Vancouver based Celtic punk pioneers the Real McKenzies are excited to bring a St. Patrick’s Day spectacle and a whole lot of pipes back to Lethbridge, March 16 at Studio 54 as they begin celebrating 25 years of raising hell and drinking whiskey all over the world.
“I’m jumping around willy nilly getting ready for this tour,” said frontman Paul McKenzie, who has also been busy breaking in new band members.
“I’ve survived it, that’s for sure,” said McKenzie.
“In our alumni we’ve had over 120 men. They’ve all quit for various reason, personal reasons, they wanted to start a family, they couldn’t stand me, I couldn’t stand them, they wanted to kill me or I wanted to kill them,” McKenzie continued.
“ And five of the guys have died,” he said.
He said he is excited about the the line-up including Jono Jak: Guitar, Vocals Dan Garrison: Guitar, Vocals Troy Zak: Bass, Vocals Jesse Pinner: Drums Aspy Luison: Bagpipes, Vocals Matt McNasty : Bagpipes, Vocals Gord Taylor : Bagpipes, Vocals.
“ They are all good, strong, young guys,” he said.
He said they will be bringing two pipers to Lethbridge.
“Matt McNasty is playing with us in Calgary, so if he comes down, it will be three pipers. And the 50 with the Lethbridge Pipes and Drums. So that will be a whole lot of pipes. It will be a piper root canal. So it will be totally excellent,” he said.
They will also feature two new guitar players.
“ In Regina we had a guitar player who got involved with white powder so I fired him on the spot. If he can’t take care of himself, how can he expect us to take care of him. We just drink white wine, beer and whiskey,” he said. He is pleased with the new guitarists.
“ Danny Boy (Garrison) is from Galway, Ireland and Jono Jak is from Vancouver Island, So we have two guys from two different islands,” McKenzie said.
“And we have Aspy Uison a piper from the Basque county. And Jesse Pinner has been on drums with us for three years and we’ve been working with Troy Zak on bass for three years
He has some big plans for 2017— the quarter century mark for the Real McKenzies.
“We wanted to release a double album, but the record company said no, they don’t sell. So we”ll release an album of original album and a greatest hits album of our favourite songs in the middle of the year,” he said.
“ We’ll be drinking a little beer, then some-pre production, then we’ll be drinking some beer, then doing more pre-production, then we’ll be drinking some whiskey and maybe eating some haggis then some more pre-production,” he said.
“And we’re going to Europe and we’ll be touring with a lot of great bands. We‘re touring with the Sweet and iron Maiden, though I’m not a big fan of their music, I am a big fan of the ukulele jams after the show. And we’re playing with Turbonegro,” he said.
The Real McKenzies, the Boids and the Lethbridge Firefighters Pipes and Drums are playing beginning at 8 p.m., March 16 at Studio 54.
Tickets cost $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
