For the past 25 years, every March hundreds of bands  and musicians from all over the world from big names like Bruce Springsteen to up and coming baby bands flock to Austin, Texas, to play shows, meet new friends and maybe, just maybe, get discovered by new fans, record labels and agents at South By South West.
This year,  Lethbridge garage rock/punk/ psychedelic trio the Ketamines will be playing eight shows at the renown music festival.
“I’m really excited about it,” said guitarist/ vocalist Paul Lawton. Bassist Martine Menard and drummer Ryan Grieve round out the trio.
 The band originally included guitarist Evan Van Reekum and keyboardist Jane Edmundson who have since left the band respectively due to a move to Calgary and just not wanting to tour anymore.

 “The Myelin Sheaths (one of Lawton’s other bands) were booked to play it last year, but the band broke up right before it,” Lawton observed.

 The Ketamines already have eight shows booked for South by Southwest between March 13 and 17 including two big showcases for both Hozac Records and their booking agent, Annie Southworth plus several unusual shows including a house party.
“One show we’re booked to play at 4 a.m. I don’t know if anyone will be there, but we’re going to give it  our all,” Lawton said.

“ Most of my friends are in bands all over the country, so it will be great to see them all in one location and get to hang out with my pals for a week,” Lawton said.
He noted there a two different  South By South Wests - the main  corporate industry event and the underground event featuring more unusual bands like the Ketamines, which play house concerts and other out of the way venues.

“ That  featured a lot of lo fi, punk garage rock and psychedelic bands. They are more our style of band,” Lawton continued.
“I have seven inches singles from these bands but have never seen them live, because they’re from places like Florida don’t tour up here, so I’m looking forward to being able to see them all,” he said.
South by South West is a music geek’s mecca, albeit an expensive one.  Hundreds of bands of all styles of music from all over the world play all over the city every night for a week, barbecues plus there is a trade show as well as popular seminars about the music business. This year’s highlights include keynote speaker Bruce Springsteen.

 Fortunately The Ketamines caught a break by having a half a riff of their song “Line By Line” used in a commercial for Target earlier this year.
“It was on our Hozac (Chicago based garage/ punk  focussed record label) seven inch single. They only used half a bar of it and the commercial only ran in the United States for one week in January to promote a sale,” he said adding they used the money to fund their trip to South By Southwest, buy a new van and got to work on obtaining official American work visas so they can tour in support of their brand new CD “Spaced Out.”

Shred Kelly get better and better every time I see them.

 During their first song during their March 3 show at the Slice, they had half of the sold out crowd on their feet, frenetically dancing.

 By the end of their intense, energetic two straight hour show they had a lot more on the dance floor and the remainder at least nodding their heads, clapping their hands and tapping their toes in their seats.

 As usual  with the Fernie based bluegrass/ folk/ rock band, there was plenty of finger-bleeding banjo picking.

Sage McBride beamed ear-to-ear as she pounded her tambourine and alternatedon keyboards while addingsome superb jazz tinged vocals, lending a little melodic contrast to the rougher, more rock inspired vocals of banjo/ guitar player Tim Newton.

They started off flying on their first song, ‘Lessons Learned,’ and barely slowed down through crowd favourites like ‘Goodbye July’ plus a few new songs to be recorded for their next CD.
They wound down their show with a drinking song called ’Falling Down.’

It’s been a while since I’ve heard Lethbridge bluesman Daryll Düus play, so had to check out his last set at Casino Lethbridge, March 2.

 He was as entertaining as always and was the consummate guitar playing showman. 

His last set included a variety of originals including ‘Boogie Woogie,’ as well as a couple brand new ones, plus hot covers of ‘Foxy Lady’ and  a soulful version of Joe Cocker’s ‘With A Little Help From My Friends.’

He did something a little different, by blowing som harp, except rhrough an old telephone receiver.

He was backed by Steve Harris on bass and Brady Valgardson on drums.

His step-son Justin joined them on stage for a number as  Düus blew some sweet harp.

 The Slice had a respectable sized audience checking out Calgary singer songwriter Samantha Savage Smith and her band, March 2.
She and her band played a mellow, laid back set of ambient pop/ rock music.

 Savage, sporting, big black glasses, showed off her appealing warbling voice reminiscent of Hannah Georgas, a touch of Serena Ryder and a smattering of Feist.

  She handled the guitar and was backed by a bassist and a drummer.

 She played a lot of familiar songs the audience knew as well as some brand new songs including  a song she  tentatively called  ‘Pizza.’

Raleigh opened the show, but I unfiortunately missed their set.