www.montanaseniornews.com TAKE ONE! FREE! Polson’s Unofficial Ambassadors: The Montana ShamRockers
From hospital thank-you luncheons to Seattle’s prestigious Northwest Folklife Festival this spring (via Polson’s Montana Beer Museum, above), Montana Shamrockers have been bringing their trademark sense of humor and music to audience’s all over Montana and beyond. Left to right: Neal (Nels)Lewing, Rick (Mick) Skates, Rob (Robbie) Sloan, Mike (Paddy) Lozar, and John (Liam) Glueckert. [Photo provided by Montana Shamrockers]
By Gail Jokerst www.gailjokerst.com “We consider ourselves the unofficial ambassadors for Western Montana. We go where we are called and serve as we are able,” says Neal “Nels” Lewing. If you think Neal is referring to political diplomacy or the Foreign Legion, think again. As the representative for the Celtic-themed Montana ShamRockers, Neal is talking about sharing the pleasures of Irish music not military support or diplomacy. For this fun-loving musical troupe, service comes as much in the form of performing gratis at nursing homes and schools as in driving hundreds of miles for a gig that barely pays enough to cover fuel costs. “We promote the joy of music, the power of love, and the gift of laughter,” says Neal, one of the group’s original members. He describes the ShamRockers as five men from Polson – Rick “Mick” Skates, Rob “Robbie” Sloan, John “Liam” Glueckert, Mike “Paddy” Lozar, and himself – who “sound like the Clancy brothers and Tommy Makem and have enough Irish in them to count. Some have more than others do. Some can trace their roots to specific locations in Ireland. Others have marginal ancestral associations.” Whatever amount of Erin-go-bragh blood flows through their veins, these “lads” bring equal measures of enthusiasm and dedication to their music. They rehearse as often as their day jobs permit and besides writing their own tunes and lyrics are constantly researching books, archives, old recordings, and sheet music for traditional Celtic melodies to add to their repertoire. “We try to find different arrangements but stay as close to the originals as we can. Unless a tune grabs all of us right away, we don’t dive in. We also research the history of each song and the era in which it was created,” explains Neal, who co-produces the Port Polson Players with his wife, Karen. “Then we can communicate the back-story – if it’s interesting – when we perform. Audiences like to know the history of the songs and like to sing along with us, which we encourage.” Additionally, the ShamRockers bring their trademark sense of humor to the stage whenever they perform. Ever since the group first harmonized ten years ago, fans have asked why the Irish so often sing about fighting, drinking, and sailing. Not one to be caught off-guard, Neal is ready and waiting with a reply. “The Irish have plenty of love songs, too,” he’ll tell you with the barest twinkle of the eye. “Their love of fighting, drinking, and sailing.” (Continued on page 37)