Dugg Simpson
Special to The Record
In smaller communities, we know cabin fever is real, and it’s both dangerous and incredibly boring. It doesn’t jump you, like the flu. It creeps up on you, a day and a night at a time until your significant other points out you haven’t been anywhere besides the grocery store in months and when a friend asks if you’ve heard any good live music lately, you reply “not since July.”
“Sure,” you might say, “everybody knows good live music is the best, most cost-effective cure for cabin fever, but time and money are super-tight, and there’s so many bands out there. How can I choose?”
True, but most of them aren’t coming here, so let’s use Petunia and the Vipers as an example of how – by answering two simple questions – you can be sure they’re the cabin fever cure for you. The answers are just a couple of clicks down the information super-highway.
1) Who are these people?
One quick Google tells us Petunia was born in Quebec and hit the road in his teens. He’s played festivals, clubs and a lot of street corners across Canada and it’s given his voice and his lyrics a fine edge. He’s such a good yodeller even people who don’t like yodelling like it when he does.
Guitarist Steve Nikleva is a key player in the musical history of Vancouver, known for his work with Ferron, Sarah McLachlan, Veda Hille, Dan Mangan and the proverbial many more.
Jimmy Roy is legendary anywhere people are serious about their rockabilly roots music. He plays pedal steel guitar, which not many people do because it’s hard, but watching Jimmy bring the swing you might not think so. You might just think it’s amazing.
Marc L’Esperance defies the Animal muppet stereotype of drummers, partly with his tasty licks and also through his work as a sound engineer. You know bassist Patrick Metzger is serious because he plays a stand-up bass, and anyone committed to carrying one around has to be.
2) What do they sound like?
To get an idea of Petunia and the Vipers’ sound, imagine there’s going to be a musical reunion at your favourite club and invitees including Ray Condo, Jimmie Rodgers, Maybelle Carter, Django Reinhardt, Slim Whitman , Patsy Cline, Che Guevara, Rose Maddox, and Buddy Emmons have already RSVPed they’re coming.”
Alternatively, you can bypass all the smarty-pants musical tastemakers. Searching “Petunia and the Vipers” on YouTube will bring you some great videos, live and otherwise. At that point, your ears will probably tell your brain “We are so going.”
Petunia and the Vipers play the Native Sons Hall Saturday, Jan. 30 at 8 p.m., as part of the MusicFest Concert Series. Go to islandmusicfest.com for all the ticket details.
