Swampers by Day, Rockers by Night: Dylan and Shane Findlay (Employee Spotlight)

Brothers by blood, bandmates by choice… actually, coworkers by choice too. Come to think of it, these guys must really get along, because they also used to be roommates. The brotherly bond is obviously strong with these two, and we’re pretty happy about that.

Dylan and Shane Findlay have been two of Logjam’s most faithful swampers over the past few years. Born in Missoula and having lived in Lolo for most of their lives, these two Montanans are some of the hardest working gents in show business. When they’re not waking up at the crack of dawn to get the Logjam venues looking spic and span, they’re playing music together in their psych rock band, Crypticollider.

That’s right, one night they’re shredding on stage and the next morning they’re sweeping it up. Whether we have shows at the Top Hat, Wilma, or KettleHouse Amphitheater, Dylan and Shane are ready the next day to get them back in shipshape.

We’ve been lucky enough to have Crypticollider play at the Top Hat a couple times as a support act, but we’re very excited to have them headline for the first time on Saturday, October 5th! You can get the show details here, but in the meantime, keep reading to find out more about our beloved Findlay brothers.

How did you start working for Logjam?

Dylan: I was just out of high school when I decided to apply for a swamping position at the Top Hat. I was seeking something more fulfilling and interesting than my previous fast food job and was lucky enough to be hired on to the team. Both Shane and I feel blessed to have such a solid crew behind us. They all work so hard to get the job done, and I feel that each of them exemplifies what it means to be a good worker.

Shane: Dylan already had a job at Logjam. I thought it would be a fun and unique experience to work for a big time music company. 

Photo by Dónal Lakatua

What’s the best part about being bros that work together and are in a band together? What’s the worst part?

We both kind of inherently work together well at this point. We have to or else our lives will become significantly more difficult. We’ve both discovered through the years of butting heads and petty arguments that it is much better to work together and be respectful of one another’s needs and wants in life. We are co- workers and we are band mates; but ultimately, we are family.  As long as we both realize that by the end of the day, there is no bad part about working together/ playing music together on a daily basis.

Are you guys working on any new music?

We are currently working on our second full length album as Crypticollider. I think we are always writing new songs and things to jam though. A pretty fair deal of the songs on the new album are done being written as well. All that’s left is to finish recording it.

What artists influence the band’s music most?

The biggest influence for the band comes from the creativity of the members of the band. But we love Pink Floyd, Motorhead, King Gizzard, Queens of the Stone Age  and Led Zeppelin. We all listen to a pretty wide variety of music and try to incorporate as much stylistic freedom as possible  

How should people prepare for a Crypticollider show?

They definitely should pack a pair of earplugs, and be ready to move to the music.

What makes Missoula special to you? 

Shane: I think the most unique thing about Missoula is the location really, it feels very connected with the wilderness that surrounds the city. The Pacific Northwest and Northwest Montana specifically, are in a way removed from so many natural disasters, large scale storms, world conflicts and things of that nature. It feels peaceful here.

Dylan: What makes Missoula special to me is simply everything about it. It’s gorgeous here, and most of the people that I’ve met over the years are just so kind and positive. There’s a good feel of comfort and being part of the community that I get every time I walk down Higgins on a sunny day. I could go on and on about why I love it here, but for the sake of brevity, I’ll just say that Missoula is special because it will always be my home.   

Photo by Emily Haacke

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?

We both really love being outside. Hiking, camping, fishing, swimming- the usual stuff. But aside from that, we both really love being with friends and family. Also I think it goes without saying, but most of the time we’re usually thinking about playing our instruments. Expressing ourselves creatively is what we’re all about.

What was the best concert you’ve been to?

Thats a hard question, but I think that we can both agree that we absolutely loved seeing Thee Oh Sees play at The Badlander last fall. Their sound was so energetic and loud and powerful. It was also a big deal for us since their music is part of what inspires us to perform and create music in the first place.

Who are you listening to most right now?

Shane: I’ve always been a sucker for any genre of rock music really. I love all genres of music but I definitely always gravitate towards rock music first. I have been really enthralled with the music of The Mars Volta and At The Drive In lately though.

Dylan: I’ve been on a pretty big Googoosh kick lately. Her album Nimeh Gomshodeh Man is super good. I’m also big into the jazz stylings of Dizzy Gillespe lately. Shintaro Sakamoto is also in constant heavy rotation for me.

What is your favorite book?

Shane: I really enjoy the older literature classics, I’ve always really enjoyed The Old Man and the Sea.

Dylan: I also am big into the classics, but I really love The Stranger by Albert Camus. That or Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. 

What’s your favorite meal at the Top Hat?

We both think the burgers at the Top Hat are incredible. Pretty much anything from the menu is really good.

Which venue has been your favorite to work at and why?

Dylan: I really like to work the Wilma. It’s such a cool theater and I really enjoy seeing everything come together at the end of the day after a crazy show. It’s definitely hard work sometimes, but ultimately rewarding.

Shane: I like the Amphitheater because it’s nice to work outdoors and it’s always interesting to see what’s going on with every show set up. 

Photo by Emily Haacke

Do you have a favorite lyric/quote?

Shane: I do but they are all Bob Dylan lyrics I would say to just refer yourself to all of the Highway 61 Revisited album.

Dylan: Any of the lyrics from the song “Almost Cut My Hair” by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young really speaks to me on a personal level. I can’t really explain why though.

Do you recall an embarrassing/funny moment at work?

Spilling the mop bucket is something that seems to be a pretty consistent one. Definitely sucks, but it’s kind of like a right of passage for anyone that works a custodial job. It’s always good fun to give each other a hard time over it, although we’ve all done it at least once. 

People would be surprised if they knew this about you:

Shane: There’s a little version of me in the world somewhere. He looks and acts exactly like me, except his name is BuShane.

Dylan: Before I decided that I wanted to be a musician, I really wanted to be an artist or an author.  

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Shane: I really want to fly. I want to fly ridiculously slow. I think my reasoning speaks for itself. 

Dylan: I’d also really want to be able to fly, but I want to be able to fly fast. Ridiculously fast. Like if Sonic the Hedgehog had big, cartoony wings.

What’s your favorite drink?

Rock and roll and cheap beer are synonymous. 

Anything else you’d like to share?

Come to our show on Saturday, Oct. 5th!! Also, check out Crypticollider if you have not!!! We are on Spotify, Soundcloud, and Bandcamp. We have cassettes and CDs and our new album is going to be coming out within a matter of months. Big thanks to Logjam Presents for everything they’ve done for us over the years. We are incredibly grateful! 

Header photo by Emily Haacke and footer photo by Dónal Lakatua