Texas Blood Money

Blood in, blood out
Edmonton hard rockers ready for the cards to be dealt, even if it means Texas hold ’em!

"It’s Texas Blood Money 3.0, I guess," quips guitarist Ryan Ramsdell, referring to the many incarnations his Edmonton hard-rock quartet have undergone in their eight-year history.

Currently working with singer #3, Will Ewart, the band (which takes their Cap’n Crunch cues of heavy riffage from the likes of Tool and Led Zeppelin), figure this lineup just might be the one to put them over the top and allow them to quit their day gigs. (Ramsdell and Ewart work in the concrete biz, bassist Aaron Henke is an electrician, and drummer Aaron Tupper is a classics major.)

But at the same time, Ramsdell admits that the passage of time and the encroachment of the day-to-day responsibilities that come with adulthood, they’re keeping their expectations in check. "I remember when we got our last singer, and we thought, ‘Man, we could be onto something good.’ And then things slowly started going downhill. When we first started, our name really stuck around town–it was great. But then things didn’t work out, for whatever reason. So, yeah, there’s been some... I don’t want to say reality checks, but you think everything is going to work out..."

And then it’s on the next singer. Nonetheless, Ramsdell thinks that Ewart’s more refined approach ("a lot of singing and not too much screaming" is how Ramsdell defines it) just might be their ticket to more radio play. In fact, tracks from their new EP, Fight Your Delusions (a play on Guns N’ Roses’ Use Your Illusion, not a commentary on their career aspirations) have already been added to a handful of stations across the country.

Also helping their chances of grabbing the brass ring: some pro-production by Phil Anderson of Edmonton’s Powersound Studios and mastering by Nick Balogna of Toronto’s Metalworks. "He just has a way of pushing you and pushing you," Ramsdell says, "and when it comes to metronomes and pitches and just sitting you down [and saying], ‘Okay, what is this song about? Okay, this is good, but this part here, does it need to be here? Why don’t we try eliminating this part or extending that part?’ Phil is a perfectionist. I mean, I remember going in years ago thinking Phil’s going to love this and he tore our set apart. He said, ‘It’s like we’re going on a trip to Calgary and by Red Deer three people have had to get outside and take a piss. Phil is brutally honest, and we love him for that."

And so, even with a dose of reality, Texas Blood Money are prepping for another big "push," trying to set up a cross-Canada tour, with "professional bands" in the "right kinds" of venues. But, if that doesn’t work... well, it’s not like the band hasn’t been in this spot before. And their acceptance of that fact is something that Ramsdell says has helped keep the band together.

"The fads, we’ve seen them come and go. Has it helped us with our longevity? I’d say that it has. We all come from homes where our parents raised us to do what we want to do. When it comes to actual cliques, we’ve never been a part of that. One of the most important things is staying true to yourself and doing things that make you happy. People can love it or hate it. If you’re a Texas Blood Money fan, thank you very much. I appreciate it. But if you’re not, that’s cool too."

ZOLTAN VARADI
- See magazine, Edmonton

CJSR 88.5MHz - Edmonton
Loud
For the Week Ending: Tuesday, August 14, 2007

1 1 Texas Blood Money Fight Your Delusions Independent

2 3 Fucked Up Year Of The Pig Whats Your Rupture

3 2 Earthless Rhythms From A Cosmic Sky Tee Pee

4 -- 3 Inches Of Blood Fire Up The Blades Roadrunner

5 -- Lozen Enemies Against Power Australian Cattle God

6 6 Caveat Red Cyclone

7 10 Turisas The Varangian Way Century Media

8 8 Ass Drunker Than Jesus Independent

9 9 Dekapitator The Storm Before The Calm Relapse

10 -- Neurosis Given To The Rising Neurot
- CJSR 88.5MHz - Edmonton

CJSR 88.5MHz - Edmonton
Top 30
For the Week Ending: Tuesday, August 7, 2007


TW LW Artist Title Label
1 -- The Doers Gaiety Reluctant

2 4 Gogol Bordello Super Taranta! SideOneDummy

3 11 Nicole Willis And The Soul Investigators Keep Reachin' Up Light In The Attic

4 -- Betty Machete Betty Machete Independent

5 18 The Foggy Hogtown Boys Pigtown Fling Independent

6 7 Emily Haines And The Soft Skeleton What Is Free To A Good Home? Last Gang

7 -- Melissa Majeau Snowflakes And Arrows Independent

8 21 Bishop Allen Broken String Dead Oceans

9 -- Texas Blood Money Fight Your Delusions Independent

10 -- MBP Art Crime Rectangle

11 28 Octoberman Run From Safety White Whale

12 -- Gore Gore Girls Get The Gore Bloodshot

13 -- Fog Ditherer Lex

14 22 Justice Cross Vice/Ed Banger

15 2 Tim Gilbertson Tim Gilbertson Pop Echo

16 -- Andre Ethier On Blue Fog Blue Fog

17 -- Yeah Yeah Yeahs Is Is Interscope

18 -- Zap Mama Supermoon Everloving

19 -- Various Songs Of The African Coast Yarngo

20 -- Turbo Fruits Turbo Fruits Ecstatic Peace

21 9 Carolyn Mark Nothing Is Free Mint

22 15 Carolina Chocolate Drops Dona Got A Ramblin' Mind Music Maker

23 -- Okkervil River The Stage Names Jagjaguwar

24 -- Culver City Dub Collective Dos Everloving

25 -- Ghost House These Are Ghost House Reluctant

26 23 Channels 3X4 Christian Girls Like To Get Cut Summer Lovers Unlimited Music

27 -- Daddy's Hands Welcome Kings Kill Devil Hills

28 -- Spoon Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga Merge

29 -- Little Wings Soft Pow'r RAD / Marriage

30 3 Hot Little Rocket How To Lose Everything File Under Music
- CJSR 88.5MHz - Edmonton