Darren Smith, photo by MikkiH@m2pics.com

Musicians Stay Home: Darren Smith - Burning to get back on stage

Will McGuirk January 12, 2021

By Will McGuirk

Makers don’t stop making. Even a global pandemic won’t stop makers making and thankfully so. For the rest of us, going forward will require new thinking, creativity, innovation, outside, inside, other side of the box thinking and it will be to the makers we will turn. Here in Durham Region, our artists are woodshedding new ideas and finding new outlets for their creativity. We take a peek behind the stage curtain to see what musicians are doing as shows have been cancelled worldwide.

Each photo will link to the Unison Benevolent Fund.

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Sloqcity.ca: Who are the members in your band?

Harem Scarem: Harry Hess, Peter Lesperance, Stan Miczek and me.

Red Dragon Cartel: Jake E Lee, Anthony Esposito, Phil Varone, and me.

SC: Where are you from?

Born In Brighton England moved to Canada 1969.

SC: Have you been able to perform together in any capacity - if yes how

Haven’t been playing live much but the last place was a local bar called The Atria downtown Oshawa. My local cover band, Jambandits, get together once a week to learn new songs in a rehearsal hall where I live.

SC: Where and when was the last gig you played before Covid-19 guidelines on shows kicked in?

Last show i played was with Red Dragon Cartel touring the States. The last show I’m uncertain of where in the States, but think it was New York.

SC: Do you have any recorded music available online, if yes where?

Both bands have albums available online; Harem Scarem have 17 studio albums Frontiers Records and also Itunes. RDC also on Frontiers and Itunes

SC: What are you doing during this break from live music, any new hobbies?

I read a lot. I really just keep to myself as there’s really no where to go. I do hang with my kids as much as possible. Jam once a week with my buddies.

Musicians Stay Home by Mikki H : Poor Pelly - Still Making Moosic!

Will McGuirk January 11, 2021

By Will McGuirk

Each photo will link to the Unison Benevolent Fund.

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Slowcity.ca: Who are the members in your band?

Just me, Poor Pelly

SC: Where are you from?

Oshawa

SC: Have you been able to perform together in any capacity - if yes how

Just on Facebook live so far.

SC: Where and when was the last gig you played before Covid-19 guidelines on shows kicked in?

Last show I played was at the Atria in March just a couple weeks before restrictions started.

SC: Do you have any recorded music available online, if yes where?

The band I was in, The Stables, is on all streaming sevices.

SC: What are you doing during this break from live music, any new hobbies?

Reading more. Currently finishing The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt and just started Without Getting Killed or Caught. A biography about Guy Clark by Tamara Saviano. Writing new songs and playing with some old school low-fi recording gear.

Musicians Stay Home by Mikki H : Play Grounded - Excuses Excuses

Will McGuirk January 11, 2021

By Will McGuirk

Each photo will link to the Unison Benevolent Fund.

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Play Grounded - Excuses Excuses

Slowcity.ca: Who are the members in your band?
Kyle Wilton - Vocals, Guitar, Trevor Bowman - BassJason Nicoll - Drums

SC: Where are you from?
The band is technically from Oshawa, though one member lives up near Lindsay.

SC: Have you been able to perform together in any capacity - if yes how?
We have been fortunate enough to be able to still practice together since our jam space is able to accommodate us safely. That has been the biggest saving-grace for us throughout such a tough time. In the late summer we also had the opportunity to experience playing a socially distanced festival (Voodoo Rockfest) with a bunch of other Ontario rock bands we are close with. Although it was definitely a different experience than we are used to at festivals, it felt amazing to step on that stage and let out some of the pressure.

SC: Where and when was the last gig you played before Covid-19 guidelines on shows kicked in?
The last show we played before COVID took over was in late February at The Babylon in Ottawa. Luckily it was a really awesome show for us, and we got to try out some new songs we had been working on for a while. The real kick in the pants was having to cancel the “Up S*** Creek” Australian bushfire fundraiser event with The Lazys and friends at The Oshawa Music Hall, which was scheduled for the weekend after the restrictions started.

SC: Do you have any recorded music available online, if yes where?

We currently have a few EPs worth of tunes available for both streaming and purchase. They are available on all major streaming platforms (ie. Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Google Play, Tidal, Deezer, etc) as well as on our bandcamp page that can be found through. Best way to navigate all things Excuses is our website:www.excusesexcuses.ca

SC: What are you doing during this break from live music, any new hobbies?

Although the our life in live music has drastically changed, we have still been super busy as a band since March. We took the time to write and record a bunch of new songs and ended up making something very special that we are excited to finish up and share with the world. It has been a lot of work, but has definitely helped us to continue to at least feel somewhat fulfilled as a band throughout the live restrictions.

Each of us also work day-jobs that keep us busy and keep us afloat. Trevor and I work in construction, and both enjoy building stuff and working with our hands. Jay is a very skilled photographer/videographer, doing mainly media for realtors. Nonetheless, we are doing the best we can to stay busy, happy, and hopeful.

#StayAtHome with Katie Munshaw - Dizzy tour postponed

Will McGuirk March 27, 2020

By Will McGuirk

Well its seems more than just four weeks ago Dizzy dropped their sunny ways new single, with all its promise. Their European “Wear Your Crown” tour included two sold-out dates in London and Amsterdam, and with a new tracks on the offing, the summer was looking to be a busy one for the Juno-winning four piece from Oshawa. Dizzy were on tour in the UK when called back home due to the Covid 19 pandemic and for now its hashtag stayathome.

Lead singer Katie Munshaw is optimistic however and says, apart from the tour plans, not much has changed for her and fellow members, the Spencer brothers; Charlie, Alex and Mack. There will be a new record and new songs and there are other things to share and other ways to share them.

“We're starting a series on our Instagram and Facebook pages called 'Liner Notes' where once a week we dissect a song of our own, working on other things behind the scenes. Other than that, depending on how long this whole social distancing lasts, I wouldn't be opposed to getting back to writing. I'm kind of in the camp of, if it happens, it happens. I'm trying not to put pressure on myself to be creative when I feel a little bit empty of ideas while simultaneously feeling anxious about the state of the world. It's a weird combination,” says Katie in an email to slowcity.ca.

With everything geared to being on the road, it is a stark turnaround to be sitting back at home all of a sudden. Coming off tour takes some adjusting but doing so, so abruptly can, well, be dizzying.

“We just came out of studio/writing land at the end of February so we were definitely ready for a breather from that world in the form of touring. I'm trying to use this time as a breather from all things Dizzy as much as I can,” says Katie. “Writing your own music is such a self indulgent, narcissistic process in my eyes. I'm enjoying spending time with my family, my dog, the sun. Listening to records that I had on hold while we were creating our own songs these past few months. And hopefully when this whole thing blows over I'll have lots of head space for creativity again.”

And hopefully this tale doesn’t take another twist and the band can get on the road again.

Katie sent us a list of some of those bands so you can dig in to them too:

Boniface (self titled)
Caroline Polachek- Pang
Soccer Mommy- Color Theory
Barrie- Happy to Be Here
Christine and the Queens- La Vita Nuova