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That Bar offers live music for first time in a decade:

It's been a decade since That Bar, 619 Central Ave., offered patrons live music of any kind. That changes tonight when the local rock group Liquor Down invades the club for a show that kicks off at 9 p.m.

"Everybody else is havin' live music, so I thought it was something we should try," says That Bar manager Kelly Dunn. "We'd like to do it once a month with a different band if it goes well."

Liquor Down members include Layloni fronting the band on vocals, George Thompson on bass and backing vocals, Zeke Neil on guitar and Jason Taylor on drums.

"We do rock from the '50s all the way to the '90s," explains Layloni, citing covers from Bill Haley and His Comets, the Rolling Stones, Collective Soul, Ike and Tina Turner, 3 Doors Down, Black Sabbath, Greg Kihn and Metallica.

"I think what works for us is that we just do rock and the fact that we do so many different kinds of rock," she says, adding the group appeals to a broad spectrum of age groups.

Membership in Liquor Down has changed several times since its formation three years ago. Although based in Great Falls, the majority of the band's appearances have been outside the Electric City at venues in Wyoming, Idaho, Havre, Missoula and Billings.

Great Falls native Layloni is a relative newcomer to the world of singing in rock clubs. Liquor Down is her first professional band. Prior to joining the group, she worked as a DJ at the Buffalo Saloon, and she often slipped next door to the Loading Zone on breaks to sing a song or two with the Jam Night band, Mr. EZ. After a year of sitting in with the group, they suggested she might be ready to handle a full night of singing with her own group.

"They're the ones who really shaped me into a lead singer," Layloni professes. "They also educated me on the artists and rock itself."

Layloni attributes a substantial part of Liquor Down's popularity and busy booking schedule to the personal chemistry shared by its members. "We all have unique individual characteristics, but we all come together as a band," she says.

Big Crowds Turn Out For Choteau Events

Fairfield Times - Published: Thursday, July 8, 2010 2:32 PM CDT

There was no shortage of red, white and blue in Choteau this past weekend as the town celebrated the nation’s birthday with it’s annual Fourth of July bash.

The party got under way with the annual “Smoker”, held at the Choteau Rodeo Grounds.

After the smoker, the crowd moved back into town, filling the street in front of the American Legion Club where young and old alike enjoyed music from the Liquor Down Band, who had set up stage on a flatbed trailer in front of the club.

BACK TO WEST SIDE

The local rock group Liquor Down returns to the Westside Vets Club tonight and Saturday. Music starts at 9 p.m.; there's no cover charge.

The band features Layloni on lead vocals, Philly the Kid on guitar and lead and backing vocals, George Thompson on bass and backing vocals and Shane Gascon on drums and backing vocals. Thompson describes the group's style as "classic rock and oldies" spanning the 1950s to the '80s. Artists covered include Bill Haley and His Comets, Rolling Stones, Cream, Guess Who, Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Iron Maiden and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Thompson began assembling the band in February when he teamed up first with Layloni. He subsequently recruited Philly the Kid and Gascon.

"I was trying to handpick players to play this kind of music," he recalls. The quartet started performing publicly in May, and since then, its staple venues have been in smaller towns surrounding Great Falls such as Lewistown, Choteau, Shelby and Conrad.

Thompson says the group employs a couple of strategies that appeal to crowds. "We kind of have a mild theatrical element to the band," he notes, "and we try to be a fun band that includes the audience."

Liquor Down also appears at the Westside Vets Club three Thursdays a month for "Special Guest Night," when experienced players are invited to sit in with the group. Check out the band's Web site at www.liquordown.com.

Great Falls Tribune - Pete Swanson

ANOTHER ROCK VENUE

The Lobby Bar hosts "Rock and Roll Resurrection" tonight starting at 5 p.m. Organized by Liquor Down bassist George Thompson, the event features several local rock bands, including Liquor Down, Convicted, Evad and SkeyeCat. Thompson notes the roster remains flexible and he expects various side musicians that frequent the Tuesday Lobby Bar jam sessions to show up as well.

"The main purpose is to try and bring more live music to the Lobby and downtown," Thompson says, adding providing area musicians another venue is a secondary purpose. "We're gonna try this one and see if we can do some more in the future."

Great Falls Tribune - Pete Swanson

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