Black Pistol Fire

Formed in Toronto in the early 2010s, the duo Black Pistol Fire pairs guitarist-vocalist Kevin McKeown with drummer Eric Owen for a strain of rock steeped in blues and garage. Initially active on the Canadian circuit before relocating to Austin, Texas, Black Pistol Fire developed a bassless guitar-and-drums setup that foregrounds overdriven riffs, prominent drums, and tight song forms. The band stands in a blues rock and rock ’n’ roll lineage, with elements of punk and Southern rock shaping a direct, live-centered aesthetic. A self-titled debut arrived in 2011, followed by Big Beat ’59 (2012), Hush or Howl (2014), Don’t Wake the Riot (2016), Deadbeat Graffiti (2017), and Look Alive (2021), each record refining the balance between raw energy, hook-forward melodies, and psychedelic touches. Active on club and festival circuits across North America and Europe, Black Pistol Fire sustains a reputation as a live act while steadily cementing, across its discography, an immediately recognizable sonic identity.