In today’s A-Z challenge, we asked Tim Montana to tell us all about himself, his latest hit songs, and his upcoming album “Savage”!
A song that made you want to make music?
Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” The chords were so easy that every kid in America that could play guitar thought they could be Kurt Cobain.
Best rider you’ve had?
I’m pretty much a minimalist when it comes to the rider. Meat and cheese is cool but a case of water and a couple AA‘s are all a guy needs. Snap-On tools hired us for a private event once, they sent someone every hour to the bus to replenish the refreshments and that was pretty cool.
Craziest moment you’ve had in the band?
I took the band skydiving with SOCOM (Special Operations Command) in Florida. That was a rush. I don’t even like to fly and we jumped out of a perfectly good airplane.
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
I put out a song called “To An End” on the Long Shots record. This song uses a lot of metaphors to describe coming down from a bender. “It was wagons West when my wheels fell off, I guess the lugs were loose when I hit the rocks. I hauled the weight, but never weighed the cost.”
Easiest song you wrote?
Probably my song “Hat Like A Halo” from the Long Shots record. I was told a story by a cowboy about a broken neck and a halo that he was put in after his accident for his neck to heal. I immediately went into the closet and wrote the song in about 15 minutes.
Favorite song in your set?
Right now, we’re playing new songs from the upcoming album Savage, which will be available July 12. There is a song that is unreleased called “Ain’t Coming Down.” It’s got a Beck meets Beastie Boys vibe and I love the little bit of hip-hop thing I get to do in the song as well as playing the guitar line.
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
I’m a huge Alice In Chains fan and I get to tour with Jerry Cantrell later this summer. Hoping I can rally him to either write a song or feature on a song with me at some point.
Hardest thing about being in a band?
Definitely being away from my family. I have four kids and miss a lot of life events.
Interesting fact about one of your members?
My bass player’s dad wrote the song “Cotton Eye Joe” and was nominated for a Grammy Award. Check out Carlton Moody and the Moody Brothers.
Jokes you have in the band?
I’m not ready to get canceled today so I’ll hold off on the jokes.
Key to writing a song?
Good music, good melody, great lyrics.
Longest distance you’ve traveled to play a show?
I’ve driven from South Florida to Billings, Montana. That was pretty aggressive.
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
Watching guitarist Johnny Hiland play the guitar is pretty inspiring. He’s legally blind and plays faster than any guitar player I’ve ever seen with no distortion, all clean.
New band you’d recommend?
I discover music all the time, however, it’s rarely new music. I think music is suffering right now because people are spending more time playing the laptop than they are an instrument. If you have some new bands that actually play their instruments and write great songs please let me know.
Opening for this band would be ideal?
I’m opening for Bush, Jerry Cantrell and Candlebox this summer. I just finished opening for Seether and Staind, doesn’t get much better than that!
Place you’d most like to tour?
Touring Europe is definitely top of the bucket list. I’ve run circles around the US for over a decade and I love this country, but I want to go explore Europe and look forward to the fun that could be had over there.
Quote you’d like to pass on to our readers?
“Shadows can fill my empty grave cause I forgot to die today.”
Reason for the title of your recent/forthcoming release?
“Savage” is one of my favorite songs on the record and after we did the photo shoot in Montana in the middle of winter, it felt like the right call to call the album Savage. A) Because this is the heaviest version of music, I’ve put out. B) Look around, everything is pretty savage in the world right now.
See us live at?
You can see us on tour with Bush, Jerry, Cantrell, and Candlebox this summer and always check www.timmontana.com for additional concert dates.
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
1,000,000,000% as I stated earlier, discovering new music that does anything for me is next to impossible. Not saying it’s not out there, but I struggle to find it so I keep digging through old music to discover things that get me going.
Unusual merchandise?
I sell a t-shirt with me naked on it, I’m covering my junk but Instagram keeps blocking the posts for nudity.. 😂
Variations you’d like to do on any of your songs?
I’d like to do an acoustic unplugged version of my upcoming album Savage. I’m really into all the unplugged in New York concerts that happened during the grunge era and think we need to bring that back.
What do your fans mean to you?
EVERYTHING! Without them we are nothing!
X-rays or any treatments needed for band related injuries?
None since I quit partying.
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
Probably mine as I’m the driver. Never been late for a show but been late for a few load-ins and it’s usually a routing issue with the gig being too far and not getting enough sleep.
Zoo animal that next describes the personality of your band?
Probably chimpanzees. We’ll eat bugs out of each other’s hair, grab each other’s asses then fist fight each other over a cheese tray. 😂