How do you go from playing punk, surf and metal music to cowpunk? It’s possible–even natural–for the talented, versatile trio behind Rigger Morris, who’ve been honing their musical chops for over two decades in and around Edmonton. It might’ve been a meandering road, but the threesome is sharing its latest efforts with audiences, going live on streaming services Oct. 4 with two new songs and a just-released EP. And yep, cowboy hats are involved.
Inspired by the likes of Tiger Army, Trampled by Turtles and Hank Williams III, and sometimes compared to Alberta’s Corb Lund, Rigger Morris offers a sort of ‘high noon punk rock’; fast-paced stories with tinges of dark humour influenced by the people and places of the prairies.
The musicians of Rigger Morris have a strong connection to St. Albert too. Local music followers may remember Brother Voodoo, The Blazing Violets, Better than Heroes and Los Calaberas–earlier bands that provided ample experience for these young players to gain songwriting and stage experience.
Lead singer and guitar player Codie McLachlan (who was occasionally a freelance photographer for this St. Albert Gazette in what he calls a ‘past life’) met St. Albert fellow teens Steve Wenger (bass/vocals) and Dylan Cuvilier (drums/vocals), just as all were finishing junior high school. It’s proven a fruitful, decades-long friendship and creative union for the trio who, as McLachlan remembers, first clashed at a Battle of the Bands show in St. Albert.
“That was 20 years ago–we just clicked over a love of listening to and playing all types of music. We’re all best buddies,” said McLachlan, adding that while now in their mid-30s with other jobs and life responsibilities, music is still the passion that drives them. “I drive truck in the city, hauling heavy equipment, but we’ve all been pretty much playing in bands our entire lives.”
Wenger grew up in St. Albert, attending Bellerose Composite High School and singing with a vocal jazz group while mastering bass guitar. Getting his business degree from NAIT in the mid 2010s and now working in product management for a tech company, Wenger is onboard with the cowpunk influence for Rigger Morris, though he’s the holdout when it comes to wearing a cowboy hat.
“I’ve got the ball cap,” he laughed, sharing that in fact, the group puts a lot of thought and effort into how they look on stage. While McLachlan and Cuvilier look more the part in cowboy shirts and hats, Wenger’s look is reminiscent of what the band is predominantly known for: punk and rock n roll. “But the new songs still sound like us. When Codie suggested the idea of a country band in 2021, I joked it was the only genre we hadn’t tried yet.”
Cuvilier jumped on board without hesitation. The St. Albert native (who still calls the city home) is from a musical family, with siblings in bands or otherwise part of the music industry. Even his now 19-year-old son has the musical bug, serving as volunteer coordinator for the St. Albert Amplify Festival. For his part, Cuvilier cut his musical teeth while a student at St. Albert Catholic High, singing with Kokopelli choir and playing in the school band. That led to cafe nights and playing drums at St. Albert Parish along with gigging with his newfound bandmates.
“I’m a more confident player now and we’re all better musicians for all the years we’ve put in,” said Cuvilier. “We’ve definitely been around the block; we’re kind of the elder statesmen on the bill now.”
“But nobody’s saying we’re old!” laughed Wenger. “It’s just that the beer intake has gone down. Well, it depends how far down the bill we are.”
The idea for Rigger Morris (so named for a fellow McLachlan’s dad knew while working on the oil rigs years back) inspired the group’s first track; The Ballad of Rigger Morris. The shift in direction happened last fall after playing a cover show when McLachlan told the others, “Let’s put more effort into this.”
The result is a forward momentum that includes a new website www.riggermorris.com and an early release of the song, Punk That Got Old. The tongue in cheek tune, (which has already garnered over 4,000 streams) pokes fun at some of the foibles of aging, from ticklish nose hairs to the need to use the bathroom several times a night. All the debut songs on the EP showcase the group’s tight harmonies and don't-take-yourself-too-seriously songwriting.
“With platforms like bandcamp, more folks hear our music, but the income stream that used to come from CD sales–that’s gone,” McLachlan said. “So we’ll be making new merch, playing bars in and around the city, filling out grant applications and applying to festivals. I’d love to play the Rainmaker next year, if the guy who plans the entertainment is listening.”
Rigger Morris’ two new songs are set to go live on Spotify, Apple Music and other major streaming services on Oct. 4. The band plays two upcoming Edmonton shows, Oct. 4 at the Dive Bar with Kootenay and Co., New Age Street Preach and the Private Tears; and Oct. 5 at the High Note with the Detour and Sk8er Girls.
Rigger Morris’ new EP is at: https://riggermorris.bandcamp.com/album/rigger-morris-ep
