| Rough edges is what Calgary’s four-piece punk band, Powderkeg, are all about. The boys’ apparent lack of concern for what others think of them was made vividly clear to me during my first meeting with the band. Interviewed on gig night at Broken City, the rambunctious rockers spilled a beer. A perfectly good issue of Fast Forward was thrown onto the table between us and became Calgary’s newest quicker-picker-upper. The band’s set followed – a high- energy list of headbanging, fist-swinging, hard moshing songs. Bass player Brady Adkins describes the band as a mix of rhythm, hardcore, ska and rock.
"We want to be that band that rocks it hard."
Powderkeg’s songs capture that hard-partying, heavy-drinking, "screw you" ethos the way that only four guys in their early 20s can. Powderkeg rehashes the unpolished good times sound of a high school garage band.
"Not enough bands out there jam anymore. Fans need to see a band flex," says Adkins.
Bakeo Waits, the band’s lead guitarist and singer, emphasizes the importance of stage presence and explains that Powderkeg is concerned with playing a show that gives its audience a reason to mosh.
The band lives up to its explosive name. Stepping into the lair which Powderkeg call their home is no less intense than their live show. The walls are mounted with tributes to Frank Zappa, The Dead Kennedys, Pink Floyd and the floors are scattered with empty Pilsners. Mattresses are held to the wall with duct tape in an attempt to secure some sort of soundproofing system These attempts are futile and their neighbours get a taste of Powderkeg’s experimental sounds at all hours of the night.
You can hear more from Powderkeg by checking out some tracks at www.myspace.com/powderkegpunk. |
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