Paul Pigat to Appear on Two New Albums in February

By: Staff

Cousin Harley

Little Pig Records announces a February 15 U.S. release date for new CDs from Cousin Harley, It’s a Sin; and Paul Pigat, Boxcar Campfire, distributed in the U.S. by Burnside Distribution.The common denominator in both CDs is dynamic guitarist Paul Pigat, whose musician credits also include touring or recording with such artists as Jakob Dylan, Neko Case and Jim Byrnes, among others. The albums showcase his amazing chops in a variety of music forms ranging from rockabilly, blues and surf to western swing, folk, Tex-Mex and flat-out rock.

Already a critically-acclaimed release in Pigat’s native Canada, Cousin Harley’s It’s a Sin comes blasting out of the speakers on the opening cut, “Conductor Man,” like some runaway train and doesn’t let up until the album’s closer, the appropriately-titled spaghetti western instrumental, “Spaghetti No Sauce.” Ably backed by Keith Picot on bass and Jesse Cahill on drums, Paul Pigat takes Cousin Harley out for a major spin on It’s a Sin, seemingly bouncing around curves and getting so dangerously close to the edge – but never out of control.

Pigat puts on a dazzling guitar display throughout It’s a Sin, but eschews the trap of overplaying so common in the trio format. It’s playing with a purpose – if you will – and Paul’s purpose is to entertain, which he does so in spades. Whether it’s the rockabilly flourishes in “She’s Comin’ Back,” “It’s a Sin” or “Red Hair Baby;” the bluesy blast of  “2 Bottles of Booze;” the Les Paul/Chet Atkins-influenced “Beaver Fever” (a slice of instrumental heaven that surely has Chester & Lester smiling down on him); the killer honky tonk non-stop drive of “Hoss’ Hoedown;” the sweetly western swinging of “I’ll Keep My Old Guitar” and “Swingin’ Like a Mofo;” or any other of the remaining tracks on this 13-cut all-original disc, Paul Pigat delivers big-time.

On Pigat’s Boxcar Campfire, he does a 180-degree turnaround, focusing on a more acoustic sound, but with the same passion and soul that characterizes the companion CD.

Boxcar Campfire

A collection of mostly self-penned songs about love, heartbreak and redemption, the folk/blues/string-band sound on Boxcar Campfire recalls songwriting influences from Townes Van Zandt to Mississippi John Hurt. At one end of the scale are light-hearted tunes, and on the other, dark fantasies of the mind. Although laced with tasteful musicianship throughout, the songs are the main focus on this CD, rather than the playing.

Paul Pigat wears his guitar influences proudly on his sleeve, and one listen to these CDs will bring those clearly to the forefront: Les Paul, Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, Doc Watson and Mississippi John Hurt – with a little Danny Gatton thrown in. Above it all is Paul’s ability to harness those influences and spin them in a direction that is purely his own.

He so thoroughly impressed Gretsch Guitars at Viva Las Vegas in 2009 that they immediately added him to their distinguished list of endorsed artists and signed him up as their touring clinician. Paul will be performing at the Fender/Gretsch booth at the upcoming Winter NAMM show next week in Anaheim.

In addition to continued touring in Canada and Europe on his own or as guitarist with other artists, Cousin Harley will be touring in the U.S. in 2011, with dates to be announced.

For more information, visit www.cousinharley.com, www.paulpigat.com, www.pooka.ca and www.littlepigrecords.com.