SummitUP (Canmore, AB) Tuesday July 03, 2007
Brendan Nogue

Prepare for a party evening with the Cripple Creek Fairies

•    When the Cripple Creek Fairies come to Canmore for a show they have a few simple expectations. They expect the crowd will be there to party and after their show they will get to party until the early hours of the morning.
So far in many other excursions out to Canmore to play at the Canmore Hotel they have yet to be disappointed, and for their Friday show with Damn Dirty Ape they expect nothing to be different. In fact, one of the major reasons to make the trip with Damn Dirty Ape was for the party.
“The kind of bands that you choose to bring to Canmore, obviously you want them to be good, but almost more than that you just want them to be people that are fun to hang out with because you’re going to inevitably party with them at the Canmore Hotel until three in the morning,” said the band’s bassist and lead singer who goes by Les Izmoore. “That’s kind of a priority so no church choirs will be coming with us to the Canmore Hotel.”
The rock band fashions themselves after classic rock acts like AC/DC, Motorhead and Black Sabbath, but also features a garage rock sound, according to Izmoore.
This came from much of the band’s background being in small Alberta towns and listening to rock records.
“We’re all sort of small town farm kids who all kind of ended up in Calgary together. Sort of the mutual rock nerd things goin’ on because we all grew up in towns where there’s nothing to do except listen to records and stuff,” said Izmoore.
The hard-working band is around the prairies most of the time, and is constantly working on new recorded material in Izmoore’s home studio. Currently they are working on their fourth album which they expect to be out sometime in the late summer or early fall.
Izmoore said that the band is constantly recording new songs while they practice and always “chipping away.”
He said he would actually like to release a few EP records a year rather than full-length albums just to keep constantly recording in this fashion.
Although the band is in a bit of a constant state of change with some alternating members they have still been able to sign on with a new record label, make their way out to Vancouver for a CBC radio session and play the Pop Montreal festival.
Coming up to Canmore to join Izmoore will be other similarly stage named members 66 and Monster Zero on guitars and Le Rouge Baron on drums.

Beatroute Magazine (Calgary, AB)
Jesse Keith

Cripple Creek Fairies - A Drunkard's Dream

•    Snorting coke off of groupies' thighs, legions of adoring fans, limos, entourages. It's all part and parcel of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle. Or at least that's how The Cripple Creek Fairies' heroes, Motorhead and Kiss, live. The Fairies themselves have been fighting it out for ten years on the Calgary music scene, in slightly less glamorous circumstances. Struggling to save money, find time to rehearse between conflicting day jobs, and replace exiting band members, the Fairies have held out longer than most would consider sensible.
"Actually, I think as a general rule for a Calgary band, the best thing you can do is break up," head Fairy Les Izmoore says, half-jokingly, "because everyone will love you. When you start a band all your friends are super-pumped for you, and you play some shows, everyone comes out and they all love you. Then, if you break up, they all miss seeing your band and they've got all these fond memories of you. But if you stick around, your friends remember just sort of getting sick of you and you bugging them to come out to your shows all the time. They've got other things to do at that point. They don't care anymore. You sort of go past this best-before date, and then you're sort of these old hacks.
"To any young bands out there: break up and ensure fond memories in the Calgary music scene."
Izmoore, though realistic, is anything but cynical about the Cripple Creek Fairies' prospects. With the band's expiration date ostensibly well behind them, they have continued to set new milestones each year. They've kept it together solely for the entertainment of throwing on their aviator helmets and goggles, rocking out and seeing just how much ground they can break.
"I think initially you want to make an impression and you want people to like you," says Izmoore. "But when people stop giving a shit, you ask yourself, 'why are we doing this?' It's because it's entertaining to us to see how far we can take it."
After a handful of albums, countless shows and even a comic book behind them, the Cripple Creek Fairies seem to find a little more unexpected success each year. Last year they were invited in for a CBC studio session. The recording of their recently-released album, Fire In Yer Hole, was funded by an Alberta Arts grant, and now they have the possibility of their first music video on the horizon.
"Like, a real one," Izmoore says with a laugh. "Not somebody with their Handycam."
"If it works out, there is going to be CGI animation in it, and we're going to be flying around in a blimp and rappelling out of it. It's going to be pretty awesome if it happens. Maybe we'll get played on the Wedge one day at four in the morning."

Calgary Herald (Calgary, AB), Friday Feb. 10/2006
Heath McCoy

Superhero rockers out to save showmanship: Calgary's Cripple Creek Fairies put focus on fun
>>Preview
The Cripple Creek Fairies perform tonight at Broken City.

