By: Charlee Mitschke
Blu Beach Band, an indie rock group, is taking the area by storm with its release of a new album and announcement of a summer-long tour. Band members, Carter Vosper on vocals and guitar, Remi Berthelet on vocals and guitar, Eric Vosper on bass, and Riley Buchberger on drums, have come a long way from playing in their school talent nights to filling up jamborees with fans.
The group was first seen playing together in Langenburg, Saskatchewan, as a three-piece in 2013 with Carter, Eric, and Riley. Around 2016, they found the missing piece of their puzzle, Remi, from Esterhazy, Saskatchewan. “We’ve all been married ever since,” joked Lead Vocalist Carter Vosper.
The band draws inspiration from Canadian musicians. Artists doing something unique, carving names for themselves in the industry, spoke to them. Role models included The Sheepdogs, Peach Pit, and Mac Demarco. Blu Beach Band also pays a special homage to Jess Moskaluke. Vosper explained, “She has done this right from our home, which acted as proof to us that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, as long as you love what you do and show love for your supporters. Although… making really good music helps”.
Originally known as The Firm, the band rebranded itself after gaining traction. Vosper explained, “We initially called ourselves The Firm without putting much thought or research into it being taken– just because we needed a name for events. Sure enough, there was a Rock Supergroup in the 80’s called The Firm featuring Jimmy Page”. After branching out with shows, old rockers made sure to let them know they were the “second Firm”. The group decided to pick a new and original name. “We even spelled Blu wrong to be certain,” he laughed.
Blu Beach Band is reaching new heights with their music. With two albums under their belts, the sky is the limit for this musical group. On June 4, 2022, Blu Beach Band dropped their second album, A Dog’s Breakfast. The group took inspiration from one of Vosper’s professors, who used the phrase to describe something thrown together and messy. Ironically, the most coordinated and professional thing the band has ever done was create the album.
Compared to their first album, Trail Mix, released in 2019, A Dog’s Breakfast changed how the group did things. No longer recording music in their parents’ basements, Blu Beach Band stepped foot into recording booths. They had one month to complete the entire recording process.
Vosper acknowledged, “We’d like to shout out Keiran Semple who recorded, mixed, and helped in many other ways in making the album, as well as the Creative City Centre in Regina who funded the album through the Recording Artist Development program and taught us so much about being a band”. He also exclaimed deep gratitude to anyone who listened to their new releases and showed support at this year’s shows.
Some songs on the album had been “in the works” for years; others poured out while in the studio. “They’re all just inspired by our life experiences like moving away, falling in love, falling out of it… that sort of thing,” explained Vosper.
Vosper’s favourite piece from A Dog’s Breakfast is “Those Eyes of Yours”, sung by Remi Berthelet. “I don’t know if it’s because he has such a nice voice or because I can’t listen to my own. It’s probably a combination,” said Vosper.
Blu Beach Band has 15 shows booked for the summer of 2022. You can find them playing almost every weekend, anywhere from Moosomin’s Food Truck Wars to the beaches of Candle Lake. They felt the pace pick up after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.
“It feels like everyone has so much pent-up energy from lockdown and restrictions and is simultaneously remembering how good it feels to get out and dance to a live band. Our past few shows with summer right around the corner have been magic,” Vosper beamed, “It’s been an amazing thing to witness from the point-of-view of a stage”.
Blu Beach Band has its tour dates posted on social media and is excited to get started. The group’s first appearance was at Duck Mountain on June 25, 2022, followed by Yorkton’s Rhythm and Ribs on June 26, 2022. They played last weekend, on July 1, 2022, at Carlton Trail’s Canada Day celebration.
Blu Beach Band’s fresh take on groovy old-school music speaks to the masses. “We have a mutual love for music and playing together,” commented Vosper, “It’s been the glue that has kept us together thus far, on top of being best buds”. The world watches closely for what they will do next.