Saskatoon based band Bastard Poetry blend a whole bunch of influences, though their music is rooted in the acoustic songs written by former Lethbridge resident Alex Shenton.
They play the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Aug. 10.
“Our music is a collection of poems we have set to music on acoustic guitars,” described Pincher Creek born Shenton.
“But our lead guitarist (Jesse Kane) is a metal guy, our bassist (Cole Jordan) is a funk guy and our drummer (Jimmy Hunter) is a punk guy, while I play a lot of blues and rock like the Black Keys,” Shenton continued.
“If you didn’t have that sort of variety in influences, it would be really hard to write cool music,” he said.
Their Lethbridge show is the start of a really quick tour which includes Calgary, Waterton Park, Shenton’s hometown of Pincher Creek and their bassist’s home town of Limerick , Saskatchewan.
Though they have barely been together for a year, they have already recorded their first album. All of the different influences are starting to impact the new music.
“ But the album is songs I wrote on acoustic guitar a long time ago. A lot of it is slower and very introspective. But it’s hard to pin it down,” he continued.
“ The release date is Sept. 6, but we’ll have advance copies to sell on this tour.
Shenton grew up in Pincher Creek, then went to the University of Lethbridge.
“I moved to Saskatoon and met some new guys and life happened. I’ve been there for three years now,” he said.
“It’s a pretty cool artistic city,” he said.
“There are lots of bands starting to play. Saskatoon is becoming a hot spot,” he said.
Bastard Poetry play a lot around Saskatoon, playing covers as a cabaret band in another incarnation for numerous events as well as their original music as Bastard Poetry.
“I love coming back to Lethbridge,” he said.
There is no cover for the show which begins at approximately 9:30 p.m., Aug. 10.
