Archived News

12/30/07 Powersludge Music Video Receives 300 Hits In 48 hours. Powersludge's Hot As Hell music video has received over 300 hits in the short time it has been available on YouTube. Soaking up 187 of those hits in the first 18 hours, the trafic keeps coming putting the latest count at 316. The video can also be found on MySpace and Facebook. YouTube users are urged to rate the video and to post comments for the band to see. You can click on the link below to go directly to the YouTube version.

(Link requires YouTube membership to view. Proof of age required. WARNING: This music video contains scenes of nudity, alcoholism, drug abuse and other unsavory scenes. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. 18+ ONLY!)

12/28/07 Powersludge Now On Facebook and ReverbNation. Powersludge is officially on Facebook and ReverbNation. Join up to be a member of Powersludge's street team, or join the fanclub and stay up to date on all things Powersludge.

12/10/07 Powersludge Article As It Appeared in Central Alberta Life on 12/10/07 and The Red Deer Advocate on 12/12/07.

Dec 12 2007

By CAMERON KENNEDY

LIFE editor

Powersludge packs the punch of a stiff paralyzer.

The Stettler band’s heady mix of sleazy, late ’80s rock — minus the spandex and big hair — keeps its rabid fans coming back for more.

“I have never signed as many breasts as I have in Stettler,” says Shaman Crowe, elaborating on the group’s popularity at home.

“The illustrious kings of booze-induced sleaze,” Powersludge is Crowe, vocals and guitar; Steve Fooks, guitar; Mike Gunderman, drums; and Robin Fooks, who replaced original member Gerry Hixx on bass.

The band writes, records and produces its own material. Earlier this year, it celebrated the release of the Jägerleizer E.P., the follow-up to its debut, Gimme the Booze E.P. It also embarked on its Huge in Japan Tour, a reference to the band’s apparent popularity in Japan on Last.fm, an Internet radio and music community website based in the United Kingdom.

“We’ll have to go (to Japan) I’m thinking,” muses Crowe. “There are a lot of bands who spend quite a bit of time in Japan. (Members of) Skid Row had a fairly lucrative career there after they broke up.”

“Totalitarian discipline” and an unwavering commitment to making music has held Powersludge together since a mutual friend introduced Gunderman and Crowe in April 2004. Crowe, 31, had toured with a lot of death metal bands during his music career, but he also enjoyed the simplicity of straight-up rock ’n roll. Powersludge is an amalgamation of his previous work, he says.

“It’s a lot more fun to play three chords well than 1,200 chords terribly,” Crowe adds with a laugh.

Gunderman, a diehard Roughriders fan from Oxbow, Sask., hadn’t pounded the skins publicly for close to eight years when he met Crowe. As the elder statesman of the original band, who will say only that he’s in his 40s, Gunderman been mistaken for the band’s manager or, worse, a father. He shrugs off the comments about his age with good humour.

“It’s not about age, it’s about what’s in your heart,” he says. “If you love doing what you do, it just doesn’t matter.”

Still, there are nights that Gunderman wishes that he had taken up the harmonica instead of the drums, because drummers are either setting up or tearing down equipment.

“By the time I’m done tearing down my drums, the girls are all gone and I end up socializing with the barmaids.”

Fooks had worked with Crowe in the past, making him a natural addition to the jam sessions brewing in Gunderman’s basement. Guitarist Hixx was pressed into action to play bass.

Most of Crowe’s favourite stories about the band involve Hixx. At one of Powersludge’s early shows in Stettler, Hixx bounced the bass he had borrowed off monitors and rubbed it on poles while its owner looked on, “eyes as wide as saucers,” recalls Crowe.

At other shows, Hixx would remove his bass mid-song, take off his shirt, down a beer that he had scooped from an unsuspecting fan sitting at the front of the stage and then continue playing, completely oblivious to the fact that he had a role in the band, he says.

“He wasn’t really a very good bass player, but he was a helluva good showman.”

Hixx left the band about a year ago. Robin Fooks, Steve’s father, fills the vacancy.

