The Jim Beam Guitar Photo Contest was a HUGE success.  We wanted to build our fan base on Facebook as well as give away one of our Jim Beam acoustic guitars in a creative way that involved all of our fans whether they entered or not.  This contest had big entertainment value!  Before the contest was announced we had just under 2000 Facebook fans.  As of this writing we’re at 3270!

Thank you for taking part in the voting and thanks to all of the entries.

TOP ENTRIES:

OFFICIAL CONTEST PHOTO ALBUM: *VIEW*
TOTAL VOTES: 769
TOTAL ENTRIES: 34
AVG VOTES PER ENTRY:23
MOST VOTES: 136
LEAST VOTES: 1

WINNER!
RYAN ANDRIST: “I Just Can’t Quit You” 136  votes *VIEW*

OUTRAGEOUS AWARD:
DERWIN: “Clintons Tattoo” 73  votes *VIEW*

ARTISTIC INTERPRETATION & CREATIVE SET-UP AWARD:
STEVE GOFF: “Free Ride In A Cop Car”  56  votes *VIEW*
JIM MATULEVICH: “Senior Kegger” 49 votes *VIEW*

VOTER’S FAVE AWARD:
JAYME GREEN: “Pair of Clintons Fans” 63   votes *VIEW*

TAMMY QUITRELL: “Nipples” 60 votes *VIEW*

SEXXXY AWARD:
JONNA DENSON: “Two Chicks Makin’ Out and a Dude Motorboating”  23  votes *VIEW*

Thanks to all other entries!  You all did a great job;)

Here are a bunch of pictures of the venue for Clintons Summer Camp.  The rad stage will be in the upper left as you look towards the lake from the deck.

We’re holding an online contest on Facebook.  We’re giving away a Jim Beam acoustic guitar that will be signed and personalized for you.  Please read carefully…

It’s simple.  There are no rules.  It’s more fun if your picture incorporates The Clintons.  But if you can get people to vote for your photo, upload whatever you want!

Here are the steps…

1.) Take a picture.

2.) Email it to beam@clintonsband.com with your full name.

3.) Make sure you’re a “Fan” of The Clintons Facebook page and wait for your photo to be added to the official contest photo album. http://www.facebook.com/theclintons/contest

4.) Rally your friends to leave a comment on your picture once it’s posted in the official contest photo album on The Clintons FB page.  Yes, they have to be fans to vote.

Hints:

-Do not upload this picture to your profile page.  You don’t want to waste comments by confusing your friends. Only comments left on your photo in the official contest photo album will count.

-Give your friends a direct link to your photo that will be in the contest photo album on The Clintons Facebook page.

-This seems obvious but make sure you’re a fan of The Clintons page on Facebook.

-Multiple comments left by the same person on your photo will not count.

Three legendary guitar players get together for a hang session, interview, and maybe even some guitar playing. Jack White, The Edge, and Jimmy Page delve into their pasts and talk about their guitar playing. I’m intrigued as hell right now but this damn thing doesn’t even come out until August!

Go to the It Might Get Loud website and watch the trailer.

More here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnS2EGey4xQ

And more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkuYxRzEM10&feature=related

The last two links are super bitchen interviews…very real, good stuff.

Just to chronicle these pictures of The Beamur, I’ve put together the definitive, heck, even “official” photo album with both Josh’s photos and SCS Vinyl Works’ photos from their website.  Click on the pictures to enlarge.

If you’re not familiar with the story, Jim Beam came to us last November with the idea of an endorsement deal.  They’d never endorsed an unsigned band before but as of this writing they’re currently endorsing Kid Rock and Montgomery Gentry (two very signed bands).  Other than this completely visible van that is lots of fun to drive around, they plan to support and promote our music as well as help us promote our live events and shows throughout 2009.  All positive momentum seems to point to a similar deal for 2010 but we’re happy to live in ‘09 for now!

