April Gerwing
Soupbone just put out their first album, Lead Me On, and it’s smashingly good.
They’re a blues band, but their music is not strictly, how-how-how-how-foot-stomp-twelve-bar-she-gone-done-me-wrong, by any stretch.
It’s got a lot of other stuff going on which makes for a super interesting album of 11original tunes.
The chick song, the grinder, the voodoo tune, the classic ... it’s all in there. It’s not quite a concept album, but it flows like one.
Soupbone is a case of people resembling their pets: the longer they’re together the stronger the resemblance to their name; the more they become it.
They’ve morphed into this melting pot of sounds that are good on their own, but spectacular when combined.
These guys have become a cohesive unit and like any good team, the longer and the more they play together, the tighter knit the fabric becomes.
Too bad they didn’t call themselves the Toronto Maple Leafs, but I digress.
This is a case of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts.
These five guys put out so much energy when they’re together and when you watch them play, you know they’re having way too much fun.
But you’re not thinking, because you’re dancing your ass off or at least you ought to be.
Joel Gyselinck is a supremely gifted guitarist able to shine in almost any genre and who is also very, very tall. Joel’s primary function in the band is to be exactly where he should be at any given time, play insane, Vaughn-esque solos and reach stuff on the top shelf. His ability to write ear worm riffs is constantly proving itself. He also has a really cool Jimi Hendrix shirt.
Garry Grosso is Italian and he’s left-handed which means he’s really loud and also very well organized. There are super-heroes out there who would happily give up their cape and tights for powers like these. Plus, he has some hats and plays a pretty darn good rhythm guitar.
Shane Boxeur is the bass player and if Eeyore was a human being, he’d be Shane.
To say he’s got mad skills is like saying the Pope has this little Catholic quirk. Listen to the album, you’ll figure it out all by yourself. Shane can also sing like a bird and say some tremendously funny stuff without even cracking a hint of a smile. Thanks for noticing him.
Brandon Fauteux is the whitest white guy since Edgar Winter. If you think that’s a white undershirt or tights, you’re wrong. This is because Brandon lives, Gollum-esque in a cave with only his drums and a beer fridge. Despite his lack of decades, he’s got the chops and liver of a much, much older musician-um, drummer.
Dean Fulton is a versatile front man, adept at keys, harp and vocals. Nobody ever looked at Dean’s hands and said: “you’ll play the piano one day.”
They said: “you’ll tie a lot of rebar.” And yet, despite the odds, Dean can play the heck out of a piano.
Sometimes, he carves wooden ducks and takes pictures of flowers. He’s like a mystery wrapped up in an enigma, wrapped up in a beef taco.
If you have a chance to catch a Soupbone show, do yourself a favour and go. You won’t want to go home without the CD, but be warned: it may make you dance in the kitchen.
Soupbone is performing this Saturday night at Beeotcheese Bistro for a Valentine’s dance and fundraising dinner for the Canadian Diabetes Association.
The Italian theme buffet will be followed by dancing to Soupbone’s latest tunes.
Tickets are available at The Bean Counter, Barton Insurance and Cool Clear Water. Call 250-296-3230 for more information.