Randal Arsenault is excited to return to Lethbridge in support of his new solo project.
Arsenault was last here in 2013 with Dr. Zoo, which blended elements of Celtic, African and reggae music, the new project is more straight ahead roots rock.
He just released the first single “ Rock and Roll To My Grave.”
“Dr. Zoo still plays, but not very often. I’d like to record a new Dr. Zoo album, but haven’t yet,” said Arsenault, who is excited to play the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Feb. 3.
“I bought a really cool new Larivée guitar which is so much fun to play and brought out more roots and country music, which is what I grew up listening to, but which really doesn’t fit in with Dr. Zoo, which plays Celtic, African, reggae and world music,” he said,adding the solo band included Lethbridge’s Megan Brown, who plays with Dr. Zoo with Senegalese guitarist David Kabbashi who also has a successful solo career as David J David and drummer Buchi Iheonu.
“ Dr. Zoo is a much bigger band of six or seven people. This band plays my solo material and some of Dr. Zoo’s greatest hits, because why not,” he said.
“Rock and Roll To My Grave is all about how important music is to my life. I love writing music, playing music and recording music and more importantly playing music with my friends,” and I want to keep doing it,” he continued, adding he may release another single before the full EP.
“Because that s how the business is today,” he observed.
He enjoyed working with Pulver.
“He sings on one of the songs and plays most of the guitar and the electric guitars. I’m a pretty good guitarist, but I want someone who is better than me to play on my CDs, he said.
“He’s a really a sweet guy and really knows his stuff. The job of a producer is to bring out the best in the musician,” he said, adding he flew Pulver out to record in OCL studios in Chestermere.
He noted it was important to make the CD sound as close to a live show as possible.
“It was really special,” he said, adding the band were in their own isolated booths, but they could still see each other and play off each other.
“You have to do that in case of bleed and in case something goes wrong and you have to change it. But I recorded vocals at the same time, which is unusual because usually they are overdubbed,” he said.
He noted three other songs have been completed and two others are in the finishing stages.
“So I hope to release the Cd later this year,” he said, adding he is looking forward to returning to Lethbridge.
“ Everyone is so nice to us there. I used to live there. i used to teach at the College from 2009-2013,” he said.
Randal Arsenault plays the Owl Acoustic lounge, Feb. 3 at 9 p.m. Admission is by donation.
