STOKE FOLK: The Adventures and Misadventures of Shred Kelly

Great live show reviews!

2012-01-25T21:39:00.000-08:00

We're pretty stoked about a few reviews we've been getting lately about our live show. While in Windsor, Ontario in November, we played a place called The Phog Lounge. The Phog Lounge is a great place to go catch live music and the staff there are stellar. A bunch of amazing people from Detroit were at our show and as it turns out, they come to the Phog Lounge all the time to discover and support Canadian indy bands by blogging about them on their website. HOW AWESOME IS THAT! Spreading the Canadian music gospel in Michigan. And they liked us! They liked us so much that they named us one of their top live shows of 2011 amongst the likes of The Handsome Furs, The Rural Alberta Advantage, and Hey Rosetta! We couldn't be happier. Thank you NORTH TO DETROIT, SOUTH TO WINDSOR.

See blog and list here http://www.n2ds2w.com/2012/01/our-top-shows-of-2011.html

And here is a review from (HEART) ON OUR SLEAVES of our first show back in Golden, BC since opening for Elliott Brood:

"I did a show review a few months back for these guys, and nothing has changed. From Fernie, BC, Shred Kelly’s live performances have become something of legend. I can honestly say that mosh pitting at a folk show is quite uncommon, so I was stunned as I charged head first like an asshole into the ring :D. All kidding aside, it is impossible for anyone to walk into a venue and not instantly become taken away with the atmosphere the band has created. Combining the heartfelt sincerity of Mumford & Sons, and the rambunktiousness of Flogging Molly, Shred Kelly’s brand of self-appointed ’Stoke Folk’ is definitely not something to miss."

http://onoursleeves.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/check-out-shred-kelly/

Thank you (HEART) ON OUR SLEAVES!

"I Hate Work" on Tourism Fernie Video!

2012-01-25T21:16:00.000-08:00

STOKED! I love this new video from Tourism Fernie that has our song "I Hate Work" as the soundtrack.

Shred Kelly Green Couch Sessions video is here!

2012-01-25T21:06:00.000-08:00

It was a rainy autumn day when we descended on the great city of Vancouver. We had just driven 10 hours over many mountain passes coming from Golden, BC after performing as the opening act for the great Elliott Brood the night before. We had a few days in the city before our show at the Railway Club and during this time we had two things on our agenda. The first was to eat sushi...because the city of Vancouver has a lot of good sushi. The second was to meet with the wonderful people at Green Couch Sessions. This is a wonderful group of people who make videos of bands performing somewhere in the city. What makes their videos unique is that they capture the bands in a raw, stripped down acoustic performance in various locations around Vancouver that you would not necessarily see a band performing.

Not being from the city and with a torrential downpour of rain on our hands, we had no idea of what location we should choose for the backdrop of our video, so we went to a community center and asked someone behind a desk. They told us that there was a really cool old manor that serves as a community retirement home just up the street. So we met the Green Couch people on the deck of this cool old manor, but after two takes of Tornado Alley, the owners told us to leave because the foot-stomping was disturbing the tenants. Sorry tenants!

Not satisfied with the first takes and just getting comfortable with the camera, we decided to find another location and sure enough, a park gazebo in English Bay provided an amazing shelter and backdrop. There were no stairs up to the gazebo because it was closed for the winter so we had to hoist the couch and ourselves up over a crazy high banister. There was evidence of people inhabiting the gazebo, but lucky for us they weren't home. We shot two takes, I broke a banjo string, and after two takes the police came and shut us down. We got the goods though and we couldn't be happier.

Thank you Green Couch Sessions for the amazing day. (www.greencouchsessions.ca)

And here it is!

Happy New Year!!!

2012-01-02T18:30:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Shreddies!
I would have updated this yesterday, but I was piecing together the events of New Years Eve in a world of pain, running over my resolutions while pounding back a huge plateful of fries. Was there really a band of women dressed as men and a man wearing a tutu? Luckily, I think so. (Thanks to Blackberry Wood and Oxygen Orkestar) Thank you to Paul and the staff of the Royal on Baker in Nelson for throwing one rad New Years Eve Party.

While overindulging in fried food I had the unique opportunity to reflect on the highs and lows of 2011. SO so many highs. Too many to list. So instead we'll condense that section by saying - playing many amazing shows and festivals, meeting many incredible musicians, and getting to spend time with some of the most generous people in the world who open their doors to us and endlessly support us on our musical journey. We feel so lucky to be living our dream.
For the amount of time on the road, we really have had only a few moments of pain and suffering - Tim drank some bad water, and had a beaver fever baby, we hit a antlered animal outside Saskatoon, jack-knifed the trailer, ran out of gas a few times, had a few tantrums, but all in all it was a good year.
Thank you friends, family and fans for another great year. See you in 2012!
Love, Shred Kelly.

Happy New Years at The Tie Dye Ball

Blackberry Wood New Years Eve

Getting our midnight kiss action on. Poor Timmy. Rough start buddy.

Shred Kelly invited to Canadian Music Week in Toronto!!

2011-12-15T11:00:00.000-08:00

Say Whaaaaaaaaat? Looks like in March we will be hitting the road again all the way to Canadian Music Week!! Canadian Music Fest is Canada's biggest music festival and this year's line-up is already epic including acts such as The Cat Empire, Blackie and Rodeo Kings, The Trews, to name a few. And we couldn't be more STOKED! Stay tuned for a list of shows that will be our Spring Tour to Canadian Music Week in Toronto and also stay tuned for an anouncement of our showcase show at Canadian Music Fest from March 21 - 25th 2012.

http://canadianmusicfest.com/
http://www.cmw.net/

Shred Kelly Fall Tour 2011 Wrap Up

2011-12-15T10:38:00.000-08:00

Well folks....we haven't been all that good at keeping you updated the last few months with our fall tour to Ontario and back. Maybe it was the cold. Maybe it was lazyness. Maybe it was the 10 hour drives. But you Shrederites deserve more than that so here is a captivating summary of our last 5 weeks!

We technically started off the tour playing two halloween shows, one in Rossland at the Flying Steam shovel, and another in Nelson at the Royal on Baker opening for the great Cuff the Duke and Hooded Fang, two killer bands that had the place hopping. We didn't have a costume until about 5 minutes before going on stage so we ended up being the 1984 Canadian Olympic Speed Walking team. Hilariousness ensued.

The next show was in Golden opening for the legendary Elliott Brood to a very rowdy crowd. We can always count on Golden, BC to raise the bar in awesomeness. One hangover and 10 hours later we were in Vancouver for a film shoot with The Green Couch Session crew ( http://www.greencouchsessions.ca/ ) and to play a show at The Railway Club, a cool venue that happens to hold the longest running liquor licence in Vancouver. The film shoot with Green Couch was awesome as we pounded out "Tornado Alley" acoustically in two different spots in Vancouver in the rain, and got kicked out of both by residents and police. Stay tuned for the video coming soon.

The next week saw us make giant strides to Jasper, Edmonton, and Saskatoon. With a push to Winnipeg, we opened for the amazing (and current winner of the Peak Performance Project) Current Swell. What can I say? Great tunes and equally great guys. Two more shows in Winnipeg (see footage at http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150456899836066) and one in Thunder bay (see footage at http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150521318131454) ended the praries for us and now it was time to drive 18 hours south to Toronto.

Ah Toronto...the big Smoke. With an epic show at The Piston, we reunited with good friends and had a bouncing dance floor all night. The next morning we were on the 401 to Windsor to play the Phog lounge where we randomly received a band-touring care package from a group of amazing people who traveled from Detroit to see us play. Gummy bears, cookies, pretzels, and even a note-pad for making set lists!....we couldn't have been more impressed with the good people of Detroit and Windsor.

We circled the mega-ness that is Southern Ontario playing London, Guelph, Collingwood, Peterborough, Kingston, and finally found ourselves playing at the Lengendary BlackSheep Inn in Wakefield, QC. You wouldn't even beleive how beautiful the town of Wakefield is which sits quaint on a lake and smells of wood stoves everywhere you walk. The Blacksheep Inn won our hearts in so many ways. I can't stress how nice it is to feel appreciated on the road and the Blacksheep Inn went out of their way to do just that. Great food, good people, and amazing sound makes it a must on our tour schedule.

Another push back to Winnipeg saw us play our last show for the tour at the Standard Tavern. Santa hosted the night and with cowboy hat, sunglasses and always a drink in hand he declared "Santa is getting druuuunk!!" At the end of the night we high fived each other with another tour under the belt and parted ways for the holidays. I have to admit that it is nice to have some time off, not squeezed in a van for 8 hours a day and living off of pub food but to be honest I know that by New Years I will be getting the itch to do it all again. (Dec.31 NYE party at the Royal on Baker in Nelson, BC)

One thing that we realised on this tour is how lucky we are to have such a great network of friends and family from Vancouver all the way to Newfoundland that always have their doors open to us while on the road. This tour was the first tour for us in cold weather where camping was not an option and in 5 weeks we only stayed in a total of four hotels. These ski bums from Fernie were pretty stoked not to have to fork over tonnes of money for rooms. Thank you so much to those who put us up and fed us sometimes for two or three days at a time. Your contibutions will always be remembered.

