Murder by Death is coming to the Railyard Ale House on August 27th at 9pm.  4 on the Floor will open the show.

Tickets are $15 General Admission and go on sale this Friday, May 24th at 10am.  Tickets are available at JadePresents.com and 1111Presents.com, at the Tickets300 box office (2911 3rd Ave. N. in downtown Billings; open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Rimrock Mall, Ernie November Records, or by calling (866) 300-8300.

On the surface, Murder By Death is a Bloomington, IN quintet with a wry, ominous name. But behind the geography and moniker is a band of meticulous and literary songwriters matched by a specific brand of brooding, anthem-riding balladry and orchestral indie rock.

Murder By Death’s path began in the early 2000s as most Midwestern college-town groups do, by playing to small crowds at ratty venues and frenzied house parties. While many of their formative-year scene-mates failed to make it much further than campustown’s borders, Murder By Death translated their anonymous beginnings into a 10+ year career founded on a bedrock of five full-length albums, tireless D.I.Y. touring and performing ethics, and, most importantly, a dedicated, cult-like fan base.

Since the band began in 2001, their audience has blossomed due in part to extended tours alongside similarly hardworking musical kin such as Against Me!, Gaslight Anthem, Lucero, William Elliott Whitmore, Ha Ha Tonka, and others. Through more than 1,000 performances across the United States, Canada and Europe, Murder By Death has gained word-of-mouth devotees and support from the likes of media outlets like SPIN Magazine, who said of the band, “They brawl like Johnny Cash’s cellmates or dreamily swoon like Nick [Cave], stomping saloon floorboards in 4/4 time as grand strings fade into high noon.”

Iron Man 3 is Marvel’s first post-Avengers “Phase Two” movie, and they made a great choice to lead into this next phase. Loosely based on Warren Ellis’ seminal “Extremis” story arc from the comics, Iron Man 3 entertains from start to finish.

Robert Downey Jr., once again, is perfect as billionaire playboy Tony Stark. This time around new director Shane Black, of Lethal Weapon 2 and Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang fame, lets Downey Jr. bring the character’s trademark quippy sense of humor to the forefront. There were five laugh out loud moments for every one machine-suited brawl in the film. This works out to be a great balance in a film that explores the scars left on Tony’s psyche after the alien invasion that took place in The Avengers and introduces a mysterious new terrorist threat for Iron Man to be pitted against, The Mandarin.

Don Cheadle and Gwyneth Paltrow return as War Machine (rebranded as The Iron Patriot) and Pepper Potts, respectively. The great supporting cast and the fact that we’ve visited this world with Iron Man three other times makes it easy to slip in to the story and just enjoy the movie. I recommend that you check out Iron Man 3 in the theaters for a fun spectacle.

You can! Bin 119 and their award winning chef Katie Resmondo invite you to celebrate their 5th anniversary tonight with The Best of the Bin.

It’s open reservation with limited seating from 5:30- 8:30 pm. This means you can still change all your plans, or actually get some plans, and get down there and have a fabulous evening!

It is $42 per person and $30 per person without wine pairing.

First Course: Chateau Julien Moscato & Coconut Curry Crab Cakes

Second Course: La Merika Cahrdonnay & Lobster Stuffed Shells

Third Course: La Cappuccina Soave Classico & Blue Cheese and Pecan Chicken

Fourth Course: Meadowcroft Cabernet Sauvignon & Portabella Short Ribs

Fifth Course: Segura Reserva Cava & Maple and Bacon Cheese Cake

Bin is open for lunch and dinner. Staff food favorites are: Fish Tacos, Short Ribs, and Pork Belly with Parmesan Polenta. They offer a beautiful wine menu with a few great beers.

Next up forBin 119 Kitchen and Wine Bar: Kicking off Alive After 5- Thursday May 30th. Live music by Downtime. Stick that in your phone calendar so you don’t miss it!

Downtown

119 North Broadway

406 294 9119

Jodie Tenicin Smith  the photo chik

Tickets go on sale Friday, May 31st at 12pm noon and will be available at albertabairtheater.org, the Alberta Bair Theater Box Office, or by calling 406-256-6052.  Ticket prices are $45, $49.50, and $59.50 all reserved seating.

Few entertainers have attained the iconic status of Dwight Yoakam. Perhaps that is because so few have consistently and repeatedly met the high standard of excellence delivered by the Kentucky native, no matter what his endeavor. His name immediately conjures up compelling, provocative images: A pale cowboy hat with the brim pulled low; poured-on blue jeans; intricate, catchy melodies paired with poignant, brilliant lyrics that mesmerize with their indelible imprint. Then there’s Yoakam the actor, who seemingly melts into his roles, impressively standing toe-to-toe with some of the world’s top thespians: Jodie Foster, Tommy Lee Jones, Forest Whitaker, Nicolas Cage. Add to that, Yoakam the entrepreneur and you have a singular talent without peer.

