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Wetaskiwin band earns video award

Punch Drunk Cabaret recognized for “Don’t Die Until You’re Dead”
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Place another notch on the fret board for local band Punch Drunk Cabaret, as their latest video, “Don’t Die Until You’re Dead,” won tops honours at a recent awards gala.

Calgary’s YYC Music Awards were held over the Sept. 21 weekend. Lead vocalist/guitarist Randy Bailer said the recognition felt great.

“We are sure thrilled by it,” said Bailer by phone Sept. 26. He said it felt great even to be nominated, then found out PDC was invited to perform at the awards gala.

Bailer said PDC performed at the end of the event, then found out their video won the top prize.

He said video-making can be a lot of hard work and consumes money as well, plus ensuring the product is fun and entertaining is always a factor but noted he’s always full of ideas for these projects. “I think I secretly want to be a filmmaker,” he said. He also noted Alberta’s climate can be a challenge to plan video-shooting.

Bailer said the band felt great with the recognition from the win and said he thinks it speaks volumes about our culture, with all of the reality TV competition and talent shows that illustrates there is interest in competition.

PDC treated their performance at the awards just like their live shows and didn’t plan to mellow it out. “This was the end of a two-hour award ceremony,” said Bailer. “You just sensed the excitement in the room.”

PDC were nominated for an award for their video single, “Don’t Die Until You’re Dead,” directed by Ewen Clark and produced by Ring Tail Films, which was filmed right here in Wetaskiwin at the Historic Manluk Theatre.

Calgary’s YYC Music Awards nominees were just announced earlier this summer, and PDC has notched another mark in their notoriety book: their most recent and ambitious video to date has been nominated for Video of the Year.

The band filmed many parts of the video at the Manluk Theatre, including a scene that includes the oldest commode in Wetaskiwin.

PDC has two upcoming shows in and around Wetaskiwin, where their new vinyl live album will be for sale.

Bailer said the band has always felt the audience is the group’s fourth member so a live album was a natural move. The album was recorded at multiple shows last year.

PDC will appear live Nov. 29 at Wetaskiwin’s Manluk Theatre, and Dec. 6 in Camrose. The live record will be for sale at those shows.

You can read more about the YYC Awards here: http://exclaim.ca/music/article/calgarys_yyc_music_awards_reveal_2019_nominees

You can read more about PDC’s video here: https://www.pipestoneflyer.ca/news/wetaskiwin-swing-rock-masters-poised-for-video-launch/

You can watch “Don’t Die Until You’re Dead” on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_ipDTagyzI

Bailer said live performances continue to be meat and drink for the band. “It’s still a thrill to play together,” he added.

Stu.salkeld@pipestoneflyer.ca