For the first time in over 10 years, the band is not booked to play New Year's Eve (yeah, but I bet that could change in a day).
According to sources in the band, they are taking time to re-create their practice space, do some more recording (one day there maybe music for sale), and plan for touring (product development, dates in Winnipeg and TO maybe, plus various festivals next summer).
Re-arranging of songs, finalizing a trio of set-lists (a long one, a medium one, and a festival one), set design (hint, think angry rabbits on stage, video, and um, "other things we don't want to talk about").
Glad I saw them at 'The Northern' on Friday night.
:)
Sunday, November 20, 2011
The Northern, November 18th, 2011
Imagine, if you would, walking into a darkly lit bar and seeing in the distance ... pink. Huge pink tubes floating in the air like .... giant spider bits maybe, or giant pink worms waving in the breeze.... Imagine the sight of pink boxes, drums, amps, instruments....
Imagine this is happening after you've spent two hours down the street drinking cheap beer....
Bamm, noise, smoke, lasers, strobe lights go off ... the pink tubes explode and the air is filled with balloons (pink), confetti (pink and yellow), and then all of a sudden, 3 people on stage all dressed in orange coveralls. The noise changes - it becomes music, it becomes a song, then two, then another one, then ....
Two and a-half hours later, its over.
10 kilograms of confetti on the floor (what floor? its all buried under confetti) smoke drifting ceiling-ward....
You, you've just heard driving rhythms and songs about zombies, mass-murderers, aliens, ... and "Like A Virgin" (Madonna cover with ukeleles and a baritone horn), a Black Sabbath cover ("Iron Man"), a TV show theme song ("Wonder Woman") morph into Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" at double speed.
Let's not forget the rabbits prancing around all night either. Giant, 1.5 m high drunken rabbits. Chasing each other. Dragging each other through the confetti on the floor.
Yeah, it was a good show.
And yeah, you wanted more.
Closing time, last call, encore,
lights go up,
c'mon... let's go people, bar is closing.....
With special thanks to the couple who stopped by for a meal and ended up getting a room so they could stay for the show. Thanks to the rabbits who ended their 4 week road trip around BC at 'The Northern' with Bubba Tres when all they stopped in for was a round of shooters before dinner.....
And thanks to everyone who filled the bar, and of course to the hard working bar staff who had to deal with the insanity... and the great 'sound man' (Kyle).
Glad I was there.
Imagine this is happening after you've spent two hours down the street drinking cheap beer....
Bamm, noise, smoke, lasers, strobe lights go off ... the pink tubes explode and the air is filled with balloons (pink), confetti (pink and yellow), and then all of a sudden, 3 people on stage all dressed in orange coveralls. The noise changes - it becomes music, it becomes a song, then two, then another one, then ....
Two and a-half hours later, its over.
10 kilograms of confetti on the floor (what floor? its all buried under confetti) smoke drifting ceiling-ward....
You, you've just heard driving rhythms and songs about zombies, mass-murderers, aliens, ... and "Like A Virgin" (Madonna cover with ukeleles and a baritone horn), a Black Sabbath cover ("Iron Man"), a TV show theme song ("Wonder Woman") morph into Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" at double speed.
Let's not forget the rabbits prancing around all night either. Giant, 1.5 m high drunken rabbits. Chasing each other. Dragging each other through the confetti on the floor.
Yeah, it was a good show.
And yeah, you wanted more.
Closing time, last call, encore,
lights go up,
c'mon... let's go people, bar is closing.....
With special thanks to the couple who stopped by for a meal and ended up getting a room so they could stay for the show. Thanks to the rabbits who ended their 4 week road trip around BC at 'The Northern' with Bubba Tres when all they stopped in for was a round of shooters before dinner.....
And thanks to everyone who filled the bar, and of course to the hard working bar staff who had to deal with the insanity... and the great 'sound man' (Kyle).
Glad I was there.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Big show on the 21st @ The Central
That's right, October 21st (Friday) has the band playing a long set at 'The Central' in Fernie BC (the location of a new Disney movie being filmed RIGHT NOW!).
Maybe the band is about to be discovered, and you could be there!
This is the 'End of the World' and "Zombie Walk' show all rolled into one - so hey, if those predictions are right, you might as well spend the end of the world with Bubba at The Central!
New songs, old tunes re-worked, smoke, confetti, lasers, this'll be a great show!!!
Related news, check out the photos on Flicker from Arts Well this summer (Flickr link)
Maybe the band is about to be discovered, and you could be there!
