B.C laid back indie rock/ roots band the Real Ponchos return to Lethbridge to play the Slice, June 30.
A lot has happened since 2015 when they last played Lethbridge. drummer Emlyn Scherk moved to Scotland with his wife, singer/ guitarist Emile Scott moved to an island off the coast of Vancouver. and other band members focused on their careers outside of music.
“ Yet we still managed to record two albums,” observed Scott, observing their most recent “ To The Dusty World” was released in 2017 and they have another album called “Sunshine” to be released in the Fall.
“We recorded that album in my living room. We brought in a lot of people and equipment. With the last one we felt we accomplished we were set out to do with the sound and music to do. On the album, the songs are shorter. It’s not quite as laid back as the last one. There aren’t as many jams,” he said.
It was a lot of fun. We didn’t have to worry as much about the sound. Though we still do,” he said.
“ This one reflects the feeling of summer,” he said.
He said after their drummer moved to Scotland, they weren’t sure what they were going to do.
We met Adrian St. Louis at a party in Vancouver. He was in a band called Miami Device, so he wasn’t on the list. But then the band dissolved and it was like a beautiful moment. We needed a drummer. He’s been playing with us for a couple of years now,” he said, noting Scherk is on the “To The Dusty World.”
He will be joining the core of bassist Michael Wagler and Ben Arsenault, the other singer/ guitarist with Scott, who sings and plays piano as well.
“We’ll probably focus on “To the Dusty World’ and newer material. And we’ve been asked to play a couple of weddings this summer and they asked us specifically for songs off the the older albums, so we’ve been relearning them. So that’s been fun road testing them again and trying them out,” he said.
“It’s nice to have four albums out to draw from,” he continued.
“We’re playing a few shows including at the Slice, where we’ve never been before. it’s nice to play new places. We’re also playing the weddings and playing Edmonton which is where Adrian is from. Other than that we’re not playing any festivals this summer. We‘re laying low this summer until the album release,” he said.
The Real Ponchos will be opening for Shaela Miller, who is holding her official CD release party for her new CD “Bad ideas” the same night. Doors open at 8 pm. Tickets are $12 in advance from Street Legal Records or the Slice or $15 at the door.
