A purple plush toy was draped across the monitor at East Vancouver’s Wise Hall as the crowd swelled in front of the stage. A group of local music veterans currently operating as a band called Trailerhawk were getting ready to perform as part of their CD Release party for their first full length album 12 Tracks and Roadmaps.
The five-piece began as a passion project among friends a few years back and boast songs of “haunting melodies atop country-soaked Americana rock n’ roll.” If that’s your bag, I can happily confirm that’s exactly what this band delivers live and in their recorded work. Tracks like “Pretty Thing” and “Thing About You” lend themselves to solo road trip sing-alongs while “Church of Jim Beam” and “RSVP” will have you stomping your feet and spilling your beer with a crowd of rambunctious revellers.
“El Camino” is a stand-out from the thirteen-track collection that can easily handle double duty as a road trip anthem and a toe-tapping trigger.
The band has been generating a healthy buzz over their previous experience and industry connections since their inception. Guitarist Rod Bruno has played with Matthew Good, bassist Don Binns is a former member of Sons of Freedom, and steel pedal afficionado Lanny Hussey used to roll with members of Grapes of Wrath. Add the production genius of Grammy award winner Colin Linden to their first EP and legend Dave “Rave” Ogilvie putting the finishing touches on 12 tracks and Roadmaps to the mix and you’ve got yourself a pretty impressive concoction of industry expertise.
So, the big question going into the release party at the Wise Hall was: Can all this professional experience translate into success with Trailerhawk?
While the Wise Hall was teeming with those who have inside connections to the quintet, I spoke with a couple of attendees who had heard of them organically and had made their way to East Van as extremely enthusiastic fans. Bands don’t get that kind of reaction from random strangers unless they have something special to offer. Authentic Americana music complete with a stuffed canine sidekick and enough cowbell to keep even Christopher Walken satisfied.
Trailerhawk’s professionalism shows in spades in the way they can manage to be tight without rushing through songs the way many fledgling bands tend to. Fiery front woman Carmen Bruno connects all the dots along the dusty road of rock and roll with ferocity and a hint of vulnerability. What I really loved seeing was there was also a palpable excitement on display between the band mates. Often concealed by convincing game face expressions, indications of playful glee often passed between the five musicians.
It was clear they were enjoying themselves and it translated to the audience. It makes sense that a band conceived though a shared joy of music would convey that sentiment, and in my humble opinion, it’s something the music industry could use a little more of these days.
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