So here is a video of us on the road that was filmed at Dave and Sigrids in Winnipeg, a wonderful couple who host house concerts at their home which backs onto the Red River. They also put us up and fed us! This clip is an acoustic version of a new song called "The Bear" that will appear on our upcoming album this summer and was filmed at sound check. See you in 2012 Fernie!

Shred Kelly Presents " THE BEAR " from David Warrenchuk on Vimeo.

On Stage with Elliott Brood at Wapiti Weekend in Fernie.

2011-08-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

As I fight dozing off at 9:15 on this warm Sunday evening, I keep myself awake thinking of the fun we had this weekend. Played at Annie and Adam's wedding on Thursday, and those East Coaster's started our weekend with a bang. Then we played Wapiti on Friday night, which was amazing. Congratulations to everyone involved for putting on such an amazing festival. We were thrilled to have been a part of a festival that we're sure is going to go strong for years and years to come. Then we hit up the ski hill for the NOS Gravity Festival, and finished off today with Shred Kelly's first "kid inspired" set. (which with my preschool teaching background, was certainly a highlight for me.) Thanks to the organizers of Bippity Boppity Boo for being so amazing and making sure those little ones could have the time of their lives too on this busy busy weekend!

However, I'm sure the band can all agree that being invited onstage with Michael Bernard Fitzgerald and ELLIOTT BROOD were what made the weekend for us!

Can you tell we're a little stoked?

Elliott Brood in Nelson and Whistler.

2011-08-06T16:41:00.000-07:00

It has been a dream of ours to open for the Legendary Elliott Brood for some time now. And that dream came true in Nelson and Whistler this past week. They are the three most amazing, kind and friendly guys ever, and they slayed both towns with their amazing repetoire and new songs. Everytime we see them we are blown away. It was an honor to share a stage with such talented musicians. Too bad Tim got the beaver fever.

Elliott Brood killin it at the Spiritbar in Nelson BC.

Can you spy Tim and Jeremy rockin out at the GLC in Whistler?

Kispiox Valley Music Festival!

2011-08-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

Another Festival! Bloody awesome. None of us have ever been so far north, and I ask, why not? Friendly people, beautiful landscape, great times were all on the agenda. So I don't think we will wait another lifetime to venture North. Thanks again to everyone who made Kispiox Valley Music Festival possible. We feel blessed to have been a part of it. We really felt a part of something very special.

Lookin good in Shred Kelly garb.

Amanda Sandwich.

Gettin' Pumped on Throat Coat before our afternoon set.

Add caption

Bringin' the Waltz back.

All the amazing festival organizers. Thank you for everything you do!

The prettiest photographer in all the land.

Our good lookin merch booth. T-shirts, hats, cd's and SUNGLASSES!

Donne Roberts on the mainstage Saturday night.

Tim getting a birthday massage from Sunflower.

Starbelly Jam

2011-08-06T16:16:00.000-07:00

What an amazing time we had. Going from South Country Fair, which knocked our socks off, then driving to Starbelly Jam was one of the best weekends this band has ever had. Thank you to all the festival volunteers and organizers at both festivals for letting us be a part of such an incredible experience!

Before the show with G-money.

The gorgeous Emma and Lenny joined us too!

Dance Party

G-Money are those some sick Shred Kelly sunglasses?

Bustin out some new tunes.

The men on the GEE-tars.

Lindsay McDirt made the mission to shake a tail feather!

Jordan gettin' sexy before the set.

Lenny getting her dance on.

Reggae Newts? What happened last night? We found Tim here on Monday morning after Starbelly Jam. Must've been good.

South Country Fair..!

2011-08-06T15:56:00.000-07:00

Our first backstage passes!

Ballgag and Chain Gang = Amazing!

Gillian! Thank you for all your hard work and organization and letting us be a part of such an amazing and beautiful festival.

Dino and Ali of Coal Creek Boys. You are two of our favorite people! Love every minute with you both.

Summer Tour Update

2011-08-06T15:47:00.000-07:00

Hey ALL!
We have been oh so negligent. But we have been playing our hearts out and maximizing seeing the beauty and outdoors of BC, so internet time has been few and far between. But on this beautiful sunny day in Victoria I have locked myself in an internet cafe and have sworn not to leave until some pictures have been posted, gosh darn it!

Start of Tour Wedding in Kaslo... open bar... great floral arrangements. Congrats Kelly and Andrew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sarah! Just Killin it on Merch and Keeping us company in the van!

Twister at the Distillery in Calgary!

Apres Kaslo Street Shannanigans

Gang violence is high on the streets of Kaslo.

Starbelly Jam.....sandwiches?

2011-06-02T20:12:00.000-07:00

Sasquatch was so very sweet. My leathery red skin, slow intestines, and punched liver don't agree but they're a bunch of negative Nancy's. Four days of amazing music and good times in the most beautiful music venue I have ever seen. The Shithawk made the trip there and back without a hitch and now that we're home the band is back together again after some of us were gone on a month off treking the world. I can't tell you how stoked we are for the summer with good friends and festivals and getting generally rad.

Speaking of festivals, we have been just added to the Starbelly Jam line up.

Say whaaaaaaaaaat?

Check out the details here:

http://www.starbellyjam.org

Buzzard Mountain Awesome!

2011-06-02T20:00:00.000-07:00

I GOT A NEW BANJO!!!

Nuff said.

Except that Buzzard Mountain Instruments is an amazing company that makes amazing custom banjos just the way you want them in Marietta, Georgia, USA. Thank you Neil Turner for making this great sounding instrument for me. Now if you excuse me I am going to be on the couch playing this for the next rest of my life.

Check out the website! http://www.buzzardmountain.com

Check out me playing it!

Summer of Love

2011-05-15T16:23:00.000-07:00

FESTIVALS FESTIVALS FESTIVALS!

With Sasquatch around the corner (which I hold a glorious ticket to finally seeing Flogging Molly, Modest Mouse, Death Cab, Wilco, Iron and Wine, Chromeo, Dan Mangan and so so so so many more) and the sun peaking out to say hello, I am AMPED about this summer's music festivals.

My head still hurts from Friday nights artist release party for Wapiti Music Festival, Fernie's 1st annual music festival. The drinks were flowing and as it turns out, Fernie knows how to book a festival....I really really GOOD one. Here are the details:

Wapiti Music Festival
August 19th and 20th
Fernie, BC

with Elliott Brood, Said the Whale, Yukon Blonde, National Treasure, Shred Kelly, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, Jon and Roy, Big Bubba Tres, and more!

Say WHAAAAAAAT?

We're also on the bill for a few more epic festivals this summer. Here they are:

Kispiox Valley Music Festival
July 22, 23, 24
Hazelton, BC

South Country Fair
July 15, 16, 17
Fort McLeod, AB

Beaumont Blues Festival
September 3 and 4
Beaumont, AB

STOOOOOOKED!

Sum-Sum-Summertime

2011-05-11T09:17:00.000-07:00

Mother of PEARL!......Is that the SUN out there?? Well honk my hooter IT IS!!

The clouds have broke in Fernie and I am outside, shirt off, soaking in the vitamin whatever, blogging as we speak and....hang on.....what is THAT?? Folks there is some sort of jiggly pale jellyfish-like creature clinging to my midsection! Its big and white and round, has a bit of hair suggesting its mammalian! My god! Its also a cyclops and has an awkward tattoo on its face! Begone you with you demon!!.......................oh wait................no that's my belly. Hmmm.

Anyway, we're gearing up for a summer of FUN and the kick off party for the summer is the fundraiser party for Fernie's 1st annual Wapiti Music Festival THIS Friday May 13th at the Central. They are also announcing the artist line-up for the festival and Micheal Bernard Fitzgerald is playing all night long. STOKED! Tickets for the party are sold at Midges Mag's in Fernie and proceeds go to help funding the concert that will take place August 19th and 20th.
-Tim

Punk Rock Girl

2011-03-24T14:04:00.001-07:00

When I was a child, the only music I knew was the Solid Gold tape collection that my Dad got for free every time he filled up the tank of his wood paneled station wagon at Esso. Those glorious tapes were the soundtrack to every family road trip.

But as you get past the age of 10 and older, those oldies loose there cool and you enter a time when you are extremely musically fragile in terms of what is next. I think this is actually a cross road that defines you as a person for a very long time. In my case I could have gone down The New Kids on the Block route to represent my teenage years of musical expression (and thus clothing attire and dance moves), or I could have tried out that gangster rap stuff my friends were pushing on me and gone with NWA. Luckily, I had my brother Bill.

Being the youngest of three I looked up to my siblings and was pretty much a cultural sponge absorbing whatever they did in the late 80's/early 90's. What I absorbed from my brother was a recipe of punk and post-punk awesomeness that included The Ramones, Violent Femmes, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Cure, etc. But perhaps one of the greatest contributions my brother made to my young fragile little mind was the Dead Milkmen.

The Dead Milkmen, a satirical punk rock band that didn't leave my walkman. Their lyrics were hilarious and the songs gritty and fun. As a 12 year old, I fell asleep listening to them in my head phones and dreamed of hippie eating monsters, bitchin' Camaro's and punk rock girls that would one day take me around the world. My love for the band never really aided in actually finding any such girl as The New Kids on the Block were reigning supreme at that time in grade 7, but I didn't care.

