It was a DVD of Led Zeppelin performing live that got a teenaged Joey Paul hooked on music and the idea of becoming a professional musician.
“I was mesmerized by their playing,” Paul said.
Since then, the now 21-year-old Nanaimo native has been not only been chasing his dream, but living it.
On Friday (Feb. 26) Paul and his band Iron Kingdom will be performing at Cavallotti Lodge at 7 p.m. A portion of the proceeds from the show will go towards for the Nanaimo Community Hospice Society.
“We are stoked,” Paul said. “I am the only guy from the Island, everyone else is coming here for the first time. They have never played here.”
Iron Kingdom was formed in 2011 and includes vocalist Chris Osterman, bass guitarist Leighton Holmes and guitarist Kenny Kroecher. They have released three albums, including their debut record Curse of the Voodoo Queen in 2011.
Paul, who only joined Iron Kingdom three months ago, said he is excited to be playing music he really enjoys.
“The guys are great,” Paul said. “There is definitely the most potential here of any band I’ve been in so far. I am actually into the music. A lot of the stuff you do as a musician, you don’t necessarily get to enjoy the music you are playing.”
The Nanaimoite’s adventure as a drummer began at about the age of 12. He attended Headliners, where he eventually ended up teaching drums to other students. Since then, he has performed various styles including blues and jazz and was a member of a band called Strip.
“My beginnings as a musician were pretty small-time,” he said. “You really gotta scrape your knees in this business … you really gotta pay your dues.”
Paul said having played so many different styles of music and being in a handful of different bands has opened up doors for him and made the transition to metal a lot easier for him.
“It widens your horizons. I’ve gotten the opportunity playing jazz gigs, funk gigs, all that kind of stuff and some punk rock stuff, but metal is one thing I have yet to really gig and really fall into and find comfort in, but it’s been easy so far,” he said.
Tickets are $10 at the door. For more information, please visit www.iron-kingdom.com.
reporter2@nanaimobulletin.com