“He is actually a bass player, so it worked out way better,” says Crowe. “He’s a lot easier on equipment. It saves us money there, too.”

Powersludge’s loud, booze- and bud-infused brand of hard rock will have many people reaching for their earplugs. The band happily provides them at its shows, which, in Stettler at least, have a tendency to dissolve into melees because everybody “loses their heads” once the music starts. Fans in need of a little sleaze need look no further than the “cleavage cam”, an idea popularized by Motley Crue on its latest tour.

“I ran into a police officer not so long and I told him we were going to be playing in town at the end of October,” says Crowe. “He said, ‘We’ll just stand out the side door and you just throw them out at us.’

“I don’t know what it is, but our hometown shows are history-making events to be cherished.”

Beyond Stettler, the band has played infrequent gigs across Central Alberta and competed in several “Band Warz” events in Calgary. In October, it took a shot at landing a spot in an upcoming reality series and a $1-million recording contract.

While the band would love to move to a larger centre where gigs are more plentiful, Stettler has its appeal. The town’s low overhead allows the band to spend its money on better gear for the project rather than rent.

“It’s not about money, it’s not about girls, it’s not about drinking, it’s about making music,” insists Crowe.

Powersludge has high hopes for 2008. It’s working on a bunch of new songs and is planning a tour. The challenge is getting everyone in the studio at the same time.

“A good friend of mine said, ‘If you’re not having fun, you’re wasting my time,’” says Crowe. “We enjoy doing what we do, so when we hit the stage, we try to make sure everybody standing in front of it is having as good a time as we are.”

For more information, visit www.pissoffrecords.com

Contact Cameron Kennedy at ckennedy@reddeeradvocate.com

10/30/07 Freakin' At The PumkinHeadbangers Ball 2007. The second annual PumkinHeadbangers Ball took place this year at The Beat (previously known as The Stettler Hotel.) This years line-up featured Powersludge headlining with King Ring Nancy and Euphonic as support. Billed as an event so big it had to be two days long, the event was as to be expected; a two day piss-up and rock and roll circus. As the smoke rolled off the stage Powersludge lit up with a drunken fury second to none, playing a different set each night, fans were treated with some never before heard tracks as well as some improvisational ones. One song in particular bears a mention. An improvisation piece called "My Name Is Mike McDonald (And I Don't Give A Fuck)" saw its namesake arrested while onstage to chants of "free Mike Mcdonald!" All in all another successful hometown outing. Happy Helloween!!

10/16/07 Powersludge Announces Official Line-Up Change. Powersludge officially announced today that Steel Wheelchair bassist Robin Fooks will be replacing bass slinger Gerry Hixx. The change comes after Hixx was allegedly unresponsive to tour obligations and has been out of contact for some time. Hixx's role as a welder in various gold mines in BC has led to his unavailabilty over the last few months, forcing Powersludge to look at a replacement for live performances. This replacement was found in Robin Fooks, who has been covering all appearances on the Huge In Japan Tour thus far. "It's seems a natural fit to ask Robin to join us officially," stated Shaman Crowe. "He has been with us throughout the tour as well as in the studio while we've been demoing new songs. We love Gerry and all the hard work he put in over the years, but we've got to look at things realistically. We need to focus on what is important to Powersludge at this point and we need to be a cohesive unit that can be relied upon to perform. Robin allows us that liberty." Fooks' first official appearance will be at The PumkinHeadbangers Ball 2007, October 26 and 27 at The Beat.

Robin Fooks - Bass & Back Vox, Shaman Crowe - Lead Vox & Guitar, Steve "The Wookie" Fooks - Guitar & Back Vox, Mike "Gunner" Gunderman - Drums & Percussion.

Bodog Battle Gets a Little Intimate in Calgary

Submitted courtesy of Bodog Battle

Is the remainder of Calgary's music scene shaking with fear? It should be. This Bodog Battle audition round was packed tight with talent. We say “packed tight” because Morgan’s Pub, our tiny and intimate venue, gave this show the atmosphere it needed to keep things hot. This should tell you that everyone else you know is getting tickets to a live show and so should you. Do it now! While you’re at it, sign up to vote for your favorite bands. Your vote will help them take one small step towards a $1 million recording contract with

Bodog Music .

