Editor’s note: This story contains language some may find offensive.
Flying between Toronto, Canada, and Austin, Texas, two-piece band Black Pistol Fire is quickly mastering multiple music climates.
Eric Owen, drums, and Kevin McKeown, guitar and lead vocals, are bringing their flavor of bluesy-garage rock ‘n’ roll to Baton Rouge at Chelsea’s Café tonight.
Friends since kindergarten, Owen and McKeown have been playing together for about 10 years and were part of Toronto trio The Shenanigans.
Now based in Austin, Black Pistol Fire has been together for about two years. They released their self-titled debut LP in February and have started touring Canada and the United States to promote the album.
The Baton Rouge show will be their first in Louisiana, and Owen said he is ready to play a hot, sweaty, amazing show.
“Man are we excited,” Owen said. “I want a big shit-stomping party. I expect people to enjoy the music, and if I could see some Cajun waltzing — if that somehow happened at one show in Louisiana — it would all be worth it. This is our first time here, but it definitely won’t be the dirt.”
Owens said he has never written a set list, as a most Black Pistol Fire live performances are improvised.
“Sometimes it’s amazing, and sometimes it doesn’t work,” he said. “When you can create magic off the cuff like that, it’s really exciting. We really like doing that. It’s an instant fan.”
Although they haven’t been touring long, Owens said he and McKeown love what they’re doing.
“It is tough to be dirty and stinky a lot of the time, but Kevin and I chose to do this,” he said. “We’re going to keep doing it, wherever it is. Playing shows anywhere is our favorite thing to