The last time Mike Schikora was in town, he was sick and felt he let the people who came to see him down. This time he felt more confident that he gave the people what they wanted.

Schikora and his band rocked for two nights at the Kootenai River Rodeo after the dust had settled from the cowboys and cowgirls, giving the Libby native a chance to redeem himself from his last outing.

“It was amazing,” Schikora said. “The second night I got such a great audience reaction.”

Schikora played the night away next to the beer garden and mechanical bull, drawing the fans that had stuck out the several hours of rodeo in the warm sun with his country/blues/rock musical stylings.

Of course, even a homecoming has its difficulties. Schikora, perhaps because of a case of nerves or perhaps one of enthusiasm, broke a few guitar strings while on stage.

   “I was banging the hell out of my guitar,” he laughed. “I need to buy some stronger strings!”

   Luckily for Schikora, that was one of the few problems in a couple nights that could have been disastrous. The band he played with, an electric guitarist, a stand-up bass player and a drummer were new to playing with Schikora. So new, in fact, that he met them in Frenchtown, Mont., the night before he went on stage at the rodeo.

   “Playing with these guys was great,” he said. “We just ended up clicking.”

   The band, which Schikora semi-jokingly insists is called The Mike Schikora Band, may start touring with Schikora, pending the success of his latest endeavor. 

   It was a whirlwind week for the musician, as his third album – the first professionally produced – released last Tuesday.

   He says the success of the album, named Horses and Guitars, appears to be going well, but he won’t know full results for a while.

   “I want to break in on the charts in Nashville in about six weeks,” Schikora said. “Then we try and get it on the radio. But for now, I’ll go to rodeos and wherever they’ll have me.”

   The trip to Libby was more than just a job for Schikora, as he grew up in the area and saw it as more pleasure than business.

   “The most important thing was seeing family,” he said. “I got to go up with my dad to the dam on Sunday for a picnic. That was the best part.”

   Rocky Mountain Music, on Mineral Avenue, will be selling all three of Schikora’s albums.