• The Cripple Creek Fairies are more than just a rock group. They're an adventure cut from the pages of an underground comic book.
The band, which plays tonight at Broken City, sells itself as a gang of punk rock super heroes.
Take their wacky stage presentation, for example. The quintet dresses like First World War flying aces in aviator caps and goggles and attacks their instruments like they were locked in some sort of cosmic combat, complete with flying rock-kicks, courtesy of keyboardist Conrad Montana.
Or, how about the video concept the Fairies are developing with a Regina production company, for the song Convoy Creep? The treatment includes a computer generated robot, ninjas and time travel. The proposed story will feature the popular Calgary band jamming in an aircraft hangar, which doubles as their club house. Because, of course, all good super hero teams need a club house.
On a previous CD release, the band even put out a comic book to accompany the disc, entitled The Fist, in which they all had super powers. Montana was depicted with elastic limbs, appropriate for his lanky six-foot-five frame. Bassist Les Izmoore was able to launch a missile from his arm. Guitarist 66 wielded a mystic hockey stick while drummer Phil Inne was the gang's techie genius. As for axeman Monster Zero? "He controls a team of girl ninjas," explains Montana over a beer at Original Joe's pub in Marda Loop. "Sexy ninjas, of course. We're a sexy band."
While the Fairies' sex appeal may be questionable, their knack for showmanship isn't.
"Our lyrics and personae are all based on the fact that we want to conquer the world in some shape or form," Montana jokes, adding: "We all grew up with comic books and extrapolating that into (our stage show) was the perfect fit for us. We're entertainers. We do whatever it takes to entertain, whether it's jumping around like maniacs or wearing (the costumes). You've got to do something to grab people."
Montana cites great rock showman from the Sex Pistols to AC/DC as his influence. "They were all caricatures of themselves and that's what we want to be (onstage). We take that and run with it."
That's not to say that the band is all style and no substance. The Fairies have been one of the hottest bands on the Calgary indie scene since their formation six years ago. As for their latest disc, Fire In Yer Hole, its a solid slab of genuine garage rock fun with deliciously catchy hooks. The Fairies' pedigree is none too shabby either. The band members have been linked (by their real names rather than their pseudonyms) with top Calgary bands of today (Agriculture Club, The Gigantics) and yesterday (The Shinolas, Anxious Poets). Behind the scenes, rock 'n' roll is serious business for these guys.
You'd never know it to see them live though. Last November, at the Fairies' CD release party, they indulged their inner child when they were accompanied to the stage by evil Star Wars characters Stormtrooper and Boba Fett. While the band played, the impeccably costumed characters stood guard at the side of the stage, pointing their laser guns (with actual laser lights) at the audience. "They were part of an actual Alberta-based Star Wars (fan club) we found online," Montana says.
The entourage was supposed to be bigger that night, set to include several Stormtroopers and a Princess Leia in her slave girl costume from Return of Jedi. Unfortunately, most of the cast backed out at the last minute. "It was a school night," Montana shrugs. "But we got Boba Fett and the Stormtrooper drunk, so they were happy.
"They didn't appreciate it if you touched their homemade costumes though. Nooo. They didn't like that at all. But they were awesome. Basically, they were our bodyguards that night."
While there are no planned Star Wars cameos at tonight's Broken City gig, Montana promises plenty of thrills. "We have a blast every time . . . and we always leave the crowd wanting more."

Exclaim Magazine (Toronto, ON), Dec. 19/2005
Stuart Green

•   The pride (or is that shame?) of Calgary return with a follow-up to last year’s The Fist EP/comic book release that finds the profane and prolific quintet on a mission to rock the panties off rock fans far and wide. The production is bigger and cleaner but the lyrical content and underlying intent are most certainly not. Recalling the motor city mayhem of the Stooges and MC5, their updated brand of garage rock is a definite treat. And more importantly it is proof that in spite of Nickelback, Alberta still knows how to rock it old school.

Beatroute Magazine (Calgary, AB), Dec. 2005
Charles Farley

•   The star attraction this night was the Cripple Creek Fairies. Well I'm here to tell you that the opening band made the already fantastic Cripple Creek fairies even better. Yeah, yeah, yeah, they rocked and they rocked and then they rocked some more. Always the consummate showmen the CCF didn't fail to impress this time either. From the moment they were escorted to the stage by the most realistic Boba Fett and Stormtrooper I've ever seen, to the last skybound hop from keyboardist Conrad Montana, they rocked the house with more energy than any drumming pink rabbit could imagine. Their trademark vintage leather fighter pilot helmets and goggles seemed less gimmicky than the opener's glam make up, mostly because they truly embody the quirkiness of the costume with every move they made on stage. Their CD release show was tight, seamless, loud, and, well, you need to see them. You really do.

FFWD Magazine (Calgary AB) Oct. 27/2005
by Christine Leonard

Dual To The Death
Cripple Creek Fairies and DC Heads get their rocks off for CD release
>>PREVIEW
CRIPPLE CREEK FAIRIES vs. DC HEADS
Thursday, November 3