So here is a tribute to two of my adolescent hero's; my Brother Bill, and the Dead Milkmen. Starting with the original "Punk Rock Girl" video, I've included a few other unique versions, including a cover of the song that we performed last weekend in Nelson, BC. From Shred Kelly, we thank you for swaying me away from a possible adulthood of dressing like Zac Morris, or Snoop Dog. Besides, strumming power chords at volume 11 in the basement with overly gelled bleach blond hair, snake skin doc martins, jeans that were more ripped than they were jeans, and an awkwardly placed tattoo of a frog was way better on Mom and Dad's stress.
-Tim

Dick Move...

2011-03-22T10:11:00.000-07:00

....as some in the band call it (a.k.a. Lesson's Learned on the album). Here it is at the Royal on Baker this weekend as we opened the night for Blackberry Wood, (my newest fav band with a lead man/guitar player who was dressed like something between Skeletor and General Lee, a crazy faced drummer, a fiddler that melted faces with awesome, a multi percussionist voo doo ballerina, and a Clockwork Orange looking fellow that played an upright wash-bin bass and an eerie sounding theramin, also known as a aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox)

We are also stoked to have Jeremy back with us as he was down in his homeland of New Zealand, where an earthquake ruined his hometown of Christchurch while he was vacationing there for a month. Great to have you back you J-Bro.
-Tim

Epic Weekend

2011-03-21T19:52:00.000-07:00

Too many highlights. Whether it be rockin the Canmore Hotel for St. Patty's day, or playing at the Royal in Nelson with the fabulous Blackberry Wood, or staying in a ridiculously luxurious cabin at Red Mountain and playing a footstompin apres ski gig, then shredding hidden powder spots to top it all off, I can't pick what was the best part.
Probably when Blackberry Wood had us all lying on our backs on the dancefloor pedalling imaginary bicycles, while thinking "good god, these people can make us do anything."
Check them out, hopefully we can play another show with them sometime soon, cause good gravy that was fun. http://www.myspace.com/blackberrywood

Stay tuned for some great video footage we got from the show!

Ski Bum: The Musical

2011-03-07T11:13:00.001-08:00

About 5 years ago I dipped my toes into the world of environmental activism. I moved from Whistler to Fernie to work at a biodiesel production plant and started a non-profit organization spreading the word to ski bums alike about the impending doom of smaller snowpacks and fewer powder days in a warming climate. But, after a bout of sifting through large vats of conjealed fryer grease and awkwardly talking to crowds about climate change, I came to the realization that I wasn't really good at it. Maybe music was a better platform for me to plant the seeds of environmentalism. However one great thing emerged from that year of finding myself in the eyes of the planet.....I met Tyler Bradley.

Tyler is a resident of Rossland, BC, a ski town in the Kootenay's much like Fernie. He joined us that year in our march to green up ski resort operations and now five years later I have re-discovered Tyler Bradley. As it turns out he is an extremely telented writer and contributes his talents to various magazines, blog, film, and recently theatre. His latest work? "Ski Bum: The Musical" which is put on by Iron Mountain Theatre and I had the opportunity to catch the show last night on their stop in Fernie.

Now I'm not a theatre critic and I haven't recently attended too many musicals, but I can tell you from beginning to end this musical was epic. If you are ski bum you will laugh to tears. If you are not a ski bum, you will laugh to tears and get an entertaining insight on the culture that exists in ski towns. The musical is based around a cultural anthropologist out to study the behavior of ski bums by ethnographically inserting himself into the mix of ragtag characters. Every ski bum term is hilariously defined through comedy, song and dance. Song titles such as "Legendairyism", "Skinnin' on up" and "Ballad of the Lonesome Plow Driver" will have you in hysterics. If you don't fall in love with the characters, you might be a robot.

That said, I am happy to re-discover my friend Tyler Bradley. Go see it. The Iron Mountain Threatre crew are touring the Kootenay's with various productions and a schedule can be found at their website: http://ironmountaintheatre.wordpress.com/
Also Check out Tyler's blog at http://tabradley.tumblr.com/

As for me sifting through vats of congealed fryer grease? Maybe it wasn't for me, but I guess if it weren't for that job, I wouldn't have moved to Fernie in the first place and might never have picked up a banjo. Thanks grease! You're tha ......man?
-Tim

Blizzard Fest

2011-02-03T06:56:00.000-08:00

Blizzard Fest!!! What a night! What a town actually, Rossland is not only host to amazing music during the week, but also host to the town's winter carnival, which puts every other winter carnival I have ever seen to shame. They actually turned one of their downtown streets into a rail park, they had outdoor stages, dj's, and I think I may've heard something about a bobsledding competition. And did I mention the music. In addition to our night there the weekend was jam packed with amazing Canadian talent. What an awesome place. We love Rossland. Thank you to the Tuques and The Flying Steamshovel and anyone who took part in the festival organization for such a wonderful time!
-Sage

Snowseekers Television

2011-01-24T08:24:00.000-08:00

Sometime in early December, the guys from Snowseekers came to Fernie to film an episode for their snowseekers TV show. These are the guys that held the contest that we won back in October. After playing at the Snowshow in Calgary as part of our prize, they asked us if they could use "I Hate Work" for the intro of their show. You'll might also notice a "certain someone" being profiled to represent Fernie on the show..........no big deal........

Oh you'll have to excuse me, the help has just brought me my morning coffee. Yes that's right I have help now. A butler, a few maids, a few people who make me coffee and do my laun *PPPPPPBBBBTTTT!*

YOU CALL THIS COFFEE !!!! YOU JUST DEMOTED YOURSELF TO FOOT MASSAGE FOR A WHOLE WEEK !!! OOOOH WHY DON'T YOU CRY ABOUT IT NOW WAH WAH WAH WAH!!

*ahem*..........anyway, here is a video of my day with Dr. Pow and his camera crew. It was a lovely day full of dog sledding, snowboarding, and bingo drinking.
-Tim

Four Shows.....48 Hours

2011-01-17T21:42:00.000-08:00

That's right.....Four different shows in 48 hours. This was our weekend agenda.

The Pub Friday night - 3 hour set
Griz Bar Saturday afternoon - 3 hour set
Griz Bar Saturday night - 3 hour set
Griz Bar Sunday afternoon - 3 hour set

This is starting to feel like................work.

But I hate.............work.

Anyway, here is a clip of "Ghost Inside My Head" from one of our four shows this weekend chock full of fun times, bar tabs, avalanches, pineapple moshing, and naked table slides to name a few occurrences. Wait, I had it all wrong.......I LOVE WORK!
-Tim

Redbull gives you claws

2011-01-14T10:23:00.000-08:00

Its raining out there and I'm sick. My head has a second heart beat in it and my nose is like a clogged drain. When I breath in through my nose it sounds like I'm trying to force a wet tennis ball into a vacuum hose. (not that I've ever tried that.......)

Anyway aside from being sick and finding out today that I am not really a Leo, but a Cancer after all because of a wonky earth axis, I'm doing okay because today is gig day and that makes everything good. (The Pub Bar and Grill, 10:00 PM BE THERE!)

We have been editing some video footage of out epic week around the Kootenays last week and here is a video of us playing our instrumental of destruction "the speed up song" in Nelson, BC .
I think we might have all had some Redbull before the show.....
-Tim

Tornado Alley in Nelson, BC

2011-01-13T17:22:00.000-08:00

It was the week of all weeks for us and the good times keep on rollin'. We bought a Zoom q3hd for video taping gigs and low and behold this little thing is a thing of wonder.

This is "Tornado Alley" at the Royal on Baker in Nelson, BC which was one of our the best shows to date.
-Tim

Huston....We Have a Website

2011-01-13T14:16:00.000-08:00

*Cue theme song to "2001: A Space Odyssey"

Here it is folks. We got a "website". I hear that you can "click" on a "mouse" and make sounds and colour pictures appear.

Thank you to the wonderfully talented Julie Tremblay for conjuring up this magic for us, and to my brother, Billy, who purchased our domain name for us, because we are all but poor ski bum musicians.

Find the website at www.shredkelly.com and it even comes in Canadian! (.ca)

2011-01-13T06:54:00.000-08:00

4 Day Mini Tour of Awesome

2011-01-11T18:47:00.000-08:00

So last weekend, we got the luxury of having the best few days of our life. We said goodbye to New Years Resolutions and yes to indulgence. Seriously, I ate two eggs benedict breakfast in a row, and I had hollindaise sauce on my dinner too. Talk about gluttony.
Anyway, you may think two mornings of eggs benedict would be about as good as life gets, but you would be wrong.

We topped it off with four awesome shows, a 30 cm. powder day in Revelstoke, visiting the most beautiful town in the world, Kaslo, which we may all move to because we were so captivated by it's charm, playing with the Vortex Players in Nelson (an amazing impromptou group of phenomenal Nelson talent that warmed the stage and our hearts on Friday night.), and spending hours in a sweaty van with stinky boys. Perhaps the last part was a little short of perfect, but the rest was kickass.

Seriously, thank you to everyone who we met, or ran into this past week, because you will forever be in our memory as the people we saw during the best weekend of our lives. Dare I say we got REVELSTOKED... or is it just to obvious?

Happy New Year!

