Photo by Maurice Nunez
For veteran musician and storyteller Tim Montana, the journey of artistic discovery has been one rooted in self-reliance and trusting his gut. Its that instinct that first compelled the songwriter to venture outside of his Montana home at just 18 years of age in pursuit of his craft.
Nourished on a healthy diet of outlaw country and roots rock and roll - and equipped with the kind of work ethic that goes hand in hand with a rural upbringing, Montana quickly secured his footing as a budding artist and musical craftsman.
As an independent artist, Montana would find an ally in ZZ Top's Billy F Gibbons early in his career. The creative cosign would segue into collaborations with the likes of Kid Rock and eventually Matt Sorum - all the while grinding as an free agent. Montana's bona fide brand of guitar-driven, rock-leaning country spoke earnestly to his blue collar roots and was quickly convincing a growing base of ardent believers.
For Montana however, the strides only seemed to scratch the surface when it came to further tapping into his true potential. His earned acclaim as a country prospect, substantiated by the likes of Gibbons and even a nod from Dave Grohl suggested there was something else Montana needed to unlock.
In 2023, Montana, again trusting his instincts, opted to reintroduce the masses to the "Devil You Know". Anchored by his steadfast vocal delivery, soaring guitars and the kind of rock heavy melody that can result from years of crafting catchy country songs, Montana had reemerged as his most complete version to date. Fully embracing his rock music lineage, the track set the wheels in motion for the musician's next iteration, one he had been building towards his entire career.
Montana had awakened his inner savage.
Rather than alienating his existing base, the stylistic shift only seemed to broaden Montana's reach with "Devil You Know" tallying universal acclaim. For those already on board, the track showcased the creative breadth of one of their favorite musicians. For those still getting familiar, the track suggested that rock music's emerging class was one of great promise and a sincere appreciation durable, built-to-last rock music.
Taking the leap, Tim Montana is set to make his hard rock full length debut next month with the arrival of, Savage. Offering testament to his rock music lineage, the album combines Montana's keen songwriting ability with kind of grit and conviction that has been his signature since day one.
Spreading his gospel of savagery with recent tours supporting Staind, Seether, and Saint Asonia, its evident Montana is the closest to unlocking his truest potential than he has ever been. Ahead of the release his highly-anticipated re-introduction, Montana details how Savage was less a conscious decision and more the natural progression in his journey of musical self-discovery.
There’s a healthy contingent of people that understand that rock and country have long been kindred spirits. What are some of the parallels for you between the two that made this transition towards 'Savage' so seamless?
Montana - I have always had one foot dipped in outlaw country and one heavily dipped in rock ‘n’ roll. I think outlaw country is some of the most rock ‘n’ roll shit that ever happened with the Waylon and Willie movement back in the 70s. Those guys did their own shit, their own way with long hair, earrings, and a fuck you attitude towards corporate country.
My songwriting has always leaned more rock ‘n’ roll, and never worked in the corporate country model. So making Savage was one of the most natural things I’ve ever done and the creative freedom in the rock/hard rock space is a freedom that I’ve been looking for as an artist for a long time.
How much of a leap of faith was it for you to introduce “Devil You Know” last year? Was there any trepidation in shifting gears given the kind of strides you had made previously? Was there a sense of starting over?
Montana - I knew swinging the bat at another corporate country album or song was over for me as an artist. If anything, “Devil You Know” was a goodbye to Nashville and a song about that. I didn’t know that it would have the success that it had and at that time I actually left Nashville for Montana, knowing that the country radio dreams were likely over as I was an alien in that town.
The last couple of years have seemed to be especially formative for you. Not only beginning a new era artistically, but also returning home to Montana and starting your new venture with Wise River Club. How much of a reset have the last couple of years been and how has that impacted you as a songwriter and a storyteller?
Montana - Both moving back to Montana and releasing a rock single and following up with a rock album was quite the life change. Now reflecting on it makes a lot of sense. I found where my spirit thrives in Montana out in the middle of nowhere and writing rock songs is something I’ve been missing for a long time. Turns out living in Montana is pretty fucking savage and so is owning an operating a bar, restaurant, hotel business.
How does Montana factor into your DNA musically? How did home factor the direction you took, the ethic you established and the perspective you have as someone who crafts stories in song?
Montana - I certainly developed my work ethic growing up in Montana off grid and music being my only friend. I had a pretty rough go at childhood, which I still write about to this day and will probably write about forever. Those rough years of my life don’t define me, however they are in my DNA forever.
Being back here, trying to make peace and sense of my childhood while still writing songs about it to hopefully inspire young kids and people going through some of the trauma that I experienced is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life.
Seems like an especially bold statement to name your rock music debut, Savage. What was specific about that title for you and how does it convey the statement you are looking to make with this reintroduction?
Montana - The song “Savage” always stuck out to me as a great album name. Then when we came back to Montana in the middle of winter to get the photographs and content for the album packaging, that was pretty savage as well. Watching what’s going on in the world right now is also pretty savage and there’s a lot of Apocalypto themes within this record so the name “Savage” really seems to be the perfect title for this album.