• Broken City
They both have new albums and they both have a lot to shout about. So let's hear what they have to say. Local rock gods Cam Hayden of the Cripple Creek Fairies (CCF) and Mike Baumann of the DC Heads sound off about bandmates, comic books, video poker, Swedish pumps, Hilary Duff and sharing the stage with each other once again.
FAIRIE TALES
Fast Forward: Your new album, Fire In Yer Hole, has an aeronautical theme. Your last album, The Fist, centred on a van. What is your obsession with vehicles?
Cam Hayden: We are rock 'n' roll pilots. To be transported from point A to point B on mere human appendages would be an insult to our social status. I'm typing this as I attempt to balance my Segway over a toilet. Your glorious cover art and action-packed themes have a distinctly comic book feel to them. Which illustrated series/characters do you most identify with?That would probably be Alpha Flight, the much-ignored Canadian version of The Avengers. Individually we all resemble Rex Morgan MD to a certain degree because we are all doctors. Do fairies really wear boots and helmets?Fairies wear boots as decreed by Black Sabbath. Fairies also wear helmets so our flowing locks don't get caught up in the propellers. It's pretty simple, really. Whatever will strike fear in the hearts of our rivals, that's what we throw on. How do you deal with creative differences amongst members of your band?Their characters are "written out." That's not much of an issue, though. Anyone who enlists in the CCF pretty much knows what they're in for. How do you handle sharing the spotlight with other acts?We kid around with the other bands, play pranks on them, poison their food, etc. What attracted you to the DC Heads?We're still looking into this down in the CCF lab. Our working theory is pheromones. You've played with DC Heads before. What is their greatest strength? Their biggest shortcoming?Their greatest strength, in our opinion, is that they seem to enjoy associating with us. Pretty much everybody else would see this as their greatest weakness.A DC Head and a CCF walk into a bar...1) Good thing I was wearing a helmet, meanwhile the DC Head sustains massive brain damage. Ha ha fool, vengeance is mine! Then I take his wallet. 2) That bar clears out. If they made a reality show about you and the DC Heads, what would it be called, and who would be Ozzy? It'd probably be called Cancelled! or possibly CC/DC. In the pilot episode the CCF would cluster together to form a giant Geezer Butler. Then we'd shake up cases of beer in an attempt to conjure a giant "Foamy-Iommi." There'd be no Ozzy, but we'd like to talk about getting Mike Reno involved. The DC Heads would be like our dogs, shitting all over everything. We'd have them neutered in the second episode just for kicks. What's next for the Cripple Creek Fairies? Once we clear the hurdle of nobody wanting to book us, we'll be touring. If that doesn't pan out we'll probably just go back to recording our next album, a concept piece about a deaf, dumb, blind kid who excels at video poker. We're not going to mention that to the DC Heads, though, because they'll totally steal our idea.Goatee or Vandyke?Vandyke, without question (a Vandyke is a forehead moustache right?).
THE DC HEADS STRIKE BACK
Fast Forward: Your debut release is a six-song ringer of an EP entitled Volume I . Is this to become a series?
Mike Baumann: Yeah. We're planning a series of three, six-song EPs that will eventually become the DC Heads 666 Box Set. The second should be out in around the next four months.
Both your cover and the cover of the new CCF album have skulls on them. Conspiracy or grisly coincidence?
A grisly "secret" conspiracy.
How do you deal with creative differences amongst members of your band?
Drunken fight club in the back alley at 3 a.m. – seriously.
How do you handle sharing the spotlight with other acts?
Who?
What attracted you to the Cripple Creek Fairies?
Leather masks have always piqued my interest.
You've played with CCF before. What is their greatest strength? Their biggest shortcoming?
Their sheer rock superpowers could very well be their greatest strength but as far as shortcomings, well, uh, maybe during their next air raid over Sweden they may want to pick up one of those "special pumps."
Who's louder?
What we lack in talent we make up in hundreds of watts of ear-shattering rock!
A DC Head and a CCF walk into a bar...
and a hooded man walks over to them and tells them that their greatest pleasure is waiting for them at the end of the bar. As our two rock heroes stroll over to get a little coochie they realize this is no bar, this is a bordello of demonic filth and Beelzebub has sent his minions to collect our rock god souls that had been won in a game of Texas Poker the week before. Now with the smell of death closing in, our duo grab a few bottles of Jack, chug a few, then send flaming Molotov cocktails into the face of second-rate evil. As the flesh burns off of the rock foes, our heroes torch the rest of the place, get in the van, head out to the next unwelcoming town.
What's next for the DC Heads?
We're going to just start with some Western Canadian dates to get our EP out there, but we'd love to do CCF-DC Heads Alberta dive bar Tour 2006. As for future tours, I'm not sure, but I know we have a few fans in Oslo .
Goatee or Vandyke?
Did you say dykes?

•   You know it's going to be a long winter when snow hits on the very first day of November. But fear not, Calgarians — the Cripple Creek Fairies have a new album and they know how to beat the winter blues.
"First, you start listening to it with some tequila," explains organist Conrad Montana . "Then, you take a different shot every time we swear. By the end, you'll feel warm. It's a perfect mix of sweet and sour."
Sounds good to me. Although CCF released their latest CD, Fire In Yer Hole yesterday, bassist Les Izmoore confesses it's missing a little something.
"We listened to a lot of AC/DC, Kiss and Jethro Tull while making it. If only we had an extra day, there would've been a hell of a lot more flute on it."
He's joking, of course, but the disc is full of crunchy riffs and solos, which make it perfect for those looking to kick-start a wicked house party.
Unfortunately, the official CD release show was Thursday night amidst all the snow at Broken City ,but Izmoore assured me that it was "the awesomest show ever" and that "legions of ass-whippin' Storm Troopers may or may not have shown up."
You can catch the Cripple Creek Fairies next on Nov. 30 with The DC Heads . It'll be guaranteed to put fires in places you had no idea you had

Calgary Sun (Calgary, AB), February 10, 2005
by Mike Bell
Fairies fire off another slab of rawk

•   The problem with giving consumers more for their money is they begin to expect it and moan when they don’t get it.
Which is exactly how I begin the interview with Cam Hayden (aka Les Izmoore) bassist from local band Cripple Creek Fairies complaining their latest CD Fire In Yer Hole doesn’t come with a full-length comic book as did their last release The Fist.
“We did have another one pretty much written out and ready to go, but it was just a matter of finding someone who had time to do it,” Hayden admits. “We’re thinking of maybe serializing it and having segments appear on the webpage on a weekly basis.”
Actually, Fire In Yer Hole doesn’t need the visual element.
Produced by Dave Alcock, it’s the band’s best effort to date — a massive sounding fuzzed-out slab of straight-up cool sludge, with devil-horn hooks and man-rawk tales.
Improvements aside, it’s still very much in keeping with the image and myth they’ve built around themselves for the past five years — an image that includes them performing in pilot hats and goggles and adopting stage names (Monster Zero, Conrad Montana, Phil Inne and 66).
“The kinds of bands that we like are bands that build a framework for themselves, like The Ramones or Motorhead or AC/DC …,” Hayden says.
“I think it makes it more fun that way — you sort of know what you’re going to get from them and that’s good, solid rock.
“That’s really all we’re trying to do is make a good rock album that we can be happy with and next time try and top it.
“And,” he says after a pause, “maybe make a comic book to go with it.”
The Cripple Creek Fairies celebrate the release of Fire In Yer Hole — sans comic — Nov. 3 with a show at Broken City.

Beatroute Magazine (Calgary, AB), February 10, 2005
by Krust-E
The Perpetrators, Cripple Creek Fairies at Broken City

•   Luckily I had showed up just minutes before the Cripple Creek Fairies hit their first note, and as usuall (with shtick intact) they are always a treat to witness live. Their means of raunch n' roll is the way it should be played - heavy, mean and, most importantly, LOUD. And as they pound through their set you can't help but ask yourself what's more interesting: the band on the stage? Or the reaction they seem to get from people who are experiencing their live show for the very first time? With that in mind I sat back and soaked in their stage acrobatics with a harmless smirk on my face, wondering if they will in fact upstage the headliners of the evening...

