Blunt Force Llama are hitting their stride, with groove in every step.
Blunt Force Llama, the band that’s known for bringing the funk to Queen’s scene, is set to play The Buckle on Feb. 28, raising money for charity alongside their musical peers, not against them. At the aptly named “Rockters Without Borders” event, Blunt Force Llama will share the bill with Michael Zuzek, ArtSci ’25, RevZed, and Jinx, as they come together to raise money for Queen’s Friends of MSF, Médecins Sans Frontières. Ticket sales and a portion of drinks sales go towards ing the charity.
With vocalist Eleanor Guy, ArtSci ’27; Andy Ganea, HealthSci ’26, on keys; Vardan Deroché, HealthSci ’26, on bass; Ronin Offman, HealthSci ’26, playing guitar; and Maxwell He, HealthSci ’26 on drums, Blunt Force Llama has been keeping audiences on their feet since 2023. Though the group’s have changed over time, their commitment and ion for playing together hasn’t waned, with Offman describing their collaboration as a “good dynamic.”
Friday night’s show offers an opportunity for the bands involved to come together to collaborate, rather than compete, something Blunt Force Llama is excited for.
“I feel like there’s lot of competition against student bands. For some reason, we’re really pitted against each other and there’s really no reason for that. We’re all trying to do the same thing, we’re all trying to be musicians just doing this for fun, so I’m excited for the opportunity to be alongside Jinx and RevZed and not have our art be pitted against each other,” Guy said in an interview with The Journal.
“It’s nice to work collaboratively with the other bands,” she added.
The charity element is also one the band is enthusiastic about, with Offman a member of Queen’s Friends of MSF’s executive team as an events coordinator. Despite the close connection with the cause this time around, it isn’t the first time Blunt Force Llama has ed charity through their music. Their involvement in Project Red, Vogue Charity Fashion Show, Relay for Life, and more, displays their commitment to community.
“This is for charity, there’s no egos here. We’re raising money for Doctors Without Borders humanitarian aid, and it’s a great cause. Ticket sales and a portion of the drink sales, thanks to the buckle—they’re very generous are going towards the cause. So, we’re really excited to be a part of that,” Offman shared.
This dedication to community is also seen in the way the band plays, always putting the audience first. With five different schedules, coordinating rehearsals can be tricky, resulting in many late nights. But perfecting their instrumentation is something Blunt Force Llama takes seriously, and has become integral to their values as a band.
With a sound that leans into funk, they take inspiration from the likes of Michael Jackson and Silk Sonic, adding their own twist on familiar favourites. Blunt Force Llama keeps things interesting through not only what they play, but how they play it.
“We also really, I think, pride ourselves for coming up with interesting renditions of songs, like even if it’s a pop song we’ll put a funk twist on it, or we’ll just do it in our own way and do something original,” Guy said.
Unlike some of their peers, the band prefers to play covers, an intentional decision to keep audiences engaged, and involved.
“I think we put audience participation really at the forefront of our set,” she added.
Though the band doesn’t play original songs, their ingenuity shines through in other ways.
“I feel like we get our creative kick out of shaping the song in our unique way. Even crafting the setlist is a creative outlet for us. So that’s a sort of endeavour that gives us that fulfillment creatively,” Offman said.
The band is going from strength to strength, with their community connections extending to the wider music world. Blunt Force Llama is opening for Toronto band A Short Walk to Pluto on March 15 at The Mansion and recently secured a coveted spot on the Alepalooza lineup on March 27.
Keeping their momentum going, the band has high hopes for the future, even if the summer sends them different ways. “We’re just a mega bus away,” Offman joked, but their commitment to music, and each other is serious.
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