'Tis the Season for Giving

So, we shall!

After a brief break to simultaneously sip flasks, shovel snow and ponder the validity of van maintenance (it is valid, the vote is in), we are back with a slew of shows to end 2012.  This season also marks our third anniversary as a band.  We still don't know how accurate the Mayans are vis a vis 2012, so come on out to any of these shows and help celebrate by buying us a drink or two.  Even if the Mayans are proven wrong, you will have done the right thing!

Kicking things off will be, perhaps, the most fun show of them all.  The German Club has always been a ball for us, whether we'ver been on the stage or just whoopin' it up, so a big shout out to Bryce and Svetlana for such a killer venue is in order.  Huzzah!  We always have an awesome time playing in the downstairs lounge, and the place is always conducive to what we like in a gig: drinking, dancing, and rocking, in no particular order.  It is also going to be an exciting night as we welcome Erin Passmore (Rah Rah, solo-gold fame) AND Saskatoon's Jeans Boots (Jeanette Stewart and band) to warm up the night before we hit the stage.  Check out Erin's tunes at http://www.erinpassmore.com/ then check out Jeans Boots http://jeans.bandcamp.com/ .  I don't think there'll be a better way of gettin cozy come December 7th, so do pencil that one in.

If what you fancy is three full sets of killer diller fun from The Lonesome Weekends, head east with us to Bugsy's in Moose Jaw on the 8th.  It is hard to believe that after rockin' the province for nearly three years that this will be the first time we play in what used to be known as "The Friendly City".  You might say that the show will be "Surprisingly Unexpected"  More on that at http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/whats-in-a-slogan-42573097.html .

Another first for us that we're stoked about is playing Amigo's in Saskatoon.  That place has had sooo many amazing bands play there over the years, it feels a bit like an "arrival" to get on that stage, yet it also feels a bit daunting in its own way.  One of us is flipped out about playing the same place that Swervedriver once did, a top 10 all-time gig for that cat.  I doubt that we'll get as epic as they did, but one of us will certainly be trying!  Find out for yourself on Friday, December 14th.  We'll be sharing the gig with Young James, the fine, um, young gentlemen who graciously opened up for us at our album release back in April.  Good, fun cats, so, why not leave it with a clip of them doing their tune "Family Farm".

Back in the city that rhymes with awesome!

Last communique The Lonesome Weekends were set to take on southern Saskatchewan by way of Wood Mountain and Gravelbourg. I'd like to say that everyone won down there: the Wood Mountain Folk Festival was big fun, freakin' cold, crazy windy, and wonderfully hospitable, while Jackie at The Mayfair in Gravelbourg was a generous host, knowing that a band that sings and/or drinks about booze would be fine with a 40 and 48 beer on ice (right beside Hat's keys, no less), and the crowd reciprocated on all fronts. Three cheers to the south!

It's been a few months since we played Regina, but the end of September sees us doing a couple of real cool gigs. First, we are super stoked and proud to be part Breakout West (The Western Canadian Music Awards) this year. Though we are not blessed with anxiety over winning any awards this time around, we are playing Friday, September 28th at The Artesian. We'll be closing the night out (1am, Saturday, September 29th to be technically accurate), but will be sharing that stage with acts such as Rococode and Indigo Joseph. Check out all the awesome options you have for both evenings that weekend here: http://breakoutwest.ca/2012-festival/schedule/ .

If life happens and you're not able to stay up that late on Friday night, we'll be rocking The German Club the Saturday evening as part of Cam Wensel's Buffalo Jump venture, finishing that night off after The Sumner Brothers and Black Drink Crier have taken the stage. There's a rumour there could be some sort of jam that sends everyone home happy and less sober than earlier in the night, so come on down....more details here: https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/476946058991382/ .

Finally, if you've not had enough of the band by then - and truthfully, we won't be doing any typical three set marathons through these shows - there's a chance we'll be streching out a bit more at a gig in the northern climes of our fair city in early October. Third time's the charm they say...but only for those that are in it for all three, yo......

In the meantime, there's really only one way to end this post. No other 71 year old does what Bob does, we should all be so lucky to achieve 1% of his....anything!

The Lonesome Weekends vs. Southern Saskatchewan

Ok, well, it's not really an "us" versus "them" kind of mentality, but we are excited and stoked to bring our goods to both the second annual Wood Mountain Folk Festival and The Mayfair Inn in Gravelbourg at the end of August.

