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Recently the Editors at Bozeman Magazine were contacted by the ReverbNation Live Group about Bozeman Magazine being rated highly among area Musicians as a good place to recieve a review of their music. Bozeman Magazine has been asked to choose one ReverbNation artist per month from March through May, and to incorporate them as a featured artist with a bio and interview. With over 3,900 musicians applying in the first three weeks, April’s pick for Bozeman Magazine / ReverbNation artist of the month comes from North Lake Tahoe…

THE SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
Bozeman Magazine is looking for one ReverbNation artist per month from March through May to incorporate as a feature story and interview. Features will run one to two pages each. Artists must be based in or around, or have future tour dates in Bozeman.
THE SELECTION CRITERIA:
Talent, Musicianship, Song production value
DESIRED GENRE(S): All

Hailing from North Lake Tahoe, Dead Winter Carpenters represents everything the American west stands for. With an unbridled spirit, and an authentic approach to the art of songwriting, the five-piece roots-rock band captures the freedom of the road with the kind of energy that has made legends. DWC has found considerable national success with top level festival and theater dates booked around the country in 2013. Recently Bozeman Magazine spoke with Singer/Guitarist Jesse Dunn about the band.

Bozeman Magazine: Hello Jesse, I am wondering when you guys started the band and who was involved in that?

Jesse Dunn: We started the band three years ago this month actually, in March of 2010. We started off as a five piece. We still have three original members in the band and two newer guys that weren’t there when we started. It has been a cool evolution. It’s always been two guitars, electric and upright bass, fiddle and drums.

BM: As far as the songwriting, who handles the writing, or is it more collaborative?

JD: We kinda share the songwriting. Some write more than others. I guess we have four songwriters in the band. Which makes it kinda unique, coming at it from four different angles. Somebody will come up with an idea and then we bring it to the group and everyone puts their input in; shape it from there.

BM: What are some of your influences in bluegrass and rock. Who do you have on your ipod right now?
JD: Oh man you know, we have been listening to a lot of Blitzen Trapper, Father John Misty, a band called HoneyHoney from Nashville, those are three of the top ones we have been listening to.

BM: What did you listen to as a kid?

JD: Oh man, Neil Young, The Band, CCR. I was raised on stuff like that. Of course I had my gangster hip hop phase too. (laughs)

BM: Who have you guys played with or toured with?

JD: Some of the bigger ones in our genre would be The String Cheese Incident, Yonder Mountain, we are opening up for Railroad Earth pretty soon here next week down in San Francisco. And then Greensky Bluegrass, Head for the Hills, a lot of bands like that.

BM: Your new album is called ‘Aint it Strange’ and you recorded it at Prairie Sun Studios in Sonoma County, CA. Can you tell us about all of that?

JD: Yeah, that was a great experience. Its about an hour north of San Francisco. A lot of good stuff has been through there. A lot of Tom Waits albums have been recorded there. Even some Grateful Dead stuff, spinoff stuff, Further. They have a laundry list of players that have been through there. It was a real, real good experience for us. It’s a rustic setting with like an old farm on top of the hill thing but with tons of all the best modern gear and some older retro gear as well, so we were able to get a bunch of cool sounds.

BM: When was the album released?

JD: It came out in May of 2012, so about ten months ago I guess.

BM: So have you been busy writing songs for another new album that might be in the works?

JD: Yeah we have probably got almost enough for a new record, it is just a matter of finding the time to go into the studio and do it. And trying to get the funds, but we have been working on a lot of new stuff.
BM: Excellent. How many shows do you think Dead Winter Carpenters play each year?

JD: I would say somewhere in the ballpark of 150 or so. Maybe 175. That’s a good range. We have been playing something like that for the past three years.

BM: You guys were just in Bozeman in March at the Filling Station, have you ever played here before?

JD: We played the Zebra Cocktail Lounge a year or two back. That was good, but it had been a while since we were last there. We were in Montana this past July. We played Whitefish, Missoula and Livingston I think maybe that time through.

BM: I saw online that The Dead Winter Carpenters played at the new Top Hat in Missoula last week too. How was that?

JD: Yeah, they had their grand opening on Friday Night and we played there on Saturday so we were still part of the opening weekend so it was cool. It is unbelievable. It was real swanky and cool. They have a brand new kick ass sound system. It used to be kinda a dive bar saloon and now it is a sheik restaurant. They increased capacity by probably 2-300. The capacity is about 700 now. So yeah, it’s an incredible venue. We had played there before the remodel as well and this was much better.

BM: That sounds great. Hey by chance do you know if your new CD is available for people to get at Cactus Records?

JD: I don’t think it is, but I am not sure. I think itunes or cd Baby are the places to get it for sure. Just go to our website and you can buy it there too. It is www.deadwintercapenters.com. You know I don’t think it is at Cactus Records. Actually this is the first time I have heard of Cactus Records or I would have brought some in there for them.

BM: Cactus is your old fashioned local record shop, turned cd shop, mixed with a novelty shop. You will have to check it out next time your in town.

JD: Absolutely. I will.

BM: Well Jesse, Thank You for taking the time out of your day to chat with me. I appreciate it very much.

JD: Yes, Thanks for helping us out. I’ll talk to you soon.