New Fight Scene was our brave first band. The young four-piece punk group had fans on their feet from the first song. There was screaming and there was clapping. Who doesn’t like loud noises? Rockstone had a nice mix of acoustic and electric guitars. The solid riffs and great solos made this band of younglings seem like old school kats. Keep an eye out for them in the impress the judges round.

Bravado came next, with a heavy rock/metal sound. They were tight and serious about their music. Their on-stage confidence had their fans screaming for more. Bodog Battle is all about giving fans what they want; this band will play for us again in the impress the judges round.

Hallowed moon was a fine punk band, and had a nice Mohawk in its midst. They did punk right, reminding us that these types of upbeat tunes never get old. Some would say that it’s all in a name, and the members of Powersludge would definitely agree. The name speaks for itself. Hard rolling rock rifts ripped right off their fingers. Their old school feel had a new rock mix, with a screaming front man topping it off.

This Tyme Last Year had the energy, so watch out! This young three-piece band got better by the note. Their constant rise made them a smooth and tight band that understands the dynamics of being on stage. Second Hand had the music and the writing skills to pull off a great set. Their folky songs demonstrated their extreme skills. We were impressed. Let's hope the judges are too.

The Matt Blais Connection brought some funk to the show, getting the fans moving and, of course, attracting the attention of every person in the room. Matt and friends had some great sounds that we’ll be hearing more of in round one. Sleeping With Tuesday had a great folk rock sound. The nice lyrics caught everyone’s ear. The band’s catchy hooks made them stand out strong. They will be moving on.

As usual, we heard some awesome music. The bands were perfect for the venue and the fans really showed their support. Thanks to all the bands that came out! Also, thanks to the great folks at Morgan’s Pub: you really made the show. Don’t be the last to see for yourself. These bands are better experienced live, so come on out to a live show!

10/10/07 Powersludge Article As It Appeared In The Stettler Independent 10/10/07.

A local band billing themselves as the illustrious kings of booze-induced sleaze will be looking for more fan support this week as they head to Calgary to compete in a battle of the bands that could ultimately lead to a $1 million recording contract.

Powersludge will be taking the stage at Morgan's Pub in Calgary tonight to compete in the Bodog Battle.

The top 10 bands from across the country will be featured in a reality television show where they will continue to compete for the recording contract.

Powersludge frontman Shaman Crowe is optimistic about the group's chances. How to win is simple, he says.

Things have been busy for the guys, who include Mike Gunderman on drums, Steve Fooks on rythm guitar, Gerry Hixx on bass and Crowe as lead vocals and lead guitar.

Crowe says Hixx is presently away at a "gold mine" and will be replaced by Fooks' father Robin at the show tonight.

"We like to say that we got him from a band called Steel Wheelchair," Crowe said with a laugh.

The band has been together since 2004 and have been recently after releasing their second album entitled Jagerleizer.

The band is also finishing a music video, expected to be released in the near future.

"Things are going pretty good," Crowe said. "We're getting lots of opportunities. We just look for more challenges, we're getting a lot of interest over the internet."

"We had to translate [the website] and I have no idea to this day what that website is all about because it's Asian, but for a week Powersludge was number three overall for the month and had five or six songs charting on the top 50 on that particular web page. We had no idea," Crowe said.

That tour will be heading to The Beat in Stettler Oct. 26 and 27 where Powersludge will play with two other bands as part of the PumpkinHeadbanger's Ball.

"It's a Halloween party that's so big we had to do it two nights in a row," said Crowe.

"It is what it is," he said. "The name is the description. We're a lot like Motorhead and AC/DC. We like cheesy guitar lick bands from the '80s and stuff. We don't dress like them guys... we're not a glam rock band. We're, you know, motorcycles, booze, tattoos."

