Jim Schulz
Helena, Montana, United States | Established. Jan 01, 1980 | SELF
Music
Press
“Tap ‘er Light” is a musical excursion into the heart and soul of Butte…full of intensity, emotion, sentiment and strain, but brimming with hope that the hard work and struggles of underground miners will somehow be balanced out by the joy of family and fight. Butte’s Irish minstrels: Dublin Gulch (Tom Powers, Mick Cavanaugh, John Joyner and Jim Schulz), have been at it for 25 years. Jim Schulz’s music, when combined with his lyrics, reveals Butte and the Butte experience so well that the Mining City’s Chief Executive Matt Vincent recently recognized Dublin Gulch and made Schulz and Joyner Honorary Butte Citizens. Whether you still live in Butte or are a Butte survivor elsewhere awaiting the opportunity to return; whether you’d secretly like to experience Butte or you are a little afraid of the overpowering myth of Butte; as a Montanan you need to know the depth of Butte to know your state. You will know Butte better after spending an hour with Dublin Gulch and “Tap ‘er Light.” - Evan Barrett - Evan Barrett The Missoulian
Impeccably performed bluegrass/Americana music that celebrates the open country of Montana. There's a touch of the New Age in this record, too, for while Schulz has a warm tenor voice, it's an urban and sensitive voice. The arrangements are complex and lovely. Schulz's precise guitar work is an understated foundation for excellent fiddle playing by Al Cantrell and harmonies by Emily Cantrell. All in all, Schulz's songs add up to highly enjoyable portrait of Way Out West. - Dirty Linen #59
Discography
The Cowboys (1988) Solo Album
Sons of the Western Soil (1989) Solo Album
Where The Red-Winged Blackbirds Sing (1994) Solo Album
Any Day Above Ground Is A Good One (2003) with Dublin Gulch
A Celtic Cowboy Christmas-Live from the Myrna Loy Theater (2003)
Dirty Old Town (2009) with Dublin Gulch
Tap 'Er Light (2016) with Dublin Gulch
Photos
Bio
I grew up in the “bullshipping capital of the world,” Drummond, Montana. I picked up the guitar as a freshman in college as reason not to study inorganic chemistry. While my peers listened to Led Zeppelin and Foghat, I focused on Gordon Lightfoot, Dan Fogelberg, Michael Johnson, and John Denver. I discovered bluegrass music when I was 19 and my life changed. I wear an Irish newsboy cap and sometimes a cowboy hat. At 21, I heard the Irish supergroup ,The Chieftains, and my life changed. Two years later, I was introduced to Charlie Christian, Herb Ellis, Joe Pass, and Barney Kessel and my life changed. I do not drool when I play the banjo. Then it was Riders In The Sky, Sons of the Pioneers, Clarence White, The Bothy Band, Stan Rogers, Frank Sinatra, George Jones, B.B. King, Emmy Lou, Nancy Griffith and on and on. All have and continue to influence the music I like to play. I am kind to animals. As a seventh grade educator, I loved teaching the hormonally impaired and as a high school science instructor, I was passionate about empowering the hormonally enhanced. I like brussel sprouts but will not eat any filtering organs. I am mad about the ukulele. I believe that everyone should take a long walk at sunset.
Band Members
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