NEW BOOTS... NEW SONGS... NEW FACES... COMING FOR SUMMER 2007

These boots are made to party...and that's just what they'll do...one of these nights these boots are gonna party down with you! (and Gumby too)

New Customer Relations Rep

 We are pleased to announce that as of January 2007, "GUIDO" has joined the MWS "team" as our "Customer Relations Officer". If there is a dispute or questions over

• contracts
• length of sets
• beer promised but not in the dressing room
• our "manliness" in regards to wearing shiny shirts and platform shoes
• wanting us to "share" hotel rooms with each other
• wanting us to play your wedding and not realizing it costs thousands of dollars...etc, then GUIDO will be happy to deal with your concerns. We welcome you to the MWS team GUIDO!

(OK...it's really Frankie Vegas, founder of MWS caught on camera after a 4 day binge in Tahoe)

Country Legend Hits Studio With MWS

TEX EMERY

He went on to work and share stages with a long list of musicians that includes the above mentioned Hank Snow, Lenny Breau, Bob Wills and even a stint on the country show of all country shows "Hee Haw".

"I remember  running out to the television in my pajamas as a small kid with my cowboy hat and whistle and doing a dance to Tex's TV show" says Irv.  "I wanted to be a cowboy like Roy Rogers and Tex".

The legend was in the studio recently to record a few sweet steel riffs for the new MWS remake of  The Who's "Squeeze Box".

Bart McKay-Mark Smith & Johnny Gasparic-Casey Stone

More Help From The Country Rock World

As well as Tex Emery, some other very talented people from the world of country have put their mark on the latest MWS song.

Bart McKay, the keyboard wiz for Brad Johner (and awesome producer in his own right) laid down a mean squeeze box.

Mark Smith from Poverty Plainsmen, who's remake of Sister Golden Hair is eating up the Canadian charts, helped out with some backing vocals.

 Casey Stone did the majority of the backing vocals. (Casey's little solo part is worth the price of admission on it's own)

Johnny "Six Pack" Gasparic from The Plainsmen added some kind of techno-banjo thingy that is tres-cool and engineered most of the session.

Stevo is the new dude on lead vocals and rhythm guitar.

His energy and amazing voice have turned our first couple of gigs together into crazy nights. From Journey to Nazareth, The Sweet to CCR, Stevo brings it all to the party.

Steve has achieved a lot in the  Canadian music scene with the band May Run and others,  recording albums and videos.

His original project, Civil Stevens, shows off his songwriting talent and voice, and has garnered national attention including upcoming performances at the East Coast Music awards in February 2006 and showcases for major label execs and agents.

Hal is the new cat on drums and percussion and other noises. If someone in Saskatchewan is making a stir in the music business then it is most likely Hal is involved. Hal is the second Juno award winner in MWS, who along with Brent picked one up for their work with Chester Knight.

Some of his other previous drum gigs have been with groups such as 96 Tears, Mary Mary, Eva Gold, Nicol Lischka & Mobadass.

As well as drumming with MWS, Hal is currently gigging with Civil Stevens (Steve's original project) and working in Vancouver with  Carol Cockrum.

He is also in training for a marathon run in Europe in September. (not his first) Brent and Irv say they ran once, in Calgary, when the bar was closing.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 2005
Men Without Shame/ Wilkinsons On Top Of The World...Literally

Click For Pictures or go to photo page.

North Pole Movie To Squeeze Box Icebergs, Wolves and Wilkinsons...

Men Without Shame have just returned from a CFPSA military tour that journeyed to The North Pole from December 8^th to 18^th. As part of the package, they were also the band for The Wilkinsons, the award winning country trio known for songs such as “L.A.”, “Boy Oh Boy”, “Jimmy’s Got a Girlfriend” and other popular hits from the world of CMT, and Kelli Trottier, champion fiddler and stepdancer. The group’s journey began in Trenton, Ontario, where they met up with the other performers for a dress rehearsal /show. From Trenton, the performers and their equipment left on an 8 1/2 hour trip that has been described as “a little chilly and grueling” on a CF 130 Hercules which took them to Thule Air Base on the northern tip of Greenland. From Greenland it was off again on the Hercules to CFS Alert, Nunavut, to perform for the Canadian Forces personnel stationed at the world’s most northern inhabited community. Alert is approx. 750 kilometers from the North Pole.

