Like many bands, Calgary’s Bloom pretty much got its start in a jam space.
That tradition continues, as the basis of what Bloom does remains solidly linked to jam sessions.
And, being that the band jams in a space that’s also a recording studio, it makes it easy to lay down tracks for an upcoming album – which is what the band’s up to these days, recording and crafting what will be its first full-length album effort.
To hear the brand of reggae/dub/ska/hip hop six-piece Bloom plays, they’re at the Rose & Crown in Banff, Tuesday and Wednesday (Nov. 20-21).
Bloom is the father and son combo of Jeff and Davey Bloomfield (bass and guitar, vocals, respectively), Greg MacDonald (keys, effects), Paul Russell (flute, vocals), Adam Gawryluk (guitar) and Victor Laso (drums).
As a band, the group has been together for about five years, said the lone native Calgarian, MacDonald. The Bloomfields are in Calgary via Invermere and Ontario, Laso is from Toronto and Chile, Gawryluk from Nelson, B.C. and Russell from The Rock (Nfld.).
“Davey and Jeff have played together for about 15 years,” said MacDonald. “When they were living in Invermere, Jeff used to play at a bar jam that was popular with locals and tourists and when Davey was 15, the two of them made a plan to sneak him in. So he snuck in through the kitchen, then went on stage with a wrestling mask on – as a special guest.
“I think that was his first on-stage appearance.”
After jamming and writing songs for some years, the band released a self-titled five-song EP in March of this year.
On the EP, Bloom hits the reggae sound hard, combining it with a driving rock beat in “Revenge”, true reggae rhythm that could be right off a beach with “Overdose” and a lightweight, bouncy sound with “Sunshine.”
“I’d call our sound modern reggae,” said MacDonald, “it incorporates influences like hip hop, some rapping and some break beats.”
Davey Bloomfield pens most of the lyrics for songs, while the band collaboratively chips in on most offerings.
“Our full-length should be in pre-production in the next week or so,” said MacDonald, “we hope to finish recording in January and have it ready for spring. Ad lib is a big part of what we do, depending on the crowd. We like to really get a crowd going and I think they usually appreciate that.
“So some of the ad lib we do when jamming gets constructed into a song, with different parts, bridges, and so on. We have a lot of layers in our songs and I think listeners are impressed by that.”
Bloom has played the Bow Valley a half dozen times in the past (Rose & Crown and Canmore Hotel), working on building a fan base, and has ventured as far as Ontario.
“We’re kind of becoming regulars out there,” said MacDonald. “Our music seems to go over well at both venues and we like playing there. They have good audiences, a good vibe and people seem to appreciate the music mix we do.”
Bloom has regular gigs at Calgary’s Blind Beggar Pub and plays wherever they can, from big festival to parties in the forest; along with shows for the motorcycle community.
While readying for a new album and building a fan base, members still have day jobs. “That’s the decision we’ve made and it seems the right thing to do,” said MacDonald. “It’s just where we’re at; it keeps the bills paid and we avoid being poor artists.
“Our EP was a first strong signal that we’re going in the right direction, but we want to stay indie – we write, play, produce and record everything ourselves. It’s coming together.
“We have great support in Calgary and there’s a real community among other bands in town.”