2011-01-11T17:58:00.000-08:00

Although the greeting comes a little later than we'd like, the New Year has just so rammed with activities that we haven't the chance to wish all you folks the happiest 2011. We Shreddies brought in the year right in Panorama. Despite the -30 chill we managed to rock, and snowboard. And I convinced Tim to do some cross country skiing too despite his killer hangover. Once he got his baby deer legs figured out, and after a slight run in with the frigid snow, he was skiing like the pros.
Panorama, you treated us right. We were so happy to bring in the New Year with you and we look forward to seeing you beautiful peeps in February.

Rockwater Magic

2010-12-18T09:02:00.000-08:00

We made it our personal mission to make the contractors in Golden, BC our stoke slaves. And stoke we did accomplish. Thank you Ryan at the Rockwater for being a wonderful host, and thank you magician James for reminding me that magic is real.....I mean REALLY real. I mean this guy made water disappear over Sage's head. I am actually sure that Sage will find it someday just floating around in magic behind her ears or something.

Don't break his pen though. He'll cut you in half with magic.

Shred Kelly, Ben Hur, and Home

2010-12-17T09:09:00.001-08:00

It's the weekend again and that means its time to play music. Tonight its Shred Kelly at the Pub for a three hour epic and Saturday its Ben Hur at the Central as part of Banned Fest. If you don't know, Ben Hur is the epic rock outfit that our Mandolin/Guitar player Jeremy leads, and I am the drummer. There is also Ian Bolzenius on guitar. The three of us have afros. In fact, if it were not for our famale bassist Alana, we'd look like Jonas Brothers........except less Jonas Brother.....and more......awesome.......

Monday its home for the holidays before returning to the Kootenay's for a week of carnage like no other. Starting with New Years Eve in Panorama, we ring in 2011 with foot stomping greatness, followed four days later by a show at the pub for the Kokanee Ryde or Die Party, only to wake up the next day to play the Freeskiing World Tour in Revelstoke, only to wake up the next day to play the Royal on Baker in Nelson, BC, only to wake up the next day to play the Kaslo Hotel. My god man! We might actually spontaneously combust from stoke.

Ben Hur.....

um.................whoops

2010-12-17T01:41:00.000-08:00

The holidays are upon us and "Hark the Harold Angels Sing", let the rum and egg nog flow like golden boozy lava. And while we get together with loved ones this holiday season, we reminisce of simple times. The good times! Times when social status was based on who could finish Super Mario Bros 3, and your best friend was an E.T. doll who lit your bedroom carpet on fire with a cigarette lighter.......

Am I right?

I mean....everyone did that right??.....E.T.?...............Fire?

Anyways,

There I was about a month ago, booking plane tickets home to Toronto for Christmas. I got my tickets booked with a credit card online and all was good. Aside from hearing about Ontario snow drifts that eat people alive, I was in great spirits. However, two days ago my parents checked my flight itinerary online and well, turns out, instead of booking Calgary to Toronto on December 20th, I had actually booked Toronto to Calgary on December 20th instead. That's right folks. I got the destinations backwards.

And so here is a drink to my Mom and my Dad for finding my mistake via email. You both deserve a stiff drink after realizing that your youngest son is, well......special. And before you think this turns into some "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" storyline, you are wrong because a lovely Westjet representative named Sara was very understanding to my pleas of stupidity and gave me a very good stupidity rate.

And no Dad....to answer your question via email, I am not on elicit drugs.

Here is a clip of what could have ensued had my father not noticed my fatal mistake in airline booking.

Shred Kelly to play the 2011 Freesking World Tour

2010-12-13T09:24:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of posting folks. Its been an interesting week. We played Lethbridge, I got sick, I got better, jam night + snowboarding, I got sick, I got better, we played a gig in Golden, I got sick, working on getting better....eeeesh. The good times are killing me.

Anyway, one good thing that emerged from this germ infested week is the news that we will be performing at the Canadian leg of the 2011 Subaru Freeskiing World Tour in Revelstoke, BC on January 6th, 2011

Oooooh snap! ...

Yeah that's what I said......Ooooooohh Snap!

*ahem* I'll say it again.....oooooooohhh Snap?

That isn't cool for people to say that anymore is it?

Last years kick off party in the Colorado......

For more info and lots of pictures of crazy shredding check http://www.freeskiingworldtour.com/

Citytv......Everywhere

2010-12-06T23:11:00.000-08:00

Another Monday, another day of paying the mechanic $750 for auto repairs on my 1993 Mazda MPV (ShitHawk) and mourning the passing of another iconic person from my childhood.

R.I.P. Mark Dailey

Mark Dailey was an news reporter and anchorman on Citytv's news show CityPulse throughout the 1980's to the present. He was known as the voice of the Toronto station with his iconic line "Citytv....Everywhere". I cannot tell you how many nights during my childhood I fell asleep watching Late Great Movies on Citytv with Mark Dailey's quirky narratives keeping the ball rolling before every commercial break. It just won't be the same show without him.

Stop dying iconic people from my childhood. I am starting to feel really old.

If you are from Ontario (maybe Canada?) and around my age, watch this video clip and you will understand what my typical Saturday night entailed as an awkward movie obsessed teen....*ahem*.....er......I mean, popular confident AC Slater look alike teen....cause.....that's what girls liked back then..........right?

Side Note: I nearly fainted when Johnny 5 came on the screen.

Another Side Note: Readers, if you don't know who Johnny 5 is then do yourself a favor and please rent a movie called Short Circuit and go back home to the moon and watch it.....cause that's where you are from.......the moon.....because its so classic.....and awesome.......

and clearly I am old.

Our Friends Make Cool Things

2010-12-03T12:16:00.000-08:00

This is the kootenay based Jah Raven Creations new film trailer titled "What's in the Fridge" which is premiering at the Vogue Theatre in Fernie tomorrow night (Dec 4th). The after party is at the always wonderful and continuous party machine, Bulldogs North. Now I don't want to tell you what happened to me when I watched this trailer for the first time, but it involved having to start a load of laundry.

Congrats Jah Raven Creations for raising the bar once again and forcing another chore into my day. I mean, Tetris.......and shredding........and glorious pow......and....
..................um..............................it happened again.

Whats in the Fridge? A Teaser. from Jah Raven Creation on Vimeo.

The Magnificent "Magnificent 7's"

2010-12-03T11:32:00.000-08:00

As I hear the avalanche bombs explode on ski hill yonder, I cannot help but to fathom what greatness will proceed this day as I wax thy board and sharpen thy edge and tune thy banjo to open c, for tonight we share the footlights in Lethbridge with fellow folk legends of the stoke manner, the Magnificent 7's, and tomorrow, yes tomorrow, we ride.

.....these medieval tights are huggy

Shred Kelly to help save melons (boobs)

2010-12-03T09:08:00.000-08:00

Let's face it. We ALL love boobs. They're pretty much awesome. They come in all shapes and sizes, they feed our young, they make for great Dolly Parton jokes when passing one of these on the highway:

Heck, I'm actually sure that boobs are the sole reason that I failed grade 10 science.

But there is this unspeakable evil out there that takes boobs from us ! (Some say it also takes nards from us too *gulp* ) So when we were asked to play at a charity fundraiser on April 2nd at Norquay ski resort in Banff, Alberta called SAVE THE MELONS that raises money for breast cancer research, we were more than game. I mean, there is going to be a slopeside competition, beer gardens, entertainment (us!), raffles, 50/50 draw, and BBQ. glorious glorious BBQ.

Here is a video from last years Save the Melons event.

November In a Nut Shell

2010-12-01T09:43:00.000-08:00

November started on Halloween at midnight and we battled dark forces. Actually, the dark side got too drunk so we shook hands and got loose.

We played with great friends

We read some educational material

Chewy got some action...rrrrrdddddddrrraaaaaaaar

I played the drums in my underwear.

We played in Montana with more great friends

A gremlin moved into Super Dave, our tour van.

We won a contest and played at the Calgary Snow Show

It snowed a little

and I grew one of these

Now that December is here, I say bbbrrrring on the rum'n'egg noggers.....infact I've been drinkin'em since midnight last night...*uuuurrrrp*......4 cartons and a 40ozer already....they're gurgling in my tummy tho..... Meeerrrrry Chr............................*uuuurrrrrrrrp*

Happy December 1st!

2010-12-01T09:05:00.001-08:00

Begone with you hairy demon.....Begone with you back to the hell that you have grown and take your itchiness and your food crumbs and your used car salesman/Ned Flanders/creepy uncle/porn star demeanor with you....begone Demon....BEGONE!!!!!

*ahem*

Mo'vember is official over and all of us men can go back to having a clean upper lip, although as much as I despised the little creature that grew under my nose.....in a strange way, I will miss the little guy.

Bulldogs North

2010-11-30T12:41:00.000-08:00

One of our loosest gigs of the year. Thanks to Bulldogs North for having us back after a long hiatus. God Bless Kyle Hudon. You are as talented a sound man/promoter as you are dreamy.

Here are some photos of the show as well as one big Tornado Alley rock ending to end all endings....

Side Note: Special thanks to the man in the pink polo shirt, creepy moustache, and aviators for dancing up a ridiculous storm front stage all night, as well as the very very VERY drunk women after the show that gave us $100 to play them one more song only to feel up our poor keyboardist in a very unwarranted manner. That was pretty rock and roll. And um.....thanks for the gas money?

