Elk Run & Riot’s Brian Bailey (Mandolin), Marc Frappier (drums), Ryan Scheppens (guitar) and Andrew Cotter (guitar, vocals) know who their muse is and wanted to pay tribute to the wellspring where they collect their music, which is, of course, their home – the Bow Valley.
The band did just that, and captured what they hold dearly on their latest self-titled, seven-song release. Good Earth Café, March’s Flooring, Lynne Huras, Kitty McLeod, Justin Becker, Geoff Hilhorst and Kathleen Matheson aren’t just places and names to the band – they’re a part of the band on this album, and all are intricate linchpins that helped the local favourites capture who they are and where they’re from.
A Halloween show at Good Earth Café in 2014, with Becker behind the mixing board, was meant to be recorded as a live album and the band’s next release, but the valley had other plans.
“We talked to Gord March of March’s Flooring and he allowed us to go to his jam space above his flooring shop where Sully’s Garage rehearses and record there for a week,” said Cotter. “It’s great because it’s all carpeted. The walls are all carpeted, so it’s a really warm sounding room. It just sounded really good and we ended up recording all the vocals, acoustic guitar and mandolin – a year and two weeks later we have a professionally polished album.”
The direction of the album changed quickly, and right off the bat the band knew they wanted to put out the best product possible. After listening to the March’s Flooring sessions, it didn’t take long for them to realize they could hash out a really polished studio record with what they had.
Elk’s first album (Both Sides of the Valley) told the story of a person from when they first came to the valley to years down the road where they reflect on choices and decisions made along the way.
“This record isn’t a concept record in that respect,” Cotter said. “It’s got a lot of the same storylines, though, and songs have been written about locals and friends of ours, ourselves and our experiences in the valley. We really pride ourselves on our songwriting and there are still a lot of undertones in the stories of a person and what they’re going through.”
For example, the song “Fairholme” is a story about a forest fire that happened in the Fairholme Range, with Cotter saying the material turned out to be more expansive with a broader range.
“It’s a really good representation of the band and where we are now. It’s a step up from our last album as far as the quality and as far as our playing goes,” Cotter said. “Sonically, it’s definitely a step up with the entire package. We’re really proud of the artwork; Lynne Huras did an amazing job and hand painted us five separate pieces to put together for the artwork and three of them made it on the album.
“We really pride ourselves on being a local band. On our last album we had local artist Mark Carroll do the artwork, and Lynne’s the same, she stepped right up to the plate and gave us amazing artwork.
“Same goes for Justin Becker. After working with him on the first album it was really a no brainer to go back to him. He’s one of the most talented guys I know, both musically and as an amazing musician. He’s also a great sound engineer and I owe Justin a lot for just being able to sit back and help us with our music ... if there’s anyone in the Bow Valley that wants to record a professional album there’s only one guy, Justin Becker.”
Kathleen Matheson of Sully’s Garage (fiddle, recorder, vocal) and Geoff Hilhorst (Deep Dark Woods) also appear on the album, with Kitty McLeod providing design work for the album. “It just all tied in,” Cotter said. It tied right in to what is important to us, which is stay local.”
Catch Elk Run & Riot with Sully’s Garage at their album release party Jan. 16 at Canmore’s Octave. Release party tickets are $20 and can be purchased at March’s Flooring and Shoes T’ Boot.
