Unfit to Practice is out now

Joel Stang & the Weasels is a four-piece Alberta alterna rock band built on honesty, grit, and the kind of lived experience that can’t be faked. Their debut album, Unfit to Practice, arrived April 20, 2026 — a raw, reflective, darkly funny look at a life shaped by nostalgia, healthcare burnout, personal battles, and the stubborn hope that music can still make sense of it all.

For frontman Joel Stang, music has always been a companion. His earliest memories are of long drives to Saskatchewan, AM radio humming through the car, and the feeling that songs could make the world feel bigger. As a teenager, he envied the kids who were pushed into piano lessons — he had to chase music on his own terms. The Beatles were his first obsession, followed by the grunge and alternative wave that hit him right when he needed it most. Today, he doesn’t pledge allegiance to any genre. “I’m a fan of good music,” he says. “Good transcends genres.”

Ask Joel what kind of music he makes and he’ll shrug — not out of uncertainty, but because labels feel too small. He appropriated the term “Vaguely Folkish Alterna Rock” from the TV show Futurama, and it stuck because it fits. His songs swing between angst and serenity, frustration and comfort. They’re snapshots of feelings — sometimes old, sometimes fresh, always honest. Joel writes music first, letting melodies lead him to memories, and he’s not afraid to babble nonsense for months (or years) until the right words finally land.

The album was born from urgency — the fear that if he didn’t record these songs now, they might disappear forever. It’s a bucket-list project that twenty-year-old Joel never had the time or money to attempt, but adult Joel finally could. The songs trace the arc of a young life that grew into a healthcare career, only to become disillusioned in the post-COVID world. They explore depression, addiction, complicated relationships, and the emotional toll of caring for others while falling apart yourself.

Two tracks stand out as the emotional anchors: “Unfit to Practice” — a song Joel began fifteen years ago, revisited with new clarity and old scars. “Westview” — written in a burst of frustration and heartbreak over the state of healthcare, pouring out of him faster than he could process.

The album came to life under the guidance of Stew Kirkwood, producer at Dept. 9 Studios. Stew wasn’t just a producer — he was a mentor, a collaborator, and contributed multiple instrumental layers that sharpened the emotional edge of the record. Dept. 9 treated Joel like family. The camaraderie, the trust, the total lack of ego — it made the process feel almost magical.

There’s an honesty to the album’s black, white, and grey aesthetic — a reflection of how Joel, who has dealt with color blindness all his life, has always seen the world, quite literally.

During the studio sessions, the band brought in Juno-nominated percussionist Jamie Cooper to lay the foundation. His musicianship added depth, drive, and a dynamic pulse that helped bring the album to life.

Though the album began as a solo dream, it became a band because of the people who believed in Joel’s music. All four members are in their 40s, shaped by the same musical eras, the same nostalgia, and the same instinctive love of sound.

Dave Farhall (bass, backup vocals) is Joel’s childhood friend — the kind of friend whose family feels like your own. A professionally trained musician, Dave’s belief in Joel’s songwriting helped spark the album into existence. Long before the studio, Dave and Joel spent nearly a year in Joel’s home studio building the demo versions of every track. Dave wasn’t just adding bass — he was a creative partner, experimenting, arranging, and helping shape the early versions that became the backbone of the record. His bass lines, harmonies, and early-stage collaboration are foundational to the band’s sound.

Cody Horb (drums) is the heartbeat of the band. After meeting Joel at a mutual friend’s party, he took the album home, studied it, and returned with a perfected rhythm section that elevated every track. His discipline and instincts keep the band grounded and focused.

Arthur Ramsay (guitar) joined after an impromptu audition at another party. Soft-spoken, thoughtful, and eager to learn, Arthur brings a gentle steadiness to the group. He absorbs everything around him, grows with every rehearsal, and adds a quiet warmth to the band’s dynamic.

The band is fully rehearsed and ready to hit the stage. Their live sound is raw, energetic, and unfiltered — the opposite of studio polish. Joel wants audiences to walk away feeling something: nostalgia, inspiration, recognition, or simply the urge to hear more.

Outside of music, Joel is learning how to balance creativity with family life — and laughing about how often he gets in trouble with his fiancée for playing too much guitar. He’s shaped by his years in healthcare, his love of Canadiana, and the contrast between his loud, big-energy presence and his soft, gentle core.

If Unfit to Practice were a movie, Joel says it would be a dramedy — heartfelt, messy, funny, and painfully real. And if someone only has time to listen to one track? “Don’t even bother,” he jokes. “You’re missing out.”