Steve Lambke has spent the last few years rocking and rolling across Canada with the Constantines, but he's not tired. No sir, he is ready to go again, but this time with his solo project Baby Eagle. Lambke'S Baby Eagle project blends acoustic guitars and bouncy melodies with traditional folk feelings. All heart and soul that boy is. Kat Burns emailed with Steve to find out some lesser-known facts....

Firstly, where did the name "Baby Eagle" come from?

Baby eagle, born and raised.

You've been busy with the Cons for a while, and now you've got a side project. Do you find it difficult to put aside the time to concentrate and write your own songs?

Not so much. Sometimes it's hard to finish things. The Baby Eagle record is coming out on October 3rd on the Outside music label. Most of the record was recorded and mixed in 6 days last September in Winnipeg. Finishing it up has taken a while... been busy with other things. It's all done now.

You've done a lot of touring as of late with your newest project Baby Eagle, as well as with the Constantines. Is there a favourite place that you've had the chance to play?

With the Cons the best place we've played was in the Gorge, Washington, in a hailstorm up in the high plains, up over the river. Baby Eagle has played in many places the Cons have not had occasion to: the Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield Quebec, the Khyber in Halifax and the Tranzac here in Toronto. I don't have favourites. I've been really happy to be home. [I've] been playing in my bedroom; it sounds really good.

I've noticed that you've toured out east recently. Did you happen to experience Ducky's in Sackville? (For the uninitiated, Ducky's is a crazy local bar in Sackville, New Brunswick where they have $10 jugs of rum and cokes.)

Oh yeah. Ducky's. Yes, definitely. I fell in love at Ducky's. I was robbed at Ducky's. Strange looks at Ducky's. I heard the truth spoken in the night on two dollar tequila shots. Yes, Clancy, I've been to Ducky's and from Ducky's I have been. I still get calls in the night!

The music you create is soft and folky. Performing this style of music must give you a different sort of satisfaction than when performing rock shows. What differences do you enjoy most? Is there anything about Baby Eagle shows that you wish would be different?

In my head, sometimes, I imagine an accordion player. I hear drums; I hear a trumpet or a clarinet. Big acoustic band. Mostly I do love playing by myself. I love travelling easy. I love that I could easily play anywhere, anytime. There is no setup, no technical requirements. I wouldn't even need a guitar if someone would lend me one for a minute. If I'm going somewhere I could play.

Do you have any plans for recording another album/EP soon?

Yes, many plans, some more wise than others. Lots of songs. We'll see; it depends on a few things. What the Cons get up to or the weather. What rain, what clouds. Whether the songs keep coming. What joys and sorrows may hurt or inspire... making records is a real fun.

By Kat Burns