Clintons rock country for Fourth 7/1/2009 10:52:03 AM

"We tend to involve the crowd, and we're kind of hard to ignore. It's kind of a challenge. You look out there and people are preoccupied, then we'll kick it up a notch, get somebody on stage or something," said Levi Kujala, the drummer for the four-member band based in Bozeman, Mont.

The band's interactive approach to performing is one of the reasons the Friends of Pavillion Park booked the group for this weekend's Independence Day festivities, when the community's free summer concert series kicks off. This year, Liberty Lake is going country on the Fourth with The Clintons, a band with a blend of rock, country and pop.

Submitted photo

"We've been trying to do country for a number of years, so it's my first crack at it," said Chris Apted, FOPP's summer concert chair. "They're very, very big in Montana. … They're very interactive with the crowd, and that's a very big deal for the Fourth."

The free concert starts at 6 p.m. Saturday in Pavillion Park with the opening act, Big Red Barn, a Spokane band that plays a blend of bluegrass, blues, country, jazz and other string-band music. The band has played for the FOPP series in pocket park performances.

The Clintons take the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday.

The band is described as inspired by the songwriting style of John Mayer, the funk of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the vibe of the Bare Naked Ladies, according to the group's Web site.

The band formed about 10 years ago after meeting at Montana State University, Kujala said. Since then, they've released six albums; the latest one, "Have Another," came out in September 2008. Three are original band members.

The band started out by making up new names for every gig, Kujala said. The one that stuck, The Clintons, was plastered on the marquee sign at a Holiday Inn in Butte, Mont., and the group thought it was too funny to pass up, Kujala said.

When Hillary Clinton ran for office, the group wrote a song and put it on YouTube, the popular Web site for videos. CNN and Fox picked it up, Kujala said. They've heard all the jokes about the band's name, he said. The most common is, "Where's Monica?"

"We tried to set up a lunch date with Hillary, but it probably wasn't going to happen," Kujala joked.

The band has toured all over the West, but they tend to stick closer to home these days, Kujala said. The group has never been to Liberty Lake before, and Kujala encouraged a big turnout.

"You won't be able to get it out of your head. You won't be able to forget it. … We're definitely family friendly. It's a lot of fun," he said. "There's not a better band in Montana."

Concert-goers are encouraged to bring blankets or low-backed chairs to preserve the sight line, Apted said. The shuttle bus from Liberty Lake Elementary School on Molter starts at 4:45 p.m. The parking lot at Pavillion Park is reserved for the elderly or disabled.

The costs for the event are covered by funds raised at the FOPP Holiday Ball and auction, as well sponsorships by Greenstone Corp. and the city of Liberty Lake.