Exclaim Magazine (Toronto, ON), February 04, 2005
by Sam Sutherland
Cripple Creek Fairies, The Fist!

•   Even if their music was completely un-listenable, The Fist might still be worth the price of purchase because of the hilariously original comic book that accompanies it. Following the story of a very bad dude called “the Fist,” the comic illustrates the band’s battle, and subsequent victory, over evil. The music isn’t half bad itself, mixing an old-school organ sound with the driving punk energy of MC5 and the Stooges. Fun songs like “Choppin’ Blocks and Breakin’ Hearts in the Shin Pow Clan!” are insanely catchy, while tracks like “Rock Your Panties Off!” quite literally do.

•   The Underground is undergoing a rebirth of sorts, and this Friday, November 5 sees The Agriculture Club and The Hip City Blues Combo along with The Cripple Creek Fairies, who are out busting their ass to move units of their best effort yet, The Fist. The CD (and accompanying comic book) are already raising eyebrows (and fists) from even the most jaded sources in the city. Catch them while you can in this small, intimate and somewhat stony place.

VUE WEEKLY (Edmonton AB), Oct. 20/2004
by Phil Duperron
Cripple Creek Funnies

•   Cripple Creek Fairies EP/comic release * With Hardy Drew and the Nancy Boys and Deadcity Serpents * Seedy's * Sat, Oct 23 According to band legend, Calgary garage-rock gurus the Cripple Creek Fairies originally hail from the sleepy town of Mullet, Alberta. With nothing better to
do than rock out in a shed and torture chickens with loud music, CCF honed their boredom into a supersonic attack of ridiculous proportions.
"There's not much to do when you're stuck out there in the boonies," says bassist/singer Les Izmoore. "Every once in a while you make a trip out to the big city of Stettler and head to the IGA to peruse the comic book racks for whatever crappy titles happen to make it in that shipment. I don't know, I guess small-town life leads to escape via comic books and things like that."

The Fairies first indulged their superhero fantasies onstage by donning WWII aviator goggles and helmets, but now the band has taken things one step further and released The Fist, a 12-song EP which serves as a soundtrack for the slick-looking comic book that comes with it. With superpowers like force beams and rubber bodies-not to mention high-tech gizmos and heavy artillery-the Fairies smash and bash their way through the full-length book, which was drawn by Calgary artist Tim Husken. Izmoore says they first took notice of Husken's art on gig posters around town. Once a vibrant form of artistic expression, gig posters have been sliding downhill lately. "He's one of the guys bringing it back," says Izmoore. "He's doing really cool, fancy posters that look like effort has been put into them. So we rounded him up, locked him in the basement and fed him hot dogs until it was complete."

Although the idea of making comic books with bands as the heroes isn't a new one (anyone remember the KISS comics?) it's still pretty cool, and Izmoore makes no apologies for letting his inner geek make yet another appearance. "We're at the point now where we're under the assumption that nobody really gives a shit what we do," he says, "so we just do what we want. If it means making a comic book about ourselves, then that's sweet."

•   Also on Friday, October 22, The Cripple Creek Fairies release their new CD/comic book combo. Having the good fortune to both hear and see this new release already, I can guarantee that this is going to turn heads and blow speakers country wide. The Fist is a dose of rock 'n' roll the likes of which this city hasn't seen in ages, and the already out of control live show promises to get even more so tonight at Broken City, with numerous guests joining the band throughout their set.

•   Gearing up for a big CD-release event is always a thrill for the musicians involved; doubly so when that release is accompanied by its very own comic book. Looking to top their dynamic live performances in more ways than one, the winged brook-hoppers known as Cripple Creek Fairies (CCF) have come forth with a one-two punch, that not only provides ample visual entertainment, but delivers a heavy dose of phlegm-loosening rock 'n' roll to boot. Bassist and moon-howler Les Izmoore is proud to see that the distinctive image he and his bandmates have endeavoured to develop has now been immortalized in permanent ink with the unleashing of The Fist.
"Our new CD comes with a comic book about a monster called The Fist," explains Izmoore, who admits the band grew up as comic fans reading Mad Magazine. "I guess the gist of it is that a lot of the songs are in the vein of The Fist - fighting, superheroes, explosions... more explosions. We are all big comic fans.... We had been kicking around the idea of doing our own comic book for a few years, when we met up with artist Tim Huesken, who is known for his fancy colour poster designs, and we started chipping away at a script. We loosely hold onto the thread of the comic-book theme throughout the album - all of the songs are about explosions in some way." The band had produced a few limited-quantity EPs in the past and were included on a few compilations, including Saved By Radio's B.Y.O.P. Calgary Does Connors. The Fist, originally slated as a three-or-four-song EP, quickly ballooned to 12 songs. "You can think of it as a four song record with eight bonus tracks," says Izmoore.
While their newly adopted artist set himself to work on their graphic debut, CCF busied themselves with the musical half of this multimedia frenzy - a process that was all-too-often retarded by the steady procession of players who filtered through the band's personnel roster. This revolving door of recruits made it increasingly difficult for Izmoore and his cohorts to solidify their positions and bring their latest sonic triumph to fruition.
"I never thought I'd wind up being the only original member left in a band, which probably means I'm the next to be replaced," he says with a chuckle. "Our lineup has changed at least six times. Stupid us, we just keep on adding people. So, we've been regaining our footing since then and trying to keep things together. It's like herding cats. Most of the songs on the album were written before our last guitarist (66) joined the band. For his audition we asked him to put down guitar tracks to those songs and that's what wound up on the CD. The whole thing came together haphazardly, so it's rough around the edges, which is an accurate reflection of our live show."
Attacking Calgary's alternative-music scene from a garage-rock angle, CCF adhere to a bass-heavy esthetic. Guitars squeal and keyboards rumble as Izmoore, Monster Zero, 66, Conrad Montana, Phil Inne and Le Rouge Baron gather their awesome powers and prepare to do battle with The Fist. Churning up chords and beats like they were white-water rapids, the Fairies muddy the waters with such tracks as "Biff Bang Pow!," "Who Was That Masked Man?," "Choppin' Blocks & Breakin' Hearts in the Shin Pow Clan!," and the memorable "Rock Your Panties Off!" Now that's what I call an explosive lineup! And while life as a superhero can take its toll on the average citizen, the members of this anything-but-average team of thrill-seekers are well-equipped to confront their foes and stand tall in the limelight.
"We love bands who do the whole package - bands like KISS who put the extra effort into presentation," he says. "We admire the Von Zippers for that and The Mants and Forbidden Dimension. They just look like they're having way too much fun. People say that Calgary has a reputation for gimmicky bands and that the whole trend has gone downhill. We try to perpetuate that shtick-rock mystique. We like to think of ourselves as a group of Super Friends, with plenty of reserves waiting in the ranks. Soon we will mobilize our branches across the country!" (Insert maniacal laughter here.)
by Christine Leonard

