The long-awaited opening of Whiskey Jacques' has finally come. This weekend, Ketchum's beloved live music venue and bar will reopen on Friday, Dec. 18, with live music by the valley's one-and-only The Bobos. Live music will continue through the weekend with another valley band, The Damphools, on Saturday, Dec. 19. A special solo appearance by Jerry Joseph will take place on Monday, Dec. 21, and will include special guests. All bands will start at 10 p.m.
The saloon was completely reconstructed after burning down in September 2008. Expect the same layout at Whiskey's but with a new, state-of-the-art sound system, a higher stage and much-improved bathrooms. Whiskey's hopes to attract a more eclectic mix of music with all the new improvements, and it has already booked some exciting live acts through the winter season. The acts include Micky and the Motorcars, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, The Gourds, The Paul Tillotson Trio and much more. Check whiskeyjacques.com and visit Whiskey Jacques' on Facebook for up-to-date listings.
The Damphools are not fooling around and have been playing dates throughout Idaho and Montana this past year. The release of their debut CD, "Damn the Hard Times," is all original songs and lyrics by the six-member band's four principle songwriters.
Band members include James "Fishstick" Fisher on drums and percussion, Troy "Chuy" Hartman on vocals and five-string banjo, J. "Rico" Hood on vocals, guitar and lap steel guitar, Sir Kenton Mueller on upright bass, Tony "Burger" Phau on vocals and acoustic guitar and Rick "Taco" Wakefield on harmonica and keyboard.
"In three years we have played almost 300 shows," said Hartman. "We all have jobs and play in the band."
The Damphools spent most of the summer playing in Stanley and found that their music fits with the Idaho Northern Rockies lifestyle.
"We have been called 'foot-stomping Rocky stomp' and 'honkabilly' music," Hartman said. "One of the coolest things was to play the Top Hat in Missoula, Mont."
The band has been looking to play a barn party in the Wood River Valley, but has not found a barn yet. Band members are also pursuing an Idaho music-history preservation project and are looking into summer festivals to play around the country. They hope to finish their second CD in mid-May.
"Our goal is to play three gigs a week," Hartman said. "The next CD will have a vaudeville parlor-room feel similar in style to the Squirrel Nut Zippers."
The Damphools will play the Silver Dollar on Friday, Dec. 18, the Casino on Thursday, Dec. 31, which will have commemorative T-shirts, and The Trap at Grand Targhee on Saturday, Jan. 2, and Sunday, Jan. 3.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
Courtesy photo by Susan Karen
The Wood River Valley’s The Damphools have released a CD, “Damn the Hard Times,” and have been touring outside Idaho.
