Novillero got soul!
Winnipeg band builds all-star lineup for Peg City Soul Revue
John Kendle

Novillero’s been described as many things by many people — Winnipeg ‘supergroup’, mod revivalists, ’60s Britpop acolytes and much, much more.

But drummer Dave Berthiaume has perhaps the best handle on his band when he talks about the March 10 Peg City Soul Revue show at the West End Cultural Centre.

“Basically the CBC commissioned us to do this show, to tape it for future broadcast on radio,” Berthiaume says. “The thing is they wanted to do a Novillero show but they didn’t want it to be a normal Novillero show. So we kicked around the idea of working with various local friends who could come in and chip in on vocals and stuff, and then we came up with the idea of a soul tribute.

“We like to think of ourselves as a garage soul band, so it just seemed a natural fit.”

With visions of Stax, Motown and Tamla singles running through their heads, the Winnipeg quintet — which is comprised of Berthiaume, bassist Grant Johnson, keyboardist/percussionist Jack Jonasson, singer/keyboardist Rod Slaughter and guitarist Sean Stevens — have indeed put together an all-star band. A horn section of Jeff Presslaff (trombone), Ken Gold (saxophone) and Marlean Bélanger (trumpet) will be joined by four vocalists — Joanne Rodriguez and Damon Mitchell from American Flamewhip and Sarah Dugas and Andrina Turenne of Madrigaïa.

“It’s been a lot of work putting this together but it’s also going to be a hell of a lot of fun,” Berthiaume says. “I think when it’s recorded it’s going to be a keeper.”

The band will be doing two sets Saturday. One at 8:15 p.m., followed by a second at 9:30 p.m.

Fans can expect to hear some new original compositions as part of the show in addition to standards from the likes of The Four Tops, Otis Redding, Edwin Starr and more. But Berthiaume says a new Novillero album will likely not surface for another calendar.

“Songs take a long time for us a minimum of three months from first presentation to actually being ‘played out’,” Berthiaume explains. “And after the last album did so well and we got such excellent reviews, I think everybody wants to make sure that the next album ups the ante.”

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Folk Fest fans and those who appreciate the offbeat and eclectic will do themselves a favour by catching the show by C.R. Avery and Mihirangi at the West End on March 13.

Mihirangi is a Maori singer/songwriter whose one-woman show is a fusion of her cultural traditions with modern technology, such as looped guitars and a beatbox, and she impressed many who caught her at the Winnipeg Folk Festival last summer.

Avery, meanwhile, is a pistol-quick spoken word artist/MC/musician whose last Winnipeg show, at Times Change(d) in November, was one of his favourite gigs.

“Oh yeah, the owner (our very own John Scoles) introduced me to the stage with this Tom Waits megaphone and Scott Nolan made sure that all these musicians there, it was great.”

Though he often plays with a band, Avery is doing the solo thing this time out and says he hopes to tickle the keyboard of the West End’s house piano.

“It’s gonna be great. From Louis Riel to Neil Young there’s a lot of cool ghosts in your city.”

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Last, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the third annual Girls! Girls! Girls! Black Velvet show taking place Friday at the Gas Station Theatre, featuring an art show as well as performances by dancer Jolene Bailie and sketch comedians Michelle Boulet and Sarah Constible. They even promise a topless accordion player and a bottomless cellist.

Whatever…