‘The Montana Sessions’: Matt Wallin & His Nervous Breakdown Live From The Bridger Mountains [Watch]

The Bridger Mountains are a subrange of the Rocky Mountains located in southwestern Montana. Named after Jim Bridger, a legendary frontiersman and mountain man who explored the area in the early 1800s, the range runs approximately 24 miles between Bozeman and Maudlow and was a major landmark for pioneers and fur traders traveling through the region. The region also has a rich Native American history, and the mountains are considered sacred by many local tribes, who have used them for hunting, gathering, and spiritual practices for generations.

Renowned for their natural beauty, the Bridger Mountains are a popular destination for hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, hunting, skiing, mountain climbing, and other outdoor activities. They are also important for their ecological value. The range is home to a diverse array of plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else in the region, including elk, deer, moose, bighorn sheep, black bears, mountain lions, and coyotes. The area is also an important source of water for local communities, with several major rivers and streams originating in the mountains.

For their first of two performances on The Montana Sessions, Matt Wallin & His Nervous Breakdown deliver a sincere reflection on some sage advice offered by a wise “Old Man”. Clad in the uniform of the Montana rancher, cowboy hats included, the band blends seamlessly into the rugged landscape, with the drum set just barely peaking above the tall prairie grass.

Matt Wallin & His Nervous Breakdown pick up the tempo for the eighth and final episode of Montana Sessions season three with “Devil By My Side”. The song’s upbeat boom-chick train beat and buoyant lead guitar strike a country sound that complements the Bridger range’s rugged terrain, while the song’s lyrics speak of the deal-with-the-devil trope most commonly associated with the blues.

Watch episodes seven and eight of The Montana Sessions season three featuring Matt Wallin & His Nervous Breakdown performing “Old Man” and “Devil By My Side” in the Bridger Mountains below. Revisit episodes one and two with The Lucky Valentines here, episodes three and four with Kitchen Dwellers here, and episodes five and six with Kevin Van Dort here.

The Montana Sessions Season 3, Episode 7 – Matt Wallin & His Nervous Breakdown – “Old Man” – Live From The Bridger Mountains

The Montana Sessions Season 3, Episode 8 – Matt Wallin & His Nervous Breakdown – “Devil By My Side” – Live From The Bridger Mountains