"I got friends in low places, where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away"....and those places happen to be in the Coombs/Errington area of Vancouver Island. This past weekend I had a fucking blast with those friends - a good blast unlike the shit that happened in Boston and West last week that devastated families and communities. My blast consisted of communities and families coming together under the celebration and appreciation of music.
I spent Friday night at the Frontiersman Pub and Grill with my brother and friends listening to rockers Wes Weldon and Colin Perry of Double Trouble. These guys fucking cover everything! I heard everything from Turn the Page, Wicked Game, Kansas City (thanks again Wes!) and of course I Got Friends in Low Places. Wes is a guitar god and Colin can fucking play anything, including horns, flute, keyboards...you name it, he can pick it up and play - and holy fuck, what a voice!
If that wasn't enough, they were later joined by local musician Dave Marco who definitely knows his way around a tune as well. I've only heard him play a couple of times and already I'm a huge fan. These guys are so versatile that they don't come with a set play-list. They read the audience and then play what the audience wants to hear. Sometimes it's Classic Rock, sometimes it Blues or Country and sometimes it's all of the above - on this night it was all of the above! Yell out a song you want to hear and these guys will fucking play it on the spot!
Saturday night I went to a dance at the Errington hall. This was put on as a fund-raiser for the Air Cadets and wouldn't you fucking know it, Wes and Colin were back. Only this time they brought the whole fucking band - The Enablers! Although I've enjoyed Double Trouble a number of times around the island this was my first taste of The Enablers. And again I was fucking blown away by their talent and versatility! These are seasoned musicians who have played with a number of bands over the past 30 years and let me tell you, their experience fucking shows! Wes is such a good electric guitar player that during one of his solo's (which by the way, happened to be a Rolling Stones cover) if I had closed my eyes I would have fucking sworn Clapton was on the stage. Their drummer Phil Hagen, who also sings, had me cracking up with his sense of humor and off the cuff lyrics. Guest singers hit the stage too! Chrissy (hope I spelled that right, hun) can knock the queen of soul on her ass and Johnny Rockstar (gotta learn your real name darlin) has a voice and a look that can leave girls trembling in front of him!
Again, these guys, like Double Trouble play fucking everything. As it happened, Saturday was April 20th, otherwise known as 420, so they even did a tribute to Hip Hop and Reggae. It was fucking awesome! Roll up baby! At 11:30 pm I was outside whining about how this was my first 420 in over 20 years that I hadn't had a hoot. Let's just say that I didn't have to break my streak. Fuck I love rock bands.......... ; )
These guys are for hire! And they come highly recommended by me!! Planning a party, wedding, BBQ on Vancouver Island that you would love to have live music at? Contact Wes through his website for Double Trouble here > http://doubletroubleduo.jigsy.com/ I'm sure if you're interested in having the whole band - The Enablers, you can talk to Wes about that too!
Showing posts with label Country. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Country. Show all posts
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Monday, 8 April 2013
Jagsters Jam
The times that have always gotten me into the most fucking trouble are the parties that spontaneously break out. I had one of those moments this past weekend.
I stopped in for a quick beer with a friend at the Frontiersman Bar and Grill in Coombs, BC. And wouldn't you know it? We found a party. Local musicians had come together for an afternoon jam and to help raise money for a local man diagnosed with brain cancer. The place was fucking packed!
The fact that there was standing room only didn't bother me in the least. We were rocked out honky-tonk style by local country, blues and rock artists! Now you may ask....where's the trouble in that?
Well, you see, I was supposed to be cooking supper for 6...instead I was swilling beer and rocking out! To my credit, I did refuse the many trays of shooters that passed my way, though I may have had 2 too many beers. Here's a little taste of how Coombs rocks out!
Shawn Carle
I stopped in for a quick beer with a friend at the Frontiersman Bar and Grill in Coombs, BC. And wouldn't you know it? We found a party. Local musicians had come together for an afternoon jam and to help raise money for a local man diagnosed with brain cancer. The place was fucking packed!
The fact that there was standing room only didn't bother me in the least. We were rocked out honky-tonk style by local country, blues and rock artists! Now you may ask....where's the trouble in that?
Well, you see, I was supposed to be cooking supper for 6...instead I was swilling beer and rocking out! To my credit, I did refuse the many trays of shooters that passed my way, though I may have had 2 too many beers. Here's a little taste of how Coombs rocks out!