The band will be needing support as they compete in the Bodog Battle. Fans can vote for Powersludge online at the Bodog website www.bodogbattle.com or at the show tonight in Calgary.

"We hope to see you there to offer your support," Crowe said. "If you're unable to make the gig, please take the time to vote... we welcome any support."

Bodog is an independent international record label. The battle of the bands contest comes on the heels of the show's success in the United States where Seattle's Fall From Grace was awarded the $1 million contract.

Powersludge's new album is available in town at the Shell gas station, Pfeiffer's House Of Music and the Stop and Go. More information on the band can be found at www.pissoffrecords.com and www.myspace.com/powersludge.

10/01/07 Powersludge Gets First Round Audition To Bodog Battle Of The Bands. Powersludge will be performing at Morgans Pub on 17th in Calgary, on Wednsday, October 10th, as part of the Bodog Battle Of The Bands. Worldwide bands will be selected from the top contenders to appear in a reality television show in which the winner will receive a million dollar record contract. Tickets are $10.00 at the door so come on down and support Powersludge. Check out Bodog Battle for information (DON'T FORGET TO VOTE,) click her for more details: BODOGBATTLE.

08/28/07 Central Alberta Toy Run Appearance A Success. Powersludge's appearance at Central Alberta Toy Run courtesy of Asshole Productions was an overall success. Sharing the bill with The Frank and The Alex Taylor Band, Powersludge had the crowd on their feet to cries of "Motorhead!" A brief AC/DC medley was a highlight of this performance and was unfortunatly not caught on video, making those in attendance lucky fans indeed. Rounded out by Powersludge classics and a great crowd response, this was a memorable performance to say the least. Surrounded by bikes, babes and booze, this was truly Powersludge's environment and they let those in the audience know just how happy they were to be there. Another memorable mention goes to Shaman's appearance with The Frank for a rousing rendering of Motoerhead's "Ace Of Spades." Motorcycle rodeo, show n shine, burnout pit rounded out day two, followed by more live music including The Mighty Carson Cole Band. Such a good time was had by all that you'd be fool to miss it next year.

08/22/07 Bandwarz At Dickens Pub. Powesludge took the stage at yet another Bandwarz for Roli Mack on August 21st, 2007. With 3 bands opening including Cents Less, Powersludge was well recieved by the late night crowd. Originally a rehearsal for a video to be shot on location the next day, Powersludge's performance was instantly memorable. Due to scheduling conflicts the video shoot the next day had to be cancelled but that didn't stop the illustrious kings of booze induced sleaze from ripping it up in true Jagerleizer fashion. Having made a new friend in the bartender he was heard to say: "We will definatly have them back, they made me piss my pants!"

08/08/07 Technical Difficulties With Pissoffrecords.com. We have been writing the news but we have not been able to get it out to you. We apologize for those of you who depend on this website to keep informed as to the Powersludge camp and want to assure you that we are working on this problem as fast as we can.

08/07/07 July 28 Show At The Beat. Sorry this took so long to come in but we are experiencing a few technical difficulties on our end; not to worry though, to be corrected shortly. Powersludge's performance at the "new & improved" Stettler Hotel (AKA The Beat) was by some standards the most deafening show of power ever to hit the 200 person capacity club. Complete with video screen, smoke 'n' lights and of course Powersludge's standard sound system. Knowing full well the vicious impact made with Powersludge's live performance, earplugs were standard issue at the door. Approximately 175 people witnesses this awe inspiring spectacle "of booze induced sleaze." "I've never signed so many breasts in all my life!" one Powersludge band member was overheard to say. But true to their form, Powersludge let go with a blistering set of heavy rock and roll. Playing two 50 minute sets and one twenty minutes, all in attendance were well rewarded. On a lighter note Lucy must have humped Gerry's leg for about half an hour that night, the only drawback to a non looping serial reel. Many fans were delighted to find that Powersludge had chosen this day to release their latest offering "Jagerleizer." This item wasn't even heard of even so much as days prior to the event and sold out of its first pressing that night! Also on hand were t-shirts, tank tops and of course the infamous "Gimme The Booze E.P." Next stop... Cowtown?

