In many areas of life, there’s something to be said for slowing down. In the case of Edmonton’s The Give ‘Em Hell Boys, it yielded More Noise In An Already Noisy World, the band’s first full-length album in over a decade.
It’s a marked evolution from 2012’s Barn Burner, whose combination of bluegrass, country, and punk rock energy garnered a nomination for the Edmonton Music Awards’ Country Recording of the Year. The slew of singles and live recordings over the last thirteen years document the band’s growth, culminating in the new album’s measured and deliberate take on The Give ‘Em Hell Boys’ twang-punk sound.
“When you don’t have a banjo in the band anymore, all of a sudden you go, maybe we don’t have to play everything at 180 beats-per-minute,” quips Quinn Clark, lead singer and guitarist.
Sure enough, after setting a breakneck pace with opener “Bluegrass is Dead,” More Noise… settles into a more moderate tempo, giving listeners time to appreciate Clark’s wry outlaw-country lyrics and Charlie Biddiscombe’s blistering guitar licks. It’s a natural evolution, with the band sounding tighter and more solid than ever.
Writing for More Noise In An Already Noisy World started back in 2020, when life was forcibly slowed down by the pandemic. “I finally had the time to sit down and write a whole record,” recalls Clark. “I’ve been doing the thing you’re supposed to do for years — putting out singles and waiting to see if something sticks — but I found that less satisfying than making a full statement from front to end.”
By mid-2021, The Give ‘Em Hell Boys were ready to enter the studio. However, the downtime had taken its toll. Personnel changes and shifting priorities stalled the recording process. However, not all changes were unwelcome; that year, Clark became a first-time father.
“When fatherhood happened, everything went out the window,” Clark says. “Not in a bad way, just one of those ‘oh right, this is what matters right now’ kind of moments.”
Ultimately, the band lineup solidified: Clark, Biddiscombe, Lindsay Bueckert with an ever-steady hand on bass, and newcomer Evan Brown on drums. In-studio, the band enlisted Peace River session player Matt O’Connor for fiddle and other stringed instruments. The results speak for themselves; the album’s eleven songs bring together the funnest parts of country, roots, bluegrass, and punk for a fresh take on classic Western music.
For this album cycle, The Give ‘Em Hell Boys plan to take a more strategic approach to touring. “Years of experience have taught me it’s better to be strategic — to go where you can be most effective.”
However, The Give ’Em Hell Boys are keeping their foot on the gas. Alongside playing shows and promoting their album, Clark and company remain passionate about supporting Alberta’s burgeoning underground country scene. Clark also champions local artists online through a weekly program on Big E Radio.
“Back when we were starting out, there weren’t a lot of bands doing what we do. We’d end up on rockabilly or punk bills because that’s where we fit,” Clark recalls. “Now there’s finally a real underground country scene in Edmonton. It’s rough around the edges, DIY, and everyone’s doing their own thing.”
These days, The Give ’Em Hell Boys prove that slowing down doesn’t mean losing your edge. Fueled by grit, energy, and a love for the community that shaped them, they’re continuing to chart their own course through the wilds of modern country.
The Give ‘Em Hell Boys will throw their album release party in Edmonton November 15. Find details here.
“All Said And Done” is from The Give ‘Em Hell Boys new album, More Noise In An Already Noisy World.
