The Weal – Rock And Roll Music Explodes With Napalmpom

The Weal interviewed former SAIT student Craig Evans – check out what he had to say here.

Unconditional Love

Rock and roll has made its way into Calgary’s local music scene, thanks to SAIT student, Craig Evans, and his band Napalmpom.

Originally just a group of five guys filling in for another band at The Palomino Smokehouse in 2011, Napalmpom quickly gathered a following, leading to the release of their debut album on Oct. 17.

“I’m really, really happy with the album. Our songs have straight up rock and roll riffs, but it’s filtered with pop, metal, noise, and punk rock,” said Evans.

The album launch will be taking place at the Palomino Smokehouse this Friday on Oct. 17, and fans can expect a hard-core party with a celebratory atmosphere, just like the band name suggests.

“Napalm is a powerful name that lends itself to aggressive rock and roll imagery, [whereas] the pom at the end tempers the more masculine aspects of our music. It is more celebratory in nature.”

Not only is Evans one of the guitarists for Napalmpom, but he is also a carpenter for Hopewell Development Corporation here in Calgary.

Having completed his first year in SAIT’s pre-employment carpentry apprenticeship program in 2011, Evans enjoys his work in the construction industry.

“You get to do something new everyday, and looking back, I realize how much I’ve learned,” he said.

Working for Hopewell Development pays Evans’ bills, and allows him time to pursue rock and roll.

“I’ve always had a varied and voracious appetite for rock and roll music.”

Evans’ father worked for GRT Quality Records, resulting in a childhood filled with music.

There was no shortage of records for Evans to listen too, and it wasn’t’ long before he taught himself to play the guitar.

“It’s always been the guitar for me. I went straight from a tennis racket to a guitar.”

However, Evans did not start performing live until much later in his life. Growing up in the small town of Amherst, Nova Scotia, there was not much of a local music scene.

“The concept of playing original music did not dawn on me when I was out east,” he said.

It wasn’t until Evans moved to Calgary in the mid-90s that “his eyes opened up” to all the possibilities.

Since then Evans has been part of Calgary’s music scene, whether it was booking bands at the Night Gallery Cabaret or organizing the launch of the Sled Island music festival.

“I got to know the local music scene very well at the time,” he said. But the genre of music he loved the best was missing.

“We started this band because no one was playing the music we wanted to see. Music that makes you feel good…zero pretention, just straight up love for rock and roll.”

The Unconditional Love Of Napalmpom can be purchased online at napalmpom.bandcamp.com/releases. The album launch will take place at Palomino Smokehouse at 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17. Tickets are $12 in advance at bigtickets.ca or $15 at the door.