Victoria, BC-based guitar phenom Jesse Roper – after selling out his début show in November – returns to The Carleton with opener The Bankes Brothers on Friday, May 19th as part of our 15th anniversary celebrations. Tickets and tables for early entry (by 7:00 PM) and seated dinner reservations are $25 + HST. Those who are happy standing can arrive after 7:30 PM for $20 + HST.
A personal note from Mike: I was thrilled the band sold out its first show, even though I was in Sydney for Nova Scotia Music Week and couldn’t make the show. I heard nothing but raves from folks who went. I won’t miss it this time and I hope to see you there! Oh, and The Bankes Brothers rock it too!
Canadian rocker Jesse Roper is adding his voice to the chants and his fist to the air with the release of his new single ‘Right Now. Working closely with famed Juno nominated producer Gus van Go (The Stills, Whitehorse, Arkells, The Trews, Sam Roberts ) on this new collection of songs has pushed Roper into creating some of his best work.
And the vibe is certainly right. There’s a depth, a vulnerability, to this new body of work that hasn’t necessarily been at the forefront of Roper’s previous offerings. With a richer infusion of vintage rhythm and blues as background, Roper’s unique, soulful vocals are given space to soar. The result brings to mind sun-baked, dusty roads and hot, sticky nights in crowded bars. Like contemporaries Nathaniel Rateliff and Jack White, Roper tells his story with heart. A gritty, bluesy 21st century reimagining of protest songs in the same vein of Phil Ochs or Bob Dylan, Right Now speaks of the polarizing speech and actions south of the border, and the far reaching impact such division has.
The past few years have been a turbulent ones, with challenges still on the horizon. Yet amidst this confusion and unrest, there is still an outpouring of creativity, music and love. “The world’s been crazy as far back as history can recount,” Roper says frankly, “I want to rock the f*** out, sing things into a microphone that I believe, and crush guitar riffs I love playing”.
In Waves is the title track from The Bankes Brothers upcoming EP dripping with irresistibly catchy melodies, exhilarating vocals, and joyous indie-rock instrumentation. Produced and recorded by indie legend Steve Bays (Hot Hot Heat, The Zolas, Mounties), In Waves is the culmination of the band’s wide-ranging influences–from Elvis to The Strokes, Paul Simon to The Pixies—coming together in a way that defies sonic parallels, yet remains welcomingly familiar.