While at Alert, the band had visited the famous Alert sign with the names & mileages of towns and cities of the people who have served and noticed that Regina was not there. The group had a Regina sign made in Santa’s Workshop (the woodworking shop) and arranged for an Arctic vehicle known as a “BV” to get to the sight and post the sign with the help of some services personnel. At the time the sign went up, the members of Men Without Shame were the most northern human beings on the planet. “During winter, it is even too cold for polar bears to be that far North” said Irv Fines, bass player. “The closest humans to Alert are at least 1,000 kilometres south. “Seeing the icebergs on the Arctic Ocean was an unforgettable sight. Even though it is in 24 hour darkness you could see the iceberg tips shining forever. We also got to see Arctic foxes and wolves at very close range, after hiding a couple chicken fingers in Robbie's pockets, which was a thrill. We had no idea that Rob could run so fast in full Arctic gear. ” Rob also put up an Estevan sign on behalf of his home town.

The band and some military personnel also joined an exclusive club by doing a “Polar Roll” with the temperature at -31. The chief medical officer supervised the roll which consists of staying outside for 30 seconds and then taking a plunge and roll into a snow bank. “We got the t-shirt” stated Fines.

“Men Without Shame took the position that bringing these troops a little piece of home and a bit of a distraction near Christmas seems to be the least we can do for them. To serve for 6 months in 24 hour darkness away from your family and friends takes a very special type of person. These folks are the best of the best. The people who had the band booked during this time were all very understanding and did their part by letting us off the hook to go on this tour.” Brenda Davis & Stephanie Thomson of BK Promotions and Paige Productions, both Regina companies, put the tour together.

“As far as playing for The Wilkinsons and Kelli, they were not only extremely talented performers, but were genuinely nice people. This could have been a real long tour if they were prima donnas, but they were all easy going and super friendly. They were in the Arctic gear marching off the plane with their duffle bags like the rest of us...no star treatment up there. This type of journey in close quarters made us lifelong friends in a hurry and we all insisted on keeping in touch.” says Fines. Kelli Trottier is now a  3 time veteran of The North Pole trip and was an invaluable comfort and information source to the rest of us first timers.

The timing of this foray into country coincides with Men Without Shame working on a “countryish” remake of “Squeeze Box” by The Who. “We brought in Bart McKay from Brad Johner’s band to play the squeeze box and got Casey Stone to do some vocals, and we all went out and got cowboy hats. Hopefully we can get it on country radio in time to get booked for Craven” says Fines, smiling. “Hey, don’t laugh, there’s been stranger country bands than us...remember the Kentucky Headhunters?”    

Others on the tour were comedian Erica Sigurdsen, and magician Daniel Coutu.

Due to bad weather in Thule the trip home was made in one continuous journey. Fines says “We stopped in Iqaluit, on Baffin Island to quickly refuel and that was it. The hardest part of the trip was dealing with 5 gate changes and several delays on the final leg of the trip on Air Canada from Toronto to Regina. We were all really exhausted and then to have the final little flight go all wrong was really frustrating, but that is just how it is sometimes.  It was the trip of a lifetime.  ”

 ALERT FACTS

• There is less humidity at Alert than in the Sahara desert. The snow is like granulated sugar and is very dry and powdery.
• There are virtually no colds or flu bugs reported at Alert as the viruses cannot survive in the harsh environment. A cold could only arrive on base if someone brought it in on the Hercules aircraft.
• Gauges in the aircraft are useless due to the magnetic pole and navigation is done the old fashioned way, by the stars and sun.
• All vehicles at Alert run on aircraft fuel, and all planes that arrive are drained of an amount of fuel leaving just enough for the trip back to Thule Airbase in Greenland or Iqaluit, Nunavut, where they refuel for the trip back to Trenton Base in Ontario.
• Arctic Hares are carnivores, eating small rodents and have been known to gang up on foxes and petite girl singers. Killer rabbits do exist!
• SANTA CLAUS REALLY IS  AT THE NORTH POLE, JUST LIKE MOM AND DAD SAID!

Rob was astounded to hear from Tommy Lee himself that Pamela Anderson was single again. Here is Tommy telling Rob "She's all yours buddy...if you can keep up to her then you deserve her."

Miracle Hair Growth Formula goes Awry

After buying a hair growth tonic advertised in the World Global News, Irv woke up with a full mullet of hair on his usually shiny head. "I just rubbed this stuff on my head, went to sleep, and PRESTO! "

What is yellow and black and giggles and screams as it goes over a waterfall?

CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR THE ANSWER

THE HEADPINS IN TOWN

If you felt something like an earthquake a Thursday night or so ago you are probably correct. The Headpins were at The Pump in Regina and completely rocked the room. Darby Mills, the vocalist, and Roger Riveland, merchandise manager, (and great photographer by the way...see his web site under links.) were kind enough to actually talk to Irv. If you ever want to see how rock guitar, drums, bass and keyboards should be played, go see Darby and her incredible band.  

