Ever wonder what your physician does when he's not seeing patients?

Patients in Edmonton who regularly see Dr. Kevin Morin, may not know their doctor is in fact a head-banging, guitar-shredding member of the rock band Killinger.

"If there's one thing that could communicate a feeling, it's music. That's really a big interest of mine," said Dr. Morin. "Professionally in psychiatry I'm interested in the psychology of music. I'm curious how music influences the brain."

Dr. Morin and his band performed at the Odeon Events Centre on Oct. 28, playing the opening act for heavy metal juggernauts Black Label Society.

In an interview before he hit the stage, Morin said music came first in his life. He was 13 years old when he picked up his first six-string and since he was 18, he's been hitting the stage, performing on weekends while completing his Ph.D. and M.D.

His fascination, like many music-enthusiasts focuses on how music affects the mind.

Dr. Morin said the majority of our musical influences and tastes are determined during our teen years.

"The brain is going through a remarkable pruning process. It's streamlining itself, making itself more efficient because your peak years are ahead, it's a key neuro-developmental time," said Dr. Morin.

When asked about the specific influences of heavier music such as heavy metal and rock music, he said there is nothing special about those genres; in fact the uniqueness comes through live performances.

"When you go to a rock and roll concert, you will see people in the audience having a similar experience together. It's that coming together of people together that really is the power of it. You can actually make an argument that this is a type of spiritual experience," he said, contrasting his experience at a Christina Aguilera concert he recently attended.

"I don't get that same experience when I went to that concert."

If being a physician, psychiatrist and a guitarist wasn't enough. Morin has his own energy drink called FOYtonic (Fountain of Youth). Although it hasn't hit the store shelves yet, he's handed out thousands of bottles while on a Canadian summer tour with HellYeah and Volbeat, and plans to do the same on the fall dates with Black Label Society.

After their stop in Saskatoon, Killinger and BLS head east for shows in Calgary, two in Edmonton, where Killinger is from, and a couple of nights in Vancouver wrapping up the tour just after Halloween.

fbiber@rawlco.com

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