This is the 'End of the World' and "Zombie Walk' show all rolled into one - so hey, if those predictions are right, you might as well spend the end of the world with Bubba at The Central!
New songs, old tunes re-worked, smoke, confetti, lasers, this'll be a great show!!!
Related news, check out the photos on Flicker from Arts Well this summer (Flickr link)
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Wapiti Reviews...
From <http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/big+bubba+tres>
The band got this one: "This was the opening act for Wapiti, Big Bubba Tres.
Pretty much every song was about killing zombies, zombie midgets, stripper-zombies, or zombies in the snow. Lots of talk of “titties,” too, which is kind of hilarious because they played at 7pm Friday night, prime time for family attendance. Their cover of “Like A Virgin,” and another of “Iron Man” were crazy. In between songs, the lead singer’s banter made me think of a demented and sex-crazed Fred Penner. It was pretty full-on.
“Ready for another zombie killing song or what?”
It would have been even scarier in the dark, but the half-light at Annex Park just made their smoke machine look like a shittily managed brush fire. There was even a gong onstage, which only added to the theatrical suspense; are they gonna cover “Bang a Gong?” Or Lamb of God?
“Vampire beer, it’s worse than we feared..!” Rad.
Craziest line, though; “Bitch, show me taco, give me reason not to kill your zombie child.” Made all the more surreal by face-painted kids dancing in front of the stage with the bunnies and yetis…"
The band enjoyed the show - a lot of energy at the festival for sure, although there was more lawn than bum in front of the group on the stage... they sounded excellent.
The band got this one: "This was the opening act for Wapiti, Big Bubba Tres.
Pretty much every song was about killing zombies, zombie midgets, stripper-zombies, or zombies in the snow. Lots of talk of “titties,” too, which is kind of hilarious because they played at 7pm Friday night, prime time for family attendance. Their cover of “Like A Virgin,” and another of “Iron Man” were crazy. In between songs, the lead singer’s banter made me think of a demented and sex-crazed Fred Penner. It was pretty full-on.
“Ready for another zombie killing song or what?”
It would have been even scarier in the dark, but the half-light at Annex Park just made their smoke machine look like a shittily managed brush fire. There was even a gong onstage, which only added to the theatrical suspense; are they gonna cover “Bang a Gong?” Or Lamb of God?
“Vampire beer, it’s worse than we feared..!” Rad.
Craziest line, though; “Bitch, show me taco, give me reason not to kill your zombie child.” Made all the more surreal by face-painted kids dancing in front of the stage with the bunnies and yetis…"
The band enjoyed the show - a lot of energy at the festival for sure, although there was more lawn than bum in front of the group on the stage... they sounded excellent.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Fall 2011
On the news front, BT has got new photos (http://bubbacook.wordpress.com/).
BT has re-worked the 'set' to be dynamic and entertaining with the new line-up of 3. Instruments include a bass drum, bass guitar, electric guitars, electric ukulele, keyboards, mandolins, and more... a gong, iPads, visuals,.....
Booked dates for the fall (so far):
August 19th - Wapiti Festival (Fernie)
September 22nd - Marquee Room in Calgary with guests (Sonic)
October 21st - Zombie Cabaret/End of the World @ the Central in Fernie (with guests)
November 18th - Central in Fernie
December - New Years show in Fernie
BT has re-worked the 'set' to be dynamic and entertaining with the new line-up of 3. Instruments include a bass drum, bass guitar, electric guitars, electric ukulele, keyboards, mandolins, and more... a gong, iPads, visuals,.....
Booked dates for the fall (so far):
August 19th - Wapiti Festival (Fernie)
September 22nd - Marquee Room in Calgary with guests (Sonic)
October 21st - Zombie Cabaret/End of the World @ the Central in Fernie (with guests)
November 18th - Central in Fernie
December - New Years show in Fernie
Wapiti Festival - Fernie
Tomorrow night, 7 pm, Bubba Tres opens up the festival. A 35 minute set is in the works (see the ArtsWells line-up).
Artswells Festival update
Wow, what a great time was had at the Festival - a must do for everyone.
The band left Fernie on Thursday morning, pulling gear and excitement to Kamloops where they stayed for the night (after a fine meal and live music).
Friday saw the trip north to Quesnel and East to Wells. Weather was cool and cloudy. Tents went up (talk about a lot of neighbours), then a tour of the town and facilities was done. Time with Ben Sures and other friends and musicians was mixed with a look at the great main stage and load-in/load-out process, a meal, beers, and live music.
