My first band was the Fencemenders. Then I put together the Magnificent Bastards. Now my backing band is called Side Meat.

We play around western Montana about twice a month. I use a wireless rig on my guitar, and have been known to wander off the stage and play a solo while walking down the bar, jumping up on people's tables, or duck-walking into the ladies room. The band plays at various night spots in Missoula, as well as clubs down the Bitterroot Valley.

Playing in front of a crowd of rowdy, dancing people is the greatest thrill this side of base jumping.

Hopefully the availability of music for little or no cost will put an end to all the music biz fatcats lighting their Cohibas with hundred dollar bills. It's bringing all kinds of great music to the masses. $18.98 for a ten-song CD? Give me a lunch break.

Yes. Bloodshot Records would be a good fit, but they won't return my phone calls...

I played in a few oldies bands in Seattle in the late 80's and early 90's, using the stage name Ed Zeppelin. I moved to Missoula in 1993 and played in Betty for Sheriff, then formed the Chip Whitson Trio, with whom I wrote and recorded a tape of ten original rockabilly songs. I formed Bob Wire and the Fencemenders in 1995, and adopted the persona of Bob Wire, which has pretty much taken on a life of its own.

Over the years I've churned about 300 songs through the set list. None of this "we only know the ten songs on our album" crap. I've played covers of everyone from Dylan to Willie to Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen. These days most of the songs in the set are originals.

We've got David Colledge playing lead and rhythm on his Strat and singing harmony, John Lee Walden playing southpaw bass, and Bob "The Human Metronome" Sularz playing drums. I play mostly rhythm guitar (acoustic + electric), but occasionally step out for a sweaty little solo.

I grew up listening to Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Wanda Jackson and Charlie Pride. And I HATED it. But now it's in my blood, and while I rock hard, the country flavor is never far from the surface. As a working, writing musician, my biggest influences have been Jason & the Scorchers, the Beat Farmers, Dave Alvin, Robbie Fulks, Brian Setzer, Rev. Horton Heat, the Bottle Rockets, the Derailers, and many other cultish roots rock bands. I listen to a lot of alt.country, as well as traditional country. And no, Alan Jackson is not traditional country.
I also hear a lot of Neil Young in my songwriting, as well as Springsteen, Gram Parsons, John Prine, Chuck Berry, the Stones, Elvis, Johnny Cash, even Elton John.

If I didn't live in my favorite city, I'd be a fool. Missoula, Montana is crawling with artists, writers, musicians, weirdos, nut jobs, drummers, granolas, hippies, and many other free thinkers.

As far as cities go, I spent the late 80's and early 90's in Seattle when grunge was king. A country rocker like me was totally swimming upstream there. But it's a tremendous city. Beautiful. Lots to do. Always been a very thriving music scene.

As a guitarist, my musical meccas are Austin, Nashville and Memphis.
My absolute favorite spot on the planet is the Gulf of Mexico. One of the finest moments in my life was during a recent visit to Cape San Blas, south of Panama City. One night, during a full moon, I took my guitar down to the beach. Warren Zevon had just died. I had a cold Corona stabbed in the sand, and I waded out into the warm water and played "Carmelita" to the stars. It was magical, and I felt like I became part of the gulf. Thanks, Warren.

My rig: Gretsch 5120 w/GFS Retrotrons, Fender standard Tele, Fender Bassman amp, Danelectro tremolo, Fender tuner, Ibanez Tube Screamer, Danelectro delay, Boss CS-3 Compresser/Sustainer. I also play an Alvarez Artist Series acoustic/electric through the PA.

Music should be entertaining on many levels. Sonically, or course, visually, mentally, emotionally. Hell, I even want you to remember what one of my shows SMELLS like.

I will never play "Brown Eyed Girl," even at a casual front porch jam session. Never. A deal's a deal, Dennis.

I am a master of the slide whistle, and I love to play percussion toys like shakers, tambourine, cabasa, maracas, cowbell, and kazoo.

Music is much too important to be left to corporations and marketing hacks, yet they are who decide what you hear on the radio and what you can buy in the stores. I hope the internet will change that.