Friday, August 24th sees us sharing a stage with such talent as Rosie and the Riveters, Norman Walker and Petunia and the Vipers, as Judy Mergel hosts tons of Saskatchewan talent on the Mergel Ranch in Wood Mountain, Saskatchewan.  Noted dance-aholic, party fiend and all around awesome guy Keith Lee tipped us off to this festival at a smoky party, dubbing it a sort of Ness Creek in its infancy, and it certainly seems to have all that sort of vibe surrounding it.  Add in hiking trails, delicious pancake breakfasts, and music that goes for three days, and the incredibly cheap price of $50 for the weekend sounds like the best summer deal going.  Check out the website http://www.mergelranch.com/wood-mountain-folk-festival then check us out on the mainstage at 8pm sharp!

Roughly 24 hours later - and if you are intimate with The Lonesome Weekends, roughly is likely the appropriate word - we'll be gracing the stage of The Mayfair Inn, Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan.  It'll be an interesting return of sorts, as the band's first out of town gig was at a festival in the town, which led to a party at the Inn, which led to drinking, and a fight, and some other stuff, which led to the lurvly and talented Belle Plaine (who was along for the ride, and then some) penning her awesome tune "Brawlers", which led to it being recorded with a few members of the band, The Lazy MKs, and one of Ms. Plaine's secret weapons, Anna Rose.  Check it out here http://thelazymks.bandcamp.com/track/brawlers .  As a band, we're hoping to capture the spirit of that tune August 25th, if not the hazy memories of poor decisions, so come out and encourage any and/or all of the above! 

If you's got the summertime blues, head down south and rock it just a little bit with The Lonesome Weekends!  See ya there!

Hello Scarth Street, Whatcha Knowin!

Howdy folks, long time no post, but no matter, we've been busy doing nothing but preparing to rock the socks off of the downtown as part of the Casino Regina Summer Stage series.  Summer is short, so the less reading and the more rockin', the better.  Thursday, July 5th, noon, Scarth Street stage.  Find a patio that serves refreshments, find some food that nourishes your belly, find a friend to dance and sway with, and open your ears for some rockin' local tunes.

Thanks to Rage Regina for, oh, I don't know, lots of things, but mostly for the little clip that follows. See ya Thursday!

First we take The King's Head, then we take Holy Rosary Park

One of the best perks of being in The Lonesome Weekends is getting to experience different gig cultures wherever we play.  O'Hanlon's is not The Beef in Estevan; The Beef is not Lydia's in Saskatoon; etc.  The King's Head Tavern is nothing short of North Regina awesome: all sorts of gambling, cheapish booze, fun staff, and gregarious clientele that don't mind catcalling you (keeping you on your game, eh) or looking over your shoulder and/or hand while you play or buying a round of shots for the band.  The only bands I've seen play there are The Lonesome Weekends and Halteras, but Wednesdays there are just rad.  Really big ups to all the fine folks that made us welcome this past hump-day, and we look forward to seeing you (again) at The King's Head in the future.

Next Thursday during the Cathedral Village Arts Festival you can catch us in a drier (read: sober-er) venue, Holy Rosary Park.  It'll be a chance to get just as up-close-and-personal with us as the King's Head folks did, but in an all ages environment.  So, if your eight year old needs a bit of rock and twang and you don't mind the occasional colourful lyric, as John Hiatt once said, bring the family! And remember, if you come wearing one of our shirts, get a free peck on the cheek from one of the boys.  I don't know if Jeff knew this, but he didn't get kissed the other night.  It sort of feels like a missed opportunity.  It would be nice if it doesn't happen again.


This one is for Ozzie; here's hoping he's feeling just fine today...

A Dozen Things You Did Not, Until Now, Know About Songs From A Barstool

1. Coongas/Congas are implemented judiciously on at least one song...call it the Hammer touch.
2. Certain online places of purchase have deemed the album/cd "explicit" - like N.W.A.?
3. Everyone gets a vocal credit this time around - listen closely, or not if you'd prefer, to hear the golden pipes of Chris Prpich and The Hat.
4. The beer, and background, featured on the cover are courtesy Regina's The German Club.  If you have never been, don't delay any longer.
5. Some people don't know what "Elisha" (end of vinyl side one) is actually about...and they are in the band!
6. Legwrestling decided the running order of the album - example #42 of how youth does not always defeat age.
7. Sleights proudly ripped off Bob Dylan for one of his song titles; it was supposed to be under two minutes and be punk, but it did not work out that way.  Next album!
8. One of Marshall's songs is about a local watering hole - $5 to the person that gets it right.
9. Devon raps on the final song, and live he sometimes uses curse words on it.  Is this why the album is deemed "explicit"?
10. Caribou Creative, the company responsible for the design, is operated by a bandmate's sister.  She's taken.  Back off.
11. Currently the album is #42 on earshot http://www.earshot-online.com/charts/ ahead of Jack White.  Sorry that it does sound self-indulgent, but it's kinda nice to beat Jack White at something once in a while.
12. Engineer and Mixer, Orion Paradis, earned his nickname "The Big O" during the recording of  the album.  Ask him about it sometime.

