life of charlie
The last time I saw Boy Charlie frontman Al Peterson, one of the
first things I asked him about is the song "In Flames" from their debut CD "...sky came falling." I asked because I swear that song is in reference to one of the most well-known novels of the past one hundred years. "Yeah, it's about Ray Bradbury's 'Farenheit 451,'" Peterson admitted with a grin. "I wanted to capture the frantic intensity and energy of the 'firemen' in the novel and how proud they were to be doing this great service for humanity by burning all these books." That's fine, I said, "but what about the 'Brave New World' stuff? Isn't that Huxley? Didn't Snipes & Stallone turn Huxley's book into an action flick around '96?
"Well, I used Huxley to convey Bradbury."
Hearing comments like that make me realize that there is much more to Boy Charlie than meets the eye... or ear. The facts: Boy Charlie is an up-and-coming Alberta rock band with a killer live show and a recently released LP. They were one of the top four bands in the 2005 "Peace Starts At Home" Battle Of The Bands through the Peace Country. Both 105.9 Shine FM (Edmonton) and 97.7 Sun FM (Grande Prairie) have interviewed the band on air. With each and every gig, the buzz surrounding Boy Charlie grows. It gets out that the boys from GP are a great live band: professional, engaging and passionate. There's something about this band. There's something about Dan Sinclair, Kaehler Sterr and Al Peterson that is special in music.
They're real.
***
The most recent development, of course, is that Boy Charlie had the privilege of opening for one of Can-Rock's most enduring acts in Wide Mouth Mason this past September. It's one more piece of the puzzle. One more step along the path for a band tagged the "get to it" band by peers and promoters in Grande Prairie because of their solid work ethic. Thing is, they don't work hard so they can reach the standard goal of "fame, fortune and rock glory." Spend a few minutes with any member of the band and it becomes quite clear what is most important to them --- people. They love being able to listen to and talk with new friends about what matters to them: grace, faith, guitar gear and mutual love of music. Their attitudes are marked by a distinct, unforced humilty that is evident even as new successes come their way. Humilty, yes; and gratefulness for the opportunities that have allowed them to play and record their tunes. Opportunities that led to the band's first release, "...sky came falling," on Alberta's own Dovefire Records.
"...sky came falling" is not just a record, it's a history map. Two
and a half years. Four different drummers. And years. Years of playing music without ever catching a break. It was always a lack of commitment or lack of money or lack of something always getting in the way of previous projects taking off. That's the past. The emphasis now is on driving hard rock riffs and grit in tracks like the album-opener "Control" and live staple "Reach." In the aptly titled "Happiness," the band showcases Al's reggae and ska influences, and it's followed up by the at-once dance-worthy yet emotionally desperate "Patience."
The real highlight of the record, however, is the final two tracks. It's as if the entire record has been building to the burning point: "Over With" and "In Flames." Anthems. Linch pins. It's the basis for everything Boy Charlie does from here on out. It's not just the
clever lyrical concept of the latter contrasted with the sheer power of the former, but the fire! Fire from the bellies. Fire from the hearts. Fire drawn from all the way down from their toes. It's captured here - as much as anybody can capture something as indefinable as passion and deep-seeded as hope in only a few chords, effects pedals and kick drums.
***
Al once said to me, "It doesn't matter to me if we play for thirty or
three hundred people. Whatever God wants us to do, man." In the
final track, which I consider to be one of his finest pieces of
songwriting, he makes the statement: "We're gonna make a brave new world / With banners high and flags unfurled." It's an ironic commentary on Bradbury's misguided "firemen," who burn "dangerous," idea-promoting books in twisted police-state America with the intent of creating a supposed "better future." I don't believe Al Peterson's intent is to draw a parallel between current world events and the thought-controlled world Bradbury created fifty years ago. It's simply an intelligent lyric, laced with irony and satire, in the midst of a rock anthem.
Strangely, I feel wholly appropriate applying those same words to Al, Kaehler and Dan: Men I've known through years of unimaginable heartbreak and surprising joy. Men who have pressed on. It's four am. I realize with some shock that Boy Charlie has been looking the tumultuous, uncertain future square in the eye, and the future blinked first. They will sweat buckets, they will pour their hearts into every performance and every gig and every disappointment and when it's all said done, they will still be at the front-lines with their flags held high. Because for Boy Charlie, it's never been just about the music.
It's about their hearts.
Let the fire, fire, fire, fire burn. [RYAN RO / OCTOBER 2005]
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