“Velvet meets snakeskin” in new release
“My passion is rock. It’s the music I love, it’s the music I grew up on.”
I know it’s only rock and roll, but I like it!
And so does Kim Rogers.
“My passion is rock. It’s the music I love, it’s the music I grew up on.”
And that passion resonates when she takes the stage with her band: Gemini Fire.
The group came together just over two years ago, and has just made its recording debut. It will release three new songs, one at a time, over the summer. The first single, Kharma to Burn, is set to debut May 24th at the ‘98 Hotel. And it just happens to coincide with Rogers’ birthday, making for a double celebration.
Rogers describes their sound as “flashy retro-rock,” which made them an obvious choice for their most recent gig: bringing the Kopper King back to life after 25 years of silence.
“We christened the new stage in rock and roll style, paving the way for many other bands and shows to come. It’s wonderful to have a nostalgic-but-new live venue up and running!”
Nostalgic and new is also an apt description of Gemini Fire’s playlist. It’s a mix of Roger’s original songs and classics that “get your motor runnin.’” True to the genre, the music is driven by electric guitars, the lyrics biting and focused on struggle and resilience. The arrangements are classic and there is a polish that wasn’t often displayed in rock’s golden years.
And when it comes to the roster, well, it’s the archetype of a rock and roll band: the stud on lead guitar, the aloof bass player and the animal hitting the sticks. Played by Frank Jacques, who brings as much electricity as his instrument; Bassist Shannon Gladwin, flawless from just outside the footlights; and Neil Byblow providing the primal, steady heartbeat until it is percussion’s time to rip.
And in the spotlight, fronting the band is Kim Rogers. Although she’s spent years playing solo and with a number of other groups, this is the first time she has taken the lead.
“I used to think ‘Who am I to have my own band?’ But now I think ‘I’ve paid my dues, and it’s time to own that.’ I’ve finally got up the nerve to headline my own band, focused on my material and the music I love.”
Her experience shows in the ease she has in the spotlight. Whether introducing songs or ad-libbing through a delay, her comfort at centre stage is evident. She is the lead singer and also clearly the leader of the band. And that is one place where the group does break with tradition.
“In the seventies it was certainly male-dominated. Even now, being a woman in the lead role has its own set of challenges. I’m ready to step up but there’s been a growing curve to be able to do that. For a woman leading, it’s a little more nuanced, requires a little more tact.”
But even in the ’70s, there were rebels within the genre that was itself grounded in rebellion. And these trailblazing women excited the young Kim Rogers.
“Naturally, I latched on to Joan Jett, Heart, the Pretenders; they were a leading inspiration. Just really cranking it out, I was fascinated by that. I went and got an electric guitar.”
Those early influences still find their way into Rogers’s songs and performance. Her songs carry an undertone of defiance; they are anthems for the underdogs; they honour those who are still standing after life dealt them a losing hand.
Her presence carries an aura of confidence that is reflected in her speech, her playing and her vocals. Her singing relies more on craft than power, her voice complements the instruments, creating a fulsome sound from a quartet. She uses inflection and vocal agility to bring out the potential in each song; a style sometimes reminiscent of Pat Benetar.
The group is focused on releasing their new music in the Yukon this summer, but Rogers hopes the group will get some opportunities South of 60. She’s proud of her new material and of the hard work the band has put in, but doesn’t expect to set the world on fire.
Still, she wouldn’t mind if it glowed a little bit, from … say, a Gemini Fire.
