For a night of country rock, The Spot in Yorkton is the place to be tomorrow evening (Aug. 19) as the Edmonton band Whiskey Face hits the stage.
The heart of the band are long-time friends Garrett Craigs who provides guitar and lead vocals, and Steven James who is on drums. It's a tandem which has persevered through some definite adversity.
"Garrett and I have been playing together since high school (2002)," said James, who added music took a backseat to some real life challenges for a few years. "There was a large gap from 2003-2006 that kept us from playing together due to a work related accident that took my right arm off. The arm was re-attached however the hand was lost; I now play the drums with one hand."
Having overcome the loss of the hand, James and Craigs pushed on with their music.
"We played together in a few different bands from 2007 but nothing really seemed to click until Frank (Pirker), who played in the Wild Dogs with Eamon McGrath, joined the group. Our first show was July 31, 2009 at the Pawn Shop with the City Streets; it was their last show in Edmonton before packing up and moving to Montreal to push their career as a band forward. Since then, we have toured with them on two separate occasions."
With Pirker on bass Whiskey Face solidified, drawing on varied influences to create their sound.
"We listen to a wide variety of music from rock to country, jazz, hip-hop, blues, folk, Motown, etc..." said James. "I'll try to keep this list short but we are influenced heavy by Neil Young, Tom Waits, Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, Pavement, The Clash, Springsteen, The Kinks, Nick Cave, Modest Mouse, Fugazi, Replacements, Rolling Stones, Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo, Built to Spill, and much more.
"As a song writer, Garrett feels his biggest influence would have to be 90's rock 'n roll."
The band has released an EP.
"Generally Garrett will write the songs and bring them to the band where Frank and I will add our own touches and influences to them," said James.
"For our first EP as a band Garrett wanted to pick four songs that were all very similar in style to highlight our laid back country influenced rock style."
The EP was recorded with James Stewart (Last Deal, Secret Fires, Coffin Ships, Slates) and Lee Klippenstein (40 thieves, Peace Maker, Falklands) in Garrett's living room, said James.
"We all feel James and Lee did an amazing job and recommend anyone looking to do this sort of project to give them a call."
Craigs said recording is a different experience from 小蓝视频 on stage.
"On stage we all bring such high energy we can make a song I wrote four years ago new every time, whereas recording can be much more frustrating because you have to focus on so many small details without losing the feel and energy we know we can bring to a song we've played a thousand times," he said, adding the EP was still worth the effort. "The finished product makes every hour worth it and makes you want to work that much harder to write another record."
That next recording is expected late this year.
"In the fall we plan to record our first full length with Darrek Anderson at Black Box Studio where we plan to bring a harder rock n roll, 90's influenced feel to the album," said James.
Craigs added, "I just can't wait to record our full length in the fall. I think it will be the first record that really shows what Whiskey Face can do as a band."
Past the recordings Whiskey Face stays active on tour too.
"I'd say our two biggest shows were the City Streets Xmas home coming at New City where we played to a packed venue. The band Myrol also played that night, who are an amazing mother/daughter combo that just finished recording their second full length in Nashville, and the other show would be at the Palomino in Calgary," said James. "We played the promoters birthday party that night with a lot of great bands."