The Cripple Creek Fairies: Keeping it Real Superhero-like.

•    It’s a pretty common thing to open up an entertainment magazine and peruse through its music section to read about a band you enjoy immensely only to come away thinking, “That was the stupidest interview I’ve ever read! So what if they have a sweet tooth! Who cares if they eat Angel Dust for breakfast!” How often have you thought about how you would like to sit down with a band and talk about all the things they think are really interesting? Most bands go through the interview process and it’s always the same ten questions over and over again. That must be a real drag.
Not only that, interviewing a band like the Cripple Creek Fairies would usually be a big, smelly pile of irony, irreverence, and a numbing amount of cheekiness. This seems to be a pretty common slant for interviewers when it comes time to do their story for any band. Not that the C.C.F. don’t court that kind of an angle as they do have a shtick, and they work it well (hello flying helmets…). They also get classified in with Calgary’s very fertile rawk ‘n roll scene. This is also not so much of a stretch as they do play rock music. Big, Loud, Heavy Rock Music. A recent performance at the Broken City was like witnessing the birth of the love/hate child between Blue Cheer and Question Mark and the Mysterians. They even tore down the house with an amazing version of The Who’s “Young Man Blues”, which segued into an Amboy Dukes-like version of “Baby Please Don’t Go”. There were a lot of dropped jaws by the end of their set. What sets the Cripple Creek Fairies apart from their brethren is the addition of their electric organist, Conrad Montana, who gives their sound that pop-like, Mysterians lightness that other bands would be loathed to consider.
This is all very evident in the recently finished new recording, “The Fist”.
“It’s a full length E.P. of 12 songs.” Says vocalist/bassist Les Izmoore.
“It’s an E.E.P. An extended, extended play record.”
But this particular release is being paired with a comic book also called “The Fist”. When pried for details as to what the comic is about, guitarist/vocalist Monster Zero would only make vague allusions to the Fairies as, “Superheroes fighting a rampaging monster.” Ah…comics.
The universal truth that lies in the combining of rock and graphic novel-dom is a relatively, if completely, new thing for a local rock combo to pursue. Written and illustrated by local artist Tim Hueskin and co-written by the aforementioned Tommy Douglas, who is named after the founder of the other C.C.F. (Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, natch. Politics, rock and comics…wow!), this led to the idea of asking the members of the Cripple Creek Fairies as to who their favorite comic heroes were growing up.
“ I grew up on The Punisher, Spiderman and more interestingly, Zippy The Pinhead.” Says co-lead guitarist 66.
“Reading comics was really only a fleeting thing for me. I wasn’t really a fanatic, although I do still enjoy Zippy now.”
When asked as to who he considers to be real life heroes, 66 fired off a list of iconic guitarists; Angus Young, Ace Frehley, and Tony Iommi. Interestingly, he also mentioned his dad, and the really awful comedian Peter Barbatti of the Liar’s Club.
“He spoke to you in the wrong way, like a bad uncle who would slip you beers when you were just kids.”
This opened the floodgates for all members of the Fairies to add in their favorites.
Les Izmoore threw in, the X-Men, Daredevil, Moon Knight and Ghost Rider as formative childhood comic heroes.
“Now I collect Tales From The Crypt and any other horror comic series.”
“I also like the Ralph Snart books.” Les is pretty quick to admit to being a serious collector.
Commenting on his real life heroes, Les was adamant to pick out firemen or, “People I think live up to comic hero expectations. Everyday people who accomplish things, like the guy who fixes my computer. He’s a hero to me!”
“Kiss and Neil Young used to be heroes until I learned more about them as people, and I found myself being turned off by their personalities.” Continues Les.
“Now I just have respect for them. Not hero worship.”
“I also look to people in bands who keep doing it, even though they never get anywhere.”
All the members of the band seem to agree to that sentiment.
The other lead guitarist, Monster Zero was never a big fan of comics in general, but he was partial to the occasional Superman read and also the G.I. Joe comics.
“I really like the Goku’s Dragon Ball Z.” Adds the guitarist. “It’s a Japanese anime series.”
“I’d say my heroes are Metallica, Slayer, and my mom.” Says the guitarist.
“We’re all fans of Monster Zero’s mom!” quips 66.
Electric organist Conrad Montana sites Asterix, the Spiderman cartoon, (“The cool one from growing up in the seventies!”) as well as Ernie Pook’s Comeek.
“I’ve recently gotten back into Spiderman because of my son who is a Spidey fanatic.”
“Nowadays, I don’t really look to rock musicians as modern day heroes. They aren’t really good role models and as a dad, I have to think about that.”
Conrad went on to talk about how he, “Identifies with the late, great Spike Jones who was an amazing comedian/musician from the ‘40’s.”
“I am a big Pierre Berton fan ‘cause he went up and introduced himself to my dad at some function.”
“My grade 12 teacher, Mr. Harms had a big influence on me. He opened up my mind to the idea of the creative process.” Montana adds, “He died of cancer when he was in his early 30’s.”
Conrad was also adamant to add that his son, Jacob, is his biggest hero as he just went through heart surgery very recently. “He was so brave and fearless and he’s already out playing soccer and climbing trees!”
This leads us, lastly, to drummer Phil Inne. The one Cripple Creek Fairy who wasn’t present for the interview. So, his brother Les (With names like that…of course they’re brothers!) was obliging enough to speak up for Phil.
“Phil would go out and collect any Issue #1 comic he could find at the Stettler IGA. This meant he had a large collection of some questionable comics like Madballs.” Les confides that, “Nobody reads Madballs!”
“So now he has a large collection of pretty worthless #1’s!” (Laughter ensues around the table at Phil’s expense).
Les goes on to shed some light on Phil’s more recent collector passions.
“He collects anything to do with The X Files and is really into hockey cards, especially our hometown hero Darcy Tucker who plays for the Leafs.”
“He knows him personally, so he has a couple hundred of just Darcy Tucker cards-he is a real life hero for Phil.”
“Phil is also a BIG fan of Slayer’s Dave Lombardo.”
Aside from all this discussion of heroes past and present, the Fairies also wanted to give out props to their other drummer, Le Rouge Baron, who is currently “on tour” with Asia. Apparently Le Baron is a fan of The Punisher, Batman and cooking magazines in general.
“Julia Childs and Chef Boy Ardee are his real life heroes.” Confirms 66.
“As is Orville Reddenbacker and John Wetton of Asia.”
Well, whaddya know? A local band that rocks and can talk about things other than sweet teeth and Angel Dust. All of this should whet the appetites of rawk and comic fans everywhere.
“The Fist” is set to be released in late September or early October on Catch and Release.

