Face the Earth is a Red Deer alternative-rock band that formed just before the pandemic.
For the last two years, group practices mostly happened through Zoom and even the collaborative writing of new music was done at a distance to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Finally getting to play together in one space is described as “bliss” by singer/ guitarist Zakk Waschuk.
“When we could get back in person, that’s when things really took off,” the 27-year-old explained. “You could feel the energy in the room and we could really share ideas…”
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Musicians in Face the Earth managed to squeeze in only a couple of live concerts last year, so are eager to perform in front of an audience again at Bo’s Bar and Stage on April 16 — along with Calgary band The West and magician Ben Price.
Waschuk recalled the group’s first Bo’s show, during Alberta’s “Open for Summer’ 2021, was a sell-out. He credits good word of mouth — and a desire for live music — for pumping up attendance.
“It was humbling… When you can’t do a lot of live shows, it was really (like) grace to get that feedback from people, in real time.”
Face the Earth was formed in 2019 by Waschuk and his two long-time friends — lead guitarist Jeff Gauthier and bassist Mike Fitzgerald, both age 28.
The three were looking for a drummer when Ethan Rose happened to walk into a local music store looking for a drum kit. “We asked him, ‘Hey, are you looking to join a band?’” recalled Waschuk.
Rose, 21, is considered to be the most formally trained musician in the group, having been in band class throughout school.
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While Waschuk comes from a creative family — his Dad is a big-time rock music fan, his mother a yoga instructor, his brother a pianist and his sister an actor — Zakk is now transitioning from a career with his family’s pipeline company to being a self-taught guitarist who plays by ear.
“I can hear songs in my head before I can find out how to play them.”
Band members focused on songwriting in the absence of many performing opportunities during the pandemic, said Waschuk. “I’d like us to write a lot more new music so we’re not just labelled a cover band.”
Face the Earth put out a five-song EP last summer called Fractures, consisting of some original tunes about uncertainty — which is not surprising in the ‘new normal.’
But Waschuk believes these songs still carry a positive vibe: “They are not all dirgey, they’re about feelings that things will work out in the end, even though you’re feeling a litle weird about it now.”
The group, influenced by The Foo Fighters, Blink-182 and Green Day, most recently released new single is called Counteractive State.
It’s about a relationship that’s grown stale “but no one wants to pull the pin, even though you know you will both be better off,” said Waschuk. It’s available on all music streaming services.
For more information about the April 16 show, please contact Bo’s Bar and Stage.
lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.com
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