Calgary pop punk band the Ativans make their first visit to Lethbr
idge in support of their debut CD “Landlocked” as part of Attainable Records showcases this week.
They play the wind up showcase at the Slice, Nov. 28 with the Saint. St. Quartet, Baptize the Band, Bummer Club, The Wells, Accalia, The Blue and the Detractions, who introduced them to Attainable Records.
“I was actually born in Lethbridge, so I’m pretty excited to play there,” said Ativans frontman Billy Dixon.
The Ativans have been together since 2012., but have not played Lethbridge, though they have played Medicine Hat and Red Deer. They stick pretty close to home where there are plenty of gigs.
“We all work full time and we play a lot here,” he said.
“They were invited to play their first showcase and told us about it so we contacted them and it seemed to be a good fit for a good fit for us,” he said.
The band’s new CD is reminiscent of ’90s pop punk especially Green Day.
“ We get compared to them a lot as well as the Mr. T Experience and Screeching Weasel. We grew up listening to all of them,” he said, noting they have also been influenced by Teenaged Bottle Rocket who they played a show with. They have also played shows with Copyright and Agent Orange.
“ We started playing, Adam and I , because we enjoyed doing it. Eventually we became a full band. So hopefully people feel the same way as we do,” he said.
They recorded their first full length CD with Casey Lewis at Echo Base Studios in Calgary. One of their songs “ Jump the Shark” is featured on a new Transistor 66 compilation “ The New Kids.”
They released their new CD under Winnipeg record label Transistor 66.
“ It’s super cool to be involved with them,” he said noting audiences have responded positively to the new CD which is getting played on community radio stations as far away as Montreal.
The Ativans don’t tour a lot as there is so much going on in Calgary, though they have played Medicine Hat and Red Deer.
One they are looking forward to is playing with Old Wives Trip, Chixdiggit’s KT Jansen's acoustic project
“The scene here is really good with lots of bands and more places to play, ” he said.
They haven’t worked a lot with the Calgary beer Core,w ho have started doing Lethbridge shows with promoter Alex Currie.
“We would like to. We've been involved with Calgary Beer Core’s Punk Versus Metal shows. And we’re talking with Alex. We’d like to be on the bill with any shows they think we’ll fit,” he said.
They will likely be the last band on the bill for their Lethbridge debut, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Nov. 28.