NEW 07/19/07 Town Of Stettler Vs. Powersludge. Stettler Bylaw Enforcement Officers entered The Beat (The Stettler Hotel) today to serve notice concerning Powersludge's poster bill advertising campaign. Officers explained that all posters currently up on light standards and power poles in the Stettler area must be taken down within 48 hours. Further explanation resulted in the Town Of Stettler filing a formal complaint. When the Town Of Stettler was contacted, they stated that there was a zero tolerance policy on postering on public (town) property and that all advertising should be done in conjunction with the permission of local businesses. Powersludge has done this sort of advertising in Stettler before and was always responsible for removing the posters after the event, therefore not incurring the Town any additional cost for cleanup. When the Town was informed of this they simply stated that if they hadn't noticed them then they probably wouldn't have said anything. Shouldn't that be proof that the ad campaign is working? The Town Of Stettler didn't notice last year's campaign but they sure noticed this one didn't they? More news as it rolls in...

07/15/07 Tracks' 25th Anniversary Bash! A great time was had by all in Eckville last night as Powersludge and Carson Cole took to the stage in honour of Tracks' 25th wedding anniversary. Booze, food and kick ass rock and roll into the wee hours of the morning were the result of a great crowd turnout. Powersludge would like to thank Laura for all her hard work and effort in making this an awesome event. Congratulations as well on 25 years of marriage to the lucky couple.

05/04/07 Confirmed Dates For The Upcoming Summer. Word is creeping in regarding Powersludge's upcoming tour dates. So far the first dates are scheduled for the end of August. - click here - for more information.

05/04/07 Rehearsal Dates Scheduled. Word has it that Powersludge will begin preliminary rehearsals starting June 1st, 2007, at Hangar 56. As previously reported, Robin Fooks (courtesy of Steel Wheelchair) will be covering for Gerry Hixx until later on this summer. In addition, Steve and Shaman will return to the recording studio to put the finishing touches on the forthcoming album during this time, and we hope to see a new record out by Summer/Fall of 2007. As always drum duties will be covered by Mike "Gunner" Gunderman, currently in Canada after his trip to Libya. Stay tuned for some pictures from that trip a little later on.

02/25/07 Powersludge now on LastFM. Due to Powersludge's increasing popularity on LastFM we are proud to announce a new profile page on that website. Check it out and vote for Powersludge every time you get a chance.

02/24/07 Last FM Chart Listings. Word through the filter indicates that Powersludge has been making quite a name for themselves in the charts. As we look into it we'll bring you more, but for now check it out at lastfm.

02/18/07 And The Year Officially Begins. Starting off with a new updated page at www.myspace.com/powersludge and culminating in new artwork, logos, material and more, Powersludge are getting ready for another summer of fun. Robin Fooks (Steel Wheelchair) will be substituting for Gerry Hixx for the preliminary rehearsals, which should begin within the next 3 - 4 weeks. Next we should see a DVD with a bonus 18 track(!) CD and hopefully a new record sometime this year as well. As some of you may remember, Powersludge hit the studio last summer and managed to get the rhythm tracks nailed down for their first official studio offering. Plans to complete the recording are getting underway and we hope to see some progress very soon. Rumours are also flying about possible live outings as well, with negotiations being conducted with the annual toy run and possibly "The Tusker". More information as we receive it of course. So far it sounds like another fun filled year for the boys so be sure to head out and support them wherever they may end up.

02/12/07 Gunner Returns. Well, it's official, Mike Gunderman arrived the first week of February. Having served his purpose in Libya, Gunner was happy to be home. Filled with stories of his incarceration and the Libyan environment, his photos will soon be up on the web. So what does that mean for the 'sludge? Rumour has it that Powersludge may be getting together in the very near future. No word as yet to when, but we do know that Steel Wheelchair bassist Robin Fooks will be filling in for the currently absent Gerry Hixx. Gerry is still in Northern BC mining for a weld.

