A Lethbridge-based band who has a raw, emotional approach to both song writing and playing live hit the stage at a local lounge this past weekend.
Biloxi Parish performed in front of a packed Owl Acoustic Lounge in Lethbridge this past Saturday night.
The band features four members who all reside in the windy-city and is led by lead singer Zach Passey.
The other members are the drummer Cole Howg, Ben Wattie, a bass guitarist and Taran Duncan is the lead guitarist.
The group was formed in February of 2016 and has been playing mostly at local venues.
All the members agreed they have been influenced by famous musicians like Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young and Bob Dylan.
Passey said the name of the band is inspired by a Louisiana county bearing the same name.
“We got a lot of southern influence like country and blues. The southern United States in general is sort of an influence even with like the lyrics and visuals of the band.”
On the other hand, the band’s lyrics generally are influenced by alternative sources.
“I get influence from movies or literature. I am a big fan of the author Cormac McCarthy and I would say I would get a lot of inspiration from him.”
The lead singer tries not to listen to music when writing lyrics as he tends to play what he is listening to. He treats writing music like its a job. He will sit down, start playing around, something will stick and he will just build from there.
Passey is unique in the way that he was never interested in playing music until he was given the opportunity to play in a band with Howg.
“I never thought about it as a thing you can do. Obviously, I know there are musicians but I never took it upon myself to write music. I just never thought about picking up an instrument and playing with other guys. When they invited me in, it just opened me up to a whole new world.”
Steven Foord, co-owner of the Owl, explained the group brings a lot of energy to the lounge, but what he likes most about the group is how community-oriented they are.
“They are guys that go to other people’s shows and they are active in the community which is very important.”
Foord has been watching the band members perform at the lounge since they were underage and even before Biloxi Parish was created. He explained they are very much a special band as he was watched them grow and develop over the years.
The band will now be looking to play as much as they can all over Alberta which includes places like Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton to support the record they released last fall.
At the end of March, they will be touring around BC.