I almost forgot Devon Coyote and drummer/ bassist D‘Arcy Booth, who also plays in the Unknown Culprits, were playing at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Wednesday, Nov. 20, despite plugging it in last week’s column.
I was glad I stopped by after my Wednesday night radio show on CKXU, because winter makes me want to hear the blues.
As expected the Kelowna based duo delivered in spades, making enough noise worthy of a full band.
Coyote alternated between a Stratocaster, a 12 string, an acoustic guitar and an old National style guitar he played on his lap, while tapping out a rhythm on a tambourine set at his feet. Even more impressively, Booth not only held a steady drum beat with his feet, but also added intricate bass line for some songs and tasteful extra guitar for others.
The duo showed a diverse set of influences ranging from raunchy blues, mostly played on the slide guitar, to more countryish singer-songwriter music. He shone on his blues songs, though his more funk and R and B inspired numbers were also ear worms.
They had a good sized crowd applauding appreciatively after each one. There was also a lot more funk in this show, especially on songs from their brand new EP ‘Broken Down.’
He added a whole whack of effects to his 12-string, which added resonance and volume to his music.
‘Broken Man Blues’ was a highlight as it had a lot of people dancing in front of the stage. His Tracy Chapman cover ‘Give Me One Reason’ was another highlight.
He slowed things right down with an epic version of Neil Young’s ‘Cortez the Killer’ which he made his own with a beautiful guitar solo.
