The Dirty Shame

Dan Bradner has been playing guitar for twenty years. He began at the age of twelve on a borrowed Yamaha, and by the end of his first year he had played a gig on his own electric. After graduating from Montana State University in Bozeman, Dan began focusing exclusively on suckling the teet of life. He has been a part of two great bands, he has written a novel (complete with accompanying soundtrack), he has skied several hundred days, he has traveled to faraway places, he has had minimal jobs, and he has experienced the bliss of having music be his sole income. He can play a five-hour acoustic show by himself or he can play lead guitar in a group. He was raised on rock and roll, outlaw country, and Motown, found metal along the way, revisited rock and roll, and came all the way home with his current band, The Dirty Shame. Birthplace: Colorado Springs, CO. Cancer. Year of the Dragon. Anarchist

Dean Wakerlin was born and grew up in the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove where he learned to play piano at age 4. His father played classical guitar and taught him the art when he was twelve. He joined his first rock and roll band in high school playing electric guitar and singing. In the high school choir he studied breathing techniques and pitch control. Dean moved to Montana in 1998 to be a full time ski bum and breathe mountain air. He played in an acoustic guitar duo for 3 years playing original music and singing harmonies while writing many original solo songs as well. He recorded his first solo album in Vermont in 2003. Dean bought a drum set and learned to play in 2003 then joined an original reggae band and toured Montana and the western states. In 2004 Dean learned how to play banjo and joined a bluegrass band playing original music. Dean joined the Shame in the summer of 2006. His influences include punk rock, jazz, bluegrass, hip-hop, classical, reggae, and metal.

Mike Hoffman In 2006 he joined the shame playing 5 string, 6 string and was born and grew up in the greater Detroit area of Michigan where from an early age he was exposed to a variety of musical styles. In junior high he and four friends formulated the band Chaos which played original death metal at school functions and local bars. Later he embraced a more grove oriented context when he first played bass in the jam band The Coin which played at local parties and coffee houses. He spent some time exploring other genres including blues, electronica, jazz, hip-hop, and funk playing 6 and 12 string guitar, bass, mandolin, and keyboards. In 1996 he moved to Montana where he attended Montana State University and completed a degree in Cell Biology and Neuroscience and played with several local acts including Mathias and Friends, About Time, Bumpkin, The Zeeman Effect, Boulderfield, and the Railtramps. He spent much of his free time composing and arranging original music and experimenting with home recording.

Brandon Hale was born in Seattle WA, He moved to Bozeman in 2000 where he attended MSU Media and Theatre Arts Program. He has been playing guitar and singing since he was 14 years of age. His influences include, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, to name a few. He established The Dirty Shame in 2006. He currently writes, manages, books, plays rhythm guitar, and sings for The Dirty Shame.

Tom Day is a fifth generation Montanan born in Bozeman in 1970, grew up in billings playing guitar in basement punk bands. Played steel and pedal steel guitars in the Honky-tonk band Johnny Steel and the Decline of the West from 200-2005, and pedal steel and steel guitar in Victoria’s Secret Agents from 2005-2007. His steel playing is influenced by Joaquin Murphy, Lloyd Green and the great Jimmy Day, unrelated. Happily married.

On the lead vocals and rhythm guitar is Brandon Hale who asserts his dominance over the microphone from the first note. While he can emulate the characteristics of many country legends his voice resonates with a fullness and clarity that is evident in each song.

Lead guitarist and vocalist Dan Bradner adds to the mix with his rock and blues vocal style and his telecaster. His guitar parts and solos range form old time country twang to sweltering rock nirvana.

Pedal steel player Tom Day chimes in with perfectly executed steel sounds and solos. His well placed notes act like a glue to solidify the sound of the music.

Bass Player Mike Hoffman keeps the back end interesting with well thought out lines and syncopation. Without haste he will switch from upright to electric bass to accentuate the changing atmosphere the band creates during a set.

Holding down the foundation is drummer and backing vocalist Dean Wakerlin. His subtle dynamics and thundering fills sculpt the groundwork for their musical exploration.

One of the hardest working bands in Montana the band played more than 170 shows last year entertaining crowds all around the west. With the help of their trusty 1985 International school bus aptly named “Steady Betty”, the band plans to take their road show even farther. In the upcoming months the band plans to get back in the studio for another release and is planning a more expansive western tour than ever. The future is looking up and to miss a show near you would truly be a Dirty Shame.

In the tradition of original outlaws like Willie Nelson and David Alan Coe their music resists classification to a set genre and rather transcends genre sending the listener on a journey into new musical territory. The band is now touring in support of their debut self-titled release which is now available on iTunes and Amazon.com as well as at Cactus Records in Bozeman.
For this first album The Dirty Shame had the opportunity to work with Grammy winning producer Doc Wiley at Peach Street Studios in Bozeman. The collaboration yielded a nine song album which showcases the band’s musical diversity and roots. The wailing “Don’t Let the Deal Go Down” builds from its bluesy introduction to a blistering rock jam that climaxes with all the force of a hurricane. The country two-stepping “Last Call” takes the listener down onto the smoky barroom floor and into the plight of a lone drunk wishing for an endless night. The anthemic “Another Round” pays homage to a fist pumping Irish ballad while entertaining a wholly entertaining political subcontext. The entire album brings the listener into world of peaks and valleys with exhilarating highs and desperate lows. The last song is the gut wrenching “Into the Darkness” which resonates with deep emotional tone and spellbinding lyrics.
When the band plays a show it is a visceral experience. There are plenty of traditional waltzes and dance numbers in their three-plus hour show to keep any crowd of country dancers happy. The sets switch with watch-like precision form faster to slower numbers which keep the flow going all night long. Shows often culminate with everyone getting out on the dance floor, partner or none, for some old fashioned getting down. The band has recently incorporated a full multi colored light show to enrich the experience further.