Written by: Phil Santala

The Seattle based funk trio McTuff traveled to the winter wonderlands of Big Sky, Montana to kick off a week and a half of music billed as March Music Mayhem. The Friday night show at Whiskey Jack’s at the base of Lone Mountain was sparsely

The band produces a surprisingly big sound given the three piece membership. They filled the open spaces of the dance floor and made the show, and dance floor, more inviting of a scene. Obvious comparisons to the jazz/funk trio Medeski, Martin and Wood

This consensus of direction-oriented sound came despite the second set, which for lack of a better term got weird. Really weird. The tightness of the sound might have been maintained through the returns to key chords and refrains. Joe’s organ wandered deep into the woods at times accompanied by Coe’s guitar. Still could and should be drawn. The general consensus amongst attendees was that McTuff provided a generally more up beat and less of a wandering sound. This feeling might be due to McTuff’s grounding in a more funk-based style of jazz and blues, and less of the traditional standards from which MMW are based. Former band mate, and Les Claypool compatriot, Skerik was a founding member whose influence on the band might still be noticed today. attended, perhaps owing to the sold out status of Saturday night’s Leftover Salmon show. Not one to let the attendance slow them down the band filled the room with Joe Doria’s organ jams matched by Andy Coe’s rock guitar riffs, held in tempo and check by Tarik Abouzied’s solid drum work.

McTuff hit the ground hard in Montana, with shows at Monk’s Tavern in Missoula, the Yellowstone Valley Brewery in Billings, The Mint in Livingston, the Zebra Lounge in Bozeman, and in Butte at the Silver Dollar Saloon for the St. Urho’s Day festivities (or St. Patrick for those uninitiated). Band members reported that the crowds were inviting and provided them with a warm reception at almost every stop in Montana. Still as they left town at the end of the day after the show, they gushed about their experience in Big Sky. Warm sunny slopes and soft plentiful snow can have that effect on musicians, just as warm inviting jams and soft plentiful solos can have that effect on its riders.the tempo of the drum would pull the tune back into shape, and both organ and guitar could easily follow it back. The encore cover of The Beatles “In My Life” fit nicely into this pattern. The vocal chorus was frequently pulled out of the jams as it was transposed onto the organ. Between these times the jams tended to wander and drift. There were moments where one might forget which song was playing, but still be able to enjoy the ride. The treat for them then became the return to the chorus.