Case of the Mondays

2010-11-30T09:28:00.000-08:00

I know I know....Its Tuesday and legions of you were all "What the Hell Newton?! I thought you were a blogger? You can't just take Monday off!! Your words are the new religion that guides us through the monotony of our daily lives"

Well, you're right. But yesterday was a day of rest and a day of mourning. Not only did I sleep very little all weekend, but on Monday I awoke cranky as all hell only to find out that two visionaries that helped shape me into the man I am today had passed away.

R.I.P. Leslie Nielsen and Irvin Kershner.

Leslie Nielsen was best known for his hilarious one liners in the Airplane movies, Police Squad television series, Naked Gun movies and most recently, Men with Brooms. He was Canadian, had two stars on walks of fame, and brought people to tears with laughter.

Irvin Kershner directed one of the most important tragedies of all time titled "The Empire Strikes Back" for which we are introduced to Imperial Walkers, Yoda, the betrayal of Lando Calrissian, Han's Carbon Freezing, and the line that kept us hanging in utter suspense for two more years....."I am your Father" followed by a rather dramatic "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

Actually I was 2 when the movie came to theaters and apparently according to my own father I peed myself when Darth Vader entered the room to the music of the Imperial March. I also remember having the "Empire Strikes Back" childrens picture book that you read along with to a 7" vinyl record playing in the background and you turned the page when you heard the *chime*

A tribute....

Leslie Nielsen in a nutshell.

Oh the agony in Chewy's crys.....I still tear up.

Side note: Apparently in the carbon freezing scene, when Princess Leia declares her love for Han, the original script called for Han to pronounce is love back to her, but this didn't jive with the director Irvin Kershner and he fought with George Lucus to have it changed to the response that eventually made it to the final cut:

Leia: I love you
Han: I know

Genius.

A full report of the weekend to follow as soon as I can figure out how to connect Emma's camera thingy to this computron thingy.

The Good Life

2010-11-26T14:29:00.000-08:00

We have a busy weekend ahead of us full of music, faceshots (the snowy kind), travel, and good times. So busy in fact that I only have time today for one posting before the weekend takes me away to that special place, and if I stare too long, I'd probably break down and cry-ee-i-yee. Oooooooh oh-ou-woah sweet child.....*ahem*.... sorry.

G'N'Fn'R man. Gets me everytime.

So, its Shred Kelly at Bulldogs North tonight, up early for the grand opening of Fernie Alpine Resort, which by the look of things is going to be epic, and then off the Rossland to play the Red Room Lounge.

So as I peace out for a weekend of awesome, I leave you with a bunch of videos of poeple performing already awesome songs in a stoke folk manner. Guns and Roses "Sweet Child of Mine" on fiddle which made me pee a bit because its so awesome. And like the Metal Roses Tour of 1992 which my mom wouldn't let me go to because she thought I would grow horns, no G'N'R fiddle is complete with a little Metallica "One" to sweeten the pie performed with footstompin' greatness. Happy Weekend.

Stoke Folk

2010-11-25T09:59:00.000-08:00

Stoke Folk: Modern fast driven folk music that makes you Stoked!

Our dear Sarah coined the term one humid boozy evening in NFLD and here are some bands that I'd lump into that category and with whom we have either played with, or will be playing with in the near future. Unfortunately I can't name one of them cause its only a rumor/not-in-stone/highly-classified/theydontevenknowyetsoshutyo'mouth kind of thing, but they rhyme with Smelliot Nude.

The Magnificent 7's from Winnipeg (December 3rd in Lethbridge at the Owl Lounge)

Larry and His Flask from Oregon, USA (April 3rd in Fernie at Bulldogs North)

The Wellits from Montreal (opened for them in Montreal last summer)

The Stables from Oshawa, Ontario (opened for them in Fernie)

Matthew Hornell and the Diamond Minds from St. Johns (opened for them in Newfoundland)

Broken Down Suitcase from Golden, BC (future date to be announced)

The Tuques from Rossland, BC (Blizzard Fest Rossland, BC Jan 38 - 30th)

The Harvest Conspiracy from Toronto (opened for us in Toronto)

Do your ears a favour, turn off your Beibers and your Nicklesacks, copy/paste these bands into your search engine and get your stoke folk on. I hear it cures indigestion and rashes. Just check out Larry and His Flask and you might even gyrate off the couch uncontrollably. I think that show is going hurt so good......so so good.

The Daily Grind

2010-11-25T08:03:00.000-08:00

I have a lot of time on my hands these days before the Fernie ski hill opens and in between gigs . My job starts at 4 o'clock and its part time. I don't own a TV and so I am developing a serious addiction to coffee and Youtube. In fact I'm getting to know the people of youtube pretty well. We're like THIS.....*fingers crossed on both hands*

Here is my daily pre-work schedule:

7:15 *MEH MEH MEH MEH MEH MEH MEH MEH* (girlfriends alarm clock)
7:20 - 8:30 Breakfast smoothie, check email, facebook, kiss GF goodbye. (she works)
8:30 - 9:30 Micro nap, coffee, scratch self and stare at wall, contemplate
awesome things.
9:30 - 10:30 Check email/facebook again, finish coffee in pot, BLOG!
10:30 - 11:30 Watch Big Bang Theory on internet stream, youtube, more coffee.
11:30 - 12:30 Eat PBJ toast and play banjo, check youtube for cool banjo stuff, demo
sweet reverb pedals on youtube.
12:30 - 4:00 Repeat above cycle of nap, coffee, youtube, banjo, internet TV,
scratching, staring, email/facebooking until GF comes home from a
hard days work shaking head at mess in apartment. Look cute. Kiss.
Go to work.

What's that you say? Lazy?! I think NOT!! Did YOU make youtube friends with a Japanese visionary who makes instruments from FOOD???..........that's what I thought.

Dare to dream people.......dare to dream.

Shred Kelly to play at Blizzard Fest 2011 in Rossland, BC

2010-11-24T08:48:00.000-08:00

Wha' chew lookin' at Rossland? What's that? You think my mother is a WHAT?? Ooohh you wanna dance hombre?!! Don't you know I'm LOCO?!! You wanna take this outside??? What's that?? You would but you are too scared of my enormous pecks??!!! Ooohhh you want some of THIS??! What's that?? Blizzard Fest? Oh............why didn't you just say so?

is how it went down in my head.

Shred Kelly has been given the honor of performing at the 2011 Blizzard Fest in Rossland BC taking place from January 28th to the 30th.

From the Tourism Rossland website:

The 4th Annual Blizzard Mountain Music Festival has invited some of Canada’s best live acts to come perform during Rossland’s famous Winter Carnival. Local rock band and Blizzard organizers The Tuques have hand picked over twelve acts to help cool down the alpine city over three days of winter carnival festivities and musical freeze. The Blizzard’s mandate is to promote original Canadian music ranging in styles and instrumentation while providing the audience with an authentic live concert setting. Two stages and multiple acts each night complemented by professional sound and lights provided by one of BC‘s top production company, Hairy Productions.

This is great because a) It is our first winter festival b) Rossland has a sick ski hill which we will shred c) I finally get to meet the mighty Tuques whom are awesome d) an electric banjo playing Sasquatch will be there. It don't get better than that!

Side note: The press release jpeg above is dated 2008 which I can only assume was posted by ski bums who just got dumped on with 80 cms of snow in three days proclaiming "80 cms of fresh! Use the old one dude!! Lets go!!"

Timmy Land

2010-11-24T07:37:00.000-08:00

Dear Shreddernauts,

Tim here of Shred Kelly fame. I have been designated to help keep this blog continuous and awesome by sharing my daily thoughts. I mean lets face it. There is only so much a band can write about on a daily basis having to do with themselves. I mean, I know we're awesome, but our awesome can cure cancer and feed the hungry only so much. Sure I sleep, eat and exercise (100 one armed push ups before breakfast per day no big deal) like any other, but lets not get into details. So I officially welcome you to the inner chambers of my mind. This magical place has been described by many as "Timmy Land" or "Banjo Land" Few have entered and returned the same person.

They have been..........changed.....................................with awesome.

I cannot think of a better way to christen the debut of my (soon to be award winning) internet publishing career with a video that raises the serotonin levels in my complex brain to a new level by displaying two things that are nothing short of awesome: Star Wars and Banjo. And while many terrestrial wars rage on around our own planet, I want to thank mrtrainfanatic for reminding us all, as his shirt boldly pronounces, that everyone needs to be a little more of a chillaholic.

Kyle Hamilton is a Rad Photographer

2010-11-24T06:51:00.000-08:00

Well he saw the beauty in us anyway, and capturing that on a hungover afternoon would make you a pretty brilliant gent.
Check out our link to the tale of this day in the Fernie fix online
http://www.ferniefix.com/shred-kellys-photo-shoot-kyle-hamilton
Also should you need a photographer to capture your beaut get the the info on Kyle Hamilton at
http://www.kylehamiltonphotography.com/

Winter Tourism Fernie Video features Shred Kelly!

2010-11-22T14:58:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Tourism Fernie for incorporating us in their Winter Tourism video. With winter having arrived let this video inspire you to come visit us in Fernie soon.