That Montana work ethic has likely come in handy with your recent touring schedule. From the recent stretch with Staind and Seether, festival stops at Rockville and Sonic Temple, and now a summer run with Bush and Jerry Cantrell - what has the reception for the songs from Savage been like? How gratifying has it been to see those songs go from the studio to the stage?
Montana - It has been one of my favorite years of my career touring-wise getting to work with most of my childhood heroes that I used to make mix CD’s of. The songs are connecting in a way I never imagined, people are coming to the merch table, asking about the songs and name dropping the titles when they’ve only heard them once in a live setting, which is pretty wild.
Watching crowds around the country sing “Devil You Know” back to me is also a wild experience that gives me goosebumps every night and I’m so grateful and fortunate for it.
You’ve shared that the track “Die Today” was an idea that was marinating for some time. How long have you been living with the songs on Savage? Was this a fresh slate entirely or have a lot of these songs existed in some form and you finally were able to retool them?
Montana - A few of these songs I’ve been sitting on for a while. The song “Die Today” was a title I was chewing on for a couple years. I could never figure out how to write it. I knew I didn’t want a suicide song, so on my tenth attempt to figure out how to write the song I got a text from a British Special Forces Operator. The second I read his text I knew this song would be about people that run into danger setting their own lives aside to save strangers. That was the perfect recipe for “Die Today”.
What kind of emotion are you sitting on as you prepare for July 12th? How excited are you to finally showcase this album and what do you hope fans get out of sitting with the album?
Montana - Record releases always make me excited with a little bit of anxiousness bundled up altogether. On this record, I definitely opened up even more touching on my struggles with alcohol, my childhood, even touching on suicide briefly. However, I finally found the correct music in the rock space so I was able to actually open up more and be more honest about my life and experiences. There’s always the nervousness of how people perceive your music but I am very excited to get this record out and let the world decide.
Tim Montana is set to join Bush, Jerry Cantrell, and Candlebox for a summer stretch of tour dates in addition to appearances at major festivals including Louder Than Life and Aftershock. Montana was also recently confirmed as direct support for Myles Kennedy on his upcoming Winter 2025 tour. A current list of confirmed dates can be found below.
Get tickets - HERE
TIM MONTANA TOUR DATES
6/29 — Rexford, MT — Abayance Bay Marina
7/6 — Milwaukee, WI — Summerfest 2024*
7/26 — Bend, OR — Hayden Homes Amphitheater**
7/27 — Spokane, WA — Northern Quest Pavilion Amp**
7/31 — Salt Lake City, UT — USANA Amp**
8/1 — Greenwood Village, CO — Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre**
8/3 — La Crosse, WI — Copeland Park**
8/4 — Indianapolis, IN — Everwise Amphitheater At White River State Park**
8/6 — Cedar Rapids, IA — McGrath Amphitheatre**
8/7 — Chicago, IL — Huntington Bank Pavilion At Northerly Island**
8/8 — Three Forks, MT — Rockin The Rivers 2024*
8/9 — Nashville, TN — Nashville Municipal Auditorium**
8/10 — Maryland Heights, MO — Saint Louis Music Park**
8/13 — Cleveland, OH — Jacobs Pavilion At Nautica**
8/14 — Cincinnati, OH — Riverbend Music Center**
8/30 - 9/1 — Pryor, OK — Rocklahoma 2024*
9/28 — Louisville, KY — Louder Than Life 2024*
10/4 — Umatilla, OR — Rock The Locks Music Festival*
10/8 — Boise, ID — Revolution Concert Hall (With Halestorm)
10/10 — Sacramento, CA — Aftershock*
*FESTIVAL DATE
**With Bush, Jerry Cantrell, + Candlebox
WITH MYLES KENNEDY
WINTER 2025
1/17 — Joliet, IL — The Forge
1/18 — Minneapolis, MN — Varsity Theater
1/21 — Flint, MI — The Machine Shop
1/22 — Toronto, ON — The Concert Hall
1/25 — Glenside, PA — Keswick Theatre
1/27 — Boston, MA — Brighton Music Hall
1/28 — Asbury Park, NJ — The Stone Pony
1/30 — Baltimore, MD — Baltimore Soundstage
1/31 — Charlotte, NC — Neighborhood Theatre
2/2 — Nashville, TN — Brooklyn Bowl
2/3 — Atlanta, GA —Variety Playhouse
2/5 — Destin, FL —Club LA
2/7 — San Antonio, TX — Vibes Event Center
2/8 — Dallas, TX — Echo Lounge & Music Hall
2/11 — Lawrence, KS — Liberty Hall
2/12 — Denver, CO — Summit
2/14 — Mesa, AZ — The Nile Theater
2/16 — Los Angeles, CA — El Rey Theatre
2/18 — Sacramento, CA — Ace of Spades
2/20 — Seattle, WA — The Neptune
2/21 — Spokane, WA — Knitting Factory