We’ve just announced what I think could be the most fun experience The Clintons have ever been involved with.  If you were to, say, compare this to a Billings Alive @ Five,  Bert & Ernies block party, Rockin The Rivers, or playing with Barenaked Ladies, I’d say this event could very well go down in the record books as being more memorable than any of those very worthy events.

I could be biased.  I mean, I LOVE the sun.  I LOVE drinking beer IN the sun.  I love camping, friends, relaxing….and I LOVE water and sand (the beach in other words).  To me, having The Clintons play a show is really just an excuse for all of the stuff previously mentioned.  It’s a damn good excuse.

We’re calling it “Clintons Summer Camp”.  It’s at Lakeside Resort about 10 minutes outside of Helena.  You can camp if you want, or you can just show up and party all night.  It’s an all ages thing.  We’re even trying to line up a 15 passenger van that will shuttle people from town and back.  Our good friend Rick is probably the most brilliant guy to manage a venue/restaurant/bar in the state, in my humble opinion.  Let’s just say he will stop at nothing to make sure this is wicked crazy fun.  We’ve known him for years and years and it really takes a classy host and professional party animal like him to envision how much fun this can be.

We’ll try to get some pictures and maybe some video of this place up for you out of towners to check out.  It’s a true four acre summer oasis with a huge sandy beach…definitely a must see.

One thing to note is that they’re only allowing us 50 camp spots.  They each hold a four person tent and they’re only $20 so they’ll probably go fast.  Follow the links below to buy tickets and camp spots.

FULL DETAILS HERE

Saturday, August 1st @ Lakeside Resort – Helena, MT (MAP)

Show Info

All ages welcome

$20 Camp Pass (only 50 available – does not include event ticket – 21+ only)

Tickets $10 in advance – $15 at the door

Our friend Uncle Daddy has his own radio show in Missoula.  He calls it “Anti-Crap Radio – Talk that doesn’t suck”.  Well here’s the thing…it WILL suck when John and I take the air this Saturday at 4pm.  We’re going to suck the life right out of it when we do a live phone in from the road (on our way to  Billings for the Cinco de Mayo show).  Look out Uncle Daddy, you’re fixing to get your lunch eaten.

But seriously, Uncle Daddy’s show has some hard hitting guests on it.  This list includes:

JERRY MOLEN.  Jerry produced the films “Schindler’s List”, “Jurassic Park” and many others.

COREY BUSCH. Former Vice-President of the San Francisco Giants baseball team and longtime San Francisco political activist.

HUEY LEWIS. Of the news.

And about 15 other peeps.
The topic?  Not sure but we’ll come up with something that fits the “Anti-Crap” category.  I’d love to be as controversial as possible to be honest.  I always think it’s fun to debate whether or not Hillary Clinton is hot but I think YOU can come up with something better than that.  Help a brother out.  Any ideas?

Wied just emailed over these pictures from Miles City. Yes folks, Miles City felt left out of the explosions, fires and earthquakes. Wied says there’s no information about what caused the fires and so far we don’t know if everyone is ok. Here’s hoping.

Every time I get on Myspace these match.com adds are everywhere.  I always laugh to myself because they usually have a video of a girl who is “chatting” with a guy in front of her computer.  I always wonder, “Is there a film company in her apartment directing her?”.  Man that would be funny.  “Actually Amy, we’d like to have you do that again but this time, take a drink of coffee after putting your hair behind your ears the second time”.

I think I’ll find a way to make my own little videos instead of this really flattering picture.  Would you date me?  I mean, if there wasn’t the threat of physical violence from Angie, would you date me?

The email quoted below was sent by one “Chris Lowney” at exactly 2:44am Mountain time this morning.  I’m assuming he didn’t use his real name.  I made the above graphic for added drama.  Cool, eh?  Here’s how I made it.

“i would just like to throw in a word for all the dirty horrible cigarette smokers who paid covers over the years to see your shows, who you now hypocritically  turn your backs on cuz it “roaches” your  voice? smoke some more weed and realize that we “smokers” made you the  marginally successful bar band you are.
sign me-never pay 2 see u again!”