Shawn Carle
The Boney Finger Band
Monday, 18 June 2012
A Stopover in TrevorTown
Hold on boys and girls... I'm bringing a fresh country scent into the Litter Box this week. I haven't written about country music before in my blogs and I'm happy that my first is going to be about local boy Trevor Panczak. Trevor was recently the honored Guest Speaker at my twin sons' graduation commencement ceremonies at Foremost School. He is also such a sweet, polite and nice young man that I'm inspired to try and write this one without my usual trucker tongue...
Now I have to tell you about small country high school graduation commencement ceremonies. The graduating class is small. The Foremost School 2012 Graduation Class had 16 students graduating and two of them were mine. The nice thing about a very small graduating class is the students have the time to showcase their school days to the friends and family that pack the school's gymnasium. Most of these students came up through the small school together from ECS (Early Childhood Services) - another more governmental name for Kindergarten (? I don't know....) - all the way to grade 12.
We as parents and members of the same small community know each other and have watched our babies grow into young men and women together. This makes for a very intimate celebration. You don't sit through all the boring stuff about everyone you don't know before they get to your child...every moment of the ceremonies is a treasured moment.
It would only make sense that the guest speaker chosen to motivate these young adults with words of wisdom would be someone who comes from a very similar place. The fact that the guest speaker was also a musician was a bonus as the two young men that belonged to me in this class are musicians themselves.
Trevor Panczak was farm raised just outside of Magrath Alberta...about an hour's drive from where we are located. He's been playing music for more than half his life and for the last 10 years with his band Rough Stock. Trevor's music is quite popular across Alberta and he plays more than 100 shows a year... I myself have seen him play a number of times.
I loved that Trevor spoke to our graduates. He's the perfect example of one who refuses to give up on their dreams. The music business in Canada is a tough nut to crack and many popular musicians have to work day jobs to put food on the table. Trevor is no exception. For years we saw him behind the counter at UFA (United Farmers Association is a chain of co-op stores for farm supplies in Alberta and Saskatchewan) and now he's part of the the sales team at North Lethbridge Dodge. Regardless, Trevor is still recording and performing his smooth country stylings for fans in Alberta Canada and beyond. I hope my sons take his example and continue to express themselves through their own music, regardless of the measure of success they receive from the industry.
Now I have to tell you about small country high school graduation commencement ceremonies. The graduating class is small. The Foremost School 2012 Graduation Class had 16 students graduating and two of them were mine. The nice thing about a very small graduating class is the students have the time to showcase their school days to the friends and family that pack the school's gymnasium. Most of these students came up through the small school together from ECS (Early Childhood Services) - another more governmental name for Kindergarten (? I don't know....) - all the way to grade 12.
We as parents and members of the same small community know each other and have watched our babies grow into young men and women together. This makes for a very intimate celebration. You don't sit through all the boring stuff about everyone you don't know before they get to your child...every moment of the ceremonies is a treasured moment.
It would only make sense that the guest speaker chosen to motivate these young adults with words of wisdom would be someone who comes from a very similar place. The fact that the guest speaker was also a musician was a bonus as the two young men that belonged to me in this class are musicians themselves.
Trevor Panczak was farm raised just outside of Magrath Alberta...about an hour's drive from where we are located. He's been playing music for more than half his life and for the last 10 years with his band Rough Stock. Trevor's music is quite popular across Alberta and he plays more than 100 shows a year... I myself have seen him play a number of times.
I loved that Trevor spoke to our graduates. He's the perfect example of one who refuses to give up on their dreams. The music business in Canada is a tough nut to crack and many popular musicians have to work day jobs to put food on the table. Trevor is no exception. For years we saw him behind the counter at UFA (United Farmers Association is a chain of co-op stores for farm supplies in Alberta and Saskatchewan) and now he's part of the the sales team at North Lethbridge Dodge. Regardless, Trevor is still recording and performing his smooth country stylings for fans in Alberta Canada and beyond. I hope my sons take his example and continue to express themselves through their own music, regardless of the measure of success they receive from the industry.
Even though the above video is of Trevor covering a Merle Haggard tune and not one of his originals I did want to share it because not only does it showcase Trevor's amazing musical talent but his easygoing sense of humor and charm as well! Thank you, Trevor for your words at our grad ceremonies and for the example you set for young musicians. Thank you, Marco and Moe for growing up so bright and good... I'm very proud of you and I look forward to your accomplishments as you make your mark on this world.......... ; )
Be sure to drop by Trevor's official website:
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)