This & That Gene Champagne single ” I Can’t Pretend”

Cam Carpenter sent the new single ” I Can’t Pretend” a cover of the Barracuda’s. Spinning it the first week of Feb 2026 on the SCM show.

Hi Gunner

Thank you for the support of Matthew Holtby this week, appreciate it.

Here’s the latest from our pal Gene.

Now signed to Boston’s Rum Bar Records, Gene Champagne has

been crate digging again and his latest release is a cover of the 1981

The Barracuda’s classic “I Can’t Pretend”.

Gene Champagne – I Can’t Pretend” – Digital Assets

After the success of his version of the Ohio Express “Yummy Yummy Yummy” last year

Champagne decided to to revisit “I Can’t Pretend” as song he was familiar with as the drummer for Canada’s Teenage Head who recorded their version of the punk/surf classic on their 1985 album “Trouble In The Jungle”.

“This is a song that I have loved for a very long time and I have always thought of recording it” says Champagne. “It fits really well with the new material I am currently writing. The vibe of the song is perfect and it seemed like a great opportunity to give the song some attention and put a bit of my style into it”.

“Because this is a cover song my goal was to keep the integrity and spirit of the song yet lend a little bit of my style. I wanted this song to blend well with what original music I have been writing and recording and I think it turned out just the way I intended”.

Gene Champagne from Hamilton, On Canada is a singer/songwriter and solo artist, also known for being the drummer for Teenage Head, The Killjoys and The Black Halos.

His version of “I Can’t Pretend” is two parts CanCon.

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Gene will be supporting The Boys (UK)

Fri March 13th – Toronto,Ontario- The Horseshoe
Sat March 14th – Hamilton,Ontario -The Corktown
Sun March 15th – London,Ontario – Palasad Social Bowl

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