Just Winging It

•  The Cripple Creek Fairies With Shikasta & the Taylor Dons, Sidetrack Café, Thurs May 20
The Cripple Creek Fairies are an enigmatic bunch. The Calgary-based garage rockers are as well-known for their gritty and goofy rock ditties as they are for wearing WWII-vintage aviator caps and goggles. But who are the men behind the masks? Part of the problem may be that no one from Edmonton has ever seen the same lineup twice. They've been blitzing up north since 2000, but until now their revolving-door policy of active and reassigned members has kept people guessing as to what to expect.
"It tends to fluctuate," admits Les Izmoore, the band's "sub-sonic disruption cannon operator." (That's a bass player for the uninformed.) It's not like they're doing it on purpose - Izmoore is no control freak who fires people for not showing up to practice or anything. Members have a habit of getting jobs or having kids or moving to other cities. In fact, this could be the last Edmonton
performance for drummer Le Rouge Baron, who may be moving back to his native Quebec to be, of all things, a gymnastics coach.
The Cripple Creek Fairies have been working on a new disc for some time now. All the songs have been recorded but the album (entitled The Fist) will have to wait until later this summer to see the light of day. That's because there's a full-blown comic book illustrated by artist Tim Huesken depicting the Fairies as rock n' roll superheroes coming with it. In the meantime, CCF has assembled a collection of their earliest recordings, many of them unreleased, under the title of Blast Off and an EP of covers called Moustache Rock 2002 to keep fans happy.
Those fans probably still have vivid memories of the last time the Fairies were in town, and the organ-playing madman named Conrad Montana who they brought with them. Montana spent half the set literally riding his instrument, adding some potent entertainment value to the mix. The funny thing is, his death- defying performance happened after recent surgery. "He was working with a hernia," Izmoore says,
"or I guess a freshly stitched-up hernia. Actually, he's got a five-year old son who hit him in the nuts with a golf club a couple weeks ago, so he may need to get some more repair work done."

THE ROCK EXPLOSION
(The House of Electric Warriors Pleasure)
www.therockexplosion.com

(This review is in Italian but has been translated to English via a free translation program, enjoy)

•  This diskette gone out in 2003 testifies the debut of an of the more strange than band is me, until now, arrived to meet. Already the presentation and the bio in my possession, make one think me that the neurons of them property really arrived at the terminal stadium. In fact the biography recounts that the birth of the CFF is coiled from a large mystery, had to in primis to changes of line up, you meet aerial, give shelter to and disappeared. Sole detail that is given to know is bound us to the birth risalente to 2000, happened according to the better informed after an aerial collision between the crop-rival dusters of Les Izmoore (bass, vocals) and Tommy Douglas (guitar,
vocals), that carried the ours 2 pilots near the death. It is actual from this event that the original quartet of Mullet (Canada), catches again the look in Red style Baron, flaunted to the inside of the booklet or on the logo of covered. Also the resonant proposal of the ours is enough detail, I would be able dirvi that these boys play a rock' n' roll wiggling, that sank the actual roots halfway between contaminations garage, punk and a voice that remembers a lot from neighbor that of Bret Michaels of the Poison, above all in the initial "Red Sweater" and in "Rock & Roll". I am actual the vocals ringing and cleaned of Les Izmoore that give a melodic imprint and a certain originality to all it together. "Australia" is an of my song preferred thanks to its rhythms danzabili and also the following angrier, swift one and autocelebrativa "Gimme Burdens Fairies" does not joke completely, in virtue of an effectiveness I work some guitars. The sole exception, to the rapid piques of the ours, is constituted from the final hymn "Panties On" that gravitates around to a mid time from the solutions quantomeno bootlickers. In definitive, we are opposite, to a valid band than likely still it should ripen definitive to level of songwriting giving to every individual song a greater personality. My advice is that of do knowledge with this band across the net; listened to the mp3 made available means the official website and decide if the their sound does, or does not do, for you!

