Local blues band the Bad Pennies are looking for some help in their quest to compete at a major international competition in January.
The Bad Pennies formed in Vancouver in 2022, features Jeff Baker on lead guitar and vocals, Mark Milner on bass, and Jim Reid on drums.
They bring a rare and potent blend of sophistication and raw power to classic and contemporary blues, covering songs by The Allman Brothers, B.B. King, Gary Moore, Stevie Ray Vaughan, ZZ Top - and many more.
As for style, they play a mix of traditional and modern blues songs, but all in a thoroughly electric way. Influences that include classic blues, electric blues, and blues rock, but in their own style.
Back in the spring after playing together for only about six weeks, the band decided to throw their names in the ring to enter a competition in Abbotsford sponsored by the Fraser Valley Blues Society.
“We didn’t expect to be accepted, but we made the cut,” said Reid a Ladner resident and counsellor in Tsawwassen. “On the day of the competition we came in second, but the first-place band dropped out, so we were offered the winners’ prize. The grand prize was a chance to compete in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee in January.”
Since then, the band has been trying to raise funds playing gigs around town as well as through a GoFundMe page.
They also have a number of gigs planned throughout the Lower Mainland in December including a local fundraising show here in Ladner at the Landing Pub on Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.
“Any fundraising support from the community would be appreciated,” added Reid.
