Leeroy Stagger Gets Real

03/25/09 4:07pm

Canadian singer, songwriter and musician Leeroy Stagger's Everything Is Real will be released via his own Rebeltone Records label on April 28.

The fourth studio album from the former Victoria resident who now calls Lethbridge, Alta. home was inspired by rock and punk from the '70s, but retains the rootsy edge he's always possessed.

"I don't want to make records that sound like the ones I've already made," says Stagger. "This time I wanted to make a classic sounding record like the ones I grew up listening to."

Everything Is Real was produced by John Ellis (Jeremy Fisher, Be Good Tanyas), who was also at the controls for Stagger's previous effort, 2006's Depression River. They were joined in Ellis' Ashcroft, B.C. studio by drummer Pat Steward (Bryan Adams, Odds), bassist Tyson Maiko and guitarist Kevin Kane (The Grapes of Wrath).

Guests included Bobby Furgo from Leonard Cohen's band, New West recording artist Tim Easton, The Whipsaws' Evan Phillips, Hot Hot Heat's Steve Bays, Neal Casal from Ryan Adams And The Cardinals and Scottish singer/songwriter Roddy Hart.

"Another Friday Night" can be previewed on Stagger's MySpace page.

Stagger is also a member of the folk trio Easton, Stagger, Phillips. He's collaborated with Kathleen Edwards and Danny Michel and has performed in support of The Pixies, Modest Mouse and Evan Dando.

Stagger plans to tour extensively in support of Everything Is Real. Here are his confirmed dates so far:

May 22 Calgary, AB @ The Palomino
May 23 Lethbridge, AB @ The Slice
May 24 Edmonton, AB @ Pawn Shop
May 26 Nelson, BC @ The Royal On Baker
May 28 Kelowna, BC @ Habitat
May 29 Vancouver, BC @ The Railway Club
May 30 Victoria, BC @ Logan's Pub
June 3 Nanaimo, BC @ The Queen's Hotel
June 4 Courtney, BC @ Joe's Garage
June 5 Duncan, BC @ Duncan Garage Showroom
June 6 Tofino, BC @ The Legion
June 16 Hamilton, ON @ The Casbah
June 19 Windsor, ON @ Phog Lounge
June 25 Wakefield, QC @ Black Sheep Inn
July 4 Port Moody, BC @ Golden Spike Days

Here are the songs on Everything Is Real:

"Petrified World"
"Sleep Alone"
"Hell Of A Life"
"Brothers"
"Red Bandana"
"Stormy"
"Too Many Rainy Day"
"Higher Than Heaven"
"Everything Is Real"
"Snowing In Nashville"
"Another Friday Night"