Canada takes Departed down new/old road

Cody Canada's new direction feels remarkably like an old, super-successful one.

Canada's iconic Red Dirt band Cross Canadian Ragweed dissolved in 2010. Now, he's back in the driver's seat full time with his second band, The Departed, which returns to Amarillo for a 10 p.m. April 24 show at Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.

When The Departed first formed, Canada split frontman duties with blues-rocker Seth James. But when James decided to leave the band in 2013, Canada took back the microphone.

"I'm definitely a lot more relaxed," Canada said. "It really is back to what it used to be for so many years."

Canada is feeling his oats again these days in several ways.

Late last year, he released his first solo album, "Some Old, Some New, Maybe a Cover or Two," a live acoustic recording of one of his first solo jams in Port Aransas.

"I always have somebody I'm swapping songs with, and really, that weekend, I had some people planned and it just kind of fell through," Canada said. "Now, I want to go out and do that by myself more. It's been a lot of fun."

When The Departed first formed, Canada said he liked sharing responsibility for the band.

"I actually get to experience a whole lot more. When somebody like Jeremy (Plato) or Seth (James) is up there singing, I can relax," Canada told Get Out! last year.

But now, Canada said he always knew he'd be back up front.

"Seth, he loves the blues, and I like the Americana/roots-rock thing," Canada said. "I knew that eventually, we'd both start missing it.

"It feels good to be back doing this," he said.

how to go

o What: Cody Canada & The Departed

o When: 10 p.m. April 24

o Where: Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.

o How much: $25

o Information: 806-374-0097, www.goldenlightcantina.com, www.thedepartedmusic.com