L.A. Beat

 If you only catch one show this week, March 8-13, make sure you are at the Slice,  either March 9 for the open mic or their show, March 10, because Halifax area  blues rock trio, the Carson Downey Band will be back to tear it up and help the folks “living it up,” to quote one of their song titles.
“Tell them to watch out,” advised vocalist/guitarist Carson Downey, packing for a month long tour of western Canada, which stops at the Slice, March 9 and 10. The band hasn’t been to Western Canada  since 2003, but they anticipate two visits this year, the second once their third CD (second studio) CD is completed in May.
 “We came in one end and out the other, out to Vancouver and back,” Downey continued.
“We’re hoping folks will come out so we can tear it up with them,” he said adding due to record company issues, the band had trouble getting their third CD done, though they have released a live CD “Burnin’ it Up Live.”
Now they have been resolved, all that’s left to record on the new CD are lead guitar and vocals. They released their debut CD “All the Way,”  back in 2000.
“This one is going to be more of a live sound. So there will be lots of screaming guitars. You really have to hear it. It’s well in your face,” he said, adding he is looking forward to the Western Canadian tour.
“We’ll be out for a month then back to finish the CD then we’ll be back again in the summer for a little longer,” he promised adding he spent three weeks overseas playing for the troops in Afghanistan last year.
“It’s an experience I’ll never forget, once you see the response you get from the guys and girls over there,” Downey said.
“And you see what they’re fighting for,” he said adding that wasn’t the first time he has played for the troops. He spent much of 2004  as part of the USO tour playing Honolulu, Guam, Tokyo and South Korea.
“I like that you get a chance to meet them and talk to them. And they’ll tell you stories about what is going on. It’s just like what the blues is all about,” he continued.
“We bring them the happiness. We don’t want to play  the sad blues, we play them the rocking blues just to lift their spirits,” he continued  adding his favourite spot to play in Afghanistan was Kandahar, where the band played for over 10,000 people.
the Carson Downey band has been invited back to Afghanistan to play for the troops.
“I would love to go back. I just got an e-mail from them. I guess they really, really liked the show. I was just glad to hear back from them,” he said adding he is glad to finally glad to be back in Lethbridge too.
“I’m looking forward to it. Tell them to look out,” he said.
The Carson Downey band is hosting a blues jam at the Slice, Tuesday, March 9. Admission is free for that. They are playing a full show the next day, March 10. Admission is  five dollars.