Roiling punk-powered country.

10 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Punk, ROCK: Americana



Details:
If youâve seen Tim Balash and the Chrome Magpies under the stage lights, you donât need any reminders of how much, for whatâs ostensibly a country band, they completely rock. Not in the slow buildup way, like Gram Parsons or something more pretentious. Itâs more like a Baptist ministerâs controlled explosion. Beauty on the edge of danger. Mop-headed Balashâs high voice is key, and heâs a fine songwriter.
-Fish Griwkowsky, The Edmonton Sun

Balashâs debut album, Hungover On Judgement Day, is another tribute to Edmontonâs independent rock scene. Whether heâs rocking out with a bluesy guitar lead on âMoney is the Bloodâ or being cheeky with the country-rock of âItâs Hard to Look for Work When You Donât Get Up Til Noonâ, the quality of Balashâs songwriting is undeniable. Tim Balash isnât the kind of songwriter who gets stuck in a rut. He throws more musical change-ups than most; and a Chrome Magpie show sees him moving from electric to acoustic guitar for the many different styles he chooses to work in.

As for his backing band, the Chrome Magpies feature some of the most recognizable names on the Edmonton music scene; Brent Oliver, founder of the cityâs Green Pepper Records label, offers his services on the Hammond, especially effective on the albumâs title track, which sees him play as if heâs offering a backing to a church hymnal. Gavin Dunn, Oliverâs ex-bandmate in the country-rock outfit the Maybellines, provides some great guitar licks while well-respected Tim Resaul takes a regularspot behind the kit. Balash and the Chrome Magpies offer some of the grittiest original tunes on the Alberta music scene right now, but itâs awfully hard to try to categorize them.
-Steve Sandor, Edmonton Plus