With their guns drawn, two masked men board a train.
The two: known as Clint and Billy ‘Bones’ Ford, force the conductor to open the railway company’s safe and then escape with their payload on horseback.
It’s a scene from the silent film The Brothers Ford: Safe Travels created by Keith Picot and Brandon Issak. It’s one of three they have created in the series.
Film is a passion for the two, who perform as the The Silver Screen Scoundrels. The group melds silent films with their music.
The duo would film all day while they were on the road, play their gig, and then upload the videos.
“Every view was like a Christmas present for us,” said Picot.
Picot said this is the age of screens with so many people connected with technology. The Silver Screen Scoundrels create a film for each song, which are shown on a screen during the show.
Issak was recently nominated for a Maple Blues Award for Song Writer of the Year and Picot received an award in 2011 for Canada’s Best Bass Player.
Picot said the two spend a lot of time having fun with their music, which spills out into the audience.
“We take our music very seriously, but we don’t take ourselves seriously,” he said. “It’s not so much we are creating comedy. We are just liberating it.”
The Silver Screen Scoundrels perform at Simonholt Friday (June 14). Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show begins at 9 p.m. The show also features Nanaimo musician Shauna McAllister.
People may know McAllister for her alternative rock music in her band Jupiter Jill, but she is a diverse performer who embraces various types of music. For the Simonholt show she’ll perform an acoustic country show to close out the evening. She’ll sing songs from Johnny Cash, Steve Earle and other artists as well as her own originals.
“They are kind of kicked up a little bit,” she said about her rendition of the songs.
For McAllister the show is also a chance to reunite with Picot, who she performed with in the band Western Chaos.
Tickets are $15 in advance from the restaurant, Fascinating Rhythm and the Cranky Dog in Parksville or $20 at the door. For more information about Silver Screen Scoundrels please go to http://silverscreenscoundrels.com.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com