Fernie Ski Hill Opening Early

2010-11-22T14:46:00.000-08:00

Looks like the opening day is going to be this weekend. (But don't miss Shred Kelly at the Northern on the 26th. Boozing the day before the hill opens is the perfect way to celebrate!) It opens Saturday the 27th and Sunday the 28th. So gear up! Sadly we will be missioning to Rossland Saturday morn. :( So for those of you stickin around, have fun and enjoy the epic powder.
I leave you with these two videos to stoke you up!

The Arcade Files Music Video

2010-11-21T19:58:00.000-08:00

Our favorite ladies of Fernie BC have made a music video and it rocks. Filmed by the wonderful and talented Dennis Schafer, the ladies rocked out and have this to show for it! Featuring guest appearances by other local favorites, it looked like they had an awesome time making it too. Wish I could've been there, sadly my preschool teaching schedule has me on a strict "no partying on Thursday's" rule.
Way to go Jenna, Marcia and Janay!

Broken Down Suitcase and Stellar Radio Choir KILLED IT @ the Central

2010-11-21T19:25:00.000-08:00

These gentleman from Golden really impressed in Fernie last night at the Central. After an awesome night of amazing spoken word and musical performances by local artists, these guys tore up the stage, starting off the night with some folk tunes in the Broken Down Suitcase duo. Once the crowd was warmed up the transformed into garage rock trio Stellar Radio Choir. They are amazing. We followed them today to Lethbridge to check out the recording of their new album, and even got to sneak Shred Kelly clapping onto the album. So we are in desperate anticipation for both the Broken Down Suitcase album and Stellar Radio Choir album to be released.
Oh yeah and these little gents, funny as hell. Great people, great music.

http://www.myspace.com/stellarradiochoir

Matthew Hornell and The Diamond Minds Hit Fernie!

2010-11-21T19:19:00.000-08:00

Newfoundland band Matt Hornell and the Diamond minds traveled through meters and meters of snow to get to Fernie to play an awesome show on Friday night. They had the Brickhouse packed! It was sweaty and awesome. Being recent winners of the East Coast Music Awards, we were thrilled to have them grace Fernie with their footstompin presence.
It turned into a rowdy night, and after taking them out for a delicious breakfast at the Old Elevator (thank you Paul and Cam for tending to our hungover selves) we sent them on their way.
These talented boys are on a 4 month tour at the moment. Check them out!

Shred Kelly Promotes Summer Tourism in Fernie!

2010-09-19T10:34:00.000-07:00

Uh oh, cats out of the bag, Fernie in the summer is the place to be!

Shred Kelly Becoming Mayor's Favorite Band

2010-09-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

Watch Out Lisbet, New Ladies in Town!

2010-09-06T11:57:00.000-07:00

Shiner was a bit of a heart throb this summer he won the hearts of many, but mostly these two beauties. Well at least one of them. Lisbet, you know I love you, but these girls are pretty cute.

Last Show of The Tour!

2010-09-06T11:46:00.001-07:00

For our last show of the tour we had mixed feelings. Sadness, Gladness, stokedness, overtiredness, silliness, hungriness, all combined into one strange stew.
However the feelings of uneasiness soon subsided once we entered Lydia's. From the moment we entered we knew this was the night of nights to end the tour.
Upon first entering a group of rowdy Saskatoon hooligans hooted and hollered for some tasty guitar licks. The soundman and now good friend Ian told this hooligans that it would cost them for a private show. So this group of men paid Tim and Steve $100 to play them 2 songs.
Then, we got our own band room above the bar, and after a sweaty, dancing, cherry on top of the cake show, Ian the sound man told the boys that there were a gaggle of women who wanted to buy them beer and party with them after the show. Now to most men this would be the opportunity of a lifetime (or at least as far as lifetime opportunities go at 2:30 in the morning.) Unfortunately, they're all spoken for. But there was an after party in the band room, one which Steve and I opted out of so we could catch 5:00 in the morning flights instead! Goodbye Steve. Have fun in Australia.
Saskatoon, what a hidden gem you are. Thanks Ian and Saskatoon for ending our tour with a Bing Bang.
Thank you Canada!!! See you soon!

We found Todd Gamey, and He Found a Little Gent

2010-09-06T11:41:00.000-07:00

We happened upon a fellow Fernie-ite out for dinner at the Double Decker Tavern in Brandon Manitoba before our gig. Todd Gamey ladies and gentlemen joined us for the evening and even entered the Shred Kelly Log Driver's Waltz Dance Competition. However, as there was a shortage of women and an abundance of men he found a dancing partner in this handsome laddie. Todd Gamey come home! Share some of your bromance with us!

Falcon Lake Shred, Swim, Sauna-Fest

2010-09-06T11:33:00.000-07:00

This night was a definite highlight. For one, we kidnapped Charlie Gibson for his miraculous harmonica abilities and general awesomeness. For two, my mother dearest came along and got jiggy with it. For three, Jesse from the Crooked brothers and the owners of Falcon Trails resort are all amazing and friendly and marvellous and amazing cooks. For four, we got a deluxe cabin all to ourselves. For five, we got to swim and sauna and have a late night cabin jam! All in all we were treated like royalty and can't think of enough ways to say thank you to everyone who was there that night. It was a magical eve.
So magical that I forgot to take any pictures. So I will leave you with this clip of Jesse and the super talented Crooked Brothers who we hope to play with one day soon... January perhaps?!

Hello Kenora!

2010-09-06T11:26:00.000-07:00

Thank you Sally and Bob for having us play in your backyard, it was a gorgeous evening and allowed for me to see many friends and family for my 2nd time through. We have truly had the pleasure of playing in some of the most beautiful places this summer, we can't wait for the year to come. I hope their backyard becomes host to more live music acts, cause it's really amazing. Also Charlie Gibson made a guest appearance doing a backflip during the Log Driver's Waltz and joining us for a few numbers and ripping around on the harmonica! Charlie Gibson come west and join us for some more performances, you stage presence and energy enraptured us all. Miss you already Kenora.

Steve Gets Pinned

2010-09-06T11:21:00.000-07:00

On our way east we had the pleasure of playing in Thessalon at this really neat old church turned music venue called the Auld Kirk. After 7 hours in the car and previous back pains, Steve mentioned to an accupuncturist that he was in need of some aid. And that led to a fly by the seat of the pants needling. Thanks Thessalon for coming out cause our van failed us on our first attempt, and for taking care of the health of our bandmates.

Lakefield Rainy Day Jam!

2010-09-06T10:34:00.001-07:00

What a wonderful day we had in Lakefield. Made wonderful by the generous people of Younge's Pointe for allowing us to play on their stage, and Martha and John Vlasschaert for an amazing bbq, hospitality and generosity during the last leg of our tour. I've never eaten so many delicious sandwiches. Also to Tim's wonderful family for housing us and feeding us periodically over the summer, and driving up to Lakefield with Tim's adorable nieces to take part in the footstompin' day! You should see Darcy and Olivia sing, dance and play the ukulele to Ghost Inside My Head, they put Shred Kelly to shame.
Thanks Everyone who came out and for your support!

Shred Kelly TShirts! Making Canada Look Goooood!

2010-09-06T10:18:00.000-07:00

What can I say. After traveling the country I came to realize that we are a fairly good looking bunch! However, the good looking-ness of our nation was made even better once a Shred Kelly T was sported!

The beautiful Darcy and Olivia.

Kenora super fan Chris and his lovely lady!

Handsome Gent at the Dakota Tavern.

Cousin Brett and his beautiful bride.

Our Newfoundland friends!

Delhi 2 Dublin!

2010-09-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

Best Live Show Ever! I've never danced this hard in all my days. This band is completely unique and getting people moving in ways bands have never done before. Seriously amazing. We had the joy of sharing a show with them in Peterborough at the Red Dog. Tim even got to rip an impromptou banjo solo in one of their diddy's. They are a spectacular bunch. I think the boys may've also had a wee crush on the fiddle player. But who can blame em'? If they are ever in a city or town near you... GO TO THEIR SHOW. You will dance your underpants off! www.myspace.com/delhi2dublin

Vote for Fish On CBC Radio 3!

2010-08-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

Hey friends family and fans! We are in a contest to be on a Nationally released compilation CD called David Suzuki's Playlist for the Planet. It is a CD composed of environmental songs by Canadian artists and we want our song Fish to be on it! But we need your help. So go to this link http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/planet/Vote.aspx
Also we're under the BC category and it's in alphabetical order, so you might need to scroll for a bit but then you shall see Fish by Shred Kelly. Oh and you need to be a member, so sign up!
Thanks so much everyone. Wish us luck! We've got some stiff competition, word on the street is Raffi is a competitor, and who doesn't love Raffi?

Anywho, check out this video of David Suzuki rocking out and then vote!!

Steve's collection of Gig Stoke Photos!

2010-08-19T15:47:00.001-07:00

Hard Luck Fun!

2010-08-19T15:40:00.001-07:00

We played the Hard luck Bar last night with a great band from Oshawa Ontario. The Harvest Conspiracy! They rocked the house and were one of the nicest and most friendly bands we've met on tour. We're trying hard to lure them to BC so we can hang out with them all the time.

Dakota Tavern!

2010-08-19T15:28:00.000-07:00

We had an awesome 1st show in Toronto at the Legendary Dakota Tavern. Friends and family from all over came out to join the festivities.