See Magazine (Edmonton, AB)
Best of 2003
by Tom Murray

•  Some days I think they should put punk rock down like Old Yeller, but every now and then something comes along to prove that the dog still has fangs."

•  With a name like Cripple Creek Fairies I couldn’t resist doing a review for this band! And they hail from Mullet Alberta. I don't know if that's true or anything, I've heard that there are a lot of mullets in Calgary, but at least they have an interesting story.

Legend has it that these boys formed in their small town when rival crop-dusters Les Izmoore and Tommy Douglas collided in mid-air and nearly died. I'm not quite sure though how they were able to bridge their differences and form a rawk band. According to their record label, "Due to fluctuating line ups, mid air collisions, hospitalizations and unexplained disappearances it's hard to pinpoint what, or who the CCF are."

So I suppose the best way to describe them is to let the music do the talking. CCF plays some good times rock n roll. They’re a garage rock band with a punk rock attitude (especially in Les’s snotty punk vocals with a smidge of Tom Petty.) But don’t confuse them with any of the “The” band wannabees, this is simple old school rawk without any pretensions whatsoever. Their music lies somewhere in the same vein as ACDC and the Supersuckers, and maybe a little Budgie and the MC5. They definitely have got a good groove going on, kind of like the way Scotland’s Marshan makes you bop your head. It’s simple old school rawk but it gets the job done.

The guitar is chugging on, with some great leads thrown in. The bass is good and throbbing. The drums are ace, nice and fast and driving. There isn’t much left to say. Cripple Creek Fairies play simple, driving rawk. Get out yer best stained wifebeater and dig it!

Kelly McAllister

A solid example of garage-rock how-to.

All you aspiring rockers out there take heed. There's a new how-to manual available on making it in this crazy line of work -- the self-titled debut from Calgary's own Cripple Creek Fairies.Some examples of their garage-honed teachings:

One: Play loud, hard and fast.

Two: Write songs about rock n' roll (see "Rock & Roll"), your band (see "Gimme Some Fairies"), your hometown rock scene (See "Red Sweater" which prominently name checks Huevos Rancheros) and girls (see um... actually, see the entire album). While these tunes should be relentlessly driving, throw in some catchy moments as well (see the High School love song "Australia"). Note: As you progress you may want to expand your repitoire a bit, but this is a fine base to start from.

Three: Be tight.

Four: Sound like your having a heckuva lot of fun.

Class dismissed. Now go rock the world.

Star Phoenix (Saskatoon, SK)
by Kim Mannix

•    Have you ever wanted to kick yourself for missing something? A listen to the album C.C.F.E.P.3 by the Cripple Creek Fairies tells me I should have checked them out when they played last weekend at the Wash n' Slosh.
The three-piece band from Calgary are a guitar-driven, punk rock thrill ride. The sound on their newest release, C.C.F.E.P.3 is characterized by short, fast guitar-grinding, fun tunes. The first song, Olympic Dude Cruise inevitably gets the head bobbing back and forth or up and down.
What the repetitious refrain "Go on a trip with your friends to Australia" on the song Australia lacks in lyrical depth, it makes up in catchiness. It's been stuck in my head for days and I don't mind. The gritty tune, This Can Only End Badly features the not-so-melodious vocals and beginner sounding guitar riffs of band members Les Izmoore and Tommy Douglas, but somehow emerges as my favorite song on the disc. A surprise remake of Baby Please Don't Go comes in as a close second favorite.
Although I'm sure punk fans would love CCF's newest disc, like most independent releases, quantities are scarce.

The Prairie Dog (Saskatoon, SK)
Not Your Grandpa's CCF
by EM

•    From their name I thought this Alberta-based band would be lame and stupid, but after listening to a compilation of the Cripple Creek Fairies' three self released EP's it was evident that the CCF are just stupid - er, make that stoopid. Like in a good, AC/DC way.
The CCF are to garage rock what fellow Calgarites Chixdiggit are to punk rock. Both bands are slightly cute enough to work that angle for all it's worth, and they're also smart enough to both ridicule and embrace the seedier elements of rock/roll music.
The CCF play low-rent, three-chord rock. They even do a wild cover of Them (featuring Van Morrison)'s classic "Baby Please Don't Go." And their name comes from a Neil Young song. What more could you ask for?

The Carillion (Regina, SK)
High Kicks and Flying Goggles - Cripple Creek Fairies Create Super Human Rock Stew
by Silas Polkinghorne

