Total Fest. 44 bands over three days in beautiful Missoula, Montana. Thursday was the kickoff - a bit smaller than the nights to follow (only two stages instead of three), but a solid opening night nonetheless. The first highlight of day one: LA’s Bad Dudes. They just played in Seattle Wednesday night at the Holy Mountain on Eastlake, but I had no idea what was coming when they took the stage in Missoula. I actually mistakenly thought they were Rad Dudes, that band comprised of a guy and his 5 year old son. Nope, these guys are a ridiculously talented 5 piece that, even though they won’t cop to it when asked, are writing triumphant, harmonizing NES video game music, complete with a keyboardist properly versed in the art of Rick Wakeman. For anybody who ever heard the Advantage and thought, “It would be awesome if these guys actually wrote their own songs,” Bad Dudes are the answer.

They were followed by a particularly revved up Black Eyes and Neckties, on their first night of a two week tour. These guys always dominate the stage, but last night they destroyed it. There was the usual thrashing and flailing, but by the end of the set the band took to climbing. Guitarist Josh Holland made it up to the top of the PA before realizing there really wasn’t much he could do up there, handed his guitar down and hopped off. Singer Brad Lockhart however had climbed up onto a 15 foot ledge and was now faced with a difficult decision: “Now that I’m up here, what do I do?” The answer: Jump. He chose…poorly. Always the showman, Brad opted not to hit the couch below him and go straight to the floor instead, which he crumpled onto like so much bloody laundry. He broke one of his feet and sprained both of his ankles. Holland ripped off his shirt and toppled over his Soldano amp. His back was covered in blood. The first night of a two week tour. Sorry for the shit luck, Black Eyes, but if it’s any consolation, it was a hell of a spectacle, and a hell of an opening night.