Jason Cote first cut his musical teeth in the basement of a friend’s place in Deep River, Ontario, with his first band: Satin Steel.
“We had one guitar,” remembered Cote with a laugh. “(For) the drummer, we used his mother’s luggage.”
It’s been a few years since the days of Satin Steel, and Cote has since moved his music from the cellar to the saloons of Cochrane.
Today, he’s well-known as the friendly and energetic frontman of the Tuesday acoustic jams at The Cumbrian Arms pub in West Valley and Sunday afternoon sessions at The Venue Bar and Grill on Railway Street.
His current rock ensemble Rolling Thunder – which also serves as The Venue’s house band – is actually made up of pedal steel guitarist Graham Ross, drummer Chris White and bassist Daniel Simpson – musicians from Cochrane and Calgary whom he originally met at his weekly jams.
“It’s a great way to meet musicians,” he said, adding his bandmates connected with each other and “it just grew from there.”
Establishing a relationship with fans every week is also something Rolling Thunder gets to do as a regular fixture of the Cochrane scene, and it’s those loyal listeners that have been bugging Cote to make an album.
So the group finally complied and has been recording its first full-length release over the last few months.
“We know everyone by name … ‘(They were saying), ‘Where’s the CD? Where’s the CD?’” said Cote. “We’re in the studio right now.”
Cote said “everyone’s got their favourite” as far as what songs they’d love to hear on the debut record, but he decided to honour the popular tune The Ride with the name of the new album.
To help cover the cost of finishing production of The Ride, Rolling Thunder is hosting a fundraising concert at Frank Wills Memorial Hall on June 23.
Dubbed “The Soulstice Party,” Cote says each $20 admission will include a pre-order for the new album, as well as a “romping stomping good time.”
Tickets for the concert are available at The Venue and The Cumbrian Arms, or through Cote at (403) 796-3121. Doors open at 7 p.m. June 23, with Cote and Rolling Thunder taking the stage from 8 p.m. to midnight.
“It’ll be a lot of energy,” said Cote, adding since the band has such a solid jamming background, he expects at least a few fans to bring along their instruments and join in the fun.
“I’m sure we’ll mix it up with the crowd a little bit … We’ll rock it out.”
