Brown at the top of his game

Graham Brown is at the top of his game and the former St. Albert musician is swinging by LB’s Pub on the leg of his latest tour.

“I’m just getting warmed up. I’m raring to go. I get more energy every year. I feel fit and I feel strong,” says Brown, a rock warrior who has defied convention from the day he picked up a guitar.

St. Albert is like a homing beacon to Brown. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, and raised in St. Albert, Brown has made Vancouver his home for the better part of two decades. But every few years, he returns to his roots to play a few gigs and visit with family.

While most rockers dream of hitting the big enchilada, Brown walked away from a $1-million dollar contract in 1989 as part of Brilliant Orange. The popular university and college band had attracted the attention of Zulu Records. But as soon as the record company tried to remanufacture the band, Brown walked away. He was staying true to his music.

In keeping with his personal philosophies, Brown released Hiwatt in May 2011, his eighth album on Stomp Records, his own private label.

“It’s the road that gets you there. You don’t want to get to the apex too soon. I’ve heard people say life is tough. Life should be tough. I don’t mind working hard,” he said.

The 18-song CD was recorded live off the floor in a couple of takes and, like Brown, the lyrics do not suffer fools gladly. There’s the angry sounding Ambush, the provocative Bust Your Lip and the poignant Let’s Be Strangers.

Brown’s softer side comes out in Invisible, a song inspired by a friend “that was knocking his guts out and was overlooked all the time. A seed started growing in my brain and I started to tap my foot.”

And then there’s Tonight from Liverpool, a tune that was nurtured from last year’s tour in England.

“We played at John Lennon’s club, The Cavern. It was a magical night,” Brown says. “The place was packed. By the third song, everyone out in the street had come in.”

Spotted by Spencer Lee, a BBC radio host, the band was invited to appear as guests for a live session of Tonight from Liverpool. Although they had to circumnavigate a London transit strike, the invitation was icing on the cake.

At LB’s, the Graham Brown Band also includes old friends John Werner (bass), Rob Blackburn (keyboards, guitar) and Mark Gruft (drums). They will perform a range from Brown’s catalogue of 400 tunes spanning roots, blues and rock ’n’ roll.

“I’m trying to catch up to [Bob] Dylan. But they gotta be good songs,” he says.

For more information, visit www.grahambrownsongs.com.