2 Live Motley Cosmic Crew Cuts

by Stephan MacLEOD

The show never ends for Moncton’s Chris Colepaugh and the Cosmic Crew. When bass player Lynn Daigle says, “This is all we do full time,” referring to the band’s constant touring. The amount of work the band puts into each of its two to three hour live shows leaves little doubt that they are dedicated to their job.

The band is currently on the road promoting their latest album Trip, and spreading their vintage, feel- good rock sound everywhere they go. The timing of the album’s release coincides nicely with their favourite time of the year to travel.” It’s a good time to tour. The weather’s not bad, and we’re back before January,” Daigle explains.

As with any touring band, spending extended periods of time on the road can have an impact on the band’s music. “Our sound’s inspired

“Live you don’t have the chance to say ‘Can I do it again?’

-Chris Colepaugh

from all the travelling we do,” says lead guitarist Chris Colepaugh. The imagery and steady rhythmic drive of songs like “California Love” reflect the experiences of a band that is always on the move.

Despite picking up inspiration for songs from long drives across the country and in the United States, the Cosmic Crew cites Moncton as the place where they developed most as a band.

“Playing in Moncton allowed us to hone our craft and take what we do to other cities,” Daigle reminisces; she tells me about a bar called The Esquire where the band got their start along with other great artists like Eric’s Trip and The Monoxides. The diverse music scene of Moncton played a big role in the band’s mix of classic rock and funky jamming.

The element of improvisation makes every show the band plays a unique experience. Songs from their catalogue of albums become trans- formed during live shows. Daigle says, “Our songs are recorded one way

Lynn Daigle.

on the album, but the way we present it each night is totally different.” She compares the difference between play- ing live and recording to theatre and film.

Colepaugh says, “Live you don’t have the chance to say ‘Can I do that again?’”

“But that’s the thrill of it,” adds Daigle. “You’re on edge and don’t know if everyone [in the band] is going to go [musically] where you’re going or are you just going to

Chris Colepaugh.

be out there all by yourself.”

The excitement and energy of Chris Colepaugh and the Cosmic Crew’s live shows have won them a growing audience of fans in Charlottetown and across the country. As the band continues to travel and play more shows, witnesses to this powerful trio’s performances will find themselves humming melodies or playing air guitar riffs to their CD long after the band has left to play another dingy university bar in another town.

Kanga decided she’d had enough of Dennis, so after moving all her things out of their place one morning she kneed him in the balls as he walked in the door from work in the evening, and she left. And that, she figured, was that.

Kanga was not her real name; her real name was Michelle. However, her last name was Roux, definitely French, and likely short- ened at some point from the longer Laroux. No matter the derivation, her last name was nearly universally pronounced “roo,” and thus her first name was not pronounced at all and

Life’s Like That

was replaced with “Kanga.” This — had not, as one might imagine, grown any funnier over time.

None of this is particularly important except that it explains, in part, why she stiffened slightly and began walking more quickly down the hall when Dennis, who had, with some difficulty, hauled himself to his feet and then to the door, yelled “Kanga, damnit, Michelle, wait!” She did not wait, but marched into the elevator, and with Dennis still limping down the hall after her, pushed the button marked “L,” and vowed she would not return ever.

Artist:Chris re and the Cosmic Crew

Title: trip

Label: Independent

cunis COLEPAUG,,

Py 3 . 6

Chris Colepaugh and the Cosmic Crew are good musicians and song- writers and their latest album trip is a good indication of their abilities. Every song on the album is a bit of a surprise, as they switch between

funk, blues, psychedelic rock or any combination of the three. My prob- lem with the album, however, is that I know how good the band can be live. With only three performers, their energy and personality make them sound a lot bigger than they actually are. Hearing them perform on this album is disappointing because they don’t sound anywhere near as big and bold and electric as they could. The trade off is that they get to make use of more instru- ments: acoustic guitars, keyboards and, I think, even a mandolin make their sound more layered. trip isn’t such a bad album — there are some good, melodic songs and some good danceable songs — it’s just that I know it could be a lot better — awe- some, even — if they turned it up a notch. Here’s to hoping for a live album in the near future.

Jeff COLL

THE CADRE

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