This year has been a year of change, but also very exciting for Cold Creek County. The country rock band from Brighton, Ont. released their new EP Homemade, earned their first Juno nomination for Breakout Group of the Year, and opened for Dallas Smith on the Side Effects Tour.
The band performed at the Crazy Horse in Kanata on Nov. 9. Although the venue itself is relatively small, its country decor was fitting for the packed exclusive event. Promoted as the “One Night Stand with Cold Creek County,” the only way for people to get into the show was by calling into Ottawa’s New Country 94 radio station and being the 25th caller in the daily giveaway.
Drummer Doug Oliver told The Charlatan that the band is heading in a new direction, and he said he hopes that newer songs have more of a focus on meaningful topics, such as life experiences and love.
“We’re just trying to put out the best material that connects with us the most,” he said, “You can put out lots of different songs that make you get up and dance, but I think there’s an appreciation in this band where we like to actually listen to the lyrics and feel something.”
That was the main thought process behind Homemade, which highlights the band’s progression to more genuine and sentimental songs.
“I think the path we’re on is right for us, and we’re having a good run with it so far,” Oliver said. “Homemade has done very, very well for us so far and it’s great, we’re glad that people received it well.”
During the show, they played through all of Homemade, especially standing out in songs such as “This Town Is You” and “Money.” They also occasionally went back to their 2015 debut album, Till the Wheels Come Off. The band kept the energy going throughout their hour-long set and got the crowd singing to hits such as “Good Thing We’re in The Country” and “Beer Weather.”
Occasionally, some of the band members kindly accepted cans of beer that floated to the front of the crowd. Lead singer Ches Anthony also occasionally got a hold of a few cell phones from fans and took selfie videos of him singing. After leaving the stage, the band met with fans and took pictures with them.
“It’s pretty amazing to remember the days when we were playing weddings and things like that, when people didn’t really care that there was a band there,” said guitarist Josh Lester. “The fact that 25 people would call in at all, and let alone every day, it’s pretty crazy.”
Cold Creek County is getting ready for what should be an exciting 2018. In February, they will be joined by fellow Canadians, The Washboard Union, as they open for Nashville superstars, Old Dominion. They also expect to go back to the studio and release a new EP.
“I think this year, we all agree was kind of showing a new side to ourselves,” said banjo player Jordan Honsinger, “We’re going to have some new music released next year, and that will further evolve our sound and our vibe.”
