BOOZAPALOOZA 3 COMING SOON!!!

Guess which members of the Town Pants are pantsless.

Fortunately, not only is this event stacked with some world-class local talent, it has been geared to get you off your seat and on your feet all damn night long.  Opening the night's festivities are veteran local "dirty-blues" masters Rich Hope and His Evil Doers.  With a sound somewhere between Reverend Horton Heat, ZZ Top, and Big Sugar, and ass-kickin' numbers such as "Let's Jump Around Some", and "My Love Is A Bullet", odds are, some girls gonna get gone wild all night long.  These guys hit the Burnaby Roots And Blues Festival like a tornado through a trailer park a few months back, and are a great choice to kick things off.   Only question: do I start off with whiskey or beer?

Rich Hope's infamous "reach-around" guitar technique: Step 1.

Second on the bill, Run GMC, a 7-piece "trucker-core" band, who are a mix of bluegrass, country, and bar fights.  With banjos, mandolins, violins, washboards, guitars of all shapes and sizes, bass and drums, and a whole lotta attitude, they're not only a visual spectacle, but a musical hillbilly smorgasbord. Whether it's a gimmick, or if these guys are really as enamored with the trucker lifestyle as they appear, don't matter none.  Their lyrics are brilliant, at times hilarious; check their MySpace page and listen to "Crispy Critters" (about a bunch of hippies moving to town) and "Let 'R Roar"  (about lettin' r' roar, duh), and their music is the real deal. They also have the coolest band logo ever. Note to self: get to merch table early.  This is bound to be a set that Vancouver will be talking about for awhile.

Speaking of the merch table, expect it to be a hive of activity, as The Town Pants have thrown this roots-rock extravaganza to celebrate the release of their 5th album, "Shore Leave".   In 2007, The Town Pants celebrated their 10th anniversary at the Commodore with in the inaugural Boozapalooza, with performances by other local roots-rock groups.  The sold-out event has become a tradition, and has made a tradition of selling out.  Considering tickets are only $14 ($17 at the door), I wouldn't hesitate to get my tickets like, right now.  Read the rest of this later.  

 Get your tickets here: http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/413061

All set up?  Excellent!

So, yeah, this Town Pants album, recorded in Vancouver by Mark Henning (Pure, Combine the Victorious) features a few guest appearances including Geoffrey Kelly (Spirit of the West), Dave Osborne (54-40, Rat Silo) Ford Pier (DOA, Show Business Giants), and the lovely and talented multi-instrumentalist Meghan Engel.  Carrying on in the tradition of their "West Coast Celtic" sound that launched them from pub combo shenanigans to international touring sensations, "Shore Leave" is bound to be a fan favorite.  I mean, if the band says it's their favorite album so far, it has to be awesome, right? 

So, let's recap:  a gritty, floor-stomping blues band, a 7-piece "trucker-rock" outfit, and one of the world's most beloved celtic rock bands, all under one roof?  And booze?  Oh, man, Saturday morning's gonna hurt.  But it'll be worth it.
 

Visit The Town Pants: http://www.thetownpants.com
On MySpace:  http://www.myspace.com/thetownpants

Visit Run GMC: http://www.myspace.com/rungmc

Visit Rich Hope: http://www.richhope.com/
         MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/richhope