WHO: Davy?s Locker
WHERE: Pemberton Music Festival
WHEN: Sept. 2, 3
As August draws to a close, Davy?s Locker is hoping September will open new doors.
The Squamish-based quintet has been patiently waiting for the right producer for their second album, and in the meantime they?re taking some serious control over business affairs. All five members, as well as friends and family, have thrown themselves into the planning of their first tour, a task which always seems to surprise first-timers with its enormity.
"It has taken a lot of effort," emphasizes guitarist, Jared. "What we?ve done is me and Shane (bass) are booking the shows, trying to get the dates set, book the hotels, get the van. Barry (drums) and Ben (vocals) are working on contacting the radio stations in the different towns and telling them ?Hey, we?ve got new songs coming, we?re going to be doing a huge mail-out, we wanna make sure we have your correct address,? and that kind of stuff. Bryant (guitar) and our friend Jen are working on contacting the newspapers. Everyone?s putting in 110 per cent."
After participating in NewMusicWest 2001, the best advice industry-types had for the band was "touring and more touring." The two-week run will take Davy?s Locker to Calgary and Edmonton and then back into B.C. through Kamloops, Nanaimo, Victoria and Courtney. They?ve purposely spaced out the performances so they can arrive in each town ahead of time to warm up the locals to their music.
"In Edmonton, for example, we?re playing on the Friday night, but we?re hoping to get there on Wednesday night or Thursday morning so we can go to the bar Thursday night to do some footwork, hand out some sample CDs and tell people we?re playing the next night," Jared explains. "On the Friday we?ll hit the radio stations and newspapers and get our disc in the stores and let them know who we are. It?s going to be pretty hectic."
And the work won?t stop when the tour is complete. Davy?s Locker has 10 songs ready to move into the studio. They?ve been waiting on the talents of producer Joey Moi (Nickelback, Default, UPO), who is in hot demand. The band hopes to finish up writing and start recording in late September or early October.
"He?ll be worth the wait. It was a big decision, whether to wait or move on. But we knew we had to wait because he?s got the experience, as well as record company ties and important contacts."
The band has been throwing in a few samples of their new material at recent gigs. If crowd response is any indication of what?s in store for CD number two, Davy?s Locker may be just on the verge of taking a big step up that commercial success ladder.
"I had one person approach me just yesterday who said our new stuff is so much better than our old stuff, after hearing our first CD and then hearing us play live, it?s just a different story."
You can judge for yourself this weekend as Davy?s Locker makes two appearances in Pemberton before hitting the road. For ticket information, performance times and directions to the Pemberton Music Festival call the festival hotline at 1-866-604-2001.
