Former Lethbridgian Jason Poulsen is excited about an upcoming tour in support of the second CD with his band The Diatonics which comes to The Moose Hall, Aug. 16.
“We‘re gearing up for the tour,” said Poulsen, who is excited about the new CD.
“It’s getting pressed right now. The first date on this tour , in Spruce Grove, will be the first time we‘ve seen and heard it. It will be brand, brand new,” he said.
“Some of the songs on the album have been around longer than the songs on the last album. They are a lot more complex but also simpler,” he continued.
Jason and the Diatonics were last in Lethbridge in April to perform with LCI in the Yates Centre. The one song they wrote for the production, called “Hope” inspired them to record the album.
“The most important song, for me, was ‘Hope,’” he said.
The band was performing all a original music for the production.
“The other songs were already songs, though we adapted some of them to the show,” he said.
“ So some of them have been around for a long time. Others are only six months old,” he continued. He noted the songs range from rock songs, to singer/ songwriter songs, however most of them have a very strong soul, funk and R and B Influence along the lines of Michael Jackson.
“ Some of them are rock songs. They are more polished and have bigger production. Two of them are singer/ songwriter songs. But I tried to keep that simplicity,” he said.
“You can tap your toes to all of them. It’s important because you don’t just listen to music, you feel it,” he said.
Keyboardist Jim McLaren officially joined Jason and the Diatonics in between their two CDs and he contributed a lot to this project.
“He knows my influences. He really gets it, so he has the ability to add those flavours. And he can sing really well, he said.
They rented the Moose Hall for their show and won’t be having an opening act.
“We were thinking about it, but it will just be us. We have all of these great songs and didn’t want to cut any from the set, so hopefully people will come out and enjoy these songs,” he said.
“We‘re gong to have a big party and hare the new stuff with people,” he enthused.
While Lethbridge born Poulsen moved out to Vancouver to pursue an acting career, right now his band is his primary focus.
“ I find I’m better when I do focus on only one thing,” he said.
“I’ve been going on auditions , but literally the band has been the focus since April. I’ve been immersing myself in these songs. think I’ve done pretty well,” he said.
The band all holds down day jobs so they take vacation time to tour.
“We don’t really take breaks. We have a show and then another one the next day. We play our songs, sell albums, sleep, travel and m play more songs. It’s fun, but a different type of fun than a vacation,” he said.
“Nobody’s really getting paid here. We’ve spent thousands of dollars on this music. And I feel there are a couple of songs that deserve a bigger audience if they et into the right hands. So I feel it is important to share it,” he said.
Admission is $10 for the Aug. 16 show at the Moose Hall which begins at 9 p.m.
