YOU CAN’T TAKE THE COUNTRY OUT OF THE BOYS

Written over the course of about six months and recorded in three red-eye sessions by Tanis Gibbons at the Hive, “eclectic northern longhairs” Indian Wars return with their second album Songs from the North on Austria’s Bachelor Records.

It was released on November 30, and the five-piece has set its sights on a full U.S. tour in late spring. In the time between will come the return of slide guitarist Craig Pettman from a three month stint in Nashville, and a rather sonically appropriate change of jam space locations from the house at 33rd and Cambie, where they penned much of the latest record, to a barn in Ladner.

“We’d drink a lot and recorded pretty much everything live including the vocals,” guitar player Dave McMartin said of their desire to keep the 10-track release loose and honest. “We wanted it to sound just like we do when we’re hanging out and playing at the house and so we’d avoid the temptation of overdubbing and just keep the mistakes.” Mistakes aside, McMartin is quick to credit his bandmates with solid recorded performances and equal creative efforts, with Pettman and singer-bassist Brad Felotick each contributing songs of their own.

Conceived in new digs or old, with titles like “Windshield Wiper Blues” and the music behind them, Songs from the North is a distinctly Pacific Northwest spin on the classic “take the boys out of the country” production. Overall, one could consider their vision for the record a success as the album does play very much like a live Indian Wars show: sincere, steady and with a little wider swing when they’ve been drinking. Keep an eye out for a release show likely to be set for January.

Songs from the North is available now through Bachelor Records.

By Vanessa Dandurand