Tyler Pantlin (left) and Mike MacDonald, collectively Shakey Trill, on stage as they perform at the 35th annual International Blues Challenge. Patrick Dunning photo

Hub Staff

A recent experience at the 35th annual International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, Tennessee has inspired Shakey Trill to take their Saugeen Shores duo, made up of Mike MacDonald and Tyler Pantlin, to the next level.

We caught up with them last month to talk about their recent experience and plans going forward.

See: Duo ready to 'take it all in' at International Blues Challenge

The pair progressed through the quarter and semi final heats at the international competition to be one of the final eight acts in the solo/duo category, taking them to perform on stage at the iconic Orpheum Theatre in downtown Memphis. “It's mind blowing it even happened,” said MacDonald. “We just wanted to do our best, that's all we asked for.”

With over 200 acts competing in the competition and 80 in the Solo/Duo category Pantlin said that there was plenty of talent going into the quarter final stages. “All the different performers were highly skilled,” he said.

MacDonald and Pantlin started the competition by performing two consecutive nights at the Kings Palace Café in downtown Memphis. “The same venue with all the same performers but two different sets of judges,” explained Pantlin who added that following the second night's performance, the pair were out enjoying the Memphis night life when they found out from a complete stranger that they had made it through to the semi finals. “He stopped me and said, 'Congratulations... you're Shakey Trill, you're going onto the semis,'" said Pantlin.

With the number of solo/duo acts now reduced to 36, the pair played in the semi finals at People's on Memphis' historic Beale Street. “There was steep competition so we were thinking we didn't move on and that was ok. We were pretty content to get to the semi finals,” said MacDonald, adding that this time they went to hear for themselves the official announcement and were surprised when their name was among the acts who had progressed.

“The last thing on our mind was for us to go on. We weren't thinking that was the case,” said MacDonald. “I think I just kept repeating 'What, what, what'... it was a complete shock.”

Pantlin said it was around 2 a.m. when the announcement was made and they were to be back on stage at noon at the Orpheum Theatre, a venue that seats well over 2,000 people.

“We were the first one to play on the stage in the finals. It went in alphabetical order by blues clubs," Pantlin explained. It was a Bruce County Blues Society regional qualifier in Kincardine that advanced Shakey Trill to the IBC. "So we had to shut it down and try and get some rest, try to sleep but neither of us could," he said.

Both musicians said playing the Orpheum Theatre was the highlight of their Memphis experience. “I still have a hard time believing it,” said Pantlin. “That stage, it was mind blowing. I think I shed a few tears almost before going out because it was just, 'Wow, I didn't expect this.'”

MacDonald agreed. “It threw us for a pretty big loop. There's a lot of history there. The size of that theatre,” he said. “We were playing and all we could see was lights, just lights shining in our face.”

Throughout the competition, performers were judged on such qualities as blues content, originality and musical ability. MacDonald said that they were informed as to what the judges were looking for beforehand. “It didn't hurt to know what the criteria would be,” he said, adding that they spent a lot of time going over that even before they flew out to the competition. “That was tricky as we wanted to do something we really believe in but at the same time it has to fit into this package that they're looking for. There was a lot of hours put into developing a set list for that," he said.

“We had fun with it," said MacDonald, "and maybe that was a component of our success that we just enjoyed it. We didn't expect anything, we just wanted to do our best.”

The duo is now looking to see where the success at the IBC will take them and are working to launch a CD. “We have enough material to get one together now, it's just deciding what material we want on it and finding the right person,” said Pantlin. “We want to get a quality recording together.”

MacDonald said they would like to have something out before summer this year and that it would likely be a reflection of their trip to Memphis. "That'll be the inspiration for this album,” he said. “It's that whole event that triggered this so it will probably be some reflection of that.”

The pair said they also want to start playing festivals and have already signed up to play at the Paisley Blues Festival on June 1 and The Lighthouse Blues Festival in Kincardine on July 13.

Pantlin said they made a lot of contacts while in Memphis, including Juno Award winner Steve Strongman, who won Best Guitarist in the Solo/Duo category at this year's competition. “He gave us a lot of advice and guidance,” said Pantlin. “He's a great contact to have and a great guy all together," he said.

MacDonald agreed. “He offered a lot of valuable information that we probably wouldn't have stumbled on," he said, "because he's a full time musician and this is his gig." MacDonald added that the whole event had been a great networking tool. “It was a way to meet other like minded musicians, meet people that have an interest and get your material out and exposure," he said.

Overall the duo said it had been an amazing experience that went by very quickly. “There was very little rest that trip, there was very little time to think of anything other than run around and try to get ready to perform. It was very fast paced. A big old blues tornado,” said MacDonald. “We're going to take that with us now and work on music," he said.

In recognition of the duo's success in Memphis, The Wismer House in Port Elgin will be hosting a Shakey Trill Blues Celebration on Saturday, March 23 at 9 p.m. The event will also feature IBC semi-finalists from Kitchener, Elliott and the Audio Kings.

Canadian solo/duo finalists at the 35th annual International Blues Challenge, from left, Mike MacDonald and Tyler Pantlin (Shakey Trill), representing the Bruce County Blues Society; Theresa Malenfant and Scott Medford, representing the East Coast Blues Society; and Juno Award winner Steve Strongman, representing the Grand River Blues Society. Patrick Dunning photo

Shakey Trill, along with family and friends who had travelled to Memphis to support the blues duo. Patrick Dunning photo

Shakey Trill's Tyler Pantlin (left) and Mike MacDonald performing at the 35th annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. Patrick Dunning photo