Described as "Woody Guthrie meets punk rock" to "Prairie Gourds"to "Damn, we can't pigeonhole you!. The truth is we create a self described "Country Grunge Folk rock fusion" As a songwriter my influences range from Johnny Cash, Gordon Lightfoot & Merle Haggard to Michael Stipe, Leanord Cohen & Tom Waits (with a sprinkle of Flatt & Scruggs). Each member brings their influences that mingle with my own resulting in a unique sound. Lance Loree (Uncle Thirsty) works with all sorts; Washboard Hank to the infamous punk rockabilly sound of the Alien Rebels. Lance is well known as one of the foremost tele players around (and plays a mean armpit). Russ Baker brings a range of influences, noteably a ska approach to his bass playing and his electric guitar playing is second to none, he smokes without a smoke. Russ has worked with bands such as Cone of Silence and Wafer Thin Mint. Dave Bauer is a songwriter in his own right. His band Deep Field South wanders into a concise, poetic acoustic world. An extremely versatile player Dave exposes the underbelly of the Mandolin and electric guitars with not only THE LOKELS but also the Foothillbilly, Canadiana sounds of Dave McCann & The Ten Toed Frogs. Finally the youngest member of THE LOKELS: Pat Phillips; a huge range of musical tastes but most particularily; Jazz. Pat steps into the role as percussionist with wide open ears and an uncanny ability to interpret and respond t …
Described as "Woody Guthrie meets punk rock" to "Prairie Gourds"to "Damn, we can't pigeonhole you!. The truth is we create a self described "Country Grunge Folk rock fusion" As a songwriter my influences range from Johnny Cash, Gordon Lightfoot & Merle Haggard to Michael Stipe, Leanord Cohen & Tom Waits (with a sprinkle of Flatt & Scruggs). Each member brings their influences that mingle with my own resulting in a unique sound. Lance Loree (Uncle Thirsty) works with all sorts; Washboard Hank to the infamous punk rockabilly sound of the Alien Rebels. Lance is well known as one of the foremost tele players around (and plays a mean armpit). Russ Baker brings a range of influences, noteably a ska approach to his bass playing and his electric guitar playing is second to none, he smokes without a smoke. Russ has worked with bands such as Cone of Silence and Wafer Thin Mint. Dave Bauer is a songwriter in his own right. His band Deep Field South wanders into a concise, poetic acoustic world. An extremely versatile player Dave exposes the underbelly of the Mandolin and electric guitars with not only THE LOKELS but also the Foothillbilly, Canadiana sounds of Dave McCann & The Ten Toed Frogs. Finally the youngest member of THE LOKELS: Pat Phillips; a huge range of musical tastes but most particularily; Jazz. Pat steps into the role as percussionist with wide open ears and an uncanny ability to interpret and respond to any given tune. He's also a killer vibe player!
other LOKEL members that we work with on occassion:
Matt Herne is an amazing banjo player from Australia that has been with us on two albums and will be with us again. A kindred spirit Matt brings a Flatt & Scruggs design to our sessions but also weaves and swerves into unchartered banjo brilliance.
Stu Mitchell is a very well known drummer; guitar & bass player, piano man and a damn good friend. His wealth of experience punches the crap out of feeble attempts and to boot; killer jokes.
Steve Relf is a singer/songwriter that comes with influences of Steve Earle to KISS to Metallica. A great guitar player and one hell of a singer. Steve has a great album out there called "Spirits Malfunction"
Steve Coffey
"Listening to SAME BOY, recorded in about a week at an old Quonset hut in Okotoks just south of Calgary, Coffey's varied and sometimes very personal inspirations are laid bare...The 14 songs on SAME BOY are often touching and uniformly well crafted. They're wrapped in compelling melodies,earmarked by Coffey's distinctive, slightly nasal vocal delivery, with superb musicianship throughout."
-Cam Hayden 10/06
"Slick production can be the death of a good album. Sometimes all you really need is a bunch of finely tuned players who are kindred musical spirits to make a piece of good music. 32 Below Sessions rides the rusty edge of the blade between classic country and new world traditional. The boys in the band know both sides well.
Steve Coffey is in the Southern Alberta roots music catalogue right along side plaid wool jackets and Sorrel boots. His latest offering is as warm as a wood stove and welcoming as country bar on a Saturday evening. In fact if you could catch the band in a foothills tavern on a wintry night you would find these songs and their players at home in true form. Let the music play in the background as you visit friends or work on the car and you will be doing the art justice. It won't float by unnoticed. It will sink in, and before long you'll know these songs like you know Good Hearted Woman, Abilene, or Bobby Magee.
-Chris Martin; Penguin Eggs (winter issue, 2004/5)
