Bigger Fish Than Guns

There is something to be said about blending various musical styles together, but it’s an even bolder statement to put all those styles together and come up with a unique and original result. Bigger Fish Than Guns are the latest in a long line of modern rock bands who grab at numerous influences, but they are also one of the few who’ve managed to create a distinct sound of their own that is more than just the sum of its parts. The band is a concoction of southern blues, 90s alt-rock, grunge a...

There is something to be said about blending various musical styles together, but it’s an even bolder statement to put all those styles together and come up with a unique and original result. Bigger Fish Than Guns are the latest in a long line of modern rock bands who grab at numerous influences, but they are also one of the few who’ve managed to create a distinct sound of their own that is more than just the sum of its parts. The band is a concoction of southern blues, 90s alt-rock, grunge and just the right amount of punk which simultaneously numbs and stimulates the mind, ultimately moving the body and soul of the listener. After winning $25,000 in Calgary’s X92.9 FM’s “Xposure” contest, and coming off the commercial radio success of their song “Texas T”, which broke the Top 30 Canadian Alternative Rock Charts, it was an easy decision to “go big or go home”. Their latest release, Through the Green Door, a self-produced endeavour possesses all the great qualities of a classic rock record - it’s fast, catchy, slickly produced and, most importantly, memorable. On the subject of their eclectic tastes, the members maintain that it is a very organic melding of minds, simply letting their inspiration flow out of their instruments naturally. “One bonus of being so eclectic, is that I hope we will never get to a saturation point where we say, ‘Wow, what do we do now?’” says Brendan. “I think it’s just a natural process derived from each of us refusing to conform to one person’s style. I think that this pride we all have in our own creative abilities keeps things fresh and different and allows for eclecticism to breathe.” More often than not, the willingness to incorporate so many disparate elements into one musical entity results in conflict between individual members, but it doesn’t seem that way for BFTG, which comes through in songs like “When We Burn,” which goes from blistering rock-n-roll to sugary sweet pop without breaking a sweat. Their inherent adeptness at jumping back and forth between styles is a formidable skill most young bands lack, but they casually brush it off. “As a 4 piece band where all members contribute to the songwriting, you get challenged with directing multiple intentions and personal connections to the music,” reasons Kevin. “We often contemplate the reason we all choose to play music together, & we usually just decide to play whatever all 4 of us can dig.” In the end, as is the goal for any great rock band, the end product must, in fact, rock, or else it doesn’t get past the drawing board stage. “We all are reaching toward the same goal though, which is where the glue is within this band, that and we all love rock and roll, which is where the roots of this music are settled,” states Brendan. Their respect of rock history comes through in their live show, which is, in the band’s own words, “sweaty, raw, dirty rock and roll,” with “a little dancing, a little head banging, and hopefully, a little introspection.” All told, though, it always comes back to the songs. “I think that the song writing has to come first,” Darren explains. “When we are jamming out, the song has to feel good - and hopefully that energy and enthusiasm is apparent in the live show.” The care taken with crafting great tunes is readily apparent in Through The Green Door’s opener, “Ego And I.” The mixture of melodic hooks with an upbeat rhythm section and searing guitars is familiar, yet fresh. It’s this attention to detail that separates Bigger Fish Than Guns from any old rock band. Concludes Kevin, “At the end of the day you don’t have a live show worth building without suffering the battle to create meaningful songs.”