Saturday dawned early - after a night of noise (dogs fighting, neighbours partying, snoring, cars, and so on), and pebbles - gray and cold. Breakfast at the festival service in the school was free, and filling (if somewhat lacking in something... like coffee cups...). Lunch at a local restaurant (meatloaf, rice/potatoes, and peas) was filling and full of friendly banter and conversation with the locals.
Naps under a rainy sky that turned into a torrential downpour that lead to a stream flowing under Steve's tent, over topping his groundsheet boat and leading the n 'at sea' rescue by the Coast Gard (ok, no coast guard actually showed up, but the RCMP were nearby!).
Load in began around 1 pm or so, and then once in the community centre, the props were assembled, stage placements were decided, and a beer or two was consumed.
The opening band played, the next band played, Bubba Tres set up their gear (what an excellent stage crew and sound team), and the show began.
20 large balloons went out into the audience, streamers were launched and Peanut Butter Tongue started the show.
In order, the band played Bigfoot Calls, Tremours, Burn the Midget, Like a Virgin, Specky Spectacular, Rat Blood, 2-Headed Siamese Crow, Zombie Taco, Zombies in the Snow, Iron Man, and Polka Johnny. 4 Lasers, strobe-lights, lots of pink, orange coveralls, and a gong rounded out the visual show.
Sleep was found in the dry of the Casino building in Wells, so it all worked out as it should.
The drive home Sunday was an all-night drive so the band members could be at work on time 'next day' as it were.
No one lost an eye.
Lets hope that Bubba Tres makes the ArtsWells Festival in 2012.
Link to a mention in the Williams Lake Tribune: http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_cariboo/williamslaketribune/entertainment/126359913.html
The band left Fernie on Thursday morning, pulling gear and excitement to Kamloops where they stayed for the night (after a fine meal and live music).
Friday saw the trip north to Quesnel and East to Wells. Weather was cool and cloudy. Tents went up (talk about a lot of neighbours), then a tour of the town and facilities was done. Time with Ben Sures and other friends and musicians was mixed with a look at the great main stage and load-in/load-out process, a meal, beers, and live music.
Saturday dawned early - after a night of noise (dogs fighting, neighbours partying, snoring, cars, and so on), and pebbles - gray and cold. Breakfast at the festival service in the school was free, and filling (if somewhat lacking in something... like coffee cups...). Lunch at a local restaurant (meatloaf, rice/potatoes, and peas) was filling and full of friendly banter and conversation with the locals.
Naps under a rainy sky that turned into a torrential downpour that lead to a stream flowing under Steve's tent, over topping his groundsheet boat and leading the n 'at sea' rescue by the Coast Gard (ok, no coast guard actually showed up, but the RCMP were nearby!).
Load in began around 1 pm or so, and then once in the community centre, the props were assembled, stage placements were decided, and a beer or two was consumed.
The opening band played, the next band played, Bubba Tres set up their gear (what an excellent stage crew and sound team), and the show began.
20 large balloons went out into the audience, streamers were launched and Peanut Butter Tongue started the show.
In order, the band played Bigfoot Calls, Tremours, Burn the Midget, Like a Virgin, Specky Spectacular, Rat Blood, 2-Headed Siamese Crow, Zombie Taco, Zombies in the Snow, Iron Man, and Polka Johnny. 4 Lasers, strobe-lights, lots of pink, orange coveralls, and a gong rounded out the visual show.
Sleep was found in the dry of the Casino building in Wells, so it all worked out as it should.
The drive home Sunday was an all-night drive so the band members could be at work on time 'next day' as it were.
No one lost an eye.
Lets hope that Bubba Tres makes the ArtsWells Festival in 2012.
Link to a mention in the Williams Lake Tribune: http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_cariboo/williamslaketribune/entertainment/126359913.html
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
July news update...
What has been missed? A great follow-up show at The OWL Acoustic Lounge in Lethbridge where a number of new songs were premiered to the world. (http://www.albertaevents.com/calendar/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=14892) They also did a joint 'everyone up on stage' rendition of 'People are Strange' by Jim Morrison/The Doors .... great fun was had by all. you can expect BT to incorporate this tune with some new verses in future shows.