•    When it comes to independent music, few and far between are those acts which have no interest in being taken seriously.
When the Cripple Creek Fairies take the stage this Saturday at the Exchange donning World War II fighter-pilot gear, all rock star posturing will go out the window.
Bassist and vocalist Les Izmoore explains: "We've got the full jean-jacket action on stage, and the hoods and goggles... it gets a little warm up there. Might need to have some resuscitators on hand."
The Calgary three-piece, which also includes guitarist Tommy Douglas, "Mad Dog" Diggs on drums and recently added guitarist, Kayko "The Dragon" won't be pulling any punches during their "Fairies on the Prairies" tour. Without their off-stage alter egos, the Fairies will not hesitate to be offensive, or tongue-in-cheek. Lyrics from their latest EP, C.C.F.E.P.3 include "If we say we're gonna rock you/ It ain't no exaggeration/ If you think you're getting too hot/ It ain't your imagination."
"It works better in that context than, say, if you're standing at the water cooler telling people to got to hell."
These latter-day messiahs of speedy, three-chord, sludge-rock and straight-faced humor welcome the chance to escape the everyday. Izmoore and Douglas met as rival crop dusters in the small town of Mullet Alberta. Legend has it that an in-air collision left them both incapable of performing any tasks involving motor skills. Luckily, they became musicians. The two played in several bands which all ran their course, the last of which being Thee Maypolers, an "old-school country bluegrass" group. They realized however that their youthful enthusiasm was more suited to an amplified sound.
"I think people just looked at us and said "ah, young white kids, screw'em'," says Izmoore. "We decided it was time to rock again... So we returned to the amps, cranked'em up and started this rock band. "
The pair tortured several drummers before finding the steady Diggs. They found him in the Mullet Tavern working as a bouncer and handing out "rhythmically-administered beatings." The Fairies three-chord classic rock and no-holds-barred attitude is inspired by "the down and dirty rock," belives Izmoore, "You are what you eat. It's kind of like if AC/DC was a garage rock band instead of a super human rock group. Somebody once described us as AC/DC at a barbeque."
The Fairies Sound may be more high school pep rally than sold-out arena, but their personas lend themselves to some special abilities.
"It's a superhero kind of thing... like Gene Simmons. He's The Demon, he's not just plain old Gene Simmons... plain old fat, balding Gene Simmons."
The Fairies recently opened up a Calgary date for Georgian redneck rockers, Nashville Pussy. "It's hard to compete with that kind of live show. They're just such a formidable presence. So Tommy's gonna be getting some breast implants, probably when we return from the tour." What? Not for the prairie tour?
"We don't have a big enough budget, so there won't be a lot of pyro and stuff but, perhaps some blood... lots of high kicks. Probably some wrong notes here and there. Hopefully a lot of right notes. But, there are always some blunders, usually due to the high kicks."
Still, Izmoore and Douglas haven't completely abandoned their traditional country roots.
"We think it'll go over better when we're older. Older and covered in wrinkles... maybe if we also lost some limbs or an eye."
"We may return to it later, when our joints no longer allow us to do high kicks. But until then, we wanna rock."
Cripple Creek Fairies will be bowing down to rock & roll at the Exchange on Saturday, June 23. Admission is $5

Stylus (Winnipeg, MB)
CRIPPLE CREEK FAIRIES C.C.F.E.P.3
by Casey Norman

•    Sporting jean jackets, WWII flying helmets and aviator goggles, the CCF's are a monsoon of rock n' roll attitude and straight faced hi-jinx.
These four high kicking sons of bitches play dirty three-chord rock n' roll. Their songs come in two minute blasts of low-fi sonic fury making this, their third EP, about ten minutes long. It's a catchy ten minute ride which begs you to press play again. Originally from Mullet AB, the CCF's now call Calgary home where they've been known to "get around", as they say. Fellow Calgarian Whitey Kirst who plays guitar for Iggy Pop is known to join the band on occasion, and appeared on their last EP, We're Here For The Pi. They'll be coming to town this summer for their "Fairies on the Prairies" tour, so don't miss the show and your chance to 'Bow Down to Rock & Roll'

Stylus (2001 - Winnipeg, MB)
CRIPPLE CREEK FAIRIES
by Casey, Andy & Dan

•    Before the Stylus benefit blowout September 14th, the Rock n' Roll Juggernaut met up with the Cripple Creek Fairies for a meeting of the minds. The soft-spoken, hard rockin' boys from Calgary were nice enough to give us their vital statistics and answer our insightful questions. After the interview they put on one hell of a show filled with knee droppin', high kickin', nose bleedin' fun. A truly memorable show.

Rock'n Roll Juggernaut: Any reason you guys have put out 3 EP's instead of a long-play?
Kayko: Cuz they're super cheap to do and you can turn around and sell'em at shows.

RNRJ: You just burn them yourselves?
Les: Yeah, that way, every show for about three or four shows we had an EP release party. It makes it sound a bit better... like we're actually doin' something, not just rocking the same old shit.

RNRJ: Do you have any plans to get on a label or with a distributor?
Les: Well, technically we're on Catch & Release, which is distributed by Scratch. The EP's aren't, but the compilation will be The Southern Invasion). We'll wait and see if we have backing for it and if we do, we'll work towards something.

RNRJ: So you're originally from Mullet, AB? Is this some sort of joke?
Les: No. There is a town called Mullet and we're from just outside. It might as well be Mullet. It's more of a railroad than a town.

RNRJ: Which part of Mullet are you from? Short on top or long on back?
Les: Funny.

RNRJ: How's your "Fairies on the Prairies" tour going?
Les: That's over. It was only two dates... we're doing the Prairie Blitzkrieg tour now. It's just Winnipeg and Regina. It's been fun.
Kayko: The key on tour is to sleep naked. That way no one takes the bed with you.
Les: Although we stayed at another band's house last night and Tommy woke up with his underwear backwards.
Tommy: I can't explain it. I went to sleep with my shirt off and it was on when I woke up... and my underwear was backwards.

RNRJ: What's the story with Whitey Kirst (Iggy Pop's current guitarist) playing with you guys?
Tommy: Somehow he just befriended us. We don't know why.

RNRJ: He's from Calgary?
Les: Yeah. They had just finished the new album (Beat'em Up) and he was in town and we ended up talking to him, and he was saying he was bored and couldn't wait to get out on the road and play. We're like, "you could come jam with us if you want," Thinking he'd be like... Kayko: ... "Lick my ass!"
Les: But he said "sure."
Tommy: He's played five or six shows with us.
Les: One time I called Whitey and he had to let me go cuz Iggy was on the other line. That was cool.

RNRJ: Where's your drummer?
Les: He's selling real estate... talking on his phone.

RNRJ: How many drummers have you guys had?
Tommy: Maybe four.

RNRJ: So you guys are a little like Spinal Tap?
Kayko: Nobody's exploded and left a green blob yet.

RNRJ: To finish, are there any Calgary bands that we should look out for?
Les: Well, besides the obvious Von Zippers, Chixdiggit, Huevos Rancheros and so on, there's The English Teeth (ex-Forbidden Dimension), 66 Breakout, The Neckers, The Jalopies, The Red Hot Lovers, Summerlad, Agriculture Club, Trikl Act and The Ex-Boyfriends. I guess that's it. Oh
yeah, and Brent from Huevos has a side project called The Ramblin' Bastards