Host:
Oh yeah, there's a trailblazer. That's James McMurtry inside the Trail Lunchbox. And what do you know? It's the real James McMurtry in the Trail Lunchbox, and in the Trail studio. James, welcome back.

James McMurtry:
Good to be back.

Host:
Nice to see you. We were talking about you all morning and anticipating your arrival. And your friend and musical collaborator, BettySoo. Betty, welcome.

BettySoo:
Good to be here.

Host:
You guys are really kind of fans of each other?

James McMurtry:
Definitely.

Host:
You've been a big proponent of BettySoo's music over the years. And you both collaborated on each other's records this year, right?

James McMurtry:
Yeah, I sang on hers, and she sang on mine. We’re doing some of that live too.

Host:
I should explain to everybody that you are playing tonight at the Zootown Arts Community Center Showroom. There are still some tickets available for that show. And on the other side of this interview and performance, we’ll be giving away a couple pairs of tickets.

James McMurtry:
Excellent.

Host:
That song right there, James — "How Am I Gonna Find You Now" — we watched the video, which if you’re a fan, you’ve probably already seen. It's fun, cool, quirky. Did you enjoy making it?

James McMurtry:
I actually did enjoy that shoot. I don't usually enjoy being around a camera, but I got to drive this Country Squire wagon from the '70s that ran much better than it had any right to.

Host:
You looked great in it. We were wondering: if this guy drove by and you were hitchhiking, would you hop in? Or if this were the hitchhiker, would you offer him a lift?

James McMurtry:
Yeah. That was in California, desert landscape. C.C. Adcock produced that record. A good time was had by all.

Host:
BettySoo, how is it going down the road with James?

BettySoo:
I'm spoiled. He rides in or drives my car a lot, which is great because I used to do all the miles. It's nice to get a break, and he’s a good driver. That probably surprises no one.

James McMurtry:
Yeah, I always say I need a black coffee so I don't get lazy.

Host:
What I love about your music, James, is that some of it feels so grounded — like a guy with a rattling dashboard — and then you also rail against the system. It covers everything in between.

BettySoo:
There are a lot of things I love about James' writing, but what always blows me away is his ability to express empathy for someone he might disagree with. He finds the human in them and gets us to care too.

James McMurtry:
Yeah, the original title for this new record was Find the Human. If you put the CD in your computer, it still comes up with that title because they forgot to change the code. That’s the thing about songwriting: if you’re writing from a character's point of view, you have to stay in character. If you insert your own opinion, the song becomes a sermon.

Host:
That’s a quotable line.

James McMurtry:
I feel like John Wayne in The Searchers. Ethan was not a nice guy.

Host:
Is it hard to stay in character?

James McMurtry:
You can lose it, but hopefully you revise the song until it holds.

BettySoo:
People often confuse the voice in the song with the songwriter. Like James' "Rachel’s Song" is written from a woman’s point of view, but people don't always catch that.

Host:
Like when John Prine sings "Angel From Montgomery."

James McMurtry:
Exactly. Sometimes you just have to let people figure it out.

BettySoo:
I love that Bruce Cockburn line: "My name was Richard Nixon / only now I'm a girl."

Host:
We could go on and on, and we have before. We invited James in, always room for James on Trail 103.3, and this time with BettySoo.

James on 12-string guitar. Betty, what’s that beautiful red instrument?

BettySoo:
Accordion. It used to match my dress back when we were doing the drag shows.

Host:
Right! You guys swapped outfits sometimes. James in a dress, Betty in a suit.

BettySoo:
Yeah, we did that in several states with anti-drag laws. All three of those laws were struck down.

Host:
Alright. Performing tonight at the Zootown Arts Community Center, here are James McMurtry and BettySoo live on Trail 103.3.

[Live Performance: James McMurtry — "The Color of Night"]

Host:
James McMurtry and BettySoo, live on the Trail. That song was "The Color of Night," from the new record Black Dog and the Banishment Boy.

BettySoo:
Thank you.

Host:
You guys seem to have a deep musical bond. Are we hearing another song?

BettySoo:
Yes, this next one is actually written by James, but it's going to be on my new record coming out next month. It originally appeared on his St. Mary of the Woods album, but I always thought it could work well as a duet. And surprisingly, James agreed. We recorded it together and have been performing it live.

Host:
Alright, BettySoo now switching to a six-string Taylor. James has what kind of guitar?

James McMurtry:
A National Resolectric. Sounds like a banjo, plays like a guitar.

[Live Performance: BettySoo & James McMurtry — "Gulf Road"]

Host:
BettySoo and James McMurtry live on the Trail. Betty, I admire both your songwriting and your website — bettysoo.com — that’s B-E-T-T-Y-S-O-O.com. Sometimes it's hard to promote yourself.

BettySoo:
Oh, it's the worst.

Host:
But you have a story to tell, and it's nice people can find out more on your site.

How many times have you been through Montana together?

BettySoo:
A couple times.

James McMurtry:
You missed the last one. I was with Bonnie Whitmore then. You were touring with Chris Smither.

Host:
Was that the tour with the guitar made from Great Burn wood?

James McMurtry:
Yeah, from the Yaak Valley. Rick Bass was there too.

Host:
Shoutout to Rick Bass. So, Betty, do you have a favorite James McMurtry song?

BettySoo:
That’s hard. I can’t pick favorites.

Host:
I’m partial to "Blackout" from your catalog, James. On the new record, "Memento" really works too.

Alright, playing the Zootown Arts Community Center tonight. Want to win tickets? Text 406-604-1033 with your favorite James McMurtry or BettySoo song, or just let us know you’d like to go.

Where are you heading after this?

James McMurtry:
We’re heading to Bozeman to play The Elm. It’s a much bigger venue than we’re used to, but hopefully it fills up.

Host:
To our Bozeman listeners and those streaming at trail1033.com, make the trip. Missoulians: don’t miss tonight’s show.

Time for one more?

James McMurtry:
Sure. Let’s do a twisted little song from the new record.

[Live Performance: James McMurtry — "South Texas Lawman"]

Host:
Wow. That one hit hard. Powerful song from James McMurtry.

BettySoo:
Last week a DJ bumped a bunch of songs to let us on. Later he told me he thought he already knew "South Texas Lawman" because the story felt so familiar. His dad was retired law enforcement.

Host:
That song doesn't feel like casual listening. It reminds me of Warren Zevon. Ever meet him?

James McMurtry:
Only saw him through a club door in Austin. The sound inside was so bad I stood in the parking lot where it actually sounded better.

Host:
James McMurtry, thank you. BettySoo, thank you. Performing tonight at the Zootown Arts Community Center, and tomorrow at The Elm in Bozeman.

Got anything to pitch?

James McMurtry:
I do want to thank All Nations Health Center, an inclusive part of the Missoula community. They host events like "Movement is Medicine," the Indigenous Made Summer Market on June 14th, and a Missoula Pride Powwow on June 20th. Their summer hours start June 13th — Monday through Thursday, 7 AM to 5 PM. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram or visit allnationshealth.org.

Host:
Thanks again to James McMurtry and BettySoo. We'll see you tonight at the ZACC!