Calgary band Bad Animal are taking their first steps on the road in support of their debut CD ‘Tonight 2016,” which was released in September.

 “This is our first tour,” said frontman Ben Painter, observing the high energy, Calgary rockers who draw from punk, indie rock and old fashioned, loud, raucous rock and roll,  band already had a setback as their van broke down in Kelowna en route to a  show in Vancouver.

 The band including Painter, guitarist Marek Skiba, drummer Trevor Stoddart, guitarist Kyle Gritchen  and bassist Danny Trevena, head back this way en route to Toronto and will be visiting the Slice with fellow Calgarians Cowpuncher, playing their last Lethbridge show ever on April 13 at the Slice.

“The Cd has done well but we’re already recording new demos. We’re still in the writing stage, which is the most time consuming stage,” he said.
“The new songs are, I don’t want to say more dancey, but  they’re an extension and on pace with what we’re already doing,” he said.

 Aside from a van breakdown, he noted the first couple dates of the tour are going well as they are getting bigger crowds in larger rooms.

“ We‘re getting to play am lot and it’s great,” he said.
 They are looking forward to their Lethbridge debut.

 

“We’ve never  played there before and we’re playing with Cowpuncher , who are breaking up,” he said, adding they haven’t played with Cowpuncher until recently.

“I’ve known Matt (Olah, Cowpuncher frontman) for a long time he’s a good friend, but for whatever reason we’ve never played a show with them And now we‘re playing three shows with them in the span of a week,” he continued.
Cowpuncher and Bad Animal play the Slice at 9 p.m., April 13. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.