As the self-proclaimed ‘only honky-tonk bar in Calgary,’ it should come as no surprise the Palomino booked the eclectic and eccentric band Crooked Brothers to play on Jan. 21.

The group has gained Canadian notoriety over the last few years through their unusual sound that blends banjos, mandolins, Dobros, and scrap metal pieces.

But, they aren’t your typical bluegrass group. In fact, singer Matt Foster was reluctant to assign any particular genre to the group’s distinct music.

He explains how the band put together the songs from their latest album Lawrence, Where’s Your Knife?

“Most people listen to everything nowadays. We wanted to blur those boundaries with our music. We don’t want to let ourselves get comfortable,” says Foster.

It’s that kind of ideology that brought the group together in the first place.

Once known for his high-energy dance music mash-ups, Foster found himself gravitating towards the ethos of punk rock.

That was the genre that would bring Foster together with his two band mates, who also have diverse musical backgrounds and interest – something they rely on to keep things fresh within Crooked Brothers.

The group recently did a show with a hip hop DJ and they aren’t stopping there. In fact, this group will do whatever it takes to live their dream.

“It was never a question of could we do it – it was did we want to do it? It was a matter of get into the van and go. Our first tour had five stops. We played everything from grocery stores to bars,” Foster explains.

“If you want to do it, there’s always a way. I remember one time we played at various B.C. farmers’ markets depending on what fruit was in season, so we could travel around getting paid in food.  Don’t get me wrong, I like a clean bed, but I’ll sleep in a ditch if it means I get to play music.”

To catch Crooked Brothers while they’re in cowtown, make sure to head to the Palomino early on Jan. 21. For more information, visit crookedbrothers.com.