Shakey Wilson's going to be opening up for us in Lydia's in Saskatoon this Saturday. Here's a bit of him to send you on your way!

Happy May from The Lonesome Weekends!

First off, thanks to all who made the release of our second cd, Songs From A Barstool, a massive success: Young James from Saskatoon warming everyone up nicely, The Artesian providing an awesome venue, and The German Club for hosting the country karaoke after party - I swear no one in the band had ever seen a bowl of pasta salad that large!  Also some shout outs to Prairie Dog, Buzz City, The Leader Post, CJTR, CBC and Paddock Wood Brewery - good solid work!

Most of all, thanks to all of you who came out, nabbed a cd and/or tshirt, drank, danced, ate, sang, smoked, stumbled, fell, and got back up again.  We've got a busy May coming up, so if you are in and around Lydia's in Saskatoon, The King's Head Tavern in north Regina, or checking out the Cathedral Village Arts Festival later this month, come on by and have yerself a time.....just don't expect any more pasta salad!  Oh, and if you come on by sportin' one of our t-shirts, have yerself a complimentary peck on the cheek from one of the boys.  It's the least we can do!

Hank, sum it up for us please....

Tonight's the Night

Hey everyone in Regina,

Don't forget, tonight's the release show at the Artesian in 13th (with after party at German Club - two-tiered night on getting bawmed. Come right at 8 to catch Young James. Hope to see you there!

Here's some coverage we've been getting for the show:
Prairie Dog
Leader Post

6 Days...

Until the big show:

Tix are selling quick, so run down to Buy The Book or Mysteria. 

Thanks buzzcity.ca for the interview!:

Songs From A Barstool Exclusive First Listen

Howdy friends. 

Here's a few tunes from our new record. Tickets for next Saturday's show are selling quick, so make you sure pick yours up at Buy The Book or Mysteria on 13th soon... 

 
 

See you soon!

The Sociable Weekends

The Lonesome Weekends & 13th Ave Records Present SONGS FROM A BARSTOOL

Hey folks,

We have a second record ready to go, as well as an accompanying show to welcome it appropriately.

Details:
With very special guests Young James (Saskatoon)

Saturday April 21 at The Artesian on 13th
7:00 - Pre-show drinks. Show at 8:00

$12 Advance/$15 At the door

Ticket includes Post-show party with Live Karaoke & Midnight Lunch at The German Club

Tickets available at Buy The Book & Mysteria

This night is bound to be a fun night, lots of music, lots of drinking and lots of fun!

SONGS FROM A BARSTOOL contains a dozen tunes to remind you that country and rock were meant to be together, much like heartache and whiskey, honky-tonks and dancing, and Saturday nights and fighting. An album that proves that country and rock continue to drink, dance and fight together. It may well be the only album Ernest Tubb and Jeff Tweedy could agree on. 

Hope to see you there!
Thee Weekends

Be our valentine

I see you sitting across the barroom,

I would like to talk to you. 

Say things like, "I have 

a crush on you," and  

"I can be your valentine." 

I need a little more to drink.

Our new record SONGS FROM A BARSTOOL will be out April 21. We recorded the 12-song album in April 2011 at SoulSound Studios with Orion Paradis. We'll be releasing the single very soon. Release show details coming soon, we can guarantee it is going to be a fun night.

Here are a few videos from recent shows in Saskatoon (thanks to everyone who came out):




Be our valentine,
The Lonely Weeks

First Drinkin' now Sangin'...

A few quick notes:

 - Our next hometown show is part 2  of our German Club series and it will be on Feb. 4. You want to sing with us, then you'd best come out to "Sangin' With The Lonesome Weekends: Live Country Karaoke." Click here for details.

- Just got reviewed in exclaim!

 - Gettin' some airplay across the country! Thanks to all the stations: CJSW, CJSR, CJSF, CFBX, CITR, CKUA, CFBU, CFRE, CHMA, CHRW, CHUO & CJAM. Thanks to Lisa!

- We have a new facebook page, for those of you who are into that.

Love,

TLW