01/29/07 Libyans Release Evidence Of Hostage. Un-named sources have provided us with footage of the terrible living conditions facing Powersludge's Mike Gunderman. Although due back soon, we wonder if Mike will be able to survive these extreme conditions much longer...

12/17/06 666% DVD - The Hellbound For Texas Tour 2006. The long awaited Powersludge DVD is set to launch just in the nick of time for Christmas. The hour long DVD contains some of the highlights from the summer 2006 tour featuring Powersludge. Also included in the DVD package is a limited edition CD titled The Complete Hangar 56 Demo Recordings. The 18 song CD includes the nine songs from the Gimme The Booze E.P. plus nine rare demo recordings from the infamous Hangar 56. Priced cheap at 30 bux this set is a not to miss must have for any serious Powersludge fan.

09/27/06 Mike Gunderman Abducted By Libyans. Drummer Mike Gunderman announced plans to leave the sleaze metal group Powersludge in the last week. The move, which may or may not be a permanent one, comes attached to plans to pursue his oilfield obligations in Libya. Mike is a founding member of Powersludge and his steady rock beat has held the rhythm section in place formidably since the groups inception in early 2005. The group wishes "Gunner" the best in his new endeavors and hopes to eventually see him return to the drum throne. The group are still great friends and there are no hard feelings about the split. Powersludge plans to find a temporary replacement for the meantime to finish their obligations to Calgary's Bandwarz, as well as a possible hometown show before New Year's. Bandwarz has been considerate enough to push Powersludge's upcoming semi-finals appearance until November to help them establish a replacement drummer. In a rare Prince like move Mike summed up the departure, stating, "it shall be from this point forth; Mike Gunderman will only be known as...

09/18/06 Shit Show At The Shamrock. The second appearance of Powersludge at The Shamrock in Calgary elevated the band to the semi-finals. Powersludge wishes to thank all of those responsible for voting the band into the semi's and hope that many of you will turn out to support the group as the attempt to establish themselves as the victors of the 2006 Calgary Bandwarz. More info to come.

08/29/06 The Sad Passing Of Gerry's Dad. We regret to inform the fans of

Powersludge that Gerry Hixx's dad passed away in his sleep last night. At the age of 69 (his favorite number and age) he died while on holidays at his birthplace in Newfoundland. Always a card and the life of the party, sometimes the party itself, he was a funny and talented entertainer. Regaling us with songs of Newfoundland and large women, one's guts were always sure to hurt after a visit. Oftentimes he would call Shaman just to ask him how his "diarrear" was doing and was always making jokes. He will be sadly missed by us all and we hope his memory lives on in the future. We plan to try and release a recording of his songs in the future so stay tuned, and always remember to 69.

08/25/06 Shaman Crowe Involved In Motor Vehicle Accident. Last night at approximately 11:00pm, Shaman Crowe and a friend from Edmonton named Jay were involved in a motor vehicle accident in Stettler, AB. No word as of yet whether alcohol was a factor. Neither passenger was hurt in the accident, with Shaman sustaining minor cuts and bruises, but the vehicle itself may have been written off. Sources have mentioned that there may have been a problem with the brakes on the vehicle, but as of this time we cannot confirm such details. We wish Shaman all the best in his upcoming court battles and are just relieved that no one was hurt.

08/20/06 Lost Track Discovered In Section A At Hangar 56. We have just received an mp3 featuring a lost recording from Powersludge. The track titled "The Lowdown Gerry Remand Blues" is a glimpse at the early days of Powersludge during their Section A recording sessions. Never meant to see the light of day, the song is a tongue in cheek blues number that clocks in at a mere 7:27. Check it out on the Powersludge Music page now.

08/04/06 Powersludge Hits The Studio. Powersludge have entered the studio to record their follow-up to Gimme The Booze. The full length album will include new versions of the tracks on Gimme The Booze as well as new material. Returning to Hangar 56 to record, the album will once again be produced by Shaman Crowe for Ritual Site Transferable Media. On board as assistant producer and engineer will be none other than J Williamson. The group plans to have their material mixed down and post produced at The Ranch early in the fall. No word on track listing or cover ideas but Powersludge promises "more sludge, more volume and more sleaze than on our previous release."

