Time: 8 p.m.
Tickets: $20 members, $22.50 non members $25 at the door
WWW.STEVE-COFFEY.COM or www.myspace.com/stevecoffey
Born in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba,
Steve was raised on
Traditional Country music, much of which was unwillingly pounded into
his head through the walls between his bedroom and his father's
rehearsal space (his dad was a honky-tonkin', beer swillin' steel guitar
player). When he was eight his mother decided that this life just
wasn't suited for raising kids and up and hauled him and his four
siblings off West on a train to a small town in Alberta. For a few years
Steve flourished (likely due to more sleep- filled nights) but
eventually began to pine for his dad, or more precisely, what drove him
musically. Living directly across from the railroad tracks (which became
a catalyst for Steve's future) He kept imagining jumping an East bound
boxcar but settled on a Greyhound and headed back to Manitoba. He went
on the road with his dad's band at fourteen discovering a life both
celebratory and lonely and decided then and there that he needed to
write and play music but with a different set of rules, one that would
leave room for family. At sixteen he headed back West...on a train. To
this day the prairie train plays an important role in his muse; as a
symbol, as a nomadic entity that passes through many towns with many
stories, some tragic, some beautiful and uplifting. It passes through
our heads and our souls in Canada and connects us, both physically &
romantically today as much as it did in the past just like a song.
Unless he can hear it's late night whistle sleep comes hard.
Bands
& songwriters Steve listened to growing up: Cream, Creedence,
Lightfoot, Buffalo Springfield & The Band, Johnny Cash, Merle
Haggard, Leonard Cohen & Bob Dylan. One noteable influence of all
combined: Their immediacy and 'off the floor' expression.
Some
Thirty years later Steve's catalogue consists of over Two Hundred
original songs many of which have been recorded and released and heard
on many an airwave. Steve was raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba and
Innisfail, Alberta but now makes his home South of Calgary.
Russ
Baker brings a range of influences, noteably a ska/jazz approach to his
bass playing and his electric guitar playing rides the fence between
the ethereal to an all out roots rock sensibility . Russ Baker is also a
music producer and engineer. Russ has worked with bands such as Cone of
Silence and Wafer Thin Mint and has worked with Steve on a number of
projects outside of the Lokels. He makes his home in Edmonton, Alberta,
but was raised in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Dave Bauer is a
songwriter in his own right. His band Deep Field South wanders into a
concise, poetic acoustic world. An extremely versatile player Dave plays
Mandolin and electric guitars with not only THE LOKELS but also the
Foothillbilly, Canadiana sounds of Dave McCann & The Ten Toed Frogs.
Dave lives in Calgary, Alberta.
Lance Loree (Uncle Thirsty) has
worked with all sorts; Washboard Hank & Junior Gone Wild to the
infamous punk rockabilly sound of the Alien Rebels. Lance is well known
as one of the foremost tele players around and a great pedal steel/
dobro player. He's also a songsmith that can crack smiles in the darkest
halls. Lance works his farm in Southern Alberta.
Finally the
youngest member of THE LOKELS: Pat Phillips; a huge range of musical
tastes but most particularly; Jazz. Pat steps into the role as
percussionist with wide open ears and an uncanny ability to interpret
and respond to any given tune. Pat has worked with Matt Masters &
Tim Hus to name a few. Pat hales from Ontario but now lives in Calgary,
Alberta.
other LOKEL members that they work with on occassion:
Matt
Herne is an amazing banjo player from Australia that has been with The
Lokels on two albums and will be with them again. A kindred spirit Matt
brings a Flatt & Scruggs design to The Lokels sessions but also
weaves and swerves into unchartered banjo brilliance.
Stu
Mitchell is from Edmonton. He's a very well known drummer; guitar &
bass player & piano man.
Stu has worked with Steve on two prior
albums ('94 & in '97) before stepping in on The Lokel's 32 Below
Sessions in 2004.
Steve Relf; also from Edmonton, is a
singer/songwriter that comes with influences of Steve Earle to Don
Williams, from KISS to Metallica. A great guitar player and one hell of a
singer. Steve has a great album out there called "Spirits Malfunction".
Instrumentation
Russ
Baker- Bass; Electric; vocals
Dave Bauer- Bouzouki; Mandolin;
Electric; Vocals
Steve Coffey- Acoustic Rhythm; Harmonica; lead vocal
Matt
Herne- Australian Banjo player (amongst other instruments)
Toby
Malloy- Mandolin; Harmony vocals
Lance Loree- Pedal Steel; Electric;
Dobro; Slide; Vocal
Pat Phillips- Percussion; Vibes; Vocals