If you've had it up to here with cover bands, and you'd just like to groove to some local talent doing something new - you may want to head down to the Howe Sound Brew Pub on Saturday (July 3) for the Riverbed Trio.
"We have a pretty psychedelic, ambient sound," said Jes Beaulac, guitar, harmonica and organ for the Trio - and a Squamish resident. "And it is all original music."
Although he cites influences like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, Beaulac said the Trio really feeds off its own creativity and inspiration.
"Some of it comes from electronic music, too" he said.
Although the crew has only been together for a few months, they already impressed Lavera Rempel, assistant general manager at the Brew Pub enough that she made them the "unofficial house band".
"They're really great," she said. "It's pretty eclectic, and it's always original."
Beaulac said the band keeps each gig fresh by swapping in different instruments.
"We actually have more instruments than members to play them," he said. "So we use different instruments so we don't always play the same set twice."
For the July 3 show at the Brew Pub, Beaulac said he was dusting off an old favourite.
"I think for the upcoming show on the weekend I'll be bringing out the sitar," he said.
He also said it wasn't always easy to get gigs as an original band.
"A lot of places just want cover bands," he said. "At our shows there is always a heckler shouting out for Led Zeppelin or CCR."
But Rempel said Brew Pub patrons should appreciate the Trio's unique psychedelic rock sound.
"It's the kind of band you can focus on, dance to and have a good time to," she said. "Or it can be great background music. I'm kind of crazy about them."
The Riverbed Trio play the Brew Pub on Saturday July 3 at 9:30 p.m. and there's no cover to get in.
If you miss the unofficial house band this week, or you love 'em so much you want to hear 'em again - the Trio returns on July 31.