Look at all those cuties (above).We also played with the lovely Serena Jean and had a serious serious blast! Dakota Tavern, thank you for having air conditioning. Not only are you a rad rad venue, but you also kept us cool (ish). Actually, judging by Tim's shirt (pictured below) maybe that's not entirely true.

Impromptou Quebec City Gig!

2010-08-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Luke from Mercy the Sexton for getting us in touch with Sam and Sebastian with p572 records. www.p572.com We did a 10 hour drive from Halifax to Quebec City and we're so happy we did. It was awesome to play outdoors on a wooden stage with stars in the sky, and I got to brush up on my french un petit peu. And we got to see the lovely Julie Tremblay! Quebec City what an unexpected treat you were!

Halifax Yo!

2010-08-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

Halifax. Neat city. Beautiful Surrounding area. Thank you to the wonderful and hilarious BA Johnston for lining us up a show at Gus's pub with the Grass. You are awesome...both of yous!

Check out the grass www.myspace.com/thegreengreengrass

We had the pleasure of playing with BA on St. Paddy's Day in Fernie.

Check out his vid... caution.... some parts of this video may offend the easily offended.

Beautiful Sights

2010-08-16T14:20:00.000-07:00

Gros Morne National Park

Cape Breton Island

Halifax surrounding areas (Peggy's cove)

have been some of the most breathtaking places on this tour.

Go to them too.

Also take note... the pictures of Cape Breton and Peggy's Cove were not taken by me but found online in image search. The source I don't know... but I can't be sued because I am not taking credit... right?

The Girls Are Back!

2010-08-16T14:13:00.001-07:00

They've actually been back for a while... but like I said earlier, St. John's fed me too much fun to spend my time on the computer. So although this heartwarming moment was captured in Montreal, I have had yet to share it. This is love. This is me capturing the bless-ed moment that females joined us on tour again (thank the heavens).... and this photo doubles as a giant air hug to the ladies. I am the happiest of all that you returned safely.

If you take note above it looks like Jeremy is going in for a hug with Steve... being the only two Shreddies without girlfriends on tour, they have formed a love all of their own.

We Made it To the Most Eastern Point of Canada!

2010-08-16T14:11:00.000-07:00

Check out the gang at the most Eastern point in Canada. Go travelling!

Check Out These Sweet Bands!

2010-08-16T13:49:00.000-07:00

The best part of being on tour is being able to hear amazing music all the time and then have the pleasure of rocking out to them while we drive thousands of kilometers across the country!

To all of you Newfoundlanders we had the luxury of playing with, please let us do it again soon.

Matthew Hornell and the Diamond Minds www.myspace.com/mhornell

We love you little guys! Hopefully we'll play some shows with you in the fall when you venture towards BC!!!

Also check out...

Mercy the Sexton www.myspace.com/mercythesexton

Also big thanks to Luke from Mercy for being awesome and giving us some more contacts for our journeys.

Benjamin Rigby (clawhammer master!!) www.myspace.com/benjaminrigby

Joe Belly and the Sin City Ramblers www.myspace.com/joebelly

Texas Chainsaw www.myspace.com/texaschainsawband

also the Panting brothers... but you'll have to be more savvy than me on the compute to track their page down... I can't seem to find it... but they're awesome too!

You guys all rocked our socks off... St. John's is a very musical city and we were thankful to be in the presence of such an abundance of talent!

Rock on!

Congratulations Claire and Bill!

2010-08-16T13:43:00.000-07:00

What an amazing time we had playing Shiner's sister's wedding. Newfoundlanders know how to throw a sweet party! We wish you a big giant Shred Kelly style congratulations! Thank you so much for being so welcoming and so amazing! Rick, wait to rock the kilt! Rick Rick Rick Rick!

Our East Coast Managers!

2010-08-16T13:35:00.000-07:00

Meet Rick Page and Susan Shiner. Parents of Ian Page Shiner, the little gentlemen that you sometimes see wailing on the sweetest drumkit in the world. Rick and Susan made our Newfoundland portion of the tour possible and we are forever in debt to them. Not only did they book us 3 shows and a wedding for their lovely daughter Claire, but they also housed us and showed us the city like we've never seen a city before. Also, they stayed up every night with us whilst organizing a wedding and getting us sweet tickets to the folk festival. Honestly we could not have done it without them and we can't wait to be back in Newfoundland in the near future. And for those of you who haven't made the journey to the east... DO IT. You will have the time of your life.

Don't tell Rick and Susan, but we even kept their parking pass so we always have a spot on their street!

I Blame St. John's

2010-08-16T13:11:00.000-07:00

I like to take responsibility for my actions on most occasions, but in this case I blame St. John's for my lack of time spent blogging and general lack of keeping in touch via interweb. Y'see it all started about a week and a half ago in Newfoundland.....

Basically, this suave man drinking wine on the ferry to Newfoundland (out of the bottle like most classy men do)....

Quickly transformed into this.....

That picture sequence sums up St. John's in a nutshell. It was the best of times, it was the latest of times. I honestly ate dinner at 5:00 in the morning one night at a restaurant that was ram packed with other late nighters like ourselves. It was delicious and awesome, and St. John's is a gorgeous and wonderful place, filled with generous and rowdy folk. Although we may not remember 50% of our time there... we have reason to believe that it was filled with greatness!

Move over McNewts!

2010-07-31T06:42:00.000-07:00

For those of you that don't know this, I'll warn you now, you probably don't want to. I'm embarrassed to even type this actually.... But here goes..... Tim and I sometimes call each other McNewts, it's a combination of McBride and Newton and we think it's quite clever. I have reason to believe (eye rolling, muffled laughter, ect) that not everyone shares this view, especially not band members who have been stuck with us for a month. But that is besides the point... The point is, we met two other couples named McTits and McBalls. Yes! I kid you not, McNewts is not even on the scale of radness anymore (if it was ever a competitor.) The gentlemen pictured below have the last names McLeod and their lovely brides are last named Titley and Ballard (or something close to that.) Which, when you push together makes McTits and McBalls! I'm so Jealous.

Congratulations McBalls (above) on the little McBalls that's currently brewing. We wish you the best! And thanks Scott from the Wellits for introducing us to these wonderful pairs!

Grumpy's Hangover

2010-07-31T06:23:00.000-07:00

For the first time in a long time, I think all of the Shred Kelly crew has a hangover. Thanks to Ram at Grumpys and his love for whiskey shots. I think it's hard on my gag reflexes to even type the word whiskey this soon after the fact. I had a cold shower and took off for a smoothie and left the others in a sweaty mess on the floor of a Montreal apartment after a 5am jam.

Either way, Grumpys is an amazing venue and we got to play with the Wellits for their CD release party, and boy was it MAD! They are a killer killer band, and I only hope that there are some tour dates together in our future. Not only are they a spectacular band and live show (I have yet to listen to the newly released album, but I expect nothing but awesomeness.), they are also little gentlemen, now that's a band that was raised right! Buy their CD's and go to their show's, you shall not be upset! http://www.myspace.com/wellits
God! We don't want to leave! So Montreal, we will definitely return in the not so distant future. Au revoir pour maintenant!

Elmdale Show

2010-07-31T05:56:00.000-07:00

We had such a great time in Ottawa! For one, a long lost crew of Fernians emerged from the woodworks and started a noteworthy dance floor! Secondly, 4 of us had the pleasure of staying at my cousin Stephanie's and getting fed a delicious assortment of meals that has kept us full for the past 2 days. Next, we luckily met up with Laura Langford who was our guardian angel and helped make our Ottawa show a success! By her unique drum tracking skills and chauffeur abilities and general pleasant and wonderful demeanor! Thanks Laura you have been our Ontario saviour! And last but certainly not least, we had the pleasure of playing with local band One Big Smyle and touring Winnipeg band Oh My Darling. Both were spectacular and were an inspiration to share a stage with. Check them out! www.ohmydarling.ca http://obspresskit.blogspot.com/

Look at those gorgeous ladies! And their astounding talent and stage presence will make your jaw drop.
Also when you get home to a note like this, you know your night's gotta be good. Thank you Ottawa. See you soon(ish)?

Shred Kelly In Snowboard Canada!!

2010-07-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our friend Luke Godin for interviewing us for Snowboard Canada Online. Follow this link to read the article. http://www.snowboardcanada.com/music_article?news_id=1280

Rock(ed) the Casbah!

2010-07-28T09:22:00.000-07:00

Finally, after all of our van mayhem we made it to a show! And guess who joined us. Mr. Mike Robicheau, to rip up his new guitar that he made during the month of May. What an incredible gent. We also played with a Hamilton band called 32 Gun Rack. It was their first show and most certainly not their last. They were really spectacular. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for them!

Shred Kelly's 1st Birthday!

2010-07-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

While Tim was busy having his birthday, Shred Kelly was also sharing that special date. July 24th marks the day that Shred Kelly had their first show at the Northern. We opened for the Stables. So Happy Birthday Shred Kelly. Look at us. So young. So oblivious to the journey ahead...

Happy 21st Birthday Tim. You can now drink legally in the States!

