HoboEye Music:
Band Universal Triumphant (BUT), Bozeman, MT

Worshiping BUT - Band Universal and Triumphant 

by Kris King
“The greatest band you’ve never heard,” members of Band Universal and Triumphant, (pronounced ‘BUT’) say by way of introduction. This is genius music percolating under silly and significant lyrics and unfurling randomly for eighteen years into the ears of relatively few. There is no clean description of BUT-sound, but try melting fast rock anthems, country crooning, ambient noise, pogo-sticks, oddly gorgeous harmonizing, silverware hitting dishes, guitar solos, and silly ditties together. The result, particularly live, could be canonized.

“Don’t hit your mother in the face, don’t push the baby down the stairs, don’t burn people in an oven…everyone is a beast inside, the ethics song teach you what you need to know.” – The Ethics Song

Alchemy and philosophy set BUT apart from other bands. BUT’s magic is in the peculiar musical alchemy of the sweetest bunch of cranky-looking guys imaginable, though  members fluctuate at any given time. “When two or three are gathered, there is BUT,” explains musician Paul Rose. BUT philosophy is contrary to common band myth; the make-it-big dream does not besmirch BUT. They aren’t interested in record contracts, big tours, or anything that smells like fame, they just want to play together. Composer Jeff Arntsen explains, “We’re not trying to be on MTV with hits, we just get together to have fun, play music, and entertain ourselves. It’s heaven to me.”

“Sex on roller skates is nice, especially on the ice…”  – Sex on Rollerskates

BUT members are in a constant state of flux and other band projects. “It’s more like a bowling night than a band,” says lyricist John Usher. BUT has primarily been; John Usher (academic office worker and ‘Cedric Kreklow’), Mike Weix (Technical and Lighting Director, and half of the computer-based duo ‘NO’), Jeff Arntsen (now residing in Seattle but returning for occasional gigs; soundtrack composer, ‘Racketship’ founder, and former member of ‘The Longhorns’ among many other bands), Dave Arnott (single father, self employed property owner), Paul Rose (Music Villa employee and solo acoustic player whose bands have included ‘Ruby Hicks’, ‘Foil Ball’, ‘Mullray’, K, and many more), and Derek Strahn, (Historic preservation consultant and Bozeman High social studies teacher, and leader of ‘The Longhorns’). Keith Martinez (Co-op Dishwasher and member of ‘Bi-polar Ben and The Touchers’) was the latest in a line of drummers starting with Ben Simpson, fill-in Darin Crabtree, and long time member Cy McCullough. Martinez praises BUT, “It’s a great chance to play with the elder statesman of Montana ‘kook-rock’. They’re not afraid to incorporate humor and all the other bands I’m in do BUT covers.”

“Goin’ down the highway 90 miles an hour, gotta beer in my lap, gotta deer on the rack”
– Beer in my Lap

BUT began their signature background sound of records (from Doris Day to bullfights) played through guitar amps early on, “Trying to get beautiful unusual sounds,” explains Weix. Another early BUT feature was, “We just made up songs as we went along,” Arntsen recalls, “It could be magic or it could be disaster.” When people began requesting favorite songs, BUT had to try and remember what they’d played and recreate them. “Sometimes we change the way we play a song in the middle of it, it keeps us on our toes,” Weix says, so BUT songs never get old. Usher writes the majority of BUT lyrics and the band works out tunes together. Key to BUT-ism are annual pilgrimages to play in a dilapidated High School ‘Gymnauseam’ with great acoustics near Moccasin, MT. These are long improv session rolling lots of tape to later cull for musical gems, “It’s like panning for gold,” Arnott says.

“Sittin’ alone in a crowded bar, a queer gut-ache, it doesn’t matter who you are, you’re just a basket case…it ain’t the dyin’, it’s the living that leaves you so far gone.”
– Drive to Angel

Members have their own computer based recording systems and spend plenty of time in front of the computer working on recordings, and BUT has self-produced ten albums. Practice, however, is what fuels BUT. “We could practice all night, or just get together, tell stories and laugh,” Arntsen explains. BUT practice has been likened to ‘congregational meetings that develop rapport’. Whether they play, listen to recordings, or make-up stories, it’s all sacred BUT time.  

“…riding a bicycle built for two, first you steer then I do too, we can trust each other, my life in your hands. We belong. drinking till three, having a sewing bee, together, fun together. We belong.” (insert whistling here) – dancing till Dawn

BUT doesn’t proselytize, “One thing we’ve consistently done is failed in promotion,” Usher explains. To catch BUT; call KGLT at 406/994-4492 and request BUT songs, keep your ears and eyes open for local live shows in Montana, and join the BUT Email/Call list, by emailing your phone number to but@onemain.com or calling 406/582-7494 for information or to purchase CDs. Rose summarizes BUT, “My vision is that it’s like a church and will last a thousand years. All are welcome.”