Brandon Isaak likes to keep on top of his craft.
The Vancouver Island musician kicked off this year by performing at the Tequila Blues/Rock Festival in Mexico before zigzagging across Canada — with about 40 gigs from Québec to Victoria — as a solo or duo act, with his trio or his band, The Saints of Swing.
In the spring, the veteran artist was in Halifax after being nominated for a JUNO Award for Blues Album of the Year for One Step Closer.
But that was so long ago, he said.
“My new album is old. I’m already on to the next one.”
Isaak, who will be premiering some new tunes in Port Moody next week as the season opener for the Inlet Theatre Music Series, said 38 years in the music industry have given him a solid work ethic.
In an interview with the Tri-City News, Isaak said he practises every day "to get one step closer" to mastering the art form, he said, riffing off the name of his latest recording.
For that, Isaak credits his “world-class Blues band” for helping to shape his sound on the road and his performance on the guitar (acoustic and Fender Telecaster electric) and banjo, as well as his song-writing skills; however, Isaak said learning from experienced players, like his dad, have also given him an edge.
The son of Ed Isaak, a Whitehorse legend who played for The Canucks band, Isaak said watching his father rehearse and tour convinced him to take up music professionally.
While his dad mostly stuck to country and jazz songs, Isaak sampled with a variety of genres to get the right fit.
“I played heavy death metal. I had a spike belt and hair. You go through different things as a kid,” he remembered.
“Then, you find something that you’re good at, and you hone and dissect it.”
He moved to Vancouver and, in 1999, he became the guitarist and frontman for The Twisters, a jump Blues band that was nominated for a 2003 JUNO for its album Long Hard Road (it won Best Blues Album of the year at the Canadian Independent Music Awards).
Their final album, Come Out Swingin’, clinched five Maple Blues Awards in 2009, as well as a nomination at the Western Canadian Music Awards.
A few years later, Isaak was out with his first project, Bluesman’s Plea, and he’s now recorded four more albums; he’s also toured Europe 13 times.
Bill Sample, a musician who co-organizes the Inlet Theatre Music Series in Port Moody with his partner, Darlene Cooper, said the couple is excited to launch its third season with Isaak.
“Brandon is a very soulful singer and a great blues guitarist,” Sample said.
On stage, Isaak will be joined by:
- Mike Kalanj on the piano and keyboards
- Pat Darcus on the upright bass
- Chris Norquist on drums
For tickets to see Brandon Isaak and The Saints of Swing on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, you can visit Eventbrite.ca.
📣 Got an opinion on this story or any others in the Tri-Cities? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected].
📲 Want to stay updated on Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter.
💬 Words missing in an article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
