Lethbridge outlaw country group The Coal Creek Boys’ third full length album, “Out West” sold out in a month.
They are in great company on their new Dallas, Texas based record label Classic Waxxx for which their only other artists are country legend Johnny Cash and blues icon Lightnin’ Hopkins.
Granted there was a limited pressing of their first release on , however through them the band has spread their music all over the United States, Canada and Europe.
The record has been a departure for the band as the music is sparse, stripped down and raw which highlights the band’s interest in Canadian and American history.
“ It needed to be released on vinyl. It sounds better on vinyl,” said frontman/ guitarist John Paul Smith, who wrote and recorded ‘Out West with multi-instrumentalist/ songwriting partner Dino Scavo.
“It’s really beautiful. We wanted a record that would be really honest and naked,” he said,
“ We recorded it in the old, 100 year old United Church downtown. We wanted to capture the room and I think it worked,” Smith said.
Bryan Bradfield added dobro on a couple tracks while Scavo added accordion and drums on two tracks.
While the band doesn’t play a lot in Lethbridge bar scene, though they were at the Casino Lethbridge a couple weekends ago, they play all of the big music festival all over the country.
“ We’re playing with the biggest names in country music, so we’ve been labelled a country band. So we’re probably out of the folk festival scene. Though ‘Out West’ is very folky, Canadiana, Americana sounding,” he said.
“It hit home for a lot of people,” he said, citing numerous effusively positive reviews.
They have played the Dauphin Country Music Festival in Manitoba, Calgary Folk Festival, Big Valley jamboree, Bud Country Weekend and Alberta’s Own, to name a few. They also have a lot of private corporate gigs during the Calgary Stampede.
He has a touring band he uses including Calgarian Jesse Roads on bass and American drummer Sam Paul. Scavo isn’t able to tour due to health issues.
“ But I’m not going to do this without him. He’s my best friend,” Smith said.
“ I’ll tour and represent the band. We recorded the album together, I just play it,” he said.
They have an offer to record in Nashville, which they plan to take advantage of and have other plans in the works.
“ The next album will be outlaw country. there won’t be an acoustic song on it,” he said.