Yoakam’s latest Warner Bros. album, 3 Pears, balances his country core with a fiercely independent embrace of rock, Americana, pop and soul. It blends Yoakam’s respect for his musical predecessors with the collaborative assistance of modern singer/songwriter Beck, who co-produced two tracks, and current rocker Kid Rock, who co-wrote the hooky opener, “Take Hold Of My Hand.”

He has 12 gold albums and nine platinum or multi-platinum albums, including the triple-platinum This Time. Five of those albums have topped Billboard’s Country Albums chart with another 14 landing in the Top 10. More than 30 singles have charted, with 22 going Top 20, including the incomparable hits “Honky Tonk Man,” “Please Please Baby,” “Little Ways,” “I Sang Dixie,” “It Only Hurts When I Cry,” “Fast as You” and “Thousand Miles from Nowhere.” He’s won two Grammys and earned a staggering 21 nominations.

photo credits: http://formontana.net/icecave.html

The Pryor Mountains hold many mysteries.  If you have yet to spend any time in this amazing mountain range, you should get out there.  I can talk until I am blue in the face, but until you experience these mountains for yourself, you cannot truly understand what these mountains actually hold.  I am referring to the legend of the little people, the myth of the Sasquatch, and the fact that this is one of the few places where ice caves form.  The little people and the Sasquatch (who I’m sure are in cahoots) are for another time.  Today I want to focus on the fact that the Pryors have one of the biggest cave systems around, and there are at least 4 ice caves in these mountains.

The caves in the Pryor Mountains are formed just like any other cave.  They are carved by rainwater that slowly etches away at the limestone rock until expansive passageways are formed.  The only difference is that the caves in these mountains that are just a few miles south of us have barely been explored.  In fact, there could be hundreds of miles of passageway that is yet to be discovered.  Unlike many systems, there are some caverns in the Pryors that have a strange natural phenomenon that occurs.

While almost all caves have water that drips and flows through them, they are almost all between 45 and 65 degrees.  But some caves have a strange inversion that takes place, causing the temperature within the cave to drop below freezing.  What happens is that instead of dripping water, these caves get icicles.  Instead of wet mud on their floors, these caves are covered in a layer of ice.  And instead of rock formations, these caves have ice formations.  What is even more unique is that regardless of how hot it is outside, the temperature inside the cave stays cool enough that the ice will remain throughout the year.  Often right up to the entrance of the cave.

As I said, there are at least four ice caves in the Pryors.  However, caving ethic dictates that I don’t reveal the particular location of the caves.  Since caving requires that the caver adhere to a strict rule of conduct about how they conduct themselves, it would not be wise to allow just anyone to go into the caves without and experienced guide (both for the safety of the cavers and the safety of keeping these areas pristine).  If you are interested in getting more involved with caving, you can follow the Northern Rocky Mountain Grotto on Facebook.  And be sure to check out one of the (mostly) monthly meetings.  There is one cave, however, that is on the maps and open to the public.

The Big Ice Cave has long been established as a tourist spot.  It is labeled on the signs, it has its own parking lot with picnic area, and it has a built up pathway and a platform at the entrance.  It is easy to get to, easy to find, and fun to see for those who otherwise have no desire to crawl into deep dark pits in the earth.  However, it is still a cave.  It can be extremely dangerous especially with the ice and the fact that there are no hospitals for many many miles.  If you do go, just stay on the platform (inside the cave there is not much else to see anyways).

Caving is an amazing way to explore the world in which we live.  You can get to places where hardly anyone has ever gone before and experience rock formations that are not found anywhere else.  The Pryor Mountains are rich with caves.  Many of them are hidden, some are closed, and possibly hundreds are undiscovered.  If you want to see one of the most amazing natural phenomena around, check out the Big Ice Cave.  Getting there is a little tricky.  I suggest getting a map of the Pryors, and then going with someone that knows the area (also, be aware that a lot of the roads are closed until June 15^th).  I will say you take Pryor Mountain Road into the mountains, and then head up the Sage Creek drainage.  Here’s a map of the mountain, but that’s all the help you are getting from me.  From there, it is up to you if you want the adventure of finding the cave.

Hawthorne Heights is slated for a June 12th concert at the Railyard. The all ages show is at 7pm. Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 day of show.

Tickets are on sale Friday, May 17th at 10am at Tickets300 (2911 3rd Ave N), Ernie November, Rimrock Mall, by phone at 866-­‐300-­‐8300 and online at 1111presents.com.

Hawthorne Heights is an American rock band from Dayton, Ohio, formed in 2001. Their 5th full-length album “Zero” produced with Brian Virtue (30 Seconds To Mars, Chevelle, Audioslave) is out June 25th.

 Nia?

“Nia is a sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance arts and healing arts. It empowers people of all shapes and sizes by connecting the body, mind, emotions and spirit. Classes are taken barefoot to soul-stirring music in more than 45 countries. Trainings teach people how to get in their body, learn about The Body’s Way and cultivate body-centered awareness. Every experience can be adapted to individual needs and abilities. Step into your own joyful journey with Nia, and positively shape the way you feel, look, think and live.”

