Heads up, local rock fans: We have good news and we have bad news. The bad news is that, with singer/guitarist/Taylor Swift music video extra Joe Blankenship packing up and moving back to Washington to finish school, this may very well be your last opportunity to see Shoot the Mountain — at least for a while. Major bummer, right? The power-pop quartet has been mostly dormant for the past year, but I think we were all quietly holding out hope for a resurgence (or at least a couple of new recorded tunes). Don’t despair too much, though! The good news is that they’ll be going out in style, with support from hip-hoppers The Greater Good, YouTube-disapproved country caterwaulers Birdcloud and the first show by former Privates singer Dave Paulson’s new joint, NORM. Be sure to pour one out for the homies after the show.
— Lance Conzett