Boxcar Junction

What do you get when you mix a volunteer fire-fighter, a machinist, a stay-at-home-dad, and a graduate in civil engineering?Boxcar Junction of course. The Sault Ste Marie based group, slated to perform tonight at the Royal Canadian Legion in Richards Landing features Mike Blair, Carl Falls, Rick Senko, and Steve Dowding. The four grew up around music each having played in other bands prior to Boxcar Juntion. "The guys have a such a variety of musical tallent...they have all been in various bands including jazz, blues, and country and we have the ability to take anything we want to play because of that ability," Blair said, 32. The bands drummer, who joined the trio in 2003, said the four instantly became friends. "We didn't think this would become something serious at first, we just enjoyed playing together," Blair added. "The ambiance of what we do on stage bleeds to the crowd." Blair said the band mostly plays to local bar crowds and entertains requests for performances from outside the Sault. With a recording studio in Blair's home the band is currently composing demo albums. Lead singer Falls has been singing for the past 15 years. Growing up he watched his father sing, and nurtured his own talent throughout his high school years. Falls, 29, is a member of the Aweres Volunteer Fire Department, and is pursuing a career as a full-time fire fighter. "I was proud and a bit excited to have the opportunity to help a group of fellow fire fighters raise some money," Falls said. "I know a lot of the crew on the St. Joseph Township department, having trained with them in the past." Falls said the group brings to a concert performance a lot of energy, in a comfortable and exciting atmosphere. In fact, he can envision them 10 years from now still playing together, spreading there music to a wider audience. "You can't ask for anything more," he said. Bassist Dowding said when the four are on stage they have fun. Dowding, 26, started playing guitar in his mid-teens. By 18, he turned to the bass. Dowdings dream is to make music his career, whether it's playing, recording, or teaching his four-year-old the craft. "My son already has his own guitar and I am teaching how to play," Dowding said. "There has always been music around and I'll support him if he wants to pursue an interest." Dowding said 20 percent of the concerts the band performs are for fund raising events and the remaining 80 take place at nightspots. Senko, 25, said he learned how to play from his father, who died two years ago. "We played a lot together," said the lead guitarist. Dowding said that on stage each of the band members not only play for the audience, but for themselves. He hails fellow members as down to earth, fun lovin' guys. If they are not on stage they are enjoying the outdoors. Boxcar Junction expects to release its first album early in the new year. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $11 in advance, or $15 at the door and available on St. Joseph Island at Ambeault's Confectionary, Northern Credit Union, and Kent's Corner.

By:Donna Schell
Special to the star - The Sault Star