Saturday, November 15, 2008

Tonight @ 'The Brickhouse'

Quick, head on down to the Brickhouse for this show - the crowd will be huge. New songs an improved 'PA' system, and more keyboards. A couple of covers that will blow your socks off, and a lot of new material down the zombie road.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

What, no live shows?????

After not having talked to the guys in the band for a couple of weeks, I had a fine conversation with them the other day. Although they have not played live since the Taste of Fernie, they are not resting on their laurels. Buried deep in their practice space, the band has been working on some new songs and they have made some significant progress in the recording studio.

Look to find them spending New Years Eve at 'The Red Tree', and in February they'll be anchoring the 2009 'We Fest' (likely at 'The Arts Station') once again. Follow this blog to find out who else will be on that bill.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Another 'Taste of Fernie'



Just when will we be full? When we we need no more tasting of Fernie? As long as BBT is a headline act, I gotta say, at least once more!!!!

What a perfect day. Blue sky, sunshine, light breeze, and a large crowd.

The 'Taste of Fernie' (September 12th and 13th) began with BBT playing background music at the BBQ cook-off on Friday night. Set up in a beer tent, protected from the rain (but not the wind), the band played a selection of original tunes done in a laid-back, quiet mood, nearly perfect for the scene.

Too bad the people wanted to hear more BBT and less BBQ cook off.....

This was a 5 piece band weekend, as Andrew was there to fill in the sound with his unique work on trumpet, tuba, and so on.

Saturday saw the band in attendance for the whole day - helping other groups set up, blowing up balloons, and finding 'aliens' to work their show.

6:30 came along (after a few non-band related delays) and to the sounds of music from a 1970's sitcom, out of the Arts Station came aliens, superheros, giant rabbits, smoke, and huge balloons. Before the crowd knew it, BBT was on stage and tearing into 3-Eyed Farmboy.

45 minutes later, after the first ever 'wave' at Fernie Fest', and after a politely decline audience request for an encore, BBT was finished. People looked around and realized they'd experienced 3 explosions of confetti (driven by huge compressed air cannons), numerous hand-held streamer guns, smoke, tuba solos, balloon explosions, and BBT's trademark theater show. 3-Eyed, George Foreman's Grill, Peanut Butter Tongue, and more brought the crowd in, turned them on, and got 'em partying.

What a show.

August 9th - "Best band we've had"

And so the summer of 2008 drew to a close. Troy, Mike, Mark and Steve blew the doors off the bar. Word on the street grew as people noticed the trucks pulling up in front of 'A Bar Named Sue' in the afternoon as 4 men unloaded instruments, lights, amplifiers, and other unidentified boxes into the bar...'Big Bubba Tres' is playing tonight...

The bar was empty at 9:30 as BBT fired up - the lights all along the street dimmed as BBT sucked the power out of the grid. By 10:30 word has gone out by cell phone, by word of mouth - even by land line, and the bar had filled up.

One 15 minute break was all BBT took. They played until the powers of Big Brother forced the bar to say 'last call' and lock the doors behind the last customer.

On reflection the night was magnificent. The dance floor stayed busy all night. Girls were photographed by their boyfriends dancing with the aliens... encores were called for and delivered.

Troy was dancing and kickin', his voice was brilliant - Mike was workin' his 'Les Paul', Mark was pounding the skins at a furious rate - never missing a beat, and Steve was in the shadows, laying down the beat and making the floor throb with his solid bass work.

Even Uncle Charlie was out to play that night!!!

3 hours of original rockin' music pulled them in and kept them going.

A night to remember. More than one patron asked "why are you playing in Fernie, shouldn't you be on tour across Canada?"

the question is, when will the CD be out?

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Plan for the August 29th show at 'A Bar Named Sue' in Fernie.

Here is a teaser for you - rumour has it that Big Bubba Tres will be playing a loud rock show ('black shirt show') at A Bar Named Sue (2nd Ave., Fernie - down the block from the Vogue Theatre) on the 29th. Further details include a hint of confetti and lights. Quite possibly you'll hear the world premiere of more than one song from the planned themed CD....

Plan on staying up late that night for sure!

August 14th @ 'The RedTree'

The RedTree is a new restaurant in Fernie. A larger room than the other places too. They have been running a summer entertainment program where they bring in local acts to play through the dinner hour. BBT was offered a night and accepted.

The band gathered together at 1:00 PM to load out for the ‘acoustic show’ (guitars, ukuleles, banjos, accordions, 3 keyboards, a trumpet, baritone, tuba, cello, two electric basses, electric guitar, mandolin, lights, sound system....). All five were there - Troy, Mike, Mark, Steve, and Andrew. They filled Mike’s Blazer and Steve's Toyota. A small show only in band's mind. Set up was nice (and really hot).