08/04/06 Skull From Mexico Music Video To Begin Shooting. Sources in Powersludge have announced that they are planning to film a music video for Skull From Mexico. Currently in the studio recording their follow-up to Gimme The Booze, the band will rerecord a new version of the song for inclusion in the video. Extras are needed and submissions and available from Piss Off Records. Currently available roles are as follows; Women for hot tub scene: must be physically fit and comfortable wearing a bikini in a hot tub with other women, Men for shootout scene; must look the part of drug dealers and thugs. Video to be shot (weather permitting) beginning the weeks of August 7th through August 25th. Contact pissoffrecords@hotmail.com for more details.

08/01/06 Just Announced: Opener at The Arlington. Sources have just announced that the opening act at The Arlington Hotel will be Red Deer's own L.B.S.C.. In true Powersludge tradition this should be a pretty good piss up to be sure. Show starts at 9:00 pm. CDs and merchandise available for purchase. Powersludge will be appearing for two sets. L.B.S.C. will open the show with one set.

07/26/06 The Arlington Hotel. Powersludge hits Red Deer, AB on August 1, 2006. With their first stop in Red Deer at The Big A, Powersludge will be playing two sets that night in hopes of raising the roof on the infamous hotel.

07/23/06 Secret Show At The Trophy Room A Success. After the cancellation at The Point on 17th, Powersludge took over The Trophy Room for a one night only unadvertised event. The result? Absolute conquer. They loved it. With many old fans and winning a few new ones, the night was a great time. "The loudest band to ever play here," stated one staff member. Selling more alcohol once again than on record, Powersludge has been invited back to play in the future.

07/22/06 Point Show Cancelled. Due to Stampede Queen's inability to attend, The Point on 17th event has been postponed; event date to be announced.

07/22/06 Powersludge has Hawaiian Tropic Girls. At last night's Coyotes event in Calgary the missing Stampede Queen was relieved by none other than Miss Hawaiian Tropic. The finals for the infamous beauty contest was announced during sound check on Friday. With all access to the event, the Powersludge film crew was able to secure some excellent footage for their upcoming video.

07/21/06 Stampede Queen? Stampede Queen will be unable to perform their scheduled portions of the Hellbound For Texas Tour due to personal reasons. Powersludge will take up the slack by playing two sets and will attend all remaining obligations thus far.

07/21/06 A Smash At The Shamrock Powersludge annihilated the competition in Roli Mack's BANDWARZ at The Shamrock. Winning a unanimous victory, Powersludge will continue on to the finals; event date to be announced.

07/18/06 SOLD OUT HOUSE! Powersludge's July 15th gig at The Stettler Hotel resulted in a standing room only event. 200 plus people showed up to help Powersludge raise the roof and the club was forced to lock the doors half way through the second set. Powersludge thanks everyone who attended for making it the first sold out show of the tour. Next stop; July 20, 2006 - The Shamrock; July 21, 2006 - Coyotes (w/Stampede Queen), Calgary, AB.

07/05/06 Rock and roll is here to stay. (Chloe Jones; The Stettler Independent) He hasn't signed the death certificate on his dreams of fronting a teknodeth band, but for the moment, musician Shaman Crowe is looking to produce something a little more radio friendly.

Since making the leap into the rock n' roll market with the band Powersludge, Crowe hasn't looked back.

Crowe, Mike Gunderman, Gerry Hixx and Steve Fooks came together from a variety of different musical projects to form Powersludge in 2005.

In may of 2006 the foursome produced its first disc: GIMME THE BOOZE. Released as an independent, the self-recorded CD has sold over 200 copies already, and Powersludge is getting ready for its summer Hellbound For Texas Tour 2006, which they co-headline with Texas rock group Stampede Queen.

