When we were planning our next few stops, one of the greatest guys on the planet, John Bohlinger, reminded me that our old friend, Dave Goodwin, was in Montana, specifically Bozeman. So I called my old friend and he insisted we come visit and stay with him for a long weekend. We took him up on it.

I tried to explain who Dave was to Casey, but there’s just too much history there for anyone to understand until you’ve listened to us stay up all night telling stories about old times. She got it after that. And like every one else who meets Dave, instantly fell in love. You see, Dave’s been there since the beginning of Hank Flamingo. Back stage at Main Street. Hell, he wrote our first single with Kostas and Harlan Howard.

I might have played Bozeman once before, but I definitely didn’t get shown around by the virtual Mayor of the town like Casey and I did. Once we got settled into his gorgeous home/recording studio/deer park (see pics of the front and back yards below), parked Maddie in front of an open window looking out at the mountains, and settled Zeke on the couch (thanks, Dave, for letting our crazy dog on your nice couches), we headed out to see Bozeman.

Who wants buffalo skin?

Maddie. What a trooper.

Master Chef Dave

Dave’s backyard

Dave’s frontyard

Anybody eat off of Dave’s sushi cart back in the day? It’s still just as good.

Old friends reunited

I guess I forgot that some Gibson guitars are made in Bozeman until we got to the music store. Also realized what a bunch of cool musicians live in this town. Yes, you really should get out of Nashville now and then. Hit a wonderful brewery one night owned by one of Dave’s friends, explored a huge farmers market where I almost bought two buffalo skins (see above). Then Dave made us his famous sushi rolls one night and we ate every one of them. Best I’ve ever had. Found this stage in a field. Never met a stage that didn’t love me. (Montana is a Pepsi state, by the way).

Our last day, Dave took us to Butte to see the old church he bought. We had one of the best meals of our trip at a little cafe and marveled at this unique town. They say people call it Butte-Francisco and we could see why. Super super cool town. Lots of artists are moving there. Lots of old signs and old spaces. Definitely on our list of places we’d live if we could handle the winters. The history of the copper mines pervades the town. The richest man in the world once lived here in the Copper King Mansion (below). Had a beer at the M&M which has been open 24 hours since who knows when because they had to be open whenever the miners got off their shift which could be any hour day or night.

Delaney’s Vu-Villa

Copper King Mansion

This place is really trippy, y’all. You should visit. Call Dave.

Butte-Francisco, but they’re giving these places away. Like literally to artists.

Allegedly there’s an artist restoring the signs here. Can’t tell if this is one of them, but there are plenty of cool ones.

Never seen anything like this before. Huge mines in the distance and mine toppers still dotting the landscape.

M&M

R&R

More Butte-Francisco

So when you’re ready to play Montana, you should get in touch with Dave and go play his new church/music venue. It appears to have Tiffany windows. Spectacular woodwork. A stunning organ that we all got to play. Small stage downstairs and a grand room above. Pretty amazing place. Pretty amazing part of the country up here.

Dave in his church on his dobro

Any Tiffany experts out there?

Me on the ol’ pipe organ

Me and Dave. First time I’ve ever been on the front row at church… I think Dave just saw Jesus in the rafters.

Entrance to historic church

Yo God

God’s on air. Shhhh

Dave’s organ

Dave’s Tiffany windows

Thanks again to Dave Goodwin, super host extraordinaire. Who also called ahead to our next stop and lined up lodging for us with his good friends (who were complete strangers to us at the time). He also sent us on the road with a car full of goodies from dried fruit to morel mushrooms to other goodies that are blessedly legal in our new part of the country. Queue Washington State.