RHG Exclusive - Part II
From Left to Right: Jeff from Cups N Cakes, Kendall, Owen, and Jay from Red Hot Gospel
Last week we begun our three part series in tribute to Red Hot Gospel and to highlight the release of their final album and final show as a band. In Part I, the Cups N Cakes Network premiered the track “Fatherhood” and interviewed bassist Jay Higgs. This week we will be premiering the second single from the forthcoming album Flamenco as well as publishing our interview with Owen. In addition, the Cups N Cakes Network are also publishing our latest episode of the “Vinyl Unveil” which features Kendall, Owen, and Jay joining Jeff from CnC to open up the new LP and discuss some tidbits about the album and its packaging. Check that out here.
Please enjoy an exclusive stream of the track “Dirt Nap” and a Q&A with drummer Owen Lukawesky.
CnC - What made you decide it was time to close the book on RHG?
Owen - We always liked making new songs but that’s become increasingly difficult since I started a new career that keeps me out of town a fair amount. It’s also an unpredictable schedule so we’ve found it hard to book shows as we don’t want to let anyone down at the last minute. Kendall is someone who is writing more and more and the pace we’ve been at lately isn’t quite his speed. Him and I have been playing music together for 10 years and in two bands, I think it just got a little stagnant for him to the point he felt he had to start and new band, Rats Ass. They’re great! I can’t help but feel like the end is my fault but at the same time I don’t feel guilty… It’s weird. But, if I’m given an opportunity to better support my family, I’m gonna take it, do well at it and that’s what I’m doing. To be honest I’m really sad about it. I’d like to continue in some capacity, and I know Jay would too, but there’s no denying that I can also see it from Kendall’s side as well. These two guys are my best friends and I’m gonna miss seeing them as often. Plus we made gold. It seems like Jay has been there since the beginning and I’m really lucky to have had RHG as a vehicle for making a new friend for life. I’ve played with a lot of bands (AK-747’s, Heavy Users, Mrs. Missile, Old World Sparrows, Brunch Club etc.) and I’ve never made better songs and had as much fun doing it as I did with Jay and Kendall.
CnC - What has it meant to be able to play music with two buds for so long?
Owen - I feel like I answered this in the first question, oops! It’s meant the world to me. I got to write, record, and release 3 vinyl LPs, do a split with our kindred spirits, Counterfeit Jeans, been asked to be on a Palomino compilation record and other compilation releases. I’m really proud to have a body of work I can hold in my hands. Writing something new at rehearsal has never felt so great as it has with these guys. You know, that moment when everyone looks up to see if the others are hearing what you’re hearing for the first time and feeling the exact same excitement you are? That happened a lot. Before and after Jay. Except with Jay there, you felt even more free to express it like you were a kid. Pure joy! Like when I watch my kids do the same kind of thing. It’s so honest. So yeah, fuck, it meant a lot.
CnC - What is your favourite RHG memory?
Owen - There were so many firsts I got to experience with this band. I think it’s a tie between a few things. I was beaming after we played our slot at Massif 2017 in Nelson and James from Bison sought me out with our new record in hand and told that our set was great and said “You guys are how music is supposed to be”. That same festival we played right before Preoccupations and shortly after, heroes of mine, DOA headlined. Just a heads up, I’m not gonna be good at picking a favourite memory or wildest time. You’re getting all of it. Another is playing the Palomino compilation release/party with our buds BRASS (best band ever) in Calgary. Um, almost dying in Cranbrook after 4 out of five lug nuts snapped on our tour van which inspired a lengthy stay at a shitty motel and the second last track on our new record “Flamenco”. Recording with Renny Wilson was an education and delightful. And yes, the people we’ve met. It’s like since the band started, I’ve made so many new friends. Like, I almost wanna have a do-over of my wedding because there’s so many people I know now that should have been there for that moment (Jay wasn’t even there). What the fuck is that?! Seems crazy to me now.
CnC - What is your wildest RHG story?
Owen - Yeesh, Jeff. I know I bring it back to the two Massif Festivals we played but really, it was amazing. What’s also wild is before this band I didn’t think consistently making 1.5 minute songs was considered an average length. It’s a topsy turvy world we live in though. Man Meat’s bathtub full of ice and beer was pretty wild. Playing Clint’s Haus was LITERALLY wild. Jay’s Daisy Duke shorts are wild. Partying with some dude in his 3 inches of water, flooded apartment while he showed me his fucking swords 10 minutes after we met on the street was wild. I could go on…
CnC - What’s next? Any new projects we should know about?
Owen - Well Rats Ass is a killer new band Kendall started with Kennedy and Zach from Dead Fibres. They’re super good and they’ve been recording! I’m a VIP right, so I’ve heard it and it’s lovely. Jay is in a band he fronts called Rose Valley and they’re wicked. It shows me a side of Jay that I new was there but I had no idea how sincerely well he’d be at it. So good! As for me, I’m a free agent after this. My house is covered in organs, pianos and keyboards so I think I might get lessons and start wowing the other dads at Garneau elementary school where my son goes. Besides that, I do really want to start dusting off songs I’ve written to record them. My wife Kirstin knew I was sad and cleared a spare room out for me to make music. It was cool. And truth be told I’ve always wanted to make dance music like an early Justice type thing. But first would be getting my solo stuff out and conning Kendall into recording me at Budget Cuts Studios (his house and where we recorded our new record) for a price so low that all you can hear is the sound of a beer can cracking.
CnC - Why is your farewell show the only place worth being in Edmonton on March 13th?
Owen - Well, for me it’s because Jay and Kendall would be super mad if I went anywhere else that night. But aside from that, it’s Chron Goblin’s 10th anniversary show! Fear the Mammoth is gonna kill it too. Fourth band to be announced, but they’re gonna be good. Thrust me, heheh… Also, EVERYTHING MUST GO! If you get our new record, we’re gonna throw in our other records (all vinyl), a tape and a patch. Plus Devon from HELTH made us some limited edition t-shirts that come in two colours!
Be sure to catch RHG’s farewell show in Edmonton on March 13th at The Sewing Machine Factory, and comeback next Monday for Part III of our Red Hot Gospel exclusive farewell series.