I guess I don’t get the “hypocritical” comment since none of us smoke.  The weed thing?  Cute, but we’re anything but weed smokers.  And when have we ever said we hate smokers?  We have PLENTY of friends who smoke and we’re fine with that.  All we’re asking you to do is have the respect to take it outside when we’re trying to do our job.  Do you really expect me to think a REAL fan would get pissed at us for suggesting that she not smoke at a show?

You won’t hurt my feelings if you agree.  But I want to hear your response, good or bad.  Obviously responding to this guy is just as much of a waste of time as working out everyday and then eating hamburger helper and nut rolls all day long.

But IF you were to respond, what would you say? I want to hear some witty stuff.  Rip on me, rip on him.  I don’t care.  Have fun.

Here are the pictures I’ve found so far.  I’ll be adding more as I find them.

As of about 10am on Thursday, March 5th, the official word (from interviews  with Bozeman officials on the Dave Visscher show) is that there have been no casualties.  But admittedly they think it’s to soon to tell.  It’s speculated that it was a 12″ gas main that lead to the explosion.  It’s also been speculated that it’s the same gas main that lead to the closing of main street a year ago.  As of now the gas is still burning and they’ve called in a specialized team who can do a live capping of the burning gas line.  If it’s not capped in time the fire could keep claiming buildings.  As you can see in the pictures, the Rbar is still standing but it appears that the damage is very extensive.  Boodles, however, is a pile of rubble.

Here are some pics from this weekend’s Big Sky festivities.  I feel like the weekend lasted a month with the bitchen Great Falls show, the Lodge at Big Sky show, the Yurt Dinner, Josh’s birthday at the brewery and then our Monday night impromptu Wii pizza party at my house in honor of Josh’s birth.

This is a pretty boring topic but since I’m suffering with a bout of the flu/a cold/some sort of issue, I figured I’d check the Google Flu trends map. If you want to find it…just Google it. Or you can go here: http://www.google.org/flutrends/

Turns out Montana is currently listed as “High”. About four months ago when I found out about this wacky Google service I looked at the trends and said to myself “I’ll probably get sick between late February and early April.” Low and behold, here I am. Glass eyed and stuffed up. Dizzy and delirious. Jonesing for top ramen, a good iPod game, and the couch. I’ve been staying strong though, planted here in my chair in front of the computer plotting the world’s demise.

You know what scares me though? Being miserably sick while playing a show in Great Falls. Not a good combination. So I shall hit the couch for a bit and focus on getting better by tomorrow.

Here’s the new game I just downloaded from iTunes for .99 cents.  iDrakula – Undead Awakening.  Look at those fire balls!!  And that rocket launcher.  Oh my.

This better be good.

Josh Freese has been impressing the crap out of me for years now. He’s been playing drums with the Vandals, A Perfect Circle, Nine Inch Nails and literally 1000 other bands. He’s a very successful studio drummer too. He even played on the Formats second record. A friend of mine was managing them at the time and the story was that he was actually recording tracks and lighting a cigarette at the same time. Probably even made a pb and j sammy for all I know.

Josh Freese is now releasing his first record (as far as I know it’s his first). He wrote the songs, sings them and plays most instruments as well. If there’s anyone out there who’s as talented as Dave Grohl, it’s definitely Josh Freese. I hope the CD kicks major ass.

It seems that Josh as been talking to his pal Trent Reznor a lot because in true Nine Inch Nails fashion, Josh’s unusual marketing of his upcoming release has been making huge waves around the net.

Here’s one example of an actual package Josh is offering. Go to joshfreese.com for the whole list…

$75,000 (limited edition of 1)

I’ve been spending a lot of time on MontanaMusicians.com lately.  It’s part of a larger project I’ve been working on with Music Villa to help unite Montana musicians.

It’s been great to see all of the people flocking to the site since we launched late last week.  If you’re a musician you should stop by in there and leave me a message!