Thanks to line up changes, recording a new album and Covid, it has been a few years since Calgary alternative rock/ post punk band Free the Cynics have played Lethbridge, or at all.

“We’ve been sticking close to home,”  said frontman Rich Paxton. Paxton and bandmates, bassist Owen Wells, drummer Kevin Kornelsen and new guitarist Levi Gilmer, who just joined at the beginning of January, are excited to return to Lethbridge to share the Slice stage with local band Rainbow Patrol, Friday, April 21.

They welcomed Gilmer to the band after their previous guitarist decided to move to Victoria in December. 

“I’ve really missed it. Being on stage is our bread and butter,” said frontman Rich Paxton, who is excited to release their seventh album “Bloodlines”  on June 16.

Since last summer Free the Cynics released singles “Neon Ballroom,” “ Same Old Dance” and the latest “Dollarama Prima Donna.” 

Two more singles “ Start a War” and “Matriarch will be released before the rest of “Bloodlines,” drops in June. They recorded it with producer Nixon Boyd from the band Hollerado.

“ It’s a lot more streamlined and focussed,” said Paxton of “Bloodlines.” 

“ It’s about relationships and family issues and life and death,” Paxton summarized, noting while he comes up with the lyrics and melodies, the  music is a collaborative effort.

“We brought Nixon in to produce and we told him that was what we wanted to do. We had to cut a couple of really great songs, because they just didn’t fit in. I’ve never done that before,” Paxton continued.

“ The last album was all over the place.  It was designed as a tribute to  (Cynic philosopher) Diogenes. This one is more focussed,” he said.

Quaint , Quirky and Queer continues this week with their cornerstone event, the Quaint, Quirky and Queer Cabaret, April 15 at the Owl Acoustic Lounge.

 It is only one of many events happening this week for Quaint, Quirky and Queer.

 There is a staged reading of French play Simon A Toujours aimé Danser, Wednesday, April 12 at Didi’s Playhaus.

 Princess Edward and Abel T Suckizone reminisce about the 10 year history of Theatre Outré at Didi’s Playhaus on Thursday, April 13 at 8 p.m.

 But there are a lot of other excellent shows this week beginning with a blues jam at the Slice tonight, April 11. The Owl Acoustic Lounge’s weekly open mic is also tonight.

 HBO3 and Mike Carter host the jazz jam at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Wednesday, April 12 beginning at 8:30 p.m.

Friday night is all right for blues as Eric Braun returns to Honkers Pub to host the open mic on Friday, April 14.

Prophet Gabriel and The Bridgetown Scramblers and Mikki  perform at the Slice on Friday April 14.

 Don Robb and Randy Epp return to the Watertower Grill to play some jazz music, from 6-19 p.m., Wednesday, April 12.

 The Slice has a very cool show, Wednesday, April 12 with  Kitty and the Rooster, Jack Garton and Crooner Sammy Volkov. Tickets are $15.

Soulful Vibes return to  the Owl Acoustic Lounge on Thursday.

 The weekend will be off the hook.

 Kevin Peters and the Burnt Edges returned to the Slice  , Saturday, April 1 to play their favourite Waylon Jennings  a era classic country songs.

Peters, playing lead guitar and singing lead vocals  was backed by a crack band including keyboardist TJ Waltho, bassist Shawn Worden and Keenan Pezderic playing drums.

 They were playing “Lonesome , Orn’ry and Mean” as I arrived.

 Later on they played  “Waymore’s Blues” and added  a Billy Joe Shaver’ s “Leaving Georgia on A Fast Train” before begin called back for an encore.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat editor

The place was packed, Saturday night, April 1 for a special ’90s themed fundraiser for the Lethbridge Foodbank.

Local band 90 X Over played an array of ’90s songs from the hits  like Weezer’s “ Buddy Holly” to the more obscure like the Flys’ “ Got YoU Where  You want Me.”

They also played a lot of ’90s Canadiana including Our Lady Peace’s  “Starseed” and Big Wreck’s “ That Song.”

As expected, 90 X Over also played a lot of alternative  rock including the Deftones and Smashing Pumpkins.

—by Richard Amery, L.A. Bear Editor