The Sumner Brothers band made an inauspicious debut in Lethbridge, Oct. 3 at the Slice. The Vancouver based roots/ traditional music had about 10 people listening to them performing a laid back set of gritty mountain country music. Brothers Bob and Brian backed by stand-up bassist Joseph Lubinski did a decent job of original music.
Brian Sumner switched between guitar and banjo and blew some tasteful harmonica while his brother sang the lyrics through gritted teeth and locked jaw. They mixed in a few covers including an excellent version of Tom Waits’ “I Don’t Want To Grow Up” which ended the first set.
The second set was more traditional folk and blues including traditional classic “Pay Me My Money Down,” which featured Brian Sumner on banjo and a Bruce Springsteen song, which they ended with just after midnight.