Artist: United Steel Workers Of Montreal, Album: Broken Trucks And Bottles, Song: Life Bearable In Texas

The United Steel Workers of Montreal were an alt country band from Montreal, Quebec.  They were a six piece band that employed stand up bass, mandolin and banjo.  They formed in 2001 and released their debut album in 2005, entitled Broken Trucks and Bottles.  It was a really strong album and one of the highlights is this track, Life Bearable In Texas.  You can check it out on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRskP-ym_kQ&feature=g-upl&context=G24c3fd5AUAAAAAAADAA).  The band was signed to Weewerk and released three albums.  Their last was released in 2009.  They toured the country numerous times and played international festivals and clubs throughout the U.S. and Europe.  They were an extremely popular live act within, as well as, outside the borders of their home province. They also garnered the support of local unions over their career as a band.  In one particular instance, the Steelworkers union invited them to play a lockout at the Stelco plant in Hamilton.  The band was also known to busk regularly at metro stations in Montreal.  The band membership changed a lot over the years but the most recent line up was Gern F., Felicity Hamer, Matt Watson, Shawn Beauchamp, Phil Frumignac and Dylan Perron.  Sadly, the band recently announced on their website in December of last year, that they were calling it quits.  You can check them out at http://www.uswm.ca/.  You can also see some rare live footage of them performing this song on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHY6I9WXNNU).  You can purchase the album, Broken Bones And Bottles, Itunes.  Thanks for reading and enjoy!