Paul McKenzie promises a real Ceilidh or “drop dead” party when he brings a revamped line up of Canadian Celtic punk pioneers, the Real McKenzies to Lethbridge, March 15 to play Bo Diddly‘s.
“ I want to extend a salutation to the people of Alberta. Wear your kilt and we’ll have a real Ceilidh,” McKenzie recommended from a ferry en route to a show in Victoria, where they are officially kicking off a tour of western Canadian tour, which will wind down in Lethbridge. They are playing with Montreal punk band the East End Radicals and the Lethbridge Firefighters Pipes and Drums.
“I have nieces and nephews there now, so I hope they all come to the show,” he enthused recalling seeing his niece Caitlyn in the ferocious mosh pit at last year’s Lethbridge show.
“ A guy pushed her so hard that she almost got whiplash. And I was about to jump in there but she gave him a beautiful punch to the jaw. I was so proud of her. I was very impressed,” he enthused.
'“You guys can push each other around, but leave the lassies alone, ” he cautioned.
He enjoyed his last visit to Lethbridge.
“I got the bartender to make a James Bond martini and he made it perfectly. So I’looking forward to having another one of those,” he said.
He is excited about a busy year which begins with the western Canada tour, and then will take him back to Australia, New Zealand and several stops in Southeast Asia and even into China. then they will get to work on recording a new CD, most likely with Steve Loree in Nanton, who recorded their most recent CD “Westwinds.”
“We love Nanton and the National Hotel. That big orange cat with no ears, Bandit,” he said.
“We’re constantly writing, by the time we get back, we’ll be ready to record,” he continued adding the theme of the new cd will likely be will be bars.
“There’s been a bout 100 guys through this band. So we definitely have enough experience. We could make a triple album,” he said.
Their tour includes much of the music from “Westwinds,” as well as old favourites.
“We’d like to play all of our songs, but that would take five or six hours,” he said adding ‘Westwinds’ has been popular for the audience and critics.
“Everybody likes it. I even like it and I’m an old codger,” he said.
“The Robbie Burns song we did, “Halloween” was difficult because it has 20 verses,” he said.
They also recorded a version “Barrett’s Privateers.
“It’s a great song. We did it a cappella and not a lot of people do that, so that’s kind of refreshing,” he continued.
He is excited about touring Australia and New Zealand with a new line up.
“We hired an Australian piper for that tour. I love Australia. It’s like being in the old west when you get to the outback. they just discovered a midget kangaroo which lives in the trees,” he enthused adding they haven’t been in Australia since 2003, after checking with one of the longer standing band members.
“It’s all a blur to me,” he said.
He is pleased with the new line up which includes drummer Jesse Pinner.
Joey Shithead (from D.O.A) was done with him, so we picked him up,” McKenzie said.
Piper Matt McNasty is also back.
“He comes and goes. He’s got a job and a family and a cat, so he can’t come to Australia with us,” he continued.
Guitarist Brent Johnson replaces Dirty Kurt Robinson who is recovering from open heart surgery.
“He’s an old fart. His problem was trying to keep up with me,” McKenzie joked adding Robinson is healthy but recovering.
“You can’t wear a kilt and play rock and roll forever,” he said.
So how has McKenzie kept up with 20 plus years of playing punk rock.
“It’s exercise, eating right and staying away from bad things. I also have a juicer now,” he said.
Troy Zac replaces bassist Gwomper.
They will be playing with the East End Radicals as well. The show begins at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance.
