String of shows at the Marlin to feature new and familiar bands
Originally published Friday, November 28, 2008 at 12:00 a.m.
Updated Friday, November 28, 2008 at 12:00 a.m.
FAIRBANKS — When Nate Montgomery arrived in Fairbanks 10 years ago, fresh from the Southern Rock belt, he quickly became immersed in the Fairbanks music culture. He remembers seeing Gangly Moose play a show — his first in the area — and he was hooked.
Now, a decade and numerous acoustic bands later, he is excited about his first appearance in a completely electric rock band — Blazing Kings — to be held at the same venue as an upcoming Gangly Moose performance.
“It is really neat that there will be such a chronology of bands,” he said, noting the new Blazing Kings will have its debut performance at The Marlin Dec. 4, followed by the Anchorage band The Whipsaws Dec. 5, and the “still rockin’” Gangly Moose Dec. 6.
Thursday’s show with the Blaze Kings will begin at 9 p.m., while Friday and Saturday’s shows begin at 10 p.m.
Montgomery said he and fellow Blazing Kings member Josh Reuther have been playing together in various bluegrass, blues and folk acoustic bands since Montgomery’s move from Georgia. The two began experimenting with electric sounds about a year and a half ago and started an acoustic-electric mix band called Gub’ment Cheese.
“We would play half the show in acoustic and half electric,” Montgomery said.
Eventually the idea transformed, with the help of additional musicians, and the Blazing Kings was formed with the purpose of allowing a group of musicians to perform completely electric shows. As is common among musicians in the Fairbanks area, Blazing Kings brings together current and former members of other bands, such as Brady Anderson from the popular group Sweating Honey, which is on hiatus.
Anderson will play drums in Blazing Kings, and Montgomery and Reuther play guitar. Pete Nirene also plays guitar, and George Gianakopoulos will make his first switch from stand-up bass, which he plays in various bluegrass bands, to an electric bass.
The upcoming show at the Marlin will debut a number of songs written by Montgomery, as well as some classic country covers. The group’s moniker, Montgomery said, is its claim to be “the northernmost Southern rock band.”
Contact Features Editor Erica Goff at 459-7523.
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