Thanks to Bree from opening act Sonic Orchid for taking the photo.

Coach Is Cornered

MWS Sound tech Dave "what's that you say?" McCann, being the biggest Leaf's fan in Saskatchewan, flew to Toronto  8 games ago to give coach Quinn a few pointers. The Leafs had not lost a game since, up until last night. After an angry phone call from Dave, Pat said it was "just a mind fart" and the team would be back on it's winning streak from here on in to the playoffs. "Dave has lifted what feels like a ton of bricks off my shoulders, and since his pep talk we are number one in our division" said a refreshed looking Quinn after the Toronto meeting. 

Irv was all smiles in Saskatoon as he met "Ricky" from his favourite TV show Trailer Park Boys. But within seconds his smiles turned to tears as Ricky saw the Purple Bus and decided it was his new home. "Give me the f#*k'n keys ya f#*k'n little piece of sh*t!, " said Ricky to Irv. Fortunately Bubbles heard Irv crying and convinced Ricky to give the bus back so the band could get to it's gigs.

The Flying Squirrel (Jason) and his lovely wife Susan are the proud parents of a baby girl. Kaitlyn Elizabeth was born on Tuesday, November 25, at approx 7:00AM. The band and crew wish Susan and Jason all the happiness in the world with the new addition, as long as Jason is back on the road this weekend....:-)

I'm a Dad!

Gordie Johnson has decided to pack in Big Sugar. Apparently after meeting two of his biggest fans, Rob & Kevin, he converted to the Amish faith and traded in his guitars and real loud amps for an Ox cart. As he left the building he could be heard mumbling something that sounded like ..what have I done...what have I done?

In Saskatoon a surprise award was bestowed on the band. Thank you to The Black American Blues Society Of Canada.

Check it out here!

All rock 'n roll owes it's origins to the blues.

Holiday goes awry for Shameless bass player

An International incident occurred at the North Dakota State Fair when Irv and Ms Stephanie were attacked by giant birds. Irv, who was on holidays at the time, had volunteered to drive Ms Steph to a singin' contest (which she won over 16 other competitors...more later) being held at the fair. After the contest, they headed for the midway and were immediately accosted by giant birds with sharp beaks. "I think it was one of the jealous competitors who unleashed the feathery fiends on us" said Irv. "Luckily for me the birds realized Irv was a grain fed veggie and they swarmed on him instead of me" said Ms. Steph. On a bright note, congratulations to Stephanie Thomson for winning the Colgate Country Showdown State Finals. To be the only Canadian in the contest and go up against local favorites and judges demanded an undeniable performance which she delivered. "She could have been as popular as a 100% Canadian Beef Burger Booth at the State Fair but she charmed the audience and judges with her songs, voice and personality,"  said Irv after the competition. Now it's off to the regionals ...then the finals...for $100,000 and a Lyric Street Records recording contract. Past contestants (not all winners) include Martina McBride, Le Ann Rimes, Neil McCoy and Sara Evans to name a few.  Good luck and if you win the $100,000 please get a plastic surgeon for the beak marks on Irv's forehead.

MWS IN THE ARCTIC

Yes, Men Without Shame invaded the Arctic circle with a couple of shows at the Funkfest YK festival in Yellowknife, NWT. Here are a couple of our tourist photos.

Number System Implemented

Due to the overwhelming and un-forseen demands put on the newest and youngest member of Men Without Shame, a "Take a Number" machine has been ordered and will be installed outside his hotel room. This should help Pappy (Irv), Squirrel (Jason) and Talk Box (Brent) get some sleep as the girls will now know when they can visit Rob, and won't have to yell and scream in the hallway at 4:00AM in the morning. Kevin has volunteered to room with Rob and be the "number caller guy".

Like Fred and Barney, Ralph and Norton, Abbott and Costello... Irv and Jason recently had a big idea. They would promote their own show on the Labour Day weekend. With 40,000 football fans in town and a track record of 5 years of sell out shows on this weekend how could a 3 band cabaret with MWS, Wonderland and Cherry Bomb at The Centre Of The Arts  lose?  The best answer we have had so far is that Mercury went into retrograde on Thursday before the show. Loverboy was in town but they had a few people as well. Fortunately Dom at Fas Gas on Victoria Avenue felt sorry for the dynamic duo and gave them jobs to work off their debts. "This is kinda cool", says Jason. "My arms really hurt from wiping windows but I get home in time to watch The Simpsons every day." Irv said "yeah, and I'm starting to really like this gasoline smell." Anyway, thanks to all the folks who showed up and danced and had a lot of fun with the bands.  Halloween anyone?