From their first live show to their first EP, and now their first Canadian tour, it鈥檚 been a year of firsts for Saskatoon鈥檚 alternative rock group Bombargo.
The quartet, lead by frontman Nathan Thoen, has been riding a wave of success after releasing its first EP, Back on Main in July, 2015.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had a lot of sold out shows so far, which has just been a treat for us because it鈥檚 our first tour, so we鈥檝e just been loving the experience,鈥� said Thoen, during a stop in Parksville, B.C.
鈥淵ou hear about so many bands going on tour and it鈥檚 always been a dream to go on one eventually, so to be living that dream now is magical.鈥�
The band will stop for their first show in Jasper on March 23 at the Whistle Stop Pub.
Bombargo infuses a hint of blues and soul into its alternative rock vibe, with inspiring songs about perusing your dreams, believing in yourself and tapping into your unlimited potential.
鈥淲e just want people to be happy and live a fun, positive life, that鈥檚 the big picture,鈥� explained Thoen.
鈥淲e like getting people moving and grooving.鈥�
The band credits much of its success to Saskatoon鈥檚 emerging music scene, which has produced bands such as the Sheepdogs, which performed at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge last August.聽
鈥淵ou鈥檙e just exposed to so much good music in the prairies, which I think is really hard to find in a lot of other cities,鈥� said Spencer Chilliak, the band鈥檚 lead guitarist.
鈥淚鈥檝e always just been impressed by the amount of music that comes out of our small province.鈥�
In an effort to stay connected with the province, the band recently donated nearly $2,500 to residents in Northern Saskatchewan who were displaced by forest fires last summer.
The money came from online music sales and a concert they headlined for forest fire relief.
鈥淭here were a lot of people who wanted to do something, but there weren鈥檛 a lot of ways to donate or ways to give money so we thought this would be an awesome way to do our little part,鈥� said Thoen.
鈥淚t鈥檚 never been about the money, it鈥檚 always just been about if we can continue to play and write鈥攖hat鈥檚 the dream and that鈥檚 what we strive to do, but by supporting your community and people around you you鈥檙e always going to be better off,鈥� he said.
Bombargo will wrap up its Western Canadian tour in Calgary March 25, and intends to release its first full-length album in the fall. It has also been invited to attend Canadian Music Week (CMW) in Toronto in May.
To catch Bombargo, head over to the Whistle Stop Pub at 9 p.m. March 23. The show is free of charge.
Paul Clarke [email protected]
