Covellite Presents:
Rocket To Uranus
Saturday, February 17th, 2024
$10 Online or at the Door

Doors: 7pm
Show: 8pm

Remember when popular culture was full of possibility and promise? When anything seemed possible with the right amount of energy and attention? Like, who thought you could send humans to the moon on rockets built with hammers and screwdrivers, using launch trajectories calculated with slide rules when we had poverty, war, racial/economic/religious/social divisions to attend to? When even the tail-fins on our cars embodied the promise of the future?

The idea of Rocket to Uranus started in 2010 when Bob purchased a pair of “disconium” pants before there was a place in Montana to wear them. An unrelated internet spoof led to the discovery that “Rocket to Uranus” was an available domain name and the branding plan fell into place. The hard part of assembling the band was convincing veteran Helena musicians who normally performed bluegrass, Americana, jazz, punk, and rock and roll to focus on an ecclectic mix of Western surf-flavored psychedelic garage band music to force people onto the dance floor. Rocket performs Rocket-flavored covers of songs from bands like the Ventures, Dick Dale, The Monkeys, Frankie Laine, Nancy Sinatra, Gloria Jones, Human Beanz, The Troggs, Ennio Morricone, the 13th Floor Elevators, plus a handful of original tunes that embody the promise of the 60s.

Even though their music is strongly influenced by popular culture in the 60s, Rocket adds ingredients that update the sound and push the positive vibrations to “11”. The band's approach solidified when Sarah (a classically trained choral vocalist) was asked to sit in on a practice to sing backup vocals, and it turned out that she could deliver serious vocal energy. Former drummer Tim Pool and bassist Chuck Porte (now living in Missoula), were fixtures in Helena's music scene since the late-60s and were instrumental in shaping the band's authentic look and feel, complete with cheesy lighting effects and background videos. The concept was field-tested in art festival tents, ski lodges and dive bars, and the band began to develop a following of fans of all ages who would dress up in vintage 60s outfits and work up a sweat on the dance floor.

Rocket to Uranus attracts amazing people of all ages, from all walks of life, who come together to embrace the idea of higher possibilities, social harmony, peace, love, and above all, fun.

In the current iteration of the band, only Bob (guitar) was alive in, and most importantly, remembers the music scene of the 60s. The youngsters in the band are lead vocalist Sarah, classically trained, full of woo, who owns five pairs of go-go boots. Sarah works closely with Marley (vocals and keys), a full–time musician who fronts Marley and The Pocket, to form a killer vocal presence that drives the band and brings in the audience. Jon (bass) is the backbone of the band and brings a barely controlled nuclear energy to the mix. When combined with his amazing ear and wide-ranging musical influences, Jon has produced the band's best original songs. Finally, Dave (drummer and accordionist), the youngest member, brings an infectious playfulness and enthusiasm matched only by his feel for vintage rhythms.

Rocket To Uranus:

Sarah Elkins, vocals
Marley Kendrick, vocals, keyboard
Bob Schmitt, guitar, vocals
Jon Burkhartsmeyer, bass
Dave Prudden, drums

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