They took to the stage at 7:00 PM to a half-full restaurant… and most everyone liked them – BBT kept the volume quite reasonable. They broke for a dinner break of prime rib etc. (beer was on the house too). They then got back up for a second set – until 10:30 or so. They played really well, with lots of heart and colour in their music.

A great show that left everyone very happy.

Jam Night @ 'A Bar Named Sue' August 12th

After a really solid practice, the band packed it in about 11:30 or so and headed to ‘A Bar Named Sue’ to find out about the specifics around the August 29th show – were they sharing the stage with other bands or not. The boys unintentionally dropped in to a jam night. As they walked through the door, the room said ‘hey BBT is here…’ They grabbed beers as they were asked to play. The stage held a drum kit, one guitar, and a bass.

The bass player of the group before BBT was left handed, (he is an excellent player by the way) so there was no issue around instruments. Troy, Mark and Steve played three songs – 3 Eyed, Peanut Butter Tongue , and …. ?? they rocked… they got applause, and they were asked to play more (as it was a jam night, they declined to play longer).

Afterwards, the other players – all younger, commented on how cool it was to see the older generation rock out.

Monday, August 4, 2008

July 4th @ The Brickhouse in Fernie BC



Another great show by the boys. The bar was full - with people coming from neighbouring towns just to hear BBT play, and play well. When they took to the stage at 9:30 it was full, and as they ended their half-hour encore at 1:30 or so, it was still full. In between those two points, the band played their 'black shirt' show to their usual high standards - including their live hits 3-Eyed Farmboy, Utopia, George Foreman Grill and others. They also played their interpretations of a couple of pop hits (of course they played War Pigs!), a few Johnny (Cash) tunes, and some of their new works from the Speckie project.



Take a look at the photos of Steve (bass, ukulele, keyboards), Mark (drums), Andrew (various horns, electric violin), Mike (guitars, keyboards, strings)and of course Troy (guitars, vocals, accordions, banjo, ukulele, and other things) having fun at the show.



Their next show is a coffee house at 'The Redtree' in Fernie on August 14th, and a full bar show at 'A Bar Named Sue' in Fernie on the 29th of August (you might even hear some wild covers of a few Led Zeppelin favourites!!!).

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Summer Dates...

The latest news from the band includes a confirmed date at 'The Brickhouse' in Fernie BC on July 4th, and a show at 'Fernie Fest' on either August 22nd or 23rd... there are still some details to be worked out.

The boys are back in the practice space preparing for these and other upcoming dates. Rumour has it that Steve is spending time on a Korg synthesizer - adding another instrument and another bank of sounds to the many songs of Big Bubba Tres.

Saturday June 23rd will see most of the band make the Virgin Fest in Calgary, where they plan to watch 'The Flaming Lips' - a band favourite, and a show not to be missed.

Is there product coming?

Big Bubba and the boys have been plugging away at a concept album, dealing with the evils around the life and times of Richard Speck. Also in the pipes is a multi-CD story that outlines the evil that Satan unleashes on the planet, how the zombies take over, and then and how it turns so bad that Satan has to send a killer rabbit to straighten things out.

For those who's interests remain more mainstream (a relative term with this band...), rumour has it that an album of Big Bubba Tres's classic live songs is also nearing completion. This collection could include such well known crowd pleasing staples as 'Down in the Boonies', 'Sister for Your Knife', 'Rodeo Robots', 'Weasel Mountain', 'Zeppelin's a Balloon', 'Utopia', 'George Foreman Grill', 'Three-eyed Farmboy', and 'Mudbound in the Prairie' among others.

The band has not announced a release date for any of these song collections, so keep coming back here for updates.

March 28 2008 – The Royal 3 band bill

BBT shared the Royal stage with with "The Gruff" (The Gruff , a 3 women, 1 man band with stand-up bass, violin, a kick drum and a marching-style snare were beginning a cross-country tour) and "Kent McAlister and the Iron Choir" (Kent MacAlister shared the stage with BBT at ‘The Main’ in Vancouver last summer. This time BBT was warming up for him as he was bringing his band through on their Canadian tour).

In what may have been become their last show at ‘The Royal’ the boys played one of their strongest shows up to that point in time.

Set up began early in the afternoon while Steve and Mike worked at their paying jobs. Mark and Troy did the heavy lugging and setting up of stuff. As 5:00 pm rolled by Steve and Mike showed up and took over. Sound checks were done, monitors were set up and everything seemed to be ready to go.

The other bands showed up near dinnertime, and the 3 groups met, chatted, took pictures, drank some beer, and arranged for some downtime before the show.