2010-07-28T09:01:00.000-07:00

Young buck Tim Newton turns 21. Actually no one knows his age, but based on his boyish good looks, one might assume that he could only be 21 at the very latest. We may never know.
He spent his birthday driving from 2am to 7am from Sault Ste. Marie to Richmond Hill. Now that's a birthday boy coming down from a Redbull high!
And the lucky fella got reunited with his amazing family. They have also taken us vagrants into their home and treated us like their own. Thanks so much to the Newton clan!

Goodbye Super Dave! Goodbye Sarah and Lisbet! See you soon...?

2010-07-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

As we waved goodbye to my wonderful parents and I shed a silent tear in the backseat, I pondered when I would be reunited with the people who gave me life. I had such a great time hanging out with them that I did not want to go. And as these thoughts rolled through my head, that was when disaster struck. Some say it was a bang, others a clunk, but to this day none of us will know what really happened that hot summers day on the side of the 596 highway. All we know is that Super Dave would no longer be with us. His engine had died, and only after $2500.00 would he be with us again.

So after one long day of contemplation and a couple of cancelled shows, made easier by the indulgence of wine and beer, Jordo and Nadene came to the rescue. They offered us 4 Shreddies their Matrix to get us home for Tim's birthday and to our Southern Ontario shows! Hooray!

But they had a small price. One vehicle in exchange for two beautiful amazing merchandise girls. Muwahaha. We complied in hopes that they would one day escape the yurts with Super Dave in tow. (Who wouldn't want those two beauties... as you can see below, both my mom and I love them to bits.)

It's been a rough go. Look at what these poor girls have had to endure.
Tell those mechanics to hurry up already. The boys are not nearly as good at promoting Shred Kelly and selling merch. They stink, and though they may be cute, they're not nearly as cute as Sarah and Lisbet. And between you and me, someone needs to keep Shiner and Jordan in line.
We miss you. A million hugs to you ladies and my ma and pa. The 4 of you have saved our lives and made the tour go on. We are forever in debt. If we ever make a million, consider yourselves included in the cut!

Home Home On the Range

2010-07-28T08:07:00.001-07:00

We got to play at my parentals yurts last weekend. Which was a serious blast. Sunny, wonderful people, very supportive crowd. We raised some money for the ski club and had a delicious barbeque, so everyone was happy! Thanks so much mom and dad for the awesome day and your amazing hospitality. It was great to be home.

Oh and thank you to The Crandall family for coming out to both Northern Ontario shows, and thanks Rob for these awesome photos of the yurtin show. We look forward to playing Sam and Kyle's wedding social next summer. Hope that Wilson fellow is on board!

If your in the North Western Ontario or Winnipeg Manitoba area and are in need of some adventure, check out www.minaki.ca

Red Cactus You are the Bees Knees!

2010-07-20T07:26:00.001-07:00

The Red Cactus has turned into one of our favorite bars to play. We've been playing a lot of evening shows and were beginning to forget about our love for sweaty footstomping crowds. The Red Cactus has re-instilled that love. What an incredible place. Lovely staff and people out on the town, great food, great location. Thanks to Uncle D and Jay for making that night possible. And even my Uncle Glenn and Aunt Helen came out to get their groove on.

Shred Kelly featuring Sage McBride!

2010-07-19T14:48:00.001-07:00

What a hilarioius sign. This is my 5 minutes of fame. The band rocked out at Shooters. Thanks everyone who came out it was so wonderful to see all my old friends! But despite the reunion things started getting crazy in there after midnight. We saw lots of ass grinding (a Shred Kelly first) and a bride getting a little too comfortable on a stripper pole. Kenora, you're crazy!

Backyard Music Festival

2010-07-19T14:32:00.000-07:00

We made it to Winnipeg to play at Dave and Sigrid's backyard concert. We coudn't have asked for a better backdrop... river, fishermen on the dock, rowers paddling by. Only a few mosquitos (if you ask Jordan he might tell you otherwise), lots of family and old friends. Delicious burgs made by Dave, and amazing music by Rob Wadell. It was a night that none of us will forget anytime soon. Thanks to Debbie Williamson for the awesome photos.

Also, we've already forgotten that their houseguest Kachi was sent by rival bands to send away our tshirts and lock us out of the house.

Smallest Venue in the Land!

2010-07-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

Bruno Saskatchewan. Awesome! Most unsuspecting place for there to be a great live music scene. But Tyler Brett has beaten the odds and created a scene in a town of 600. We loved it there. A crowd of 9 in a capacity of 16, we had a half packed house! Also greatest moment ever, one of the children in the community presented us with a plaque for the Performer Award in Bruno with Shred Kelly printed on it. We have never felt so honored. Although Bruno is off the beaten path, it is well worth a visit. Be sure to stop in on your next travel through Saskatchewan and pay a visit to Tyler at All Citizen's. Amazing people, amazing place!

Impromptou Lydia's Jam

2010-07-14T13:55:00.000-07:00

We stumbled upon an open stage night at Lydia's in Saskatoon. I can't say enough about my love for this city and the kind people. Even Super Dave, named after the amazing David Bowie and his super-bness have been smiling all day LONG in Saskatoon. Check it. Saskatoon has some rad bands. One named September Long and another who's name I forget, but it was their first live performance ever and they killed it! What a fun eve. To the friends we made in Saskatoon, come check us out on August 28th at Lydia's!

Feed Us Saskatoon!

2010-07-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

We love Saskatoon. We love it because it introduced us to our first Shred Kelly busking experience and raised us $35 for dinner! We divvied up our earnings and treated ourselves to a celebratory all you can eat sushi experience, which is arguably the best of my existence. Saskatoon is a nifty nifty city.

Shred Kelly Lays An Egg

2010-07-13T12:07:00.000-07:00

Shred Kelly has decided to raise a dinosaur baby and train it to be a musician/back up dancer. This is a contribution to science and the music world combined. What a happy family.

Sarah's 26th!

2010-07-13T12:02:00.000-07:00

Our first on the road birthday! Celebrated with emergency stash vodka that was sure to get the birthday girl buzzing. Followed by an evening jam, and a morning thunderstorm at Elk Island National Park. I've never seen so many bison. And the commencement of the swim competition. Sarah and Shiner have a contest to see who can swim in the most lakes across the nation... I couldn't resist the urge to join. Keep posted for the winner. Also upcoming a sprint race between Shiner and Tim across the Minaki airport... or 10ft into the Minaki airport. Who will be deemed fastest man on tour? Stay tuned.

Jordan Gets A Scare!

2010-07-11T14:54:00.000-07:00

As we ate our delicious burgs at the Early Stage an older, rather intoxicated abrasive gentleman drunkenly approached us. His first request was reasonable... "Play some Oh Suzannah" he cried. I could tell by the passion in his voice and the weakness in his knees (obviously caused by passion and not overindulgence) that it was his favorite song. So we learned it. His second request, not so reasonable. "You guys married?" He asked the table at which we the band sat. "No none of us are." I replied. "Then would one of you have sex with me for $200?" We sat there stunned, surely none of us knew how to respond to such a request. "Come on," He said, "I could really use the cash."
He slugged off chuckling, while he left Jordan permanently scarred. We think he may never wipe this look off his face.

Moving to Stony Plain

2010-07-11T14:36:00.001-07:00

Yes, we have found a second home in Stony Plain. John and Carmen Lindsay, two music guru's who have been in the industry for many years on both the promotional and performance sides of it, have been filling our brains with knowledge and our bellies with home cooked meals and beers. They took us under their wings and I think we all shed a tear as we drove away from their amazing abode in the country listening so Carmen's beautiful cowboy poetry. Yes, if you are ever in Stony Plain check out the Early Stage Saloon, it is a B-last! Also big mega thanks to Lindsay and Tim for being our Alberta mega fans and driving out to watch us 3 nights in a row and putting us up to stay for a night in their beautiful place and feeding us fresh fruit and veggies and making us coffee, printing us off directions and basically taking care of us. None of us know how we would survive without the generosity of the people we've met so far! Also big thanks to Adam, Barbara, Brandon and friends, Uncle Scott and Uncle Bradley for coming out to our shows. We love you Alberta, even if your driving scares us.

New Camera

2010-07-07T12:35:00.001-07:00

Yes I have a new way to document our travels! I'm very excited. Gee is it fun! I will try and select only the finest to share with you folks. We head east tomorrow, so the excitement is just about to begin!!!

Happy Birthday Emma!

2010-07-07T09:18:00.000-07:00

Because we will be on tour on your actual day of birth, allow us to send you a birthday wish via blog. One that will last til the end of time. Have fun in Aus! We miss you already. You too Lenster. Come back bigger and smilier and cuter!

Panorama Hoe Down

2010-07-07T08:54:00.000-07:00

Shred Kelly decided to go Western. We decided because Newton has such a convincing Clint Eastwood Western scowl.
Whoops. Perhaps not so convincing. It needed a bit of work.
And Because Shiner loves the Village People.

Shred Kelly is Like a Double Rainbow

2010-07-06T21:51:00.000-07:00

Yes. It feels this amazing. Thanks Kat for guiding me to this magical place. Rainbow dude, you're our hero.

Optimus Prime Performs with Shred Kelly

2010-07-06T12:18:00.000-07:00

I believe only once in a lifetime will we have the privilege to perform with Optimus Prime. The famed movie star has recently been spotted in Fernie, and we are honored to the share the stage with this hero!