Vancouver-based duo The Reckoners isn't the type of band you can easily classify in one musical genre.
Consisting of vocalist Christina Simpson and guitarist/vocalist Ricardo Khayatte, The Reckoners produce lyrically-driven and folky music with a distinct sound that makes use of gorgeous two-part harmonies.
But don't call them a folk act.
"There's always the whole question of genre," said Simpson. "What are we?
"Sometimes people say we're a folk group, but then we get added to a country station's playlist and suddenly we're country."
Folk, country, alt-country, singer/songwriter - no matter what you call the band, you'll likely change your mind the next time you hear them.
"We sound different depending on the circumstances," said Khayette. "We sound different on our album, live as a duo or when we tour with a few additional members sometimes as a band."
The Reckoners were formed when Simpson and Khayette met a couple of years ago at a ski retreat.
"Ricardo and I met through a mutual friend who invited us to a winter weekend away," she said. "A guitar got brought out and we started jamming."
The two ran through their repertoire of songs together until the sun came up - and a new group was born.
The Reckoners have already released their debut EP called And The Sky Opened Up recorded by fellow Vancouverite Matthew Rogers at Baker Street Studios.
"We don't think about genre when we write or record," said Khayette. "We just do what we do and hope it comes out honest. When we play as a duo, it's more intimate so we get pegged as folk, but when we play with a band and throw in a steel guitar - that sound gets us pegged as country."
You can make your mind up for yourself what they sound like on Oct. 16 when the Reckoners play the Howe Sound Brew Pub.
"We'll be playing as a duo on this tour, so it's much more intimate," said Khayette. "We plan on playing six or seven new songs that are not on the EP. That's a big part of the process too, bringing out new songs and seeing how they work live and in front of a real audience."
The new songs also feature new instrumentation.
"On some of the new songs Christina breaks out the accordion," said Khayette.
With the new instrumentation, perhaps maybe now The Reckoners will get labeled as Cajun or bluegrass music but for now, Khayette and Simpson are content to play their honest music, tour and get ready for their next record.
"We hope to be starting on another album by January or February," said Khayette.
Catch The Reckoners Oct. 16 at the Howe Sound Brew Pub at 8 p.m.
For more info go to thereckoners.ca.
