EVENT PREVIEW: Dirty blues rock at the P-Hog tonight

The Perpetrators wsg Kelly "Mr. Chill" Hoppe
Phog Lounge (157 University Ave. West)
TONIGHT!

Winnipeg's purveyors of dirty greasy blues rock, The Perpetrators, haul their music makers through Windsor once again tonight and these boys always come lookin' for a fight. Not the physical punch you with a fist kinda fight, but more the "we're gonna smash you in the gullet with some riffs".

Led by guitarist/vocalist Jason Nowicki (the gent on the right in the photo), the "Perps" have gone through several line-up incarnations, from trios to its current state as a duo. But the staple of The Perpetrators' sound has always remained constant, built upon the the undeniable guitar slinger prowess and vocals chops that Nowicki has established for the band.

The Perpetrators have built a steady fan base in Windsor thanks to a relentless tour schedule that has always brought them through Windsor at least twice a year (always at Phog). They've played it smart and continually brought the A-game, building a solid reputation as a band that delivers sweaty, dirty garage rock blues with conviction and sincerity.

At times, their sound is reminscent of a grittier, dirtier Big Sugar, so it's no surprise that they've frequently been joined on stage by Windsor's own Kelly "Mr. Chill" Hoppe, a Big Sugar alumn as well as ringleader for the more than capable Mr. Chill & The Witnesses. Hoppe routinely joins them on stage to lend his world class harmonica and bolster an already unbeatable blues rock sound. Rumour has it, Mr. Chill will be joining them on Phog's little stage tonight, so that only increases the "cool factor" by a Chillion.

Over the past few years, Canada's garage blues scene has exploded, thanks in part to some phenomenal bands such as Vancouver's The Pack A.D. (who are back in Windsor at Phog next week, Tuesday April 14th), Cambridge's Hot Kid, Toronto's The Speaking Tongues and these fine lads from Winnipeg, The Perpetrators. They've rescued the blues sound from the oft-over produced, "safe" sounding boredom that Eric Clapton unfortunately melded into during the 1980's and brought it back down to it's rawest and purest form, mainlining it straight into your ears and veins from a stage near you.