Solo rocker Jim Kilpatrick best known as Shotgun Jimmie is a man in transition. The Toronto born songwriter spent much of his career in Sackville, New Brunswick, and recently relocated to Brandon, Manitoba.
Shotgun Jimmie will be returning the Lethbridge, May 14 to play a solo show at the Owl Acoustic Lounge in support of his new CD “Everything, Everything,” which he recorded in Manitoba after he returned from his big tour of North America and Europe with John K Samson.
“I rented a little cabin south of Brandon,” he said adding he played most of the instruments himself, intending to do everything himself, but ended up getting some help from Cole Woods who added some trombone.
The show is coming together.
“It is near the end of the tour, so the show will be really fine tuned,” he said.
He has enjoyed living in Manitoba — even in the winter.
“I love it out there. It’s been amazing this winter. I did a lot of cross country skiing and snowshoeing this winter. It’s strange, moving to a place that is a lot colder— I’ve been spending a lot more time outdoors,” he said.
“ I have made a lot of really good friends there now, so it seemed like the right thing to do,” he said adding he just finished a big tour with The Weakerthans’ John K Samson.
In addition to Shotgun Jimmie, the band included Constantines drummer Doug MacGregor and bassist Doug Friesen.
“ Both of the Dougs were a lot of fun,” he said.
He enjoyed the tour with Samson.
“ The tour was definitely useful for building relationships and John K Samson is a thinker and his audience are thinkers who are really interested in lyrics,” he said.
He is excited about returning to Lethbridge.
“It’s been too long, maybe two years. But the last time I was there, I played the Owl. I love it there. It’s one of my favourite spots to play,” he said.
“I’m playing like 40 per cent new material and 60 per cent other stuff,” he continued. He wrote the new CD with the idea of playing it solo.
“ I did a lot of preparation for it,” he said adding he focused on creating short, tight songs.
“I was pretty focused on this record,” he said.
“ Out of all of the 16 songs on it, only four of them are longer than three minutes and there’s not a lot of time in between them. They are very much influenced by the Ramones and Jay Reatard.
“ So they are all short, sweet and fast,” he continued.
“ I know it will be terrific. I wrote them knowing I’d be performing them solo for a rock and roll show.”
He is excited about returning to Lethbridge.
“ I’m a vegetarian now, so I won’t be able to eat at the Red Dog. But I am looking forward to having breakfast at the Casino and seeing a bunch of friends,” he said.