The set list Big Bubba Tres played was; Mud Bound in the Prairies, 3 – Eyed Farm Boy, George Forman Grill, Whiskey Hit The Liver, Peanut Butter Tongue, Zombies in the Snow, Sister for your Knife, Rodeo Robots, Sea Monkey Drug Binge, Weasel on your Face, Like A Virgin, Utopia, and Weasel Mountain.

The show was a hit. BBT truly rocked. They played their set and tore down and hauled gear back to ‘the space’ while Kent set up. The place was packed – likely close to 200 people. Kent's set was a hit, And The Gruff took over and played until closing time.

People from both bands talked to Troy throughout the night and they all said that BBT should have headlined the show. They repeatedly said to the crowd that Fernie was very lucky to have a band like Big Bubba Tres as a ‘local band’ in their midst.

Tres was tight, their songs were well arranged, and the words were great. Comments made included “you are not a guitar driven band’, and both bands said that BBT could make it in Vancouver, if not nationally.

The Royal shut its doors ‘for good’ shortly after the show....

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Royal Insanity

February the 19th saw the band take the stage at the Royal Hotel in Fernie BC.

Scheduled to power up after 'bingo', Steve showed up early (9:30 pm) to see how it was all coming together. Walking into the Royal, he found the place packed to the hilt - literally no standing room.

Bingo gone wild would be a fine name for the video. People dancing on the tables, bingo for shooters...toasters, waffle makers...shooters.... yah hooooo.... The place was so full that people were climbing over the equipment on stage to get around - beer and drinks flowing and pouring onto the floor and gear prompted a call for reinforcements, so quickly the rest of the band showed up and formed a human wall at the edge of the stage to protect their stuff.

As Bingo came to a rousing end, and yells of anticipation erupted from the crowd and from the staff in expectation of the mayhem that was about to begin, the band moved their gear into position as tables and couches were moved off the dance floor. With no time to change into their costumes, the band fired up into 3 - Eyed Farm Boy, and they never looked back. BBT rocked hard from the first note until closing time - no breaks, and no pauses for breath. The band played their standards (3-Eyed, Utopia, George Foreman Grill, and so on) as well as a number of their newer songs from the in-progress rock show (Peanut Butter Tongue, Zombies in the Snow, Zombies in Space, and so on). Crowd favourites included the Johnny Cash covers (including the spontaneous rendition of 'Boy Named Sue') and Zombies in the Snow..... Madonna's 'Like A Virgin' has never been played to such an audience response anywhere, anytime before either.

Of course 'War Pigs' was put forth at 110% to the usual mid-song free-flowing instrumentation , and cheers for a repeat....

The dance floor was packed all night, and with over 200 people in attendance the show has gone down as one of the best for the boys. The show did not use videos or black lights, but the strobes, confetti, and toilet paper guns were in full-on mode. Yessirree, this wasn't the first time the floor was so crowded the band played with their backs to the dancers to protect their equipment, and it won't likely be the last one!!!

It was a fine night in that the dancing never let up, and neither did the band. It isn't every show where beer glasses and bras fly and people have to wait their turn to get onto the dance floor....

The next show is at the Royal on March 28th. Be there.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Don't Take My Word For It....

Here is an article from the 'Fernie Fix' written about the band's summer tour:

http://www.ferniefix.com/september-07-issue-10#attachments

A well written descriptor of an adventure in travel.....

January 19, 2008 - A Classic Rocking Show

The Brickhouse in Fernie saw BBT take the stage once again. With an excellent poster advertising the show, the room was packed as the band took to the stage at bout 9:00 PM. This was a traditional 'black shirt' rock show. From the opening tune to the encore the band keep the water boiling all night long.

This show was a foursome, with Andrew sidelined with a broken hand. BBT brought Erin to the stage to sing some backing vocals on the pieces from the developing rock opera, and her voice added a lot to the flavour of the songs.

Once again the music was tight - with one or two unique on-stage modifications to songs (some might say 'fuck-ups', I like to say otherwise), and one terribly rude drunken fool coming into the bar with a foghorn who attempted to interrupt a song. Well, after being chase out of the bar, things got back to a boil right away.

A very good night was had by all.

Next show: February 19th, 2008 @ 'The Royal' in Fernie BC

New Years Eve 2007


Well, BBT ended the amazingly successful 2007 year at 'The Brickhouse' in Fernie BC. The band set up quite a show with new videos (and equipment), streamers, confetti, and costumes.

The band took the stage at about 10 PM dressed up as superheros (Captain America), legends (Thor), and seasonal favourites (Santa, well Evil Santa). Opening with some laid-back new tunes (as per the request of the booking) the band quickly found out that the audience - out for new years, not to see BBT - wanted to 'rock'. So, out with the set list and into the rock show.

Things remained oddly quiet until midnight when everyone got up, 'shared tongues', and danced until closing time. The show went well, all things considered - the band was 'tight', and the sound quality was good.