(Also you can see http://thelabeat.com/index.php?option=com_eventlist&view=details&id=3353:bubba-tres-with-sonis-mcallister-and-the-barracuda-orchestre&Itemid=57 for an online ad for the gig, even though BT's lineup is incorrect in the descriptor)
Next show: Artswell Festival in Wells BC (http://www.artswells.com/)... Friday night @ 8:00 PM on one of the many stages.
A show at the Central in Fernie on August 13th.
Opening act at the Fernie Music Festival on August 19th. http://www.ferniemusic.com/#, http://www.facebook.com/WapitiFernie
A show in Calgary at the Marquee Room on September 22nd.
Of course, the new slimmed down line-up is coming together well, and the song in new, but just as full of energy as it ever was.
(Also you can see http://thelabeat.com/index.php?option=com_eventlist&view=details&id=3353:bubba-tres-with-sonis-mcallister-and-the-barracuda-orchestre&Itemid=57 for an online ad for the gig, even though BT's lineup is incorrect in the descriptor)
Next show: Artswell Festival in Wells BC (http://www.artswells.com/)... Friday night @ 8:00 PM on one of the many stages.
A show at the Central in Fernie on August 13th.
Opening act at the Fernie Music Festival on August 19th. http://www.ferniemusic.com/#, http://www.facebook.com/WapitiFernie
A show in Calgary at the Marquee Room on September 22nd.
Of course, the new slimmed down line-up is coming together well, and the song in new, but just as full of energy as it ever was.
Monday, February 28, 2011
What a night at "The Owl Acoustic Lounge"
Saturday February 19th saw the band take the stage with Sonis Mcallister and the Barracuda Orchestre again, this time in their home town of Lethbridge.
What can I say, but what a great show, what a great location, what a great crowd.
Let me give you the review from the LA Beat eMagazine (http://labeat.ca/);
(credit to LA Beat and Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor who wrote this) Click here to read the original article.
"battle of the strange between Bubba Tres and The Barracuda Orchestre
Wednesday, 23 February 2011 12:55 Richard Amery
It was a battle of the weird at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Feb. 19, with local experimental art folk jazz combo Sonis McAllister and the Barracuda Orchestra and Fernie’s Bubba Tres.
Sonis McAllister and the Barracuda Orchestra put on their usual unusual show. They were all dressed in white, applied a variety or percussion.
Sonis McAllister recited his strange poetry through a megaphone while tapping a rhythm on the floor with a 2x4.
In the background, artist David Hoffos played the drums, as Jana MacKenzie added extra drums and cymbals. They added a variety of strings and horns to the music as well and got the crowd involved adding extra percussion.
Bubba Tres was a whole new level of strange — the best kind of strange.
They added a variety of sounds from a couple tubas, French horn, an omnichord and other unusual sounds, coming across as a more modern Velvet Underground.
The frontman, Troy “Big Bubba Cook” sported a black Russian style fur hat and looked like a crazed mountain man as he alternated between strumming a guitar and a pink ukulele.
He sounded like a even more drugged up Lou Reed and Dr. Hook’s Ray Sawyer as he sang about zombies in the snow and two headed crows and a lot more off kilter subject.
Yet I could not take my eyes of them. I only wish I could have heard the lyrics better. It was as entertaining as a hellbound hayride.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor"
Wow!
What can I say, but what a great show, what a great location, what a great crowd.
Let me give you the review from the LA Beat eMagazine (http://labeat.ca/);
(credit to LA Beat and Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor who wrote this) Click here to read the original article.
"battle of the strange between Bubba Tres and The Barracuda Orchestre
Wednesday, 23 February 2011 12:55 Richard Amery
It was a battle of the weird at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Feb. 19, with local experimental art folk jazz combo Sonis McAllister and the Barracuda Orchestra and Fernie’s Bubba Tres.
Sonis McAllister and the Barracuda Orchestra put on their usual unusual show. They were all dressed in white, applied a variety or percussion.
Sonis McAllister recited his strange poetry through a megaphone while tapping a rhythm on the floor with a 2x4.
In the background, artist David Hoffos played the drums, as Jana MacKenzie added extra drums and cymbals. They added a variety of strings and horns to the music as well and got the crowd involved adding extra percussion.
Bubba Tres was a whole new level of strange — the best kind of strange.
They added a variety of sounds from a couple tubas, French horn, an omnichord and other unusual sounds, coming across as a more modern Velvet Underground.
The frontman, Troy “Big Bubba Cook” sported a black Russian style fur hat and looked like a crazed mountain man as he alternated between strumming a guitar and a pink ukulele.
