Brandon Isaak is at Art Space Thursday night belting out a Bluesman's Plea.
Also the name of his new solo album, the expression is a call out to those who love the blues.
Best known as Yukon Slim in the Vancouver band The Twisters, Isaak decided Prince George, where he briefly lived, was the place to first present his solo act last summer.
"I always love coming to Prince George, Earl always has great gigs for me and I love the people," said Isaak.
That first performance inspired a solo album and Isaak is coming to P.G. to officially release the CD.
Always a team player, the solo act came as a bit of a surprise to Isaak.
"I always pictured myself as playing in a band and I always wrote for a band," said Isaak. "When I went solo it opened my eyes to a whole new world and it's liberating. It's totally different -- you're not handcuffed to a certain style and you have total freedom to go anywhere you want with your music."
Now Isaak has turned his solo blues calling into a lifestyle.
"I just love the idea of getting in a car and driving across the country by myself or jumping on a train and being a hobo if I want," Isaak said. "There's something really magical about it."
And he's definitely old school.
"I've always loved the old days and I listen to all the old records - Harry James and Louis Armstrong," said Isaak. "I just like the idea when times were simpler and I like the music from those days because they had fabulous messages in their songs, especially during the war. So ya, I'm into the retro feel for sure!"
Isaak's old style music made its debut some 50 to 100 years ago, he said.
"I'm riding on the shoulders of the guys before me - I'm not reinventing it, I'm just putting a modern twist on old music."
Not only will Isaak showcase his new album during the gig, but he's already got about a dozen more songs to debut as well.
"I love writing, I'm sort of addicted to it."
He believes in giving a good, honest performance.
"I wear my heart on my sleeve and I just put it out there telling true stories. A lot of people have similar stories so they can relate and I also like to have a lot of fun and have a lot of laughs. At the show there's a mix of roots and blues and gospel tunes and maybe a little soft shoe if I get crazy."
Tickets are $15 at Books & Co., 1685 Third Avenue. The show at Art Space, above Books & Co., starts at 8 p.m.
