Pagan Rooster rounds out 2022 with The Return of the New Year’s Bash with Adam Moore, Lazermortis and Elephant Skeletons, December 31 at 10 p.m.
Matt Carter
If you’re looking for a party this New Year’s Eve, Saint John-based boutique production company Pagan Rooster may have just the fix you are looking for when they welcome Adam Moore, Lazermortis and Elephant Skeletons to McGill’s, on the City’s uptown boardwalk.
“We’re very excited about this one and are really shooting for it to be a banger of a night,” said Pagan Rooster co-founder Kalen Capson.
Founded by Capson and a man with two first names, Frank James, Pagan Rooster call what they do “sonic charcuterie”. The pair began hosting smaller music events around Saint John prior to the pandemic and the upcoming NYE bash stands to be their largest undertaking to date.
“Frank and I got a taste for planning shows by putting together private events for friends and peers that knew we had a few ties to the music community,” said Capson. “Mostly small-time gigs for mid-sized parties and the like, with DJs or some acoustic acts. Shortly before Covid hit we decided to rent out a bar and throw our own private party. It went well. So, by extension from that we knew we could easily do the same thing but open it up beyond just our friend groups.”
So far in 2022, Capson and James have hosted a number of events with a wide range of performers that includes Saint John psych folkers Wet Grow Light, pop artists Hilary Ladd and Qwinn, Fredericton rapper Hinch, DJ duo Groovy Tuesdays and jazz acts Bridge and Jazz Loyalty Program.
Capson says part of their motivation to promote events is based on seeing artists paid fairly for their work.
“A lot of my friends are musicians and Frank has been playing gigs for a long time, and one thing that always came up in conversation is how little artists were making playing gigs,” he said. “They are either getting a small cut of the door or getting very little from the bar. Not always, but the vast majority of the time. Frank and I wanted to put something in place so we could give artists a decent rate.”
For the upcoming New Year’s Eve show, the pair made a deal with the bar that would see both parties compensated for their involvement.
The venue, McGill’s, has emerged as one of the only music venues in Saint John since Covid led to the closure of longtime all-ages hotspot, Taco Pica. McGill’s stands to be the only show in town until Haven Music Hall opens in doors later this season.
“We made a deal that if we could get ‘x’ number of beer drinkers per show we won’t need to pay for the space,” said Capson. “If we don’t hit that number, we decided to take the hit and make sure every act got a guaranteed payout.”
Tickets for The Return of the New Year’s Bash are $20. Event details below.
The Return of the New Year’s Bash | Dec. 31 | McGill’s | Saint John | 10 p.m. | View Event
