I probably overuse the phrase “the F Stands for fun” when raving about Winnipeg jazz/roots/ swing band F-Holes, but it was especially apt for their Sept. 17 show at the Slice. 

Listening to the F-Holes just makes me happy.

They weren’t perturbed by the sparse but enthusiastic audience. It is hard not to smile when you listen to this delicious toe-tapping, butt shaking gumbo of trumpet, banjo, stand -up bass, rock solid drumming, the odd sax and pedal steel and tasteful lead guitar.

There’s no denying they are a happy sounding band  I don’t think any band with a banjo  and a trumpet in it can sound sad and I always enjoy grin while watching and listening to a trumpet being played with a toilet plunger —  even lead singer Patrick Alexandre Leclerc’s voice is sure to bring a smile.

 A peppy instrumental “about viagra” from their latest CD “Angels in The Corner” called “Up For a While” got most of the enthusiastic crowd up and moving and kept them there with a hot version of “Who Do You Love” They followed that up with a jazzy version of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.” 

Most of their show included music from the new CD  including “Two Cents, “Mean, Mean Mistake” and my favourite “Even Steven.”

 In their second set  they switched things up by trading instruments and picked up the pace to draw the evening to a rollicking close with a  triad of older songs including “Red Hot” and ending around 1 a.m. with  crowd favourite “Dixie Band.” Delicious.