One of
Missoula's favorite ex-patriots, Nate Schweber, is
making his music career work in New York City. And,
he's asking the governor to take notice.
Nate,
the famous "gyrating," feather boa-ed, sequined
University of Montana tuba player, left Missoula
amidst much fanfare several years ago (his farewell
was actually covered by the Missoulian and a few local
TV stations at the time). Today, he's working in the
big city, stringing for the New York Times, writing
home sporadically here on New West and of course,
playing Rock and Roll. (Note capital R's) His band,
the New Heathens, just released their first album and
Track No. 8 is a touching tribute to teenage
debauchery in the biggest state in Nate's heart:
Montana.
It's such an ode, in fact, that Nate
has sent Gov. Brian Schweitzer a letter asking that
"July 1, Near Helena MT" be dedicated the "Song of the
State of Montana" for July 1, 2006. (Click here to
hear "July 1, Near Helena MT.")
In the letter,
Nate asks Schweitzer to "give it some sort of official
thumbs up, because as far as songs about Montana go,
'July 1, Near Helena, MT,' whips 'Meet Me in Montana'
by Dan Seals and Marie Osmond and it stomps the
ever-lover stuffing out of John Denver's maudlin,
'Wild Montana Skies.'"
The song details what
"Joe" sees when while driving on a mountain road: a
burst of flames courtesy of a few teenagers spilling
gas onto the highway, then throwing matches onto the
spill just as the headlights get close. "This is, I
believe, Montana's greatest and most unique
contribution to teen culture," Nate
writes.
Nate admits he does not have firsthand
experience with such a performance. "I became privy to
the prank while hitchhiking from Jerry Johnson hot
springs back to Missoula late one night to work the
graveyard shift as a disc jockey on the University of
Montana's radio station KBGA," Nate writes. "I was
picked up by a carload of UM freshmen who played this
prank on several motorists on Highway 12. You may
wonder why the song specifically ties the fine Montana
community of Helena to this prank. Well, those frosh
who picked me up all proudly informed me that they
graduated from Helena High."
Sarah Elliott,
Schweitzer's spokeswoman, said her office had not yet
seen Mr. Schweber's letter but she would look for
it.
Nate tells Schweitzer he will not hold it
against him if he does not make his tune the "Song of
the State of Montana" for July 1. "But if that's the
case just bear in mind that the next time you're in
New York City making a case at Columbia University for
your fine idea of turning Montana's vast coal reserves
into clean energy you might find your speech attended
by a long-haired dancer playing a tuba while wearing
skintight gold pants, a feather boa and nothing else.
I have been known to don that getup."
