Eclectic musician a regular at open mic nights

Colton Christensen finishes his breakfast around noon at Ceres Bakery, decked out in a newsboy cap, checkered pajama pants and slippers — “the most comfortable show ever created,” he says, grinning.

The local musician is what one might call a character — an original — in every sense of the word. On stage where he’s known as “Colton Sea,” the audience might see him in his signature headband, loads of color and often overalls or cutoff shorts. He wants to stand out from his fellow singer-songwriters, a feat Christensen pulls off handily.

While he’s been compared to the animated comic Jack Black, Christensen describes his style as a blend of folk, jazz, pop and grunge. He draws inspiration from creators like Marcy Playground, alt-J and Enya — along with his music-filled youth. He was one of 14 kids in his family and the soundtrack to his childhood was primarily composed of Celtic and bluegrass — genres he carries through in his own writing, while also incorporating harder stuff, like rock ’n’ roll.

Christensen writes original songs about the highs and lows of his life, and accompanies his vocal stylings on guitar or piano.

“Some of it’s just really sad … just heart-breaking stuff that I went through, and a lot of the songs are how I got through that, what pulled me through that sadness. It’s really just yin and yang,” Christensen said.

For the last eight years, Christensen has been a regular in the Flathead Valley music scene. He plays gigs regularly — up to three nights a week in the summer season — and hosts open mics at Tailing Loop Winery, Cypress Yard and Bias Brewing. In a way, Christensen has come full circle. He got his feet wet in the industry at local open mic nights, performing as a member of the band Cartoon Neighborhood at Scotty’s Bar. Before hitting the stage as a paid musician, he spent about 10 years in the musical theater world, acting and singing with programs in Bigfork, Virginia City and a home-school choir. He acted in the 2017 horror movie, “The Forlorned,” and secured a role in an upcoming film by Guthrie Quist.

CHRISTENSEN WAS first encouraged to explore music by his mom, after his father died from cancer when Christensen was just 11 years old.

“She just wanted us to find an outlet for us to express ourselves and feel creative and free, and distract us from sad things like that — also to develop as human beings,” he said.

While he enjoyed acting, Christensen found himself more at home as a musician and songwriter.

“I guess I got tired of playing other people’s parts,” he said. “With acting, you’re becoming someone else … with my music, I’m able to share my own story.”

Over the years he grew more and more comfortable in front of an audience. While he’s an introvert at heart, Christensen has developed a big presence on stage.

“My whole thing is highs and lows, hills and valleys — dynamics is what I truly try to portray at my shows,” Christensen explained. “I like to give people an experience that’s maybe going to scare them a little bit, but then also make them feel whole again.”

He has about seven hours of material committed to memory and can pick and choose selections to match the venues he performs at, ranging from “high-energy, psychotic screaming to mellow, tender, beautiful chilled-out kind of stuff.”

LOOKING AHEAD, he hopes to record — a lot — and tour with his new band; one that’s so freshly minted, they have yet to settle on a name. Christensen is on guitar and vocals, while Jeremy Sparks plays drums and Cody Bray is on bass.

“I have about 70 songs that are ready to record, album-wise. I’ve written over 200,” Christensen said.

Ultimately, he’d like to head out on a series of shorter, two- to three-week tours, rather than be on the road for months on end.

“I want to stay in an area for a couple days instead of just doing a show and then leaving immediately afterwards,” he said.

But until that time comes, he’s doing occasional solo shows and enjoying a steady presence as an open mic night host. At these evening gathering of community creatives, he’s seen everything from original hip-hop artists, to drag performers along with the usual slew of indie-folk crooners.

“It’s been really cool to see all these different artist come out,” he said. “I think my favorite part is seeing people take that step …. and then seeing and feeling the rush of an applause that comes after they play.”

It’s a feeling he knows well.

Check out Colton Sea’s upcoming gigs and open mic nights:

March 17, Rough Cut Hard Cider, 6-8 p.m. (open mic)

March 18, Tailing Loop Winery, 7-9 p.m. (open mic)

March 19, Cypress Yard, 5:30-9 p.m. (open mic)

March 22, Bias Brewing, 5-8 p.m. (open mic)

To sign up to perform at one of his open mic nights, contact Colton at (406) 407-0732.

March 28, Tailing Loop Winery. 7-9 p.m. (live)

April 3, Bias Brewing, 6-8 p.m. (live)

April 4, Rough Cut Hard Cider, 5-8 p.m. (live)

Reporter Mackenzie Reiss may be reached at 758-4433 or mreiss@dailyinterlake.com.