Black Drink Crier (Cameron Wensel)

In a metal dominated town it’s great to see an emerging roots music scene. Cam Wensel and his recently formed band Black Drink Crier should be dominant in it. With the company of Judd Stachoski of the Bystander’s (another fantastic roots band in town) on the drums, Black Drink Crier are three talented young men that will in the words of the Supersuckers Rock Your Ass!

With only recently forming Cam has a full set of predominantly self written originals that are accompanied by a couple blistering covers; covers such as Steve Earle’s “Johnny Come Lately” and Warren Zevon’s “Carmelita”. Cam’s originals seem to be fired right out of his soul and with honest songs he really seems to have a handle on lyrics and melody. Such is shown in my personal favourite song he played last night “Porch Fire” and others like “December Georgia”. Cam’s music doesn’t have shiny clothes or trendy hair cuts. It is nothing more than superbly well written roots music.

With an album on the way we can expect a fairly versatile record. One with relaxed thoughtful laments and also some foot stomping guitar wanks. A song that really ripped it up for me I believe is called “Hell’s Café” which highlights Cam’s ability to be a guitar picking man that with all his other talents help keep him heads and shoulders above most of the other songwriters in town. This man is the complete package.

Not only is Cam a talented songwriter and musician he doesn’t lack as a performer either. As if songwriting and music aren’t enough to draw you in, Cam keeps the mood light with his dry one line humour and funny quips thrown in between songs. When he was about to perform a song from his old band the West Port Murders “Upperhand”, Cam quipped “This is a song I used to do with my old band the West Port Murders I was in up until a week ago.” As the crowd chuckles in between sets always entertained either by song or a story, Cam is choosing his acoustic or electric guitar and selecting the song that best fits the show.

A song I really enjoyed was a song called “The Jet’s” which is fun hockey song about how he misses the Jets of Winnipeg and how they really can’t play hockey down in Phoenix. While I am still partial to “Porch Fire” as my favourite, a new song I didn’t get the name of in which Black Drink Crier closed their set was superb. I could have a new favourite on the horizon.

Next time you see Cam’s name in an invitation or on a poster come see this stripped-down neo-traditionalist and let him blow your mind with raw talent and story songs.

Come see for yourself…

Cheers Rockers!

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