Time: 8 p.m.
Cover: $10
Think Tank Events presents.....
DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT AFTER PARTY with
COWPUNCHER
http://wepunchcows.com/
Matt Olah - Vocals, guitar
Ryan Kelly - Guitar
Jeff Sulima - Drums
Scott Martin - Guitar
Shari Rae - Vocals, bass
Four handsome dudes and a lovely lady who drive around the country
playing Northern Rock - a blend of stoner rock, honky tonk, country
& psychedelica. Audiences have long known that Cowpuncher offer up
one of the most energetic parties around.
SATURDAY, JUNE 14 AT 9PM
SCORES PUB & GRILL
1025 MAYOR MAGRATH DRIVE SOUTH
ADVANCE TICKETS - $15
AVAILABLE at SCORES & ALL GAS KING LOCATIONS
Audiences have long known that Cowpuncher offer up one of the most
energetic parties around. Now the five-piece Calgary-based band is ready
to release Ghost Notes, its third full-length album, and have big plans
to spread the word.
Formed as a loose collective in 2009,
Cowpuncher began under the guidance of singer/guitarist Matt Olah, who
wanted a vehicle for his country-flavoured rock songs. Despite
its revolving door membership, the group quickly gained a reputation
for its sweaty, uninhibited live shows, impressing tried-and-true
rockers, folkies, and metalheads alike. After releasing 2010’s Brown
Album and 2011’s Call Me When You’re Single, the band pared down its
membership from seven to five players, to what they call their “Commando
Unit,” a tighter, leaner version. With the permanent line-up poached
from a wide array of local bands, Ghost Notes represents a new sense of
focus and commitment — a clearer vision, more thoughtful songwriting,
and a keen determination to take on audiences from far and wide.
Guided by Pilot Audio’s Robbie Josh Gwilliam and his mobile recording
truck, Cowpuncher recorded Ghost Notes in a series of creative recording
spaces including old warehouses in Calgary and the Masonic Hall in
Nanton, Alberta. The band recorded the disc over several months to
accommodate its busy live schedule and constant output of new songs
(three new songs were actually added after the band thought it had put
the album to bed — they were just too good to leave on the shelf). The
album kicks off with the anthemic “Raised on Rock ‘n’ Roll,” one of the
band’s signature live tunes, and from there, the band weaves its way
through its strongest songs to date, ranging from full-on rock stompers
to a selection of laid-back heart-breakers.
“The band went in
its own direction and shed off this Calgary country Stampede thing —
although there are still elements of that,” Olah says. “We just started
writing songs with a different approach.” Whereas Olah used to be sole
songwriter, the band now takes a more collaborative approach with the
whole group filling in Olah’s idea (and former bass player Harley Hoeft
contributing a tune of his own). The band has also moved away from the
genre-specific roots sound of its beginnings and lets the songs come
together in a more natural way. Olah’s cleverly gritty lyrics are
brought to life by the band’s keen harmonies and rollicking
musicianship.
That focus and evolving approach doesn’t mean
Cowpuncher has ditched its outlaw roots or the promise to treat
audiences to a party every time it hits the stage. Olah steers the ship,
whipping the crowd into a frenzy with his maniacal and often sneering
banter and daredevil antics (once landing himself in the hospital with a
concussion and broken and bruised ribs!) — leaving the audience pumping
their fists and stage managers scratching their heads. The rest of the
band swaggers and struts its way through Cowpuncher’s intense set that
crosses over from punk and indie rock influences as well as a little bit
of raw cowboy soul. Call it roots rock, call it Western grunge — but
don’t assume you know what Cowpuncher is all about until you give Ghost
Notes a listen and experience one of the band’s raucous live shows.
“We’re trying to show people what Western Canada has to offer,” says
guitarist Ryan Kelly. “But beyond that, we’re here to take over. We’re
coming for your city and we’re going to put on an incredible show.”