Crowe, who pulls vocal and lead guitar duties for the band, says the move into the rock n' roll market has come naturally for him and the others. Crowe was after something more mainstream after his previous project, Necron 99, whose sound consisted of a mix of techno electronica and death metal he called teknodeth. By his own claim, the group was banned across Canada because of its over the top stage shows.

"Any thought of pursuing death metal at this time is pretty much squashed," said Crowe.

"It's a lot of fun, because you can make a lot simpler somgs and put more energy into stage presence," said Crowe.

"It was kind of like getting back into what I was used to," said Fooks, who plays the rhythm guitar for Powersludge.

The bands current disc features 12 songs, all originally recorded live "for fun.

"We recorded mainly to have a copy for ourselves, but they turned out so well we decided to release them," said

Crowe.

Some of the songs are tongue-in-cheek such as the title track, "Gimme The Booze." Other, like "Someone Else," have a deeper meaning. This particular song was written as a way to help a friend in a time of need.

Crowe is enjoying the new music the band is producing, but does not regret his teknodeth metal days with Necron 99. He says that Necron 99's sound was a bit ahead of itself but was worth the investment.

"I wouldn't give up that project or idea for the world, but unfortunately some projects have expiry dates," says Crowe.

Right now Crowe says the plan for the Hellbound For Texas Tour is to visit Alberta, British Columbia and possibly Saskatchewan. There are rumours that Powersludge will play in Texas in September, but Crowe isn't sure if this will happen.

Crowe says the response to Powersludge has been positive, with his Necron 99 fans following the move.

"I know some die-hard country fans who don't like rock n' roll at all but they like Powersludge," said Crowe.

Powersludge's Hellbound For Texas Tour begins in Stettler on July 15 at the Stettler Hotel. Other upcoming events include FleshFest 2006 on July 22 at Hangar 56. This is the studio a few miles north of Stettler where the band records their songs. On this night there will be four opening bands then Powersludge will take the stage followed by Stampede Queen.

For Crowe there is no question where he wants Powersludge to head. He envisions it to be one of the greatest rock n' roll bands ever.

06/30/06 Powersludge hits the road. Dates for Powersludge's upcoming tour have been announced in Alberta. July 15, The Stettler Hotel, Stettler; July 20, The Shamrock, Calgary; July 21st, Coyotes, Calgary. Other dates will be announced as news rolls in.

05/24/06 Stampede Queen and Powersludge Vs. The Universe.

The planet Earth in all its infinite wisdom thinks its pretty tough, but news has just surfaced that two of sleaze's most talented competitors are getting ready to kick some ass. The Hellbound For Texas Tour 2006, teams up Stampede Queen and Powersludge in an all out aural assault this summer. Beginning in Alberta with gigs in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and culminating in an outdoor, invitation only, rock and roll party called "Fleshfest." As both bands will be touting new CDs this summer, the tour is like an extended CD release party. Dates to be announced.

Piss Off Records and DarkerThan Productions are proud to announce our latest release: Powersludge – Gimme The Booze EP; a raw rock and roll extravaganza of grand aural proportions. Combining a variety of influences, Powersludge move like a freight train through your stereo speakers, melting into the very core of your being with their catchy licks and memorable melodies. At first listen you may hearken back to the glory days of Hard Rock, when Motorhead and AC/DC shook the world or Guns N Roses swore on the Grammies: sleazy, booze induced, hard edged, Rawk and Roll.

Powersludge formed in 2005, when a mutual friend introduced Mike Gunderman and Shaman Crowe. Crowe, who’s previous project Necron 99 was banned across Canada in 2003 due to it’s over the top stage show, was looking for something a little more mainstream. Gunderman, who’s work with Avernus and Four Mile Road Band had given him an extensive knowledge in rock meter, was an easy fit. Enter Slow Daze’ Gerry Hixx and former Bippy guitarist Steve Fooks and Powersludge was born. As the four’s chemistry began to flow material was soon to follow, first one song and then the next surfaced and before long the songs that you can now hear erupted into form.