Izaak Opatz

Izaak John Opatz (born May 6, 1987) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is known for his solo career, and his work with the band The Best Westerns.

Izaak Opatz
Background information
Birth nameIzaak John Opatz
Born (1987-05-06) May 6, 1987
Whitefish, Montana, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, guitarist
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, keyboard
Years active2011–present
Labels
  • Mama Bird Recording Co.
Associated actsThe Best Westerns, Austin Leonard Jones,
Websiteizaakopatz.com

Early life

Opatz was born at home in Whitefish, Montana. His parents, then in their 20s, were out-of-staters who met during a summer they both worked in Glacier National Park. Opatz said he'd always hoped the same would happen to him.[1]

He started playing and writing with a friend for fun in high school. He studied English at The University of Montana, and ended up with a double major in creative writing and forestry.

He's spent summers working with trail crews in Glacier National Park, heading into the backcountry for up to 10 days at a time to clear trail and repair bridges and retaining walls.

Career

Opatz is a singer-songwriter who also plays a variety of instruments. He has described his sound as “Nora Ephron Rom-Com-earnestness with a sense of humor.” His album Mariachi Static (which takes its title from a lyric in Warren Zevon’s “Carmelita”), produced by Malachi DeLorenzo, is an easygoing listen, driven by Opatz’s sublime way with a lyric. He's opened for Langhorne Slim and James McMurtry, and toured with Traveller, which counts Opatz’s erstwhile mentor, and fellow Montanan, Jonny Fritz as a member.[2]

The Best Westerns

Founded in 2011, Optaz's country-rock band, the Best Westerns, earned a following among both rock and roots fans, playing everything from bars in small towns like Coram to a gig at the Wilma Theatre. A group of friends from Missoula, they started a country and western band primarily so they could sing while wearing cowboy hats. In their songs, The Best Westerns claim to "walk the line" between their appreciation for Western mythology, and their slice-of-life portrayals of modern life.[3] In 2014, they released their debut album, “High Country” at a show at the Top Hat Lounge. The 10-track record features all original songs by lead singer and guitarist, Opatz.[4]

Solo work

Opatz released his debut solo album Mariachi Static on February 11, 2017. The album was recorded in Los Angeles, and was inspired by Mojave desert camping excursions, life on a Glacier National Park trail crew, late night ping-pong tournaments and love.[5]

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, had to cancel an upcoming multi-state tour with 16 dates.[6] He returned to his previous summer job of working on the trail crews in Glacier National Park, as well as participating in multiple live-streaming events.

On December 11, 2020, Opatz released Hot & Heavy-Handed, an album that features nine covers from the likes of Clint Black, Mark Chesnutt and Dierks Bentley with two of Opatz’s original tracks.[7] The covers, recreated with an indie rock style invoke a nostalgia for country lovers while being fresh enough to encourage new listeners unfamiliar with the genre. The cover of “Drunk on a Plane” received notoriety from Rolling Stone Magazine’s country music picks for the week of Nov. 23, stating that his cover, “understands the song’s pitiful core even better than the original. When Opatz sings, 'I'm up so high, I may never come down,' it sounds as hard-to-believe as ever.”[8]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
Country
 US
 US
Indie
Mariachi Static
  • Release date: February 11, 2017
  • Label: Mama Bird Recording Co.
 — — —
Hot & Heavy-Handed
  • Release date: December 11, 2020
  • Label: Mama Bird Recording Co.
 — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles
Year Title Label
2018 Bathing in the Ganges "Duck Lake Road" and "Carmelita" Mama Bird Recording Co.
2020 Goin' Through the Big D Mama Bird Recording Co.

Music videos
Year Video Director
2018 "Got to Me Since" Ken Grinde
2018 "Limited Liability" Austin Scarpino
2018 "Duck Lake Road" Michael T. Workman
2019 "Not Yet" Michael T. Workman

Notes and references
  1. "Izaak Opatz: A Montana country-rock scribe goes solo". Missoulian. February 9, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  2. "10 New Country Artists You Need to Know: May 2018". Rolling Stone. May 17, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  3. "The Best Westerns". Montana Public Radio. August 5, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  4. "Long road to Best Westerns' debut album". Missoulian. July 18, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  5. "The Alt-Country, Dirt-Wave Sounds Of Izaak Opatz". Montana Public Radio. April 12, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  6. "Missoula musicians look to live-streaming to replace lost gigs". Missoulian. March 19, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  7. "Izaak Opatz covers country hits on new album". Missoulian. December 10, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  8. "RS Country Music Picks for the Week of November 23rd". Rolling Stone. November 23, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
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