A strange and brooding caravan is heading for our coastal town. Its journey began on the prairies, has continued into the foothills, over the mountains, and now across the sea. Bellies of the caravan’s singers overflow with good cheese and fine wine, but more importantly, these bellies surge with timeless tales of death and woe. The tour, aptly called “The Death Ballad Love Tellers Tour,” makes its final stop in Victoria on Sat., Feb. 23.
This isn’t the first time the Death Ballad Love Tellers have united. By the time they reach Victoria, David P. Smith, Ben Sures and Bubba Uno will have completed three tours together. And the chemistry between the diverse songwriters has proven so inspiring that they plan to record an album of original material after their Victorian date. As Sures confides, he’s been longing for this moment since the idea was presented to him two years ago.
“I immediately suggested that we give (the tour) a name so it would be more than just three guys on the road playing their songs. We all agreed on ‘Death Ballad Love Tellers’ as all of our songs touch on these themes. I subconsciously hoped that the title would kick our asses into writing some murder ballads, and it worked. We’ve all written songs in the genre for this tour: I’ve written five, Bubba’s written a few and David’s written a 10- minute-long epic.”
With a name every bit as compelling and mysterious as the tour itself, Merlin’s Sun Home Theatre (1983 Fairfield) is a perfect choice of venue for the balladeers’ last stop. The Fairfield home, complete with a 30+ seat theatre, will provide a suitably dramatic backdrop for these modern day troubadours who prove, night after night, that some songwriting traditions are timeless.
Call 250-598-7488 or email timgosley@telus.net for reservations. $20. 8pm. M