He and his band mates in the Kelowna-based rockabilly group The Dragstrip Devils often didn鈥檛 have enough money on the road for haircuts.
So guitarist Brett Kelly took up barbering.
Since then, the co-owner of Vernon鈥檚 highly popular The Gentleman鈥檚 Shop and Shave Parlour, when not laying down grooves with his magic fingers with the Devils, is slicking back, cutting and styling men鈥檚 hair.
To the point the 29-year-old with a barber pole tattooed to the left side of his neck, and rockabilly legends Stray Cats鈥� mega hit Stray Cat Strut music notes tattooed over most of his body, has become one of Canada鈥檚 top cutters.
Kelly is a top-10 finalist for Canada鈥檚 Best Barber of the Year Award, which will be presented in February at the Manology Convention in Montreal, put on by BaByliss4Barbers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty crazy, a complete shock,鈥� said Kelly as he tended to customer Wade Barrett鈥檚 hair in Chair No. 1 (the shop opened with two in 2015) at the 31st Avenue facility, with the Devils鈥� LP (yes, vinyl) Hot Damn playing on the shop鈥檚 turntable.
Canada鈥檚 best barber will be determined in an online vote at . Kelly is up against two other B.C. barbers 鈥� Matty Conrad of Victoria and Drich of Vancouver. The other finalists are from Mississauga, Winnipeg, Montreal (2), Toronto (2) and Ottawa.
鈥淢atty is one of the most influential barbers in the country,鈥� said Kelly. 鈥淭o be nominated with him is quite an honour.鈥�
Kelly, whose current hair is dyed platinum blond, went to a local barber to have his hair cut in a rockabilly style, ie, slick-backed or in a pompadour.
When the Dragstrip Devils hit the road, money was tight or, as they discovered, salons wouldn鈥檛 cut their hair.
鈥淪o I started cutting the guys鈥� hair,鈥� said Kelly. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 that good at first, but I fell in love with barbering.鈥�
While working in Kelowna, he met fellow barber enthusiast Andrew Pye and, together, they opened their shop in Vernon two years ago.
鈥淥ur shop and town are so fortunate to have Brett work his magic and share his passion everyday,鈥� said Pye. 鈥淐ast your vote for Brett and let鈥檚 show what he means to us for all he does for others. Big things for this man going forward.鈥�
No argument there from Barrett.
鈥淚鈥檝e been coming to Brett ever since they opened,鈥� said Barrett. 鈥淗e鈥檚 the best haircutter ever. He pays attention to details, he鈥檚 friendly and he has a very good memory; he remembers everything.鈥�
George Arambasich has been travelling from Kelowna to Vernon to have Kelly cut his hair.
鈥淚 saw him in Kelowna. He鈥檚 the best. It鈥檚 as simple as that,鈥� said Arambasich.
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