After Beats Workin parted ways at the end of the summer of 85’ I went back to Bozeman for one last attempt at finishing college. That didn’t pan out as my brothers death had completely derailed my college focus. Besides, my best friend, band mate, and mentor in the graphic design department, Chuck Fulcher, had graduated. All of the guys from Story had graduated. Joe was still in town and in November of 1985 he asked Dan Neuman and I if we would like to join up with a very talented singer/songwriter and fiddle player by the name of Peggy Werner. They were playing fairs and rodeos throughout the region. I have no idea how it all came to be, but like I said, this was a tough couple of years for me and this invite from Joe was a lifesaver. The three of us were “The String Fever Band” behind “Peggy Werner.” It was a cool gig.
Most notably I remember playing at a big convention (agriculture or some such) at the Metra in Billings, Montana. We also played at Cactus Petes in Jackpot, Nevada a couple of times. That was a hoot. And, I remember playing for what I think was regional fair association gathering in Boise, Idaho. The Boise show was where fair people from all around the region (various states) would gather to watch bands showcase their talent for the upcoming fair season. (I think) Something like that anyway. I met some interesting groups and one night traveled all around town in a cool band bus with a group from Chicago. They were crazy talented and completely dysfunctional. I doubt they all made it back to Chicago.
Here’s another thing I’ll never forget about that show. On the first or second song of our set on the big stage in front of hundreds of people I decided to be cool (stupid) and twirl a drumstick in the air. First of all I missed catching it and it went click-clacking across the huge, open stage to my right. Like an idiot I hadn’t put my stick holder on my kit that night so, no other sticks to grab. And what I did was about the dumbest thing I could have. Instead of playing with one hand, which I can easily do, I got up, mid song, and retrieved the stick. So, for the rest of the night, as people went from hotel room to hotel room where bands and their potential employers were mingling, I got to hear about that goof over, and over, and over again. Oh well. Live and learn.
I have no pictures of this group. And I know I have a tape somewhere. But, for now it’s just this story and a very honorable mention of a group that kept me from going insane as I had nowhere else to go at the time.