REAL PONCHOS

THE MOTHERS OF REINVENTION

“I find it funny that our band name is a reference to a Frank Zappa song, and we all listen to Frank Zappa, and yet our music doesn’t sound anything like Frank Zappa,” says Real Ponchos drummer Emlyn Scherk during a conversation with BeatRoute outside Vancouver City Hall.

In the year-and-a-half since the Vancouver-based quartet started playing shows, they’ve developed a reputation for raucous jams with an alt-country flavour, or as co-frontman Emile Scott calls it, “psychedelic country soul.” But like the Zappa reference, the Real Ponchos’ current sound is a stretch from what they started with.

“It was a lot more folk-y,” Scherk says. “We were mostly playing Ben [Arsenault]’s songs.”

Arsenault shares singer/songwriter/guitarist duties with Scott, bringing wistful country heartache to tunes “Can’t Win Em’ All” and “Prairie Smiles” on their debut self-titled EP, released independently this past January. Vocally, Arsenault warbles gently with subtle shades of Doug Paisley — a notable contrast to Ryan’s bright, steady delivery on rollicking foot-stomper “Wicked Heart.”

Surprisingly, bringing the two contrasting voices and styles together has helped “get a more ‘band’ vibe going,” says Scherk. Playing to high-energy audiences has also had an influence in the change of direction.

“We had all our friends come out to shows, and they’re really rowdy, and so we started playing more rowdy music, and we started writing more upbeat songs. That sort of formed the sound of our band. Our friends are awesome,” says Scherk.

“They bring it out,” agrees Arsenault.

New friends await the Real Ponchos this summer when they pack up their van along with bassist Michael Wagler in June for a tour across BC and Alberta. With a live act that gets showgoers dancing and hollering, Arsenault predicts, “It’ll be a total blast.””

The Real Ponchos play at the Railway Club on May 30, at Logan’s Pub in Victoria on June 7, and at Cafe Deux Soleils on July 10.

By Sarah Bauer