Local bastards get air play in Texas

Aaron Gibbs, John R. Conway, Paul Michael Stos and Charlie Yanni, also known as the Billy Bastards, have a lot to be proud of.

Their track Back In The Bottle will be included on a Toronto Experimental Artists compilation scheduled for release in February 2008.

Their music is in regular rotation on KBSO 94.7 out of Corpus Christi, Texas.

And they have developed an impressive following both in Canada and the U.S.

All of this without performing a single live gig.

Gibbs credits the band's growing popularity to MySpace, which is how they were first discovered by KBSO 94.7.

The Billy Bastards have been in contact with the radio station, promoting themselves with the intention of setting up a few shows in Texas.

"Besides locally, our biggest following is in the States," says Gibbs.

But the project had very modest begins.

Gibbs and Conway began playing together as somewhat of a joke.

About a year ago before the band was even formed, they wrote and recorded their first CD, available on-line and at Eargasm Records, 823 Queen St. E.

Now, with a solid line-up of musicians and a ton of original material, the Billy Bastards are set to make their Sault Ste. Marie debut in the upstairs bar at the Algonquin Hotel on Friday, November 30.

Doors open at 10 p.m. with the Billy Bastards taking the stage at 11 p.m.

Bring your cowboy hat, your thirst and $2 for the cover charge.

"This is definitely NOT an all-ages show," noted Gibbs.

After a few local gigs, the Bastards plan on hitting the dusty trail for a small northern Ontario/U.S. tour.

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