The name might not be familiar, but the simple music and basic beats certainly will be. Jasper band the Mistakes are set to bring a night of rockabilly entertainment to locals on Saturday (May 27) night, and they’ve brought some similar acts along for the ride.

Rockabilly, for those not in the know, is the style of music that forms the foundation for rock and roll, as well as much of modern country music. Think Carl Perkins, early Johnny Cash or Elvis Presley, and you’ve got an idea. Or let Mistakes drummer Mitch Morris describe the sound.

“It’s just really good roots rock and roll,” he says. “It simplifies the best out of country and the best out of rock.”

Morris comes to the new band with a background in and passion for punk rock, which might seem like a long way from the days of vinyl recordings and moralists condemning proto-rock as the devil’s music. However, Morris says the genres aren’t very far apart at all.

“The roots are in the same place,” he says. “Every punk band I’ve ever listened to has done covers of rockabilly songs and country songs.”

Besides Mitch, the Mistakes are made up of guitar player and vocalist Brad, and Billie, who plays the standup bass. Shindig, which is what the organizers have named Saturday’s concert, will mark the first time the band will play a full set together. Previously they’ve merely participated in jam sessions at the Whistle Stop and the Downstream Bar. The group is so new, Morris doesn’t even know Brad’s surname. What he does know, however, is Brad’s musical pedigree, which is considerable, having stepped out with several prominent rockabilly acts in Edmonton.

Morris himself has been adjusting to a new instrument. He’s usually a bass player, having been part of the rhythm section in a band before, but he’s been shifted to the drum kit because Billie can play a standup bass, which is closer to rockabilly’s roots. Like the music the band plays, Morris has been keeping it simple, working mostly with a snare drum.

The Mistakes (that’s a temporary name, Morris points out) came together after spending some time attending concerts in Vancouver. Since then, they’ve built a bit of a repertoire of cover tunes, as well as penning one original song. That’s what the audience can expect this weekend when the hometown band hits the stage in the Forest Room at the Amethyst Lodge. 

They’ll be joined by two more established acts. The Nightstalkers and the Cryptomaniacs both hail from Calgary, and are known for their live shows, Morris reports.

“The Nightstalkers have played in Jasper before, they play super-fast, great rock and roll,” he says, going to describe the Cryptomaniacs in similar terms.

“It should be a great time,” he concludes.

Hosting a multi-band showcase of this nature has been something Morris has worked towards for awhile and he hopes to make it a fixture on Jasper’s cultural scene.

“This is a test drive. We’d like to get it going bigger and better, with more bands. It would be nice to have a regular rock event in Jasper, maybe on off years from the folk fest, I don’t know.”

Morris says he’s heard a good buzz about the event ever since he put posters up last month, and expects a good crowd. 

“It seems like it’s going to go over really well. People have been talking about it,” he says.

Doors for the show open at 8, with the first band on stage by 9. The entire event has to be done by midnight, but Morris hopes that people will respond well to an early show.

As for the Mistakes, they’re waiting to see how successful Shindig turns out, but they have been looking into booking gigs in Edmonton and elsewhere.