Dust Rhinos A few words with Blair McEvoy, guitarist and singer with the Dust Rhinos. Leicester Bangs: Tell us a little about yourself, and your band. Blair: We are a five piece Celtic Rock band LB: How did you start out making music? Blair: We started out busking at a local market in Winnipeg where a lady who owned and Irish pub saw us and asked us to come play there. We played the Toad in the Whole Pub at least once a month for the next 13 years LB: Who did you grow up listening to and how do they influence what you’re doing now? Blair: The Clash, Simple Minds, U2, Peter Gabriel but when I was very young I would visit my grandma and she had records by The Irish Rovers and the Clancy Brothers and I learned all these traditional Celtic songs. I played in almost every kind of band there was going nowhere, then I started to play these Celtic songs of my youth for my own enjoyment and one thing led to another and the Dust Rhinos where born. LB: Tell us about your latest release. Blair: The Day After the Night Before is our strongest release to date. Everyone in the band contributed to the writing and arranging. We played most of these songs live for a while to test them with our audience to make sure they where working and I think that made a big difference. We also had the wonderful Keri Latimer from Nathan come and sing on a couple of songs. Her beautiful soft voice and my growling deep voice some how work really well together. LB: Do you get out and play your music live, and if so, what can an audience expect at one of your shows? Blair: Our audience expects a boot stomping beer guzzling good time. You are going to dance and sing and shout and if you don't have fun we did something wrong. LB: What aspects of playing and recording music do you most enjoy? Blair: I love watching people dance and sing along to a song that we wrote. There is something very cool to see someone singing your words while they are having so much fun. It is very satisfying. LB: Where can people find (and buy) your music? Blair: All of our CDs are available world wide at CD Baby.com, and iTunes – links below: www.cdbaby.com/all/dustrhinos iTunes www.dustrhinos.com www.myspace.com/dustrhino Dust Rhinos – Solsbury Hill