt tipped pen. we are here, and it is now. The Rainbow is not a bar as much as it is a culture. There is recognition among the regulars, and there are great many regulars still standing at 1 AM on a Thursday night. These are my friends and these are my people, some of them I have known for over half of my life and almost entirely within the confines of our beloved Rainbow. These are not bartenders, they are my brothers. I have shared with them wedding receptions and funeral gatherings, lonely Christmases, class reunions, and every thing in between. This is not a bar. This is the moorings to which anchors are set and storms endured. Do you see now, Hickman, I yell. This place is the spawning field of history. Behold! It falls before us! Write that down, man! My editor replies, one arm around an unfamiliar and distracted woman, looking at herself in the mirror. Beneath his other arm, another familiar face, a regular, staring long and hard at the shot glass in his hand, still half full. He knows he must finish his plate. I need some more napkins, Mario. Mario is on the hustle, pouring beer and shots, speed walking the length of the bar. what are you writing? he asks. I am supposed to do an article on The Bow. I'm trying to get things down. Alright, but it better not be anything

bad, He says. Nothing bad, I promise. Mario drops me off a stack of napkins, a scuffle in the door breaks out, there is a woman crying behind me; I try and watch them all through the distorted lenses of whiskey bottles backed by the mirror. In the chaos of the moment, I write: A working man's bar is filled with working men's problems, and when I hear people bitch about my beloved Rainbow, I think to myself that they are unfamiliar with the endless days and the endless shovel; they know not of the man worked like a tool, they are strangers to cracked callouses and broken noses set right with whiskey and time. It is good that the Rainbow Bar is not for everyone; there are plenty of other bars with leprechauns on the walls where you can get your drinks served with umbrellas and bogus smiles, and the rest of the world can have them. The Rainbow sits on my side of my line in the sand. It is staffed with my people, and filled with my clan: hard drinks for hard patrons... As I finish this line, I see in the mirror some six and a half feet of a hard scowling Eastern Montanan, with a set jaw and a mongoloid brow walking through the door. watching him in the mirror, I hear him say, I bet 500 bucks that there ain't a man in here that can take me down once. Hickman puts his hand on my shoulder, steps in between the cow punch from Dawson county and me. If you want to challenge my people in my land, then let the challenge end with me. I walk the guy out the back door, and into the alley, he tries grabbing me in a head and arm, I slip through

and grab him in a body press and spike him off the ground. Thats one out of ten. I say. The dude growls, he groans, he rises in a rage and tries his damnedest to get me in a double leg. I sprawl out and grab him in a front quarter nelson. Two out of ten, I yell as I roll him through and come down with my weight on him. The alley comes alive with laughter. The mood has changed from aggression to entertainment. The cow-punch and I now are just having fun. Or, at least I am. By nights end, the dude is a little rattled, his knee is scuffed and his ego a little bruised. But, hes none the worse for the wear, really. He slaps both Hickman and me on the back, ordering us two more whiskeys as Chris stands at the end of the bar, and like clock-work begins his familiar call: Everybody!!! Time to get out of here! Mario sneaks us in two quick ones; the Eastern Montanan pays up, leaving with his gal ahead of us. I collect the covered napkins spread out on the bar before me, Hickman throws his arm around me and asks, Did you write anything good? I nod reassuringly, throw my last dollar on the bar top and give a quick goodbye to the boys behind the bar. My editor and I make our move, but not before polishing off the last of our drinks, and then we drift like smoke out the door and evaporate into the night, like history.