Local hicks make good
About a week ago I was basking in an incredible display of raw talent and the love of music at the Exchange in Regina. I was so impressed with both of the bands on the bill that I’ve been thinking about it for eight straight days now and if anything warrants writing about, I’d say that’s it.
Both peddle an alt-country sound, which seems to be the hip genre these days. Regina’s Lazy MKs take a different tack than a lot of bands, incorporating both double-bass and pedal steel guitar into their regular instrumentation. While that might suggest a deeply traditional, rootsy vibe, the band doesn’t go for the obvious. Their material is instrumental across the board on their new EP, A Field Guide To The Lazy MKs, although their live shows are typically peppered with guest vocalists to ensure they don’t lose the intimacy that comes from having a singer present.
The songs themselves are rooted deeply in rock and roll, offering two- and three-minute tunes that bounce and swell with noise, each element cascading over the other. It’s a rough-hewn style that recalls the tumbling fields of the prairies, constantly on the verge of a strong gust of wind and sound that pushes the song in a new direction. There’s also a sense of playfulness to the writing, and especially the live performance, that demonstrates the familiarity among the players. There’s a charm in it, especially from a group of men who list “moose jerky” as an influence in their bio.
It’s also kind of a treat to hear a group emphasize the bass in their writing; when an often-overpowering instrument like pedal steel is included on every track it can be a balancing act to make certain that’s not ALL the listener hears. Switching effortlessly between electric and stand-up bass, Chris Prpich seems to edge in and out of the role of bandleader with ease, naturally leading their stomping, energetic playing in a democratic way.
Incidentally, the group has also come up with one of the most gorgeous CD packages I’ve seen in years. It’s an absolute treat to hold, see, and hear.
But the real treat of the evening was Saskatoon’s Deep Dark Woods. They fall somewhere in between country and rock and roll as well, but usually hew closer to the former. Their sound is punctuated by singer/guitarist Ryan Boldt’s understated baritone, a voice that is equal parts Hayden and George Jones. A couple of years ago they released the widely-acclaimed Hang Me Oh Hang Me on Vancouver-based Black Hen Records, home to SSA favourites Old Man Luedecke and Steve Dawson. That record won “Best Roots Album” at the Western Canadian Music Awards.
Last month they put out Winter Hours, which raises the bar to heights one might not think possible for a lowly Saskatchewan group. Embracing the dark side of singer Ryan Boldt’s songwriting, these tracks lament impending floods, destitution, suicide, and murder. The lethargic, haunting melodies of “the Winter Hours” and “Farewell” will crawl into your head and plant roots, the vocal harmonies echoing the mournful violins and guitars; I haven’t been able to get them out of there since the show. Boldt’s characters embrace the lack of sunlight, money, and love with whiskey and gin; these are tales of outlaws that have lost all hope, women with their backs against a wall, men who have lived right up to the edge of their means and are staring over a precipice.
I don’t think its a stretch in the slightest to say the Deep Dark Woods are easily the finest band operating in our entire damn province. A case could be made that few bands from our slow, cold prairie towns have ever been able to boast songwriting this fine. You owe it to yourself to check them out.
the Lazy MKs - Young Sad [3:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download the Lazy MKs - Burgess Lake [3:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Deep Dark Woods - All The Money I Had Is Gone [4:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Deep Dark Woods - Farewell [3:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Deep Dark Woods - Winter Hours [3:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadDeep Dark Woods records are available through Black Hen and Zunior. For the Lazy MKs contact them through their Myspace, since their record label doesn’t really seem interested in acting like a real record label.
