I’m well used to people I know releasing albums, but I live in a city of 1.2 million, so it’s the sort of thing that you expect to happen here.
It’s a bit different when a friend, who lives in Lacombe, Alberta (pop 11,707), records an album with his Central Alberta-based band in a studio in Mameo Beach (pop 113) and holds the release party in Blackfalds (pop 6,767). Suddenly it becomes a pretty big deal. Perhaps it was just my innate big city snobbery showing, but I was surprised by what I heard.
The self-titled debut album by Tap9 is comprised of thirteen original songs performed in a style that the band describes as modern day classic rock. Those are words that would strike fear into the heart of many a hipster music critic, but fortunately the men of Tap9are a pretty classy bunch. Not a single wife-beater shirt or headband in sight. And I suspect the Peter Frampton hair made an exit decades ago.
Instead, what you get with Tap9is five accomplished musicians playing well-produced original music. With songs that vary from guitar and drum-driven upbeat numbers to sultry saxophone-touched harmony-soaked crooners, this is an album that showcases the versatility of this small town band with the big city sound.
Check them out – tap9.ca
