Local rock group get spooky with Halloween release show at The Fez
Editor’s Note – The Pistolwhips just dropped their new EP on Bandcamp – scroll to the bottom of the article for a listen.
If you haven’t seen them yet, you will soon enough.
The Pistolwhips, a Saskatoon-based rock group, are gearing up to release their debut EP entitled No Tomorrow on Saturday, Oct. 27 at The Fez.
Although this is the band’s first official release, front man Rylan Schultz says that the band has been working with a producer in Los Angeles for the mastering of the EP. “We have a connection with a guy down there who is great so it was an easy choice,” says Schultz.
But for everyone who isn’t yet familiar with the four-piece, consider this: The Pistolwhips are something of a local supergroup, with roots that spread out across the Saskatchewan rock scene. Unless you hate music, the odds are pretty good that you’ve heard of at least one of the bands that are associated with The Pistolwhips.
“Zach Davies (bass), Christian Kongawi (drums), and Leot Hanson (now in the Sheepdogs) had a band during high school in Prince Albert with another dude,” explains Schultz. “When they moved to Saskatoon the other guy moved to Red Deer. I opened up for them once at Lydias and I was in. So we started Guns at Dawn which then became The Pistolwhips. But as we got busy with other projects (The Rebellion and Sly Business for Christian and I and Leot with The Sheepdudes) this kind of got put on the back burner.
“Recently we hooked up with Paul Kuzbik of Foutains of Youth to fill in lead guitar,” he continues. “This is the newest incarnation of the band but it’s been in the works for a long while.”
As for the band’s upcoming Halloween party, Night of the Living Fez, the show will also feature DJs Charly Hustle and Ricky Rock and new local group Blackwater. In addition to the obligatory spooky Halloween shenanigans, Schultz says that the gig is also helping to raise money for charity.
“Some of the proceeds from the night are going toward The Pink Wig Foundation,” says Schultz. “But we’re hoping to make a bit of money to finish a full-length album by next spring. So we’ll play the odd show until then and tour when the album is ready.”