He sounded like a even more drugged up Lou Reed and Dr. Hook’s Ray Sawyer as he sang about zombies in the snow and two headed crows and a lot more off kilter subject.
Yet I could not take my eyes of them. I only wish I could have heard the lyrics better. It was as entertaining as a hellbound hayride.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor"
Wow!
Upcoming shows
March 12th will see the band headlining the 3rd annual Zombie Festival - this year at 'The Central' in Fernie. Bring your best Zombie outfit and be prepared to have a raging good time.
March 18th will see the band break into the Calgary market with a show at the Marquee Room. Listen for information on local Campus radio and on bills posted around.
Bubba is going on a solo tour with Ben Sures (http://www.bensures.com/) in April, so the band will not be performing as the flowers bloom this year.
The Long weekend in August should see the band performing at the Wells BC Music Festival. Let's hope a tour evolves around that performance. Here is their website - hopefully Bubba Tres will be added soon! http://www.artswells.com/line-up
More dates to come, I'm sure.
March 18th will see the band break into the Calgary market with a show at the Marquee Room. Listen for information on local Campus radio and on bills posted around.
Bubba is going on a solo tour with Ben Sures (http://www.bensures.com/) in April, so the band will not be performing as the flowers bloom this year.
The Long weekend in August should see the band performing at the Wells BC Music Festival. Let's hope a tour evolves around that performance. Here is their website - hopefully Bubba Tres will be added soon! http://www.artswells.com/line-up
More dates to come, I'm sure.
Wee-Fest 2011
This year's version of Wee-Fest happened on Friday February 18th. Acts as varied as Sonis McAllister and the Barracuda Orchestra (from Lethbridge, a spacey-jazz, spoken-word group), Big Joe Young (blues covers of old standards, with great audience rapport), and of course, Bubba Tres.
Bubba played a solid set (ok, War Pigs was a tad off, but still fun) including such staples as Peanut Butter Tongue, Bigfoot (such a great rocker), Two-Headed Siamese Crow, Specky Spectacular, Zombies In The Snow, and Polka Johnny along with their cover of Like a Virgin, and newcomers Wonder Woman Theme Song, and a cover of Spirit Ditch.
The crowd was subjected to confetti, balloons, an Abominable Snowman, a giant rabbit, and videos - another show not to be missed.
Glad I was there.
Bubba played a solid set (ok, War Pigs was a tad off, but still fun) including such staples as Peanut Butter Tongue, Bigfoot (such a great rocker), Two-Headed Siamese Crow, Specky Spectacular, Zombies In The Snow, and Polka Johnny along with their cover of Like a Virgin, and newcomers Wonder Woman Theme Song, and a cover of Spirit Ditch.
The crowd was subjected to confetti, balloons, an Abominable Snowman, a giant rabbit, and videos - another show not to be missed.
Glad I was there.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
New Year's Eve, December 31st, 2010: The Grand Central, Fernie BC
A full house, packed to the rafters, with a sold out (pre-sales) event. Wow. This may well have been the best live set for the band ever. They played for over 90 minutes, and all of it was at 110%. From the old standards like 'Utopia', through 'Peanut Butter Tongue' and a selection of new songs ('Wonder woman Theme Song', 'Song of the Pig Dog' and others) with the crowd's favourite covers 'Like A Virgin', 'Personal Jesus', and of course 'War Pigs', this was a show to see. Troy used about a full year's worth of confetti, and the amount of smoke from the (3?) machines, and the full on laser light display made this a memorable experience.
Yes, the crowd was calling for their favourites from the get go, and they were still screaming as the band hit the last notes of their last song....
I think I'll scan YouTube to see what I can find...
For the entire show the dance floor was packed with dancers.... I can't think of a way to suggest any improvements to the event.
Rumour has it the band played through the front-of-house sound board, and it was recorded... maybe this will amount to something special down the road?
More show this winter at 'The Grand Central' in Fernie BC as well as a show in Lethbridge (date to come to this blog very shortly).
Yes, the crowd was calling for their favourites from the get go, and they were still screaming as the band hit the last notes of their last song....
I think I'll scan YouTube to see what I can find...
For the entire show the dance floor was packed with dancers.... I can't think of a way to suggest any improvements to the event.
Rumour has it the band played through the front-of-house sound board, and it was recorded... maybe this will amount to something special down the road?
More show this winter at 'The Grand Central' in Fernie BC as well as a show in Lethbridge (date to come to this blog very shortly).
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