Hard-working country singer and Squamish favourite Brent Lee is trading in his tour bus and band for an RV with the wife.
Well, that's not exactly right.
"My RV was always the tour bus, too," said Lee, who grew up in Squamish and currently resides in Mission.
After 25 years with the Brent Lee Band, Lee toned down the tempo for his latest album Bare Bones by using only an acoustic guitar, upright bass and small drum kit.
He liked the experience so much, he's taking on a new career as an acoustic solo player and heading south.
"I need a change, a new challenge. I'm tired of playing clubs with all the hip hop blasting during my set breaks, I like to talk to people in the crowd during the breaks," he said.
"A year ago, I gave my band notice that I wanted to do more acoustic sets keeping in line with the sound of my latest album Bare Bones."
That new groove has already earned Lee bookings this winter for a dream tour.
"I'm headed to Arizona in January, February and March for solo acoustic shows," he said. "So my dream of spending my winters playing in a warm and sunny place is finally coming true."
Securing the gig was a head-spinning adventure as well, according to Lee.
"It was kind of crazy," he said. "A friend of mine plays some concerts down there and he showed me how to get in front of these talent buyers looking for entertainment."
Lee was given little time to impress with his music.
"I had a 9 a.m. spot, which isn't a great time," he said. "And I only had about 12 minutes to play some songs."
It proved to be enough time, apparently.
"I ended up getting lots of contracts," he said. "Lots of Canadians go down there in the winter, like snowbirds in Florida, and the population triples. Looking back on the shows I used to do in winter where I walked to the venue with my face freezing, I never thought I'd end up in Arizona."
In his busy career, Lee has toured with names like Dwight Yoakam and the Tragically Hip, and has shared the stage with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Marty Stewart, Blue Rodeo, Los Lobos, Celine Dion and a host of others.
"I'm going to miss touring with the band, who are all my buddies," he said. "But I really enjoy just sitting on a chair with an acoustic guitar entertaining folks."
Through it all, he always loved returning to his hometown.
"We used to play Loggers Stomp and it was a really big venue, then we moved into the smaller room and we really enjoyed playing for the locals," he said.
"I really appreciate the support of my friends and family here in Squamish. I have such a great time seeing all the familiar faces and entertaining my old friends. I've got my parents' friends, my friends and my niece and nephew's friends at my Squamish show,s so it's a lot of fun to play my hometown."
Brent Lee Band fans still have two last nights to catch the group as they perform two final nights at the Grizzly Pub Friday and Saturday Oct. 15 and 16.
"It's our last hoo-rah," he said. "This past year just flew by and I'm still not ready for the band to stop touring and for me to retire sort of. It's scary."
But Lee's semi-retirement may be temporary - following his Arizona dream job, he said he may hit the road again but still keep the "bare bones" approach.
"I have another kind of band with an upright bass and snare drum setup with me on acoustic," he said.
Catch Brent Lee's final electric performance with the Brent Lee Band at the Grizzly Pub Oct. 15 and 16.
- With files from John Dancy
