The misleadingly named Calgary trio Madcowboys is ready to hit the stage with a fistful of newly minted tracks. Thanks to a lineup change and the resultant evolution of their characteristically un-countrified sound, the band is more confident — and more powerful — than ever.

“I think we’re a lot more accessible now,” confirms the band’s industry-savvy drummer Will “Money” Shatz, who replaced Lyndon Strandquist prior to the release of 2007’s Babysteps. “Our style has steadily moved away from the super-fast skate punk thing. I’m a rock drummer, so I brought that influence with me. As a group our musical tastes are all over the board, but I’m going to put it out there right now, even though we could be playing every day and night in June and July — we don’t do country-western music. We just don’t.”

Although they profess an irresistible urge to “get the fuck outta Dodge” during our city’s annual Stampede festivities, Madcowboys, who took their name from an anti-beef documentary, have forged strong ties to the local music community. Having signed to New Black records, Shatz, vocalist-guitarist “Mad” Mike McLeod and bassist “Bowler” Dave Sowsum now operate out of the label’s multipurpose facility in Inglewood.

“It’s a great venue and office,” Shatz explains. “It’s also a teaching centre for the arts that offers courses and rental space where bands like us can rehearse. Their support means not having to put $10,000 of our own money to complete an album and being able to afford to go on tours like the 12,500 km round-trip we just wrapped up. Plus, it beats jamming in our secondary venue — Dave’s laundry room.”

Rewarding themselves with a leisurely recording session in exotic Bearspaw, Alberta, the band called upon the talents of Ian Blurton to assist them in recording their brand new self-titled album. Blurton, a much-sought-after producer who has left an indelible mark on Canadian rock through his band’s Blurtonia, Bionic and C’mon, just happens to be a close personal friend of Shatz.

“When Ian and I get together we take partying to a whole new level,” the drummer confesses with a chuckle. “It’s tons of fun and a little dangerous. Going into the studio with him was much different than with our previous CD because we had twice as much time. It was the first time we really had the freedom to try new things, like diving into some instrumental stuff, adding keys and bringing in horn players. It really helped that Ian knew us so well — he was able to show us how to express ourselves. We were able to slow down not just the process, but the songs themselves. Of course, what’s slow to us is still fast to others.... In our live show, we’ll do two album’s worth — that’s 25 songs — in under an hour. It’s an unbridled explosion of raw energy.”