I’ve been going to Nia classes taught by Aimee Carlson for over six months now. It’s become one of my very favorite forms of cardio!

I have a blast every time I go. We laugh, we dance, we do a few Karate chops and I find I’m refreshed and totally drenched in sweat by the end. Aimee is a brown belt in the Nia chain, one step below the final belting. (There is probably a better phrasing; I doubt anyone hits her with a belt..) This means she has the experience to help you get to know and free up your body. Her teaching style is flowing and informative. She is completely approachable and you immediately feel comfortable doing something you’ve probably never done before.

If you are undecided, how does $5 a class sound?

Aimee teaches at several locations throughout the week:

• Mondays:  Noon          Yellowstone Dance Company (downtown)   106 North 29th #B  

                           5:30pm      Yellowstone Dance Company     *Beginning June 10th

• Tuesdays:  9:30am     Community/Senior Center (downtown behind Tiny’s Tavern)  

                           360 North 23rd Street  *For any seniors you know who might benefit! 

• Wednesdays:  Noon     Yellowstone Dance Studio
  

• Thursdays:  Noon   Riverstone Health  (new building conference room)  

                            123 South 27th Street

Any questions? Contact Aimee at: 1031carlson@gmail.com

Good Earth Market is the perfect answer to all of those questions.

I stopped in yesterday between gigs and grabbed a container of their Lemon Basil Chicken Salad and a container of their Greek Salad. Both delicious! I also had an Orange Zevia soda- no calories and no sugar. I swear that makes it taste better!

The food was freshly made with natural ingredients.

GEM has picnic tables out front so I enjoyed my lunch and the weather and amazingly did not feel rushed with the short time I had.

You should try it.

Photo from Library of Congress

One of the best things about Billings is the fact that the area is rich with prehistory.  I’m not just talking about dinosaurs and other ancient animals, although those do play a huge part in the shaping of the area.  I am talking about the Native American tribes that have inhabited this land for centuries.  They developed tools and trade routes. They learned the land and knew how to use it.  The culture was sophisticated and advanced, to the point that some have even said that the American Indians were further advanced than their European contemporaries.  Unfortunately, strange diseases to which they were unaccustomed caused their tribes to be all but wiped out.  Shortly after this prehistoric period ended (prehistoric here meaning before written history) there came along the last of the Crow tribal leaders.  Chief Plenty Coup.

I am not going to claim to know a great deal about this Crow leader.  And all I know I have gleaned from reading articles such as ones put out by the National Park Service and Nezperce.com.  What I do know is that you can take an afternoon this summer to visit the “retirement” home of this once fierce Crow warrior.

Located 40 miles south of Billings, just east of the small town of Pryor, is Chief Plenty Coup State Park.  It is here that you can see the original log home that Plenty Coup lived in.  You can visit the center and learn about how he became chief of the Crow tribe at age 28, and how at the end of the 19^th century he helped to broker a peaceful agreement between the newly formed US government and the Crow Nation.  Walking through the area you can see the land that he plowed until he passed at the age of 84, and you can enjoy a picnic along the banks of Pryor Creek.

The park now sits on 195 of the Chief’s original 320 acres.  The land was given to the state to be made into a memorial park by Plenty Coup and his wife, Strikes the Iron.  After his passing, the Crow tribe voted to make Plenty Coup their last chief, none have come after him.  You can learn all this and more at the park either before or after you walk the half mile trail that loops past the creek, his log home, and the general store.

If you want to go, getting to the park is easy.  Head south out of town along Blue Creek Road until you “T” with Pryor Creek Road.  Hang a right and head all the way into the town of Pryor.  Pryor Creek Road will end with the junction of Pryor St. Xavier Highway.  Here you will take a right and head out of town just a half a mile.  It’s hard to miss the park even though it is fairly small (here’s your map).  Once there take your time to really see the area.  Talk with the staff, and learn as much as you can about the unique history that shaped what we now know as Montana.

During the week, many businesses will be offering incentives to their employees who use active/alternate modes of transportation.  For a comprehensive list of activities throughout the week, please go to the Downtown Billings Alliance website www.downtownbilllings.com.

Downtown Billings will be celebrating the week by hosting the Sneakers, Spokes, Sparkplug Challenge Wednesday, May 15^th, 11:30am-2pm at Transwestern Plaza at United Properties, on N. 31^st between 4^th and 6^th Avenues. This is a friendly competition!  We are accepting applications for teams of three, a walker, a bike rider and a car driver. Each member of the team will be given a “route map” with six required stops containing an ink stamp check in list and each member will be required to stop at each of the six locations and return to the Transwestern Plaza as safely, legally and as quickly as possible.  The goal is to demonstrate the practicality of getting around without a car.  Prizes will be awarded; BBQ lunch provided.  Need a bike?  Use our Downtown Billings Loan a Bike Program!   For more information and for entry form, www.downtownbillings.com or call Joe Stout, BID Supervisor, 406-294-5060.