L.A. Beat

Time: 8 p.m.

Cover:$30/ $32.50 and$35

Steve Coffey & The Lokels headline this killer roots triple bill. The Geomatic Attic is excited to have Steve & the boys back and welcome Vulcan's Tin & Toad as well as the incredible Petunia of Petunia & The Vipers!
Tickets $30/ $32.50 & $35 at Blueprint Lethbridge, CASA and online at www.geomaticattic.ca.

 Steve Coffey and the Lokels:

http://www.steve-coffey.com

http://www.reverbnation.com/stevecoffeythelokels

Steve Coffey is one of those artists who wears the world he sees upon his sleeve, an artistic output poignant and striking, filtered through his own personal interpretations and emotions." -BRmag

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 note-able 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 particularily; 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".

Steve Coffey & The Lokels (& many combinations of; trio's, duo's & solo's) have performed at many a club, festival and event over many years. Each band member has performed across Canada many times. For Steve A few notables include: The Calgary Folk Festival; South & North Country Fairs, Wild Oats & Notes; The Sidetrack, Lydia's & Broken City. Steve was hired at Canadian Music Week in Toronto & performed in Europe (Poznan, Poland).
Steve has shared the stage with such folks as Bill Bourne, Corb Lund, Fred Eaglesmith, Caitlin Cary & Rhonda Vincent to name a few.

Instrumentation

Russ Baker- Bass; Electric; vocals
Dave Bauer- Bouzuki; Mandolin; Electric; Vocals
Steve Coffey- Acoustic Rythmn; Harmonica; lead vocal
Lance Loree- Pedal Steel; Electric; Dobro; Slide; Vocal
Toby Malloy=Mandolin, Vocals
Ray McAndrew- Percussion
Pat Phillips- Percussion; Vibes; Vocals

Recording guests:
Matt Herne- Australian Banjo player (amongst other instuments)
Stu Mitchell- Drummer; guitar; piano
Steve Relf- acoustic; vocals

Petunia http://www.petuniaandthevipers.com/

With a piercing gaze, Petunia looks into the collective soul of the audience, then launches into some high and lonesome vocals that conjure up the ghost of Jimmie Rodgers. Not content with mesmerizing the crowd, Petunia’s tapping boot propels the band into a snarling fire and brimstone rave-up as a wave of frantic jitterbuggers compete for space on the hardwood dance floor.
 
He loves to keep you guessing.. often throwing a Spanish Ballad or Chanson a la Edith Piaf into the set. I believe it’s the spirit of adventure that attracted the high calibre musicians that make up The Vipers. Jimmy, Stephen, Marc, James, Patrick and Sam have decades of experience working their magic with some of the most exciting names on the country and rockabilly circuits.
 
Petunia & The Vipers thrive on the challenge of adding Latin rhythms to a country blues tune, or gypsy flavouring to a rockabilly standard. Petunia defies convention and yet there is some conservancy to his music. His honest, cut to the heart songwriting and multi-syllabic narratives would leave a lesser singer tongue-tied and breathless. I know, I’ve tried it. One of the many themes running through Petunia’s lyrics relates to living life on one’s own terms – fearlessly and without regret.
 
I’ve had the opportunity to tag along on some of his solo tours and can attest that he lives the life he sings about. His curiosity and adventurous nature compels him to check out what’s around the corner and if something offers a challenge or a hair of excitement there’s no holding him back. You can hear this in his music, boldly exploring new sounds and ideas. You will discover something new each time you listen to Petunia & The Vipers. – Al Mader, 2011.
 

Since forming a few years ago PETUNIA & THE VIPERS have been very busy bringing their exciting and highly original brand of roots music to an ever increasing audience. They have eight tours down the coast to LA under their belts and recently toured for a month in the UK and Ireland to rave reviews. The next West Coast – LA tour is in April 2013. They have released a critically acclaimed self-titled album on vinyl LP & CD in addition to a limited edition 45RPM single.
Petunia & the Vipers have a music video for a fan favorite song – ‘Cold Heartbreaker’. Directed by Morgan Carrier, it has been aired many times on Bravo Television. It’s a hilarious animation/stop motion/live action tale built around one of Petunia’s original songs. It stars Petunia as the pioneer logger who has to rush back to the homestead to save his beloved gal from a hungry bear.

 Tin and the Toad http://www.tinandthetoad.com