Band brings unique sound to St. Albert

Rocky Mountain Rebel Music (RMRM) instantly conjures up images of Harleys freely rumbling down a highway, wind blowing in the riders’ faces.

But the Victoria-based 10-piece funk/reggae/rock band is a heck of a lot more easygoing. As lead guitarist Jesse Horwood tells it, “A couple of us spent time in the Rocky Mountains. It’s a bit of a fend-for-yourself place. When we moved to the island and started the band, it had a Bob Marley feel. We decided to blend the fend-for-yourself rebel and kick-back-and-make-your-own-kind-of-music vibe together. It’s a kind of Canadian version that was started in Jamaica.”

On Friday, Aug. 13, St. Albert gets a taste of this funk/rock/reggae Caribbean offshoot as RMRM debuts at the Taphouse with the Party Martyrs, The Nix Dixons and Kyle Knight.

Forming the foundation of this high-energy band are shredding guitars, bubblin’ keys, smooth horns, hand percussion, pulsing drums and heavy bass.

“We offer diversity. We have a Brazilian keyboardist, a Cree singer and a Chinese horn player. We’re spread from across Canada and we bring our own styles. We are diverse and our message is all-encompassing. If you can bring this many people from different walks of life and put them in a band, why can’t you make it work in the office?”

Only two years old, this indie band released a self-titled eight-track a year ago recorded at Ear Drum Studios. They turned the top floor of a band member’s house into a studio. “We all had a big hippie fest making dinner together and recording for five days straight, about 14 to 15 hour days.”

The end product reflects their broad spectrum of interests. Light It Up is a song of celebration, an upbeat party song. Wild One is an interpretive poetry piece influenced by The Doors.

Instead, the foundation for Prophecy of Resistance, written by former bassist Nathan Munn now with Small Wars in Montreal, is based on revolution. “He had some interesting ideas about the world. He believed the current social system wasn’t working and there would be changes soon.”

Switching gears, the duet New Joint, sung by lead singers Andrew Murgatroyd and Niska Napoleon, tackles crumbling relationships. “It’s about a couple having to come to terms that they can’t make it work.”

Although lyrics may touch on heavy topics, the danceable music pulses with excitement and standard instruments are often accompanied by violin, didgeridoo and space drum.

Last year the band went on a national tour spanning six provinces. “It was so successful, we’re doing a follow-up 12-city western Canadian tour.”

Live concerts tend to be a mash-up of horn and guitar solos, wailing vocals, huge build-ups and crazy heats. “We don’t stand still.”