Imet Jim Bone last year during a show at Boxcar Studios in Salt Lake City. It ended up being almost a year later before I got the chance to see his band, Jim Bone and the Dig.
I remember the show at Boxcar was one of those after hours shows hosted by the infamous Lee Greenaulgh. It was 3 am and I was sitting on a huge, barren tree trunk, which was the most amazing interactive art installation I had ever seen or crawled on. One minute I’m sitting with a group of friends, and the next minute they’ve disappeared and Bone is sitting sitting in their place.
Who was this mysterious guy, wearing a tattered old cowboy had, torn jeans and cowboy boots? More importantly, what happened to my friends?
One minute I’m sitting with a group of friends, and the next minute they’ve disappeared and Bone is sitting sitting in their place.
In the months following Bone’s magical mystery appearance on that tree trunk, I failed miserably in my attempts to see him perform. I moved to Salt Lake City in 2016, so I didn’t know a lot about the Salt Lake music scene history, but I sensed Bone was somebody I should know about.
One night last August I ran into him at the Tuesday night open mic at Shades On State and once again he invited me to come see his band. I knew it was time to finally catch up with Mr. Bone.
Jim Bone and the Dig
When I walked in to A Bar Named Sue on State, the dance floor at was packed and Jim Bone and the Dig were well into their first set. The band was playing a mashup jam of Bone’s cover of Love the One You’re With, which is on his 2021 album release The Outsider. Check it out on Spotify.
Jim Bone and the Dig (left to right): Sarah Little Drum, Dan Muir, Juliette Camille, Cashel Barnett, Mike Sasich, Danny Shaw, Jim Bone and Max Muscalino.
Jim Bone and the Dig’s sound can be summarized as Country/Psych Rock. The underlying country rock melodies are accessible and the beats make you want to dance. Meanwhile, the arrangements definitely stretch your mind and put you into a trance-like state that gives wallflowers like me space to totally get into the sound.
The band consists of Jim Bone on mandolin, guitar and lead vocals, Cashel Barnett on drums and vocals, Max Muscalino on bass guitar, Danny Shaw on keys and Hammond organ, and Mike Sasich on lead guitar. New to the band and debuting on this night were Juliette Camille on fiddle, percussionist Dan Muir and Sara Little Drum on backup vocals. (Check out a recent show review that included these three.)
Mike Sasich and Jim Bone.
It’s worth noting that Mike Sasich had also never played live with the band. Clearly, his studio work—as owner of Man vs. Music—gave him enough history to fill in on a very short notice.
I’m looking forward to seeing the band on December 17, when they perform live at the State Room in Salt Lake City. This show will mark about two months since the new lineup got together and I’m expecting fireworks.
A bit about Mr. Bone
Jim Bone has been kicking around the Utah Punk and Bluegrass music scene for 40 years, with a string of respectable successes and national tours under his belt. As a punk rocker with his band Burial Benefits, Bone opened for acts like the Offspring, and the Butthole Surfers.
Jim Bone has been kicking around the Utah Punk and Bluegrass music scene for 40 years….”
Bone eventually transitioned into more of a bluegrass sound and has worked with musicians like Jerry Joseph of Widespread Panic. With his rock jam grass band Purdymouth, Bone opened for household names like Leftover Salmon and String Cheese Incident.
A Bar Named Sue has a loyal following of patrons who enjoy the full bar, good grub, and live music.
A bar named what?
A Bar Named Sue is one of those rarified venues that comes with it’s own built-in patrons. Just add music and you have a chance to kick the evening’s enjoyment factor up a notch or two. I liken the venue to Piper Down and Barbary Coast. These venues have full bars, serve good grub and have loyal followings who expect to show up and hear good music. It almost doesn’t matter what band is playing, as long as they kill it.
Jim Bone and the Dig did just that. Watch for coming shows and follow Jim Bone on Facebook and Spotify.
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