Blaine County Beacon: Making An Impact with Music

 

March 16, 2022

Country and blues musician, Alex Billmayer released his first album, It's All There, on February 3, 2022 with R&D Recordings based in Big Sandy. To promote the album, Billmayer spent February 9-March 3 on a tour of the Hi-Line.

Billmayer's first stop on the Hi-Line Tour was The Gateway Club in Fort Peck. The next night, February 10, he played his "songs about family, love, and livin'" at Busted Knuckle Taproom in Glasgow. Then, February 15 saw him at Kennedy's Bar in Harlem, and on Thursday that week, he played at the Bear Paw Saloon in Chinook. Following those bookings, the Tip-It Bar in Havre and Fresno Tavern in Kremlin hosted Billmayer, who closed out his tour on March first at the Grand Bar and Grill in Chester.

A 2001 graduate of Havre High School, Billmayer has been interested in music since middle school. After hearing the blues-infused rock n' roll style of guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd and the bluesy ballads performed by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Billmayer was hooked. "That's when I knew I wanted to play for people," he said.

Similar to Shepherd's, Vaughan's music is rooted in blues and rock. At the time of his death in 1990, Vaughan was considered one of the most influential blues guitarists of the 1980s and was described by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as "the second coming of the blues."

Billmayer borrowed inspiration from these musicians for fourteen years while he played with his band, Shovels and Shotguns. When asked if he had any formal training, Billmayer reported having taken a few guitar workshops but confessed that most of his musical ability is self-taught or acquired by "jamming with various people."

Last August, he decided to go solo on acoustic guitar. "I had some songs lying around, and when I went through some challenging times, I turned to music. Some good songs came out of those times."

With all of that creative effort, Billmayer was inspired to take his music to the next level-publishing it for public pleasure. "I considered several of the songs to be pretty good, so I wanted to share them with the world." As a result, an album was born: It's All There. Individual songs from the album are available on Spotify, iTunes, and other major platforms.

Although most of the album features Billmayer on acoustic guitar and vocals, a few of the songs highlight the talent of other musicians. For example, Tavie Wortman appears in "One of a Kind" on fiddle.

"The album really is a collaborative effort, and I especially want to thank producer Chris Meyers-who does excellent studio work-and Drew Torgerson, who did the cover art for the album," Billmayer stated.

According to Billmayer, many of the songs on It's All There are deeply personal, such as "My Dad," which pays tribute to his father, Larry. The lyrics recount challenges Billmayer experienced while growing up. He not only apologizes for ever letting his father down but credits his dad for inspiring him, giving him big shoes to fill and "a lot to live up to."

Now that Billmayer is a father himself, he realizes the sacrifices his dad made and the pressures he experienced. Billmayer captures those sentiments in the song's refrain: "You taught me everything I know, and you've been there from day one; last of a dying breed but your name will carry on."

Regarding the tour, Billmayer said, "This seemed like a good time to reconnect after the pandemic, so I wanted to invite people to come out, get together, and hear music."

While touring the Hi-Line, Billmayer claims to have met "the best people" and to have made a lot of new friends. "Music is the fabric that binds us. It connects us in ways that I never thought possible."

Calling the tour an "unforgettable experience," Billmayer wished to thank all of the business owners who opened their establishments and allowed him to come in and play live music. "You can never underestimate the impact that music makes. This period spent performing taught me that the people here are generous and genuine. It was an honor playing at all of these venues along the Hi-Line."

Still, everyone faces challenges, and the music business is no different. "Putting the album together was a dream come true, but organizing the tour, scheduling everything, and keeping audiences happy all present their own challenges," Billmayer reports.

Although Billmayer claims to "eat, sleep, and breathe music," he also admits to having a life beyond artistic production. His 'day job' as a rancher of cattle and sheep in Hogeland, Montana, consumes quite a bit of his time, as does raising his four children: Quin, Amos, Madalyn, and Bailey. In fact, his daughter Bailey sings with him on some of his gigs. "I actually encourage all of my children to take part in concerts," he said.

Despite life's challenges, Billmayer shares this advice with aspiring musicians: "Play your favorite stuff, keep it fun, and keep a passion in it. That's what people want to hear."

Anyone interested in owning a copy of It's All There can obtain the album by purchasing it at one of Billmayer's gigs. Albums are also available by contacting Billmayer either by phone (406-680-7064) or by messaging him on Facebook.

 
 

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